Dennis Johnson vs. Moses Malone Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Moses Malone 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, 5 less than Moses Malone, who played 19. Dennis Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Moses Malone had his rookie season in 1976-77. 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
Moses Malone 19 12 1976-77 to 1994-95

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19

Rookie Season

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season 1976-771976-77
Team Seattle SupersonicsBuffalo Braves, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets Lost East Conf Finals
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
Moses Malone 82 30.6 13.2 5.3 7.7 13.1 1.1 0.8 2.2 - 3.4 4.7 9.9 .480 - - - 3.7 5.4 .693
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 12 43.2 18.8 7.0 9.9 16.9 0.6 1.1 1.8 - 3.5 6.8 13.5 .500 - - - 5.3 7.6 .692

Season 2

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season 1977-781977-78
Team Seattle SupersonicsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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
Moses Malone 59 35.7 19.4 6.4 8.6 15.0 0.5 0.8 1.3 3.7 3.0 7.0 14.0 .499 - - - 5.4 7.5 .718
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
Moses Malone ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season 1978-791978-79
Team Seattle SupersonicsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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 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
Moses Malone 82 41.3 24.8 7.2 10.5 17.6 1.8 1.0 1.5 4.0 2.7 8.7 16.2 .540 - - - 7.3 9.9 .739
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
Moses Malone 2 39.0 24.5 12.5 8.0 20.5 1.0 0.5 4.0 4.0 2.5 9.0 20.5 .439 - - - 6.5 9.0 .722

Season 4

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season 1979-801979-80
Team Seattle SupersonicsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsRockets 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 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
Moses Malone 82 38.3 25.8 7.0 7.5 14.5 1.8 1.0 1.3 3.7 2.6 9.5 18.9 .502 0.0 0.1 .000 6.9 9.5 .719
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
Moses Malone 7 39.3 25.9 6.0 7.9 13.9 1.0 0.6 2.3 3.1 2.6 10.6 19.7 .536 0.0 0.1 .000 4.7 6.1 .767

Season 5

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season 1980-811980-81
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisRockets Lost NBA Finals
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
Moses Malone 80 40.6 27.8 5.9 8.8 14.8 1.8 1.0 1.9 3.9 2.8 10.1 19.3 .522 0.0 0.0 .333 7.6 10.1 .757
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
Moses Malone 21 45.5 26.8 6.0 8.6 14.5 1.7 0.6 1.6 2.8 2.6 9.9 20.6 .479 0.0 0.1 .000 7.0 9.9 .712

Season 6

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season 1981-821981-82
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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 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
Moses Malone 81 42.0 31.1 6.9 7.8 14.7 1.8 0.9 1.5 3.6 2.6 11.7 22.5 .519 0.0 0.1 .000 7.8 10.2 .762
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
Moses Malone 3 45.3 24.0 9.3 7.7 17.0 3.3 0.7 0.7 2.0 2.7 9.7 22.3 .433 0.0 0.0 - 4.7 5.0 .933

Season 7

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season 1982-831982-83
Team Phoenix SunsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West 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 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
Moses Malone 78 37.5 24.5 5.7 9.6 15.3 1.3 1.1 2.0 3.4 2.6 8.4 16.7 .501 0.0 0.0 .000 7.7 10.1 .761
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
Moses Malone 13 40.3 26.0 5.4 10.5 15.8 1.5 1.5 1.9 3.1 3.1 9.7 18.1 .536 0.0 0.1 .000 6.6 9.2 .717

Season 8

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season 1983-841983-84
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers 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
Moses Malone 71 36.8 22.7 5.0 8.4 13.4 1.4 1.0 1.5 3.5 2.6 7.5 15.5 .483 0.0 0.1 .000 7.7 10.2 .750
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
Moses Malone 5 42.4 21.4 4.0 9.8 13.8 1.4 0.6 2.2 4.2 3.0 7.6 16.6 .458 0.0 0.0 - 6.2 6.4 .969

