Dave Cowens vs. James Edwards Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Edwards 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, 8 less than James Edwards, who played 19. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while James Edwards had his rookie season in 1977-78. 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
James Edwards 19 11 1977-78 to 1995-96

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

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season 1970-711977-78
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers
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
James Edwards 83 29.0 15.2 2.4 5.0 7.4 1.0 0.6 0.9 2.0 3.9 6.0 13.2 .453 - - - 3.3 5.1 .646
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
James Edwards ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season 1971-721978-79
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
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
James Edwards 82 31.0 16.7 2.2 6.3 8.5 1.1 0.7 1.3 2.0 4.4 6.5 13.0 .501 - - - 3.6 5.4 .676
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
James Edwards ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season 1972-731979-80
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
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
James Edwards 82 28.2 15.7 2.2 4.9 7.0 1.5 0.7 1.3 1.6 4.0 6.4 12.6 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 4.1 .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
James Edwards ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season 1973-741980-81
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers 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 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
James Edwards 81 29.3 15.6 2.4 4.7 7.0 2.6 0.4 1.6 2.0 3.8 6.3 12.4 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 4.3 .703
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
James Edwards 2 28.0 7.0 2.0 5.0 7.0 2.5 0.5 0.5 2.0 4.0 3.5 12.0 .292 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 5

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season 1974-751981-82
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
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
James Edwards 77 33.0 16.7 2.5 5.1 7.5 1.6 0.3 1.5 2.1 4.5 6.9 13.4 .511 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.4 .684
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
James Edwards ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season 1975-761982-83
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns 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 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
James Edwards 31 21.5 10.5 1.8 3.2 5.0 1.3 0.4 0.6 1.6 3.5 4.1 8.5 .487 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.5 .639
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
James Edwards 3 18.0 9.3 2.0 4.0 6.0 1.3 0.3 0.3 1.7 2.3 3.7 8.7 .423 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.0 1.000

Season 7

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season 1976-771983-84
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisSuns 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 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
James Edwards 72 26.3 14.7 1.5 3.3 4.8 2.6 0.3 0.4 1.9 3.5 6.1 11.3 .536 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.5 .720
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
James Edwards 17 27.2 13.8 1.3 4.1 5.4 1.6 0.2 0.6 1.8 3.6 5.5 11.1 .492 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 4.0 .706

Season 8

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season 1977-781984-85
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 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
James Edwards 70 25.5 14.9 1.4 4.2 5.5 2.2 0.4 0.7 2.3 3.4 5.5 10.9 .501 0.0 0.0 .000 3.9 5.3 .746
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
James Edwards ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season 1978-791985-86
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
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
James Edwards 52 25.3 16.3 1.5 4.3 5.8 1.4 0.4 0.6 2.5 3.8 6.1 11.3 .542 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 5.8 .702
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
James Edwards ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season 1979-801986-87
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards 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 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
James Edwards 14 21.7 12.0 1.4 2.9 4.3 1.4 0.4 0.5 1.1 3.0 4.1 7.9 .518 0.0 0.0 - 3.9 5.0 .771
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
James Edwards ------- --- ----------

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

Season 11

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season 1982-831987-88
Team Milwaukee BucksPhoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 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
James Edwards 69 24.7 11.8 1.7 4.2 6.0 1.1 0.2 0.5 1.9 3.1 4.4 9.3 .470 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 4.7 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
James Edwards 22 14.0 6.3 1.0 2.0 3.1 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.5 2.5 2.5 5.0 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 1.9 .659

Season 12

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season -1988-89
Team -Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
James Edwards 76 16.5 7.3 0.9 2.1 3.0 0.6 0.1 0.4 0.9 3.0 2.8 5.6 .500 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 2.6 .686
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
James Edwards 17 18.6 7.1 0.6 1.5 2.1 0.7 0.1 0.5 0.9 3.1 2.4 5.0 .471 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.0 .784

Season 13

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season -1989-90
Team -Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
James Edwards 82 27.8 14.5 1.4 2.8 4.2 0.8 0.3 0.5 1.6 3.6 5.6 11.3 .498 0.0 0.0 .000 3.2 4.3 .749
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
James Edwards 20 26.8 14.3 1.2 2.4 3.6 0.7 0.3 0.6 1.6 3.7 5.7 11.6 .494 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 4.8 .604

Season 14

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season -1990-91
Team -Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pistons 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 ------- --- ----------
James Edwards 72 26.4 13.6 1.3 2.6 3.8 0.9 0.2 0.4 1.8 3.5 5.3 11.0 .484 0.0 0.0 .500 3.0 4.1 .729
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
James Edwards 15 23.0 10.7 1.0 1.5 2.5 0.6 0.1 0.2 1.6 2.9 4.1 10.0 .407 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.7 .691

Season 15

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season -1991-92
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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
James Edwards 72 20.0 9.7 0.8 2.0 2.8 0.7 0.3 0.5 1.0 3.3 3.5 7.5 .465 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 3.8 .731
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
James Edwards 5 17.4 6.4 1.0 1.6 2.6 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.8 2.2 2.0 4.8 .417 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.8 .632

Season 16

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season -1992-93
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Lakers 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 ------- --- ----------
James Edwards 52 11.9 6.3 0.6 1.3 1.9 0.8 0.2 0.1 1.0 2.3 2.3 5.2 .452 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.3 .712
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
James Edwards 3 4.7 2.0 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.3 .750 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 17

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season -1993-94
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
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 ------- --- ----------
James Edwards 45 10.4 4.7 0.2 1.2 1.4 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.7 2.0 1.7 3.7 .464 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.8 .684
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
James Edwards ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season -1994-95
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 ------- --- ----------
James Edwards 28 9.5 2.7 0.4 1.2 1.5 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.5 1.6 1.1 3.0 .386 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.6 .647
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
James Edwards 1 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 19

Dave Cowens James Edwards
Season -1995-96
Team -Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
James Edwards 28 9.8 3.5 0.5 0.9 1.4 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.8 2.2 1.5 3.9 .373 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.9 .615
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
James Edwards 6 4.7 1.8 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.7 0.7 1.5 .444 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.7 .750