James Bailey vs. Dave Cowens Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dave Cowens and James Bailey, 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.

James Bailey played 9 years in the NBA, 2 less than Dave Cowens, who played 11. James Bailey had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Dave Cowens had his rookie season in 1970-71. 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
James Bailey 9 2 1979-80 to 1987-88
Dave Cowens 11 7 1970-71 to 1982-83

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

James Bailey Dave Cowens
Season 1979-801970-71
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
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 %
James Bailey 67 10.8 4.7 1.1 1.9 2.9 0.4 0.3 0.8 1.2 1.7 1.8 4.0 .450 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.5 .673
Dave Cowens 81 38.0 17.0 - - 15.0 2.8 - - - 4.3 6.8 16.1 .422 - - - 3.4 4.6 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey 12 11.5 4.6 0.7 1.4 2.1 0.4 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.8 1.8 3.7 .477 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.7 .650
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------

Season 2

James Bailey Dave Cowens
Season 1980-811971-72
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
James Bailey 82 31.0 14.0 2.3 5.1 7.4 1.2 0.9 1.7 2.7 4.0 5.4 10.8 .499 0.0 0.0 .500 3.1 4.4 .709
Dave Cowens 79 40.3 18.8 - - 15.2 3.1 - - - 4.0 8.3 17.2 .484 - - - 2.2 3.1 .720
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens 11 40.1 15.5 - - 13.8 3.0 - - - 4.5 6.5 14.2 .455 - - - 2.5 4.3 .596

Season 3

James Bailey Dave Cowens
Season 1981-821972-73
Team Seattle Supersonics, New Jersey NetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
James Bailey 77 19.1 8.6 1.6 3.4 5.1 0.8 0.5 1.1 1.8 3.5 3.4 6.6 .517 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.9 .612
Dave Cowens 82 41.8 20.5 - - 16.2 4.1 - - - 3.8 9.0 20.0 .452 - - - 2.5 3.2 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey 2 13.0 2.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 0.5 1.0 0.5 1.5 2.5 0.5 1.5 .333 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000
Dave Cowens 13 46.0 21.9 - - 16.6 3.7 - - - 4.2 9.9 21.0 .473 - - - 2.1 3.2 .659

Season 4

James Bailey Dave Cowens
Season 1982-831973-74
Team New Jersey Nets, Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey 75 23.5 13.3 2.3 4.0 6.3 0.9 0.6 0.8 2.6 3.6 5.1 10.3 .497 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 4.3 .702
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
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

Season 5

James Bailey Dave Cowens
Season 1983-841974-75
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
James Bailey 73 16.1 8.8 1.4 2.6 4.0 1.1 0.5 0.5 1.4 2.7 3.5 7.1 .491 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 2.6 .719
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
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

Season 6

James Bailey Dave Cowens
Season 1984-851975-76
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey 74 17.5 5.2 1.6 3.0 4.6 0.5 0.4 0.7 1.4 3.9 2.1 4.7 .447 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.5 .676
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
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

Season 7

James Bailey Dave Cowens
Season 1985-861976-77
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
James Bailey 48 25.9 11.1 2.1 4.8 7.0 1.0 0.7 0.8 2.1 4.3 4.2 9.2 .456 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 3.5 .772
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
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

Season 8

James Bailey Dave Cowens
Season 1986-871977-78
Team New Jersey NetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
James Bailey 34 15.9 8.3 1.4 2.6 4.0 0.6 0.4 0.7 1.6 3.5 3.3 7.0 .469 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.4 .725
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------

Season 9

James Bailey Dave Cowens
Season 1987-881978-79
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
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 %
James Bailey 65 13.4 4.4 1.1 2.1 3.2 0.6 0.3 0.4 1.1 2.8 1.7 3.7 .452 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.4 .787
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------

Season 10

James Bailey Dave Cowens
Season -1979-80
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
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

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

Season 11

James Bailey Dave Cowens
Season -1982-83
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
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 %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------