Dave Cowens vs. Paul Silas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul Silas 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, 5 less than Paul Silas, who played 16. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Paul Silas had his rookie season in 1964-65. 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
Paul Silas 16 14 1964-65 to 1979-80

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 Paul Silas
Season 1970-711964-65
Team Boston CelticsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost West Div 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
Paul Silas 79 15.7 4.6 - - 7.3 0.6 - - - 2.0 1.8 4.7 .373 - - - 1.1 2.1 .506
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 4 10.5 2.8 - - 4.5 0.3 - - - 1.5 1.0 2.5 .400 - - - 0.8 1.0 .750

Season 2

Dave Cowens Paul Silas
Season 1971-721965-66
Team Boston CelticsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsHawks Lost West Div 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
Paul Silas 46 12.7 3.8 - - 5.1 0.5 - - - 1.6 1.5 3.8 .405 - - - 0.8 1.3 .574
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
Paul Silas 7 11.4 2.6 - - 4.9 0.3 - - - 1.6 0.7 2.6 .278 - - - 1.1 1.6 .727

Season 3

Dave Cowens Paul Silas
Season 1972-731966-67
Team Boston CelticsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsHawks Lost West Div 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
Paul Silas 77 20.4 6.8 - - 8.7 1.0 - - - 2.7 2.7 6.3 .429 - - - 1.5 2.8 .531
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
Paul Silas 8 15.3 3.6 - - 6.5 0.8 - - - 2.1 1.1 4.5 .250 - - - 1.4 2.3 .611

Season 4

Dave Cowens Paul Silas
Season 1973-741967-68
Team Boston CelticsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHawks Lost West Div 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
Paul Silas 82 32.3 13.4 - - 11.7 2.0 - - - 3.0 4.9 10.6 .458 - - - 3.6 5.2 .705
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
Paul Silas 6 29.7 11.8 - - 9.5 3.5 - - - 2.8 3.7 8.5 .431 - - - 4.5 6.3 .711

Season 5

Dave Cowens Paul Silas
Season 1974-751968-69
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsHawks Lost West Div 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
Paul Silas 79 23.5 8.7 - - 9.4 1.8 - - - 2.1 3.1 7.3 .419 - - - 2.6 4.2 .613
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
Paul Silas 11 23.5 5.5 - - 8.4 1.9 - - - 2.9 1.9 5.3 .362 - - - 1.7 3.4 .514

Season 6

Dave Cowens Paul Silas
Season 1975-761969-70
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns Lost West Div 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
Paul Silas 78 36.4 12.8 - - 11.7 2.7 - - - 3.4 4.8 10.3 .464 - - - 3.2 5.3 .607
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
Paul Silas 7 40.9 16.1 - - 15.9 4.3 - - - 4.1 6.6 15.6 .422 - - - 3.0 4.6 .656

Season 7

Dave Cowens Paul Silas
Season 1976-771970-71
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid 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 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
Paul Silas 81 36.3 11.9 - - 12.5 3.0 - - - 2.8 4.2 9.7 .428 - - - 3.5 5.1 .685
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
Paul Silas ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Dave Cowens Paul Silas
Season 1977-781971-72
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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
Paul Silas 80 38.5 17.5 - - 11.9 4.3 - - - 2.5 6.1 12.9 .470 - - - 5.4 7.0 .773
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Dave Cowens Paul Silas
Season 1978-791972-73
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 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
Paul Silas 80 32.7 13.3 - - 13.0 3.1 - - - 2.5 5.0 10.6 .470 - - - 3.3 4.8 .700
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 13 39.4 9.6 - - 15.1 3.0 - - - 3.0 3.6 9.2 .392 - - - 2.4 3.8 .620

Season 10

Dave Cowens Paul Silas
Season 1979-801973-74
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNBA 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 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
Paul Silas 82 31.7 11.5 4.1 7.1 11.2 2.3 0.8 0.2 - 3.0 4.1 9.4 .440 - - - 3.2 4.1 .783
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
Paul Silas 18 31.9 8.0 2.9 7.7 10.6 2.6 0.7 0.5 - 2.8 2.8 7.0 .397 - - - 2.4 2.9 .830

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

Season 11

Dave Cowens Paul Silas
Season 1982-831974-75
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 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
Paul Silas 82 32.5 10.6 4.2 8.3 12.5 2.7 0.7 0.3 - 2.8 3.8 9.1 .417 - - - 3.0 4.2 .709
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 11 36.8 9.1 4.2 7.6 11.8 3.6 1.1 0.2 - 4.1 3.8 8.4 .457 - - - 1.5 2.3 .640

Season 12

Dave Cowens Paul Silas
Season -1975-76
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
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 ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 81 32.9 10.7 4.5 8.1 12.7 2.5 0.7 0.4 - 2.8 3.9 9.1 .426 - - - 2.9 4.1 .709
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 18 41.2 10.8 4.3 9.3 13.7 2.3 1.3 0.3 - 3.7 3.8 8.6 .448 - - - 3.1 3.8 .812

Season 13

Dave Cowens Paul Silas
Season -1976-77
Team -Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Nuggets 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 ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 81 24.2 7.2 2.9 4.6 7.5 1.6 0.7 0.3 - 2.3 2.5 7.1 .360 - - - 2.1 3.1 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 6 23.5 6.8 2.7 4.0 6.7 2.7 0.3 0.7 - 3.8 2.3 5.5 .424 - - - 2.2 4.0 .542

Season 14

Dave Cowens Paul Silas
Season -1977-78
Team -Seattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Supersonics 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 ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 82 26.5 5.8 3.5 4.6 8.1 1.8 0.8 0.2 1.9 2.2 2.2 5.7 .397 - - - 1.3 2.3 .586
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 22 27.5 4.9 3.3 5.2 8.5 1.6 0.5 0.3 1.4 2.7 1.5 4.3 .351 - - - 1.9 2.7 .683

Season 15

Dave Cowens Paul Silas
Season -1978-79
Team -Seattle Supersonics
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 ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 82 23.9 5.6 3.2 3.9 7.0 1.4 0.4 0.2 1.2 2.2 2.1 4.9 .423 - - - 1.4 2.4 .598
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 17 24.6 4.3 2.4 3.4 5.8 1.1 0.5 0.3 2.0 2.6 1.2 3.2 .389 - - - 1.8 2.7 .674

Season 16

Dave Cowens Paul Silas
Season -1979-80
Team -Seattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Supersonics 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 ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 82 19.5 3.8 2.5 2.8 5.3 0.8 0.3 0.1 1.0 1.5 1.4 3.6 .378 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.7 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 15 17.1 2.5 2.2 2.8 5.0 1.0 0.6 0.1 0.6 1.9 0.9 2.9 .302 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.9 .846