Dennis Johnson vs. Joe Kleine Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Joe Kleine 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 / 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.

Dennis Johnson played 14 years in the NBA, 1 less than Joe Kleine, who played 15. Dennis Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Joe Kleine had his rookie season in 1985-86. 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 achivements, 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
Joe Kleine 15 10 1985-86 to 1999-00

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Dennis Johnson Joe Kleine
Season 1976-771985-86
Team Seattle SupersonicsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayKings Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 80 14.8 5.2 1.4 3.3 4.7 0.6 0.3 0.4 1.3 2.8 2.0 4.3 .465 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.6 .723
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Joe Kleine 3 15.0 5.0 2.7 2.0 4.7 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 2.7 1.7 4.3 .385 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.0 .833

Season 2

Dennis Johnson Joe Kleine
Season 1977-781986-87
Team Seattle SupersonicsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 79 21.0 7.9 2.2 3.9 6.1 0.9 0.4 0.4 1.1 2.7 3.2 6.9 .471 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 1.8 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Dennis Johnson Joe Kleine
Season 1978-791987-88
Team Seattle SupersonicsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 82 24.4 9.8 2.2 4.9 7.1 1.1 0.3 0.7 1.3 2.8 4.0 8.4 .472 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.3 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Dennis Johnson Joe Kleine
Season 1979-801988-89
Team Seattle SupersonicsSacramento Kings, Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 75 18.8 6.5 1.7 3.4 5.0 0.9 0.4 0.3 1.4 2.6 2.3 5.8 .405 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 2.0 .882
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 3 21.7 6.3 1.3 4.3 5.7 0.7 0.0 0.3 2.0 3.0 2.0 3.7 .545 0.0 0.3 .000 2.3 3.0 .778

Season 5

Dennis Johnson Joe Kleine
Season 1980-811989-90
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 81 16.9 5.4 1.4 2.9 4.4 0.6 0.2 0.3 0.8 2.1 2.2 4.5 .480 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.2 .830
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 5 15.8 6.2 0.6 2.2 2.8 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.8 2.4 2.6 3.4 .765 0.0 0.2 .000 1.0 1.2 .833

Season 6

Dennis Johnson Joe Kleine
Season 1981-821990-91
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 72 11.8 3.6 1.0 2.4 3.4 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.7 1.5 1.4 3.0 .468 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.0 .783
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 5 6.2 1.6 1.0 1.2 2.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.4 1.4 0.8 1.8 .444 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 7

Dennis Johnson Joe Kleine
Season 1982-831991-92
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 70 14.2 4.7 1.3 2.9 4.2 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.4 1.4 2.1 4.2 .491 0.1 0.1 .500 0.5 0.7 .708
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 9 9.1 2.2 0.7 1.8 2.4 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.3 1.2 1.0 2.4 .409 0.0 0.1 .000 0.2 0.2 1.000

Season 8

Dennis Johnson Joe Kleine
Season 1983-841992-93
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 78 14.5 3.3 1.4 3.0 4.4 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.5 1.6 1.4 3.4 .404 0.0 0.1 .000 0.5 0.7 .707
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 4 7.3 1.5 0.0 1.3 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 1.0 0.8 1.3 .600 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 9

Dennis Johnson Joe Kleine
Season 1984-851993-94
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsSuns Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 74 11.5 3.9 0.7 1.9 2.6 0.6 0.2 0.3 0.5 1.6 1.7 3.5 .488 0.1 0.1 .455 0.4 0.5 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 8 10.1 3.5 0.6 1.5 2.1 0.4 0.1 0.5 0.3 1.9 1.5 3.5 .429 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.8 .667

Season 10

Dennis Johnson Joe Kleine
Season 1985-861994-95
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 75 12.9 3.7 1.1 2.4 3.5 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.5 2.3 1.6 3.5 .449 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 0.7 .857
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 10 16.7 6.3 0.8 2.3 3.1 0.8 0.5 0.3 0.6 3.5 3.1 5.4 .574 0.1 0.2 .500 0.0 0.0 -

Season 11

Dennis Johnson Joe Kleine
Season 1986-871995-96
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsSuns Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 56 11.8 2.9 0.6 1.7 2.4 0.8 0.2 0.1 0.7 2.0 1.3 3.0 .420 0.0 0.1 .286 0.4 0.4 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 2 4.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

Dennis Johnson Joe Kleine
Season 1987-881996-97
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, New Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 59 14.4 2.8 1.1 2.4 3.4 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.9 1.2 2.9 .406 0.0 0.1 .667 0.5 0.6 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Dennis Johnson Joe Kleine
Season 1988-891997-98
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 46 8.6 2.0 0.6 1.1 1.7 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.6 1.4 0.8 2.3 .368 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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 -
Joe Kleine ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Dennis Johnson Joe Kleine
Season 1989-901998-99
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdSuns Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 31 12.1 2.2 0.9 1.3 2.2 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.5 1.0 2.4 .405 0.0 0.1 .000 0.3 0.4 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Joe Kleine 1 5.0 2.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 15

Dennis Johnson Joe Kleine
Season -1999-00
Team -Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Joe Kleine 7 4.4 1.6 0.0 0.9 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.3 1.0 0.6 1.6 .364 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.4 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Joe Kleine ------- --- ----------