Don Chaney vs. Dirk Nowitzki Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dirk Nowitzki and Don Chaney, 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 Chaney played 11 years in the NBA, 10 less than Dirk Nowitzki, who played 21. Don Chaney had the first of his seasons in 1968-69, while Dirk Nowitzki had his rookie season in 1998-99. 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 Chaney 11 6 1968-69 to 1979-80
Dirk Nowitzki 21 15 1998-99 to 2018-19

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21

Rookie Season

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1968-691998-99
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
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 %
Don Chaney 20 10.5 4.0 - - 2.3 1.0 - - - 1.6 1.8 5.7 .319 - - - 0.4 1.0 .400
Dirk Nowitzki 47 20.4 8.2 0.9 2.6 3.4 1.0 0.6 0.6 1.6 2.2 2.9 7.1 .405 0.3 1.4 .206 2.1 2.7 .773
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney 7 3.6 0.7 - - 0.6 0.0 - - - 1.0 0.1 0.9 .167 - - - 0.4 0.6 .750
Dirk Nowitzki ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1969-701999-00
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
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 Chaney 63 13.3 5.0 - - 2.4 1.1 - - - 1.9 1.8 5.1 .359 - - - 1.3 1.7 .752
Dirk Nowitzki 82 35.8 17.5 1.2 5.2 6.5 2.5 0.8 0.8 1.7 3.1 6.3 13.6 .461 1.4 3.7 .379 3.5 4.2 .830
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1970-712000-01
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks 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 Chaney 81 28.3 11.5 - - 5.7 2.9 - - - 3.6 4.3 9.5 .454 - - - 2.9 3.9 .748
Dirk Nowitzki 82 38.1 21.8 1.5 7.7 9.2 2.1 1.0 1.2 1.9 3.0 7.2 15.2 .474 1.8 4.8 .387 5.5 6.6 .838
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 10 39.9 23.4 1.4 6.7 8.1 1.4 1.1 0.8 1.4 3.7 6.9 16.3 .423 1.3 4.6 .283 8.3 9.4 .883

Season 4

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1971-722001-02
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsMavericks 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 Chaney 79 28.8 11.9 - - 5.0 2.6 - - - 3.7 4.7 9.9 .475 - - - 2.5 3.2 .773
Dirk Nowitzki 76 38.0 23.4 1.6 8.4 9.9 2.4 1.1 1.0 1.9 2.9 7.9 16.6 .477 1.8 4.6 .397 5.8 6.8 .853
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney 11 24.6 8.8 - - 3.5 2.0 - - - 3.5 3.7 7.4 .506 - - - 1.4 1.8 .750
Dirk Nowitzki 8 44.6 28.4 2.1 11.0 13.1 2.3 2.0 0.8 2.8 3.4 9.1 20.5 .445 2.0 3.5 .571 8.1 9.3 .878

Season 5

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1972-732002-03
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsMavericks 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 %
Don Chaney 79 31.5 13.1 - - 5.7 2.8 - - - 3.5 5.2 10.9 .482 - - - 2.7 3.4 .787
Dirk Nowitzki 80 39.0 25.1 1.0 8.9 9.9 3.0 1.4 1.0 1.9 2.6 8.6 18.6 .463 1.9 4.9 .379 6.0 6.9 .881
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney 12 24.0 7.5 - - 3.3 2.1 - - - 3.4 3.3 6.8 .476 - - - 1.0 1.4 .706
Dirk Nowitzki 17 42.5 25.3 0.9 10.6 11.5 2.2 1.2 0.9 2.4 3.1 8.8 18.4 .479 1.6 3.6 .443 6.1 6.6 .912

