James Donaldson vs. Pau Gasol Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Pau Gasol and James Donaldson, 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.

James Donaldson played 14 years in the NBA, 4 less than Pau Gasol, who played 18. James Donaldson had the first of his seasons in 1980-81, while Pau Gasol had his rookie season in 2001-02. 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
James Donaldson 14 9 1980-81 to 1994-95
Pau Gasol 18 12 2001-02 to 2018-19

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18

Rookie Season

James Donaldson Pau Gasol
Season 1980-812001-02
Team Seattle SupersonicsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-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 %
James Donaldson 68 14.4 5.3 1.6 3.0 4.5 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.0 1.2 1.9 3.5 .542 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.5 .594
Pau Gasol 82 36.7 17.6 2.9 6.0 8.9 2.7 0.5 2.1 2.7 2.4 6.7 13.0 .518 0.0 0.1 .200 4.1 5.8 .709
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol ------- --- ----------

Season 2

James Donaldson Pau Gasol
Season 1981-822002-03
Team Seattle SupersonicsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West 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 %
James Donaldson 82 20.9 8.1 1.7 4.3 6.0 0.6 0.3 1.7 1.4 2.3 3.1 5.1 .609 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.9 .629
Pau Gasol 82 36.0 19.0 2.3 6.4 8.8 2.8 0.4 1.8 2.6 2.7 6.9 13.6 .510 0.0 0.1 .100 5.1 6.9 .736
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 8 23.6 6.8 3.1 6.1 9.3 0.9 0.3 0.6 1.3 2.0 2.3 5.4 .419 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.0 .750
Pau Gasol ------- --- ----------

Season 3

James Donaldson Pau Gasol
Season 1982-832003-04
Team Seattle SupersonicsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdGrizzlies 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 %
James Donaldson 82 21.8 8.9 1.6 4.5 6.1 1.2 0.2 1.2 1.6 2.1 3.5 6.0 .583 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.7 .688
Pau Gasol 78 31.5 17.7 2.6 5.1 7.7 2.5 0.6 1.7 2.4 2.4 6.5 13.4 .482 0.1 0.2 .267 4.7 6.6 .714
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 2 23.5 12.0 2.5 6.0 8.5 1.0 0.0 1.5 0.0 2.0 5.5 11.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.5 .667
Pau Gasol 4 33.5 18.5 1.0 4.0 5.0 2.5 1.0 1.5 1.3 2.5 7.0 12.3 .571 0.0 0.0 - 4.5 5.0 .900

Season 4

James Donaldson Pau Gasol
Season 1983-842004-05
Team San Diego ClippersMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayGrizzlies 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 %
James Donaldson 82 30.8 11.8 2.0 5.9 7.9 1.1 0.5 1.7 2.1 2.6 4.4 7.4 .596 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.0 .761
Pau Gasol 56 32.0 17.8 2.3 5.0 7.3 2.4 0.7 1.7 2.4 2.6 6.4 12.4 .514 0.0 0.1 .167 5.0 6.6 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 4 33.0 21.3 3.8 3.8 7.5 2.5 0.5 1.8 1.8 3.0 9.8 20.0 .488 0.3 0.3 1.000 1.5 3.0 .500

Season 5

James Donaldson Pau Gasol
Season 1984-852005-06
Team Los Angeles ClippersMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayGrizzlies 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 %
James Donaldson 82 29.2 11.3 2.0 6.1 8.1 0.6 0.3 1.6 2.5 2.6 4.3 6.7 .637 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.7 .749
Pau Gasol 80 39.2 20.4 2.4 6.5 8.9 4.6 0.6 1.9 2.9 2.3 7.5 14.9 .503 0.0 0.2 .250 5.3 7.7 .689
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 4 39.5 20.3 1.0 5.8 6.8 3.0 0.5 1.3 2.8 2.8 7.3 16.8 .433 0.0 0.3 .000 5.8 7.5 .767

Season 6

James Donaldson Pau Gasol
Season 1985-862006-07
Team Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas MavericksMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West 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 %
James Donaldson 83 32.3 8.6 2.1 7.5 9.6 1.2 0.3 1.7 1.5 2.3 3.1 5.5 .558 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.1 .803
Pau Gasol 59 36.2 20.8 2.5 7.3 9.8 3.4 0.5 2.1 2.7 2.3 7.8 14.5 .538 0.1 0.2 .273 5.1 6.8 .748
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 10 41.0 10.9 3.0 8.7 11.7 1.0 0.6 1.2 1.0 2.6 3.6 4.8 .750 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 4.0 .925
Pau Gasol ------- --- ----------

Season 7

James Donaldson Pau Gasol
Season 1986-872007-08
Team Dallas MavericksMemphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 82 36.9 10.8 3.6 8.3 11.9 0.8 0.6 1.7 1.3 2.3 3.8 6.5 .586 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.0 .812
Pau Gasol 66 35.6 18.9 2.3 6.0 8.4 3.2 0.5 1.5 1.9 2.1 7.2 13.5 .534 0.1 0.2 .250 4.4 5.5 .807
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 3 22.7 5.3 0.7 5.0 5.7 0.7 0.3 1.0 0.7 2.0 1.3 1.7 .800 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.0 .889
Pau Gasol 21 39.8 16.9 2.6 6.7 9.3 4.0 0.5 1.9 2.1 2.9 6.7 12.7 .530 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.0 .692

Season 8

James Donaldson Pau Gasol
Season 1987-882008-09
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 81 31.1 7.0 3.0 6.3 9.3 0.8 0.5 1.3 1.4 2.2 2.6 4.7 .558 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.3 .778
Pau Gasol 81 37.0 18.9 3.2 6.4 9.6 3.5 0.6 1.0 1.9 2.1 7.3 12.9 .567 0.0 0.0 .500 4.2 5.4 .781
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 17 29.4 9.3 2.8 5.8 8.6 0.7 0.4 0.9 1.7 2.4 4.0 6.1 .654 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 2.2 .595
Pau Gasol 23 40.5 18.3 3.0 7.9 10.8 2.5 0.8 2.0 1.9 3.0 7.0 12.0 .580 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.1 .714

Season 9

James Donaldson Pau Gasol
Season 1988-892009-10
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
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 %
James Donaldson 53 32.9 9.1 3.0 7.8 10.8 0.7 0.5 1.5 1.6 2.1 3.6 6.4 .573 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.3 .766
Pau Gasol 65 37.0 18.3 3.7 7.6 11.3 3.4 0.6 1.7 2.2 2.3 7.0 13.0 .536 0.0 0.1 .000 4.4 5.6 .790
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 23 39.7 19.6 4.0 7.1 11.1 3.5 0.4 2.1 1.9 2.7 7.2 13.3 .539 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 6.9 .759

Season 10

James Donaldson Pau Gasol
Season 1989-902010-11
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
James Donaldson 73 31.0 9.1 2.1 6.5 8.6 0.8 0.3 0.6 1.6 1.8 3.5 6.6 .539 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.9 .700
Pau Gasol 82 37.0 18.8 3.3 6.9 10.2 3.3 0.6 1.6 1.7 2.5 7.2 13.7 .529 0.0 0.0 .333 4.3 5.2 .823
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 3 24.7 7.3 2.0 3.3 5.3 0.7 0.7 0.0 1.3 2.7 3.0 4.3 .692 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.7 .800
Pau Gasol 10 35.8 13.1 3.2 4.6 7.8 3.8 0.4 1.7 1.7 3.3 4.7 11.2 .420 0.1 0.2 .500 3.6 4.5 .800

Season 11

James Donaldson Pau Gasol
Season 1990-912011-12
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 %
James Donaldson 82 34.1 10.0 2.5 6.4 8.9 0.8 0.4 1.1 1.8 2.2 4.0 7.5 .532 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.8 .721
Pau Gasol 65 37.4 17.4 2.8 7.6 10.4 3.6 0.6 1.4 2.2 2.0 7.1 14.1 .501 0.1 0.4 .259 3.1 4.0 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 12 37.0 12.5 3.2 6.3 9.5 3.7 0.5 2.1 1.7 3.0 5.2 11.9 .434 0.2 0.4 .400 2.0 2.4 .828

