Mel Counts vs. Dikembe Mutombo Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dikembe Mutombo and Mel Counts, 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.

Mel Counts played 12 years in the NBA, 6 less than Dikembe Mutombo, who played 18. Mel Counts had the first of his seasons in 1964-65, while Dikembe Mutombo had his rookie season in 1991-92. 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
Mel Counts 12 8 1964-65 to 1975-76
Dikembe Mutombo 18 13 1991-92 to 2008-09

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18

Rookie Season

Mel Counts Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1964-651991-92
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 54 10.6 4.8 - - 4.9 0.4 - - - 2.5 1.9 5.0 .368 - - - 1.1 1.4 .784
Dikembe Mutombo 71 38.3 16.6 4.5 7.8 12.3 2.2 0.6 3.0 3.5 3.8 6.0 12.2 .493 0.0 0.0 - 4.5 7.0 .642
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 4 7.5 2.3 - - 2.8 0.3 - - - 2.5 1.0 3.8 .267 - - - 0.3 0.3 1.000
Dikembe Mutombo ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Mel Counts Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1965-661992-93
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 67 15.2 8.4 - - 6.4 0.7 - - - 3.1 3.3 8.2 .403 - - - 1.8 2.2 .828
Dikembe Mutombo 82 36.9 13.8 4.2 8.9 13.0 1.8 0.5 3.5 2.6 3.5 4.9 9.5 .510 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 6.0 .681
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 10 8.2 4.3 - - 4.0 0.3 - - - 2.6 1.4 3.9 .359 - - - 1.5 1.7 .882
Dikembe Mutombo ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Mel Counts Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1966-671993-94
Team Baltimore Bullets, Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Blocks Leader
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisNuggets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 56 15.4 7.6 - - 6.1 0.9 - - - 3.3 3.2 7.5 .422 - - - 1.2 1.7 .734
Dikembe Mutombo 82 34.8 12.0 3.5 8.4 11.8 1.5 0.7 4.1 2.5 3.2 4.5 7.8 .569 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 5.4 .583
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 3 9.7 4.7 - - 2.7 0.0 - - - 2.0 1.7 6.3 .263 - - - 1.3 1.3 1.000
Dikembe Mutombo 12 42.6 13.3 3.3 8.7 12.0 1.8 0.7 5.8 2.5 3.5 4.2 9.0 .463 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 8.2 .602

Season 4

Mel Counts Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1967-681994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Blocks Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 82 21.2 11.7 - - 8.9 1.7 - - - 3.8 4.7 9.9 .475 - - - 2.3 3.1 .748
Dikembe Mutombo 82 37.8 11.5 3.9 8.7 12.5 1.4 0.5 3.9 2.3 3.5 4.3 7.7 .556 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.6 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 15 20.4 8.6 - - 8.9 1.6 - - - 3.5 3.6 6.7 .535 - - - 1.4 2.1 .677
Dikembe Mutombo 3 28.0 6.0 1.3 5.0 6.3 0.3 0.0 2.3 2.3 5.0 2.0 3.3 .600 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.0 .667

Season 5

Mel Counts Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1968-691995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Blocks Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 77 24.2 12.4 - - 7.8 1.4 - - - 2.9 5.1 11.3 .450 - - - 2.3 2.9 .805
Dikembe Mutombo 74 36.7 11.0 3.4 8.4 11.8 1.5 0.5 4.5 2.0 3.5 3.8 7.7 .499 0.0 0.0 .000 3.3 4.8 .695
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 18 24.6 11.2 - - 7.9 1.4 - - - 3.7 4.1 10.7 .385 - - - 3.0 3.9 .761
Dikembe Mutombo ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Mel Counts Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1969-701996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHawks 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 %
Mel Counts 81 27.1 12.6 - - 8.4 2.0 - - - 3.8 5.4 12.6 .427 - - - 1.9 2.5 .776
Dikembe Mutombo 80 37.2 13.3 3.4 8.3 11.6 1.4 0.6 3.3 2.3 3.1 4.8 9.0 .527 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 5.4 .705
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 14 15.1 6.1 - - 5.3 1.1 - - - 3.4 2.6 6.3 .420 - - - 0.8 0.9 .846
Dikembe Mutombo 10 41.5 15.4 3.7 8.6 12.3 1.3 0.1 2.6 2.0 3.0 5.4 8.6 .628 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 6.4 .719

Season 7

Mel Counts Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1970-711997-98
Team Phoenix SunsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks 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 %
Mel Counts 80 20.9 11.0 - - 6.3 1.7 - - - 3.5 4.6 10.0 .457 - - - 1.9 2.5 .753
Dikembe Mutombo 82 35.6 13.4 3.4 8.0 11.4 1.0 0.4 3.4 2.0 3.1 4.9 9.1 .537 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.5 .670
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 4 34.0 8.0 3.3 9.5 12.8 0.3 0.3 2.3 2.0 2.5 2.8 6.0 .458 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 4.0 .625

