Caron Butler vs. Nikola Jokic Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nikola Jokic and Caron Butler, 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.

Caron Butler played 14 years in the NBA, 5 more than Nikola Jokic, who played 9. Caron Butler had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, while Nikola Jokic had his rookie season in 2015-16. 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
Caron Butler 14 7 2002-03 to 2015-16
Nikola Jokic 9 6 2015-16 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Caron Butler Nikola Jokic
Season 2002-032015-16
Team Miami HeatDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler 78 36.6 15.4 1.7 3.4 5.1 2.7 1.8 0.4 2.5 2.9 5.5 13.2 .416 0.4 1.4 .318 4.0 4.8 .824
Nikola Jokic 80 21.7 10.0 2.3 4.7 7.0 2.4 1.0 0.6 1.3 2.6 3.8 7.5 .512 0.4 1.1 .333 1.9 2.4 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler ------- --- ----------
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Caron Butler Nikola Jokic
Season 2003-042016-17
Team Miami HeatDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Caron Butler 68 29.9 9.2 1.4 3.4 4.8 1.9 1.1 0.2 1.3 2.4 3.5 9.3 .380 0.1 0.6 .238 2.0 2.6 .756
Nikola Jokic 73 27.9 16.7 2.9 6.9 9.8 4.9 0.8 0.8 2.3 2.9 6.8 11.7 .578 0.6 1.9 .324 2.6 3.1 .825
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler 13 39.2 12.8 1.4 7.1 8.5 2.4 2.2 0.5 1.8 3.5 4.5 11.8 .386 0.2 0.8 .182 3.6 4.4 .825
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Caron Butler Nikola Jokic
Season 2004-052017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler 77 35.7 15.5 1.9 3.9 5.8 1.9 1.4 0.3 1.6 2.8 5.7 12.9 .445 0.5 1.6 .304 3.6 4.1 .862
Nikola Jokic 75 32.6 18.5 2.6 8.1 10.7 6.1 1.2 0.8 2.8 2.8 6.7 13.5 .499 1.5 3.7 .396 3.5 4.2 .850
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler ------- --- ----------
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Caron Butler Nikola Jokic
Season 2005-062018-19
Team Washington WizardsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Wizards Lost East Conf 1st RdNuggets 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 %
Caron Butler 75 36.1 17.6 1.5 4.7 6.2 2.5 1.7 0.2 2.3 3.2 6.6 14.5 .455 0.5 1.6 .342 3.9 4.4 .870
Nikola Jokic 80 31.3 20.1 2.9 8.0 10.8 7.3 1.4 0.7 3.1 2.9 7.7 15.1 .511 1.0 3.4 .307 3.6 4.4 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler 6 43.7 18.5 2.7 7.8 10.5 2.7 2.0 0.7 2.3 5.2 7.0 16.8 .416 0.5 2.3 .214 4.0 4.8 .828
Nikola Jokic 14 39.8 25.1 3.9 9.1 13.0 8.4 1.1 0.9 2.6 3.9 9.4 18.6 .506 1.6 4.0 .393 4.7 5.6 .846

Season 5

Caron Butler Nikola Jokic
Season 2006-072019-20
Team Washington WizardsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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 %
Caron Butler 63 39.3 19.1 2.3 5.1 7.4 3.7 2.1 0.3 2.9 3.0 7.2 15.5 .463 0.3 1.1 .250 4.5 5.2 .863
Nikola Jokic 73 32.0 19.9 2.3 7.5 9.7 7.0 1.2 0.6 3.1 3.0 7.7 14.7 .528 1.1 3.5 .314 3.4 4.1 .817
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler ------- --- ----------
Nikola Jokic 19 36.5 24.4 1.9 7.9 9.8 5.7 1.1 0.8 3.3 3.6 9.4 18.1 .519 2.2 5.2 .429 3.5 4.2 .835

Season 6

Caron Butler Nikola Jokic
Season 2007-082020-21
Team Washington WizardsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Wizards Lost East Conf 1st RdNuggets 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 %
Caron Butler 58 39.9 20.3 1.6 5.1 6.7 4.9 2.2 0.3 2.6 2.8 7.6 16.3 .466 1.1 3.2 .357 4.1 4.5 .901
Nikola Jokic 72 34.6 26.4 2.8 8.0 10.8 8.3 1.3 0.7 3.1 2.7 10.2 18.0 .566 1.3 3.3 .388 4.8 5.5 .868
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler 6 41.0 18.7 1.7 4.0 5.7 3.8 1.8 0.2 2.7 3.2 6.7 14.5 .460 0.8 3.5 .238 4.5 5.2 .871
Nikola Jokic 10 34.5 29.8 3.7 7.9 11.6 5.0 0.6 0.9 2.4 2.3 11.6 22.8 .509 2.0 5.3 .377 4.6 5.5 .836

