DeMarcus Cousins vs. Karl-Anthony Towns Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Karl-Anthony Towns and DeMarcus Cousins, 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 / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings / Games against each other

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.

DeMarcus Cousins played 11 years in the NBA, 1 more than Karl-Anthony Towns, who played 10. DeMarcus Cousins had the first of his seasons in 2010-11, while Karl-Anthony Towns had his rookie season in 2015-16. 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
DeMarcus Cousins 11 3 2010-11 to 2021-22
Karl-Anthony Towns 10 5 2015-16 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

DeMarcus Cousins Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2010-112015-16
Team Sacramento KingsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins 81 28.5 14.1 2.7 6.0 8.6 2.5 1.0 0.8 3.3 4.1 5.3 12.4 .430 0.0 0.2 .167 3.4 5.0 .687
difference:+1+3.5+4.2+0.1+1.7+1.9+0.5+0.3+0.9-1.1-1.1+2.3+1.7+.112+0.4+0.9+.174+0.7+1.6+.124
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 32.0 18.3 2.8 7.7 10.5 2.0 0.7 1.7 2.2 3.0 7.6 14.1 .542 0.4 1.1 .341 2.7 3.4 .811
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher DeMarcus Cousins nor Karl-Anthony Towns played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

DeMarcus Cousins Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2011-122016-17
Team Sacramento KingsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins 64 30.5 18.1 4.1 6.8 11.0 1.6 1.5 1.2 2.7 4.0 7.0 15.6 .448 0.0 0.2 .143 4.1 5.8 .702
difference:+18+6.5+7.0+0.5+1.9+1.3+1.1+0.8+0.1-0.1-1.1+2.8+2.4+.094+1.2+3.2+.224+0.2+0.6+.130
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 37.0 25.1 3.6 8.7 12.3 2.7 0.7 1.3 2.6 2.9 9.8 18.0 .542 1.2 3.4 .367 4.3 5.2 .832
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher DeMarcus Cousins nor Karl-Anthony Towns played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3

DeMarcus Cousins Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2012-132017-18
Team Sacramento KingsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins 75 30.5 17.1 3.0 7.0 9.9 2.7 1.4 0.7 3.0 3.6 6.4 13.8 .465 0.1 0.3 .182 4.2 5.6 .738
difference:+7+5.1+4.2+0.1+2.4+2.4+0.3+0.6+0.7-1.1-0.1+1.4+0.5+.080+1.4+3.2+.239+0.7+.120
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 35.6 21.3 2.9 9.4 12.3 2.4 0.8 1.4 1.9 3.5 7.8 14.3 .545 1.5 3.5 .421 4.2 4.9 .858
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins DNP------ --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns 5 34.0 15.2 3.0 10.4 13.4 2.2 0.4 1.0 2.4 2.8 5.6 12.0 .467 0.6 2.2 .273 3.4 4.6 .739

Season 4

DeMarcus Cousins Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2013-142018-19
Team Sacramento KingsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins 71 32.4 22.7 3.1 8.6 11.7 2.9 1.5 1.3 3.5 3.8 8.3 16.8 .496 0.0 0.1 .000 6.1 8.4 .726
difference:+6+0.7+1.7+0.3+0.4+0.7+0.5+0.6+0.3-0.4+0.5+0.3+.022+1.8+4.5+.400+1.2+2.6+.110
Karl-Anthony Towns 77 33.1 24.4 3.4 9.0 12.4 3.4 0.9 1.6 3.1 3.8 8.8 17.1 .518 1.8 4.6 .400 4.9 5.8 .836
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher DeMarcus Cousins nor Karl-Anthony Towns played in the postseason in their season 4

Season 5

DeMarcus Cousins Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2014-152019-20
Team Sacramento KingsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins 59 34.1 24.1 3.1 9.5 12.7 3.6 1.5 1.7 4.3 4.1 8.4 18.1 .467 0.0 0.1 .250 7.2 9.2 .782
difference:+24+0.2+2.4+0.4+1.4+1.9+0.8+0.6+0.5-1.2-0.8+0.6+0.3+.041+3.3+7.8+.162+2.1+2.7+.014
Karl-Anthony Towns 35 33.9 26.5 2.7 8.1 10.8 4.4 0.9 1.2 3.1 3.3 9.0 17.8 .508 3.3 7.9 .412 5.1 6.5 .796
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher DeMarcus Cousins nor Karl-Anthony Towns played in the postseason in their season 5

Season 6

DeMarcus Cousins Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2015-162020-21
Team Sacramento KingsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins 65 34.6 26.9 2.4 9.1 11.5 3.3 1.6 1.4 3.8 3.6 9.2 20.5 .451 1.1 3.2 .333 7.3 10.2 .718
difference:+15+0.8+2.1+0.3+1.2+0.9+1.2+0.8+0.3-0.6-0.1+0.7+3.0+.035+1.3+3.1+.054+2.0+4.0+.141
Karl-Anthony Towns 50 33.8 24.8 2.7 7.9 10.6 4.5 0.8 1.1 3.2 3.7 8.5 17.5 .486 2.4 6.3 .387 5.3 6.2 .859
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher DeMarcus Cousins nor Karl-Anthony Towns played in the postseason in their season 6