Season 8

Mel Counts Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1971-721998-99
Team Phoenix SunsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks 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 %
Mel Counts 76 11.9 5.2 - - 3.4 1.3 - - - 2.1 1.9 4.5 .427 - - - 1.3 1.8 .721
Dikembe Mutombo 50 36.6 10.8 3.8 8.4 12.2 1.1 0.3 2.9 1.9 2.9 3.5 6.8 .512 0.0 0.0 - 3.9 5.7 .684
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 9 42.2 12.6 4.0 9.9 13.9 1.2 0.6 2.6 2.0 3.1 4.4 7.9 .563 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.2 .702

Season 9

Mel Counts Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1972-731999-00
Team Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 66 10.0 4.6 - - 3.8 1.0 - - - 1.6 2.0 4.5 .449 - - - 0.6 0.9 .672
Dikembe Mutombo 82 36.4 11.5 3.7 10.4 14.1 1.3 0.3 3.3 2.1 3.0 3.9 7.0 .562 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 5.1 .708
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 17 19.2 9.1 - - 6.1 1.6 - - - 3.0 3.6 7.8 .459 - - - 1.9 2.4 .780
Dikembe Mutombo ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Mel Counts Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1973-742000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf Semis76ers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 45 11.1 3.2 1.2 2.0 3.2 1.2 0.4 0.5 - 1.9 1.4 3.7 .365 - - - 0.5 0.7 .727
Dikembe Mutombo 75 34.5 10.0 4.1 9.4 13.5 1.0 0.4 2.7 1.9 2.7 3.6 7.4 .484 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.9 .725
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 4 8.5 3.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 - 0.8 1.5 3.0 .500 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
Dikembe Mutombo 23 42.7 13.9 4.9 8.8 13.7 0.7 0.7 3.1 1.6 2.4 4.4 9.0 .490 0.0 0.0 .000 5.0 6.4 .777

Season 11

Mel Counts Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1974-752001-02
Team New Orleans JazzPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers 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 %
Mel Counts 75 18.9 6.9 1.4 4.5 5.9 2.4 0.7 0.6 - 2.6 2.9 6.6 .438 - - - 1.1 1.5 .761
Dikembe Mutombo 80 36.3 11.5 3.2 7.6 10.8 1.0 0.4 2.4 2.0 3.0 4.0 8.0 .501 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 4.6 .764
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 5 34.6 8.8 2.8 7.8 10.6 0.6 0.4 1.8 2.2 3.2 2.8 6.2 .452 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 5.2 .615

Season 12

Mel Counts Dikembe Mutombo
Season 1975-762002-03
Team New Orleans JazzNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 30 10.6 3.0 0.9 2.4 3.3 1.3 0.5 0.3 - 2.5 1.2 3.0 .407 - - - 0.5 0.7 .762
Dikembe Mutombo 24 21.4 5.8 2.3 4.1 6.4 0.8 0.2 1.5 1.4 2.3 2.0 5.5 .374 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.3 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 10 11.5 1.8 0.8 1.9 2.7 0.6 0.3 0.9 0.8 2.1 0.7 1.5 .467 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 13

Mel Counts Dikembe Mutombo
Season -2003-04
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 65 23.0 5.6 2.2 4.5 6.7 0.4 0.3 1.9 0.8 2.2 2.2 4.5 .478 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.8 .681
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 3 12.3 2.3 1.3 2.0 3.3 0.0 0.3 1.3 1.0 2.0 0.7 2.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 14

Mel Counts Dikembe Mutombo
Season -2004-05
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Rockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 80 15.2 4.0 1.9 3.5 5.3 0.1 0.2 1.3 0.6 1.7 1.4 2.7 .498 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.8 .741
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 7 14.4 3.1 1.6 3.4 5.0 0.3 0.3 1.0 1.0 2.1 0.9 1.6 .545 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.9 .769

Season 15

Mel Counts Dikembe Mutombo
Season -2005-06
Team -Houston Rockets
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 %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 64 14.9 2.6 1.6 3.2 4.8 0.1 0.3 0.9 0.5 2.0 0.8 1.5 .526 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.4 .758
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Mel Counts Dikembe Mutombo
Season -2006-07
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Rockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 75 17.2 3.1 2.2 4.3 6.5 0.2 0.3 1.0 0.5 2.1 1.1 2.0 .556 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .690
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 7 5.7 1.3 0.7 0.9 1.6 0.1 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.7 0.4 0.4 1.000 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 17

Mel Counts Dikembe Mutombo
Season -2007-08
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Rockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 39 15.9 3.0 1.7 3.4 5.1 0.1 0.3 1.2 0.4 1.4 1.1 2.1 .538 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .711
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 6 20.5 3.8 1.7 4.8 6.5 0.3 0.2 1.8 0.2 1.7 1.3 2.2 .615 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.8 .636

Season 18

Mel Counts Dikembe Mutombo
Season -2008-09
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Rockets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 9 10.7 1.8 1.3 2.3 3.7 0.0 0.0 1.2 0.7 1.2 0.6 1.4 .385 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.0 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Dikembe Mutombo 2 10.0 0.0 0.5 4.0 4.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 0.0 2.5 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 1.0 .000