Kevin McHale vs. John Starks Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of John Starks 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 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 and John Starks both played 13 years in the NBA. Kevin McHale had the first of his seasons in 1980-81, while John Starks had his rookie season in 1988-89. 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
John Starks 13 9 1988-89 to 2001-02

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Kevin McHale John Starks
Season 1980-811988-89
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
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:+46+11.3+5.9+1.5+1.8+3.3+0.1+0.3+1.7-0.2-2.2+2.9+4.6+.125+0.3+0.7+0.4+0.5+.025
John Starks 36 8.8 4.1 0.4 0.7 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.0 1.4 3.5 .408 0.3 0.7 .385 0.9 1.4 .654
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
John Starks DNP------ --- ----------

Note: John Starks didn't play in 1989-90.

Season 2

Kevin McHale John Starks
Season 1981-821990-91
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsKnicks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+21+9.2+6.0+1.8+2.8+4.7+2.2+0.6+2.0-0.5-1.0+2.7+4.0+.092+0.4+1.5+1.0+1.3+.002
John Starks 61 19.2 7.6 0.5 1.7 2.1 3.3 1.0 0.3 1.2 2.2 3.0 6.7 .439 0.4 1.5 .290 1.3 1.7 .752
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:+9+19.4+14.2+3.1+3.0+6.1+1.1+0.4+2.3-0.7-2.4+5.7+9.5+.175+2.6+3.7+.245
John Starks 3 9.3 2.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.3 0.7 1.7 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000

Season 3

Kevin McHale John Starks
Season 1982-831991-92
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisKnicks 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%
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:+2.8+0.2+2.1+2.3+4.4+2.1+0.9+2.1-0.1-0.1+1.0+0.1+.092+1.1+3.3+0.5+0.4+.061
John Starks 82 25.8 13.9 0.5 1.8 2.3 3.4 1.3 0.2 1.8 2.8 4.9 11.0 .449 1.1 3.3 .348 2.9 3.7 .778
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:+5+0.7+1.0+1.5+2.0+3.5+2.5+1.0+1.0-0.4-1.5+1.1+1.4+.174+0.9+3.7+.239+2.1+1.7+.252
John Starks 12 24.6 12.1 0.6 1.9 2.5 3.2 1.4 0.0 1.8 3.8 3.8 10.3 .374 0.9 3.8 .239 3.5 4.3 .808

Season 4

Kevin McHale John Starks
Season 1983-841992-93
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks Lost East Conf Finals
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+0.4+0.9+1.8+3.0+4.8+3.8+0.8+1.3-0.4-0.1+0.8+2.1+.128+1.4+4.2+0.8+1.3+.030
John Starks 80 31.0 17.5 0.7 1.9 2.6 5.1 1.1 0.2 2.2 2.9 6.4 15.0 .428 1.4 4.2 .321 3.3 4.1 .795
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:+8+7.8+1.7+2.4+0.3+2.7+5.2+0.9+1.3-2.0-0.5+0.6+2.7+.064+1.9+4.9+.373+1.2+1.3+.060
John Starks 15 38.3 16.5 0.3 3.2 3.5 6.4 1.0 0.2 3.7 3.8 5.9 13.3 .440 1.9 5.0 .373 2.9 4.0 .717

Season 5

Kevin McHale John Starks
Season 1984-851993-94
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsKnicks 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%
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:+20+1.3+0.8+2.3+3.6+5.9+4.1+1.2+1.4-1.1-0.2+0.8+3.2+.150+1.9+5.6+.335+1.3+1.7+.006
John Starks 59 34.9 19.0 0.6 2.5 3.1 5.9 1.6 0.1 3.1 3.2 6.9 16.6 .420 1.9 5.7 .335 3.2 4.2 .754
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:+4+6.3+7.5+3.1+4.4+7.6+3.1+0.8+2.1-0.6-0.1+3.8+2.8+.187+1.9+5.3+1.9+2.1+.037
John Starks 25 33.6 14.6 0.4 2.0 2.3 4.6 1.4 0.1 2.3 3.4 4.4 11.6 .381 1.9 5.3 .356 3.9 5.0 .770

Season 6

Kevin McHale John Starks
Season 1985-861994-95
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks Lost East Conf Semis
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:+12+1.2+6.0+2.1+3.3+5.4+2.4+0.8+1.9-0.2-0.4+3.1+1.1+.179+2.7+7.6+2.7+3.3+.039
John Starks 80 34.1 15.3 0.4 2.3 2.7 5.1 1.2 0.1 2.0 3.2 5.2 13.3 .395 2.7 7.6 .355 2.1 2.9 .737
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:+7+5.2+9.3+2.6+3.7+6.3+2.5+0.8+2.3-0.3+4.0+4.4+.129+2.7+6.5+.411+3.8+4.0+.175
John Starks 11 34.5 15.6 0.2 2.1 2.3 5.2 1.2 0.1 2.4 3.6 5.3 11.7 .450 2.7 6.6 .411 2.4 3.8 .619

