James Edwards vs. Kevin McHale Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kevin McHale and James Edwards, 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 Edwards played 19 years in the NBA, 6 more than Kevin McHale, who played 13. James Edwards had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Kevin McHale had his rookie season in 1980-81. 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 Edwards 19 11 1977-78 to 1995-96
Kevin McHale 13 13 1980-81 to 1992-93

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19

Rookie Season

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1977-781980-81
Team Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
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 Edwards 83 29.0 15.2 2.4 5.0 7.4 1.0 0.6 0.9 2.0 3.9 6.0 13.2 .453 - - - 3.3 5.1 .646
Kevin McHale 82 20.1 10.0 1.9 2.5 4.4 0.7 0.3 1.8 1.3 3.2 4.3 8.1 .533 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 1.9 .679
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 17 17.4 8.5 1.7 1.8 3.5 0.8 0.2 1.5 0.9 3.0 3.6 6.6 .540 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.1 .639

Season 2

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1978-791981-82
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 Edwards 82 31.0 16.7 2.2 6.3 8.5 1.1 0.7 1.3 2.0 4.4 6.5 13.0 .501 - - - 3.6 5.4 .676
Kevin McHale 82 28.4 13.6 2.3 4.5 6.8 1.1 0.4 2.3 1.7 3.2 5.7 10.7 .531 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.0 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 12 28.7 16.2 3.4 3.7 7.1 0.9 0.4 2.3 1.3 3.7 6.4 11.2 .575 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.4 .755

Season 3

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1979-801982-83
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
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 Edwards 82 28.2 15.7 2.2 4.9 7.0 1.5 0.7 1.3 1.6 4.0 6.4 12.6 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 4.1 .681
Kevin McHale 82 28.6 14.1 2.6 4.1 6.7 1.3 0.4 2.3 1.9 2.9 5.9 10.9 .541 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.3 .717
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 7 25.3 11.1 2.1 3.9 6.0 0.7 0.4 1.0 1.4 2.3 4.9 8.9 .548 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.6 .556

Season 4

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1980-811983-84
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East 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 %
James Edwards 81 29.3 15.6 2.4 4.7 7.0 2.6 0.4 1.6 2.0 3.8 6.3 12.4 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 4.3 .703
Kevin McHale 82 31.4 18.4 2.5 4.9 7.4 1.3 0.3 1.5 1.8 3.0 7.2 12.9 .556 0.0 0.0 .333 4.1 5.4 .765
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 2 28.0 7.0 2.0 5.0 7.0 2.5 0.5 0.5 2.0 4.0 3.5 12.0 .292 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Kevin McHale 23 30.5 14.8 2.7 3.5 6.2 1.2 0.1 1.5 1.7 3.3 5.3 10.6 .504 0.0 0.1 .000 4.1 5.3 .777

Season 5

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1981-821984-85
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
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 %
James Edwards 77 33.0 16.7 2.5 5.1 7.5 1.6 0.3 1.5 2.1 4.5 6.9 13.4 .511 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.4 .684
Kevin McHale 79 33.6 19.8 2.9 6.1 9.0 1.8 0.4 1.5 2.0 3.0 7.7 13.4 .570 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 5.9 .760
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 21 39.9 22.1 3.5 6.4 9.9 1.5 0.6 2.2 2.9 3.5 8.2 14.4 .568 0.0 0.0 - 5.8 7.1 .807

Season 6

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1982-831985-86
Team Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
James Edwards 31 21.5 10.5 1.8 3.2 5.0 1.3 0.4 0.6 1.6 3.5 4.1 8.5 .487 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.5 .639
Kevin McHale 68 35.3 21.3 2.5 5.6 8.1 2.7 0.4 2.0 2.2 2.8 8.3 14.4 .574 0.0 0.0 - 4.8 6.2 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 3 18.0 9.3 2.0 4.0 6.0 1.3 0.3 0.3 1.7 2.3 3.7 8.7 .423 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.0 1.000
Kevin McHale 18 39.7 24.9 2.8 5.8 8.6 2.7 0.4 2.4 2.7 3.6 9.3 16.1 .579 0.0 0.1 .000 6.2 7.8 .794

Season 7

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1983-841986-87
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First 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 %
James Edwards 72 26.3 14.7 1.5 3.3 4.8 2.6 0.3 0.4 1.9 3.5 6.1 11.3 .536 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.5 .720
Kevin McHale 77 39.7 26.1 3.2 6.7 9.9 2.6 0.5 2.2 2.6 3.1 10.3 17.0 .604 0.0 0.1 .000 5.6 6.6 .836
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 17 27.2 13.8 1.3 4.1 5.4 1.6 0.2 0.6 1.8 3.6 5.5 11.1 .492 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 4.0 .706
Kevin McHale 21 39.4 21.1 3.1 6.1 9.2 1.9 0.3 1.4 2.6 3.4 8.3 14.2 .584 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 6.0 .762

Season 8

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1984-851987-88
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First 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 Edwards 70 25.5 14.9 1.4 4.2 5.5 2.2 0.4 0.7 2.3 3.4 5.5 10.9 .501 0.0 0.0 .000 3.9 5.3 .746
Kevin McHale 64 37.3 22.6 2.5 5.9 8.4 2.7 0.4 1.4 2.2 2.8 8.6 14.2 .604 0.0 0.0 - 5.4 6.8 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 17 42.1 25.4 3.2 4.8 8.0 2.4 0.4 1.8 2.3 3.8 9.3 15.4 .603 0.1 0.1 1.000 6.8 8.1 .839