Season 7

Caron Butler Nikola Jokic
Season 2008-092021-22
Team Washington WizardsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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 %
Caron Butler 67 38.6 20.8 1.8 4.4 6.2 4.3 1.6 0.3 3.1 2.5 7.3 16.2 .453 1.0 3.1 .310 5.1 6.0 .858
Nikola Jokic 74 33.5 27.1 2.8 11.0 13.8 7.9 1.5 0.9 3.8 2.6 10.3 17.7 .583 1.3 3.9 .337 5.1 6.3 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler ------- --- ----------
Nikola Jokic 5 34.2 31.0 3.4 9.8 13.2 5.8 1.6 1.0 4.8 4.0 12.2 21.2 .575 1.0 3.6 .278 5.6 6.6 .848

Season 8

Caron Butler Nikola Jokic
Season 2009-102022-23
Team Washington Wizards, Dallas MavericksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks 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 %
Caron Butler 74 37.6 16.3 1.4 4.8 6.2 2.1 1.6 0.3 2.2 2.6 6.1 14.2 .428 0.6 2.0 .290 3.6 4.3 .838
Nikola Jokic 69 33.7 24.5 2.4 9.4 11.8 9.8 1.3 0.7 3.6 2.5 9.4 14.8 .632 0.8 2.2 .383 4.9 6.0 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler 6 33.7 19.7 0.5 5.3 5.8 1.3 1.5 0.8 2.5 2.7 7.2 16.5 .434 1.2 3.8 .304 4.2 4.5 .926
Nikola Jokic 20 39.5 30.0 3.5 10.0 13.5 9.5 1.1 1.0 3.5 3.5 11.4 20.7 .548 1.8 3.8 .461 5.6 7.0 .799

Season 9

Caron Butler Nikola Jokic
Season 2010-112023-24
Team Dallas MavericksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNuggets TBD
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler 29 29.9 15.0 0.8 3.3 4.1 1.6 1.0 0.3 1.7 2.0 5.9 13.0 .450 1.0 2.2 .431 2.3 3.0 .773
Nikola Jokic 79 34.6 26.4 2.8 9.5 12.4 9.0 1.4 0.9 3.0 2.5 10.4 17.9 .583 1.1 2.9 .359 4.5 5.5 .817
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler ------- --- ----------
Nikola Jokic 6 40.5 28.8 3.3 11.5 14.8 9.7 1.5 0.2 3.8 3.0 11.0 19.7 .559 1.3 4.5 .296 5.5 5.8 .943

Season 10

Caron Butler Nikola Jokic
Season 2011-12-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
Caron Butler 63 29.7 12.0 0.7 3.0 3.7 1.2 0.8 0.1 1.2 2.0 4.6 11.2 .407 1.5 4.1 .358 1.4 1.7 .813
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler 10 26.8 8.6 0.4 2.6 3.0 1.0 0.6 0.2 1.6 2.2 3.3 9.2 .359 0.8 3.1 .258 1.2 1.6 .750
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Caron Butler Nikola Jokic
Season 2012-13-
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 %
Caron Butler 78 24.1 10.4 0.5 2.3 2.9 1.0 0.7 0.1 0.9 1.8 3.9 9.2 .424 1.6 4.2 .388 1.0 1.2 .833
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler 6 22.7 8.5 0.2 2.5 2.7 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.0 1.8 3.7 7.7 .478 0.7 2.7 .250 0.5 0.5 1.000
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Caron Butler Nikola Jokic
Season 2013-14-
Team Milwaukee Bucks, Oklahoma City Thunder-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
Caron Butler 56 25.3 10.5 0.4 3.7 4.1 1.5 0.8 0.3 1.1 2.1 3.8 9.6 .394 1.8 4.4 .394 1.1 1.3 .840
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler 18 23.3 6.3 0.6 2.6 3.2 0.8 0.3 0.1 0.6 1.8 1.9 6.0 .324 1.2 3.3 .356 1.2 1.6 .786
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Caron Butler Nikola Jokic
Season 2014-15-
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 %
Caron Butler 78 20.8 5.9 0.3 2.2 2.5 1.0 0.6 0.1 0.6 1.5 2.1 5.1 .407 1.1 2.8 .379 0.7 0.8 .902
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler ------- --- ----------
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Caron Butler Nikola Jokic
Season 2015-16-
Team Sacramento Kings-
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 %
Caron Butler 17 10.4 3.7 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.6 0.5 0.1 0.2 1.1 1.5 3.5 .424 0.2 1.1 .167 0.6 0.7 .833
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler ------- --- ----------
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------