Season 7

Kevin McHale John Starks
Season 1986-871995-96
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsKnicks Lost East Conf Semis
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:+4+8.9+13.5+2.8+4.2+7.0+1.3+0.8+2.1-0.7-0.3+5.7+6.6+.161+1.8+4.8+.361+4.0+4.5+.083
John Starks 81 30.8 12.6 0.4 2.5 2.9 3.9 1.3 0.1 1.9 2.8 4.6 10.4 .443 1.8 4.9 .361 1.6 2.1 .753
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
difference:+13+0.1+5.1+2.7+2.8+5.6+2.2+1.3+1.3-0.5-0.1+3.4+3.3+.136+2.6+5.6+1.0+1.1+.018
John Starks 8 39.3 16.0 0.4 3.3 3.6 4.1 1.6 0.1 3.1 3.3 4.9 10.9 .448 2.6 5.6 .467 3.6 4.9 .744

Season 8

Kevin McHale John Starks
Season 1987-881996-97
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsKnicks Lost East Conf Semis
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:+13+10.8+8.8+2.0+3.7+5.7+0.1+0.8+1.3-0.1-0.3+3.8+3.1+.173+1.9+5.3+3.2+3.9+.028
John Starks 77 26.5 13.8 0.5 2.2 2.7 2.8 1.2 0.1 2.1 2.5 4.8 11.1 .431 1.9 5.3 .369 2.2 2.9 .769
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:+8+13.8+11.4+2.4+2.1+4.6+0.4+0.7+1.8-0.1-1.0+4.4+4.4+.159+1.3+4.5+.683+4.0+4.7+.033
John Starks 9 28.3 14.0 0.8 2.7 3.4 2.8 1.1 0.0 2.2 2.8 4.9 11.0 .444 1.4 4.6 .317 2.8 3.4 .806

Season 9

Kevin McHale John Starks
Season 1988-891997-98
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdKnicks Lost East Conf Semis
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:+4+10.2+9.6+2.3+3.1+5.4+0.5+0.7+1.1-0.8-0.4+4.0+4.0+.153+1.6+4.8+.327+3.3+3.9+.031
John Starks 82 26.7 12.9 0.6 2.2 2.8 2.7 1.0 0.1 1.7 2.5 4.5 11.5 .393 1.6 4.9 .327 2.3 2.9 .787
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:+7+6.9+2.6+1.9+2.1+4.0+0.7+1.3+0.6-0.2-0.8+0.8+1.2+.016+2.5+5.9+3.6+5.3+.136
John Starks 10 31.4 16.4 0.4 3.6 4.0 2.3 1.6 0.1 1.1 3.5 5.9 12.5 .472 2.5 5.9 .424 2.1 2.4 .875

Season 10

Kevin McHale John Starks
Season 1989-901998-99
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
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:+32+0.5+7.1+1.8+3.2+5.0+2.6+1.0+1.8-0.5-0.3+2.5+0.2+.179+1.3+4.6+.043+3.3+3.4+.153
John Starks 50 33.7 13.8 0.7 2.6 3.3 4.7 1.4 0.1 1.7 2.7 5.4 14.6 .370 1.6 5.4 .290 1.5 2.0 .740
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
John Starks DNP------ --- ----------

Season 11

Kevin McHale John Starks
Season 1990-911999-00
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
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:+31+1.8+4.5+1.8+2.4+4.4+3.0+0.7+2.0-0.3-0.1+1.9+1.2+.178+1.4+4.1+.060+2.0+2.4+.018
John Starks 37 32.2 13.9 0.3 2.5 2.7 4.9 1.1 0.1 1.8 2.8 5.5 14.6 .375 1.6 4.6 .345 1.4 1.6 .847
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
John Starks DNP------ --- ----------

Season 12

Kevin McHale John Starks
Season 1991-922000-01
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisJazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+19+3.3+4.6+1.7+2.1+3.8+0.9+0.8+1.0-0.2-0.9+2.2+2.2+.111+0.9+2.2+.352+1.2+1.4+.020
John Starks 75 28.3 9.3 0.4 1.7 2.1 2.4 1.0 0.1 1.3 2.9 3.6 9.1 .398 0.9 2.4 .352 1.2 1.5 .802
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:+7+18.6+12.8+2.1+3.6+5.7+1.0+0.2+0.2-0.2-1.7+5.2+8.6+.183+0.3+1.2+.250+2.8+3.7+.205
John Starks 3 12.0 3.7 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.7 1.3 4.0 .333 0.3 1.3 .250 0.7 0.7 1.000

Season 13

Kevin McHale John Starks
Season 1992-932001-02
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
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:+5+9.2+6.3+1.1+2.9+4.0+0.1+0.3+0.8-0.5-0.1+2.5+4.4+.091+0.4+1.1+.194+1.8+2.1+.036
John Starks 66 14.1 4.4 0.2 0.8 1.0 1.1 0.5 0.0 0.8 1.9 1.7 4.7 .368 0.4 1.4 .305 0.5 0.6 .805
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
John Starks DNP------ --- ----------