Michael Finley vs. Dennis Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dennis Johnson and Michael Finley, 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.

Michael Finley played 15 years in the NBA, 1 more than Dennis Johnson, who played 14. Michael Finley had the first of his seasons in 1995-96, while Dennis Johnson had his rookie season in 1976-77. 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
Michael Finley 15 10 1995-96 to 2009-10
Dennis Johnson 14 13 1976-77 to 1989-90

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Finley Dennis Johnson
Season 1995-961976-77
Team Phoenix SunsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
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 %
Michael Finley 82 39.2 15.0 1.7 2.9 4.6 3.5 1.0 0.4 1.6 2.4 5.7 11.9 .476 0.7 2.3 .328 3.0 3.9 .749
Dennis Johnson 81 20.6 9.2 2.0 1.7 3.7 1.5 1.5 0.7 - 2.7 3.5 7.0 .504 - - - 2.2 3.5 .624
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Finley Dennis Johnson
Season 1996-971977-78
Team Phoenix Suns, Dallas MavericksSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 83 33.6 15.0 1.1 3.4 4.5 2.7 0.8 0.3 2.0 1.7 5.7 12.9 .444 1.2 3.4 .361 2.4 3.0 .808
Dennis Johnson 81 27.3 12.7 1.9 1.8 3.6 2.8 1.5 0.6 2.0 2.6 4.5 10.9 .417 - - - 3.7 5.0 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Dennis Johnson 22 37.6 16.1 2.1 2.5 4.6 3.3 1.0 1.0 2.5 2.9 5.5 13.4 .412 - - - 5.1 7.2 .704

Season 3

Michael Finley Dennis Johnson
Season 1997-981978-79
Team Dallas MavericksSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Michael Finley 82 41.4 21.5 1.8 3.5 5.3 4.9 1.6 0.4 2.7 2.0 8.2 18.4 .449 1.1 3.0 .357 4.0 5.1 .784
Dennis Johnson 80 34.0 15.9 1.8 2.9 4.7 3.5 1.3 1.2 2.4 2.6 6.0 13.9 .434 - - - 3.8 4.9 .781
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Dennis Johnson 17 40.1 20.9 2.6 3.5 6.1 4.1 1.6 1.5 3.0 3.7 8.0 17.8 .450 - - - 4.9 6.4 .771

Season 4

Michael Finley Dennis Johnson
Season 1998-991979-80
Team Dallas MavericksSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 50 41.0 20.2 1.4 3.9 5.3 4.4 1.3 0.3 2.1 1.9 7.8 17.5 .444 0.9 2.7 .331 3.7 4.5 .823
Dennis Johnson 81 36.3 19.0 2.1 3.0 5.1 4.1 1.8 1.0 2.8 3.3 7.1 16.8 .422 0.1 0.7 .207 4.7 6.0 .780
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Dennis Johnson 15 38.8 17.1 1.7 2.6 4.3 3.8 1.8 0.7 2.9 3.2 6.7 16.3 .410 0.3 1.0 .333 3.5 4.1 .839

Season 5

Michael Finley Dennis Johnson
Season 1999-001980-81
Team Dallas MavericksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
Michael Finley 82 42.2 22.6 1.5 4.8 6.3 5.3 1.3 0.4 2.4 2.1 9.1 20.0 .457 1.2 3.0 .401 3.2 3.9 .820
Dennis Johnson 79 33.1 18.8 2.0 2.6 4.6 3.7 1.7 0.8 2.6 3.1 6.7 15.4 .436 0.1 0.6 .216 5.2 6.3 .820
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Dennis Johnson 7 38.1 19.6 1.0 3.7 4.7 2.9 1.3 1.3 2.7 2.6 7.4 15.7 .473 0.1 0.7 .200 4.6 6.0 .762

