Marques Johnson vs. James Worthy Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Worthy and Marques Johnson, 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.

Marques Johnson played 11 years in the NBA, 1 less than James Worthy, who played 12. Marques Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while James Worthy had his rookie season in 1982-83. 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
Marques Johnson 11 6 1977-78 to 1989-90
James Worthy 12 9 1982-83 to 1993-94

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Marques Johnson James Worthy
Season 1977-781982-83
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Marques Johnson 80 34.6 19.5 3.7 6.9 10.6 2.4 1.2 1.3 2.2 2.8 7.9 15.1 .522 - - - 3.8 5.1 .736
James Worthy 77 25.6 13.4 2.0 3.1 5.2 1.7 1.2 0.8 2.3 2.9 5.8 10.0 .579 0.0 0.1 .250 1.8 2.9 .624
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 9 35.7 24.0 3.9 8.6 12.4 3.4 1.1 1.9 1.6 2.8 9.3 17.0 .549 - - - 5.3 7.1 .750
James Worthy ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Marques Johnson James Worthy
Season 1978-791983-84
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 77 36.1 25.6 2.8 4.9 7.6 3.0 1.5 1.2 2.2 2.4 10.6 19.4 .550 - - - 4.3 5.7 .760
James Worthy 82 29.5 14.5 1.9 4.4 6.3 2.5 0.9 0.9 2.2 3.0 6.0 10.9 .556 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.1 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
James Worthy 21 33.7 17.7 1.7 3.3 5.0 2.7 1.3 0.5 1.9 2.7 7.8 13.0 .599 0.0 0.1 .500 2.0 3.3 .609

Season 3
Marques Johnson James Worthy
Season 1979-801984-85
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 77 34.9 21.7 2.8 4.5 7.4 3.5 1.3 0.9 2.4 2.2 8.9 16.5 .544 0.0 0.1 .222 3.8 4.8 .791
James Worthy 80 33.7 17.6 2.1 4.3 6.4 2.5 1.1 0.8 2.5 2.5 7.6 13.3 .572 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.1 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 7 43.3 19.9 2.4 4.4 6.9 2.9 0.7 0.9 1.1 2.9 7.7 18.3 .422 0.1 0.4 .333 4.3 5.7 .750
James Worthy 19 32.9 21.5 1.8 3.2 5.1 2.2 0.9 0.7 1.4 2.8 8.7 14.1 .622 0.1 0.1 .500 3.9 5.8 .676

Season 4
Marques Johnson James Worthy
Season 1980-811985-86
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisLakers 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 %
Marques Johnson 76 33.4 20.3 3.0 3.9 6.8 4.6 1.5 0.5 2.5 2.6 8.4 15.2 .552 0.0 0.1 .000 3.5 5.0 .706
James Worthy 75 32.7 20.0 1.8 3.3 5.2 2.7 1.1 1.0 2.0 2.6 8.4 14.5 .579 0.0 0.2 .000 3.2 4.2 .771
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 7 38.0 24.7 5.9 3.6 9.4 4.9 1.4 1.0 1.9 2.0 10.7 19.3 .556 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 4.6 .719
James Worthy 14 38.5 19.6 1.6 3.1 4.6 3.2 1.1 0.7 2.6 3.1 8.6 15.5 .558 0.0 0.3 .000 2.3 3.4 .681

Season 5
Marques Johnson James Worthy
Season 1981-821986-87
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 60 31.7 16.5 2.6 3.5 6.1 3.6 1.0 0.6 2.4 2.4 6.7 12.7 .532 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.3 .700
James Worthy 82 34.4 19.4 1.9 3.8 5.7 2.8 1.3 1.0 2.0 2.5 7.9 14.7 .539 0.0 0.2 .000 3.6 4.7 .751
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 6 39.2 18.8 3.8 3.5 7.3 3.3 1.0 0.3 2.0 4.2 7.3 16.7 .440 0.2 0.7 .250 4.0 7.0 .571
James Worthy 18 37.8 23.6 1.7 3.9 5.6 3.5 1.6 1.2 2.2 2.3 9.8 16.6 .591 0.0 0.1 .000 4.1 5.4 .753

