Joe Dumars vs. Paul Ruffner Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul Ruffner 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, 11 more than Paul Ruffner, who played 3. Joe Dumars had the first of his seasons in 1985-86, while Paul Ruffner 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
Paul Ruffner 3 2 1970-71 to 1974-75

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 Paul Ruffner
Season 1985-861970-71
Team Detroit PistonsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdBulls 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 %
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
Paul Ruffner 10 6.0 3.4 - - 1.6 0.2 - - - 1.0 1.5 3.5 .429 - - - 0.4 0.8 .500
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
Paul Ruffner 1 3.0 0.0 - - 2.0 0.0 - - - 0.0 0.0 5.0 .000 - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Note: Paul Ruffner didn't play in 1971-72 and 1972-73.

Season 2
Joe Dumars Paul Ruffner
Season 1986-871973-74
Team Detroit PistonsBuffalo Braves
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
Paul Ruffner 20 2.6 1.5 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.0 0.1 0.1 - 0.5 0.6 1.4 .407 - - - 0.4 0.7 .615
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Joe Dumars Paul Ruffner
Season 1987-881974-75
Team Detroit PistonsBuffalo Braves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost NBA FinalsBraves 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 %
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
Paul Ruffner 22 4.7 2.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.3 0.1 0.1 - 1.0 1.0 2.1 .468 - - - 0.0 0.2 .200
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
Paul Ruffner 1 4.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 1.0 .000 - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 4
Joe Dumars Paul Ruffner
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Joe Dumars Paul Ruffner
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------

Season 6
Joe Dumars Paul Ruffner
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Joe Dumars Paul Ruffner
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------

Season 8
Joe Dumars Paul Ruffner
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars ------- --- ----------
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Joe Dumars Paul Ruffner
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars ------- --- ----------
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Joe Dumars Paul Ruffner
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars ------- --- ----------
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Joe Dumars Paul Ruffner
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Joe Dumars Paul Ruffner
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Joe Dumars Paul Ruffner
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars ------- --- ----------
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Joe Dumars Paul Ruffner
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------
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
Paul Ruffner ------- --- ----------
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