Dave Cowens vs. Mychal Thompson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Mychal Thompson 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, 1 less than Mychal Thompson, who played 12. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Mychal Thompson had his rookie season in 1978-79. 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
Mychal Thompson 12 11 1978-79 to 1990-91

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Dave Cowens Mychal Thompson
Season 1970-711978-79
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail 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 81 38.0 17.0 - - 15.0 2.8 - - - 4.3 6.8 16.1 .422 - - - 3.4 4.6 .732
Mychal Thompson 73 29.4 14.7 2.7 5.6 8.3 2.4 0.9 1.8 2.8 3.7 6.3 12.8 .490 - - - 2.1 3.7 .572
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Mychal Thompson 3 40.3 19.7 3.0 7.3 10.3 2.0 0.7 1.7 1.7 3.7 9.0 18.0 .500 - - - 1.7 3.3 .500

Note: Mychal Thompson didn't play in 1979-80.

Season 2

Dave Cowens Mychal Thompson
Season 1971-721980-81
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsTrail 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 79 40.3 18.8 - - 15.2 3.1 - - - 4.0 8.3 17.2 .484 - - - 2.2 3.1 .720
Mychal Thompson 79 35.3 17.0 2.8 5.9 8.7 3.6 0.8 2.2 3.1 3.3 7.2 14.6 .494 0.0 0.0 .000 2.6 4.1 .641
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
Mychal Thompson 3 44.0 25.0 1.7 6.0 7.7 1.3 1.0 3.0 2.3 3.3 10.3 17.0 .608 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.0 .722

Season 3

Dave Cowens Mychal Thompson
Season 1972-731981-82
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
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
Mychal Thompson 79 39.6 20.8 3.3 8.4 11.7 4.0 0.9 1.4 3.1 2.9 8.6 16.5 .523 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 5.6 .628
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
Mychal Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Dave Cowens Mychal Thompson
Season 1973-741982-83
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers 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 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
Mychal Thompson 80 37.7 15.7 2.3 7.1 9.4 4.8 0.9 1.4 3.5 2.7 6.3 12.9 .489 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 5.0 .621
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
Mychal Thompson 7 40.6 15.0 2.3 5.7 8.0 5.6 0.9 1.1 4.0 3.4 5.7 12.1 .471 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 5.4 .658

Season 5

Dave Cowens Mychal Thompson
Season 1974-751983-84
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsTrail 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 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
Mychal Thompson 79 33.5 15.7 3.0 5.7 8.7 3.9 1.1 1.4 3.0 3.0 6.2 11.8 .524 0.0 0.0 .000 3.4 5.1 .667
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
Mychal Thompson 4 30.3 15.3 2.3 5.0 7.3 3.8 1.3 0.8 1.5 2.8 5.5 11.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 5.5 .773

Season 6

Dave Cowens Mychal Thompson
Season 1975-761984-85
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers 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 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
Mychal Thompson 79 33.1 18.4 2.7 5.2 7.8 2.6 1.0 1.3 2.9 2.7 7.2 14.1 .515 0.0 0.0 - 3.9 5.7 .684
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
Mychal Thompson 9 27.8 14.8 2.8 5.2 8.0 1.6 0.8 1.3 2.1 3.6 5.6 11.3 .490 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.4 .673

Season 7

Dave Cowens Mychal Thompson
Season 1976-771985-86
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisTrail 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 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
Mychal Thompson 82 31.3 14.7 2.2 5.2 7.4 2.1 0.9 0.4 2.4 3.3 6.1 12.3 .498 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.8 .641
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
Mychal Thompson 4 35.0 19.0 2.8 5.5 8.3 3.5 0.3 0.8 2.5 3.3 7.8 13.5 .574 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 6.5 .538

Season 8

Dave Cowens Mychal Thompson
Season 1977-781986-87
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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 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
Mychal Thompson 82 23.0 11.4 1.7 3.3 5.0 1.4 0.5 0.9 1.6 2.5 4.4 9.7 .450 0.0 0.0 .500 2.7 3.6 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Mychal Thompson 18 22.3 8.8 1.6 3.3 4.9 0.5 0.4 0.9 0.9 2.8 3.4 7.6 .453 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.8 .680

Season 9

Dave Cowens Mychal Thompson
Season 1978-791987-88
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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 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
Mychal Thompson 80 25.1 11.6 2.5 3.6 6.1 0.8 0.5 1.0 1.4 3.1 4.6 9.0 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.7 .634
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Mychal Thompson 24 25.6 9.7 2.6 4.5 7.1 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.4 2.9 4.1 8.0 .513 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.6 .581

Season 10

Dave Cowens Mychal Thompson
Season 1979-801988-89
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsLakers 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 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
Mychal Thompson 80 24.9 9.2 2.0 3.9 5.8 0.6 0.7 0.7 1.2 2.8 3.6 6.5 .559 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.9 .678
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
Mychal Thompson 15 25.1 11.4 2.6 2.5 5.1 0.7 0.4 0.8 0.9 3.5 4.3 8.5 .508 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 4.0 .683

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

Season 11

Dave Cowens Mychal Thompson
Season 1982-831989-90
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 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
Mychal Thompson 70 26.9 10.1 2.5 4.3 6.8 0.6 0.5 1.0 1.1 3.0 4.0 8.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.9 .706
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Mychal Thompson 9 25.0 6.4 1.7 2.7 4.3 0.2 0.2 1.4 1.9 2.9 2.3 4.9 .477 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.9 .615

Season 12

Dave Cowens Mychal Thompson
Season -1990-91
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Lakers 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 ------- --- ----------
Mychal Thompson 72 15.0 4.0 1.0 2.1 3.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.6 1.6 3.2 .496 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.2 .705
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Mychal Thompson 8 5.3 0.5 0.4 0.8 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.1 1.3 0.3 0.9 .286 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -