Stephen Curry vs. Gary Payton Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gary Payton and Stephen Curry, 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.

Stephen Curry played 15 years in the NBA, 2 less than Gary Payton, who played 17. Stephen Curry had the first of his seasons in 2009-10, 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
Stephen Curry 15 9 2009-10 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
Stephen Curry Gary Payton
Season 2009-101990-91
Team Golden State WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards 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 %
Stephen Curry 80 36.2 17.5 0.6 3.9 4.5 5.9 1.9 0.2 3.0 3.2 6.6 14.3 .462 2.1 4.8 .437 2.2 2.5 .885
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 %
Stephen Curry ------- --- ----------
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
Stephen Curry Gary Payton
Season 2010-111991-92
Team Golden State WarriorsSeattle 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 %
Stephen Curry 74 33.6 18.6 0.7 3.2 3.9 5.8 1.5 0.3 3.1 3.1 6.8 14.2 .480 2.0 4.6 .442 2.9 3.1 .934
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 %
Stephen Curry ------- --- ----------
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
Stephen Curry Gary Payton
Season 2011-121992-93
Team Golden State WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 %
Stephen Curry 26 28.2 14.7 0.6 2.8 3.4 5.3 1.5 0.3 2.5 2.4 5.6 11.4 .490 2.1 4.7 .455 1.5 1.8 .809
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 %
Stephen Curry ------- --- ----------
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
Stephen Curry Gary Payton
Season 2012-131993-94
Team Golden State WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisSupersonics 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 %
Stephen Curry 78 38.2 22.9 0.8 3.3 4.0 6.9 1.6 0.2 3.1 2.5 8.0 17.8 .451 3.5 7.7 .453 3.4 3.7 .900
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 %
Stephen Curry 12 41.4 23.4 0.4 3.4 3.8 8.1 1.7 0.2 3.3 2.9 8.5 19.6 .434 3.5 8.8 .396 2.9 3.2 .921
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
Stephen Curry Gary Payton
Season 2013-141994-95
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
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 %
Stephen Curry 78 36.5 24.0 0.6 3.7 4.3 8.5 1.6 0.2 3.8 2.5 8.4 17.7 .471 3.3 7.9 .424 3.9 4.5 .885
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 %
Stephen Curry 7 42.3 23.0 0.6 3.0 3.6 8.4 1.7 0.1 3.7 2.6 7.3 16.6 .440 3.1 8.1 .386 5.3 6.0 .881
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
Stephen Curry Gary Payton
Season 2014-151995-96
Team Golden State WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
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 NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Stephen Curry 80 32.7 23.8 0.7 3.6 4.3 7.7 2.0 0.2 3.1 2.0 8.2 16.8 .487 3.6 8.1 .443 3.9 4.2 .914
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 %
Stephen Curry 21 39.3 28.3 1.0 4.0 5.0 6.4 1.9 0.1 3.9 2.2 9.5 20.9 .456 4.7 11.0 .422 4.6 5.5 .835
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
Stephen Curry Gary Payton
Season 2015-161996-97
Team Golden State WarriorsSeattle 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 Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA 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 %
Stephen Curry 79 34.2 30.1 0.9 4.6 5.4 6.7 2.1 0.2 3.3 2.0 10.2 20.2 .504 5.1 11.2 .454 4.6 5.1 .908
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 %
Stephen Curry 18 34.1 25.1 0.8 4.7 5.5 5.2 1.4 0.3 4.2 2.2 8.2 18.8 .438 4.4 11.0 .404 4.2 4.6 .916
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
Stephen Curry Gary Payton
Season 2016-171997-98
Team Golden State WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -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 Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Stephen Curry 79 33.4 25.3 0.8 3.7 4.5 6.6 1.8 0.2 3.0 2.3 8.5 18.3 .468 4.1 10.0 .411 4.1 4.6 .898
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 %
Stephen Curry 17 35.4 28.1 1.3 4.9 6.2 6.7 2.0 0.2 3.4 2.2 8.9 18.4 .484 4.2 10.1 .419 6.1 6.7 .904
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
Stephen Curry Gary Payton
Season 2017-181998-99
Team Golden State WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 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 %
Stephen Curry 51 32.0 26.4 0.7 4.4 5.1 6.1 1.6 0.2 3.0 2.2 8.4 16.9 .495 4.2 9.8 .423 5.5 5.9 .921
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 %
Stephen Curry 15 37.0 25.5 0.6 5.5 6.1 5.4 1.7 0.7 2.9 2.5 9.1 20.3 .451 4.3 10.8 .395 3.0 3.1 .957
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Stephen Curry Gary Payton
Season 2018-191999-00
Team Golden State WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
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 %
Stephen Curry 69 33.8 27.3 0.7 4.7 5.3 5.2 1.3 0.4 2.8 2.4 9.2 19.4 .472 5.1 11.7 .437 3.8 4.2 .916
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 %
Stephen Curry 22 38.5 28.2 0.8 5.2 6.0 5.7 1.1 0.2 3.0 3.1 8.6 19.6 .441 4.2 11.1 .377 6.7 7.1 .943
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
Stephen Curry Gary Payton
Season 2019-202000-01
Team Golden State WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-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 %
Stephen Curry 5 27.8 20.8 0.8 4.4 5.2 6.6 1.0 0.4 3.2 2.2 6.6 16.4 .402 2.4 9.8 .245 5.2 5.2 1.000
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 %
Stephen Curry ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Stephen Curry Gary Payton
Season 2020-212001-02
Team Golden State WarriorsSeattle 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
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 %
Stephen Curry 63 34.2 32.0 0.5 5.0 5.5 5.8 1.2 0.1 3.4 1.9 10.4 21.7 .482 5.3 12.7 .421 5.7 6.3 .916
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 %
Stephen Curry ------- --- ----------
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

Season 13
Stephen Curry Gary Payton
Season 2021-222002-03
Team Golden State WarriorsSeattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBucks 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 %
Stephen Curry 64 34.5 25.5 0.5 4.7 5.2 6.3 1.3 0.4 3.2 2.0 8.4 19.1 .437 4.5 11.7 .380 4.3 4.7 .923
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 %
Stephen Curry 22 34.7 27.4 0.5 4.7 5.2 5.9 1.3 0.4 2.6 2.7 9.2 20.0 .459 4.1 10.4 .397 4.9 5.9 .829
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
Stephen Curry Gary Payton
Season 2022-232003-04
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Stephen Curry 56 34.7 29.4 0.7 5.4 6.1 6.3 0.9 0.4 3.2 2.1 10.0 20.2 .493 4.9 11.4 .427 4.6 5.0 .915
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 %
Stephen Curry 13 37.9 30.5 0.7 4.5 5.2 6.1 1.0 0.5 3.2 2.6 11.2 23.9 .466 4.4 12.1 .363 3.8 4.5 .845
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
Stephen Curry Gary Payton
Season 2023-242004-05
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Clutch Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Stephen Curry 74 32.7 26.4 0.5 4.0 4.5 5.1 0.7 0.4 2.8 1.6 8.8 19.5 .450 4.8 11.8 .408 4.0 4.4 .923
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 %
Stephen Curry ------- --- ----------
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
Stephen Curry Gary Payton
Season -2005-06
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -NBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Stephen Curry ------- --- ----------
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 %
Stephen Curry ------- --- ----------
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
Stephen Curry 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 %
Stephen Curry ------- --- ----------
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 %
Stephen Curry ------- --- ----------
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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