Kevin McHale vs. Sam Perkins Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Sam Perkins and Kevin McHale, 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.

Kevin McHale played 13 years in the NBA, 4 less than Sam Perkins, who played 17. Kevin McHale had the first of his seasons in 1980-81, while Sam Perkins had his rookie season in 1984-85. 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
Kevin McHale 13 13 1980-81 to 1992-93
Sam Perkins 17 15 1984-85 to 2000-01

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Kevin McHale Sam Perkins
Season 1980-811984-85
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks 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 %
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
Sam Perkins 82 28.3 11.0 2.3 5.1 7.4 1.6 0.8 0.8 1.2 2.9 4.2 9.0 .471 0.1 0.4 .250 2.4 3.0 .820
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Sam Perkins 4 42.3 18.8 4.0 8.8 12.8 2.8 0.5 0.3 0.8 3.3 6.0 12.3 .490 0.3 1.0 .250 6.5 8.5 .765

Season 2

Kevin McHale Sam Perkins
Season 1981-821985-86
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsMavericks 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 %
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
Sam Perkins 80 32.8 15.4 2.4 6.1 8.6 1.9 0.9 1.2 1.8 2.7 5.7 11.4 .503 0.1 0.4 .333 3.8 4.7 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Sam Perkins 10 34.7 14.9 3.0 5.3 8.3 2.4 0.9 1.4 1.6 3.2 5.7 13.3 .429 0.2 0.8 .250 3.3 4.3 .767

Season 3

Kevin McHale Sam Perkins
Season 1982-831986-87
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisMavericks 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 %
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
Sam Perkins 80 33.6 14.8 2.5 5.2 7.7 1.8 1.4 1.0 1.7 3.4 5.8 12.0 .482 0.2 0.7 .352 3.1 3.7 .828
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Sam Perkins 4 33.3 17.0 3.0 5.5 8.5 1.3 1.0 0.3 2.3 4.0 6.5 13.0 .500 0.0 1.0 .000 4.0 5.8 .696

Season 4

Kevin McHale Sam Perkins
Season 1983-841987-88
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks 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 %
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
Sam Perkins 75 33.3 14.2 2.7 5.3 8.0 1.6 1.0 0.7 1.6 3.0 5.3 11.7 .450 0.1 0.4 .167 3.6 4.4 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Sam Perkins 17 33.6 13.5 2.3 4.3 6.6 1.8 1.5 1.0 1.8 3.0 5.2 11.5 .451 0.1 0.4 .143 3.1 3.9 .803

Season 5

Kevin McHale Sam Perkins
Season 1984-851988-89
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Sam Perkins 78 36.7 15.0 3.0 5.8 8.8 1.6 1.0 1.2 1.8 2.9 5.7 12.3 .464 0.1 0.5 .184 3.5 4.2 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Sam Perkins ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Kevin McHale Sam Perkins
Season 1985-861989-90
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks 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 %
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
Sam Perkins 76 35.1 15.9 2.8 4.8 7.5 2.3 1.2 0.8 1.9 3.0 5.7 11.6 .493 0.1 0.4 .214 4.3 5.6 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Sam Perkins 3 39.3 15.0 3.3 4.0 7.3 2.7 1.0 0.7 2.3 5.7 5.3 12.0 .444 0.0 0.3 .000 4.3 5.7 .765

Season 7

Kevin McHale Sam Perkins
Season 1986-871990-91
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Sam Perkins 73 34.3 13.5 2.3 5.1 7.4 1.5 0.9 1.1 1.4 3.4 5.0 10.2 .495 0.2 0.9 .281 3.1 3.8 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Sam Perkins 19 39.6 17.7 2.2 6.1 8.3 1.7 0.8 1.4 1.9 3.6 6.4 11.6 .548 0.6 1.6 .367 4.4 5.7 .761

Season 8

Kevin McHale Sam Perkins
Season 1987-881991-92
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
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
Sam Perkins 63 37.0 16.5 3.0 5.8 8.8 2.2 1.0 1.0 1.3 3.0 5.7 12.7 .450 0.2 1.1 .217 4.8 5.9 .817
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Sam Perkins ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Kevin McHale Sam Perkins
Season 1988-891992-93
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers, Seattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 %
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
Sam Perkins 79 29.8 13.1 2.1 4.6 6.6 2.0 0.8 1.0 1.4 2.8 4.8 10.1 .477 0.3 0.9 .338 3.2 3.9 .820
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Sam Perkins 19 32.9 14.4 1.7 5.3 7.0 1.9 1.0 1.3 1.1 2.9 5.2 11.8 .436 1.6 4.2 .380 2.5 2.9 .873

