Dennis Johnson vs. Ben Wallace Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ben Wallace and Dennis Johnson, 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.

Dennis Johnson played 14 years in the NBA, 2 less than Ben Wallace, who played 16. Dennis Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Ben Wallace had his rookie season in 1996-97. 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
Dennis Johnson 14 13 1976-77 to 1989-90
Ben Wallace 16 8 1996-97 to 2011-12

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Dennis Johnson Ben Wallace
Season 1976-771996-97
Team Seattle SupersonicsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards
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%
Dennis Johnson 81 20.6 9.2 2.0 1.7 3.7 1.5 1.5 0.7 - 2.7 3.5 7.0 .504 - - - 2.2 3.5 .624
difference:+47+14.8+8.1+1.3+0.7+2.0+1.4+1.3+0.4-1.9+3.0+5.6+.156+2.0+2.9+.324
Ben Wallace 34 5.8 1.1 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.5 1.4 .348 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.6 .300
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Dennis Johnson nor Ben Wallace played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Dennis Johnson Ben Wallace
Season 1977-781997-98
Team Seattle SupersonicsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost NBA FinalsDid 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%
Dennis Johnson 81 27.3 12.7 1.9 1.8 3.6 2.8 1.5 0.6 2.0 2.6 4.5 10.9 .417 - - - 3.7 5.0 .732
difference:+14+10.5+9.6+0.2+1.4+1.2+2.5+0.6+0.5-1.6-0.9+3.2+8.5+.101+3.2+3.5+.375
Ben Wallace 67 16.8 3.1 1.7 3.2 4.8 0.3 0.9 1.1 0.4 1.7 1.3 2.4 .518 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.5 .357
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 22 37.6 16.1 2.1 2.5 4.6 3.3 1.0 1.0 2.5 2.9 5.5 13.4 .412 - - - 5.1 7.2 .704
Ben Wallace DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Dennis Johnson Ben Wallace
Season 1978-791998-99
Team Seattle SupersonicsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid 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%
Dennis Johnson 80 34.0 15.9 1.8 2.9 4.7 3.5 1.3 1.2 2.4 2.6 6.0 13.9 .434 - - - 3.8 4.9 .781
difference:+34+7.2+9.9+1.2+2.5+3.6+3.1+0.2+0.8-1.6-0.2+3.5+9.6+.144+2.8+2.0+.425
Ben Wallace 46 26.8 6.0 3.0 5.4 8.3 0.4 1.1 2.0 0.8 2.4 2.5 4.3 .578 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.9 .356
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 17 40.1 20.9 2.6 3.5 6.1 4.1 1.6 1.5 3.0 3.7 8.0 17.8 .450 - - - 4.9 6.4 .771
Ben Wallace DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Dennis Johnson Ben Wallace
Season 1979-801999-00
Team Seattle SupersonicsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsDid 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%
Dennis Johnson 81 36.3 19.0 2.1 3.0 5.1 4.1 1.8 1.0 2.8 3.3 7.1 16.8 .422 0.1 0.7 .207 4.7 6.0 .780
difference:+12.1+14.2+0.5+2.6+3.1+3.3+0.9+0.6-2.0-1.3+5.0+12.7+.081+0.1+0.7+4.0+4.6+.306
Ben Wallace 81 24.2 4.8 2.6 5.6 8.2 0.8 0.9 1.6 0.8 2.0 2.1 4.1 .503 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.4 .474
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 15 38.8 17.1 1.7 2.6 4.3 3.8 1.8 0.7 2.9 3.2 6.7 16.3 .410 0.3 1.0 .333 3.5 4.1 .839
Ben Wallace DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

Dennis Johnson Ben Wallace
Season 1980-812000-01
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisDid 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%
Dennis Johnson 79 33.1 18.8 2.0 2.6 4.6 3.7 1.7 0.8 2.6 3.1 6.7 15.4 .436 0.1 0.6 .216 5.2 6.3 .820
difference:+1+1.4+12.4+1.8+6.8+8.6+2.2+0.4+1.5-1.1-0.7+4.0+9.9+.054+0.1+0.5+.034+4.2+3.3+.484
Ben Wallace 80 34.5 6.4 3.8 9.4 13.2 1.5 1.3 2.3 1.5 2.4 2.7 5.5 .490 0.0 0.1 .250 1.0 3.0 .336
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 7 38.1 19.6 1.0 3.7 4.7 2.9 1.3 1.3 2.7 2.6 7.4 15.7 .473 0.1 0.7 .200 4.6 6.0 .762
Ben Wallace DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Dennis Johnson Ben Wallace
Season 1981-822001-02
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement Blocks Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisPistons Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 80 36.7 19.5 1.8 3.4 5.1 4.6 1.3 0.7 2.9 3.2 7.2 15.4 .470 0.1 0.5 .190 5.0 6.2 .806
difference:+0.2+11.9+2.2+5.6+7.9+3.2+0.4+2.8-2.0-1.0+4.0+9.4+.061+0.1+0.5+3.8+3.3+.383
Ben Wallace 80 36.5 7.6 4.0 9.0 13.0 1.4 1.7 3.5 0.9 2.2 3.2 6.0 .531 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 2.9 .423
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 7 38.7 22.3 1.9 2.6 4.4 4.6 2.1 0.6 3.6 4.0 9.0 18.9 .477 0.0 0.4 .000 4.3 5.6 .769
difference:+3+2.1+15.0+2.9+8.7+11.7+3.4+0.2+2.0-1.7-1.6+6.2+13.0+.002+0.4+2.6+1.7+.333
Ben Wallace 10 40.8 7.3 4.8 11.3 16.1 1.2 1.9 2.6 1.9 2.4 2.8 5.9 .475 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 3.9 .436

