Don Buse vs. Dikembe Mutombo Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dikembe Mutombo and Don Buse, 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.

Don Buse played 9 years in the NBA, 9 less than Dikembe Mutombo, who played 18. Don Buse had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Dikembe Mutombo had his rookie season in 1991-92. 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
Don Buse 9 6 1976-77 to 1984-85
Dikembe Mutombo 18 13 1991-92 to 2008-09

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

Rookie Season

Don Buse Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1976-771991-92
Team Indiana PacersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse 81 36.4 8.0 0.8 2.5 3.3 8.5 3.5 0.2 - 1.6 3.3 7.9 .416 - - - 1.4 1.8 .786
Dikembe Mutombo 71 38.3 16.6 4.5 7.8 12.3 2.2 0.6 3.0 3.5 3.8 6.0 12.2 .493 0.0 0.0 - 4.5 7.0 .642
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Don Buse Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1977-781992-93
Team Phoenix SunsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Suns Lost West 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 %
Don Buse 82 31.1 8.4 0.7 2.3 3.0 4.8 2.3 0.2 1.5 1.8 3.5 7.6 .458 - - - 1.4 1.7 .824
Dikembe Mutombo 82 36.9 13.8 4.2 8.9 13.0 1.8 0.5 3.5 2.6 3.5 4.9 9.5 .510 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 6.0 .681
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse 2 38.0 4.0 0.0 2.5 2.5 2.0 2.0 0.0 0.5 1.5 2.0 5.5 .364 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
Dikembe Mutombo ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Don Buse Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1978-791993-94
Team Phoenix SunsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Blocks Leader
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsNuggets 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 %
Don Buse 82 31.0 7.8 0.5 2.1 2.6 4.3 1.9 0.2 1.2 1.8 3.5 7.0 .495 - - - 0.9 1.1 .769
Dikembe Mutombo 82 34.8 12.0 3.5 8.4 11.8 1.5 0.7 4.1 2.5 3.2 4.5 7.8 .569 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 5.4 .583
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse 15 34.1 7.9 1.1 2.5 3.7 3.5 1.5 0.3 1.0 2.1 3.1 7.7 .405 - - - 1.6 2.2 .727
Dikembe Mutombo 12 42.6 13.3 3.3 8.7 12.0 1.8 0.7 5.8 2.5 3.5 4.2 9.0 .463 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 8.2 .602

Season 4

Don Buse Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1979-801994-95
Team Phoenix SunsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Blocks Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisNuggets 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 %
Don Buse 81 30.9 7.7 0.9 2.0 2.9 4.0 1.6 0.1 1.1 1.4 3.2 7.3 .443 0.2 1.0 .241 1.0 1.6 .664
Dikembe Mutombo 82 37.8 11.5 3.9 8.7 12.5 1.4 0.5 3.9 2.3 3.5 4.3 7.7 .556 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.6 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse 8 29.5 8.5 1.0 1.6 2.6 5.5 0.8 0.0 1.6 1.9 3.5 8.0 .438 0.6 1.6 .385 0.9 1.4 .636
Dikembe Mutombo 3 28.0 6.0 1.3 5.0 6.3 0.3 0.0 2.3 2.3 5.0 2.0 3.3 .600 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.0 .667

Season 5

Don Buse Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1980-811995-96
Team Indiana PacersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Blocks Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers 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 %
Don Buse 58 18.9 5.1 0.3 1.1 1.4 2.4 1.3 0.1 0.7 1.1 2.0 4.9 .397 0.3 1.0 .328 0.9 1.1 .769
Dikembe Mutombo 74 36.7 11.0 3.4 8.4 11.8 1.5 0.5 4.5 2.0 3.5 3.8 7.7 .499 0.0 0.0 .000 3.3 4.8 .695
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse 2 17.5 2.5 0.0 2.5 2.5 3.5 1.5 0.0 1.0 2.0 0.5 4.0 .125 0.5 2.0 .250 1.0 1.0 1.000
Dikembe Mutombo ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Don Buse Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1981-821996-97
Team Indiana PacersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks 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 %
Don Buse 82 30.8 9.7 0.6 2.2 2.7 5.0 2.0 0.3 1.2 2.1 3.8 8.4 .455 0.9 2.3 .386 1.2 1.5 .813
Dikembe Mutombo 80 37.2 13.3 3.4 8.3 11.6 1.4 0.6 3.3 2.3 3.1 4.8 9.0 .527 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 5.4 .705
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 10 41.5 15.4 3.7 8.6 12.3 1.3 0.1 2.6 2.0 3.0 5.4 8.6 .628 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 6.4 .719

Season 7

Don Buse Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1982-831997-98
Team Portland Trail BlazersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf SemisHawks 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 %
Don Buse 41 15.7 4.7 0.5 0.9 1.3 2.8 1.1 0.0 0.6 1.5 1.8 4.4 .396 0.2 0.9 .257 1.0 1.1 .891
Dikembe Mutombo 82 35.6 13.4 3.4 8.0 11.4 1.0 0.4 3.4 2.0 3.1 4.9 9.1 .537 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.5 .670
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse 5 6.2 1.4 0.0 0.4 0.4 1.4 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.4 1.6 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .750
Dikembe Mutombo 4 34.0 8.0 3.3 9.5 12.8 0.3 0.3 2.3 2.0 2.5 2.8 6.0 .458 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 4.0 .625

Season 8

Don Buse Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1983-841998-99
Team Kansas City KingsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf 1st RdHawks 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 %
Don Buse 76 17.5 5.0 0.4 1.1 1.5 4.0 1.1 0.0 1.1 0.8 2.0 4.6 .426 0.2 0.8 .305 0.8 1.1 .788
Dikembe Mutombo 50 36.6 10.8 3.8 8.4 12.2 1.1 0.3 2.9 1.9 2.9 3.5 6.8 .512 0.0 0.0 - 3.9 5.7 .684
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse 3 16.7 7.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 3.7 0.3 0.3 1.0 1.7 2.3 5.3 .438 1.0 2.0 .500 1.3 2.0 .667
Dikembe Mutombo 9 42.2 12.6 4.0 9.9 13.9 1.2 0.6 2.6 2.0 3.1 4.4 7.9 .563 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.2 .702

Season 9

Don Buse Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1984-851999-00
Team Kansas City KingsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse 65 14.4 3.4 0.3 0.6 0.9 3.1 0.6 0.0 0.7 1.2 1.3 3.1 .404 0.5 1.3 .356 0.4 0.5 .767
Dikembe Mutombo 82 36.4 11.5 3.7 10.4 14.1 1.3 0.3 3.3 2.1 3.0 3.9 7.0 .562 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 5.1 .708
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Don Buse Dikembe Mutombo
Season -2000-01
Team -Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -76ers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 75 34.5 10.0 4.1 9.4 13.5 1.0 0.4 2.7 1.9 2.7 3.6 7.4 .484 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.9 .725
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 23 42.7 13.9 4.9 8.8 13.7 0.7 0.7 3.1 1.6 2.4 4.4 9.0 .490 0.0 0.0 .000 5.0 6.4 .777

Season 11

Don Buse Dikembe Mutombo
Season -2001-02
Team -Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -76ers 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 %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 80 36.3 11.5 3.2 7.6 10.8 1.0 0.4 2.4 2.0 3.0 4.0 8.0 .501 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 4.6 .764
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 5 34.6 8.8 2.8 7.8 10.6 0.6 0.4 1.8 2.2 3.2 2.8 6.2 .452 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 5.2 .615

Season 12

Don Buse Dikembe Mutombo
Season -2002-03
Team -New Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Nets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 24 21.4 5.8 2.3 4.1 6.4 0.8 0.2 1.5 1.4 2.3 2.0 5.5 .374 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.3 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 10 11.5 1.8 0.8 1.9 2.7 0.6 0.3 0.9 0.8 2.1 0.7 1.5 .467 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 13

Don Buse Dikembe Mutombo
Season -2003-04
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 65 23.0 5.6 2.2 4.5 6.7 0.4 0.3 1.9 0.8 2.2 2.2 4.5 .478 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.8 .681
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 3 12.3 2.3 1.3 2.0 3.3 0.0 0.3 1.3 1.0 2.0 0.7 2.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 14

Don Buse Dikembe Mutombo
Season -2004-05
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Rockets 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 %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 80 15.2 4.0 1.9 3.5 5.3 0.1 0.2 1.3 0.6 1.7 1.4 2.7 .498 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.8 .741
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 7 14.4 3.1 1.6 3.4 5.0 0.3 0.3 1.0 1.0 2.1 0.9 1.6 .545 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.9 .769

Season 15

Don Buse Dikembe Mutombo
Season -2005-06
Team -Houston Rockets
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 %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 64 14.9 2.6 1.6 3.2 4.8 0.1 0.3 0.9 0.5 2.0 0.8 1.5 .526 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.4 .758
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Don Buse Dikembe Mutombo
Season -2006-07
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Rockets 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 %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 75 17.2 3.1 2.2 4.3 6.5 0.2 0.3 1.0 0.5 2.1 1.1 2.0 .556 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .690
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 7 5.7 1.3 0.7 0.9 1.6 0.1 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.7 0.4 0.4 1.000 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 17

Don Buse Dikembe Mutombo
Season -2007-08
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Rockets 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 %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 39 15.9 3.0 1.7 3.4 5.1 0.1 0.3 1.2 0.4 1.4 1.1 2.1 .538 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .711
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 6 20.5 3.8 1.7 4.8 6.5 0.3 0.2 1.8 0.2 1.7 1.3 2.2 .615 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.8 .636

Season 18

Don Buse Dikembe Mutombo
Season -2008-09
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Rockets 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 %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 9 10.7 1.8 1.3 2.3 3.7 0.0 0.0 1.2 0.7 1.2 0.6 1.4 .385 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.0 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 2 10.0 0.0 0.5 4.0 4.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 0.0 2.5 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 1.0 .000