DeMarcus Cousins vs. Tristan Thompson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Tristan Thompson 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 / 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, 3 less than Tristan Thompson, who played 14. DeMarcus Cousins had the first of his seasons in 2010-11, while Tristan Thompson had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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
Tristan Thompson 14 9 2011-12 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

DeMarcus Cousins Tristan Thompson
Season 2010-112011-12
Team Sacramento KingsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second 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:+21+4.8+5.9+0.4+2.6+2.1+2.0+0.5+0.2-1.9-1.9+2.1+5.0+.009+0.2+1.6+1.8+.135
Tristan Thompson 60 23.7 8.2 3.1 3.4 6.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.4 2.2 3.2 7.4 .439 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.2 .552
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher DeMarcus Cousins nor Tristan Thompson played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

DeMarcus Cousins Tristan Thompson
Season 2011-122012-13
Team Sacramento KingsCleveland Cavaliers
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+0.8+6.4+0.4+1.1+1.6+0.3+0.8+0.3-1.2-1.1+2.2+5.9+.040+0.2+1.9+2.3+.094
Tristan Thompson 82 31.3 11.7 3.7 5.7 9.4 1.3 0.7 0.9 1.5 2.9 4.8 9.7 .488 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.5 .608
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher DeMarcus Cousins nor Tristan Thompson played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3

DeMarcus Cousins Tristan Thompson
Season 2012-132013-14
Team Sacramento KingsCleveland Cavaliers
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+1.1+5.4+0.3+1.1+0.7+1.8+0.9+0.3-1.7-1.3+2.0+4.5+.012+0.1+0.3+1.3+1.5+.045
Tristan Thompson 82 31.6 11.7 3.3 5.9 9.2 0.9 0.5 0.4 1.3 2.3 4.4 9.3 .477 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.1 .693
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher DeMarcus Cousins nor Tristan Thompson played in the postseason in their season 3

Season 4

DeMarcus Cousins Tristan Thompson
Season 2013-142014-15
Team Sacramento KingsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost NBA 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+5.6+14.2+0.2+3.9+3.7+2.4+1.1+0.6-2.5-1.5+5.0+10.8+.051+0.1+4.2+5.4+.085
Tristan Thompson 82 26.8 8.5 3.3 4.7 8.0 0.5 0.4 0.7 1.0 2.3 3.3 6.0 .547 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.0 .641
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins DNP------ --- ----------
Tristan Thompson 20 36.4 9.6 4.4 6.4 10.8 0.5 0.3 1.2 0.8 2.5 3.6 6.5 .558 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 4.1 .585

Season 5

DeMarcus Cousins Tristan Thompson
Season 2014-152015-16
Team Sacramento KingsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
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+6.4+16.3+0.2+3.8+3.7+2.8+1.0+1.1-3.6-1.6+5.4+13.0+.121+0.1+5.4+6.2+.166
Tristan Thompson 82 27.7 7.8 3.3 5.7 9.0 0.8 0.5 0.6 0.7 2.5 3.0 5.1 .588 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.0 .616
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins DNP------ --- ----------
Tristan Thompson 21 29.6 6.7 4.1 4.9 9.0 0.7 0.4 0.9 0.8 2.6 2.3 4.4 .527 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.5 .575

Season 6

DeMarcus Cousins Tristan Thompson
Season 2015-162016-17
Team Sacramento KingsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
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:+13+4.7+18.8+1.3+3.6+2.3+2.3+1.1+0.3-3.0-1.3+5.8+14.9+.149+1.1+3.2+5.9+7.5+.220
Tristan Thompson 78 29.9 8.1 3.7 5.5 9.2 1.0 0.5 1.1 0.8 2.3 3.4 5.6 .600 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.7 .498
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins DNP------ --- ----------
Tristan Thompson 18 31.2 8.2 3.8 4.5 8.3 1.4 0.5 0.7 1.2 2.0 3.0 5.1 .587 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.3 .667

Season 7

DeMarcus Cousins Tristan Thompson
Season 2016-172017-18
Team Sacramento Kings, New Orleans PelicansCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
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:+19+14.0+21.2+0.3+4.6+4.4+4.0+1.1+1.0-3.0-2.0+6.5+15.5+.110+1.8+5.0+6.4+7.8+.228
Tristan Thompson 53 20.2 5.8 2.4 4.3 6.6 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.9 2.5 4.4 .562 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .544
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
DeMarcus Cousins DNP------ --- ----------
Tristan Thompson 19 21.9 6.2 2.3 3.6 5.9 0.6 0.1 0.4 0.6 1.4 2.6 4.4 .590 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.4 .741

Season 8

DeMarcus Cousins Tristan Thompson
Season 2017-182018-19
Team New Orleans PelicansCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement 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:+5+8.3+14.3+1.8+4.5+2.7+3.4+0.9+1.2-3.6-1.7+3.8+9.2+.059+2.2+6.1+4.5+5.7+.104
Tristan Thompson 43 27.9 10.9 4.0 6.2 10.2 2.0 0.7 0.4 1.4 2.1 4.7 8.8 .529 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.5 .642
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher DeMarcus Cousins nor Tristan Thompson played in the postseason in their season 8

Season 9

DeMarcus Cousins Tristan Thompson
Season 2018-192019-20
Team Golden State WarriorsCleveland Cavaliers
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:+27+4.5+4.3+2.6+0.6+1.9+1.5+0.7+0.6-0.6-1.4+0.8+2.5+.032+0.7+2.8+.117+1.8+2.0+.121
Tristan Thompson 57 30.2 12.0 4.0 6.2 10.1 2.1 0.6 0.9 1.8 2.2 5.1 9.9 .512 0.2 0.4 .391 1.7 2.8 .615
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
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------

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

Season 10

DeMarcus Cousins Tristan Thompson
Season 2020-212020-21
Team Houston Rockets, Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+13+6.4+1.3+1.8+0.1+1.7+0.7+0.4-0.5-0.4+0.1+1.4+.092+1.1+3.2+.348+0.1+0.2+.136
Tristan Thompson 54 23.8 7.6 3.1 5.0 8.1 1.2 0.4 0.6 1.1 2.2 3.1 6.0 .518 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 2.2 .592
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:+2+18.1+2.8+4.9+2.9+7.8+0.3+0.5+0.8-0.3-0.5+1.3+0.8+.136+0.6+1.4+0.8+1.4+.080
Tristan Thompson 5 26.4 10.4 5.8 4.0 9.8 1.0 0.8 1.2 1.0 2.4 4.0 6.8 .588 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.4 .706

Season 11

DeMarcus Cousins Tristan Thompson
Season 2021-222021-22
Team Milwaukee Bucks, Denver NuggetsSacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+9+0.8+3.0+0.6+1.2+0.5+0.9+0.3-1.0-1.2+0.6+2.1+.068+0.8+2.4+.030+0.9+0.6+.234
Tristan Thompson 57 15.7 6.0 2.1 2.9 5.1 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.7 2.5 4.7 .528 0.0 0.1 .333 1.1 2.0 .526
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:+3.8+9.8+0.2+1.6+1.8+0.8+0.4+0.2-0.4-1.0+3.4+4.8+.255+0.8+1.2+2.2+3.0
Tristan Thompson 5 7.6 0.8 0.4 1.2 1.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 1.0 0.8 0.4 1.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Additional Years

* Tristan Thompson played 3 seasons more than DeMarcus Cousins in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 12 to 14, from 2023 to 2025—Tristan Thompson played in 3 Playoffs.