Dennis Johnson vs. Alton Lister Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Alton Lister and Dennis Johnson, 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.

Dennis Johnson played 14 years in the NBA, 2 less than Alton Lister, who played 16. Dennis Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Alton Lister had his rookie season in 1981-82. 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
Dennis Johnson 14 13 1976-77 to 1989-90
Alton Lister 16 11 1981-82 to 1997-98

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

Dennis Johnson Alton Lister
Season 1976-771981-82
Team Seattle SupersonicsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBucks 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 %
Dennis Johnson 81 20.6 9.2 2.0 1.7 3.7 1.5 1.5 0.7 - 2.7 3.5 7.0 .504 - - - 2.2 3.5 .624
Alton Lister 80 14.8 4.5 1.4 3.5 4.8 1.1 0.2 1.5 1.6 3.0 1.9 3.6 .519 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .520
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister 6 18.7 5.5 1.0 3.5 4.5 0.8 0.3 2.5 1.5 3.8 2.3 4.0 .583 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .714

Season 2

Dennis Johnson Alton Lister
Season 1977-781982-83
Team Seattle SupersonicsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost NBA FinalsBucks 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 %
Dennis Johnson 81 27.3 12.7 1.9 1.8 3.6 2.8 1.5 0.6 2.0 2.6 4.5 10.9 .417 - - - 3.7 5.0 .732
Alton Lister 80 23.6 8.4 2.1 5.0 7.1 1.4 0.6 2.2 2.3 4.1 3.4 6.4 .529 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 3.0 .537
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 22 37.6 16.1 2.1 2.5 4.6 3.3 1.0 1.0 2.5 2.9 5.5 13.4 .412 - - - 5.1 7.2 .704
Alton Lister 9 22.9 6.4 2.3 4.4 6.8 1.2 1.0 1.7 1.9 3.3 3.0 7.0 .429 0.0 0.1 .000 0.4 0.6 .800

Season 3

Dennis Johnson Alton Lister
Season 1978-791983-84
Team Seattle SupersonicsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBucks 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 %
Dennis Johnson 80 34.0 15.9 1.8 2.9 4.7 3.5 1.3 1.2 2.4 2.6 6.0 13.9 .434 - - - 3.8 4.9 .781
Alton Lister 82 23.8 7.6 1.9 5.5 7.4 1.3 0.5 1.7 1.9 4.0 3.1 6.2 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.2 .626
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 17 40.1 20.9 2.6 3.5 6.1 4.1 1.6 1.5 3.0 3.7 8.0 17.8 .450 - - - 4.9 6.4 .771
Alton Lister 16 23.0 6.8 1.6 4.4 6.0 0.6 0.3 1.5 1.7 3.9 2.4 4.9 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.0 .625

Season 4

Dennis Johnson Alton Lister
Season 1979-801984-85
Team Seattle SupersonicsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsBucks 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 %
Dennis Johnson 81 36.3 19.0 2.1 3.0 5.1 4.1 1.8 1.0 2.8 3.3 7.1 16.8 .422 0.1 0.7 .207 4.7 6.0 .780
Alton Lister 81 25.8 9.9 2.7 5.3 8.0 1.6 0.6 2.1 2.3 3.5 4.0 7.4 .538 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 3.2 .588
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 15 38.8 17.1 1.7 2.6 4.3 3.8 1.8 0.7 2.9 3.2 6.7 16.3 .410 0.3 1.0 .333 3.5 4.1 .839
Alton Lister 8 25.4 8.6 3.4 4.4 7.8 1.9 0.8 1.9 2.0 4.5 3.4 7.5 .450 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 4.0 .469