Season 12

James Donaldson Pau Gasol
Season 1991-922012-13
Team Dallas Mavericks, New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisLakers 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 %
James Donaldson 58 18.5 4.9 1.7 3.3 5.0 0.6 0.1 0.8 0.8 1.8 1.9 4.2 .457 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.5 .709
Pau Gasol 49 33.8 13.7 2.3 6.3 8.6 4.1 0.5 1.2 2.1 1.9 5.5 11.8 .466 0.2 0.6 .286 2.6 3.6 .702
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 2 5.5 2.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Pau Gasol 4 36.5 14.0 1.8 9.8 11.5 6.5 0.5 0.8 3.3 1.0 6.3 13.0 .481 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.8 .545

Season 13

James Donaldson Pau Gasol
Season 1992-932013-14
Team Utah JazzLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
James Donaldson 6 15.7 3.5 1.0 3.8 4.8 0.2 0.2 1.2 0.7 2.2 1.3 2.3 .571 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .556
Pau Gasol 60 31.4 17.4 2.1 7.6 9.7 3.4 0.5 1.5 2.4 2.1 7.1 14.8 .480 0.1 0.2 .286 3.1 4.2 .736
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 1 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Pau Gasol ------- --- ----------

Note: James Donaldson didn't play in 1993-94.

Season 14

James Donaldson Pau Gasol
Season 1994-952014-15
Team Utah JazzChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls 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 %
James Donaldson 43 14.3 2.6 0.4 2.0 2.5 0.3 0.1 0.7 0.5 1.5 1.0 1.7 .595 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.7 .710
Pau Gasol 78 34.4 18.5 2.8 9.0 11.8 2.7 0.3 1.9 2.0 1.9 7.3 14.8 .494 0.2 0.3 .462 3.8 4.7 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 5 15.2 2.8 0.6 1.2 1.8 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.4 1.6 1.0 1.2 .833 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 0.8 1.000
Pau Gasol 10 31.7 14.4 1.7 7.7 9.4 3.1 0.5 2.1 2.1 1.8 5.6 11.5 .487 0.0 0.4 .000 3.2 4.2 .762

Season 15

James Donaldson Pau Gasol
Season -2015-16
Team -Chicago Bulls
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 %
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 72 31.8 16.5 2.2 8.9 11.0 4.1 0.6 2.0 2.3 2.1 6.5 13.8 .469 0.3 1.0 .348 3.2 4.0 .792
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol ------- --- ----------

Season 16

James Donaldson Pau Gasol
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 %
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 64 25.4 12.4 1.7 6.2 7.8 2.3 0.4 1.1 1.3 1.7 4.7 9.4 .502 0.9 1.6 .538 2.0 2.9 .707
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 16 22.8 7.7 2.4 4.7 7.1 1.9 0.4 0.9 1.1 2.2 3.1 7.1 .439 0.4 1.1 .333 1.1 1.5 .708

Season 17

James Donaldson Pau Gasol
Season -2017-18
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 %
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 77 23.5 10.1 1.7 6.4 8.0 3.1 0.3 1.0 1.4 1.6 3.7 8.1 .458 0.6 1.6 .358 2.1 2.7 .756
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 5 18.0 6.0 0.4 4.4 4.8 2.8 0.0 0.2 1.2 1.0 2.0 4.0 .500 0.2 0.6 .333 1.8 2.0 .900

Season 18

James Donaldson Pau Gasol
Season -2018-19
Team -San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks
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 %
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 30 12.0 3.9 0.7 3.8 4.6 1.7 0.2 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.4 3.1 .447 0.2 0.4 .462 0.9 1.3 .700
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol ------- --- ----------