Grant Long vs. Kevin McHale Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kevin McHale and Grant Long, 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.

Grant Long played 15 years in the NBA, 2 more than Kevin McHale, who played 13. Grant Long had the first of his seasons in 1988-89, while Kevin McHale had his rookie season in 1980-81. 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
Grant Long 15 7 1988-89 to 2002-03
Kevin McHale 13 13 1980-81 to 1992-93

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Grant Long Kevin McHale
Season 1988-891980-81
Team Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 82 29.7 11.9 2.9 3.7 6.7 1.8 1.5 0.6 2.5 4.1 4.1 8.4 .486 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 5.0 .749
Kevin McHale 82 20.1 10.0 1.9 2.5 4.4 0.7 0.3 1.8 1.3 3.2 4.3 8.1 .533 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 1.9 .679
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 17 17.4 8.5 1.7 1.8 3.5 0.8 0.2 1.5 0.9 3.0 3.6 6.6 .540 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.1 .639

Season 2

Grant Long Kevin McHale
Season 1989-901981-82
Team Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Grant Long 81 22.9 8.5 1.9 3.0 5.0 1.2 1.1 0.5 1.7 3.7 3.2 6.6 .483 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.0 .714
Kevin McHale 82 28.4 13.6 2.3 4.5 6.8 1.1 0.4 2.3 1.7 3.2 5.7 10.7 .531 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.0 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 12 28.7 16.2 3.4 3.7 7.1 0.9 0.4 2.3 1.3 3.7 6.4 11.2 .575 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.4 .755

Season 3

Grant Long Kevin McHale
Season 1990-911982-83
Team Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Grant Long 80 31.4 9.2 2.8 4.3 7.1 2.2 1.5 0.5 2.0 3.7 3.5 7.0 .492 0.0 0.1 .167 2.3 2.9 .787
Kevin McHale 82 28.6 14.1 2.6 4.1 6.7 1.3 0.4 2.3 1.9 2.9 5.9 10.9 .541 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.3 .717
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 7 25.3 11.1 2.1 3.9 6.0 0.7 0.4 1.0 1.4 2.3 4.9 8.9 .548 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.6 .556

Season 4

Grant Long Kevin McHale
Season 1991-921983-84
Team Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East 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 %
Grant Long 82 37.4 14.8 3.2 5.3 8.4 2.7 1.7 0.5 2.3 3.0 5.4 10.9 .494 0.1 0.3 .273 4.0 4.9 .807
Kevin McHale 82 31.4 18.4 2.5 4.9 7.4 1.3 0.3 1.5 1.8 3.0 7.2 12.9 .556 0.0 0.0 .333 4.1 5.4 .765
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 3 40.0 12.3 2.3 2.7 5.0 2.7 1.7 0.0 1.7 3.7 5.0 12.0 .417 0.0 1.3 .000 2.3 3.3 .700
Kevin McHale 23 30.5 14.8 2.7 3.5 6.2 1.2 0.1 1.5 1.7 3.3 5.3 10.6 .504 0.0 0.1 .000 4.1 5.3 .777

Season 5

Grant Long Kevin McHale
Season 1992-931984-85
Team Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 76 35.9 14.0 2.6 4.9 7.5 2.4 1.4 0.4 1.8 3.5 5.2 11.1 .469 0.1 0.3 .231 3.4 4.5 .765
Kevin McHale 79 33.6 19.8 2.9 6.1 9.0 1.8 0.4 1.5 2.0 3.0 7.7 13.4 .570 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 5.9 .760
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 21 39.9 22.1 3.5 6.4 9.9 1.5 0.6 2.2 2.9 3.5 8.2 14.4 .568 0.0 0.0 - 5.8 7.1 .807

Season 6

Grant Long Kevin McHale
Season 1993-941985-86
Team Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East 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 %
Grant Long 69 31.9 11.4 2.8 4.4 7.2 2.5 1.3 0.4 1.8 3.5 4.3 9.7 .446 0.0 0.1 .167 2.7 3.4 .786
Kevin McHale 68 35.3 21.3 2.5 5.6 8.1 2.7 0.4 2.0 2.2 2.8 8.3 14.4 .574 0.0 0.0 - 4.8 6.2 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 4 27.5 12.3 2.5 2.0 4.5 1.8 0.8 0.5 2.5 4.0 3.5 9.0 .389 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 6.8 .778
Kevin McHale 18 39.7 24.9 2.8 5.8 8.6 2.7 0.4 2.4 2.7 3.6 9.3 16.1 .579 0.0 0.1 .000 6.2 7.8 .794

Season 7

Grant Long Kevin McHale
Season 1994-951986-87
Team Miami Heat, Atlanta HawksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 81 32.6 11.6 2.4 5.1 7.5 1.6 1.3 0.4 1.9 3.0 4.2 8.8 .478 0.1 0.4 .355 3.0 4.0 .751
Kevin McHale 77 39.7 26.1 3.2 6.7 9.9 2.6 0.5 2.2 2.6 3.1 10.3 17.0 .604 0.0 0.1 .000 5.6 6.6 .836
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 3 36.7 13.7 4.3 7.0 11.3 1.3 1.3 0.3 2.7 3.7 4.7 9.3 .500 0.0 0.3 .000 4.3 6.0 .722
Kevin McHale 21 39.4 21.1 3.1 6.1 9.2 1.9 0.3 1.4 2.6 3.4 8.3 14.2 .584 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 6.0 .762

