Michael Finley vs. Paul Pierce Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul Pierce 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 / Games against each other

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, 4 less than Paul Pierce, who played 19. Michael Finley had the first of his seasons in 1995-96, while Paul Pierce had his rookie season in 1998-99. 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
Paul Pierce 19 14 1998-99 to 2016-17

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19

Rookie Season

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season 1995-961998-99
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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
Paul Pierce 48 34.0 16.5 2.4 4.0 6.4 2.4 1.7 1.0 2.4 2.9 5.9 13.5 .439 1.8 4.3 .412 2.9 4.1 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Paul Pierce ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season 1996-971999-00
Team Phoenix Suns, Dallas MavericksBoston 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 %
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
Paul Pierce 73 35.4 19.5 1.1 4.3 5.4 3.0 2.1 0.8 2.4 3.2 6.7 15.1 .442 1.3 3.8 .343 4.9 6.2 .798
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Paul Pierce ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season 1997-982000-01
Team Dallas MavericksBoston 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 %
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
Paul Pierce 82 38.0 25.3 1.1 5.2 6.4 3.1 1.7 0.8 3.2 3.1 8.4 18.5 .454 1.8 4.7 .383 6.7 9.0 .745
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Paul Pierce ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season 1998-992001-02
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third 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 %
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
Paul Pierce 82 40.3 26.1 1.0 5.9 6.9 3.2 1.9 1.0 2.9 2.9 8.6 19.5 .442 2.6 6.3 .404 6.3 7.8 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Paul Pierce 16 42.0 24.6 1.7 6.9 8.6 4.1 1.7 1.3 3.8 3.3 7.6 18.9 .403 1.9 6.5 .288 7.5 9.8 .764

Season 5

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season 1999-002002-03
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
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
Paul Pierce 79 39.2 25.9 1.3 6.0 7.3 4.4 1.8 0.8 3.6 2.9 8.4 20.2 .416 1.5 4.9 .302 7.6 9.5 .802
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Paul Pierce 10 44.5 27.1 1.1 7.9 9.0 6.7 2.1 0.8 4.4 3.8 7.7 19.3 .399 1.6 4.5 .356 10.1 11.7 .863

Season 6

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season 2000-012003-04
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 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 %
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
Paul Pierce 80 38.7 23.0 0.9 5.7 6.5 5.1 1.6 0.7 3.8 2.9 7.5 18.7 .402 1.4 4.8 .299 6.5 7.9 .819
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
Paul Pierce 4 40.8 20.8 1.5 7.3 8.8 2.5 1.3 1.0 6.3 3.0 6.5 19.0 .342 1.3 4.3 .294 6.5 7.8 .839

Season 7

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season 2001-022004-05
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 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 %
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
Paul Pierce 82 36.1 21.6 1.0 5.6 6.6 4.2 1.6 0.5 2.8 3.1 6.8 14.9 .455 1.3 3.6 .370 6.7 8.1 .822
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
Paul Pierce 7 39.7 22.9 1.0 6.7 7.7 4.6 1.9 1.4 2.7 2.6 6.7 13.3 .505 1.0 3.9 .259 8.4 9.7 .868

Season 8

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season 2002-032005-06
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf FinalsDid 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 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
Paul Pierce 79 39.0 26.8 1.0 5.7 6.7 4.7 1.4 0.4 3.5 2.8 8.7 18.5 .471 1.4 4.0 .354 7.9 10.3 .772
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
Paul Pierce ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season 2003-042006-07
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West 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 %
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
Paul Pierce 47 37.0 25.0 0.8 5.1 5.9 4.1 1.0 0.3 3.2 2.6 7.9 18.1 .439 2.3 5.9 .389 6.8 8.6 .796
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
Paul Pierce ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season 2004-052007-08
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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
Paul Pierce 80 35.9 19.6 0.7 4.5 5.1 4.5 1.3 0.5 2.8 2.5 6.4 13.7 .464 1.8 4.6 .392 5.1 6.1 .843
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
Paul Pierce 26 38.1 19.7 0.8 4.2 5.0 4.6 1.1 0.3 3.2 3.5 6.3 14.2 .441 1.7 4.6 .361 5.5 6.8 .802

