Dave Cowens vs. Shaquille O'Neal Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Shaquille O'Neal and Dave Cowens that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

NBA Timeline:
1946-47
2023-24
Dave Cowens:
1970-71 to 1982-83
Shaquille O'Neal:
1992-93 to 2010-11

NBA Championships and Seasons

Dave Cowens2
Shaquille O'Neal4
Dave Cowens11
Shaquille O'Neal19
Dave Cowens7
Shaquille O'Neal17
Dave Cowens8
Shaquille O'Neal15

Honors and Awards

Dave Cowens1
Shaquille O'Neal1
Dave Cowens0
Shaquille O'Neal3
Dave Cowens0
Shaquille O'Neal8
All-NBA Teams
(Total Selections)
Dave Cowens3
Shaquille O'Neal14
Dave Cowens1
Shaquille O'Neal0
All-Defensive Teams
(Total Selections)
Dave Cowens3
Shaquille O'Neal3
Dave Cowens0
Shaquille O'Neal2
Dave Cowens1
Shaquille O'Neal1

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Dave Cowens 17.6
Shaquille O'Neal 23.7

Dave Cowens 13.6
Shaquille O'Neal 10.9

Dave Cowens 3.8
Shaquille O'Neal 2.5

Dave Cowens 1.1
*
Shaquille O'Neal 0.6

Dave Cowens 0.9
*
Shaquille O'Neal 2.3

Totals Stats

Dave Cowens 13,516
Shaquille O'Neal 28,596

Dave Cowens 10,444
Shaquille O'Neal 13,099

Dave Cowens 2,910
Shaquille O'Neal 3,026

Dave Cowens 599
*
Shaquille O'Neal 739

Dave Cowens 488
*
Shaquille O'Neal 2,732

Dave Cowens 766
Shaquille O'Neal 1,207

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Dave Cowens .460
Shaquille O'Neal .582

3-Point Percentage
Dave Cowens .071
*
Shaquille O'Neal .045

Free Throw Percentage
Dave Cowens .783
Shaquille O'Neal .527

Best Season (no game minimum)

Dave Cowens 20.5
(1973)
Shaquille O'Neal 29.7
(2000)

Dave Cowens 16.2
(1973)
Shaquille O'Neal 13.9
(1993)

Dave Cowens 5.0
(1977)
Shaquille O'Neal 3.8
(2000)

Dave Cowens 1.3
(1975)
*
Shaquille O'Neal 0.9
(1994)

Dave Cowens 1.3
(1974)
*
Shaquille O'Neal 3.5
(1993)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Dave Cowens 18.9
Shaquille O'Neal 24.3

Dave Cowens 14.4
Shaquille O'Neal 11.6

Dave Cowens 3.7
Shaquille O'Neal 2.7

Dave Cowens 1.2
*
Shaquille O'Neal 0.5

Dave Cowens 0.9
*
Shaquille O'Neal 2.1

Totals Stats

Dave Cowens 1,684
Shaquille O'Neal 5,250

Dave Cowens 1,285
Shaquille O'Neal 2,508

Dave Cowens 333
Shaquille O'Neal 582

Dave Cowens 78
*
Shaquille O'Neal 117

Dave Cowens 56
*
Shaquille O'Neal 459

Dave Cowens 89
Shaquille O'Neal 216

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Dave Cowens .451
Shaquille O'Neal .563

3-Point Percentage
Dave Cowens .000
*
Shaquille O'Neal -

Free Throw Percentage
Dave Cowens .744
Shaquille O'Neal .504

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Dave Cowens 21.9
(1973)
Shaquille O'Neal 30.7
(2000)

Dave Cowens 16.6
(1973)
Shaquille O'Neal 15.4
(2001)

Dave Cowens 4.6
(1976)
Shaquille O'Neal 4.6
(1996)

Dave Cowens 1.6
(1975)
*
Shaquille O'Neal 1.0
(2008)

Dave Cowens 1.4
(1977)
*
Shaquille O'Neal 3.0
(1994)

Notes: * Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74. Some years in this player's career don't have stats.
Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80. Some years in this player's career don't have stats.