Sam Cassell vs. Dan Issel Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dan Issel and Sam Cassell, 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.

Sam Cassell played 15 years in the NBA, 6 more than Dan Issel, who played 9. Sam Cassell had the first of his seasons in 1993-94, while Dan Issel 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
Sam Cassell 15 11 1993-94 to 2007-08
Dan Issel 9 7 1976-77 to 1984-85

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Sam Cassell Dan Issel
Season 1993-941976-77
Team Houston RocketsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNuggets 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 %
Sam Cassell 66 17.0 6.7 0.4 1.7 2.0 2.9 0.9 0.1 1.4 2.1 2.5 5.9 .418 0.4 1.3 .295 1.4 1.6 .841
Dan Issel 79 31.7 22.3 2.7 6.1 8.8 2.2 1.2 0.4 - 3.1 8.4 16.2 .515 - - - 5.6 7.1 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 22 21.7 9.4 0.9 1.8 2.7 4.2 1.0 0.2 2.1 2.8 2.9 7.3 .394 0.8 2.0 .378 2.9 3.4 .865
Dan Issel 6 37.0 22.0 3.0 6.7 9.7 2.8 0.8 0.7 - 3.3 8.2 16.0 .510 - - - 5.7 7.5 .756

Season 2

Sam Cassell Dan Issel
Season 1994-951977-78
Team Houston RocketsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNuggets 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 %
Sam Cassell 82 23.0 9.5 0.5 2.1 2.6 4.9 1.1 0.2 2.0 2.5 3.1 7.2 .427 0.8 2.3 .330 2.6 3.1 .843
Dan Issel 82 34.8 21.3 3.1 7.0 10.1 3.7 1.2 0.5 3.2 3.4 8.0 15.7 .512 - - - 5.2 6.7 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 22 22.0 11.0 0.4 1.5 1.9 4.0 1.0 0.1 1.5 3.0 3.4 7.7 .438 1.1 2.7 .400 3.2 3.9 .835
Dan Issel 13 35.4 20.2 3.2 7.2 10.3 4.1 0.5 0.2 3.0 3.3 7.9 16.3 .486 - - - 4.3 5.0 .862

Season 3

Sam Cassell Dan Issel
Season 1995-961978-79
Team Houston RocketsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisNuggets 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 %
Sam Cassell 61 27.6 14.5 0.8 2.2 3.1 4.6 0.9 0.1 2.6 2.7 4.7 10.8 .439 1.2 3.4 .348 3.9 4.7 .825
Dan Issel 81 33.9 17.0 3.0 6.1 9.1 3.1 0.8 0.6 2.1 2.9 6.6 12.7 .517 - - - 3.9 5.2 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 8 25.8 10.4 0.1 2.0 2.1 4.3 0.8 0.1 2.3 2.5 3.3 10.1 .321 1.0 3.6 .276 2.9 3.6 .793
Dan Issel 3 36.3 24.3 2.3 7.0 9.3 3.3 0.0 0.0 3.0 5.0 8.0 15.0 .533 - - - 8.3 10.3 .806

Season 4

Sam Cassell Dan Issel
Season 1996-971979-80
Team Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey NetsDenver Nuggets
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 %
Sam Cassell 61 28.1 15.9 0.8 2.2 3.0 5.0 1.3 0.3 2.8 3.3 5.5 12.8 .430 1.3 3.8 .351 3.5 4.1 .845
Dan Issel 82 35.8 23.8 2.9 5.9 8.8 2.4 1.1 0.7 2.0 2.3 8.7 17.3 .505 0.0 0.1 .333 6.3 8.1 .775
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell ------- --- ----------
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Sam Cassell Dan Issel
Season 1997-981980-81
Team New Jersey NetsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets 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 %
Sam Cassell 75 34.7 19.6 1.0 2.1 3.0 8.0 1.6 0.3 3.6 3.5 6.8 15.4 .441 0.2 1.1 .188 5.8 6.8 .860
Dan Issel 80 33.0 21.9 2.9 5.6 8.5 2.0 1.0 0.7 1.6 3.1 7.7 15.3 .503 0.0 0.2 .167 6.5 8.6 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 3 9.0 2.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.0 0.3 0.7 2.3 1.0 3.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Sam Cassell Dan Issel
Season 1998-991981-82
Team New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee BucksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdNuggets 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 %
Sam Cassell 8 24.9 15.9 0.6 1.3 1.9 4.5 1.1 0.0 2.5 2.8 4.9 11.6 .419 0.3 1.3 .200 5.9 6.3 .940
Dan Issel 81 30.5 22.9 2.1 5.4 7.5 2.2 0.8 0.7 2.1 3.0 8.0 15.3 .527 0.0 0.1 .667 6.7 8.1 .834
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 3 34.3 15.3 0.0 2.0 2.0 8.7 1.0 0.0 2.3 4.7 5.3 10.7 .500 0.0 0.3 .000 4.7 5.3 .875
Dan Issel 3 34.3 25.3 2.7 4.3 7.0 1.7 1.0 0.3 2.3 3.3 10.7 20.0 .533 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 4.0 1.000