Season 6

Michael Finley Dennis Johnson
Season 2000-011981-82
Team Dallas MavericksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisSuns 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 %
Michael Finley 82 42.0 21.5 1.3 3.9 5.2 4.4 1.4 0.4 2.3 2.1 8.7 18.9 .458 1.1 3.2 .346 3.1 4.0 .775
Dennis Johnson 80 36.7 19.5 1.8 3.4 5.1 4.6 1.3 0.7 2.9 3.2 7.2 15.4 .470 0.1 0.5 .190 5.0 6.2 .806
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 10 43.4 19.7 1.3 4.0 5.3 4.4 1.2 0.2 2.4 2.3 7.2 20.0 .360 1.7 4.7 .362 3.6 4.4 .818
Dennis Johnson 7 38.7 22.3 1.9 2.6 4.4 4.6 2.1 0.6 3.6 4.0 9.0 18.9 .477 0.0 0.4 .000 4.3 5.6 .769

Season 7

Michael Finley Dennis Johnson
Season 2001-021982-83
Team Dallas MavericksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisSuns 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 %
Michael Finley 69 39.9 20.6 1.3 3.9 5.2 3.3 0.9 0.4 1.7 2.1 8.2 17.8 .463 1.1 3.2 .339 3.0 3.6 .837
Dennis Johnson 77 33.1 14.2 1.2 3.2 4.4 5.0 1.3 0.5 2.6 2.6 5.2 11.2 .462 0.1 0.4 .161 3.8 4.8 .791
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 8 46.5 24.6 1.6 4.6 6.3 2.3 1.5 0.5 1.9 3.0 8.6 18.5 .466 1.8 4.6 .378 5.6 6.3 .900
Dennis Johnson 3 36.0 18.0 2.0 5.7 7.7 5.7 1.7 0.7 2.7 3.0 7.3 16.0 .458 0.0 0.3 .000 3.3 4.0 .833

Season 8

Michael Finley Dennis Johnson
Season 2002-031983-84
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 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 %
Michael Finley 69 38.3 19.3 1.6 4.3 5.8 3.0 1.1 0.3 1.7 1.5 7.3 17.3 .425 1.7 4.7 .370 2.9 3.3 .861
Dennis Johnson 80 33.3 13.2 1.1 2.4 3.5 4.2 1.2 0.7 2.2 3.1 4.8 11.0 .437 0.1 0.4 .125 3.5 4.1 .852
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 20 41.1 18.3 1.3 4.5 5.8 3.0 1.3 0.6 1.6 2.3 6.6 15.1 .435 2.4 5.7 .412 2.9 3.3 .864
Dennis Johnson 22 36.7 16.6 1.4 2.2 3.6 4.4 1.1 0.3 2.4 3.4 5.9 14.5 .404 0.1 0.3 .429 4.7 5.5 .867

Season 9

Michael Finley Dennis Johnson
Season 2003-041984-85
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 72 38.6 18.6 1.1 3.4 4.5 2.9 1.2 0.5 1.2 1.6 7.1 16.1 .443 2.1 5.1 .405 2.3 2.7 .850
Dennis Johnson 80 37.2 15.7 1.1 2.8 4.0 6.8 1.2 0.5 2.7 2.8 6.2 13.3 .462 0.1 0.3 .269 3.3 3.8 .853
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 5 39.4 13.0 1.2 2.0 3.2 2.6 0.8 0.6 1.8 1.6 5.2 13.6 .382 1.4 5.2 .269 1.2 2.0 .600
Dennis Johnson 21 40.4 17.3 1.1 2.9 4.0 7.3 1.5 0.4 3.4 3.1 6.8 15.2 .445 0.0 0.7 .000 3.8 4.4 .860

Season 10

Michael Finley Dennis Johnson
Season 2004-051985-86
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Mavericks 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 %
Michael Finley 64 36.8 15.7 0.7 3.4 4.1 2.6 0.8 0.3 0.9 1.9 6.0 14.2 .427 1.8 4.5 .407 1.8 2.1 .831
Dennis Johnson 78 35.0 15.6 0.9 2.6 3.4 5.8 1.4 0.4 2.2 2.6 6.2 13.6 .455 0.1 0.5 .143 3.1 3.8 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 13 38.2 13.1 1.0 3.3 4.3 2.2 1.3 0.0 1.0 2.5 5.0 11.8 .425 1.8 4.7 .393 1.2 1.4 .889
Dennis Johnson 18 39.7 16.2 1.3 2.9 4.2 5.9 2.2 0.3 2.8 3.2 6.1 13.6 .445 0.3 0.9 .375 3.7 4.7 .798

