Dave Cowens vs. Paul Millsap Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul Millsap and Dave Cowens, 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.

Dave Cowens played 11 years in the NBA, 5 less than Paul Millsap, who played 16. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Paul Millsap had his rookie season in 2006-07. 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
Dave Cowens 11 7 1970-71 to 1982-83
Paul Millsap 16 13 2006-07 to 2021-22

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Dave Cowens Paul Millsap
Season 1970-712006-07
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz 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 %
Dave Cowens 81 38.0 17.0 - - 15.0 2.8 - - - 4.3 6.8 16.1 .422 - - - 3.4 4.6 .732
Paul Millsap 82 18.0 6.8 2.2 2.9 5.2 0.8 0.8 0.9 1.1 2.9 2.5 4.9 .525 0.0 0.0 .333 1.7 2.5 .673
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Millsap 17 15.5 5.9 2.2 2.2 4.4 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.8 2.3 2.5 4.7 .525 0.0 0.1 .000 0.9 1.4 .667

Season 2

Dave Cowens Paul Millsap
Season 1971-722007-08
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsJazz 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 %
Dave Cowens 79 40.3 18.8 - - 15.2 3.1 - - - 4.0 8.3 17.2 .484 - - - 2.2 3.1 .720
Paul Millsap 82 20.8 8.1 2.0 3.6 5.6 1.0 0.9 0.9 1.1 3.3 3.1 6.1 .504 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 2.8 .677
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 11 40.1 15.5 - - 13.8 3.0 - - - 4.5 6.5 14.2 .455 - - - 2.5 4.3 .596
Paul Millsap 12 17.5 6.4 1.9 2.0 3.9 0.3 0.6 1.3 0.8 3.1 2.7 5.2 .516 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 2.1 .520

Season 3

Dave Cowens Paul Millsap
Season 1972-732008-09
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsJazz 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 %
Dave Cowens 82 41.8 20.5 - - 16.2 4.1 - - - 3.8 9.0 20.0 .452 - - - 2.5 3.2 .779
Paul Millsap 76 30.1 13.5 3.3 5.3 8.6 1.8 1.0 1.0 1.7 3.8 5.3 9.9 .534 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.3 .699
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 13 46.0 21.9 - - 16.6 3.7 - - - 4.2 9.9 21.0 .473 - - - 2.1 3.2 .659
Paul Millsap 5 31.0 11.8 4.0 4.0 8.0 1.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 3.4 5.0 9.8 .510 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.6 .500

Season 4

Dave Cowens Paul Millsap
Season 1973-742009-10
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionJazz 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 %
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
Paul Millsap 82 27.8 11.6 2.3 4.5 6.8 1.6 0.8 1.2 1.4 3.5 4.7 8.7 .538 0.0 0.1 .111 2.2 3.2 .693
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Millsap 10 32.3 18.0 3.4 5.4 8.8 2.2 1.1 1.4 1.3 3.6 7.0 12.2 .574 0.0 0.2 .000 4.0 5.8 .690

Season 5

Dave Cowens Paul Millsap
Season 1974-752010-11
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 %
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
Paul Millsap 76 34.3 17.3 2.2 5.5 7.6 2.5 1.4 0.9 1.9 3.6 6.9 13.0 .531 0.1 0.3 .391 3.4 4.4 .757
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Millsap ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Dave Cowens Paul Millsap
Season 1975-762011-12
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionJazz 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 %
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
Paul Millsap 64 32.8 16.6 2.8 6.0 8.8 2.3 1.8 0.8 1.8 3.5 6.7 13.5 .495 0.1 0.5 .226 3.2 4.0 .792
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Millsap 4 34.8 12.0 4.3 6.8 11.0 0.5 0.3 2.5 2.3 2.8 5.0 13.5 .370 0.0 0.8 .000 2.0 4.0 .500

Season 7

Dave Cowens Paul Millsap
Season 1976-772012-13
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Millsap 78 30.4 14.6 2.3 4.8 7.1 2.6 1.3 1.0 1.8 3.0 5.5 11.2 .490 0.2 0.5 .333 3.4 4.6 .742
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Millsap ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Dave Cowens Paul Millsap
Season 1977-782013-14
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks 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 %
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
Paul Millsap 74 33.5 17.9 2.1 6.4 8.5 3.1 1.7 1.1 2.5 2.8 6.5 14.1 .461 1.0 2.9 .358 3.9 5.3 .731
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Millsap 7 38.1 19.4 3.0 7.9 10.9 2.9 1.4 1.9 2.9 3.6 5.9 14.7 .398 1.3 3.9 .333 6.4 8.0 .804

Season 9

Dave Cowens Paul Millsap
Season 1978-792014-15
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks 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 %
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
Paul Millsap 73 32.7 16.7 1.9 5.9 7.8 3.1 1.8 0.9 2.3 2.8 6.1 12.7 .476 1.1 3.0 .356 3.5 4.6 .757
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Millsap 16 35.4 15.2 2.3 6.4 8.7 3.4 1.6 0.9 2.1 3.3 5.3 13.1 .407 0.9 3.1 .306 3.6 4.9 .744

Season 10

Dave Cowens Paul Millsap
Season 1979-802015-16
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsHawks 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 %
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
Paul Millsap 81 32.7 17.1 2.4 6.6 9.0 3.3 1.8 1.7 2.4 2.9 6.2 13.2 .470 0.9 2.9 .319 3.8 5.0 .757
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Millsap 10 36.5 16.7 2.8 6.6 9.4 2.7 1.3 2.3 2.6 2.9 5.9 13.7 .431 0.8 3.3 .242 4.1 5.5 .745

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

Season 11

Dave Cowens Paul Millsap
Season 1982-832016-17
Team Milwaukee BucksAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks 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 %
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
Paul Millsap 69 34.0 18.1 1.6 6.1 7.7 3.7 1.3 0.9 2.3 2.7 6.2 14.1 .442 1.1 3.5 .311 4.5 5.9 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Millsap 6 36.5 24.3 1.5 7.8 9.3 4.3 1.7 0.7 3.8 3.2 8.3 16.5 .505 0.5 2.8 .176 7.2 8.8 .811

Season 12

Dave Cowens Paul Millsap
Season -2017-18
Team -Denver Nuggets
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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Millsap 38 30.1 14.6 1.7 4.7 6.4 2.8 1.0 1.2 1.9 2.6 5.3 11.4 .464 1.0 3.0 .345 2.9 4.2 .696
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Millsap ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Dave Cowens Paul Millsap
Season -2018-19
Team -Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Nuggets 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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Millsap 70 27.1 12.6 2.2 5.0 7.2 2.0 1.2 0.8 1.4 2.6 4.6 9.5 .484 0.8 2.3 .365 2.6 3.6 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Millsap 14 33.5 14.6 1.7 5.0 6.7 0.8 0.9 1.1 1.3 3.4 5.2 11.1 .468 0.9 2.7 .316 3.4 4.4 .770

Season 14

Dave Cowens Paul Millsap
Season -2019-20
Team -Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Nuggets 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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Millsap 51 24.3 11.6 1.9 3.8 5.7 1.6 0.9 0.6 1.4 2.9 4.1 8.6 .482 1.1 2.4 .435 2.3 2.8 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Millsap 19 24.2 8.0 1.4 3.3 4.7 1.2 0.6 0.5 1.3 2.6 2.5 6.2 .398 0.8 2.3 .341 2.3 2.8 .796

Season 15

Dave Cowens Paul Millsap
Season -2020-21
Team -Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Nuggets 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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Millsap 56 20.8 9.0 1.4 3.3 4.7 1.8 0.9 0.6 0.9 2.0 3.4 7.2 .476 0.9 2.6 .343 1.3 1.8 .724
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Millsap 9 12.1 6.4 1.0 2.9 3.9 1.7 0.3 0.7 0.9 1.6 2.4 5.6 .440 0.7 2.6 .261 0.9 1.4 .615

Season 16

Dave Cowens Paul Millsap
Season -2021-22
Team -Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -76ers 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 %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Millsap 33 11.4 3.5 1.2 2.2 3.5 0.9 0.3 0.4 0.6 2.0 1.4 3.5 .391 0.2 1.1 .229 0.5 0.7 .708
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Paul Millsap 1 6.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -