John Gianelli vs. Kevin McHale Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kevin McHale and John Gianelli, 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.

John Gianelli played 8 years in the NBA, 5 less than Kevin McHale, who played 13. John Gianelli had the first of his seasons in 1972-73, 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
John Gianelli 8 4 1972-73 to 1979-80
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

John Gianelli Kevin McHale
Season 1972-731980-81
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Gianelli 52 9.9 3.5 - - 2.9 0.5 - - - 1.4 1.5 3.4 .451 - - - 0.4 0.6 .697
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 %
John Gianelli 7 7.9 3.6 - - 1.9 0.1 - - - 0.9 1.6 2.9 .550 - - - 0.4 1.0 .429
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

John Gianelli Kevin McHale
Season 1973-741981-82
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsCeltics 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 %
John Gianelli 70 20.3 7.3 1.6 3.3 4.9 1.1 0.3 0.6 - 2.3 3.0 6.2 .479 - - - 1.3 1.7 .760
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 %
John Gianelli 12 28.2 7.3 3.3 4.1 7.3 1.9 0.3 0.5 - 3.4 2.9 7.2 .407 - - - 1.5 2.1 .720
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

John Gianelli Kevin McHale
Season 1974-751982-83
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
John Gianelli 80 35.0 10.3 2.7 5.9 8.6 2.0 0.5 1.5 - 3.3 4.3 9.1 .472 - - - 1.7 2.4 .692
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 %
John Gianelli 3 31.0 8.3 1.7 3.0 4.7 0.7 0.0 1.3 - 3.3 3.7 8.0 .458 - - - 1.0 1.0 1.000
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

John Gianelli Kevin McHale
Season 1975-761983-84
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
John Gianelli 82 28.4 9.3 2.3 4.5 6.7 1.4 0.3 0.8 - 2.4 4.0 8.4 .473 - - - 1.4 2.0 .713
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 %
John Gianelli ------- --- ----------
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

John Gianelli Kevin McHale
Season 1976-771984-85
Team New York Knicks, Buffalo BravesBoston 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 %
John Gianelli 76 25.2 7.9 2.0 4.2 6.3 1.1 0.5 1.3 - 2.3 3.4 7.6 .444 - - - 1.2 1.6 .720
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 %
John Gianelli ------- --- ----------
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

John Gianelli Kevin McHale
Season 1977-781985-86
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Gianelli 82 28.4 8.5 2.0 4.2 6.2 2.3 0.7 1.1 1.8 2.3 3.7 7.7 .488 - - - 1.0 1.5 .642
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 %
John Gianelli 9 32.2 7.8 1.8 4.7 6.4 1.6 0.9 1.2 1.4 2.7 2.8 6.6 .424 - - - 2.2 2.9 .769
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

John Gianelli Kevin McHale
Season 1978-791986-87
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
John Gianelli 82 25.1 7.1 1.5 3.5 5.0 2.0 0.5 0.7 1.3 2.4 3.1 6.4 .486 - - - 0.9 1.2 .706
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 %
John Gianelli ------- --- ----------
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

John Gianelli Kevin McHale
Season 1979-801987-88
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
John Gianelli 17 16.8 3.2 0.8 2.8 3.6 1.0 0.4 0.4 1.3 1.5 1.4 3.9 .348 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.9 .563
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 %
John Gianelli ------- --- ----------
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

John Gianelli Kevin McHale
Season -1988-89
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
John Gianelli ------- --- ----------
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 %
John Gianelli ------- --- ----------
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

John Gianelli Kevin McHale
Season -1989-90
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
John Gianelli ------- --- ----------
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 %
John Gianelli ------- --- ----------
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

John Gianelli Kevin McHale
Season -1990-91
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
John Gianelli ------- --- ----------
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 %
John Gianelli ------- --- ----------
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

John Gianelli Kevin McHale
Season -1991-92
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 %
John Gianelli ------- --- ----------
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 %
John Gianelli ------- --- ----------
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

John Gianelli Kevin McHale
Season -1992-93
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
John Gianelli ------- --- ----------
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 %
John Gianelli ------- --- ----------
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