Vinnie Johnson vs. Ricky Rubio Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ricky Rubio and Vinnie 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

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.

Vinnie Johnson played 13 years in the NBA, 1 more than Ricky Rubio, who played 12. Vinnie Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Ricky Rubio had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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
Vinnie Johnson 13 10 1979-80 to 1991-92
Ricky Rubio 12 3 2011-12 to 2022-23

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season

Vinnie Johnson Ricky Rubio
Season 1979-802011-12
Team Seattle SupersonicsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 38 8.6 3.2 0.5 0.9 1.4 1.4 0.5 0.1 1.1 1.1 1.2 3.0 .391 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.0 .795
Ricky Rubio 41 34.2 10.6 0.5 3.7 4.2 8.2 2.2 0.2 3.2 2.4 3.4 9.5 .357 0.8 2.3 .340 3.1 3.8 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 5 2.4 0.4 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.6 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Vinnie Johnson Ricky Rubio
Season 1980-812012-13
Team Seattle SupersonicsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
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 %
Vinnie Johnson 81 28.5 13.0 2.4 2.1 4.5 4.2 1.0 0.2 2.7 2.4 5.2 9.7 .534 0.0 0.1 .200 2.6 3.3 .793
Ricky Rubio 57 29.7 10.7 0.8 3.2 4.0 7.3 2.4 0.1 3.0 2.5 3.2 9.0 .360 0.5 1.6 .293 3.7 4.6 .799
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson ------- --- ----------
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Vinnie Johnson Ricky Rubio
Season 1981-822013-14
Team Seattle Supersonics, Detroit PistonsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
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 %
Vinnie Johnson 74 17.5 7.4 1.1 1.0 2.1 2.3 0.8 0.3 1.3 1.4 2.9 6.0 .489 0.0 0.2 .250 1.4 1.9 .754
Ricky Rubio 82 32.2 9.5 0.7 3.4 4.2 8.6 2.3 0.1 2.7 2.7 3.1 8.2 .381 0.5 1.6 .331 2.8 3.5 .802
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson ------- --- ----------
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Vinnie Johnson Ricky Rubio
Season 1982-832014-15
Team Detroit PistonsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
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 %
Vinnie Johnson 82 30.6 15.8 2.0 2.3 4.3 3.7 1.1 0.6 1.9 3.2 6.3 12.4 .513 0.1 0.5 .275 3.0 3.8 .778
Ricky Rubio 22 31.5 10.3 0.9 4.8 5.7 8.8 1.7 0.0 2.9 2.7 3.5 10.0 .356 0.6 2.3 .255 2.6 3.2 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson ------- --- ----------
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Vinnie Johnson Ricky Rubio
Season 1983-842015-16
Team Detroit PistonsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 82 23.3 13.0 1.6 1.3 2.9 3.3 0.5 0.2 1.6 2.4 5.2 11.0 .473 0.0 0.2 .211 2.5 3.4 .753
Ricky Rubio 76 30.6 10.1 0.5 3.8 4.3 8.7 2.1 0.1 2.5 2.6 2.9 7.7 .374 0.8 2.5 .326 3.5 4.1 .847
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 5 26.4 10.2 1.0 1.8 2.8 2.4 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.8 3.4 9.2 .370 0.0 0.2 .000 3.4 3.8 .895
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Vinnie Johnson Ricky Rubio
Season 1984-852016-17
Team Detroit PistonsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 82 25.5 12.8 1.6 1.4 3.1 4.0 0.9 0.2 1.6 2.5 5.2 11.5 .454 0.1 0.3 .185 2.3 3.0 .769
Ricky Rubio 75 32.9 11.1 0.9 3.2 4.1 9.1 1.7 0.1 2.6 2.7 3.5 8.7 .402 0.8 2.6 .306 3.4 3.8 .891
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 9 26.1 14.2 1.7 1.3 3.0 3.2 0.7 0.1 1.7 2.7 5.9 11.4 .515 0.0 0.3 .000 2.4 3.1 .786
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Vinnie Johnson Ricky Rubio
Season 1985-862017-18
Team Detroit PistonsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdJazz 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 79 25.0 13.9 1.5 1.4 2.9 3.4 1.0 0.3 1.1 2.3 5.9 12.6 .467 0.0 0.2 .154 2.1 2.7 .771
Ricky Rubio 77 29.3 13.1 0.6 4.0 4.6 5.3 1.6 0.1 2.7 2.7 4.5 10.7 .418 1.2 3.5 .352 2.9 3.3 .866
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 4 21.3 12.8 2.0 2.3 4.3 2.8 0.8 0.0 1.3 2.3 5.5 12.3 .449 0.0 0.3 .000 1.8 3.3 .538
Ricky Rubio 6 30.2 14.0 0.8 6.5 7.3 7.0 1.3 0.5 3.0 2.2 4.7 13.2 .354 1.7 5.3 .313 3.0 3.8 .783

