Dave Cowens vs. Al Jefferson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Al Jefferson and Dave Cowens, 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.

Dave Cowens played 11 years in the NBA, 3 less than Al Jefferson, who played 14. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Al Jefferson had his rookie season in 2004-05. 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
Dave Cowens 11 7 1970-71 to 1982-83
Al Jefferson 14 4 2004-05 to 2017-18

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Dave Cowens Al Jefferson
Season 1970-712004-05
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Dave Cowens 81 38.0 17.0 - - 15.0 2.8 - - - 4.3 6.8 16.1 .422 - - - 3.4 4.6 .732
Al Jefferson 71 14.8 6.7 1.7 2.7 4.4 0.3 0.3 0.8 0.9 2.7 2.7 5.2 .528 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 1.9 .630
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Al Jefferson 7 19.4 6.1 2.4 4.0 6.4 0.3 0.6 1.1 0.6 2.3 2.4 5.9 .415 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.7 .750

Season 2

Dave Cowens Al Jefferson
Season 1971-722005-06
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East 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 %
Dave Cowens 79 40.3 18.8 - - 15.2 3.1 - - - 4.0 8.3 17.2 .484 - - - 2.2 3.1 .720
Al Jefferson 59 18.0 7.9 1.6 3.4 5.1 0.5 0.5 0.8 1.1 2.8 3.2 6.4 .499 0.0 0.1 .000 1.5 2.3 .642
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 11 40.1 15.5 - - 13.8 3.0 - - - 4.5 6.5 14.2 .455 - - - 2.5 4.3 .596
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Dave Cowens Al Jefferson
Season 1972-732006-07
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East 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 %
Dave Cowens 82 41.8 20.5 - - 16.2 4.1 - - - 3.8 9.0 20.0 .452 - - - 2.5 3.2 .779
Al Jefferson 69 33.6 16.0 3.4 7.5 11.0 1.3 0.7 1.5 2.0 3.4 6.6 12.8 .514 0.0 0.0 .000 2.9 4.3 .681
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 13 46.0 21.9 - - 16.6 3.7 - - - 4.2 9.9 21.0 .473 - - - 2.1 3.2 .659
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Dave Cowens Al Jefferson
Season 1973-742007-08
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Al Jefferson 82 35.6 21.0 3.8 7.4 11.1 1.4 0.9 1.5 2.0 2.7 8.8 17.6 .500 0.0 0.1 .000 3.5 4.8 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Dave Cowens Al Jefferson
Season 1974-752008-09
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East 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 %
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
Al Jefferson 50 36.7 23.1 3.4 7.5 11.0 1.6 0.8 1.7 1.8 2.8 9.7 19.5 .497 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 5.0 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Dave Cowens Al Jefferson
Season 1975-762009-10
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Al Jefferson 76 32.4 17.1 2.4 6.9 9.3 1.8 0.8 1.3 1.8 2.7 7.4 14.8 .498 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.5 .680
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Dave Cowens Al Jefferson
Season 1976-772010-11
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East 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 %
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
Al Jefferson 82 35.9 18.6 2.9 6.8 9.7 1.8 0.6 1.9 1.3 2.9 8.0 16.1 .496 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.5 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Dave Cowens Al Jefferson
Season 1977-782011-12
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz 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 %
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
Al Jefferson 61 34.0 19.2 2.2 7.4 9.6 2.2 0.8 1.7 1.0 2.5 8.5 17.2 .492 0.0 0.1 .250 2.2 2.9 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Al Jefferson 4 35.3 18.3 1.8 6.8 8.5 2.5 1.3 0.8 1.3 2.5 9.0 17.0 .529 0.0 0.3 .000 0.3 1.0 .250

Season 9

Dave Cowens Al Jefferson
Season 1978-792012-13
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
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 %
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
Al Jefferson 78 33.1 17.8 2.0 7.2 9.2 2.1 1.0 1.1 1.3 2.2 7.8 15.8 .494 0.0 0.2 .118 2.1 2.8 .770
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Dave Cowens Al Jefferson
Season 1979-802013-14
Team Boston CelticsCharlotte Bobcats
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsBobcats 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 %
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
Al Jefferson 73 35.0 21.8 2.1 8.7 10.8 2.1 0.9 1.1 1.7 2.4 9.6 18.8 .509 0.0 0.2 .200 2.6 3.8 .690
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Al Jefferson 3 35.3 18.7 2.0 7.3 9.3 0.7 0.3 1.7 0.3 2.3 8.7 17.7 .491 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.7 .800

Note: Dave Cowens didn't play in 1980-81 and 1981-82.

Season 11

Dave Cowens Al Jefferson
Season 1982-832014-15
Team Milwaukee BucksCharlotte Hornets
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 %
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
Al Jefferson 65 30.6 16.6 1.5 6.9 8.4 1.7 0.7 1.3 1.0 2.1 7.5 15.5 .481 0.0 0.1 .400 1.7 2.5 .655
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Dave Cowens Al Jefferson
Season -2015-16
Team -Charlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Hornets 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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Al Jefferson 47 23.3 12.0 1.2 5.2 6.4 1.5 0.6 0.9 0.7 2.5 5.2 10.7 .485 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.4 .649
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Al Jefferson 7 24.0 13.3 2.0 4.1 6.1 1.1 0.6 0.4 0.9 1.7 6.0 11.9 .506 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.9 .692

Season 13

Dave Cowens Al Jefferson
Season -2016-17
Team -Indiana Pacers
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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Al Jefferson 66 14.1 8.1 1.1 3.1 4.2 0.9 0.3 0.2 0.5 1.9 3.6 7.1 .499 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.3 .765
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Dave Cowens Al Jefferson
Season -2017-18
Team -Indiana Pacers
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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Al Jefferson 36 13.4 7.0 0.8 3.1 4.0 0.8 0.4 0.6 0.6 1.8 3.1 5.8 .534 0.0 0.1 .000 0.8 1.0 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Al Jefferson ------- --- ----------