Season 7

Dennis Johnson Ben Wallace
Season 1982-832002-03
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons Lost East Conf 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%
Dennis Johnson 77 33.1 14.2 1.2 3.2 4.4 5.0 1.3 0.5 2.6 2.6 5.2 11.2 .462 0.1 0.4 .161 3.8 4.8 .791
difference:+4+6.3+7.3+2.8+8.2+11.0+3.4+0.1+2.7-1.4-0.1+2.3+5.2+.019+0.1+0.3+.006+2.6+2.2+.341
Ben Wallace 73 39.4 6.9 4.0 11.4 15.4 1.6 1.4 3.2 1.2 2.5 2.9 6.0 .481 0.0 0.1 .167 1.2 2.6 .450
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 3 36.0 18.0 2.0 5.7 7.7 5.7 1.7 0.7 2.7 3.0 7.3 16.0 .458 0.0 0.3 .000 3.3 4.0 .833
difference:+14+6.5+9.1+3.1+5.5+8.6+4.1+0.8+2.4-1.8-0.1+4.2+9.6+.028+0.2+0.7+1.9+.387
Ben Wallace 17 42.5 8.9 5.1 11.2 16.3 1.6 2.5 3.1 0.9 2.9 3.1 6.4 .486 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 5.9 .446

Season 8

Dennis Johnson Ben Wallace
Season 1983-842003-04
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA 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%
Dennis Johnson 80 33.3 13.2 1.1 2.4 3.5 4.2 1.2 0.7 2.2 3.1 4.8 11.0 .437 0.1 0.4 .125 3.5 4.1 .852
difference:+1+4.4+3.7+2.9+6.0+8.9+2.5+0.6+2.3-0.7-1.1+0.9+1.8+.016+0.1+0.3+1.7+0.5+.362
Ben Wallace 81 37.7 9.5 4.0 8.4 12.4 1.7 1.8 3.0 1.5 2.0 3.9 9.2 .421 0.0 0.1 .125 1.8 3.6 .490
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 22 36.7 16.6 1.4 2.2 3.6 4.4 1.1 0.3 2.4 3.4 5.9 14.5 .404 0.1 0.3 .429 4.7 5.5 .867
difference:+1+3.6+6.3+2.7+7.9+10.7+2.5+0.8+2.1-0.8-0.9+1.9+5.6+.050+0.1+0.2+.429+2.5+0.4+.440
Ben Wallace 23 40.3 10.3 4.1 10.1 14.3 1.9 1.9 2.4 1.6 2.5 4.0 8.9 .454 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 5.1 .427

Season 9

Dennis Johnson Ben Wallace
Season 1984-852004-05
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsPistons Lost NBA 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%
Dennis Johnson 80 37.2 15.7 1.1 2.8 4.0 6.8 1.2 0.5 2.7 2.8 6.2 13.3 .462 0.1 0.3 .269 3.3 3.8 .853
difference:+6+1.1+6.0+2.8+5.4+8.2+5.1+0.2+1.9-1.6-0.7+2.2+4.5+.009+0.1+0.2+.158+1.5+0.3+.425
Ben Wallace 74 36.1 9.7 3.9 8.2 12.2 1.7 1.4 2.4 1.1 2.1 4.0 8.8 .453 0.0 0.1 .111 1.8 4.1 .428
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 21 40.4 17.3 1.1 2.9 4.0 7.3 1.5 0.4 3.4 3.1 6.8 15.2 .445 0.0 0.7 .000 3.8 4.4 .860
difference:+4+1.4+7.3+2.7+4.6+7.3+6.3+0.2+2.0-2.2-0.5+2.7+6.7+.036+0.5+1.9+0.3+.399
Ben Wallace 25 39.0 10.0 3.8 7.5 11.3 1.0 1.7 2.4 1.2 2.6 4.1 8.5 .481 0.0 0.2 .000 1.9 4.1 .461

Season 10

Dennis Johnson Ben Wallace
Season 1985-862005-06
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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%
Dennis Johnson 78 35.0 15.6 0.9 2.6 3.4 5.8 1.4 0.4 2.2 2.6 6.2 13.6 .455 0.1 0.5 .143 3.1 3.8 .818
difference:+4+0.2+8.3+2.8+5.0+7.9+3.9+0.4+1.8-1.1-0.6+3.3+7.9+.055+0.1+0.5+1.6+0.2+.402
Ben Wallace 82 35.2 7.3 3.7 7.6 11.3 1.9 1.8 2.2 1.1 2.0 2.9 5.7 .510 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 3.6 .416
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 18 39.7 16.2 1.3 2.9 4.2 5.9 2.2 0.3 2.8 3.2 6.1 13.6 .445 0.3 0.9 .375 3.7 4.7 .798
difference:+4.0+11.5+2.0+4.3+6.3+4.2+0.9+0.9-2.0-0.9+4.3+9.7+.020+0.3+0.8+.375+2.7+1.0+.525
Ben Wallace 18 35.7 4.7 3.3 7.2 10.5 1.7 1.3 1.2 0.8 2.3 1.8 3.9 .465 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 3.7 .273

Season 11

Dennis Johnson Ben Wallace
Season 1986-872006-07
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsBulls 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%
Dennis Johnson 79 37.1 13.4 0.6 2.7 3.3 7.5 1.1 0.5 2.2 2.5 5.4 12.1 .444 0.1 0.8 .113 2.6 3.2 .833
difference:+2+2.1+7.0+3.3+4.0+7.4+5.1+0.3+1.5-0.9-0.5+2.9+6.6+.009+0.1+0.7+.087+1.2+0.3+.425
Ben Wallace 77 35.0 6.4 3.9 6.7 10.7 2.4 1.4 2.0 1.3 2.0 2.5 5.5 .453 0.0 0.1 .200 1.4 3.5 .408
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 23 41.9 18.9 1.0 2.9 4.0 8.9 0.7 0.3 1.9 3.1 7.3 15.7 .465 0.1 1.1 .115 4.2 4.9 .850
difference:+13+5.0+10.2+1.9+3.7+5.5+7.5+0.8+1.4-0.9-1.2+4.3+10.4+.101+0.1+1.0+.115+1.5+0.5+.350
Ben Wallace 10 36.9 8.7 2.9 6.6 9.5 1.4 1.5 1.7 1.0 1.9 3.0 5.3 .566 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 5.4 .500

Season 12

Dennis Johnson Ben Wallace
Season 1987-882007-08
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 77 34.7 12.6 0.8 2.3 3.1 7.8 1.2 0.4 2.5 2.6 4.6 10.4 .438 0.2 0.6 .261 3.3 3.9 .856
difference:+5+4.1+7.8+2.5+2.8+5.3+6.3+1.2-1.6-0.9+2.7+5.5+.046+0.2+0.5+.261+2.3+1.6+.430
Ben Wallace 72 30.6 4.8 3.3 5.1 8.4 1.5 1.2 1.6 0.9 1.7 1.9 4.9 .392 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 2.3 .426
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 17 41.3 15.9 0.9 3.6 4.5 8.2 1.4 0.5 2.6 3.0 5.4 12.4 .433 0.4 0.9 .375 4.8 6.1 .796
difference:+4+17.9+12.7+1.6+0.4+2.0+7.0+0.8+0.6-2.1-1.0+4.1+9.9+.082+0.4+0.9+4.3+4.6+.446
Ben Wallace 13 23.4 3.2 2.5 4.0 6.5 1.2 0.6 1.1 0.5 2.0 1.3 2.5 .515 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.5 .350

Season 13

Dennis Johnson Ben Wallace
Season 1988-892008-09
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 72 32.1 10.0 0.4 2.2 2.6 6.6 1.3 0.3 2.4 2.9 3.8 8.9 .434 0.1 0.7 .140 2.2 2.7 .821
difference:+16+8.6+7.1+2.0+1.8+3.9+5.8+0.4+1.0-1.8-1.4+2.6+6.1+.011+0.1+0.7+1.7+1.6+.399
Ben Wallace 56 23.5 2.9 2.4 4.0 6.5 0.8 0.9 1.3 0.6 1.5 1.2 2.8 .445 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.1 .422
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 3 19.7 2.7 0.7 0.7 1.3 3.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.7 1.3 5.0 .267 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
difference:+11+7.1+1.6+0.6+0.7+1.4+2.7+0.7+0.3-0.8-1.8+0.7+4.1+.348+0.4
Ben Wallace 14 12.6 1.1 1.3 1.4 2.7 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.9 0.6 0.9 .615 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.4 .000

Season 14

Dennis Johnson Ben Wallace
Season 1989-902009-10
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 75 27.1 7.1 0.6 2.0 2.7 6.5 1.1 0.2 1.6 2.4 2.7 6.3 .434 0.0 0.3 .042 1.6 1.9 .843
difference:+6+1.5+1.6+3.0+3.1+6.0+5.0+0.1+1.0-0.7-0.5+0.4+2.1+.107+0.3+0.7+0.4+.437
Ben Wallace 69 28.6 5.5 3.6 5.1 8.7 1.5 1.2 1.2 0.9 1.9 2.3 4.2 .541 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 2.3 .406
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 5 32.4 13.8 0.4 2.4 2.8 5.6 0.4 0.4 2.0 3.4 6.0 12.4 .484 0.4 1.2 .333 1.4 1.4 1.000
Ben Wallace DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Ben Wallace played 2 seasons more than Dennis Johnson in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 16, from 2011 to 2012—Ben Wallace didn't play in the postseason.