Manute Bol vs. Dave Cowens Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dave Cowens and Manute Bol, 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.

Manute Bol played 10 years in the NBA, 1 less than Dave Cowens, who played 11. Manute Bol had the first of his seasons in 1985-86, while Dave Cowens had his rookie season in 1970-71. 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
Manute Bol 10 5 1985-86 to 1994-95
Dave Cowens 11 7 1970-71 to 1982-83

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11

Rookie Season

Manute Bol Dave Cowens
Season 1985-861970-71
Team Washington BulletsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manute Bol 80 26.1 3.7 1.5 4.4 6.0 0.3 0.4 5.0 0.8 3.2 1.6 3.5 .460 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 1.1 .488
Dave Cowens 81 38.0 17.0 - - 15.0 2.8 - - - 4.3 6.8 16.1 .422 - - - 3.4 4.6 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manute Bol 5 30.4 4.6 3.2 4.4 7.6 0.2 0.6 5.8 0.8 3.0 2.0 3.4 .588 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.6 .375
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Manute Bol Dave Cowens
Season 1986-871971-72
Team Washington BulletsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
Manute Bol 82 18.9 3.1 1.0 3.4 4.4 0.1 0.2 3.7 0.7 2.3 1.3 2.8 .446 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.8 .672
Dave Cowens 79 40.3 18.8 - - 15.2 3.1 - - - 4.0 8.3 17.2 .484 - - - 2.2 3.1 .720
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manute Bol 3 14.3 2.7 1.7 1.3 3.0 0.0 0.0 1.7 0.0 2.0 1.3 3.3 .400 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.7 .000
Dave Cowens 11 40.1 15.5 - - 13.8 3.0 - - - 4.5 6.5 14.2 .455 - - - 2.5 4.3 .596

Season 3

Manute Bol Dave Cowens
Season 1987-881972-73
Team Washington BulletsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
Manute Bol 77 14.8 2.3 0.9 2.6 3.6 0.2 0.1 2.7 0.5 2.1 1.0 2.1 .455 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.6 .531
Dave Cowens 82 41.8 20.5 - - 16.2 4.1 - - - 3.8 9.0 20.0 .452 - - - 2.5 3.2 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manute Bol 5 8.8 1.8 1.4 1.0 2.4 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.2 1.0 0.8 1.4 .571 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 1.000
Dave Cowens 13 46.0 21.9 - - 16.6 3.7 - - - 4.2 9.9 21.0 .473 - - - 2.1 3.2 .659

Season 4

Manute Bol Dave Cowens
Season 1988-891973-74
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Blocks Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors 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 %
Manute Bol 80 22.1 3.9 1.5 4.3 5.8 0.3 0.1 4.3 1.0 2.8 1.6 4.3 .369 0.3 1.1 .220 0.5 0.8 .606
Dave Cowens 80 41.9 19.0 3.3 12.4 15.7 4.4 1.2 1.3 - 3.7 8.1 18.4 .437 - - - 2.9 3.4 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manute Bol 8 18.5 2.3 0.6 3.3 3.9 0.1 0.3 3.6 0.4 2.6 0.9 4.5 .194 0.3 2.8 .091 0.3 0.9 .286
Dave Cowens 18 42.9 20.5 3.3 10.0 13.3 3.7 1.2 0.9 - 4.7 8.9 20.6 .435 - - - 2.6 3.3 .797

Season 5

Manute Bol Dave Cowens
Season 1989-901974-75
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 %
Manute Bol 75 17.5 1.9 0.4 3.2 3.7 0.5 0.2 3.2 0.7 2.6 0.7 2.3 .331 0.1 0.6 .188 0.3 0.7 .510
Dave Cowens 65 40.5 20.4 3.5 11.2 14.7 4.6 1.3 1.1 - 3.7 8.8 18.4 .475 - - - 2.9 3.8 .783
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens 11 43.5 20.5 4.5 12.0 16.5 4.2 1.6 0.5 - 4.5 9.2 21.5 .428 - - - 2.1 2.4 .885

Season 6

Manute Bol Dave Cowens
Season 1990-911975-76
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East 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 %
Manute Bol 82 18.6 1.9 0.8 3.5 4.3 0.2 0.2 3.0 0.8 2.2 0.8 2.0 .396 0.0 0.2 .071 0.3 0.5 .585
Dave Cowens 78 39.8 19.0 4.3 11.7 16.0 4.2 1.2 0.9 - 4.0 7.8 16.7 .468 - - - 3.3 4.4 .756
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manute Bol 8 13.6 3.0 0.5 1.9 2.4 0.1 0.1 1.5 0.6 1.8 1.1 2.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.1 .667
Dave Cowens 18 44.3 21.0 4.8 11.6 16.4 4.6 1.2 0.7 - 4.7 8.7 18.9 .457 - - - 3.7 4.8 .759

Season 7

Manute Bol Dave Cowens
Season 1991-921976-77
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Manute Bol 71 17.8 1.5 0.8 2.4 3.1 0.3 0.2 2.9 0.6 2.0 0.7 1.8 .383 0.0 0.1 .000 0.2 0.4 .462
Dave Cowens 50 37.8 16.4 2.9 11.0 13.9 5.0 0.9 1.0 - 3.6 6.6 15.1 .434 - - - 3.2 4.0 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens 9 42.1 16.6 3.2 11.7 14.9 4.0 0.9 1.4 - 4.1 7.3 16.4 .446 - - - 1.9 2.4 .773

Season 8

Manute Bol Dave Cowens
Season 1992-931977-78
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manute Bol 58 14.7 2.2 0.8 2.6 3.3 0.3 0.2 2.1 0.9 1.5 0.9 2.2 .409 0.2 0.6 .313 0.2 0.3 .632
Dave Cowens 77 41.8 18.6 3.2 10.8 14.0 4.6 1.3 0.9 2.8 3.9 7.8 15.8 .490 - - - 3.1 3.7 .842
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Manute Bol Dave Cowens
Season 1993-941978-79
Team Miami Heat, Washington Bullets, Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manute Bol 14 8.3 0.6 0.2 1.1 1.3 0.1 0.1 1.1 0.4 0.9 0.3 1.4 .211 0.0 0.2 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Dave Cowens 68 37.0 16.6 2.2 7.4 9.6 3.6 1.1 0.8 2.6 3.9 7.2 14.9 .483 - - - 2.2 2.8 .807
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Manute Bol Dave Cowens
Season 1994-951979-80
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 %
Manute Bol 5 16.2 3.0 0.2 2.2 2.4 0.0 0.0 1.8 0.2 2.0 1.2 2.0 .600 0.6 1.0 .600 0.0 0.0 -
Dave Cowens 66 32.7 14.2 1.9 6.2 8.1 3.1 1.0 0.9 1.6 3.3 6.4 14.1 .453 0.0 0.2 .083 1.4 1.8 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens 9 33.4 12.0 2.0 5.3 7.3 2.3 1.0 0.8 0.9 4.1 5.4 11.4 .476 0.0 0.2 .000 1.1 1.2 .909

Note: Dave Cowens didn't play in 1980-81 and 1981-82.

Season 11

Manute Bol Dave Cowens
Season -1982-83
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens 40 25.4 8.1 1.8 5.0 6.9 2.1 0.8 0.4 1.1 3.4 3.4 7.7 .444 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 1.6 .825
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------