Kevin Durant vs. Gary Payton Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gary Payton and Kevin Durant, 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.

Kevin Durant played 16 years in the NBA, 1 less than Gary Payton, who played 17. Kevin Durant had the first of his seasons in 2007-08, while Gary Payton had his rookie season in 1990-91. 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 Durant 16 13 2007-08 to 2023-24
Gary Payton 17 15 1990-91 to 2006-07

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 Durant Gary Payton
Season 2007-081990-91
Team Seattle SupersonicsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 Durant 80 34.6 20.3 0.9 3.5 4.4 2.4 1.0 0.9 2.9 1.5 7.3 17.1 .430 0.7 2.6 .288 4.9 5.6 .873
Gary Payton 82 27.4 7.2 1.3 1.6 3.0 6.4 2.0 0.2 2.2 3.0 3.2 7.0 .450 0.0 0.2 .077 0.8 1.2 .711
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 5 27.0 4.8 1.0 1.6 2.6 6.4 1.6 0.2 1.8 3.2 2.2 5.4 .407 0.0 0.2 .000 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 2
Kevin Durant Gary Payton
Season 2008-091991-92
Team Oklahoma City ThunderSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 Durant 74 39.0 25.3 1.0 5.5 6.5 2.8 1.3 0.7 3.0 1.8 8.9 18.8 .476 1.3 3.1 .422 6.1 7.1 .863
Gary Payton 81 31.5 9.4 1.5 2.1 3.6 6.2 1.8 0.3 2.1 3.1 4.1 9.1 .451 0.0 0.3 .130 1.2 1.8 .669
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 8 27.6 7.6 0.8 1.9 2.6 4.8 1.0 0.3 1.3 3.3 3.4 7.3 .466 0.0 0.3 .000 0.9 1.5 .583

Season 3
Kevin Durant Gary Payton
Season 2009-101992-93
Team Oklahoma City ThunderSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Thunder Lost West 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 Durant 82 39.5 30.1 1.3 6.3 7.6 2.8 1.4 1.0 3.3 2.1 9.7 20.3 .476 1.6 4.3 .365 9.2 10.2 .900
Gary Payton 82 31.1 13.5 1.2 2.3 3.4 4.9 2.2 0.3 1.8 3.0 5.8 11.7 .494 0.1 0.4 .206 1.8 2.4 .770
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 6 38.5 25.0 1.3 6.3 7.7 2.3 0.5 1.3 3.7 2.8 7.2 20.5 .350 1.7 5.8 .286 9.0 10.3 .871
Gary Payton 19 31.8 12.3 1.2 2.2 3.3 3.7 1.8 0.2 1.8 3.4 5.5 12.4 .443 0.1 0.3 .167 1.3 1.9 .676

Season 4
Kevin Durant Gary Payton
Season 2010-111993-94
Team Oklahoma City ThunderSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf FinalsSupersonics 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 Durant 78 38.9 27.7 0.7 6.1 6.8 2.7 1.1 1.0 2.8 2.0 9.1 19.7 .462 1.9 5.3 .350 7.6 8.7 .880
Gary Payton 82 35.1 16.5 1.3 2.0 3.3 6.0 2.3 0.2 2.1 2.8 7.1 14.1 .504 0.2 0.7 .278 2.0 3.4 .595
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 17 42.5 28.6 1.1 7.1 8.2 2.8 0.9 1.1 2.5 3.1 9.1 20.3 .449 2.2 6.4 .339 8.2 9.8 .838
Gary Payton 5 36.2 15.8 1.2 2.2 3.4 5.6 1.6 0.4 1.6 3.0 6.8 13.8 .493 0.6 1.8 .333 1.6 3.8 .421

Season 5
Kevin Durant Gary Payton
Season 2011-121994-95
Team Oklahoma City ThunderSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Thunder Lost NBA FinalsSupersonics 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 Durant 66 38.6 28.0 0.6 7.4 8.0 3.5 1.3 1.2 3.8 2.0 9.7 19.7 .496 2.0 5.2 .387 6.5 7.6 .860
Gary Payton 82 36.8 20.6 1.3 2.1 3.4 7.1 2.5 0.2 2.5 2.5 8.4 16.4 .509 0.9 2.8 .302 3.0 4.2 .716
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 20 41.9 28.5 0.7 6.8 7.4 3.7 1.5 1.2 3.2 2.6 9.9 19.2 .517 2.1 5.5 .373 6.7 7.7 .864
Gary Payton 4 43.0 17.8 1.5 1.0 2.5 5.3 1.3 0.0 2.0 3.3 8.0 16.8 .478 0.5 2.5 .200 1.3 3.0 .417