Season 10

Kevin McHale Sam Perkins
Season 1989-901993-94
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 %
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
Sam Perkins 81 26.8 12.3 1.5 3.0 4.5 1.4 0.8 0.4 1.3 2.4 4.2 9.6 .438 1.2 3.3 .367 2.7 3.4 .801
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Sam Perkins 5 28.2 9.8 1.2 6.0 7.2 0.8 0.8 0.4 1.2 3.0 2.8 8.4 .333 1.2 2.8 .429 3.0 3.4 .882

Season 11

Kevin McHale Sam Perkins
Season 1990-911994-95
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisSupersonics 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 %
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
Sam Perkins 82 28.7 12.7 1.2 3.7 4.9 1.6 0.9 0.5 0.9 2.3 4.2 9.0 .466 1.7 4.2 .397 2.6 3.3 .799
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Sam Perkins 4 35.3 13.5 1.5 6.3 7.8 3.3 0.8 1.3 2.3 3.0 5.3 12.0 .438 2.5 5.5 .455 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 12

Kevin McHale Sam Perkins
Season 1991-921995-96
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisSupersonics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Sam Perkins 82 26.5 11.8 1.2 3.2 4.5 1.5 1.0 0.6 1.0 2.1 4.0 9.7 .408 1.6 4.4 .355 2.3 2.9 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Sam Perkins 21 31.1 12.3 1.0 3.3 4.3 1.7 0.7 0.3 1.4 2.1 4.3 9.3 .459 1.5 4.1 .368 2.2 2.9 .754

Season 13

Kevin McHale Sam Perkins
Season 1992-931996-97
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 %
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
Sam Perkins 81 24.4 11.0 0.9 2.8 3.7 1.3 0.9 0.6 1.0 1.7 3.6 8.2 .439 1.5 3.8 .395 2.3 2.8 .817
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Sam Perkins 12 28.3 8.4 1.3 3.2 4.4 1.3 1.0 1.0 1.1 2.8 2.6 7.7 .337 1.2 3.8 .311 2.1 2.4 .862

Season 14

Kevin McHale Sam Perkins
Season -1997-98
Team -Seattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Supersonics 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 %
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Sam Perkins 81 20.7 7.2 0.7 2.5 3.1 1.4 0.8 0.4 0.8 2.0 2.4 5.8 .416 1.1 2.7 .392 1.2 1.6 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Sam Perkins 10 21.0 5.4 0.6 2.6 3.2 1.4 0.3 0.5 1.1 2.2 1.6 4.2 .381 1.0 2.4 .417 1.2 2.0 .600

Season 15

Kevin McHale Sam Perkins
Season -1998-99
Team -Indiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pacers 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 %
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Sam Perkins 48 16.4 5.0 0.8 2.1 2.9 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.5 1.5 1.7 4.2 .400 0.7 1.9 .389 0.9 1.3 .717
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Sam Perkins 13 11.2 4.1 0.2 1.8 1.9 0.5 0.0 0.2 0.5 1.0 1.4 2.7 .514 0.8 1.8 .458 0.5 0.7 .667

Season 16

Kevin McHale Sam Perkins
Season -1999-00
Team -Indiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pacers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Sam Perkins 81 20.0 6.6 0.8 2.8 3.6 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.7 2.3 5.4 .417 1.1 2.7 .408 1.0 1.2 .825
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Sam Perkins 23 18.2 4.8 0.7 2.4 3.2 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.3 2.0 1.5 4.6 .324 1.0 2.9 .348 0.8 0.9 .905

Season 17

Kevin McHale Sam Perkins
Season -2000-01
Team -Indiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pacers 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 %
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Sam Perkins 64 15.6 3.8 0.5 2.1 2.6 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.3 1.0 1.3 3.5 .381 0.6 1.7 .345 0.5 0.6 .842
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin McHale ------- --- ----------
Sam Perkins 3 6.7 1.7 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.7 2.7 .250 0.3 1.3 .250 0.0 0.0 -