Larry Costello vs. Kevin McHale Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kevin McHale and Larry Costello, 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.

Larry Costello played 12 years in the NBA, 1 less than Kevin McHale, who played 13. Larry Costello had the first of his seasons in 1954-55, 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
Larry Costello 12 10 1954-55 to 1967-68
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

Larry Costello Kevin McHale
Season 1954-551980-81
Team Philadelphia WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
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 %
Larry Costello 19 24.4 6.2 - - 2.6 4.1 - - - 1.9 2.4 7.3 .331 - - - 1.4 1.7 .813
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 %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
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

Note: Larry Costello didn't play in 1955-56.

Season 2

Larry Costello Kevin McHale
Season 1956-571981-82
Team Philadelphia WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisCeltics 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 %
Larry Costello 72 29.3 7.6 - - 4.5 3.3 - - - 2.5 2.6 6.9 .374 - - - 2.4 3.1 .788
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 %
Larry Costello 2 8.0 3.0 - - 2.5 1.0 - - - 1.5 1.5 4.0 .375 - - - 0.0 0.5 .000
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

Larry Costello Kevin McHale
Season 1957-581982-83
Team Syracuse NationalsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisCeltics 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 %
Larry Costello 72 38.1 14.9 - - 5.3 4.4 - - - 3.4 5.3 12.3 .426 - - - 4.4 5.3 .847
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 %
Larry Costello 3 44.7 11.3 - - 8.3 4.0 - - - 2.0 3.3 11.3 .294 - - - 4.7 4.7 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

Larry Costello Kevin McHale
Season 1958-591983-84
Team Syracuse NationalsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 70 39.3 15.8 - - 5.2 5.4 - - - 3.8 5.9 13.5 .437 - - - 4.0 5.0 .802
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 %
Larry Costello 9 40.1 17.7 - - 5.9 6.0 - - - 4.4 6.0 13.4 .446 - - - 5.7 6.8 .836
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

Larry Costello Kevin McHale
Season 1959-601984-85
Team Syracuse NationalsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 71 34.8 14.0 - - 5.5 6.3 - - - 3.3 5.2 11.6 .453 - - - 3.5 4.1 .862
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 %
Larry Costello 3 40.7 16.7 - - 4.7 6.7 - - - 5.0 6.7 15.7 .426 - - - 3.3 4.0 .833
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

Larry Costello Kevin McHale
Season 1960-611985-86
Team Syracuse NationalsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 75 28.9 14.5 - - 3.9 5.5 - - - 3.8 5.4 11.3 .482 - - - 3.6 4.5 .799
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 %
Larry Costello 8 33.6 16.4 - - 4.4 6.5 - - - 4.9 5.3 12.9 .408 - - - 5.9 6.9 .855
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

Larry Costello Kevin McHale
Season 1961-621986-87
Team Syracuse NationalsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 63 29.4 13.8 - - 3.9 5.7 - - - 3.5 4.9 11.5 .427 - - - 3.9 4.7 .837
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 %
Larry Costello 5 33.4 14.6 - - 3.2 5.6 - - - 4.2 4.4 10.2 .431 - - - 5.8 6.6 .879
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

Larry Costello Kevin McHale
Season 1962-631987-88
Team Syracuse NationalsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisCeltics 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 %
Larry Costello 78 26.5 11.0 - - 3.0 4.3 - - - 3.4 3.7 8.5 .432 - - - 3.7 4.2 .881
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 %
Larry Costello 5 26.8 10.2 - - 0.8 4.6 - - - 5.4 3.2 7.4 .432 - - - 3.8 4.6 .826
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

Larry Costello Kevin McHale
Season 1963-641988-89
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div SemisCeltics 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 %
Larry Costello 45 25.3 11.8 - - 2.3 3.7 - - - 3.3 4.2 9.1 .468 - - - 3.3 3.8 .865
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 %
Larry Costello 5 7.2 3.2 - - 0.6 0.8 - - - 2.8 0.6 2.8 .214 - - - 2.0 2.0 1.000
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

Larry Costello Kevin McHale
Season 1964-651989-90
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div FinalsCeltics 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 %
Larry Costello 64 30.7 13.5 - - 2.6 4.3 - - - 3.8 4.8 10.9 .445 - - - 3.8 4.3 .877
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 %
Larry Costello 10 20.7 5.5 - - 1.2 2.0 - - - 4.3 2.2 5.3 .415 - - - 1.1 1.6 .688
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

Note: Larry Costello didn't play in 1965-66.

Season 11

Larry Costello Kevin McHale
Season 1966-671990-91
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 %
Larry Costello 49 19.9 7.8 - - 2.1 2.9 - - - 2.9 2.7 6.0 .444 - - - 2.4 2.7 .902
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 %
Larry Costello 2 12.5 8.5 - - 2.0 1.5 - - - 1.0 3.0 4.0 .750 - - - 2.5 2.5 1.000
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

Larry Costello Kevin McHale
Season 1967-681991-92
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Larry Costello 28 17.6 7.2 - - 1.8 2.4 - - - 2.2 2.4 5.3 .453 - - - 2.4 2.9 .827
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 %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
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

Larry Costello 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 %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
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 %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
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