Season 11

Michael Finley Dennis Johnson
Season 2005-061986-87
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 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 %
Michael Finley 77 26.5 10.1 0.4 2.8 3.2 1.5 0.5 0.1 0.8 1.3 3.7 9.0 .412 1.4 3.6 .394 1.3 1.5 .852
Dennis Johnson 79 37.1 13.4 0.6 2.7 3.3 7.5 1.1 0.5 2.2 2.5 5.4 12.1 .444 0.1 0.8 .113 2.6 3.2 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 13 31.6 10.5 0.1 3.7 3.8 1.4 0.6 0.2 0.7 1.5 3.8 8.1 .476 1.4 3.6 .383 1.4 1.5 .900
Dennis Johnson 23 41.9 18.9 1.0 2.9 4.0 8.9 0.7 0.3 1.9 3.1 7.3 15.7 .465 0.1 1.1 .115 4.2 4.9 .850

Season 12

Michael Finley Dennis Johnson
Season 2006-071987-88
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 %
Michael Finley 82 22.2 9.0 0.4 2.3 2.7 1.3 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.9 3.3 8.1 .412 1.3 3.5 .364 1.1 1.2 .918
Dennis Johnson 77 34.7 12.6 0.8 2.3 3.1 7.8 1.2 0.4 2.5 2.6 4.6 10.4 .438 0.2 0.6 .261 3.3 3.9 .856
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 20 26.9 11.3 0.4 2.5 2.9 1.1 0.6 0.2 0.7 1.4 3.7 8.9 .410 2.2 5.3 .419 1.8 2.0 .897
Dennis Johnson 17 41.3 15.9 0.9 3.6 4.5 8.2 1.4 0.5 2.6 3.0 5.4 12.4 .433 0.4 0.9 .375 4.8 6.1 .796

Season 13

Michael Finley Dennis Johnson
Season 2007-081988-89
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 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 %
Michael Finley 82 26.9 10.1 0.3 2.8 3.1 1.4 0.4 0.1 0.7 1.1 3.8 9.3 .414 1.6 4.4 .370 0.8 1.0 .800
Dennis Johnson 72 32.1 10.0 0.4 2.2 2.6 6.6 1.3 0.3 2.4 2.9 3.8 8.9 .434 0.1 0.7 .140 2.2 2.7 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 17 23.0 6.7 0.1 1.9 1.9 1.0 0.3 0.2 0.4 1.5 2.5 6.3 .402 1.1 3.1 .365 0.5 0.5 1.000
Dennis Johnson 3 19.7 2.7 0.7 0.7 1.3 3.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.7 1.3 5.0 .267 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 14

Michael Finley Dennis Johnson
Season 2008-091989-90
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
Michael Finley 81 28.8 9.7 0.3 3.0 3.3 1.4 0.5 0.2 0.8 1.0 3.7 8.5 .437 1.6 3.9 .411 0.6 0.8 .823
Dennis Johnson 75 27.1 7.1 0.6 2.0 2.7 6.5 1.1 0.2 1.6 2.4 2.7 6.3 .434 0.0 0.3 .042 1.6 1.9 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 5 28.6 8.0 0.6 2.4 3.0 1.0 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.6 3.0 6.8 .441 1.4 3.0 .467 0.6 0.8 .750
Dennis Johnson 5 32.4 13.8 0.4 2.4 2.8 5.6 0.4 0.4 2.0 3.4 6.0 12.4 .484 0.4 1.2 .333 1.4 1.4 1.000

Season 15

Michael Finley Dennis Johnson
Season 2009-10-
Team San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 46 15.4 4.4 0.1 1.4 1.5 0.9 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.7 1.8 4.0 .440 0.7 1.8 .390 0.2 0.3 .533
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 18 6.0 0.8 0.1 0.6 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.3 1.1 .250 0.2 0.6 .273 0.1 0.1 1.000
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------