Dave Cowens vs. Larry Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Larry Smith 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, 2 less than Larry Smith, who played 13. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Larry Smith had his rookie season in 1980-81. 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
Larry Smith 13 5 1980-81 to 1992-93

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Dave Cowens Larry Smith
Season 1970-711980-81
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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
Larry Smith 82 31.4 9.6 5.3 6.8 12.1 1.1 0.9 0.8 1.8 3.9 3.7 7.2 .512 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.7 .588
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Dave Cowens Larry Smith
Season 1971-721981-82
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
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
Larry Smith 74 29.9 7.1 3.8 7.2 11.0 1.1 0.9 0.7 1.4 3.9 3.0 5.6 .534 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 2.1 .553
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
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Dave Cowens Larry Smith
Season 1972-731982-83
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
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
Larry Smith 49 29.2 8.4 4.3 5.6 9.9 0.9 0.7 0.4 1.7 3.8 3.7 6.2 .588 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 2.0 .535
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
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Dave Cowens Larry Smith
Season 1973-741983-84
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
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
Larry Smith 75 27.9 7.8 3.8 5.2 9.0 1.0 0.8 0.3 1.7 3.7 3.3 5.8 .560 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 2.2 .560
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
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Dave Cowens Larry Smith
Season 1974-751984-85
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
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
Larry Smith 80 31.2 11.1 5.1 5.8 10.9 1.2 1.0 0.7 2.0 3.6 4.6 8.6 .530 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.2 .605
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
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Dave Cowens Larry Smith
Season 1975-761985-86
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
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
Larry Smith 77 31.7 9.6 5.0 6.1 11.1 1.2 0.8 0.6 1.8 3.7 4.1 7.6 .536 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.9 .493
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
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Dave Cowens Larry Smith
Season 1976-771986-87
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisWarriors 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 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
Larry Smith 80 29.7 8.8 4.6 6.9 11.5 1.2 0.9 0.7 1.7 3.7 3.7 6.8 .546 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.5 .574
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
Larry Smith 10 32.9 10.3 6.1 7.6 13.7 1.7 1.2 0.6 1.4 3.9 4.3 8.1 .531 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.4 .708

Season 8

Dave Cowens Larry Smith
Season 1977-781987-88
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
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
Larry Smith 20 25.0 6.4 4.0 5.2 9.1 1.3 0.6 0.6 1.8 3.2 2.9 6.2 .472 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 1.4 .407
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Dave Cowens Larry Smith
Season 1978-791988-89
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors 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 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
Larry Smith 80 23.7 5.7 3.4 4.8 8.2 1.5 0.8 0.7 1.4 3.1 2.7 5.0 .552 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.7 .310
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Larry Smith 8 18.5 1.0 2.1 2.9 5.0 2.0 0.8 1.4 0.8 3.0 0.5 2.0 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 10

Dave Cowens Larry Smith
Season 1979-801989-90
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsRockets 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 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
Larry Smith 74 17.6 3.0 2.4 3.7 6.1 0.9 0.8 0.4 0.9 2.7 1.4 2.9 .474 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.7 .364
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
Larry Smith 4 18.3 3.0 1.8 1.5 3.3 1.3 1.0 0.0 1.3 2.8 1.5 2.0 .750 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

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

Season 11

Dave Cowens Larry Smith
Season 1982-831990-91
Team Milwaukee BucksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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
Larry Smith 81 23.7 3.3 3.7 5.0 8.8 1.1 1.0 0.3 1.1 3.3 1.6 3.2 .487 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.6 .240
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Larry Smith 3 19.0 0.7 2.0 2.3 4.3 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 3.7 0.3 1.3 .250 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.3 .000

Season 12

Dave Cowens Larry Smith
Season -1991-92
Team -Houston Rockets
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 ------- --- ----------
Larry Smith 45 17.8 2.3 2.4 3.3 5.7 0.7 0.5 0.2 1.0 2.7 1.1 2.0 .543 0.0 0.0 .000 0.1 0.2 .364
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Dave Cowens Larry Smith
Season -1992-93
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 ------- --- ----------
Larry Smith 66 12.6 1.3 1.6 2.5 4.1 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.6 2.0 0.6 1.3 .437 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.3 .409
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Larry Smith 6 8.3 1.2 1.3 1.3 2.7 0.2 0.7 0.3 0.2 2.7 0.3 0.5 .667 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.7 .750