Dennis Johnson vs. Nate McMillan Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate McMillan 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, 2 more than Nate McMillan, who played 12. Dennis Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Nate McMillan had his rookie season in 1986-87. 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
Nate McMillan 12 11 1986-87 to 1997-98

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 Nate McMillan
Season 1976-771986-87
Team Seattle SupersonicsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics Lost West 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
Nate McMillan 71 27.8 5.3 1.4 3.2 4.7 8.2 1.8 0.6 2.2 3.4 2.0 4.2 .475 0.0 0.1 .000 1.2 2.0 .617
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Nate McMillan 14 25.4 5.1 0.9 2.9 3.9 8.0 1.0 0.7 1.9 3.0 1.9 4.4 .435 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.7 .708

Season 2

Dennis Johnson Nate McMillan
Season 1977-781987-88
Team Seattle SupersonicsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost NBA FinalsSupersonics 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 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
Nate McMillan 82 29.9 7.6 1.4 2.7 4.1 8.6 2.1 0.6 2.3 2.9 2.9 6.0 .474 0.1 0.3 .375 1.8 2.5 .707
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
Nate McMillan 5 25.4 6.6 1.2 3.0 4.2 6.6 0.4 0.6 1.6 2.2 2.4 7.0 .343 0.0 0.2 .000 1.8 2.8 .643

Season 3

Dennis Johnson Nate McMillan
Season 1978-791988-89
Team Seattle SupersonicsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics 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 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
Nate McMillan 75 31.2 7.1 1.9 3.3 5.2 9.3 2.1 0.6 2.8 3.1 2.7 6.5 .410 0.2 0.9 .214 1.6 2.5 .630
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
Nate McMillan 8 25.0 6.8 1.1 2.0 3.1 7.9 1.3 0.6 2.4 2.6 2.4 5.0 .475 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 3.1 .640

Season 4

Dennis Johnson Nate McMillan
Season 1979-801989-90
Team Seattle SupersonicsSeattle Supersonics
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 >>
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
Nate McMillan 82 28.5 6.4 1.5 3.4 4.9 7.3 1.7 0.5 2.3 3.5 2.5 5.3 .473 0.1 0.4 .355 1.2 1.9 .641
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
Nate McMillan ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Dennis Johnson Nate McMillan
Season 1980-811990-91
Team Phoenix SunsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisSupersonics 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 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
Nate McMillan 78 18.4 4.3 0.9 2.3 3.2 4.8 1.3 0.3 1.6 2.7 1.7 3.9 .433 0.2 0.6 .354 0.7 1.2 .613
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
Nate McMillan 5 19.0 2.8 1.2 2.4 3.6 4.4 1.2 0.2 0.6 3.0 1.2 4.6 .261 0.0 0.4 .000 0.4 0.8 .500

Season 6

Dennis Johnson Nate McMillan
Season 1981-821991-92
Team Phoenix SunsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisSupersonics 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 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
Nate McMillan 72 22.9 6.0 1.3 2.2 3.5 5.0 1.8 0.4 1.6 3.0 2.5 5.6 .437 0.4 1.4 .276 0.8 1.2 .643
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
Nate McMillan 9 27.3 9.6 1.6 2.1 3.7 7.0 1.8 0.3 2.4 3.9 3.9 9.2 .422 0.7 2.9 .231 1.1 1.6 .714

Season 7

Dennis Johnson Nate McMillan
Season 1982-831992-93
Team Phoenix SunsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdSupersonics Lost West 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 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
Nate McMillan 73 27.1 7.5 1.2 3.0 4.2 5.3 2.4 0.5 1.9 3.3 2.9 6.3 .464 0.3 0.9 .385 1.3 1.8 .709
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
Nate McMillan 19 21.8 4.8 1.1 2.4 3.5 5.4 2.1 0.6 1.3 2.8 1.8 5.4 .340 0.3 1.3 .208 0.8 1.6 .533

Season 8

Dennis Johnson Nate McMillan
Season 1983-841993-94
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics 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 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
Nate McMillan 73 25.8 6.0 0.7 3.2 3.9 5.3 3.0 0.3 1.7 2.8 2.4 5.4 .447 0.7 1.8 .391 0.4 0.8 .564
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
Nate McMillan 5 21.8 4.2 1.2 2.0 3.2 2.0 1.2 0.2 1.0 3.6 1.6 5.0 .320 0.8 2.2 .364 0.2 0.8 .250

Season 9

Dennis Johnson Nate McMillan
Season 1984-851994-95
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsSupersonics 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 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
Nate McMillan 80 25.9 5.2 0.8 3.0 3.8 5.3 2.1 0.7 1.6 3.4 2.1 5.0 .418 0.7 1.9 .342 0.4 0.7 .586
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
Nate McMillan 4 28.3 4.8 1.8 2.8 4.5 7.3 2.5 0.5 1.8 3.3 2.0 5.8 .348 0.3 2.0 .125 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 10

Dennis Johnson Nate McMillan
Season 1985-861995-96
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics 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 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
Nate McMillan 55 22.9 5.0 0.7 3.1 3.8 3.6 1.7 0.3 1.4 2.6 1.8 4.3 .420 0.8 2.2 .380 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 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
Nate McMillan 19 20.3 4.4 0.7 3.0 3.7 2.7 1.2 0.3 1.1 1.8 1.5 3.6 .406 1.0 2.1 .475 0.5 0.7 .643

Season 11

Dennis Johnson Nate McMillan
Season 1986-871996-97
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsSupersonics 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 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
Nate McMillan 37 21.6 4.6 0.4 2.8 3.2 3.8 1.6 0.2 0.9 2.1 1.6 4.0 .409 0.8 2.3 .333 0.5 0.8 .655
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
Nate McMillan 3 13.3 0.0 0.3 1.3 1.7 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.7 3.7 0.0 0.7 .000 0.0 0.7 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

Dennis Johnson Nate McMillan
Season 1987-881997-98
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsSupersonics 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 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
Nate McMillan 18 15.5 3.4 0.7 1.5 2.2 3.1 0.8 0.2 0.7 2.3 1.3 3.7 .343 0.8 1.9 .441 0.1 0.1 1.000
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
Nate McMillan 7 14.1 2.3 0.3 2.0 2.3 2.1 0.4 0.3 0.3 2.4 0.9 2.6 .333 0.3 1.7 .167 0.3 0.3 1.000

Season 13

Dennis Johnson Nate McMillan
Season 1988-89-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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
Nate McMillan ------- --- ----------
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 -
Nate McMillan ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Dennis Johnson Nate McMillan
Season 1989-90-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 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
Nate McMillan ------- --- ----------
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
Nate McMillan ------- --- ----------