Joe Dumars vs. Gary Zeller Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gary Zeller and Joe Dumars, 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.

Joe Dumars played 14 years in the NBA, 12 more than Gary Zeller, who played 2. Joe Dumars had the first of his seasons in 1985-86, while Gary Zeller 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
Joe Dumars 14 10 1985-86 to 1998-99
Gary Zeller 2 1 1970-71 to 1971-72

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Joe Dumars Gary Zeller
Season 1985-861970-71
Team Detroit PistonsBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdBullets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars 82 23.9 9.4 0.7 0.7 1.5 4.8 0.8 0.1 1.9 2.4 3.5 7.3 .481 0.1 0.2 .313 2.3 2.9 .798
Gary Zeller 50 4.5 1.7 - - 0.5 0.1 - - - 0.9 0.7 2.3 .296 - - - 0.3 0.6 .536
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars 4 36.8 15.0 1.5 1.8 3.3 6.3 1.0 0.0 1.8 4.0 6.3 10.3 .610 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.8 .667
Gary Zeller 15 4.5 1.7 - - 0.9 0.3 - - - 1.0 0.8 2.3 .343 - - - 0.1 0.5 .286

Season 2

Joe Dumars Gary Zeller
Season 1986-871971-72
Team Detroit PistonsBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Joe Dumars 79 30.9 11.8 0.6 1.5 2.1 4.5 1.1 0.1 2.2 2.5 4.7 9.5 .493 0.1 0.3 .409 2.3 3.1 .748
Gary Zeller 28 16.8 6.7 - - 2.3 1.1 - - - 2.2 3.0 8.2 .362 - - - 0.8 1.3 .629
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars 15 31.5 12.7 0.5 0.7 1.3 4.8 0.8 0.1 1.8 1.7 5.2 9.7 .538 0.1 0.2 .667 2.1 2.7 .780
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Joe Dumars Gary Zeller
Season 1987-88-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars 82 33.3 14.2 0.8 1.7 2.4 4.7 1.1 0.2 2.1 1.9 5.5 11.7 .472 0.0 0.2 .211 3.1 3.8 .815
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars 23 35.0 12.3 0.8 1.4 2.2 4.9 0.6 0.1 1.7 2.2 4.9 10.7 .457 0.1 0.3 .333 2.4 2.7 .889
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Joe Dumars Gary Zeller
Season 1988-89-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
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 %
Joe Dumars 69 34.9 17.2 0.8 1.7 2.5 5.7 0.9 0.1 2.6 1.5 6.6 13.1 .505 0.2 0.4 .483 3.8 4.4 .850
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars 17 36.5 17.6 0.6 1.9 2.6 5.6 0.7 0.1 1.8 1.8 6.2 13.7 .455 0.1 0.7 .083 5.1 5.9 .861
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Joe Dumars Gary Zeller
Season 1989-90-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Joe Dumars 75 34.4 17.8 0.8 2.0 2.8 4.9 0.8 0.0 1.9 1.7 6.8 14.1 .480 0.3 0.7 .400 4.0 4.4 .900
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars 20 37.7 18.2 0.9 1.3 2.2 4.8 1.1 0.0 2.7 1.9 6.5 14.2 .458 0.3 1.0 .263 5.0 5.7 .876
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Joe Dumars Gary Zeller
Season 1990-91-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Joe Dumars 80 38.1 20.4 0.8 1.6 2.3 5.5 1.1 0.1 2.4 1.7 7.8 16.2 .481 0.2 0.6 .311 4.6 5.2 .890
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars 15 39.2 20.6 1.4 1.9 3.3 4.1 1.1 0.1 1.1 2.2 7.0 16.3 .429 1.1 2.8 .405 5.5 6.5 .845
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Joe Dumars Gary Zeller
Season 1991-92-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Joe Dumars 82 38.9 19.9 1.0 1.3 2.3 4.6 0.9 0.1 2.4 1.8 7.2 16.0 .448 0.6 1.5 .408 5.0 5.8 .867
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars 5 44.2 16.8 1.0 0.6 1.6 3.2 1.0 0.2 1.4 2.2 6.4 13.6 .471 1.0 2.0 .500 3.0 3.8 .789
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Joe Dumars Gary Zeller
Season 1992-93-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Joe Dumars 77 40.2 23.5 0.8 1.1 1.9 4.0 1.0 0.1 1.8 1.8 8.8 18.9 .466 1.5 3.9 .375 4.5 5.2 .864
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars ------- --- ----------
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Joe Dumars Gary Zeller
Season 1993-94-
Team Detroit Pistons-
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 %
Joe Dumars 69 37.6 20.4 0.5 1.7 2.2 3.8 0.9 0.1 2.3 1.7 7.3 16.2 .452 1.8 4.6 .388 4.0 4.8 .836
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars ------- --- ----------
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Joe Dumars Gary Zeller
Season 1994-95-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Joe Dumars 67 38.0 18.1 0.7 1.7 2.4 5.5 1.1 0.1 3.3 2.3 6.2 14.5 .430 1.5 5.0 .305 4.1 5.1 .805
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars ------- --- ----------
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Joe Dumars Gary Zeller
Season 1995-96-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Joe Dumars 67 32.7 11.8 0.4 1.6 2.1 4.0 0.6 0.0 1.4 1.6 3.8 8.9 .426 1.8 4.4 .406 2.4 2.9 .822
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars 3 41.0 13.7 1.7 2.7 4.3 3.7 0.0 0.0 2.3 1.7 5.3 11.7 .457 1.7 4.7 .357 1.3 1.3 1.000
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Joe Dumars Gary Zeller
Season 1996-97-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Joe Dumars 79 37.0 14.7 0.5 1.9 2.4 4.0 0.7 0.0 1.6 1.2 4.9 11.1 .440 2.1 4.9 .432 2.8 3.2 .867
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars 5 42.6 13.8 0.4 1.4 1.8 2.0 1.0 0.0 1.2 1.8 4.4 12.2 .361 1.2 4.6 .261 3.8 4.0 .950
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Joe Dumars Gary Zeller
Season 1997-98-
Team Detroit Pistons-
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 %
Joe Dumars 72 32.3 13.1 0.2 1.3 1.4 3.5 0.6 0.0 1.2 1.4 4.6 11.0 .416 2.2 5.9 .371 1.8 2.1 .825
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars ------- --- ----------
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Joe Dumars Gary Zeller
Season 1998-99-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Joe Dumars 38 29.4 11.3 0.3 1.5 1.8 3.5 0.6 0.1 1.4 1.3 3.8 9.2 .411 2.3 5.8 .403 1.3 1.6 .836
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars 5 30.6 10.2 0.2 1.2 1.4 2.6 0.4 0.0 1.8 1.8 3.8 7.8 .487 2.0 3.8 .526 0.6 0.6 1.000
Gary Zeller ------- --- ----------