Joe Dumars vs. Kevin McHale Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kevin McHale and Joe Dumars, 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 / Stats Rankings / 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.

Joe Dumars played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than Kevin McHale, who played 13. Joe Dumars had the first of his seasons in 1985-86, 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 achievements, 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
Joe Dumars 14 10 1985-86 to 1998-99
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

Rookie Season

Joe Dumars Kevin McHale
Season 1985-861980-81
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 82 23.9 9.4 0.7 0.7 1.5 4.8 0.8 0.1 1.9 2.4 3.5 7.3 .481 0.1 0.2 .313 2.3 2.9 .798
difference:+3.8+0.6+1.2+1.8+2.9+4.1+0.5+1.7-0.6-0.8+0.8+0.8+.052+0.1+0.2+1.0+1.0+.119
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 - 1.3 1.9 .679
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 4 36.8 15.0 1.5 1.8 3.3 6.3 1.0 0.0 1.8 4.0 6.3 10.3 .610 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.8 .667
difference:+13+19.4+6.5+0.2+0.2+5.5+0.8+1.5-0.9-1.0+2.7+3.7+.070+1.1+1.7+.028
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

Joe Dumars Kevin McHale
Season 1986-871981-82
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 79 30.9 11.8 0.6 1.5 2.1 4.5 1.1 0.1 2.2 2.5 4.7 9.5 .493 0.1 0.3 .409 2.3 3.1 .748
difference:+3+2.5+1.8+1.7+3.0+4.7+3.4+0.7+2.2-0.5-0.7+1.0+1.2+.038+0.1+0.3+0.1+.006
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 15 31.5 12.7 0.5 0.7 1.3 4.8 0.8 0.1 1.8 1.7 5.2 9.7 .538 0.1 0.2 .667 2.1 2.7 .780
difference:+3+2.8+3.5+2.9+3.0+5.8+3.9+0.4+2.2-0.5-2.0+1.2+1.5+.037+0.1+0.2+1.2+1.7+.025
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

Joe Dumars Kevin McHale
Season 1987-881982-83
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Pistons Lost NBA FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 82 33.3 14.2 0.8 1.7 2.4 4.7 1.1 0.2 2.1 1.9 5.5 11.7 .472 0.0 0.2 .211 3.1 3.8 .815
difference:+4.7+0.1+1.8+2.4+4.3+3.4+0.7+2.1-0.2-1.0+0.4+0.8+.069+0.2+0.7+0.5+.098
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 - 2.4 3.3 .717
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 23 35.0 12.3 0.8 1.4 2.2 4.9 0.6 0.1 1.7 2.2 4.9 10.7 .457 0.1 0.3 .333 2.4 2.7 .889
difference:+16+9.7+1.2+1.3+2.5+3.8+4.2+0.2+0.9-0.3-0.1+1.8+.091+0.1+0.2+.333+1.0+0.1+.333
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

Joe Dumars Kevin McHale
Season 1988-891983-84
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 69 34.9 17.2 0.8 1.7 2.5 5.7 0.9 0.1 2.6 1.5 6.6 13.1 .505 0.2 0.4 .483 3.8 4.4 .850
difference:+13+3.5+1.2+1.7+3.2+4.9+4.4+0.6+1.4-0.8-1.5+0.6+0.2+.051+0.2+0.4+0.3+1.0+.085
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 - 4.1 5.4 .765
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 17 36.5 17.6 0.6 1.9 2.6 5.6 0.7 0.1 1.8 1.8 6.2 13.7 .455 0.1 0.7 .083 5.1 5.9 .861
difference:+6+6.0+2.8+2.1+1.6+3.6+4.4+0.6+1.4-0.1-1.5+0.9+3.1+.049+0.1+0.6+.083+1.0+0.6+.084
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

Joe Dumars Kevin McHale
Season 1989-901984-85
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 75 34.4 17.8 0.8 2.0 2.8 4.9 0.8 0.0 1.9 1.7 6.8 14.1 .480 0.3 0.7 .400 4.0 4.4 .900
difference:+4+0.8+2.0+2.1+4.1+6.2+3.1+0.4+1.5-0.1-1.3+0.9+0.7+.090+0.3+0.6+.400+0.5+1.5+.140
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 20 37.7 18.2 0.9 1.3 2.2 4.8 1.1 0.0 2.7 1.9 6.5 14.2 .458 0.3 1.0 .263 5.0 5.7 .876
difference:+1+2.2+3.9+2.6+5.1+7.7+3.3+0.5+2.2-0.2-1.6+1.7+0.2+.110+0.3+1.0+0.8+1.4+.069
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

Joe Dumars Kevin McHale
Season 1990-911985-86
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 80 38.1 20.4 0.8 1.6 2.3 5.5 1.1 0.1 2.4 1.7 7.8 16.2 .481 0.2 0.6 .311 4.6 5.2 .890
difference:+12+2.8+0.9+1.7+4.0+5.8+2.8+0.7+1.9-0.2-1.1+0.5+1.8+.093+0.2+0.6+0.2+1.0+.114
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 15 39.2 20.6 1.4 1.9 3.3 4.1 1.1 0.1 1.1 2.2 7.0 16.3 .429 1.1 2.8 .405 5.5 6.5 .845
difference:+3+0.5+4.3+1.4+3.9+5.3+1.4+0.7+2.3-1.6-1.4+2.3+0.2+.150+1.1+2.7+.405+0.7+1.3+.051
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

