Muggsy Bogues vs. Dave Cowens Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dave Cowens and Muggsy Bogues, 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.

Muggsy Bogues played 14 years in the NBA, 3 more than Dave Cowens, who played 11. Muggsy Bogues had the first of his seasons in 1987-88, 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
Muggsy Bogues 14 5 1987-88 to 2000-01
Dave Cowens 11 7 1970-71 to 1982-83

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Muggsy Bogues Dave Cowens
Season 1987-881970-71
Team Washington BulletsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
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 %
Muggsy Bogues 79 20.6 5.0 0.4 1.3 1.7 5.1 1.6 0.0 1.3 1.7 2.1 5.4 .390 0.0 0.2 .188 0.7 0.9 .784
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 %
Muggsy Bogues 1 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 2.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Muggsy Bogues Dave Cowens
Season 1988-891971-72
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -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 %
Muggsy Bogues 79 22.2 5.4 0.7 1.4 2.1 7.8 1.4 0.1 1.6 1.8 2.3 5.3 .426 0.0 0.2 .077 0.8 1.1 .750
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 %
Muggsy Bogues ------- --- ----------
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

Muggsy Bogues Dave Cowens
Season 1989-901972-73
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
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 %
Muggsy Bogues 81 33.9 9.4 0.6 2.0 2.6 10.7 2.0 0.0 1.8 2.1 4.0 8.2 .491 0.1 0.3 .192 1.3 1.7 .791
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 %
Muggsy Bogues ------- --- ----------
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

Muggsy Bogues Dave Cowens
Season 1990-911973-74
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -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 %
Muggsy Bogues 81 28.4 7.0 0.7 2.0 2.7 8.3 1.7 0.0 1.5 2.0 3.0 6.5 .460 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.3 .796
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 %
Muggsy Bogues ------- --- ----------
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

Muggsy Bogues Dave Cowens
Season 1991-921974-75
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston 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 %
Muggsy Bogues 82 34.0 8.9 0.7 2.2 2.9 9.1 2.1 0.1 1.9 1.9 3.9 8.2 .472 0.0 0.3 .074 1.1 1.5 .783
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 %
Muggsy Bogues ------- --- ----------
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

Muggsy Bogues Dave Cowens
Season 1992-931975-76
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hornets 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 %
Muggsy Bogues 81 35.0 10.0 0.6 3.0 3.7 8.8 2.0 0.1 1.9 2.2 4.1 9.0 .453 0.1 0.3 .231 1.7 2.1 .833
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 %
Muggsy Bogues 9 38.4 9.8 0.7 3.3 4.0 7.8 2.7 0.0 1.9 2.3 4.3 9.1 .476 0.0 0.2 .000 1.1 1.6 .714
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

Muggsy Bogues Dave Cowens
Season 1993-941976-77
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston 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 %
Muggsy Bogues 77 35.7 10.8 1.0 3.1 4.1 10.1 1.7 0.0 2.2 1.9 4.6 9.8 .471 0.0 0.2 .167 1.6 2.0 .806
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 %
Muggsy Bogues ------- --- ----------
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

Muggsy Bogues Dave Cowens
Season 1994-951977-78
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hornets 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 %
Muggsy Bogues 78 33.7 11.1 0.7 2.6 3.3 8.7 1.3 0.0 1.7 1.9 4.5 9.4 .477 0.1 0.4 .200 2.1 2.3 .889
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 %
Muggsy Bogues 4 36.3 8.5 0.8 0.8 1.5 6.3 1.0 0.0 2.3 2.0 3.5 11.3 .311 0.3 0.8 .333 1.3 1.3 1.000
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Muggsy Bogues Dave Cowens
Season 1995-961978-79
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston 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 %
Muggsy Bogues 6 12.8 2.3 1.0 0.2 1.2 3.2 0.3 0.0 1.0 0.7 1.0 2.7 .375 0.0 0.2 .000 0.3 0.3 1.000
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 %
Muggsy Bogues ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Muggsy Bogues Dave Cowens
Season 1996-971979-80
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hornets 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 %
Muggsy Bogues 65 28.9 8.0 0.4 1.8 2.2 7.2 1.3 0.0 1.7 1.8 3.1 6.8 .460 0.9 2.2 .417 0.8 1.0 .844
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 %
Muggsy Bogues 2 28.5 16.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.5 0.5 0.0 3.0 1.5 5.5 9.5 .579 3.0 3.5 .857 2.0 2.0 1.000
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

Muggsy Bogues Dave Cowens
Season 1997-981982-83
Team Charlotte Hornets, Golden State WarriorsMilwaukee Bucks
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 %
Muggsy Bogues 61 25.7 5.7 0.5 1.7 2.2 5.4 1.1 0.0 1.7 1.0 2.3 5.3 .437 0.1 0.3 .250 1.0 1.1 .897
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 %
Muggsy Bogues ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Muggsy Bogues Dave Cowens
Season 1998-99-
Team Golden State Warriors-
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 %
Muggsy Bogues 36 19.8 5.1 0.4 1.6 2.0 3.7 1.2 0.0 1.3 1.2 2.1 4.3 .494 0.0 0.2 .000 0.9 1.0 .861
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Muggsy Bogues ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Muggsy Bogues Dave Cowens
Season 1999-00-
Team Toronto Raptors-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Raptors 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 %
Muggsy Bogues 80 21.6 5.1 0.3 1.4 1.7 3.7 0.8 0.1 0.7 1.5 2.0 4.5 .439 0.2 0.6 .333 1.0 1.1 .908
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Muggsy Bogues 3 29.0 5.3 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.7 1.3 0.0 1.3 1.3 2.0 7.0 .286 1.0 3.0 .333 0.3 1.0 .333
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Muggsy Bogues Dave Cowens
Season 2000-01-
Team Toronto Raptors-
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 %
Muggsy Bogues 3 11.3 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.7 0.7 0.0 1.3 1.0 0.0 0.7 .000 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Muggsy Bogues ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------