Season 6

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1973-742003-04
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks 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 Chaney 81 27.9 10.4 2.6 2.1 4.7 2.2 1.0 0.8 - 3.0 4.3 9.3 .464 - - - 1.8 2.2 .828
Dirk Nowitzki 77 37.9 21.8 1.2 7.5 8.7 2.7 1.2 1.4 1.8 2.8 7.9 17.0 .462 1.3 3.8 .341 4.8 5.5 .877
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney 18 30.3 9.5 2.1 2.2 4.3 2.2 1.3 0.5 - 3.6 3.6 7.8 .461 - - - 2.3 2.8 .820
Dirk Nowitzki 5 42.2 26.6 2.6 9.2 11.8 1.4 1.4 2.6 1.2 3.2 9.0 20.0 .450 1.4 3.0 .467 7.2 8.4 .857

Season 7

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1974-752004-05
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsMavericks 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 Chaney 82 26.9 9.5 2.1 2.4 4.5 2.2 1.5 0.8 - 3.0 3.9 9.1 .428 - - - 1.6 2.0 .806
Dirk Nowitzki 78 38.7 26.1 1.2 8.5 9.7 3.1 1.2 1.5 2.3 2.8 8.5 18.5 .459 1.2 2.9 .399 7.9 9.1 .869
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney 11 26.7 10.8 2.2 1.3 3.5 1.9 1.9 0.5 - 4.2 4.4 9.5 .457 - - - 2.1 2.6 .793
Dirk Nowitzki 13 42.5 23.7 1.9 8.2 10.1 3.3 1.4 1.6 2.5 3.2 7.9 19.7 .402 0.8 2.3 .333 7.1 8.5 .829

Note: Don Chaney didn't play in 1975-76.

Season 8

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1976-772005-06
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsMavericks 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 Chaney 81 29.7 6.1 1.5 2.6 4.1 3.8 1.7 0.4 - 2.8 2.6 6.4 .408 - - - 0.9 1.2 .745
Dirk Nowitzki 81 38.1 26.6 1.4 7.6 9.0 2.8 0.7 1.0 1.9 2.0 9.3 19.3 .480 1.4 3.3 .406 6.7 7.4 .901
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney 11 37.5 8.0 2.2 2.5 4.7 4.4 1.9 0.3 - 2.9 3.3 8.7 .375 - - - 1.5 2.0 .727
Dirk Nowitzki 23 42.7 27.0 2.0 9.6 11.7 2.9 1.1 0.6 2.1 2.8 8.5 18.2 .468 1.0 2.9 .343 8.9 10.0 .895

Season 9

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1977-782006-07
Team Los Angeles Lakers, Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 Chaney 51 16.4 4.8 0.8 1.5 2.3 1.3 0.9 0.3 1.2 2.1 2.0 5.3 .387 - - - 0.7 0.9 .844
Dirk Nowitzki 78 36.2 24.6 1.6 7.3 8.9 3.4 0.7 0.8 2.1 2.2 8.6 17.2 .502 0.9 2.2 .416 6.4 7.1 .904
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 6 39.8 19.7 4.2 7.2 11.3 2.3 1.8 1.3 2.3 3.3 6.0 15.7 .383 0.7 3.2 .211 7.0 8.3 .840

Season 10

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1978-792007-08
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 Chaney 65 16.5 5.9 1.0 1.2 2.2 1.2 1.1 0.2 1.0 2.6 2.7 6.4 .420 - - - 0.6 0.6 .857
Dirk Nowitzki 77 36.0 23.6 1.2 7.3 8.6 3.5 0.7 0.9 2.1 2.6 8.2 17.1 .479 1.0 2.9 .359 6.2 7.1 .879
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 5 42.2 26.8 2.0 10.0 12.0 4.0 0.2 1.4 2.0 2.6 8.6 18.2 .473 1.2 3.6 .333 8.4 10.4 .808

Season 11

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1979-802008-09
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks 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 Chaney 60 8.7 2.8 0.5 0.7 1.2 0.6 0.5 0.2 0.6 1.3 1.1 3.2 .354 0.0 0.1 .167 0.5 0.7 .762
Dirk Nowitzki 81 37.7 25.9 1.1 7.3 8.4 2.4 0.8 0.8 1.9 2.2 9.6 20.0 .479 0.8 2.1 .359 6.0 6.7 .890
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 10 39.4 26.8 1.2 8.9 10.1 3.1 0.9 0.8 2.3 2.1 8.8 17.0 .518 0.6 2.1 .286 8.6 9.3 .925

