DeMarcus Cousins vs. Paul Pierce Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul Pierce 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, 8 less than Paul Pierce, who played 19. DeMarcus Cousins had the first of his seasons in 2010-11, while Paul Pierce had his rookie season in 1998-99. 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
Paul Pierce 19 14 1998-99 to 2016-17

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

DeMarcus Cousins Paul Pierce
Season 2010-111998-99
Team Sacramento KingsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards 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:+33+5.5+2.4+0.3+2.0+2.2+0.1+0.7+0.2-0.9-1.2+0.6+1.1+.009+1.8+4.1+.245+0.5+0.9+.026
Paul Pierce 48 34.0 16.5 2.4 4.0 6.4 2.4 1.7 1.0 2.4 2.9 5.9 13.5 .439 1.8 4.3 .412 2.9 4.1 .713
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher DeMarcus Cousins nor Paul Pierce played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

DeMarcus Cousins Paul Pierce
Season 2011-121999-00
Team Sacramento KingsBoston Celtics
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:+9+4.9+1.4+3.0+2.5+5.6+1.4+0.6+0.4-0.3-0.8+0.3+0.5+.006+1.3+3.6+.200+0.8+0.4+.096
Paul Pierce 73 35.4 19.5 1.1 4.3 5.4 3.0 2.1 0.8 2.4 3.2 6.7 15.1 .442 1.3 3.8 .343 4.9 6.2 .798
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher DeMarcus Cousins nor Paul Pierce played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3

DeMarcus Cousins Paul Pierce
Season 2012-132000-01
Team Sacramento KingsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
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+7.5+8.2+1.9+1.8+3.5+0.4+0.3+0.1-0.2-0.5+2.0+4.7+.011+1.7+4.4+.201+2.5+3.4+.007
Paul Pierce 82 38.0 25.3 1.1 5.2 6.4 3.1 1.7 0.8 3.2 3.1 8.4 18.5 .454 1.8 4.7 .383 6.7 9.0 .745
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher DeMarcus Cousins nor Paul Pierce played in the postseason in their season 3

Season 4

DeMarcus Cousins Paul Pierce
Season 2013-142001-02
Team Sacramento KingsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
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:+11+7.9+3.4+2.1+2.7+4.8+0.3+0.4+0.3-0.6-0.9+0.3+2.7+.054+2.6+6.2+.404+0.2+0.6+.083
Paul Pierce 82 40.3 26.1 1.0 5.9 6.9 3.2 1.9 1.0 2.9 2.9 8.6 19.5 .442 2.6 6.3 .404 6.3 7.8 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins DNP------ --- ----------
Paul Pierce 16 42.0 24.6 1.7 6.9 8.6 4.1 1.7 1.3 3.8 3.3 7.6 18.9 .403 1.9 6.5 .288 7.5 9.8 .764

Season 5

DeMarcus Cousins Paul Pierce
Season 2014-152002-03
Team Sacramento KingsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
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:+20+5.1+1.8+1.8+3.5+5.4+0.8+0.3+0.9-0.7-1.2+2.1+.051+1.5+4.8+.052+0.4+0.3+.020
Paul Pierce 79 39.2 25.9 1.3 6.0 7.3 4.4 1.8 0.8 3.6 2.9 8.4 20.2 .416 1.5 4.9 .302 7.6 9.5 .802
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins DNP------ --- ----------
Paul Pierce 10 44.5 27.1 1.1 7.9 9.0 6.7 2.1 0.8 4.4 3.8 7.7 19.3 .399 1.6 4.5 .356 10.1 11.7 .863

Season 6

DeMarcus Cousins Paul Pierce
Season 2015-162003-04
Team Sacramento KingsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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%
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+4.1+3.9+1.5+3.4+5.0+1.8+0.7-0.7+1.7+1.8+.049+0.3+1.6+.034+0.8+2.3+.101
Paul Pierce 80 38.7 23.0 0.9 5.7 6.5 5.1 1.6 0.7 3.8 2.9 7.5 18.7 .402 1.4 4.8 .299 6.5 7.9 .819
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins DNP------ --- ----------
Paul Pierce 4 40.8 20.8 1.5 7.3 8.8 2.5 1.3 1.0 6.3 3.0 6.5 19.0 .342 1.3 4.3 .294 6.5 7.8 .839