Season 7

DeMarcus Cousins Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2016-172021-22
Team Sacramento Kings, New Orleans PelicansMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins 72 34.2 27.0 2.1 8.9 11.0 4.6 1.4 1.3 3.7 3.9 9.0 19.9 .452 1.8 5.0 .361 7.2 9.3 .772
difference:+2+0.7+2.4+0.5+1.7+1.2+1.0+0.4+0.2-0.6-0.3+0.3+3.5+.077+0.2+0.1+.049+2.0+3.0+.050
Karl-Anthony Towns 74 33.5 24.6 2.6 7.2 9.8 3.6 1.0 1.1 3.1 3.6 8.7 16.4 .529 2.0 4.9 .410 5.2 6.3 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins DNP------ --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns 6 37.0 21.8 1.8 9.0 10.8 2.2 0.7 2.0 4.5 4.2 6.5 13.3 .488 1.7 3.7 .455 7.2 8.3 .860

Season 8

DeMarcus Cousins Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2017-182022-23
Team New Orleans PelicansMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves 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%
DeMarcus Cousins 48 36.2 25.2 2.2 10.7 12.9 5.4 1.6 1.6 5.0 3.8 8.5 18.0 .470 2.2 6.1 .354 6.1 8.2 .746
difference:+19+3.2+4.4+0.5+4.2+4.8+0.6+0.9+1.0-2.0+1.2+3.2+.025+0.1+0.4+.012+2.0+3.5+.128
Karl-Anthony Towns 29 33.0 20.8 1.7 6.5 8.1 4.8 0.7 0.6 3.0 3.8 7.3 14.8 .495 2.1 5.7 .366 4.1 4.7 .874
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins DNP------ --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns 5 36.0 18.2 1.2 9.0 10.2 2.0 0.6 0.8 3.6 4.2 6.4 14.0 .457 1.2 4.8 .250 4.2 5.6 .750

Season 9

DeMarcus Cousins Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2018-192023-24
Team Golden State WarriorsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsTimberwolves 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%
DeMarcus Cousins 30 25.7 16.3 1.4 6.8 8.2 3.6 1.3 1.5 2.4 3.6 5.9 12.4 .480 0.9 3.2 .274 3.5 4.8 .736
difference:+32+7.0+5.5+0.1+0.1+0.6+0.6+0.8-0.5-0.3+1.8+2.9+.024+1.3+2.1+.142+0.6+0.1+.137
Karl-Anthony Towns 62 32.7 21.8 1.5 6.8 8.3 3.0 0.7 0.7 2.9 3.3 7.7 15.3 .504 2.2 5.3 .416 4.1 4.7 .873
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins 8 16.6 7.6 1.1 3.8 4.9 2.4 0.6 0.8 2.4 3.0 2.6 6.6 .396 0.4 1.5 .250 2.0 3.1 .640
difference:+8+16.0+11.5+1.1+3.0+4.1+0.2+0.2+0.6-0.7-0.4+4.2+7.9+.070+1.5+3.7+.111+1.7+1.2+.215
Karl-Anthony Towns 16 32.6 19.1 2.2 6.8 9.0 2.6 0.8 0.2 1.7 3.4 6.8 14.5 .466 1.9 5.2 .361 3.7 4.3 .855

Note: DeMarcus Cousins didn't play in 2019-20.

Season 10

DeMarcus Cousins Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2020-212024-25
Team Houston Rockets, Los Angeles ClippersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf FinalsKnicks Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins 41 17.4 8.9 1.3 5.1 6.4 1.9 0.8 0.6 1.6 2.6 3.2 7.4 .426 1.1 3.3 .348 1.4 2.0 .728
difference:+31+17.6+15.5+1.6+4.7+6.4+1.2+0.2+0.1-1.1-0.9+5.7+9.5+.100+0.9+1.4+.072+3.3+3.7+.101
Karl-Anthony Towns 72 35.0 24.4 2.9 9.8 12.8 3.1 1.0 0.7 2.7 3.5 8.9 16.9 .526 2.0 4.7 .420 4.7 5.7 .829
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins 7 8.3 7.6 0.9 1.1 2.0 0.7 0.3 0.4 0.7 1.9 2.7 6.0 .452 0.6 1.4 .400 1.6 2.0 .786
difference:+11+27.2+13.8+1.2+8.4+9.6+0.6+0.4+0.3-1.5-2.4+5.0+9.8+.036+0.8+2.7+.049+3.0+3.4+.059
Karl-Anthony Towns 18 35.5 21.4 2.1 9.5 11.6 1.3 0.7 0.7 2.2 4.3 7.7 15.8 .488 1.4 4.1 .351 4.6 5.4 .845

Additional Years

* DeMarcus Cousins played 1 season more than Karl-Anthony Towns in the NBA.

In that period—his season 11 in 2022—DeMarcus Cousins played in the Playoffs.