Season 5

Dennis Johnson Alton Lister
Season 1980-811985-86
Team Phoenix SunsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisBucks 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 %
Dennis Johnson 79 33.1 18.8 2.0 2.6 4.6 3.7 1.7 0.8 2.6 3.1 6.7 15.4 .436 0.1 0.6 .216 5.2 6.3 .820
Alton Lister 81 22.4 9.8 2.5 4.9 7.3 1.2 0.6 1.8 2.0 3.7 3.9 7.1 .551 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 3.3 .602
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 7 38.1 19.6 1.0 3.7 4.7 2.9 1.3 1.3 2.7 2.6 7.4 15.7 .473 0.1 0.7 .200 4.6 6.0 .762
Alton Lister 14 23.9 11.9 2.6 4.2 6.9 0.9 0.5 1.6 1.5 4.0 4.7 7.4 .641 0.0 0.1 .000 2.5 4.1 .603

Season 6

Dennis Johnson Alton Lister
Season 1981-821986-87
Team Phoenix SunsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisSupersonics 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 %
Dennis Johnson 80 36.7 19.5 1.8 3.4 5.1 4.6 1.3 0.7 2.9 3.2 7.2 15.4 .470 0.1 0.5 .190 5.0 6.2 .806
Alton Lister 75 30.5 11.6 3.0 6.4 9.4 1.5 0.4 2.4 2.3 3.9 4.6 9.2 .504 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.5 .675
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 7 38.7 22.3 1.9 2.6 4.4 4.6 2.1 0.6 3.6 4.0 9.0 18.9 .477 0.0 0.4 .000 4.3 5.6 .769
Alton Lister 9 22.9 6.0 3.2 3.0 6.2 0.8 0.8 1.4 1.1 4.1 2.2 5.6 .400 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.2 .700

Season 7

Dennis Johnson Alton Lister
Season 1982-831987-88
Team Phoenix SunsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 %
Dennis Johnson 77 33.1 14.2 1.2 3.2 4.4 5.0 1.3 0.5 2.6 2.6 5.2 11.2 .462 0.1 0.4 .161 3.8 4.8 .791
Alton Lister 82 22.1 5.6 2.4 5.2 7.6 0.7 0.3 1.7 1.1 3.9 2.1 4.2 .504 0.0 0.0 .500 1.4 2.3 .606
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 3 36.0 18.0 2.0 5.7 7.7 5.7 1.7 0.7 2.7 3.0 7.3 16.0 .458 0.0 0.3 .000 3.3 4.0 .833
Alton Lister 5 15.4 5.6 1.8 4.0 5.8 1.0 0.2 1.0 0.8 3.4 2.4 3.4 .706 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.0 .800

Season 8

Dennis Johnson Alton Lister
Season 1983-841988-89
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics 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 %
Dennis Johnson 80 33.3 13.2 1.1 2.4 3.5 4.2 1.2 0.7 2.2 3.1 4.8 11.0 .437 0.1 0.4 .125 3.5 4.1 .852
Alton Lister 82 22.0 8.0 2.5 4.1 6.6 0.7 0.3 2.2 1.4 3.8 3.3 6.6 .499 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.2 .646
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 22 36.7 16.6 1.4 2.2 3.6 4.4 1.1 0.3 2.4 3.4 5.9 14.5 .404 0.1 0.3 .429 4.7 5.5 .867
Alton Lister 8 20.0 7.0 1.6 3.1 4.8 0.3 0.3 2.6 1.1 3.5 2.1 4.9 .436 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.3 .846