Season 6
Marques Johnson James Worthy
Season 1982-831987-88
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East 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 %
Marques Johnson 80 35.7 21.4 2.5 4.6 7.0 4.5 1.3 0.7 2.5 2.6 9.0 17.8 .509 0.1 0.3 .200 3.3 4.5 .735
James Worthy 75 35.4 19.7 1.7 3.3 5.0 3.9 1.0 0.7 2.1 2.3 8.2 15.5 .531 0.0 0.2 .125 3.2 4.1 .796
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 9 42.4 22.0 3.1 4.9 8.0 4.2 0.9 0.8 2.3 2.4 9.4 19.4 .486 0.0 0.1 .000 3.1 4.8 .651
James Worthy 24 37.3 21.1 2.2 3.6 5.8 4.4 1.4 0.8 2.3 2.4 8.5 16.3 .523 0.0 0.4 .111 4.0 5.3 .758

Season 7
Marques Johnson James Worthy
Season 1983-841988-89
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 74 36.7 20.7 2.3 4.1 6.5 4.3 1.6 0.6 2.4 2.6 8.7 17.4 .502 0.0 0.2 .154 3.3 4.6 .709
James Worthy 81 36.5 20.5 2.1 4.0 6.0 3.6 1.3 0.7 2.2 2.2 8.7 15.8 .548 0.0 0.3 .087 3.1 4.0 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 16 37.8 20.3 1.8 3.5 5.3 3.4 1.1 0.4 2.7 3.1 8.1 17.1 .473 0.1 0.3 .250 4.1 5.6 .722
James Worthy 15 40.0 24.8 2.5 4.3 6.7 2.8 1.2 1.1 2.2 2.4 10.2 18.0 .567 0.2 0.5 .375 4.2 5.3 .788

Season 8
Marques Johnson James Worthy
Season 1984-851989-90
Team Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Marques Johnson 72 34.0 16.4 2.6 3.3 5.9 3.4 1.0 0.4 2.4 2.7 6.9 15.2 .452 0.0 0.2 .231 2.6 3.6 .731
James Worthy 80 37.0 21.1 2.0 4.0 6.0 3.6 1.2 0.6 2.0 2.4 8.9 16.2 .548 0.2 0.6 .306 3.1 4.0 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
James Worthy 9 40.7 24.2 1.2 4.3 5.6 3.0 1.6 0.3 2.4 2.0 10.0 20.1 .497 0.2 0.9 .250 4.0 4.8 .837

Season 9
Marques Johnson James Worthy
Season 1985-861990-91
Team Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 75 34.7 20.3 2.1 3.5 5.5 3.8 1.4 0.7 2.4 2.9 8.2 16.0 .510 0.0 0.2 .067 4.0 5.2 .760
James Worthy 78 38.6 21.4 1.4 3.2 4.6 3.5 1.3 0.4 1.6 1.5 9.2 18.7 .492 0.3 1.2 .289 2.7 3.4 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
James Worthy 18 40.7 21.1 1.4 2.7 4.1 3.9 1.1 0.1 2.2 1.9 8.9 19.2 .465 0.2 1.3 .167 2.9 4.0 .736

Season 10
Marques Johnson James Worthy
Season 1986-871991-92
Team Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Marques Johnson 10 30.2 16.6 0.9 2.4 3.3 2.8 1.2 0.5 1.7 2.4 6.8 15.5 .439 0.0 0.6 .000 3.0 4.2 .714
James Worthy 54 39.0 19.9 1.8 3.8 5.6 4.7 1.4 0.4 2.4 1.6 8.3 18.6 .447 0.2 0.8 .209 3.1 3.8 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
James Worthy ------- --- ----------

Note: Marques Johnson didn't play in 1987-88 and 1988-89.

Season 11
Marques Johnson James Worthy
Season 1989-901992-93
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 %
Marques Johnson 10 9.9 4.0 0.8 0.9 1.7 0.9 0.0 0.1 1.0 1.2 1.2 3.2 .375 0.2 0.3 .667 1.4 1.7 .824
James Worthy 82 28.8 14.9 0.9 2.1 3.0 3.4 1.1 0.3 1.7 1.1 6.2 13.9 .447 0.4 1.4 .270 2.1 2.6 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
James Worthy 5 29.6 13.8 1.4 2.0 3.4 2.6 1.0 0.0 1.4 2.2 6.4 17.2 .372 0.4 1.6 .250 0.6 1.0 .600

Season 12
Marques Johnson James Worthy
Season -1993-94
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
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 %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
James Worthy 80 20.0 10.2 0.6 1.7 2.3 1.9 0.6 0.2 1.2 1.0 4.3 10.5 .406 0.4 1.4 .288 1.3 1.7 .741
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
James Worthy ------- --- ----------
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