Season 7

DeMarcus Cousins Paul Pierce
Season 2016-172004-05
Team Sacramento Kings, New Orleans PelicansBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East 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:+10+1.9+5.4+1.1+3.3+4.4+0.4+0.2+0.8-0.9-0.8+2.2+5.0+.003+0.5+1.4+.009+0.5+1.2+.050
Paul Pierce 82 36.1 21.6 1.0 5.6 6.6 4.2 1.6 0.5 2.8 3.1 6.8 14.9 .455 1.3 3.6 .370 6.7 8.1 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins DNP------ --- ----------
Paul Pierce 7 39.7 22.9 1.0 6.7 7.7 4.6 1.9 1.4 2.7 2.6 6.7 13.3 .505 1.0 3.9 .259 8.4 9.7 .868

Season 8

DeMarcus Cousins Paul Pierce
Season 2017-182005-06
Team New Orleans PelicansBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
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:+31+2.8+1.6+1.2+5.0+6.2+0.7+0.2+1.2-1.5-1.0+0.2+0.5+.001+0.8+2.1+1.8+2.1+.026
Paul Pierce 79 39.0 26.8 1.0 5.7 6.7 4.7 1.4 0.4 3.5 2.8 8.7 18.5 .471 1.4 4.0 .354 7.9 10.3 .772
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher DeMarcus Cousins nor Paul Pierce played in the postseason in their season 8

Season 9

DeMarcus Cousins Paul Pierce
Season 2018-192006-07
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
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:+17+11.3+8.7+0.6+1.7+2.3+0.5+0.3+1.2-0.8-1.0+2.0+5.7+.041+1.4+2.7+.115+3.3+3.8+.060
Paul Pierce 47 37.0 25.0 0.8 5.1 5.9 4.1 1.0 0.3 3.2 2.6 7.9 18.1 .439 2.3 5.9 .389 6.8 8.6 .796
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
Paul Pierce DNP------ --- ----------

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

Season 10

DeMarcus Cousins Paul Pierce
Season 2020-212007-08
Team Houston Rockets, Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 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%
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:+39+18.5+10.7+0.6+0.6+1.3+2.6+0.5+0.1-1.2-0.1+3.2+6.3+.038+0.7+1.3+.044+3.7+4.1+.115
Paul Pierce 80 35.9 19.6 0.7 4.5 5.1 4.5 1.3 0.5 2.8 2.5 6.4 13.7 .464 1.8 4.6 .392 5.1 6.1 .843
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:+19+29.8+12.1+0.1+3.1+3.0+3.9+0.8+0.1-2.5-1.6+3.6+8.2+.011+1.1+3.2+.039+3.9+4.8+.016
Paul Pierce 26 38.1 19.7 0.8 4.2 5.0 4.6 1.1 0.3 3.2 3.5 6.3 14.2 .441 1.7 4.6 .361 5.5 6.8 .802

Season 11

DeMarcus Cousins Paul Pierce
Season 2021-222008-09
Team Milwaukee Bucks, Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
11th 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 14.9 9.0 1.5 4.1 5.6 1.5 0.7 0.4 1.8 2.9 3.1 6.8 .460 0.8 2.5 .303 2.0 2.6 .760
difference:+33+22.6+11.5+0.8+0.9+2.1+0.3+0.1-1.0-0.2+3.6+7.8+.003+0.7+1.3+.088+3.7+4.2+.070
Paul Pierce 81 37.5 20.5 0.7 5.0 5.6 3.6 1.0 0.3 2.8 2.7 6.7 14.6 .457 1.5 3.8 .391 5.7 6.8 .830
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins 5 11.4 10.6 0.6 2.8 3.4 1.2 0.6 0.2 1.4 1.8 3.8 5.8 .655 0.8 1.2 .667 2.2 3.0 .733
difference:+9+28.3+10.4+0.3+2.7+2.4+1.9+0.5+0.2-1.0-1.3+3.0+10.0+.225+0.6+2.9+.334+3.9+4.2+.109
Paul Pierce 14 39.7 21.0 0.3 5.5 5.8 3.1 1.1 0.4 2.4 3.1 6.8 15.8 .430 1.4 4.1 .333 6.1 7.2 .842

Additional Years

* Paul Pierce played 8 seasons more than DeMarcus Cousins in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 12 to 19, from 2010 to 2017—Paul Pierce played in 8 Playoffs.

In those 8 extra years over DeMarcus Cousins, Paul Pierce got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 3 All-Star Game