Joe Dumars Kevin McHale
Season 1991-921986-87
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 82 38.9 19.9 1.0 1.3 2.3 4.6 0.9 0.1 2.4 1.8 7.2 16.0 .448 0.6 1.5 .408 5.0 5.8 .867
difference:+5+0.8+6.2+2.2+5.4+7.6+2.0+0.4+2.1-0.2-1.3+3.1+1.0+.156+0.6+1.4+.408+0.6+0.8+.031
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 5 44.2 16.8 1.0 0.6 1.6 3.2 1.0 0.2 1.4 2.2 6.4 13.6 .471 1.0 2.0 .500 3.0 3.8 .789
difference:+16+4.8+4.3+2.1+5.5+7.6+1.3+0.7+1.2-1.2-1.2+1.9+0.6+.113+1.0+2.0+1.6+2.2+.027
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

Joe Dumars Kevin McHale
Season 1992-931987-88
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 77 40.2 23.5 0.8 1.1 1.9 4.0 1.0 0.1 1.8 1.8 8.8 18.9 .466 1.5 3.9 .375 4.5 5.2 .864
difference:+13+2.9+0.9+1.7+4.8+6.5+1.3+0.6+1.3-0.4-1.0+0.2+4.7+.138+1.5+3.9+0.9+1.6+.067
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars DNP------ --- ----------
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

Joe Dumars Kevin McHale
Season 1993-941988-89
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 >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 69 37.6 20.4 0.5 1.7 2.2 3.8 0.9 0.1 2.3 1.7 7.3 16.2 .452 1.8 4.6 .388 4.0 4.8 .836
difference:+9+0.7+2.1+2.4+3.6+6.0+1.6+0.6+1.1-0.2-1.2+1.2+0.7+.094+1.8+4.5+.388+1.6+2.0+.018
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars DNP------ --- ----------
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

Joe Dumars Kevin McHale
Season 1994-951989-90
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 67 38.0 18.1 0.7 1.7 2.4 5.5 1.1 0.1 3.3 2.3 6.2 14.5 .430 1.5 5.0 .305 4.1 5.1 .805
difference:+15+4.8+2.8+1.8+4.1+5.9+3.4+0.7+1.8-1.1-0.7+1.7+0.1+.119+1.2+4.2+.028+0.7+0.3+.088
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars DNP------ --- ----------
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

Joe Dumars Kevin McHale
Season 1995-961990-91
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 67 32.7 11.8 0.4 1.6 2.1 4.0 0.6 0.0 1.4 1.6 3.8 8.9 .426 1.8 4.4 .406 2.4 2.9 .822
difference:+1+2.3+6.6+1.7+3.3+5.0+2.1+0.2+2.1-0.7-1.3+3.6+4.5+.127+1.6+3.9+.001+1.0+1.1+.007
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 3 41.0 13.7 1.7 2.7 4.3 3.7 0.0 0.0 2.3 1.7 5.3 11.7 .457 1.7 4.7 .357 1.3 1.3 1.000
difference:+8+6.8+7.0+0.1+2.2+2.2+1.9+0.5+1.3-1.0-2.1+1.8+1.8+.070+1.2+3.7+.188+4.7+6.0+.175
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

Joe Dumars Kevin McHale
Season 1996-971991-92
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 79 37.0 14.7 0.5 1.9 2.4 4.0 0.7 0.0 1.6 1.2 4.9 11.1 .440 2.1 4.9 .432 2.8 3.2 .867
difference:+23+12.0+0.8+1.6+1.9+3.5+2.5+0.5+1.1-0.1-0.8+0.9+0.2+.069+2.1+4.7+.432+0.4+0.3+.045
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 5 42.6 13.8 0.4 1.4 1.8 2.0 1.0 0.0 1.2 1.8 4.4 12.2 .361 1.2 4.6 .261 3.8 4.0 .950
difference:+5+12.0+2.7+1.7+3.2+4.9+0.7+0.5+0.5-0.3-1.6+2.1+0.4+.155+1.2+4.5+.261+0.3+0.4+.155
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

Joe Dumars Kevin McHale
Season 1997-981992-93
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars 72 32.3 13.1 0.2 1.3 1.4 3.5 0.6 0.0 1.2 1.4 4.6 11.0 .416 2.2 5.9 .371 1.8 2.1 .825
difference:+1+9.0+2.4+1.1+2.4+3.6+2.5+0.4+0.8-0.1-0.4+0.4+1.9+.043+2.2+5.6+.260+0.5+0.6+.016
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Dumars DNP------ --- ----------
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

Additional Years

* Joe Dumars played 1 season more than Kevin McHale in the NBA.

In that period—his season 14 in 1999—Joe Dumars played in the Playoffs.