Season 9

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season 1984-851984-85
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA Finals76ers Lost East Conf Finals
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
Moses Malone 79 37.4 24.6 4.9 8.2 13.1 1.6 0.8 1.6 3.6 2.7 7.6 16.3 .469 0.0 0.0 .000 9.3 11.4 .815
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
Moses Malone 13 38.8 20.2 2.8 7.8 10.6 1.8 1.3 1.7 1.8 3.0 6.9 16.3 .425 0.0 0.1 .000 6.3 7.9 .796

Season 10

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season 1985-861985-86
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 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
Moses Malone 74 36.6 23.8 4.6 7.2 11.8 1.2 0.9 1.0 3.5 2.6 7.7 16.8 .458 0.0 0.0 .000 8.3 10.6 .787
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
Moses Malone ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season 1986-871986-87
Team Boston CelticsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsBullets 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 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
Moses Malone 73 34.1 24.1 4.7 6.6 11.3 1.6 0.8 1.3 2.8 1.9 8.2 18.0 .454 0.0 0.2 .000 7.8 9.5 .824
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
Moses Malone 3 38.0 20.7 5.0 7.7 12.7 1.7 0.0 1.0 2.7 1.7 7.0 15.7 .447 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 7.0 .952

Season 12

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season 1987-881987-88
Team Boston CelticsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsBullets 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 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
Moses Malone 79 34.1 20.3 4.7 6.5 11.2 1.4 0.7 0.9 3.2 2.0 6.7 13.8 .487 0.0 0.1 .286 6.9 8.7 .788
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
Moses Malone 5 39.6 18.6 4.4 6.8 11.2 1.4 0.6 0.8 3.0 1.8 6.0 13.0 .462 0.0 0.2 .000 6.6 8.0 .825

Season 13

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season 1988-891988-89
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdHawks 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 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
Moses Malone 81 35.5 20.2 4.8 7.0 11.8 1.4 1.0 1.2 3.0 1.9 6.6 13.5 .491 0.0 0.1 .000 6.9 8.8 .789
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 -
Moses Malone 5 39.4 21.0 5.4 6.6 12.0 1.8 1.4 0.8 2.2 1.0 6.4 12.8 .500 0.2 0.2 1.000 8.0 10.2 .784

Season 14

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season 1989-901989-90
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdDid 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 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
Moses Malone 81 33.8 18.9 4.5 5.5 10.0 1.6 0.6 1.0 2.9 2.0 6.4 13.3 .480 0.0 0.1 .111 6.1 7.8 .781
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
Moses Malone ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season -1990-91
Team -Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Hawks 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 ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 82 23.3 10.6 3.3 4.8 8.1 0.8 0.4 0.9 1.7 1.6 3.4 7.3 .468 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 4.5 .831
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 5 16.8 4.2 3.2 3.0 6.2 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.8 0.8 4.0 .200 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 2.8 .929

Season 16

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season -1991-92
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
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 ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 82 30.6 15.6 3.9 5.2 9.1 1.1 0.9 0.8 1.8 1.7 5.4 11.3 .474 0.0 0.1 .375 4.8 6.1 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season -1992-93
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
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 ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 11 9.5 4.5 2.0 2.2 4.2 0.6 0.1 0.7 0.9 0.5 1.2 3.8 .310 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 2.8 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season -1993-94
Team -Philadelphia 76ers
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 ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 55 11.2 5.3 1.9 2.2 4.1 0.6 0.2 0.3 1.1 0.9 1.9 4.2 .440 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.1 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone ------- --- ----------

Season 19

Dennis Johnson Moses Malone
Season -1994-95
Team -San Antonio Spurs
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 ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone 17 8.8 2.9 1.2 1.5 2.7 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.9 0.8 2.1 .371 0.1 0.1 .500 1.3 1.9 .688
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Moses Malone ------- --- ----------