Dave Cowens vs. Alton Lister Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Alton Lister 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 / Games against each other

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, 5 less than Alton Lister, who played 16. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Alton Lister had his rookie season in 1981-82. 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
Alton Lister 16 11 1981-82 to 1997-98

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Dave Cowens Alton Lister
Season 1970-711981-82
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayBucks 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 %
Dave Cowens 81 38.0 17.0 - - 15.0 2.8 - - - 4.3 6.8 16.1 .422 - - - 3.4 4.6 .732
Alton Lister 80 14.8 4.5 1.4 3.5 4.8 1.1 0.2 1.5 1.6 3.0 1.9 3.6 .519 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .520
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister 6 18.7 5.5 1.0 3.5 4.5 0.8 0.3 2.5 1.5 3.8 2.3 4.0 .583 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .714

Season 2

Dave Cowens Alton Lister
Season 1971-721982-83
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsBucks 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 %
Dave Cowens 79 40.3 18.8 - - 15.2 3.1 - - - 4.0 8.3 17.2 .484 - - - 2.2 3.1 .720
Alton Lister 80 23.6 8.4 2.1 5.0 7.1 1.4 0.6 2.2 2.3 4.1 3.4 6.4 .529 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 3.0 .537
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
Alton Lister 9 22.9 6.4 2.3 4.4 6.8 1.2 1.0 1.7 1.9 3.3 3.0 7.0 .429 0.0 0.1 .000 0.4 0.6 .800

Season 3

Dave Cowens Alton Lister
Season 1972-731983-84
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsBucks 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 %
Dave Cowens 82 41.8 20.5 - - 16.2 4.1 - - - 3.8 9.0 20.0 .452 - - - 2.5 3.2 .779
Alton Lister 82 23.8 7.6 1.9 5.5 7.4 1.3 0.5 1.7 1.9 4.0 3.1 6.2 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.2 .626
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
Alton Lister 16 23.0 6.8 1.6 4.4 6.0 0.6 0.3 1.5 1.7 3.9 2.4 4.9 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.0 .625

Season 4

Dave Cowens Alton Lister
Season 1973-741984-85
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBucks 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 %
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
Alton Lister 81 25.8 9.9 2.7 5.3 8.0 1.6 0.6 2.1 2.3 3.5 4.0 7.4 .538 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 3.2 .588
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
Alton Lister 8 25.4 8.6 3.4 4.4 7.8 1.9 0.8 1.9 2.0 4.5 3.4 7.5 .450 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 4.0 .469

Season 5

Dave Cowens Alton Lister
Season 1974-751985-86
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsBucks 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 %
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
Alton Lister 81 22.4 9.8 2.5 4.9 7.3 1.2 0.6 1.8 2.0 3.7 3.9 7.1 .551 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 3.3 .602
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
Alton Lister 14 23.9 11.9 2.6 4.2 6.9 0.9 0.5 1.6 1.5 4.0 4.7 7.4 .641 0.0 0.1 .000 2.5 4.1 .603

Season 6

Dave Cowens Alton Lister
Season 1975-761986-87
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics 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 %
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
Alton Lister 75 30.5 11.6 3.0 6.4 9.4 1.5 0.4 2.4 2.3 3.9 4.6 9.2 .504 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.5 .675
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
Alton Lister 9 22.9 6.0 3.2 3.0 6.2 0.8 0.8 1.4 1.1 4.1 2.2 5.6 .400 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.2 .700

Season 7

Dave Cowens Alton Lister
Season 1976-771987-88
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisSupersonics 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 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
Alton Lister 82 22.1 5.6 2.4 5.2 7.6 0.7 0.3 1.7 1.1 3.9 2.1 4.2 .504 0.0 0.0 .500 1.4 2.3 .606
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
Alton Lister 5 15.4 5.6 1.8 4.0 5.8 1.0 0.2 1.0 0.8 3.4 2.4 3.4 .706 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.0 .800

Season 8

Dave Cowens Alton Lister
Season 1977-781988-89
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 %
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
Alton Lister 82 22.0 8.0 2.5 4.1 6.6 0.7 0.3 2.2 1.4 3.8 3.3 6.6 .499 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.2 .646
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister 8 20.0 7.0 1.6 3.1 4.8 0.3 0.3 2.6 1.1 3.5 2.1 4.9 .436 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.3 .846

Season 9

Dave Cowens Alton Lister
Season 1978-791989-90
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
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
Alton Lister 3 13.3 4.0 1.7 1.0 2.7 0.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 2.7 1.3 2.7 .500 0.0 0.3 .000 1.3 2.3 .571
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Dave Cowens Alton Lister
Season 1979-801990-91
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsWarriors 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 %
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
Alton Lister 77 20.2 6.4 1.6 4.7 6.3 1.2 0.3 1.2 1.4 3.7 2.4 5.1 .478 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.6 .569
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
Alton Lister 6 12.0 4.3 1.2 3.5 4.7 0.3 0.0 1.2 1.3 2.5 2.0 4.2 .480 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.8 .400

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

Season 11

Dave Cowens Alton Lister
Season 1982-831991-92
Team Milwaukee BucksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors 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 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
Alton Lister 26 11.3 3.9 0.8 2.7 3.5 0.5 0.2 0.6 0.8 2.3 1.7 3.0 .557 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.3 .424
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister 4 11.8 4.0 0.8 2.0 2.8 0.3 0.0 1.0 0.8 2.3 1.5 3.8 .400 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .800

Season 12

Dave Cowens Alton Lister
Season -1992-93
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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister 20 8.7 2.3 0.8 1.5 2.2 0.3 0.0 0.5 0.9 2.0 1.0 2.1 .452 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.7 .538
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------

Note: Alton Lister didn't play in 1993-94.

Season 13

Dave Cowens Alton Lister
Season -1994-95
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
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 ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister 60 12.9 2.8 1.1 2.8 3.9 0.2 0.3 1.0 0.6 2.4 1.1 2.2 .493 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.2 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Dave Cowens Alton Lister
Season -1995-96
Team -Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics
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 ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister 64 11.5 2.2 1.0 3.3 4.4 0.3 0.1 0.7 0.8 2.1 0.8 1.6 .486 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.0 .641
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Dave Cowens Alton Lister
Season -1996-97
Team -Boston Celtics
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 ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister 53 9.7 1.6 1.2 1.9 3.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.6 1.8 0.6 1.5 .416 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.6 .742
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Dave Cowens Alton Lister
Season -1997-98
Team -Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Trail Blazers 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 ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister 7 6.3 0.9 0.3 1.3 1.6 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 1.7 0.4 1.1 .375 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister 2 5.5 1.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 2.5 0.5 1.5 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -