Dennis Johnson vs. Austin Rivers Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Austin Rivers 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

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, 3 more than Austin Rivers, who played 11. Dennis Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Austin Rivers had his rookie season in 2012-13. 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
Austin Rivers 11 8 2012-13 to 2022-23

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Dennis Johnson Austin Rivers
Season 1976-772012-13
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew Orleans Hornets
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 %
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
Austin Rivers 61 23.2 6.2 0.3 1.5 1.8 2.1 0.4 0.1 1.2 2.0 2.4 6.4 .372 0.5 1.4 .326 1.0 1.8 .546
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Austin Rivers ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Dennis Johnson Austin Rivers
Season 1977-782013-14
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew Orleans Pelicans
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics 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 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
Austin Rivers 69 19.4 7.7 0.4 1.5 1.9 2.3 0.7 0.1 1.1 1.9 2.8 6.9 .405 0.5 1.4 .364 1.6 2.5 .636
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
Austin Rivers ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Dennis Johnson Austin Rivers
Season 1978-792014-15
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionClippers 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 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
Austin Rivers 76 20.6 7.0 0.4 1.6 2.0 2.0 0.6 0.2 0.9 1.9 2.7 6.5 .409 0.5 1.7 .298 1.1 1.7 .675
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
Austin Rivers 14 17.9 8.4 0.4 1.3 1.7 1.1 0.7 0.3 0.9 2.0 3.3 7.5 .438 0.9 2.5 .371 0.9 1.4 .632

Season 4

Dennis Johnson Austin Rivers
Season 1979-802015-16
Team Seattle SupersonicsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsClippers 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 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
Austin Rivers 67 21.9 8.9 0.3 1.6 1.9 1.5 0.7 0.1 0.9 2.0 3.4 7.7 .438 0.9 2.8 .335 1.2 1.7 .681
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
Austin Rivers 6 24.0 10.3 0.7 2.0 2.7 2.7 0.5 0.0 1.2 2.0 4.3 10.2 .426 0.7 2.8 .235 1.0 1.5 .667

Season 5

Dennis Johnson Austin Rivers
Season 1980-812016-17
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisClippers 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 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
Austin Rivers 74 27.8 12.0 0.3 1.9 2.2 2.8 0.6 0.1 1.6 2.5 4.4 9.9 .442 1.5 4.0 .371 1.8 2.6 .691
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
Austin Rivers 3 30.0 8.0 0.3 2.3 2.7 0.7 0.3 0.3 1.7 2.0 3.0 8.7 .346 1.3 4.3 .308 0.7 0.7 1.000

Season 6

Dennis Johnson Austin Rivers
Season 1981-822017-18
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West 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 %
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
Austin Rivers 61 33.7 15.1 0.4 1.9 2.4 4.0 1.2 0.3 1.8 2.5 5.6 13.2 .424 2.2 5.9 .378 1.7 2.6 .642
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
Austin Rivers ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Dennis Johnson Austin Rivers
Season 1982-832018-19
Team Phoenix SunsWashington Wizards, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets 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 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
Austin Rivers 76 26.7 8.1 0.3 1.8 2.1 2.2 0.6 0.3 0.9 2.7 3.1 7.5 .406 1.4 4.3 .318 0.7 1.3 .526
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
Austin Rivers 10 21.5 7.4 0.2 1.9 2.1 1.0 0.5 0.1 0.8 3.1 2.7 6.2 .435 1.6 3.5 .457 0.4 0.6 .667

Season 8

Dennis Johnson Austin Rivers
Season 1983-842019-20
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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
Austin Rivers 68 23.4 8.8 0.4 2.2 2.6 1.7 0.7 0.1 0.7 1.9 3.1 7.4 .421 1.4 4.0 .356 1.1 1.6 .703
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
Austin Rivers 12 17.6 4.8 0.2 2.3 2.5 1.3 0.6 0.1 0.7 1.8 1.6 5.1 .311 0.8 2.9 .257 0.8 1.1 .769

Season 9

Dennis Johnson Austin Rivers
Season 1984-852020-21
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks, Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsNuggets 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 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
Austin Rivers 36 23.5 7.9 0.2 2.1 2.3 2.3 0.8 0.1 1.0 1.8 2.9 6.8 .424 1.5 4.1 .369 0.6 0.9 .710
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
Austin Rivers 10 30.5 9.2 0.1 1.6 1.7 2.1 0.2 0.3 0.9 3.2 3.0 6.9 .435 1.9 4.6 .413 1.3 1.6 .813

Season 10

Dennis Johnson Austin Rivers
Season 1985-862021-22
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNuggets 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 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
Austin Rivers 67 22.1 6.0 0.3 1.4 1.7 1.3 0.8 0.1 0.8 1.8 2.2 5.2 .417 1.2 3.4 .342 0.5 0.7 .727
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
Austin Rivers 5 21.6 4.2 0.0 0.6 0.6 1.2 1.4 0.2 0.8 3.0 1.6 3.6 .444 0.8 2.4 .333 0.2 0.2 1.000

Season 11

Dennis Johnson Austin Rivers
Season 1986-872022-23
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsTimberwolves 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
Austin Rivers 52 19.5 4.9 0.1 1.5 1.6 1.4 0.5 0.1 0.4 1.5 1.8 4.0 .435 0.8 2.4 .350 0.6 0.8 .769
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
Austin Rivers 4 11.5 2.5 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.0 2.0 .500 0.5 1.5 .333 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

Dennis Johnson Austin Rivers
Season 1987-88-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 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
Austin Rivers ------- --- ----------
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
Austin Rivers ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Dennis Johnson Austin Rivers
Season 1988-89-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
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
Austin Rivers ------- --- ----------
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 -
Austin Rivers ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Dennis Johnson Austin Rivers
Season 1989-90-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
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
Austin Rivers ------- --- ----------
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
Austin Rivers ------- --- ----------