Gar Heard vs. Dennis Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dennis Johnson and Gar Heard, 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.

Gar Heard played 11 years in the NBA, 3 less than Dennis Johnson, who played 14. Gar Heard had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Dennis Johnson had his rookie season in 1976-77. 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
Gar Heard 11 7 1970-71 to 1980-81
Dennis Johnson 14 13 1976-77 to 1989-90

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Gar Heard Dennis Johnson
Season 1970-711976-77
Team Seattle SupersonicsSeattle Supersonics
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 %
Gar Heard 65 15.8 5.9 - - 5.0 0.7 - - - 1.9 2.3 6.1 .381 - - - 1.3 1.9 .656
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gar Heard ------- --- ----------
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Gar Heard Dennis Johnson
Season 1971-721977-78
Team Seattle SupersonicsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gar Heard 58 25.8 7.9 - - 7.6 0.9 - - - 2.2 3.3 8.2 .401 - - - 1.4 2.2 .617
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gar Heard ------- --- ----------
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

Season 3

Gar Heard Dennis Johnson
Season 1972-731978-79
Team Seattle Supersonics, Chicago BullsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Gar Heard 81 19.2 10.1 - - 5.6 0.7 - - - 2.1 4.3 10.2 .425 - - - 1.4 2.2 .652
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gar Heard 2 4.5 2.0 - - 1.5 0.0 - - - 2.0 1.0 2.0 .500 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Season 4

Gar Heard Dennis Johnson
Season 1973-741979-80
Team Buffalo BravesSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Braves Lost East 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 %
Gar Heard 81 35.7 15.3 3.3 8.4 11.7 2.2 1.7 2.8 - 3.7 6.5 14.9 .435 - - - 2.4 3.6 .650
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gar Heard 6 40.0 16.8 3.7 11.0 14.7 2.5 1.5 2.0 - 3.3 7.0 15.3 .457 - - - 2.8 4.0 .708
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

Season 5

Gar Heard Dennis Johnson
Season 1974-751980-81
Team Buffalo BravesPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Braves Lost East Conf SemisSuns 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 %
Gar Heard 67 32.1 11.1 2.8 7.2 9.9 2.8 1.6 1.8 - 3.6 4.7 12.2 .388 - - - 1.6 2.8 .564
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gar Heard 7 35.7 11.7 3.4 7.4 10.9 2.6 1.3 1.1 - 4.0 5.4 13.7 .396 - - - 0.9 2.0 .429
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

Season 6

Gar Heard Dennis Johnson
Season 1975-761981-82
Team Buffalo Braves, Phoenix SunsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost NBA FinalsSuns 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 %
Gar Heard 86 31.9 11.0 2.9 7.2 10.1 2.2 1.4 1.1 - 3.5 4.6 10.5 .435 - - - 1.8 2.9 .637
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gar Heard 19 37.9 13.9 2.8 7.6 10.4 1.7 2.1 1.9 - 2.9 5.5 12.5 .441 - - - 2.9 4.3 .679
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

Season 7

Gar Heard Dennis Johnson
Season 1976-771982-83
Team Phoenix SunsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
Gar Heard 46 29.6 9.7 2.6 7.0 9.6 1.9 1.2 1.2 - 3.0 3.8 9.9 .379 - - - 2.2 3.0 .725
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gar Heard ------- --- ----------
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

Season 8

Gar Heard Dennis Johnson
Season 1977-781983-84
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 %
Gar Heard 80 26.2 7.8 2.1 6.1 8.2 1.7 1.6 1.3 1.5 2.7 3.3 7.8 .424 - - - 1.1 1.8 .612
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gar Heard 2 31.0 6.5 2.0 6.0 8.0 2.5 1.0 2.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 8.5 .353 - - - 0.5 1.0 .500
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

Season 9

Gar Heard Dennis Johnson
Season 1978-791984-85
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gar Heard 63 19.3 6.3 1.6 4.0 5.6 1.0 0.8 0.9 1.0 2.2 2.6 5.8 .441 - - - 1.1 1.6 .689
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gar Heard 15 21.3 5.5 1.6 5.5 7.1 0.9 0.8 1.7 1.4 2.6 2.1 5.7 .372 - - - 1.2 2.0 .600
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

Season 10

Gar Heard Dennis Johnson
Season 1979-801985-86
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
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 %
Gar Heard 82 17.1 5.0 1.4 3.2 4.6 1.2 1.0 0.6 1.1 2.2 2.1 5.0 .417 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.0 .744
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gar Heard 8 27.9 6.9 2.4 4.0 6.4 1.5 1.1 1.4 1.0 2.9 2.8 7.0 .393 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.9 .733
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

Season 11

Gar Heard Dennis Johnson
Season 1980-811986-87
Team San Diego ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gar Heard 78 20.9 4.8 1.5 2.9 4.5 1.6 1.3 0.9 1.0 2.5 1.9 5.1 .376 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 1.3 .782
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gar Heard ------- --- ----------
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

Season 12

Gar Heard Dennis Johnson
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 %
Gar Heard ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gar Heard ------- --- ----------
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

Season 13

Gar Heard Dennis Johnson
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 %
Gar Heard ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gar Heard ------- --- ----------
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 -

Season 14

Gar Heard Dennis Johnson
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 %
Gar Heard ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gar Heard ------- --- ----------
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