Dan Issel vs. Paul Pierce Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul Pierce and Dan Issel, 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.

Dan Issel played 9 years in the NBA, 10 less than Paul Pierce, who played 19. Dan Issel had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, 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
Dan Issel 9 7 1976-77 to 1984-85
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

Dan Issel Paul Pierce
Season 1976-771998-99
Team Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
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 %
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
Paul Pierce ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Dan Issel Paul Pierce
Season 1977-781999-00
Team Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
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
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 %
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
Paul Pierce ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Dan Issel Paul Pierce
Season 1978-792000-01
Team Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
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
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 %
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
Paul Pierce ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Dan Issel Paul Pierce
Season 1979-802001-02
Team Denver NuggetsBoston 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 %
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
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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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

Dan Issel Paul Pierce
Season 1980-812002-03
Team Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-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 %
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
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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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

Dan Issel Paul Pierce
Season 1981-822003-04
Team Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
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
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 %
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
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

Dan Issel Paul Pierce
Season 1982-832004-05
Team Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
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
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 %
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
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

Dan Issel Paul Pierce
Season 1983-842005-06
Team Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
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
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 %
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
Paul Pierce ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Dan Issel Paul Pierce
Season 1984-852006-07
Team Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
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
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 %
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
Paul Pierce ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Dan Issel Paul Pierce
Season -2007-08
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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

Dan Issel Paul Pierce
Season -2008-09
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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

Dan Issel Paul Pierce
Season -2009-10
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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

Dan Issel Paul Pierce
Season -2010-11
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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

Dan Issel Paul Pierce
Season -2011-12
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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

Dan Issel Paul Pierce
Season -2012-13
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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

Dan Issel 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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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

Dan Issel 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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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

Dan Issel 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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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

Dan Issel 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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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 %
Dan Issel ------- --- ----------
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