David Lee vs. Klay Thompson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Klay Thompson and David Lee, 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.

David Lee played 12 years in the NBA, 1 more than Klay Thompson, who played 11. David Lee had the first of his seasons in 2005-06, while Klay Thompson had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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
David Lee 12 5 2005-06 to 2016-17
Klay Thompson 11 9 2011-12 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

David Lee Klay Thompson
Season 2005-062011-12
Team New York KnicksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement 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 %
David Lee 67 16.9 5.1 1.6 2.9 4.5 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.8 1.9 2.0 3.4 .596 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.8 .577
Klay Thompson 66 24.4 12.5 0.4 2.1 2.4 2.0 0.7 0.3 1.6 2.3 4.8 10.9 .443 1.7 4.1 .414 1.2 1.4 .868
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Lee ------- --- ----------
Klay Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

David Lee Klay Thompson
Season 2006-072012-13
Team New York KnicksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors 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 %
David Lee 58 29.8 10.7 3.4 7.0 10.4 1.8 0.8 0.4 1.6 2.7 4.1 6.9 .600 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.0 .815
Klay Thompson 82 35.8 16.6 0.4 3.3 3.7 2.2 1.0 0.5 1.9 2.9 6.2 14.7 .422 2.6 6.4 .401 1.6 1.9 .841
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Lee ------- --- ----------
Klay Thompson 12 41.3 15.2 0.8 3.8 4.6 1.8 1.0 0.6 2.0 3.7 6.3 14.5 .437 2.1 4.9 .424 0.4 0.5 .833

Season 3

David Lee Klay Thompson
Season 2007-082013-14
Team New York KnicksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors 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 %
David Lee 81 29.1 10.8 3.0 6.0 8.9 1.2 0.7 0.4 1.2 2.6 4.2 7.6 .552 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 2.9 .819
Klay Thompson 81 35.4 18.4 0.5 2.6 3.1 2.2 0.9 0.5 1.7 2.9 6.9 15.5 .444 2.8 6.6 .417 1.8 2.3 .795
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Lee ------- --- ----------
Klay Thompson 7 36.7 16.4 0.6 2.9 3.4 3.6 1.0 0.7 2.1 3.4 5.7 14.0 .408 2.3 6.3 .364 2.7 3.4 .792

Season 4

David Lee Klay Thompson
Season 2008-092014-15
Team New York KnicksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Lee 81 34.9 16.0 3.2 8.6 11.7 2.1 1.0 0.3 1.9 3.2 6.4 11.7 .549 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 4.1 .755
Klay Thompson 77 31.9 21.7 0.4 2.9 3.2 2.9 1.1 0.8 1.9 1.6 7.8 16.9 .463 3.1 7.1 .439 2.9 3.3 .879
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Lee ------- --- ----------
Klay Thompson 21 36.2 18.6 0.4 3.4 3.9 2.6 0.8 0.9 2.0 3.0 7.1 15.9 .446 2.7 7.0 .390 1.7 2.1 .800

Season 5

David Lee Klay Thompson
Season 2009-102015-16
Team New York KnicksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Lee 81 37.3 20.2 2.8 8.9 11.7 3.6 1.0 0.5 2.3 3.2 8.5 15.5 .545 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 4.1 .812
Klay Thompson 80 33.3 22.1 0.4 3.4 3.8 2.1 0.8 0.6 1.7 1.9 8.1 17.3 .470 3.5 8.1 .425 2.4 2.8 .873
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Lee ------- --- ----------
Klay Thompson 24 35.4 24.3 0.6 3.0 3.7 2.3 1.1 0.4 2.0 2.2 8.4 18.9 .444 4.1 9.6 .424 3.4 4.0 .854

Season 6

David Lee Klay Thompson
Season 2010-112016-17
Team Golden State WarriorsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Lee 73 36.1 16.5 3.0 6.8 9.8 3.2 1.0 0.4 2.3 2.9 6.8 13.4 .507 0.0 0.0 .333 2.9 3.7 .787
Klay Thompson 78 34.0 22.3 0.6 3.0 3.7 2.1 0.8 0.5 1.6 1.8 8.3 17.6 .468 3.4 8.3 .414 2.4 2.8 .853
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Lee ------- --- ----------
Klay Thompson 17 35.1 15.0 0.6 3.2 3.9 2.1 0.8 0.3 1.4 2.6 5.5 13.9 .397 2.4 6.2 .387 1.5 1.9 .788

