Dave DeBusschere vs. Dennis Rodman Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dennis Rodman and Dave DeBusschere, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Dave DeBusschere played 12 years in the NBA, 2 less than Dennis Rodman, who played 14. Dave DeBusschere had the first of his seasons in 1962-63, while Dennis Rodman had his rookie season in 1986-87. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achievements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Dave DeBusschere 12 8 1962-63 to 1973-74
Dennis Rodman 14 11 1986-87 to 1999-00

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

Dave DeBusschere Dennis Rodman
Season 1962-631986-87
Team Detroit PistonsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Div SemisPistons Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 80 29.4 12.7 - - 8.7 2.6 - - - 3.1 5.1 11.8 .430 - - - 2.6 3.6 .718
difference:+3+14.4+6.2+4.4+1.9-0.9+2.3+6.7+.115+1.6+2.0+.131
Dennis Rodman 77 15.0 6.5 2.1 2.2 4.3 0.7 0.5 0.6 1.2 2.2 2.8 5.1 .545 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.6 .587
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 4 39.8 20.0 - - 15.8 1.5 - - - 3.5 6.3 14.8 .424 - - - 7.5 11.0 .682
difference:+11+23.5+13.5+11.1+1.3-0.3+3.6+9.9+.117+6.3+8.9+.119
Dennis Rodman 15 16.3 6.5 2.1 2.6 4.7 0.2 0.4 1.1 1.1 3.2 2.7 4.9 .541 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 2.1 .563

Season 2

Dave DeBusschere Dennis Rodman
Season 1963-641987-88
Team Detroit PistonsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 15 20.3 8.6 - - 7.0 1.5 - - - 2.1 3.5 8.9 .391 - - - 1.7 2.9 .581
difference:+67+5.9+3.0+1.7+0.2-1.2+1.4+0.3+.170+0.2+0.6+.046
Dennis Rodman 82 26.2 11.6 3.9 4.8 8.7 1.3 0.9 0.5 1.9 3.3 4.9 8.6 .561 0.1 0.2 .294 1.9 3.5 .535
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere DNP------ --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 23 20.6 7.1 2.2 3.7 5.9 0.9 0.6 0.6 1.3 3.8 3.1 5.9 .522 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 2.3 .407

Season 3

Dave DeBusschere Dennis Rodman
Season 1964-651988-89
Team Detroit PistonsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 79 35.1 16.7 - - 11.1 3.2 - - - 3.1 6.4 15.1 .425 - - - 3.9 5.5 .700
difference:+3+8.2+7.7+1.7+2.0-0.5+2.5+8.6+.170+2.7+3.6+.074
Dennis Rodman 82 26.9 9.0 4.0 5.4 9.4 1.2 0.7 0.9 1.5 3.6 3.9 6.5 .595 0.1 0.3 .231 1.2 1.9 .626
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere DNP------ --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 17 24.1 5.8 3.3 6.7 10.0 0.9 0.4 0.7 1.4 3.4 2.2 4.1 .529 0.0 0.2 .000 1.4 2.1 .686

Season 4

Dave DeBusschere Dennis Rodman
Season 1965-661989-90
Team Detroit PistonsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 79 34.1 16.4 - - 11.6 2.6 - - - 3.2 6.6 16.3 .408 - - - 3.2 4.8 .659
difference:+3+5.1+7.6+1.9+1.7-0.2+3.1+10.3+.173+1.5+2.2+.005
Dennis Rodman 82 29.0 8.8 4.1 5.6 9.7 0.9 0.6 0.7 1.1 3.4 3.5 6.0 .581 0.0 0.1 .111 1.7 2.6 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere DNP------ --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 19 29.5 6.6 2.9 5.6 8.5 0.9 0.5 0.7 1.6 3.3 2.8 5.0 .568 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.8 .514

Season 5

Dave DeBusschere Dennis Rodman
Season 1966-671990-91
Team Detroit PistonsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 78 37.1 18.2 - - 11.8 2.8 - - - 3.8 6.8 16.4 .415 - - - 4.6 6.6 .705
difference:+4+3.6+10.0+0.7+1.8-0.4+3.4+9.6+.078+3.2+4.5+.074
Dennis Rodman 82 33.5 8.2 4.4 8.1 12.5 1.0 0.8 0.7 1.1 3.4 3.4 6.8 .493 0.1 0.4 .200 1.4 2.1 .631
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere DNP------ --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 15 33.0 6.3 4.5 7.3 11.8 0.9 0.7 0.7 0.9 3.7 2.7 6.1 .451 0.1 0.6 .222 0.7 1.6 .417

Season 6

Dave DeBusschere Dennis Rodman
Season 1967-681991-92
Team Detroit PistonsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Div SemisPistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 80 39.1 17.9 - - 13.5 2.3 - - - 3.8 7.2 16.2 .442 - - - 3.6 5.4 .664
difference:+2+1.2+8.1+5.2-0.8+3.0+8.5+.097+2.6+3.7+.064
Dennis Rodman 82 40.3 9.8 6.4 12.3 18.7 2.3 0.8 0.9 1.7 3.0 4.2 7.7 .539 0.4 1.2 .317 1.0 1.7 .600
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 6 43.8 19.3 - - 16.2 2.2 - - - 3.8 7.5 17.7 .425 - - - 4.3 7.5 .578
difference:+1+12.6+12.1+6.0+0.4-0.4+4.3+12.3+.168+3.5+5.9+.078
Dennis Rodman 5 31.2 7.2 3.2 7.0 10.2 1.8 0.8 0.4 1.4 3.4 3.2 5.4 .593 0.0 0.4 .000 0.8 1.6 .500

Season 7

Dave DeBusschere Dennis Rodman
Season 1968-691992-93
Team Detroit Pistons, New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 76 38.7 16.3 - - 11.7 2.5 - - - 3.8 6.7 15.0 .444 - - - 3.0 4.3 .698
difference:+14+0.2+8.8+6.6+0.9-0.6+3.7+8.1+.017+1.6+1.7+.164
Dennis Rodman 62 38.9 7.5 5.9 12.3 18.3 1.6 0.8 0.7 1.7 3.2 3.0 6.9 .427 0.2 1.2 .205 1.4 2.6 .534
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 10 41.9 16.3 - - 14.8 3.3 - - - 4.3 6.1 17.4 .351 - - - 4.1 5.0 .820
Dennis Rodman DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Dave DeBusschere Dennis Rodman
Season 1969-701993-94
Team New York KnicksSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 79 33.3 14.6 - - 10.0 2.5 - - - 3.1 6.2 13.7 .451 - - - 2.2 3.2 .688
difference:+4.5+9.9+7.3+0.2-0.2+4.2+10.0+.083+1.5+1.9+.168
Dennis Rodman 79 37.8 4.7 5.7 11.6 17.3 2.3 0.7 0.4 1.7 2.9 2.0 3.7 .534 0.1 0.3 .208 0.7 1.3 .520
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 19 36.9 16.1 - - 11.6 2.4 - - - 3.3 6.8 16.3 .421 - - - 2.4 3.6 .662
difference:+16+1.1+7.8+4.4+1.7-1.4+2.8+8.3+.079+2.1+1.6+.495
Dennis Rodman 3 38.0 8.3 8.0 8.0 16.0 0.7 2.0 1.3 2.0 4.7 4.0 8.0 .500 0.0 1.7 .000 0.3 2.0 .167

Season 9

Dave DeBusschere Dennis Rodman
Season 1970-711994-95
Team New York KnicksSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsSpurs Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 81 35.7 15.6 - - 11.1 2.7 - - - 2.9 6.5 15.3 .421 - - - 2.7 3.9 .696
difference:+32+3.7+8.5+5.7+0.7-0.3+3.7+10.4+.150+1.2+1.6+.020
Dennis Rodman 49 32.0 7.1 5.6 11.2 16.8 2.0 0.6 0.5 2.0 3.2 2.8 4.9 .571 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.3 .676
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 12 40.7 16.4 - - 13.0 1.8 - - - 3.3 7.0 16.8 .416 - - - 2.4 3.7 .659
difference:+2+7.9+7.5+1.8+0.5-0.3+3.3+9.9+.126+1.0+1.2+.088
Dennis Rodman 14 32.8 8.9 4.9 9.9 14.8 1.3 0.9 0.0 1.8 3.6 3.7 6.9 .542 0.0 0.4 .000 1.4 2.5 .571

Season 10

Dave DeBusschere Dennis Rodman
Season 1971-721995-96
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 80 38.4 15.4 - - 11.3 3.6 - - - 2.7 6.5 15.2 .427 - - - 2.4 3.3 .728
difference:+16+5.8+9.9+3.6+1.1-0.4+4.2+10.4+.053+1.5+1.6+.200
Dennis Rodman 64 32.6 5.5 5.6 9.3 14.9 2.5 0.6 0.4 2.2 3.1 2.3 4.8 .480 0.0 0.4 .111 0.9 1.7 .528
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 16 38.5 16.6 - - 12.1 2.3 - - - 3.2 6.8 15.1 .450 - - - 3.0 4.0 .750
difference:+2+4.1+9.1+1.6+0.2-1.0+4.0+9.4+.035+1.1+0.7+.157
Dennis Rodman 18 34.4 7.5 5.4 8.3 13.7 2.1 0.8 0.4 2.3 4.2 2.8 5.7 .485 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.3 .593

Season 11

Dave DeBusschere Dennis Rodman
Season 1972-731996-97
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 77 36.7 16.3 - - 10.2 3.4 - - - 2.8 6.9 15.9 .435 - - - 2.5 3.4 .746
difference:+22+1.3+10.6+5.9+0.3-0.3+4.6+10.7+.013+1.6+1.8+.178
Dennis Rodman 55 35.4 5.7 5.8 10.2 16.1 3.1 0.6 0.3 2.0 3.1 2.3 5.2 .448 0.1 0.3 .263 0.9 1.6 .568
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 17 37.2 15.6 - - 10.5 3.4 - - - 3.4 6.9 15.6 .442 - - - 1.8 2.4 .775
difference:+2+9.1+11.4+2.1+2.0-0.5+5.3+11.3+.072+1.0+1.0+.198
Dennis Rodman 19 28.1 4.2 3.1 5.3 8.4 1.4 0.5 0.2 1.5 3.9 1.6 4.3 .370 0.2 0.8 .250 0.8 1.4 .577

Season 12

Dave DeBusschere Dennis Rodman
Season 1973-741997-98
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 71 38.0 18.1 1.9 8.8 10.7 3.6 0.9 0.5 - 3.1 7.9 17.1 .461 - - - 2.3 3.1 .756
difference:+9+2.3+13.4+3.4+1.0+4.3+0.7+0.3+0.3-0.1+6.0+12.6+.030+1.5+1.7+.206
Dennis Rodman 80 35.7 4.7 5.3 9.8 15.0 2.9 0.6 0.2 1.8 3.0 1.9 4.5 .431 0.1 0.3 .174 0.8 1.4 .550
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dave DeBusschere 12 33.7 12.0 2.1 6.2 8.3 3.2 0.6 0.3 - 3.0 5.3 13.8 .380 - - - 1.5 2.4 .621
difference:+9+0.7+7.1+2.6+0.9+3.5+1.2+0.1+0.3-1.2+3.4+8.8+.009+0.4+0.6+.016
Dennis Rodman 21 34.4 4.9 4.7 7.1 11.8 2.0 0.7 0.6 1.7 4.2 1.9 5.0 .371 0.0 0.2 .250 1.1 1.8 .605

Additional Years

* Dennis Rodman played 2 seasons more than Dave DeBusschere in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 13 to 14, from 1999 to 2000—Dennis Rodman didn't play in the postseason.