Don Buse vs. Monta Ellis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Monta Ellis 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, 3 less than Monta Ellis, who played 12. Don Buse had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Monta Ellis had his rookie season in 2005-06. 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
Monta Ellis 12 6 2005-06 to 2016-17

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

Don Buse Monta Ellis
Season 1976-772005-06
Team Indiana PacersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement Steals 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 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
Monta Ellis 49 18.1 6.8 0.4 1.7 2.1 1.6 0.7 0.2 1.2 1.4 2.7 6.5 .415 0.6 1.7 .341 0.9 1.2 .712
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Monta Ellis ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Don Buse Monta Ellis
Season 1977-782006-07
Team Phoenix SunsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Most Improved Player
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdWarriors 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 31.1 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
Monta Ellis 77 34.3 16.5 0.8 2.4 3.2 4.1 1.7 0.3 2.9 2.7 6.2 13.1 .475 0.5 1.9 .273 3.5 4.6 .763
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 -
Monta Ellis 11 21.6 8.0 0.7 1.5 2.3 0.9 0.9 0.2 1.8 2.1 2.9 7.5 .390 0.1 0.8 .111 2.1 2.5 .821

Season 3

Don Buse Monta Ellis
Season 1978-792007-08
Team Phoenix SunsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Suns 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 %
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
Monta Ellis 81 37.9 20.2 1.6 3.3 5.0 3.9 1.5 0.3 2.1 2.4 8.0 15.1 .531 0.1 0.6 .231 4.0 5.1 .767
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
Monta Ellis ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Don Buse Monta Ellis
Season 1979-802008-09
Team Phoenix SunsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisDid 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 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
Monta Ellis 25 35.7 19.0 0.6 3.8 4.3 3.7 1.6 0.3 2.7 2.7 7.8 17.2 .451 0.3 1.0 .308 3.1 3.8 .830
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
Monta Ellis ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Don Buse Monta Ellis
Season 1980-812009-10
Team Indiana PacersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
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
Monta Ellis 64 41.4 25.5 0.7 3.3 4.0 5.3 2.2 0.4 3.8 3.0 9.9 22.0 .449 1.2 3.6 .338 4.6 6.1 .753
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
Monta Ellis ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Don Buse Monta Ellis
Season 1981-822010-11
Team Indiana PacersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
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 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
Monta Ellis 80 40.3 24.1 0.6 3.0 3.5 5.6 2.1 0.3 3.2 2.5 9.1 20.1 .451 1.7 4.7 .361 4.3 5.4 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Monta Ellis ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Don Buse Monta Ellis
Season 1982-832011-12
Team Portland Trail BlazersGolden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf SemisDid 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 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
Monta Ellis 58 36.6 20.4 0.3 3.1 3.4 6.0 1.5 0.3 3.1 2.3 7.8 17.9 .433 1.1 3.5 .308 3.8 4.7 .796
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
Monta Ellis ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Don Buse Monta Ellis
Season 1983-842012-13
Team Kansas City KingsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf 1st RdBucks 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 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
Monta Ellis 82 37.5 19.2 0.5 3.3 3.9 6.0 2.1 0.4 3.1 2.0 7.3 17.5 .416 1.1 4.0 .287 3.5 4.6 .773
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
Monta Ellis 4 38.0 14.3 0.5 2.8 3.3 5.5 2.5 0.3 3.5 2.0 6.0 13.8 .436 0.8 4.8 .158 1.5 4.0 .375

Season 9

Don Buse Monta Ellis
Season 1984-852013-14
Team Kansas City KingsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks 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 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
Monta Ellis 82 36.9 19.0 0.5 3.1 3.6 5.7 1.7 0.3 3.2 2.4 7.0 15.6 .451 0.8 2.5 .330 4.1 5.2 .788
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Monta Ellis 7 35.6 20.4 0.9 1.6 2.4 2.9 1.3 0.1 2.1 2.7 7.4 18.1 .409 1.7 4.9 .353 3.9 4.4 .871

Season 10

Don Buse Monta Ellis
Season -2014-15
Team -Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Mavericks 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 ------- --- ----------
Monta Ellis 80 33.7 18.9 0.4 2.0 2.4 4.1 1.9 0.3 2.5 2.5 7.5 16.9 .445 1.0 3.6 .285 2.9 3.8 .752
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Monta Ellis 5 39.4 26.0 0.8 2.4 3.2 5.2 2.0 0.6 3.2 3.6 10.4 22.2 .468 2.2 6.0 .367 3.0 4.0 .750

Season 11

Don Buse Monta Ellis
Season -2015-16
Team -Indiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pacers 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 ------- --- ----------
Monta Ellis 81 33.8 13.8 0.5 2.8 3.3 4.7 1.9 0.5 2.5 2.1 5.4 12.6 .427 1.1 3.5 .309 2.0 2.5 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Monta Ellis 7 32.1 11.6 0.6 3.3 3.9 4.3 2.1 0.0 2.4 2.4 4.7 10.9 .434 1.0 3.0 .333 1.1 1.4 .800

Season 12

Don Buse Monta Ellis
Season -2016-17
Team -Indiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pacers 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 ------- --- ----------
Monta Ellis 74 27.0 8.5 0.3 2.5 2.8 3.2 1.1 0.4 1.8 2.0 3.3 7.5 .443 0.6 1.8 .319 1.3 1.7 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Monta Ellis 4 19.0 5.5 0.3 1.8 2.0 1.3 0.5 0.3 1.0 1.3 2.0 5.0 .400 0.5 2.0 .250 1.0 1.3 .800