Dave Cowens vs. Darryl Dawkins Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Darryl Dawkins 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 Darryl Dawkins, who played 14. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Darryl Dawkins had his rookie season in 1975-76. 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
Darryl Dawkins 14 10 1975-76 to 1988-89

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 Darryl Dawkins
Season 1970-711975-76
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
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 81 38.0 17.0 - - 15.0 2.8 - - - 4.3 6.8 16.1 .422 - - - 3.4 4.6 .732
Darryl Dawkins 37 4.5 2.4 0.4 0.9 1.3 0.1 0.1 0.2 - 1.1 1.1 2.2 .500 - - - 0.2 0.6 .333
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Dave Cowens Darryl Dawkins
Season 1971-721976-77
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Finals76ers Lost NBA 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
Darryl Dawkins 59 11.6 5.3 1.0 2.9 3.9 0.4 0.2 0.8 - 2.2 2.3 3.6 .628 - - - 0.7 1.3 .506
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
Darryl Dawkins 18 18.4 7.3 0.5 4.9 5.4 0.9 0.4 1.0 - 2.6 2.8 5.3 .526 - - - 1.7 2.6 .660

Season 3

Dave Cowens Darryl Dawkins
Season 1972-731977-78
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Finals76ers 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
Darryl Dawkins 70 24.6 11.7 1.7 6.3 7.9 1.2 0.5 1.8 1.8 3.8 4.7 8.2 .575 - - - 2.2 3.1 .709
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
Darryl Dawkins 10 18.0 6.3 0.6 5.1 5.7 1.0 0.3 1.5 1.4 3.4 2.7 5.3 .509 - - - 0.9 1.7 .529

Season 4

Dave Cowens Darryl Dawkins
Season 1973-741978-79
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers 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
Darryl Dawkins 78 26.1 13.1 1.6 6.5 8.1 1.6 0.4 1.8 2.5 3.8 5.5 10.7 .517 - - - 2.0 3.0 .672
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
Darryl Dawkins 9 28.3 16.0 2.3 6.8 9.1 1.3 0.2 1.8 1.9 4.7 6.2 11.8 .528 - - - 3.6 5.2 .681

Season 5

Dave Cowens Darryl Dawkins
Season 1974-751979-80
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Finals76ers Lost NBA 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
Darryl Dawkins 80 31.8 14.7 2.5 6.2 8.7 1.9 0.6 1.8 2.9 4.1 6.2 11.8 .522 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.6 .653
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
Darryl Dawkins 18 33.7 17.3 2.4 5.2 7.6 1.8 0.7 2.3 2.6 4.2 7.0 13.2 .529 0.0 0.2 .000 3.3 5.2 .645

Season 6

Dave Cowens Darryl Dawkins
Season 1975-761980-81
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers 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 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
Darryl Dawkins 76 27.5 14.0 1.4 5.8 7.2 1.4 0.5 1.5 2.9 4.2 5.6 9.2 .607 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.0 .720
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
Darryl Dawkins 16 26.3 13.8 1.8 4.4 6.1 0.9 0.2 1.0 2.3 4.4 5.4 9.6 .562 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 4.3 .721

Season 7

Dave Cowens Darryl Dawkins
Season 1976-771981-82
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Semis76ers Lost NBA Finals
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
Darryl Dawkins 48 23.4 11.0 1.4 4.9 6.4 1.1 0.4 1.1 2.0 4.0 4.3 7.6 .564 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.4 .695
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
Darryl Dawkins 21 21.9 11.0 1.1 3.6 4.7 0.5 0.3 1.7 1.8 4.5 4.7 8.5 .556 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.4 .660

Season 8

Dave Cowens Darryl Dawkins
Season 1977-781982-83
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets 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 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
Darryl Dawkins 81 25.8 12.0 1.6 3.6 5.2 1.4 0.8 1.9 3.5 4.7 5.0 8.3 .599 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.2 .646
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Darryl Dawkins 2 29.5 18.0 1.0 4.0 5.0 1.0 2.0 2.5 4.0 3.5 8.5 11.0 .773 0.0 0.5 .000 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 9

Dave Cowens Darryl Dawkins
Season 1978-791983-84
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets 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 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
Darryl Dawkins 81 29.8 16.8 2.0 4.7 6.7 1.5 0.7 1.7 2.9 4.8 6.3 10.6 .593 0.0 0.1 .400 4.2 5.7 .735
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Darryl Dawkins 11 30.9 18.4 2.0 4.2 6.2 1.2 0.5 0.9 2.9 4.7 6.0 10.7 .559 0.0 0.3 .000 6.4 7.5 .843

Season 10

Dave Cowens Darryl Dawkins
Season 1979-801984-85
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNets 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
Darryl Dawkins 39 24.9 13.5 1.4 3.2 4.6 1.2 0.4 0.9 2.4 4.4 4.9 8.7 .566 0.0 0.0 .000 3.7 5.2 .711
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
Darryl Dawkins 3 21.3 8.3 1.3 3.3 4.7 1.3 0.7 2.0 2.3 4.3 3.7 7.7 .478 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .750

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

Season 11

Dave Cowens Darryl Dawkins
Season 1982-831985-86
Team Milwaukee BucksNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets 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 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
Darryl Dawkins 51 23.7 15.3 1.7 3.3 4.9 1.5 0.3 1.2 2.4 4.5 5.6 8.6 .644 0.0 0.0 .000 4.1 5.8 .707
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Darryl Dawkins 1 17.0 10.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 4.0 6.0 .667 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.0 .667

Season 12

Dave Cowens Darryl Dawkins
Season -1986-87
Team -New Jersey Nets
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 ------- --- ----------
Darryl Dawkins 6 17.7 9.5 1.5 1.7 3.2 0.3 0.3 0.5 2.5 4.2 3.3 5.3 .625 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 4.0 .708
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Dave Cowens Darryl Dawkins
Season -1987-88
Team -Utah Jazz, Detroit Pistons
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 ------- --- ----------
Darryl Dawkins 6 5.5 1.7 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.2 2.3 0.3 1.5 .222 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.5 .400
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Dave Cowens Darryl Dawkins
Season -1988-89
Team -Detroit Pistons
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 ------- --- ----------
Darryl Dawkins 14 3.4 1.9 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.9 0.6 1.4 .474 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.3 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------