Season 8

Grant Long Kevin McHale
Season 1995-961987-88
Team Atlanta HawksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisCeltics 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 %
Grant Long 82 36.7 13.1 3.0 6.6 9.6 2.2 1.3 0.4 1.9 2.8 4.8 10.2 .471 0.4 1.0 .360 3.1 4.1 .763
Kevin McHale 64 37.3 22.6 2.5 5.9 8.4 2.7 0.4 1.4 2.2 2.8 8.6 14.2 .604 0.0 0.0 - 5.4 6.8 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 10 36.2 11.4 3.0 5.6 8.6 2.8 0.7 0.3 1.9 2.7 4.4 11.1 .396 0.6 2.4 .250 2.0 2.5 .800
Kevin McHale 17 42.1 25.4 3.2 4.8 8.0 2.4 0.4 1.8 2.3 3.8 9.3 15.4 .603 0.1 0.1 1.000 6.8 8.1 .839

Season 9

Grant Long Kevin McHale
Season 1996-971988-89
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
Grant Long 65 17.9 5.0 1.4 2.1 3.4 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.7 1.6 1.9 4.2 .447 0.3 0.7 .362 1.0 1.3 .750
Kevin McHale 78 36.9 22.5 2.9 5.3 8.2 2.2 0.3 1.2 2.5 2.9 8.5 15.5 .546 0.0 0.1 .000 5.6 6.8 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 5 17.4 5.0 0.8 1.4 2.2 0.6 0.8 0.0 0.0 2.2 1.6 3.6 .444 0.0 0.4 .000 1.8 2.2 .818
Kevin McHale 3 38.3 19.0 2.3 5.7 8.0 3.0 0.3 0.7 1.3 4.3 6.7 13.7 .488 0.0 0.0 - 5.7 7.7 .739

Season 10

Grant Long Kevin McHale
Season 1997-981989-90
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Grant Long 40 18.5 3.5 1.4 2.3 3.8 0.6 0.7 0.3 0.6 2.3 1.3 2.9 .427 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 1.4 .719
Kevin McHale 82 33.2 20.9 2.5 5.8 8.3 2.1 0.4 1.9 2.2 3.0 7.9 14.4 .549 0.3 0.8 .333 4.8 5.4 .893
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 5 38.4 22.0 1.6 6.2 7.8 2.6 0.4 2.0 2.8 3.4 8.4 13.8 .609 0.2 0.6 .333 5.0 5.8 .862

Season 11

Grant Long Kevin McHale
Season 1998-991990-91
Team Atlanta HawksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisCeltics 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 %
Grant Long 50 27.6 9.8 2.0 3.9 5.9 1.1 1.1 0.3 1.5 2.9 3.0 7.2 .421 0.1 0.4 .167 3.7 4.7 .783
Kevin McHale 68 30.4 18.4 2.1 4.9 7.1 1.9 0.4 2.1 2.1 2.9 7.4 13.4 .553 0.2 0.5 .405 3.4 4.0 .829
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 9 39.8 11.7 3.1 5.1 8.2 0.9 2.0 0.4 2.6 3.0 4.0 9.8 .409 0.1 0.4 .250 3.6 4.9 .727
Kevin McHale 11 34.2 20.7 1.6 4.9 6.5 1.8 0.5 1.3 1.3 3.8 7.1 13.5 .527 0.5 1.0 .545 6.0 7.3 .825

Season 12

Grant Long Kevin McHale
Season 1999-001991-92
Team Vancouver GrizzliesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Grant Long 42 21.9 4.8 2.0 3.5 5.6 1.0 1.1 0.2 1.2 2.6 1.8 4.0 .443 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 1.7 .775
Kevin McHale 56 25.0 13.9 2.1 3.8 5.9 1.5 0.2 1.1 1.5 2.0 5.8 11.3 .509 0.0 0.2 .000 2.4 2.9 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 10 30.6 16.5 2.1 4.6 6.7 1.3 0.5 0.5 0.9 3.4 6.5 12.6 .516 0.0 0.1 .000 3.5 4.4 .795

Season 13

Grant Long Kevin McHale
Season 2000-011992-93
Team Vancouver GrizzliesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Grant Long 66 22.8 6.0 1.2 3.0 4.2 1.3 1.1 0.2 0.9 2.4 2.1 4.8 .439 0.1 0.2 .267 1.7 2.4 .713
Kevin McHale 71 23.3 10.7 1.3 3.7 5.0 1.0 0.2 0.8 1.3 1.8 4.2 9.1 .459 0.0 0.3 .111 2.3 2.7 .841
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 4 28.3 19.0 2.3 5.0 7.3 0.8 0.5 1.8 1.3 1.5 8.0 13.8 .582 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.5 .857

Season 14

Grant Long Kevin McHale
Season 2001-02-
Team Memphis Grizzlies-
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 %
Grant Long 66 28.3 6.3 0.5 3.0 3.5 2.1 1.0 0.2 1.6 1.9 2.5 5.8 .426 0.0 0.3 .176 1.3 1.9 .699
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Grant Long Kevin McHale
Season 2002-03-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Grant Long 41 11.9 1.8 0.6 1.4 2.0 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.5 1.5 0.7 1.7 .386 0.0 0.1 .000 0.4 0.6 .783
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 8 4.4 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.5 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------