Season 9

Dennis Johnson Alton Lister
Season 1984-851989-90
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 80 37.2 15.7 1.1 2.8 4.0 6.8 1.2 0.5 2.7 2.8 6.2 13.3 .462 0.1 0.3 .269 3.3 3.8 .853
Alton Lister 3 13.3 4.0 1.7 1.0 2.7 0.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 2.7 1.3 2.7 .500 0.0 0.3 .000 1.3 2.3 .571
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 21 40.4 17.3 1.1 2.9 4.0 7.3 1.5 0.4 3.4 3.1 6.8 15.2 .445 0.0 0.7 .000 3.8 4.4 .860
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Dennis Johnson Alton Lister
Season 1985-861990-91
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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 %
Dennis Johnson 78 35.0 15.6 0.9 2.6 3.4 5.8 1.4 0.4 2.2 2.6 6.2 13.6 .455 0.1 0.5 .143 3.1 3.8 .818
Alton Lister 77 20.2 6.4 1.6 4.7 6.3 1.2 0.3 1.2 1.4 3.7 2.4 5.1 .478 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.6 .569
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 18 39.7 16.2 1.3 2.9 4.2 5.9 2.2 0.3 2.8 3.2 6.1 13.6 .445 0.3 0.9 .375 3.7 4.7 .798
Alton Lister 6 12.0 4.3 1.2 3.5 4.7 0.3 0.0 1.2 1.3 2.5 2.0 4.2 .480 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.8 .400

Season 11

Dennis Johnson Alton Lister
Season 1986-871991-92
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsWarriors 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 %
Dennis Johnson 79 37.1 13.4 0.6 2.7 3.3 7.5 1.1 0.5 2.2 2.5 5.4 12.1 .444 0.1 0.8 .113 2.6 3.2 .833
Alton Lister 26 11.3 3.9 0.8 2.7 3.5 0.5 0.2 0.6 0.8 2.3 1.7 3.0 .557 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.3 .424
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 23 41.9 18.9 1.0 2.9 4.0 8.9 0.7 0.3 1.9 3.1 7.3 15.7 .465 0.1 1.1 .115 4.2 4.9 .850
Alton Lister 4 11.8 4.0 0.8 2.0 2.8 0.3 0.0 1.0 0.8 2.3 1.5 3.8 .400 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .800

Season 12

Dennis Johnson Alton Lister
Season 1987-881992-93
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
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 %
Dennis Johnson 77 34.7 12.6 0.8 2.3 3.1 7.8 1.2 0.4 2.5 2.6 4.6 10.4 .438 0.2 0.6 .261 3.3 3.9 .856
Alton Lister 20 8.7 2.3 0.8 1.5 2.2 0.3 0.0 0.5 0.9 2.0 1.0 2.1 .452 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.7 .538
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 17 41.3 15.9 0.9 3.6 4.5 8.2 1.4 0.5 2.6 3.0 5.4 12.4 .433 0.4 0.9 .375 4.8 6.1 .796
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------

Note: Alton Lister didn't play in 1993-94.

Season 13

Dennis Johnson Alton Lister
Season 1988-891994-95
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 72 32.1 10.0 0.4 2.2 2.6 6.6 1.3 0.3 2.4 2.9 3.8 8.9 .434 0.1 0.7 .140 2.2 2.7 .821
Alton Lister 60 12.9 2.8 1.1 2.8 3.9 0.2 0.3 1.0 0.6 2.4 1.1 2.2 .493 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.2 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 3 19.7 2.7 0.7 0.7 1.3 3.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.7 1.3 5.0 .267 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Dennis Johnson Alton Lister
Season 1989-901995-96
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 75 27.1 7.1 0.6 2.0 2.7 6.5 1.1 0.2 1.6 2.4 2.7 6.3 .434 0.0 0.3 .042 1.6 1.9 .843
Alton Lister 64 11.5 2.2 1.0 3.3 4.4 0.3 0.1 0.7 0.8 2.1 0.8 1.6 .486 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.0 .641
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 5 32.4 13.8 0.4 2.4 2.8 5.6 0.4 0.4 2.0 3.4 6.0 12.4 .484 0.4 1.2 .333 1.4 1.4 1.000
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Dennis Johnson Alton Lister
Season -1996-97
Team -Boston Celtics
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 %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister 53 9.7 1.6 1.2 1.9 3.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.6 1.8 0.6 1.5 .416 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.6 .742
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Dennis Johnson Alton Lister
Season -1997-98
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 %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister 7 6.3 0.9 0.3 1.3 1.6 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 1.7 0.4 1.1 .375 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Alton Lister 2 5.5 1.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 2.5 0.5 1.5 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -