DeMarcus Cousins vs. Tim Duncan Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Tim Duncan 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 Tim Duncan, who played 19. DeMarcus Cousins had the first of his seasons in 2010-11, while Tim Duncan had his rookie season in 1997-98. 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
Tim Duncan 19 18 1997-98 to 2015-16

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

DeMarcus Cousins Tim Duncan
Season 2010-111997-98
Team Sacramento KingsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs Lost West Conf Semis
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+10.6+7.0+0.6+2.6+3.3+0.2+0.3+1.7-0.1-1.0+3.3+3.3+.119+0.1+.167+0.5+0.9+.025
Tim Duncan 82 39.1 21.1 3.3 8.6 11.9 2.7 0.7 2.5 3.4 3.1 8.6 15.7 .549 0.0 0.1 .000 3.9 5.9 .662
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins DNP------ --- ----------
Tim Duncan 9 41.6 20.7 2.2 6.8 9.0 1.9 0.6 2.6 2.8 2.7 8.1 15.6 .521 0.0 0.1 .000 4.4 6.7 .667

Season 2

DeMarcus Cousins Tim Duncan
Season 2011-121998-99
Team Sacramento KingsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+14+8.8+3.6+0.9+1.4+0.4+0.8+0.6+1.3-0.2-1.1+1.4+1.3+.047+0.1+0.8+1.4+.012
Tim Duncan 50 39.3 21.7 3.2 8.2 11.4 2.4 0.9 2.5 2.9 2.9 8.4 16.9 .495 0.0 0.1 .143 4.9 7.2 .690
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins DNP------ --- ----------
Tim Duncan 17 43.1 23.2 3.2 8.2 11.5 2.8 0.8 2.6 3.1 2.9 8.5 16.6 .511 0.0 0.2 .000 6.3 8.4 .748

Season 3

DeMarcus Cousins Tim Duncan
Season 2012-131999-00
Team Sacramento KingsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
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:+1+8.4+6.1+0.5+1.9+2.5+0.5+0.5+1.5-0.3-0.8+2.1+3.5+.025+0.1+0.2+.091+2.0+2.5+.023
Tim Duncan 74 38.9 23.2 3.5 8.9 12.4 3.2 0.9 2.2 3.3 2.8 8.5 17.3 .490 0.0 0.1 .091 6.2 8.1 .761
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher DeMarcus Cousins nor Tim Duncan played in the postseason in their season 3

Season 4

DeMarcus Cousins Tim Duncan
Season 2013-142000-01
Team Sacramento KingsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs Lost West 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+6.3+0.5+0.1+0.4+0.5+0.1+0.6+1.0-0.5-0.8+0.3+0.3+.003+0.1+0.2+.259+1.1+0.3+.108
Tim Duncan 82 38.7 22.2 3.2 9.0 12.2 3.0 0.9 2.3 3.0 3.0 8.6 17.1 .499 0.1 0.3 .259 5.0 8.1 .618
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins DNP------ --- ----------
Tim Duncan 13 40.5 24.4 4.2 10.3 14.5 3.8 1.1 2.7 3.8 3.3 9.2 18.9 .488 0.1 0.1 1.000 5.8 9.2 .639

Season 5

DeMarcus Cousins Tim Duncan
Season 2014-152001-02
Team Sacramento KingsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs Lost West 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:+23+6.5+1.4+0.2+0.1+0.1+0.8+0.8-1.1-1.5+0.9+0.2+.041+.150+0.4+0.7+.017
Tim Duncan 82 40.6 25.5 3.3 9.4 12.7 3.7 0.7 2.5 3.2 2.6 9.3 18.3 .508 0.0 0.1 .100 6.8 8.5 .799
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins DNP------ --- ----------
Tim Duncan 9 42.2 27.6 3.1 11.3 14.4 5.0 0.7 4.3 4.1 2.4 9.1 20.1 .453 0.1 0.3 .333 9.2 11.2 .822

Season 6

DeMarcus Cousins Tim Duncan
Season 2015-162002-03
Team Sacramento KingsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+16+4.7+3.6+0.8+0.6+1.4+0.6+0.9+1.5-0.7-0.7+0.4+3.3+.062+1.0+2.9+.060+1.7+2.4+.008
Tim Duncan 81 39.3 23.3 3.2 9.7 12.9 3.9 0.7 2.9 3.1 2.9 8.8 17.2 .513 0.1 0.3 .273 5.6 7.8 .710
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins DNP------ --- ----------
Tim Duncan 24 42.5 24.7 4.0 11.4 15.4 5.3 0.6 3.3 3.2 3.3 9.1 17.2 .529 0.0 0.3 .000 6.5 9.7 .677

