Kevin McHale vs. Steve Nash Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Steve Nash 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

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, 5 less than Steve Nash, who played 18. Kevin McHale had the first of his seasons in 1980-81, while Steve Nash had his rookie season in 1996-97. 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
Steve Nash 18 12 1996-97 to 2013-14

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Kevin McHale Steve Nash
Season 1980-811996-97
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+17+9.6+6.7+1.7+1.8+3.4+1.4+1.8-0.3-1.8+3.2+5.4+.110+0.4+0.8+0.7+1.1+.145
Steve Nash 65 10.5 3.3 0.2 0.7 1.0 2.1 0.3 0.0 1.0 1.4 1.1 2.7 .423 0.4 0.8 .418 0.6 0.8 .824
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:+13+13.6+7.2+1.4+1.8+3.2+0.5+0.1+1.2-0.4-1.7+3.1+4.3+.318+0.3+1.0+1.4+2.1
Steve Nash 4 3.8 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 1.3 0.5 2.3 .222 0.3 1.0 .250 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Kevin McHale Steve Nash
Season 1981-821997-98
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsSuns Lost West 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:+6+6.5+4.5+1.9+2.8+4.7+2.3+0.4+2.2-0.4-1.3+2.2+3.0+.072+1.1+2.6+1.3+1.9+.106
Steve Nash 76 21.9 9.1 0.4 1.7 2.1 3.4 0.8 0.1 1.3 1.9 3.5 7.7 .459 1.1 2.6 .415 1.0 1.1 .860
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:+8+15.9+10.7+2.9+1.7+4.6+0.9+0.1+2.3-0.5-1.9+4.4+6.7+.131+0.3+1.3+2.0+2.4+.130
Steve Nash 4 12.8 5.5 0.5 2.0 2.5 1.8 0.5 0.0 0.8 1.8 2.0 4.5 .444 0.3 1.3 .200 1.3 2.0 .625

Season 3

Kevin McHale Steve Nash
Season 1982-831998-99
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
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:+42+3.1+6.2+1.8+2.0+3.8+4.2+0.5+2.2-0.2-0.4+3.0+3.0+.178+1.2+3.3+1.4+2.1+.109
Steve Nash 40 31.7 7.9 0.8 2.1 2.9 5.5 0.9 0.1 2.1 2.5 2.9 7.9 .363 1.2 3.3 .374 1.0 1.2 .826
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
Steve Nash DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Kevin McHale Steve Nash
Season 1983-841999-00
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
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:+26+4.0+9.8+1.9+3.3+5.2+3.6+0.4+1.4-0.8+4.1+6.4+.079+1.1+2.7+2.8+3.9+.117
Steve Nash 56 27.4 8.6 0.6 1.6 2.2 4.9 0.7 0.1 1.8 2.2 3.1 6.5 .477 1.1 2.7 .403 1.3 1.5 .882
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
Steve Nash DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

Kevin McHale Steve Nash
Season 1984-852000-01
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsMavericks Lost West Conf Semis
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:+9+0.5+4.2+2.2+3.6+5.8+5.5+0.6+1.4-0.9-0.7+2.2+2.1+.083+1.3+3.0+.406+1.2+2.2+.135
Steve Nash 70 34.1 15.6 0.7 2.5 3.2 7.3 1.0 0.1 2.9 2.3 5.5 11.3 .487 1.3 3.1 .406 3.3 3.7 .895
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:+11+2.9+8.5+2.9+3.8+6.7+4.9+2.1-0.4-1.6+3.7+3.6+.151+1.6+3.9+2.8+3.7+.075
Steve Nash 10 37.0 13.6 0.6 2.6 3.2 6.4 0.6 0.1 2.5 1.9 4.5 10.8 .417 1.6 3.9 .410 3.0 3.4 .882

Season 6

Kevin McHale Steve Nash
Season 1985-862001-02
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks Lost West 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:+14+0.7+3.4+1.9+3.1+5.0+5.0+0.2+2.0-0.6-0.8+1.9+1.1+.091+1.9+4.2+1.6+2.6+.111
Steve Nash 82 34.6 17.9 0.6 2.5 3.1 7.7 0.6 0.0 2.8 2.0 6.4 13.3 .483 1.9 4.2 .455 3.2 3.6 .887
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:+10+0.8+5.4+1.9+2.7+4.6+6.1+0.1+2.4-1.1-1.1+2.9+1.3+.147+2.5+5.5+.444+1.9+3.4+.177
Steve Nash 8 40.5 19.5 0.9 3.1 4.0 8.8 0.5 0.0 3.8 2.5 6.4 14.8 .432 2.5 5.6 .444 4.3 4.4 .971

Season 7

Kevin McHale Steve Nash
Season 1986-872002-03
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsMavericks Lost West Conf 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%
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:+5+6.6+8.4+2.4+4.6+7.0+4.7+0.5+2.1-0.3-1.5+4.0+3.4+.139+1.4+3.2+.413+1.8+2.5+.073
Steve Nash 82 33.1 17.7 0.8 2.1 2.9 7.3 1.0 0.1 2.3 1.6 6.3 13.6 .465 1.4 3.3 .413 3.8 4.1 .909
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:+1+3.0+5.0+2.3+3.3+5.7+5.4+0.6+1.3-1.0+2.5+1.3+.137+1.9+3.8+1.8+2.8+.111
Steve Nash 20 36.4 16.1 0.8 2.8 3.5 7.3 0.9 0.1 2.6 2.4 5.8 12.9 .447 1.9 3.8 .487 2.8 3.2 .873