Season 9

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1985-861988-89
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
James Edwards 52 25.3 16.3 1.5 4.3 5.8 1.4 0.4 0.6 2.5 3.8 6.1 11.3 .542 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 5.8 .702
Kevin McHale 78 36.9 22.5 2.9 5.3 8.2 2.2 0.3 1.2 2.5 2.9 8.5 15.5 .546 0.0 0.1 .000 5.6 6.8 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 3 38.3 19.0 2.3 5.7 8.0 3.0 0.3 0.7 1.3 4.3 6.7 13.7 .488 0.0 0.0 - 5.7 7.7 .739

Season 10

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1986-871989-90
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
James Edwards 14 21.7 12.0 1.4 2.9 4.3 1.4 0.4 0.5 1.1 3.0 4.1 7.9 .518 0.0 0.0 - 3.9 5.0 .771
Kevin McHale 82 33.2 20.9 2.5 5.8 8.3 2.1 0.4 1.9 2.2 3.0 7.9 14.4 .549 0.3 0.8 .333 4.8 5.4 .893
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale 5 38.4 22.0 1.6 6.2 7.8 2.6 0.4 2.0 2.8 3.4 8.4 13.8 .609 0.2 0.6 .333 5.0 5.8 .862

Season 11

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1987-881990-91
Team Phoenix Suns, Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost NBA FinalsCeltics 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 Edwards 69 24.7 11.8 1.7 4.2 6.0 1.1 0.2 0.5 1.9 3.1 4.4 9.3 .470 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 4.7 .654
Kevin McHale 68 30.4 18.4 2.1 4.9 7.1 1.9 0.4 2.1 2.1 2.9 7.4 13.4 .553 0.2 0.5 .405 3.4 4.0 .829
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 22 14.0 6.3 1.0 2.0 3.1 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.5 2.5 2.5 5.0 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 1.9 .659
Kevin McHale 11 34.2 20.7 1.6 4.9 6.5 1.8 0.5 1.3 1.3 3.8 7.1 13.5 .527 0.5 1.0 .545 6.0 7.3 .825

Season 12

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1988-891991-92
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 Edwards 76 16.5 7.3 0.9 2.1 3.0 0.6 0.1 0.4 0.9 3.0 2.8 5.6 .500 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 2.6 .686
Kevin McHale 56 25.0 13.9 2.1 3.8 5.9 1.5 0.2 1.1 1.5 2.0 5.8 11.3 .509 0.0 0.2 .000 2.4 2.9 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 17 18.6 7.1 0.6 1.5 2.1 0.7 0.1 0.5 0.9 3.1 2.4 5.0 .471 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.0 .784
Kevin McHale 10 30.6 16.5 2.1 4.6 6.7 1.3 0.5 0.5 0.9 3.4 6.5 12.6 .516 0.0 0.1 .000 3.5 4.4 .795

Season 13

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1989-901992-93
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 %
James Edwards 82 27.8 14.5 1.4 2.8 4.2 0.8 0.3 0.5 1.6 3.6 5.6 11.3 .498 0.0 0.0 .000 3.2 4.3 .749
Kevin McHale 71 23.3 10.7 1.3 3.7 5.0 1.0 0.2 0.8 1.3 1.8 4.2 9.1 .459 0.0 0.3 .111 2.3 2.7 .841
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 20 26.8 14.3 1.2 2.4 3.6 0.7 0.3 0.6 1.6 3.7 5.7 11.6 .494 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 4.8 .604
Kevin McHale 4 28.3 19.0 2.3 5.0 7.3 0.8 0.5 1.8 1.3 1.5 8.0 13.8 .582 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.5 .857

Season 14

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1990-91-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons 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 Edwards 72 26.4 13.6 1.3 2.6 3.8 0.9 0.2 0.4 1.8 3.5 5.3 11.0 .484 0.0 0.0 .500 3.0 4.1 .729
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 15 23.0 10.7 1.0 1.5 2.5 0.6 0.1 0.2 1.6 2.9 4.1 10.0 .407 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.7 .691
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------

Season 15

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1991-92-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
James Edwards 72 20.0 9.7 0.8 2.0 2.8 0.7 0.3 0.5 1.0 3.3 3.5 7.5 .465 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 3.8 .731
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 5 17.4 6.4 1.0 1.6 2.6 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.8 2.2 2.0 4.8 .417 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.8 .632
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------

Season 16

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1992-93-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
James Edwards 52 11.9 6.3 0.6 1.3 1.9 0.8 0.2 0.1 1.0 2.3 2.3 5.2 .452 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.3 .712
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 3 4.7 2.0 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.3 .750 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------

Season 17

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1993-94-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
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 Edwards 45 10.4 4.7 0.2 1.2 1.4 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.7 2.0 1.7 3.7 .464 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.8 .684
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------

Season 18

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1994-95-
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 %
James Edwards 28 9.5 2.7 0.4 1.2 1.5 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.5 1.6 1.1 3.0 .386 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.6 .647
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 1 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------

Season 19

James Edwards Kevin McHale
Season 1995-96-
Team Chicago Bulls-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA 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 Edwards 28 9.8 3.5 0.5 0.9 1.4 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.8 2.2 1.5 3.9 .373 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.9 .615
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 6 4.7 1.8 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.7 0.7 1.5 .444 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.7 .750
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------