Season 6
Kevin Durant Gary Payton
Season 2012-131995-96
Team Oklahoma City ThunderSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Thunder Lost West 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 Durant 81 38.5 28.1 0.6 7.3 7.9 4.6 1.4 1.3 3.5 1.8 9.0 17.7 .510 1.7 4.1 .416 8.4 9.3 .905
Gary Payton 81 39.0 19.3 1.3 2.9 4.2 7.5 2.9 0.2 3.2 2.7 7.6 15.8 .484 1.2 3.7 .328 2.8 3.8 .748
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 11 44.1 30.8 0.6 8.4 9.0 6.3 1.3 1.1 3.9 2.4 10.2 22.4 .455 2.0 6.4 .314 8.5 10.2 .830
Gary Payton 21 43.4 20.7 0.9 4.2 5.1 6.8 1.8 0.3 3.0 3.3 7.7 15.9 .485 2.0 4.8 .410 3.3 5.2 .633

Season 7
Kevin Durant Gary Payton
Season 2013-141996-97
Team Oklahoma City ThunderSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf FinalsSupersonics 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 Durant 81 38.5 32.0 0.7 6.7 7.4 5.5 1.3 0.7 3.5 2.1 10.5 20.8 .503 2.4 6.1 .391 8.7 9.9 .873
Gary Payton 82 39.2 21.8 1.3 3.3 4.6 7.1 2.4 0.2 2.6 2.5 8.6 18.1 .476 1.5 4.6 .313 3.1 4.3 .715
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 19 42.9 29.6 1.3 7.6 8.9 3.9 1.0 1.3 3.8 2.2 10.2 22.2 .460 2.3 6.6 .344 6.9 8.6 .810
Gary Payton 12 45.6 23.8 1.7 3.8 5.4 8.7 2.2 0.3 2.9 2.2 8.8 21.3 .412 2.1 6.3 .333 4.2 5.1 .820

Season 8
Kevin Durant Gary Payton
Season 2014-151997-98
Team Oklahoma City ThunderSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 Durant 27 33.8 25.4 0.6 6.0 6.6 4.1 0.9 0.9 2.7 1.5 8.8 17.3 .510 2.4 5.9 .403 5.4 6.3 .854
Gary Payton 82 38.4 19.2 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.3 2.3 0.2 2.8 2.4 7.1 15.6 .453 1.6 4.8 .338 3.4 4.6 .744
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 10 42.7 24.0 0.9 2.5 3.4 7.0 1.8 0.1 2.6 3.1 8.7 18.3 .475 1.9 5.0 .380 4.7 5.0 .940

Season 9
Kevin Durant Gary Payton
Season 2015-161998-99
Team Oklahoma City ThunderSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Thunder Lost West 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 Durant 72 35.8 28.2 0.6 7.6 8.2 5.0 1.0 1.2 3.5 1.9 9.7 19.2 .505 2.6 6.7 .387 6.2 6.9 .898
Gary Payton 50 40.2 21.7 1.2 3.6 4.9 8.7 2.2 0.2 3.1 2.3 8.0 18.5 .434 1.7 5.6 .295 4.0 5.5 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 18 40.3 28.4 0.7 6.4 7.1 3.3 1.0 1.0 3.6 2.1 9.7 22.6 .430 1.7 6.1 .282 7.2 8.1 .890
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Kevin Durant Gary Payton
Season 2016-171999-00
Team Golden State WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics 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 Durant 62 33.4 25.1 0.6 7.6 8.3 4.8 1.1 1.6 2.2 1.9 8.9 16.5 .537 1.9 5.0 .375 5.4 6.2 .875
Gary Payton 82 41.8 24.2 1.2 5.2 6.5 8.9 1.9 0.2 2.7 2.2 9.1 20.3 .448 2.2 6.3 .340 3.8 5.2 .735
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 15 35.5 28.5 1.1 6.9 7.9 4.3 0.8 1.3 2.5 2.6 9.9 17.9 .556 2.5 5.7 .442 6.1 6.9 .893
Gary Payton 5 44.2 25.8 1.6 6.0 7.6 7.4 1.8 0.2 3.6 3.2 10.0 22.6 .442 1.8 4.6 .391 4.0 5.2 .769

Season 11
Kevin Durant Gary Payton
Season 2017-182000-01
Team Golden State WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 68 34.2 26.4 0.5 6.4 6.8 5.4 0.7 1.8 3.0 2.0 9.3 18.0 .516 2.5 6.1 .419 5.3 5.9 .889
Gary Payton 79 41.1 23.1 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.1 1.6 0.3 2.6 2.3 9.2 20.1 .456 1.3 3.4 .375 3.4 4.5 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 21 38.4 29.0 0.6 7.1 7.8 4.7 0.7 1.2 2.4 2.0 10.1 20.7 .487 2.2 6.6 .341 6.5 7.2 .901
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Kevin Durant Gary Payton
Season 2018-192001-02
Team Golden State WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsSupersonics 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 Durant 78 34.6 26.0 0.4 5.9 6.4 5.9 0.7 1.1 2.9 2.0 9.2 17.7 .521 1.8 5.0 .353 5.7 6.5 .885
Gary Payton 82 40.3 22.1 1.0 3.9 4.8 9.0 1.6 0.3 2.5 2.2 9.0 19.2 .467 0.9 2.9 .314 3.3 4.1 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 12 36.8 32.3 0.1 4.8 4.9 4.5 1.1 1.0 3.6 3.2 10.4 20.3 .514 2.9 6.7 .438 8.5 9.4 .903
Gary Payton 5 41.2 22.2 2.0 6.6 8.6 5.8 0.6 0.4 2.6 2.4 9.0 21.2 .425 0.8 3.0 .267 3.4 5.8 .586

Note: Kevin Durant didn't play in 2019-20.

Season 13
Kevin Durant Gary Payton
Season 2020-212002-03
Team Brooklyn NetsSeattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisBucks 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 Durant 35 33.1 26.9 0.4 6.7 7.1 5.6 0.7 1.3 3.4 2.0 9.3 17.2 .537 2.4 5.4 .450 6.0 6.8 .882
Gary Payton 80 40.1 20.4 1.0 3.2 4.2 8.3 1.7 0.3 2.3 2.3 8.3 18.3 .454 0.7 2.3 .297 3.1 4.4 .710
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 12 40.4 34.3 0.4 8.8 9.3 4.4 1.5 1.6 3.5 2.6 12.1 23.5 .514 2.8 6.8 .402 7.3 8.4 .871
Gary Payton 6 41.8 18.5 0.7 2.3 3.0 8.7 1.3 0.2 2.2 3.0 8.0 18.7 .429 0.2 2.5 .067 2.3 3.3 .700

Season 14
Kevin Durant Gary Payton
Season 2021-222003-04
Team Brooklyn NetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nets Lost East 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 %
Kevin Durant 55 37.2 29.9 0.5 6.9 7.4 6.4 0.9 0.9 3.5 2.1 10.5 20.3 .518 2.1 5.5 .383 6.8 7.4 .910
Gary Payton 82 34.5 14.6 0.9 3.3 4.2 5.5 1.2 0.2 1.8 2.1 5.9 12.5 .471 0.7 2.0 .333 2.2 3.1 .714
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 4 44.0 26.3 0.5 5.3 5.8 6.3 1.0 0.3 5.3 3.8 8.0 20.8 .386 1.8 5.3 .333 8.5 9.5 .895
Gary Payton 22 35.0 7.8 0.9 2.4 3.3 5.3 1.0 0.2 1.3 2.7 3.1 8.5 .366 0.6 2.5 .250 1.0 1.3 .750

Season 15
Kevin Durant Gary Payton
Season 2022-232004-05
Team Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisCeltics 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 Durant 47 35.6 29.1 0.4 6.3 6.7 5.0 0.7 1.4 3.3 2.1 10.3 18.3 .560 2.0 4.9 .404 6.5 7.1 .919
Gary Payton 77 33.0 11.3 0.6 2.4 3.1 6.1 1.1 0.2 1.9 1.6 4.4 9.4 .468 0.5 1.7 .326 2.0 2.6 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 11 42.4 29.0 0.6 8.1 8.7 5.5 0.8 1.4 3.5 2.6 9.7 20.4 .478 1.5 4.6 .333 8.0 8.7 .917
Gary Payton 7 34.1 10.3 1.1 3.0 4.1 4.6 0.9 0.1 1.6 1.4 4.7 10.6 .446 0.1 2.0 .071 0.7 0.9 .833

Season 16
Kevin Durant Gary Payton
Season 2023-242005-06
Team Phoenix SunsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement Cup All-Tournament Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Kevin Durant 75 37.2 27.1 0.5 6.1 6.6 5.0 0.9 1.2 3.3 1.8 10.0 19.1 .523 2.2 5.4 .413 4.8 5.6 .856
Gary Payton 81 28.5 7.7 0.4 2.5 2.9 3.2 0.9 0.1 1.3 2.1 2.8 6.8 .420 0.8 2.8 .287 1.2 1.6 .794
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 4 42.0 26.8 0.3 6.3 6.5 3.3 0.5 1.5 2.5 2.0 9.3 16.8 .552 1.3 3.0 .417 7.0 8.5 .824
Gary Payton 23 24.3 5.8 0.3 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.0 0.1 0.8 2.4 2.1 5.0 .422 0.7 2.5 .293 0.8 1.1 .720

Season 17
Kevin Durant Gary Payton
Season -2006-07
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Heat 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 Durant ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 68 22.1 5.3 0.3 1.7 1.9 3.0 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.7 2.1 5.4 .393 0.5 1.8 .260 0.6 0.8 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 2 16.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 1.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -
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