Season 8

Kevin McHale Steve Nash
Season 1987-882003-04
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsMavericks 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:+14+3.8+8.1+1.7+3.7+5.4+6.1+0.5+1.3-0.5-1.0+3.5+3.4+.134+1.3+3.3+2.5+3.6+.119
Steve Nash 78 33.5 14.5 0.8 2.2 3.0 8.8 0.9 0.1 2.7 1.8 5.1 10.8 .470 1.3 3.3 .405 2.9 3.2 .916
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:+12+2.9+11.8+2.0+0.8+2.8+6.6+0.4+1.8-0.1-1.0+3.9+1.4+.217+1.1+3.1+.625+5.2+6.3+.050
Steve Nash 5 39.2 13.6 1.2 4.0 5.2 9.0 0.8 0.0 2.4 2.8 5.4 14.0 .386 1.2 3.2 .375 1.6 1.8 .889

Season 9

Kevin McHale Steve Nash
Season 1988-892004-05
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdSuns 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:+3+2.6+7.0+2.1+2.7+4.9+9.3+0.7+1.1-0.8-1.1+2.8+4.1+.044+1.3+2.8+.431+2.8+3.6+.069
Steve Nash 75 34.3 15.5 0.8 2.6 3.3 11.5 1.0 0.1 3.3 1.8 5.7 11.4 .502 1.3 2.9 .431 2.8 3.2 .887
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:+12+2.4+4.9+1.7+1.5+3.2+8.3+0.6+0.5-3.4-1.9+2.6+4.2+.032+1.4+3.6+1.9+3.6+.180
Steve Nash 15 40.7 23.9 0.6 4.2 4.8 11.3 0.9 0.2 4.7 2.4 9.3 17.9 .520 1.4 3.6 .389 3.8 4.1 .919

Season 10

Kevin McHale Steve Nash
Season 1989-902005-06
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdSuns Lost West Conf Finals
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:+3+2.2+2.1+1.9+2.2+4.1+8.4+0.4+1.7-1.3-1.5+1.1+1.0+.037+1.6+3.5+.106+1.5+1.9+.028
Steve Nash 79 35.4 18.8 0.6 3.6 4.2 10.5 0.8 0.2 3.5 1.5 6.8 13.4 .512 1.9 4.3 .439 3.3 3.5 .921
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:+15+1.5+1.6+1.1+3.0+4.1+7.6+1.7-0.6-1.5+1.1+0.8+.107+1.4+3.8+.035+0.8+1.2+.050
Steve Nash 20 39.9 20.4 0.5 3.2 3.7 10.2 0.4 0.3 3.4 1.9 7.3 14.6 .502 1.6 4.4 .368 4.2 4.6 .912

Season 11

Kevin McHale Steve Nash
Season 1990-912006-07
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisSuns Lost West 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%
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:+8+4.9+0.2+1.7+1.8+3.6+9.7+0.4+2.0-1.7-1.4+0.6+0.6+.021+1.9+4.0+.050+0.5+0.7+.070
Steve Nash 76 35.3 18.6 0.4 3.1 3.5 11.6 0.8 0.1 3.8 1.5 6.8 12.8 .532 2.1 4.5 .455 2.9 3.3 .899
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:+3.3+1.8+1.2+2.1+3.3+11.5+0.1+1.2-3.1-1.9+0.4+1.0+.064+1.2+2.5+.058+2.3+3.1+.066
Steve Nash 11 37.5 18.9 0.4 2.8 3.2 13.3 0.4 0.1 4.4 1.9 6.7 14.5 .463 1.7 3.5 .487 3.7 4.2 .891

Season 12

Kevin McHale Steve Nash
Season 1991-922007-08
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisSuns 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:+25+9.3+3.0+1.8+0.7+2.4+9.6+0.5+1.0-2.1-0.6+0.2+0.6+.005+2.2+4.5+.470+0.3+0.1+.084
Steve Nash 81 34.3 16.9 0.3 3.1 3.5 11.1 0.7 0.1 3.6 1.4 6.0 11.9 .504 2.2 4.7 .470 2.7 3.0 .906
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:+5+6.0+0.3+1.9+2.0+3.9+6.5+0.1+0.3-1.5-1.4+0.1+1.4+.059+1.2+3.9+.300+1.3+2.0+.122
Steve Nash 5 36.6 16.2 0.2 2.6 2.8 7.8 0.4 0.2 2.4 2.0 6.4 14.0 .457 1.2 4.0 .300 2.2 2.4 .917

Season 13

Kevin McHale Steve Nash
Season 1992-932008-09
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
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:+3+10.3+5.0+1.0+0.9+2.0+8.7+0.5+0.7-2.1-0.3+1.6+2.4+.044+1.5+3.0+.328+0.3+0.1+.092
Steve Nash 74 33.6 15.7 0.3 2.8 3.0 9.7 0.7 0.1 3.4 1.5 5.8 11.5 .503 1.5 3.3 .439 2.6 2.8 .933
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
Steve Nash DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Steve Nash played 5 seasons more than Kevin McHale in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 18, from 2010 to 2014—Steve Nash played in two Playoffs.

In those 5 extra years over Kevin McHale, Steve Nash got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 2 Assists Leader
Achievement 2 All-Star Game