Season 7

Sam Cassell Dan Issel
Season 1999-001982-83
Team Milwaukee BucksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdNuggets 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 %
Sam Cassell 81 35.8 18.6 0.9 2.9 3.7 9.0 1.3 0.1 3.3 3.1 6.7 14.4 .466 0.3 1.1 .289 4.8 5.5 .876
Dan Issel 80 30.4 21.6 1.9 5.6 7.5 2.8 1.0 0.5 2.2 2.8 8.3 16.2 .510 0.1 0.2 .211 5.0 6.0 .835
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 5 35.6 15.8 0.0 3.4 3.4 9.0 0.8 0.0 1.8 3.8 6.0 14.4 .417 0.2 1.0 .200 3.6 4.2 .857
Dan Issel 8 28.4 20.4 1.6 5.6 7.3 3.1 1.1 0.6 1.3 2.3 8.6 17.0 .507 0.0 0.1 .000 3.1 3.6 .862

Season 8

Sam Cassell Dan Issel
Season 2000-011983-84
Team Milwaukee BucksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 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 %
Sam Cassell 76 35.6 18.2 0.6 3.2 3.8 7.6 1.2 0.1 2.9 2.8 7.1 14.9 .474 0.4 1.3 .306 3.6 4.3 .858
Dan Issel 76 27.3 19.8 1.5 5.3 6.8 2.3 0.8 0.6 1.6 2.4 7.5 15.2 .493 0.1 0.3 .211 4.8 5.6 .850
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 18 37.9 17.4 0.7 3.9 4.6 6.7 1.1 0.2 2.9 4.2 6.1 15.4 .396 0.6 1.7 .333 4.7 5.4 .866
Dan Issel 5 30.6 27.4 2.0 6.0 8.0 1.6 1.2 1.2 3.0 3.0 10.4 20.4 .510 0.2 0.4 .500 6.4 7.8 .821

Season 9

Sam Cassell Dan Issel
Season 2001-021984-85
Team Milwaukee BucksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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 %
Sam Cassell 74 35.2 19.7 0.7 3.5 4.2 6.7 1.2 0.2 2.4 2.8 7.5 16.2 .463 1.0 2.8 .348 3.8 4.4 .860
Dan Issel 77 21.9 12.8 1.0 3.3 4.3 1.8 0.8 0.4 1.2 2.2 4.7 10.3 .459 0.0 0.1 .143 3.3 4.1 .806
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell ------- --- ----------
Dan Issel 15 21.7 12.4 0.9 2.7 3.6 1.8 0.8 0.3 0.9 2.4 4.9 10.6 .459 0.1 0.1 1.000 2.6 3.2 .813

Season 10

Sam Cassell Dan Issel
Season 2002-03-
Team Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Sam Cassell 78 34.6 19.7 0.7 3.7 4.4 5.8 1.1 0.2 2.3 2.8 7.0 14.9 .470 0.8 2.1 .362 4.9 5.7 .861
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 6 36.2 17.2 0.5 2.7 3.2 2.7 0.5 0.2 2.8 3.3 6.5 13.8 .470 1.8 3.5 .524 2.3 2.5 .933
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Sam Cassell Dan Issel
Season 2003-04-
Team Minnesota Timberwolves-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Timberwolves 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 %
Sam Cassell 81 35.0 19.8 0.5 2.8 3.3 7.3 1.3 0.2 2.7 3.0 7.7 15.7 .488 0.9 2.3 .398 3.6 4.1 .873
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 16 31.1 16.6 0.2 2.3 2.5 4.4 0.8 0.2 2.7 3.3 5.9 12.6 .465 1.6 3.8 .417 3.3 3.8 .852
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Sam Cassell Dan Issel
Season 2004-05-
Team Minnesota Timberwolves-
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 %
Sam Cassell 59 25.8 13.5 0.4 2.2 2.7 5.1 0.6 0.2 1.8 2.7 5.4 11.6 .464 0.5 1.7 .262 2.3 2.6 .865
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell ------- --- ----------
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Sam Cassell Dan Issel
Season 2005-06-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
Sam Cassell 78 34.0 17.2 0.5 3.2 3.7 6.3 0.9 0.1 2.2 2.9 6.3 14.3 .443 0.9 2.4 .368 3.7 4.3 .863
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 12 33.7 18.0 0.8 3.3 4.0 5.8 0.7 0.2 2.3 2.9 6.1 13.9 .437 1.3 3.6 .349 4.6 5.7 .809
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Sam Cassell Dan Issel
Season 2006-07-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
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 %
Sam Cassell 58 24.3 12.3 0.5 2.4 2.9 4.7 0.5 0.1 1.7 2.2 4.5 10.8 .418 0.6 1.9 .294 2.8 3.1 .879
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell ------- --- ----------
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Sam Cassell Dan Issel
Season 2007-08-
Team Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 55 23.2 11.2 0.3 2.2 2.5 3.9 0.7 0.1 1.8 1.8 4.2 9.7 .438 0.4 1.4 .303 2.3 2.6 .882
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 21 12.6 4.5 0.1 0.6 0.7 1.2 0.4 0.0 0.6 1.4 1.8 5.3 .333 0.3 1.3 .214 0.7 0.8 .824
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------