Steve Kerr vs. Gary Payton Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gary Payton and Steve Kerr, 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.

Steve Kerr played 15 years in the NBA, 2 less than Gary Payton, who played 17. Steve Kerr had the first of his seasons in 1988-89, 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
Steve Kerr 15 11 1988-89 to 2002-03
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

Steve Kerr Gary Payton
Season 1988-891990-91
Team Phoenix SunsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -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 %
Steve Kerr 26 6.0 2.1 0.1 0.5 0.7 0.9 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.5 0.8 1.8 .435 0.3 0.7 .471 0.2 0.3 .667
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 %
Steve Kerr ------- --- ----------
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

Steve Kerr Gary Payton
Season 1989-901991-92
Team Cleveland CavaliersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 %
Steve Kerr 78 21.3 6.7 0.2 1.1 1.3 3.2 0.6 0.1 0.9 0.8 2.5 5.5 .444 0.9 1.8 .507 0.8 0.9 .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 %
Steve Kerr 5 14.6 1.6 0.2 1.0 1.2 2.0 0.8 0.0 0.4 1.2 0.8 2.8 .286 0.0 0.6 .000 0.0 0.0 -
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

Steve Kerr Gary Payton
Season 1990-911992-93
Team Cleveland CavaliersSeattle 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 %
Steve Kerr 57 15.9 4.8 0.1 0.6 0.6 2.3 0.5 0.1 0.7 0.9 1.7 3.9 .444 0.5 1.1 .452 0.8 0.9 .849
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 %
Steve Kerr ------- --- ----------
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

Steve Kerr Gary Payton
Season 1991-921993-94
Team Cleveland CavaliersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East 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 %
Steve Kerr 48 17.6 6.6 0.3 1.3 1.6 2.3 0.6 0.2 0.6 0.6 2.5 4.9 .511 0.7 1.5 .432 0.9 1.1 .833
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 %
Steve Kerr 12 12.4 3.7 0.1 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.4 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.5 3.4 .439 0.3 0.9 .273 0.4 0.4 1.000
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

Steve Kerr Gary Payton
Season 1992-931994-95
Team Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando MagicSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement 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 %
Steve Kerr 52 9.3 2.6 0.1 0.8 0.9 1.3 0.2 0.0 0.5 0.7 1.0 2.3 .434 0.1 0.5 .231 0.4 0.5 .917
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 %
Steve Kerr ------- --- ----------
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

Steve Kerr Gary Payton
Season 1993-941995-96
Team Chicago BullsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East 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 %
Steve Kerr 82 24.8 8.6 0.3 1.3 1.6 2.6 0.9 0.0 0.7 1.2 3.5 7.0 .497 0.6 1.5 .419 1.0 1.2 .856
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 %
Steve Kerr 10 18.6 3.5 0.2 1.2 1.4 1.0 0.7 0.0 0.1 1.3 1.3 3.6 .361 0.6 1.6 .375 0.3 0.3 1.000
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

Steve Kerr Gary Payton
Season 1994-951996-97
Team Chicago BullsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisSupersonics 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 %
Steve Kerr 82 22.4 8.2 0.2 1.2 1.5 1.8 0.5 0.0 0.6 1.4 3.2 6.0 .527 1.1 2.1 .524 0.8 1.0 .778
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 %
Steve Kerr 10 19.3 5.1 0.1 0.5 0.6 1.5 0.1 0.0 0.0 1.4 1.9 4.0 .475 0.8 1.9 .421 0.5 0.5 1.000
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

Steve Kerr Gary Payton
Season 1995-961997-98
Team Chicago BullsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement 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 %
Steve Kerr 82 23.4 8.4 0.3 1.0 1.3 2.3 0.8 0.0 0.5 1.3 3.0 5.9 .506 1.5 2.9 .515 1.0 1.0 .929
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 %
Steve Kerr 18 19.8 6.8 0.2 0.8 1.0 1.7 0.8 0.0 0.7 1.2 2.2 4.8 .448 0.9 2.9 .321 1.5 1.7 .871
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

Steve Kerr Gary Payton
Season 1996-971998-99
Team Chicago BullsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
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 %
Steve Kerr 82 22.7 8.1 0.4 1.2 1.6 2.1 0.8 0.0 0.5 1.2 3.0 5.7 .533 1.3 2.9 .464 0.7 0.8 .806
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 %
Steve Kerr 19 17.9 5.0 0.2 0.7 0.9 1.1 0.9 0.1 0.4 1.3 1.7 4.1 .429 0.8 2.2 .381 0.7 0.7 .929
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Steve Kerr Gary Payton
Season 1997-981999-00
Team Chicago BullsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement 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 %
Steve Kerr 50 22.4 7.5 0.3 1.3 1.5 1.9 0.5 0.1 0.5 1.4 2.7 6.0 .454 1.1 2.6 .438 0.9 1.0 .918
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 %
Steve Kerr 21 19.8 4.9 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.7 0.3 0.0 0.2 1.2 1.6 3.6 .434 0.9 2.0 .463 0.9 1.0 .818
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

Steve Kerr Gary Payton
Season 1998-992000-01
Team San Antonio SpursSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -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 %
Steve Kerr 44 16.7 4.4 0.1 0.9 1.0 1.1 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.6 1.5 4.0 .391 0.6 1.8 .313 0.7 0.8 .886
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 %
Steve Kerr 11 8.7 2.2 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.4 0.5 0.7 2.7 .267 0.3 1.2 .231 0.5 0.5 .833
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Steve Kerr Gary Payton
Season 1999-002001-02
Team San Antonio SpursSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement 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 %
Steve Kerr 32 8.4 2.8 0.1 0.5 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.4 1.0 2.3 .432 0.5 1.0 .516 0.3 0.3 .818
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 %
Steve Kerr ------- --- ----------
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

Steve Kerr Gary Payton
Season 2000-012002-03
Team San Antonio SpursSeattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsBucks 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 %
Steve Kerr 55 11.8 3.3 0.1 0.5 0.6 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.4 0.5 1.2 2.9 .421 0.6 1.4 .429 0.3 0.3 .933
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 %
Steve Kerr 9 11.1 3.3 0.3 0.7 1.0 0.7 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.9 1.3 2.8 .480 0.6 1.7 .333 0.1 0.2 .500
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

Steve Kerr Gary Payton
Season 2001-022003-04
Team Portland Trail BlazersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Steve Kerr 65 11.9 4.1 0.1 0.8 0.9 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.4 0.8 1.6 3.3 .470 0.4 1.0 .394 0.6 0.6 .975
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 %
Steve Kerr 3 13.0 6.3 0.0 1.3 1.3 1.7 0.3 0.0 0.3 2.0 2.0 4.7 .429 0.7 2.7 .250 1.7 1.7 1.000
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

Steve Kerr Gary Payton
Season 2002-032004-05
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 %
Steve Kerr 75 12.7 4.0 0.2 0.6 0.8 0.9 0.4 0.0 0.5 0.7 1.5 3.4 .430 0.7 1.7 .395 0.4 0.5 .882
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 %
Steve Kerr 10 4.5 2.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.6 0.7 1.1 .636 0.5 0.6 .833 0.3 0.4 .750
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

Steve Kerr 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 %
Steve Kerr ------- --- ----------
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 %
Steve Kerr ------- --- ----------
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

Steve Kerr 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 %
Steve Kerr ------- --- ----------
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 %
Steve Kerr ------- --- ----------
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 -