Season 11

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season 2005-062008-09
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 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 %
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
Paul Pierce 81 37.5 20.5 0.7 5.0 5.6 3.6 1.0 0.3 2.8 2.7 6.7 14.6 .457 1.5 3.8 .391 5.7 6.8 .830
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
Paul Pierce 14 39.7 21.0 0.3 5.5 5.8 3.1 1.1 0.4 2.4 3.1 6.8 15.8 .430 1.4 4.1 .333 6.1 7.2 .842

Season 12

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season 2006-072009-10
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 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
Paul Pierce 71 34.0 18.3 0.5 3.8 4.4 3.1 1.2 0.4 2.3 2.8 5.8 12.2 .472 1.5 3.7 .414 5.2 6.1 .852
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
Paul Pierce 24 38.8 18.8 0.8 5.1 6.0 3.4 1.0 0.6 2.7 3.3 6.1 14.0 .438 1.7 4.3 .392 4.9 5.9 .824

Season 13

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season 2007-082010-11
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics 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 %
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
Paul Pierce 80 34.7 18.9 0.4 5.0 5.4 3.3 1.0 0.6 2.1 2.9 6.3 12.8 .497 1.4 3.7 .374 4.8 5.6 .860
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
Paul Pierce 9 38.1 20.8 0.6 4.4 5.0 2.8 1.3 0.4 2.7 3.3 7.6 16.4 .459 2.3 5.2 .447 3.3 3.8 .882

Season 14

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season 2008-092011-12
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West 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 %
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
Paul Pierce 61 34.0 19.4 0.6 4.6 5.2 4.5 1.1 0.4 2.8 2.4 6.5 14.6 .443 1.6 4.5 .366 4.8 5.6 .852
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
Paul Pierce 20 38.9 18.9 0.7 5.4 6.1 3.1 1.5 0.9 2.8 3.4 6.0 15.6 .386 1.4 4.4 .310 5.5 6.2 .894

Season 15

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season 2009-102012-13
Team San Antonio Spurs, Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA 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 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
Paul Pierce 77 33.4 18.6 0.6 5.7 6.3 4.8 1.1 0.4 2.8 2.7 6.2 14.2 .436 1.9 5.0 .380 4.3 5.5 .787
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
Paul Pierce 6 42.5 19.2 0.7 5.0 5.7 5.3 0.8 0.5 5.3 3.5 6.5 17.7 .368 1.8 6.8 .268 4.3 4.8 .897

Season 16

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season -2013-14
Team -Brooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Nets 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 %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Paul Pierce 75 28.0 13.5 0.3 4.3 4.6 2.4 1.1 0.4 2.0 2.5 4.3 9.5 .451 1.5 4.0 .373 3.4 4.1 .826
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Paul Pierce 12 30.7 13.7 0.3 4.2 4.5 2.0 1.2 0.3 1.7 3.7 5.0 10.8 .465 1.6 4.4 .358 2.1 2.7 .781

Season 17

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season -2014-15
Team -Washington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Wizards 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 %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Paul Pierce 73 26.2 11.9 0.6 3.4 4.0 2.0 0.6 0.3 1.3 2.2 4.0 9.0 .447 1.6 4.2 .389 2.2 2.9 .781
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Paul Pierce 10 29.8 14.6 0.0 4.2 4.2 0.9 0.6 0.7 1.0 3.3 4.8 9.9 .485 3.3 6.3 .524 1.7 2.0 .850

Season 18

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season -2015-16
Team -Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Clippers 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 ------- --- ----------
Paul Pierce 68 18.1 6.1 0.2 2.6 2.7 1.0 0.5 0.3 0.9 1.9 2.1 5.8 .363 1.1 3.6 .310 0.8 1.0 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Paul Pierce 5 10.8 1.2 0.0 1.2 1.2 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.4 1.2 0.4 2.4 .167 0.2 1.0 .200 0.2 0.8 .250

Season 19

Michael Finley Paul Pierce
Season -2016-17
Team -Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Clippers 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 ------- --- ----------
Paul Pierce 25 11.1 3.2 0.0 1.9 1.9 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.6 1.6 1.1 2.8 .400 0.6 1.7 .349 0.4 0.5 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Paul Pierce 7 14.4 3.0 0.3 1.7 2.0 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.6 1.6 1.1 2.6 .444 0.6 1.4 .400 0.1 0.1 1.000