Kevin McHale vs. Dennis Rodman Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dennis Rodman and Kevin McHale, 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 / 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.

Kevin McHale played 13 years in the NBA, 1 less than Dennis Rodman, who played 14. Kevin McHale had the first of his seasons in 1980-81, while Dennis Rodman had his rookie season in 1986-87. 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
Kevin McHale 13 13 1980-81 to 1992-93
Dennis Rodman 14 11 1986-87 to 1999-00

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season

Kevin McHale Dennis Rodman
Season 1980-811986-87
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+5+5.1+3.5+0.2+0.3+0.1+0.2+1.2-0.1-1.0+1.5+3.0+.012+0.3+0.3+.092
Dennis Rodman 77 15.0 6.5 2.1 2.2 4.3 0.7 0.5 0.6 1.2 2.2 2.8 5.1 .545 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.6 .587
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+2+1.1+2.0+0.4+0.8+1.2+0.6+0.2+0.4-0.2-0.2+0.9+1.7+.001+0.2+.076
Dennis Rodman 15 16.3 6.5 2.1 2.6 4.7 0.2 0.4 1.1 1.1 3.2 2.7 4.9 .541 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 2.1 .563

Season 2

Kevin McHale Dennis Rodman
Season 1981-821987-88
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsPistons Lost NBA 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%
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
difference:+2.2+2.0+1.6+0.3+1.9+0.2+0.5+1.8-0.2-0.1+0.8+2.1+.030+0.1+0.2+0.4+0.5+.219
Dennis Rodman 82 26.2 11.6 3.9 4.8 8.7 1.3 0.9 0.5 1.9 3.3 4.9 8.6 .561 0.1 0.2 .294 1.9 3.5 .535
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+11+8.1+9.1+1.2+1.2+0.2+1.7-0.1+3.3+5.3+.053+0.1+2.3+2.1+.348
Dennis Rodman 23 20.6 7.1 2.2 3.7 5.9 0.9 0.6 0.6 1.3 3.8 3.1 5.9 .522 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 2.3 .407

Season 3

Kevin McHale Dennis Rodman
Season 1982-831988-89
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+1.7+5.1+1.4+1.3+2.7+0.1+0.3+1.4-0.4-0.7+2.0+4.4+.054+0.1+0.3+1.2+1.4+.091
Dennis Rodman 82 26.9 9.0 4.0 5.4 9.4 1.2 0.7 0.9 1.5 3.6 3.9 6.5 .595 0.1 0.3 .231 1.2 1.9 .626
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+10+1.2+5.3+1.2+2.8+4.0+0.2+0.3-1.1+2.7+4.8+.019+0.1+0.5+.130
Dennis Rodman 17 24.1 5.8 3.3 6.7 10.0 0.9 0.4 0.7 1.4 3.4 2.2 4.1 .529 0.0 0.2 .000 1.4 2.1 .686

Season 4

Kevin McHale Dennis Rodman
Season 1983-841989-90
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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%
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
difference:+2.4+9.6+1.6+0.7+2.3+0.4+0.3+0.8-0.7-0.4+3.7+6.9+.025+0.1+2.4+2.8+.111
Dennis Rodman 82 29.0 8.8 4.1 5.6 9.7 0.9 0.6 0.7 1.1 3.4 3.5 6.0 .581 0.0 0.1 .111 1.7 2.6 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+4+1.0+8.2+0.2+2.1+2.3+0.3+0.4+0.8-0.1+2.5+5.6+.064+0.1+3.2+3.5+.263
Dennis Rodman 19 29.5 6.6 2.9 5.6 8.5 0.9 0.5 0.7 1.6 3.3 2.8 5.0 .568 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.8 .514

Season 5

Kevin McHale Dennis Rodman
Season 1984-851990-91
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsPistons Lost East Conf 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%
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
difference:+3+0.1+11.6+1.5+2.0+3.5+0.8+0.4+0.8-0.9-0.4+4.3+6.6+.077+0.1+0.3+.200+3.1+3.8+.129
Dennis Rodman 82 33.5 8.2 4.4 8.1 12.5 1.0 0.8 0.7 1.1 3.4 3.4 6.8 .493 0.1 0.4 .200 1.4 2.1 .631
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+6+6.9+15.8+1.0+0.9+1.9+0.6+0.1+1.5-2.0-0.2+5.5+8.3+.117+0.1+0.6+5.1+5.5+.390
Dennis Rodman 15 33.0 6.3 4.5 7.3 11.8 0.9 0.7 0.7 0.9 3.7 2.7 6.1 .451 0.1 0.6 .222 0.7 1.6 .417

Season 6

Kevin McHale Dennis Rodman
Season 1985-861991-92
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+14+5.0+11.5+3.9+6.7+10.6+0.4+0.4+1.1-0.5-0.2+4.1+6.7+.035+0.4+1.2+3.8+4.5+.176
Dennis Rodman 82 40.3 9.8 6.4 12.3 18.7 2.3 0.8 0.9 1.7 3.0 4.2 7.7 .539 0.4 1.2 .317 1.0 1.7 .600
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+13+8.5+17.7+0.4+1.2+1.6+0.9+0.4+2.0-1.3-0.2+6.1+10.7+.014+0.3+5.4+6.2+.294
Dennis Rodman 5 31.2 7.2 3.2 7.0 10.2 1.8 0.8 0.4 1.4 3.4 3.2 5.4 .593 0.0 0.4 .000 0.8 1.6 .500

Season 7

Kevin McHale Dennis Rodman
Season 1986-871992-93
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+15+0.8+18.6+2.7+5.6+8.4+1.0+0.3+1.5-0.9-0.1+7.3+10.1+.177+0.2+1.1+.205+4.2+4.0+.302
Dennis Rodman 62 38.9 7.5 5.9 12.3 18.3 1.6 0.8 0.7 1.7 3.2 3.0 6.9 .427 0.2 1.2 .205 1.4 2.6 .534
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
Dennis Rodman DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Kevin McHale Dennis Rodman
Season 1987-881993-94
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsSpurs Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+15+0.5+17.9+3.2+5.7+8.9+0.4+0.3+1.0-0.5-0.1+6.6+10.5+.070+0.1+0.3+4.7+5.5+.277
Dennis Rodman 79 37.8 4.7 5.7 11.6 17.3 2.3 0.7 0.4 1.7 2.9 2.0 3.7 .534 0.1 0.3 .208 0.7 1.3 .520
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+14+4.1+17.1+4.8+3.2+8.0+1.7+1.6+0.5-0.3-0.9+5.3+7.4+.103+0.1+1.6+1.000+6.5+6.1+.672
Dennis Rodman 3 38.0 8.3 8.0 8.0 16.0 0.7 2.0 1.3 2.0 4.7 4.0 8.0 .500 0.0 1.7 .000 0.3 2.0 .167

Season 9

Kevin McHale Dennis Rodman
Season 1988-891994-95
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdSpurs Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+29+4.9+15.4+2.7+5.9+8.6+0.2+0.3+0.7-0.5-0.3+5.7+10.6+.025+0.1+4.1+4.5+.142
Dennis Rodman 49 32.0 7.1 5.6 11.2 16.8 2.0 0.6 0.5 2.0 3.2 2.8 4.9 .571 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.3 .676
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+11+5.5+10.1+2.6+4.2+6.8+1.7+0.6+0.7-0.5-0.7+3.0+6.8+.054+0.4+4.3+5.2+.168
Dennis Rodman 14 32.8 8.9 4.9 9.9 14.8 1.3 0.9 0.0 1.8 3.6 3.7 6.9 .542 0.0 0.4 .000 1.4 2.5 .571

Season 10

Kevin McHale Dennis Rodman
Season 1989-901995-96
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+18+0.6+15.4+3.1+3.5+6.6+0.4+0.2+1.5-0.1+5.6+9.6+.069+0.3+0.4+.222+3.9+3.7+.365
Dennis Rodman 64 32.6 5.5 5.6 9.3 14.9 2.5 0.6 0.4 2.2 3.1 2.3 4.8 .480 0.0 0.4 .111 0.9 1.7 .528
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+13+4.0+14.5+3.8+2.1+5.9+0.5+0.4+1.6-0.5-0.8+5.6+8.1+.124+0.2+0.6+3.1+2.5+.269
Dennis Rodman 18 34.4 7.5 5.4 8.3 13.7 2.1 0.8 0.4 2.3 4.2 2.8 5.7 .485 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.3 .593

Season 11

Kevin McHale Dennis Rodman
Season 1990-911996-97
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+13+5.0+12.7+3.7+5.3+9.0+1.2+0.2+1.8-0.1-0.2+5.1+8.2+.105+0.1+0.2+.142+2.5+2.4+.261
Dennis Rodman 55 35.4 5.7 5.8 10.2 16.1 3.1 0.6 0.3 2.0 3.1 2.3 5.2 .448 0.1 0.3 .263 0.9 1.6 .568
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+8+6.1+16.5+1.5+0.4+1.9+0.4+1.1-0.2-0.1+5.5+9.2+.157+0.3+0.2+.295+5.2+5.9+.248
Dennis Rodman 19 28.1 4.2 3.1 5.3 8.4 1.4 0.5 0.2 1.5 3.9 1.6 4.3 .370 0.2 0.8 .250 0.8 1.4 .577

Season 12

Kevin McHale Dennis Rodman
Season 1991-921997-98
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rebounds Leader
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+24+10.7+9.2+3.2+6.0+9.1+1.4+0.4+0.9-0.3-1.0+3.9+6.8+.078+0.1+0.1+.174+1.6+1.5+.272
Dennis Rodman 80 35.7 4.7 5.3 9.8 15.0 2.9 0.6 0.2 1.8 3.0 1.9 4.5 .431 0.1 0.3 .174 0.8 1.4 .550
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+11+3.8+11.6+2.6+2.5+5.1+0.7+0.2+0.1-0.8-0.8+4.6+7.6+.145+0.1+.250+2.4+2.6+.190
Dennis Rodman 21 34.4 4.9 4.7 7.1 11.8 2.0 0.7 0.6 1.7 4.2 1.9 5.0 .371 0.0 0.2 .250 1.1 1.8 .605

Season 13

Kevin McHale Dennis Rodman
Season 1992-931998-99
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+48+5.3+8.6+1.4+4.8+6.2+0.3+0.2+0.3-1.3+3.5+7.1+.111+0.2+.111+1.6+1.0+.405
Dennis Rodman 23 28.6 2.1 2.7 8.5 11.2 1.3 0.4 0.5 1.3 3.1 0.7 2.0 .348 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 1.7 .436
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
Dennis Rodman DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Dennis Rodman played 1 season more than Kevin McHale in the NBA.

In that period—his season 14 in 2000—Dennis Rodman didn't play in the postseason.