Dennis Johnson vs. Vernon Maxwell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Vernon Maxwell 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, 1 more than Vernon Maxwell, who played 13. Dennis Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Vernon Maxwell had his rookie season in 1988-89. 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
Vernon Maxwell 13 7 1988-89 to 2000-01

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 Vernon Maxwell
Season 1976-771988-89
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan Antonio Spurs
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
Vernon Maxwell 79 26.1 11.7 0.6 1.9 2.6 3.8 1.1 0.1 2.3 1.7 4.5 10.5 .432 0.4 1.6 .248 2.3 3.1 .745
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Vernon Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Dennis Johnson Vernon Maxwell
Season 1977-781989-90
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost NBA FinalsRockets 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 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
Vernon Maxwell 79 25.2 9.0 0.6 2.3 2.9 3.7 1.1 0.1 1.8 1.9 3.5 7.9 .439 0.4 1.3 .267 1.7 2.7 .645
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
Vernon Maxwell 4 39.8 19.8 1.3 1.8 3.0 4.3 1.3 0.0 1.5 3.0 7.5 20.3 .370 2.0 6.5 .308 2.8 5.3 .524

Season 3
Dennis Johnson Vernon Maxwell
Season 1978-791990-91
Team Seattle SupersonicsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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 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
Vernon Maxwell 82 35.0 17.0 0.5 2.4 2.9 3.7 1.5 0.2 2.1 2.2 6.1 15.2 .404 2.1 6.2 .337 2.6 3.6 .733
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
Vernon Maxwell 3 37.7 18.7 0.3 2.3 2.7 3.0 0.7 0.3 2.3 2.7 7.7 18.7 .411 3.0 9.0 .333 0.3 0.7 .500

Season 4
Dennis Johnson Vernon Maxwell
Season 1979-801991-92
Team Seattle SupersonicsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West 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 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
Vernon Maxwell 80 33.8 17.2 0.5 2.6 3.0 4.1 1.3 0.4 2.2 2.5 6.3 15.2 .413 2.0 5.9 .342 2.6 3.3 .772
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
Vernon Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Dennis Johnson Vernon Maxwell
Season 1980-811992-93
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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 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
Vernon Maxwell 71 31.7 13.8 0.4 2.7 3.1 4.2 1.2 0.1 2.0 1.7 4.9 12.1 .407 1.7 5.1 .332 2.3 3.2 .719
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
Vernon Maxwell 9 34.2 14.0 0.3 2.1 2.4 3.6 1.2 0.2 1.9 1.9 5.2 13.0 .402 1.2 5.1 .239 2.3 2.7 .875

Season 6
Dennis Johnson Vernon Maxwell
Season 1981-821993-94
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
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
Vernon Maxwell 75 34.3 13.6 0.6 2.5 3.1 5.1 1.7 0.3 2.5 1.9 5.1 13.0 .389 1.6 5.4 .298 1.9 2.5 .749
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
Vernon Maxwell 23 38.3 13.8 0.5 3.0 3.5 4.2 0.9 0.1 2.1 2.4 5.1 13.7 .376 2.0 6.0 .326 1.6 2.3 .685

Season 7
Dennis Johnson Vernon Maxwell
Season 1982-831994-95
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
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
Vernon Maxwell 64 31.8 13.3 0.3 2.3 2.6 4.3 1.2 0.2 2.1 2.5 4.8 12.1 .394 2.2 6.9 .324 1.5 2.3 .688
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
Vernon Maxwell 1 16.0 3.0 0.0 3.0 3.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 7.0 .143 0.0 2.0 .000 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 8
Dennis Johnson Vernon Maxwell
Season 1983-841995-96
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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 %
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
Vernon Maxwell 75 32.9 16.2 0.5 2.5 3.1 4.4 1.3 0.2 2.9 2.4 5.5 14.0 .390 1.9 6.1 .317 3.3 4.4 .756
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
Vernon Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Dennis Johnson Vernon Maxwell
Season 1984-851996-97
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
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
Vernon Maxwell 72 28.7 12.9 0.4 1.8 2.2 2.1 1.2 0.3 1.7 2.3 4.7 12.6 .375 1.6 5.2 .309 1.9 2.5 .744
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
Vernon Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Dennis Johnson Vernon Maxwell
Season 1985-861997-98
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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 %
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
Vernon Maxwell 42 15.1 6.9 0.3 1.0 1.4 1.2 0.4 0.1 1.0 1.7 2.5 6.1 .399 0.9 2.7 .330 1.1 1.4 .800
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
Vernon Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Dennis Johnson Vernon Maxwell
Season 1986-871998-99
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsKings 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
Vernon Maxwell 46 21.9 10.7 0.3 1.6 1.8 1.7 0.7 0.1 1.5 2.4 3.6 9.2 .390 1.7 5.0 .346 1.8 2.5 .737
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
Vernon Maxwell 5 25.8 11.2 0.8 1.4 2.2 1.0 1.2 0.0 1.2 2.4 3.8 12.0 .317 2.2 7.0 .314 1.4 2.0 .700

Season 12
Dennis Johnson Vernon Maxwell
Season 1987-881999-00
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
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
Vernon Maxwell 47 21.0 10.9 0.3 1.4 1.7 1.6 0.8 0.2 1.1 1.8 3.6 10.4 .345 1.4 4.7 .300 2.3 3.1 .730
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
Vernon Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Dennis Johnson Vernon Maxwell
Season 1988-892000-01
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdMavericks 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 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
Vernon Maxwell 43 15.3 4.7 0.1 1.4 1.5 1.1 0.5 0.1 0.8 1.5 1.7 5.2 .327 0.8 2.6 .306 0.5 0.7 .656
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 -
Vernon Maxwell 4 10.8 1.0 0.3 1.3 1.5 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.5 0.5 2.5 .200 0.0 1.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 14
Dennis Johnson Vernon Maxwell
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
Vernon Maxwell ------- --- ----------
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
Vernon Maxwell ------- --- ----------
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