Dave DeBusschere vs. Mitch Kupchak Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Mitch Kupchak 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, 3 more than Mitch Kupchak, who played 9. Dave DeBusschere had the first of his seasons in 1962-63, while Mitch Kupchak had his rookie season in 1976-77. 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 achivements, 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
Mitch Kupchak 9 6 1976-77 to 1985-86

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

Dave DeBusschere Mitch Kupchak
Season 1962-631976-77
Team Detroit PistonsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Div SemisBullets Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak 82 18.5 10.4 2.2 3.8 6.0 0.8 0.3 0.4 - 2.5 4.2 7.3 .572 - - - 2.1 3.0 .691
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak 9 28.0 16.2 3.1 4.4 7.6 1.1 0.2 0.3 - 3.8 5.9 10.0 .589 - - - 4.4 6.6 .678

Season 2

Dave DeBusschere Mitch Kupchak
Season 1963-641977-78
Team Detroit PistonsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak 67 26.3 15.9 2.4 4.4 6.9 1.1 0.4 0.6 2.7 2.9 5.9 11.5 .512 - - - 4.2 6.0 .697
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere ------- --- ----------
Mitch Kupchak 21 24.0 10.1 2.3 3.7 6.0 1.0 0.2 0.1 2.0 2.8 4.0 9.5 .422 - - - 2.1 3.3 .652

Season 3

Dave DeBusschere Mitch Kupchak
Season 1964-651978-79
Team Detroit PistonsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBullets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak 66 24.3 14.6 2.3 4.2 6.5 1.3 0.3 0.3 1.8 2.1 5.6 10.4 .539 - - - 3.4 4.5 .743
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere ------- --- ----------
Mitch Kupchak 8 17.1 6.5 2.0 2.3 4.3 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.6 1.5 2.6 6.5 .404 - - - 1.3 1.9 .667

Season 4

Dave DeBusschere Mitch Kupchak
Season 1965-661979-80
Team Detroit PistonsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak 40 11.3 4.7 0.8 1.8 2.6 0.4 0.2 0.2 1.0 1.2 1.7 4.0 .419 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 1.9 .693
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere ------- --- ----------
Mitch Kupchak ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Dave DeBusschere Mitch Kupchak
Season 1966-671980-81
Team Detroit PistonsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak 82 23.6 12.5 2.4 4.5 6.9 0.8 0.4 0.3 2.0 2.4 4.8 9.1 .525 0.0 0.0 .000 2.9 4.1 .706
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere ------- --- ----------
Mitch Kupchak ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Dave DeBusschere Mitch Kupchak
Season 1967-681981-82
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Div SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak 26 31.6 14.3 2.5 5.6 8.1 1.3 0.5 0.4 1.7 3.1 5.9 10.3 .573 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.8 .663
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak ------- --- ----------

Note: Mitch Kupchak didn't play in 1982-83.

Season 7

Dave DeBusschere Mitch Kupchak
Season 1968-691983-84
Team Detroit Pistons, New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Div FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak 34 9.5 3.1 1.0 1.5 2.6 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.6 1.4 1.2 3.2 .380 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.0 .647
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak 9 7.7 2.0 1.3 1.9 3.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.7 1.3 0.6 1.9 .294 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.6 .571

Season 8

Dave DeBusschere Mitch Kupchak
Season 1969-701984-85
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak 58 12.3 5.3 1.2 2.0 3.2 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.8 1.8 2.1 4.2 .504 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.6 .659
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak 16 12.3 4.7 0.7 2.3 3.0 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.6 2.6 1.9 3.3 .585 0.0 0.1 .000 0.8 1.4 .591

Season 9

Dave DeBusschere Mitch Kupchak
Season 1970-711985-86
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak 55 14.2 6.0 1.3 2.2 3.5 0.3 0.2 0.1 1.2 1.9 2.3 4.7 .482 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.0 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak 5 11.2 4.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.6 1.2 1.6 3.0 .533 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .667

Season 10

Dave DeBusschere Mitch Kupchak
Season 1971-72-
Team New York Knicks-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Dave DeBusschere Mitch Kupchak
Season 1972-73-
Team New York Knicks-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Dave DeBusschere Mitch Kupchak
Season 1973-74-
Team New York Knicks-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Mitch Kupchak ------- --- ----------