Season 7

David Lee Klay Thompson
Season 2011-122017-18
Team Golden State WarriorsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Lee 57 37.2 20.1 3.0 6.6 9.6 2.8 0.9 0.4 2.6 3.1 8.1 16.2 .503 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 4.9 .782
Klay Thompson 73 34.3 20.0 0.4 3.4 3.8 2.5 0.8 0.5 1.8 1.6 7.9 16.2 .488 3.1 7.1 .440 1.1 1.3 .837
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Lee ------- --- ----------
Klay Thompson 21 37.8 19.6 0.5 3.6 4.1 1.8 0.8 0.3 1.5 2.3 7.6 16.3 .465 3.2 7.5 .427 1.3 1.5 .871

Season 8

David Lee Klay Thompson
Season 2012-132018-19
Team Golden State WarriorsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Lee 79 36.8 18.5 2.8 8.5 11.2 3.5 0.8 0.3 2.6 3.1 7.6 14.7 .519 0.0 0.1 .000 3.2 4.1 .797
Klay Thompson 78 34.0 21.5 0.5 3.4 3.8 2.4 1.1 0.6 1.5 2.0 8.4 18.0 .467 3.1 7.7 .402 1.7 2.0 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Lee 6 10.8 5.0 1.0 3.7 4.7 0.8 0.5 0.2 0.8 0.8 2.2 5.5 .394 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.0 .667
Klay Thompson 21 39.0 20.7 0.6 3.5 4.1 2.1 1.3 0.7 1.8 2.8 7.8 17.1 .456 3.3 7.5 .443 1.8 2.0 .902

Note: Klay Thompson didn't play in 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Season 9

David Lee Klay Thompson
Season 2013-142021-22
Team Golden State WarriorsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Warriors 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 %
David Lee 69 33.2 18.2 2.6 6.7 9.3 2.1 0.7 0.4 2.2 3.0 7.4 14.2 .523 0.0 0.0 .000 3.3 4.3 .780
Klay Thompson 32 29.4 20.4 0.5 3.4 3.9 2.8 0.5 0.5 1.3 1.7 7.7 17.9 .429 3.6 9.3 .385 1.4 1.6 .902
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Lee 7 31.0 13.9 3.4 5.7 9.1 2.6 0.6 0.0 2.4 4.0 5.9 11.0 .532 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.7 .789
Klay Thompson 22 36.0 19.0 0.3 3.6 3.9 2.3 1.1 0.7 1.3 2.1 7.2 16.7 .429 3.5 9.1 .385 1.2 1.4 .867

Season 10

David Lee Klay Thompson
Season 2014-152022-23
Team Golden State WarriorsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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 %
David Lee 49 18.4 7.9 1.7 3.6 5.2 1.7 0.6 0.5 1.0 1.7 3.3 6.4 .511 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.1 .654
Klay Thompson 69 33.0 21.9 0.6 3.6 4.1 2.4 0.7 0.4 1.8 1.9 7.9 18.1 .436 4.4 10.6 .412 1.7 1.9 .879
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Lee 13 8.2 3.1 0.8 1.8 2.6 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.2 1.3 1.2 3.1 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.2 .533
Klay Thompson 13 36.0 18.5 0.1 4.1 4.2 2.2 0.5 0.3 2.0 2.2 6.5 16.8 .388 3.8 10.5 .368 1.6 1.8 .875

Season 11

David Lee Klay Thompson
Season 2015-162023-24
Team Boston Celtics, Dallas MavericksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Lee 55 16.4 7.8 1.8 3.7 5.5 1.5 0.4 0.5 1.2 2.1 3.2 6.1 .531 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 1.7 .763
Klay Thompson 77 29.7 17.9 0.5 2.8 3.3 2.3 0.6 0.5 1.5 1.6 6.4 14.7 .432 3.5 9.0 .387 1.6 1.8 .927
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Lee 2 16.5 6.0 0.5 2.5 3.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.5 3.0 4.0 .750 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Klay Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 12

David Lee Klay Thompson
Season 2016-17-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
David Lee 79 18.7 7.3 1.9 3.7 5.6 1.6 0.4 0.5 1.0 1.6 3.1 5.3 .590 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.4 .708
Klay Thompson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Lee 15 16.3 4.1 1.3 2.5 3.8 0.7 0.3 0.3 0.4 1.3 1.7 3.2 .521 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 1.1 .647
Klay Thompson ------- --- ----------