Dave Cowens vs. Tim Hardaway Jr. Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Tim Hardaway Jr. 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 and Tim Hardaway Jr. both played 11 years in the NBA. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Tim Hardaway Jr. had his rookie season in 2013-14. 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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 11 5 2013-14 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Dave Cowens Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1970-712013-14
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 81 23.1 10.2 0.2 1.3 1.5 0.8 0.5 0.1 0.6 1.8 3.6 8.5 .428 1.6 4.4 .363 1.3 1.6 .828
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Dave Cowens Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1971-722014-15
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 70 24.0 11.5 0.2 2.1 2.2 1.8 0.3 0.2 1.2 1.7 4.0 10.2 .389 1.7 5.1 .342 1.8 2.2 .801
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Dave Cowens Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1972-732015-16
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta 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 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 82 41.8 20.5 - - 16.2 4.1 - - - 3.8 9.0 20.0 .452 - - - 2.5 3.2 .779
Tim Hardaway Jr. 51 16.9 6.4 0.1 1.5 1.7 1.0 0.4 0.1 0.5 0.9 2.2 5.2 .430 0.9 2.8 .336 1.0 1.1 .893
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 9 9.7 2.2 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.8 2.9 .269 0.2 1.6 .143 0.4 0.7 .667

Season 4

Dave Cowens Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1973-742016-17
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHawks 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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 79 27.3 14.5 0.4 2.4 2.8 2.3 0.7 0.2 1.3 1.3 5.3 11.5 .455 1.9 5.3 .357 2.1 2.7 .766
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 6 33.3 12.8 0.5 2.2 2.7 1.2 0.5 0.0 1.7 2.2 4.5 13.7 .329 1.8 7.0 .262 2.0 3.2 .632

Season 5

Dave Cowens Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1974-752017-18
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 57 33.1 17.5 0.6 3.4 3.9 2.7 1.1 0.2 1.6 2.2 6.3 15.0 .421 2.3 7.2 .317 2.6 3.1 .816
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Dave Cowens Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1975-762018-19
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 65 31.6 18.1 0.5 2.9 3.4 2.4 0.8 0.1 1.6 2.2 6.0 15.3 .393 2.5 7.3 .340 3.6 4.2 .841
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Dave Cowens Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1976-772019-20
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisMavericks 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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 71 29.5 15.8 0.4 2.9 3.3 1.9 0.6 0.1 1.0 1.8 5.4 12.5 .434 2.9 7.2 .398 2.1 2.6 .819
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 6 34.0 17.8 0.5 3.0 3.5 1.8 0.3 0.0 0.5 2.7 6.7 15.8 .421 3.2 9.0 .352 1.3 1.8 .727

Season 8

Dave Cowens Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1977-782020-21
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks 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 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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 70 28.4 16.6 0.3 3.0 3.3 1.8 0.4 0.2 0.9 1.6 5.8 13.0 .447 3.0 7.6 .391 2.0 2.5 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Tim Hardaway Jr. 7 37.4 17.0 0.7 2.6 3.3 1.4 0.4 0.0 0.9 2.4 6.0 14.4 .416 3.3 8.1 .404 1.7 2.3 .750

Season 9

Dave Cowens Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1978-792021-22
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 42 29.6 14.2 0.3 3.4 3.7 2.2 0.9 0.1 0.8 1.8 5.0 12.6 .394 2.4 7.2 .336 1.9 2.5 .757
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Dave Cowens Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1979-802022-23
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 71 30.3 14.4 0.3 3.2 3.5 1.8 0.7 0.2 0.8 1.7 4.8 11.9 .401 3.0 7.7 .385 1.8 2.3 .770
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------

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

Season 11

Dave Cowens Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1982-832023-24
Team Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks TBD
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 79 26.8 14.4 0.3 2.9 3.2 1.8 0.5 0.1 0.9 1.3 5.0 12.4 .402 2.7 7.6 .353 1.8 2.1 .852
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Tim Hardaway Jr. 4 14.5 6.3 0.0 2.0 2.0 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.5 2.3 5.3 .429 0.8 2.8 .273 1.0 1.5 .667