Season 12

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season -2009-10
Team -Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 81 37.5 25.0 1.0 6.7 7.7 2.7 0.9 1.0 1.8 2.6 8.9 18.5 .481 0.6 1.5 .421 6.6 7.2 .915
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 6 38.8 26.7 1.2 7.0 8.2 3.0 0.8 0.7 1.7 2.5 9.7 17.7 .547 0.7 1.2 .571 6.7 7.0 .952

Season 13

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season -2010-11
Team -Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -NBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 73 34.3 23.0 0.7 6.3 7.0 2.6 0.5 0.6 1.9 2.4 8.4 16.2 .517 0.9 2.3 .393 5.4 6.1 .892
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 21 39.3 27.7 0.6 7.6 8.1 2.5 0.6 0.6 3.1 2.2 9.1 18.9 .485 1.1 2.4 .460 8.3 8.9 .941

Season 14

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season -2011-12
Team -Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 62 33.5 21.6 0.7 6.0 6.7 2.2 0.7 0.5 1.9 2.1 7.6 16.7 .457 1.3 3.4 .368 5.1 5.7 .896
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 4 38.5 26.8 0.8 5.5 6.3 1.8 0.8 0.0 2.5 2.3 8.5 19.3 .442 0.3 1.5 .167 9.5 10.5 .905

Season 15

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season -2012-13
Team -Dallas Mavericks
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 Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 53 31.3 17.3 0.7 6.2 6.8 2.5 0.7 0.7 1.3 1.8 6.5 13.7 .471 1.2 3.0 .414 3.1 3.6 .860
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season -2013-14
Team -Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 80 32.9 21.7 0.5 5.7 6.2 2.7 0.9 0.6 1.5 2.1 7.9 15.9 .497 1.6 4.1 .398 4.2 4.7 .899
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 7 37.6 19.1 0.7 7.3 8.0 1.6 0.9 0.9 2.1 2.9 7.7 18.0 .429 0.1 1.7 .083 3.6 4.4 .806

Season 17

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season -2014-15
Team -Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 77 29.6 17.3 0.6 5.4 5.9 1.9 0.5 0.4 1.1 2.1 6.3 13.8 .459 1.4 3.6 .380 3.3 3.8 .882
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 5 36.2 21.2 0.8 9.6 10.4 2.4 0.4 0.4 2.0 3.2 7.6 16.8 .452 0.8 3.4 .235 5.2 5.6 .929

Season 18

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season -2015-16
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 Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 75 31.5 18.3 0.7 5.8 6.5 1.8 0.7 0.7 1.1 2.1 6.6 14.8 .448 1.7 4.6 .368 3.3 3.7 .893
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 5 34.0 20.4 0.6 4.2 4.8 1.6 0.4 0.6 1.4 1.8 8.2 16.6 .494 0.8 2.2 .364 3.2 3.4 .941

Season 19

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season -2016-17
Team -Dallas Mavericks
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 Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 54 26.4 14.2 0.4 6.1 6.5 1.5 0.6 0.7 0.9 2.1 5.5 12.6 .437 1.5 3.9 .378 1.8 2.1 .875
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki ------- --- ----------

Season 20

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season -2017-18
Team -Dallas Mavericks
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 Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 77 24.7 12.0 0.3 5.4 5.7 1.6 0.6 0.6 0.7 1.9 4.5 9.8 .456 1.8 4.4 .409 1.3 1.4 .898
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki ------- --- ----------

Season 21

Don Chaney Dirk Nowitzki
Season -2018-19
Team -Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 51 15.6 7.3 0.1 3.0 3.1 0.7 0.2 0.4 0.4 1.5 2.6 7.4 .359 1.3 4.0 .312 0.8 1.0 .780
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Chaney ------- --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki ------- --- ----------