Season 7

DeMarcus Cousins Tim Duncan
Season 2016-172003-04
Team Sacramento Kings, New Orleans PelicansSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs Lost West Conf Semis
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:+3+2.4+4.7+1.2+0.3+1.4+1.5+0.5+1.4-1.0-1.5+0.4+2.8+.049+1.8+4.8+.194+2.1+0.8+.173
Tim Duncan 69 36.6 22.3 3.3 9.2 12.4 3.1 0.9 2.7 2.7 2.4 8.6 17.1 .501 0.0 0.2 .167 5.1 8.5 .599
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins DNP------ --- ----------
Tim Duncan 10 40.4 22.1 3.3 8.0 11.3 3.2 0.8 2.0 4.2 3.4 8.3 15.9 .522 0.0 0.1 .000 5.5 8.7 .632

Season 8

DeMarcus Cousins Tim Duncan
Season 2017-182004-05
Team New Orleans PelicansSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+18+2.8+4.9+0.9+2.7+1.8+2.7+0.9+1.0-3.1-1.6+0.7+2.2+.026+2.2+6.0+.021+1.5+1.3+.076
Tim Duncan 66 33.4 20.3 3.1 8.0 11.1 2.7 0.7 2.6 1.9 2.2 7.8 15.8 .496 0.0 0.1 .333 4.6 6.9 .670
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins DNP------ --- ----------
Tim Duncan 23 37.7 23.6 3.8 8.7 12.4 2.7 0.3 2.3 2.7 2.9 8.6 18.5 .464 0.0 0.2 .200 6.4 8.9 .717

Season 9

DeMarcus Cousins Tim Duncan
Season 2018-192005-06
Team Golden State WarriorsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsSpurs Lost West Conf Semis
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:+50+9.1+2.3+1.5+1.3+2.8+0.4+0.4+0.5-0.1-0.9+1.3+2.4+.004+0.9+3.1+.126+0.7+1.9+.107
Tim Duncan 80 34.8 18.6 2.9 8.1 11.0 3.2 0.9 2.0 2.5 2.7 7.2 14.8 .484 0.0 0.1 .400 4.2 6.7 .629
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:+5+21.3+18.2+1.4+4.2+5.6+0.9+0.2+1.1-0.2-0.8+6.7+9.6+.177+0.4+1.3+.250+5.2+7.0+.078
Tim Duncan 13 37.9 25.8 2.5 8.0 10.5 3.3 0.8 1.9 2.6 3.8 9.3 16.2 .573 0.0 0.2 .000 7.2 10.1 .718

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

Season 10

DeMarcus Cousins Tim Duncan
Season 2020-212006-07
Team Houston Rockets, Los Angeles ClippersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First 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+16.7+11.1+1.4+2.8+4.2+1.5+1.8-1.2-0.1+4.5+6.7+.120+1.1+3.2+.237+3.1+5.1+.091
Tim Duncan 80 34.1 20.0 2.7 7.9 10.6 3.4 0.8 2.4 2.8 2.5 7.7 14.1 .546 0.0 0.1 .111 4.5 7.1 .637
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:+13+28.5+14.6+2.8+6.7+9.5+2.6+0.4+2.7-2.3-1.1+6.0+10.7+.069+0.6+1.4+3.2+5.5+.142
Tim Duncan 20 36.8 22.2 3.7 7.8 11.5 3.3 0.7 3.1 3.0 3.0 8.7 16.7 .521 0.0 0.0 - 4.8 7.5 .644

Season 11

DeMarcus Cousins Tim Duncan
Season 2021-222007-08
Team Milwaukee Bucks, Denver NuggetsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdSpurs Lost West Conf Finals
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:+30+19.1+10.3+1.5+4.2+5.7+1.3+1.5-0.5-0.5+4.4+8.3+.037+0.8+2.4+.303+2.3+3.3+.030
Tim Duncan 78 34.0 19.3 3.0 8.3 11.3 2.8 0.7 1.9 2.3 2.4 7.5 15.1 .497 0.0 0.1 .000 4.3 5.9 .730
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:+12+27.8+9.6+3.0+8.1+11.1+2.1+0.3+1.9-1.0-0.6+4.1+11.9+.206+0.7+0.9+.467+2.0+3.8+.107
Tim Duncan 17 39.2 20.2 3.6 10.9 14.5 3.3 0.9 2.1 2.4 2.4 7.9 17.7 .449 0.1 0.3 .200 4.2 6.8 .626

Additional Years

* Tim Duncan played 8 seasons more than DeMarcus Cousins in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 12 to 19, from 2009 to 2016—Tim Duncan played in 8 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.

In those 8 extra years over DeMarcus Cousins, Tim Duncan got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 2 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 4 All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement 5 All-Star Game