Season 8

Vinnie Johnson Ricky Rubio
Season 1986-872018-19
Team Detroit PistonsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsJazz 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 78 27.8 15.7 1.6 1.7 3.3 3.8 1.2 0.2 1.7 2.0 6.8 14.8 .462 0.1 0.2 .286 2.0 2.6 .786
Ricky Rubio 68 27.9 12.7 0.5 3.1 3.6 6.1 1.3 0.1 2.6 2.6 4.3 10.7 .404 1.2 3.7 .311 2.9 3.4 .855
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 15 25.9 14.7 1.3 1.6 2.9 4.1 0.6 0.3 1.5 2.2 6.3 13.8 .459 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 2.4 .861
Ricky Rubio 5 33.6 15.4 0.6 2.6 3.2 8.6 2.4 0.2 3.0 2.8 5.6 13.2 .424 0.8 4.0 .200 3.4 4.0 .850

Season 9

Vinnie Johnson Ricky Rubio
Season 1987-882019-20
Team Detroit PistonsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 82 23.6 12.2 1.1 1.7 2.8 3.3 0.7 0.2 1.9 2.0 5.2 11.7 .443 0.1 0.3 .208 1.8 2.6 .677
Ricky Rubio 65 31.0 13.0 0.7 4.0 4.7 8.8 1.4 0.2 2.7 2.6 4.4 10.6 .415 1.2 3.3 .361 3.0 3.5 .863
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 23 20.7 10.3 1.5 1.7 3.3 1.9 0.7 0.2 0.9 2.1 4.4 10.4 .423 0.0 0.3 .143 1.4 2.2 .660
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Vinnie Johnson Ricky Rubio
Season 1988-892020-21
Team Detroit PistonsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
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 %
Vinnie Johnson 82 25.3 13.8 1.3 1.8 3.1 3.0 0.9 0.2 1.3 1.9 5.6 12.1 .464 0.2 0.5 .295 2.4 3.2 .734
Ricky Rubio 68 26.1 8.6 0.4 2.9 3.3 6.4 1.4 0.1 1.6 2.0 2.8 7.3 .388 1.0 3.1 .308 1.9 2.2 .867
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 17 21.9 14.1 0.9 1.7 2.6 2.5 0.2 0.2 1.2 1.9 5.4 11.8 .455 0.6 1.4 .417 2.8 3.6 .758
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Vinnie Johnson Ricky Rubio
Season 1989-902021-22
Team Detroit PistonsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Vinnie Johnson 82 24.0 9.8 1.3 1.8 3.1 3.1 0.9 0.2 1.5 1.7 4.1 9.5 .431 0.1 0.4 .147 1.6 2.4 .668
Ricky Rubio 34 28.5 13.1 0.4 3.7 4.1 6.6 1.4 0.2 2.6 2.2 4.4 12.1 .363 1.7 5.1 .339 2.6 3.0 .854
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 20 23.2 10.3 1.4 1.4 2.8 2.7 0.4 0.2 1.6 1.9 4.3 9.2 .462 0.1 0.4 .286 1.7 2.2 .791
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Vinnie Johnson Ricky Rubio
Season 1990-912022-23
Team Detroit PistonsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsCavaliers 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 82 29.1 11.7 1.3 2.1 3.4 3.3 0.9 0.2 1.4 2.0 5.0 11.4 .434 0.1 0.4 .324 1.6 2.5 .646
Ricky Rubio 33 17.2 5.2 0.3 1.8 2.1 3.5 0.8 0.2 0.9 1.5 1.8 5.4 .343 0.6 2.5 .256 0.8 1.1 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 15 29.2 15.2 2.5 2.6 5.1 2.9 0.7 0.3 1.1 2.2 6.8 14.7 .464 0.1 0.9 .154 1.5 2.1 .710
Ricky Rubio 3 5.7 0.0 0.7 1.3 2.0 1.0 0.3 0.0 1.7 1.7 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 13

Vinnie Johnson Ricky Rubio
Season 1991-92-
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 %
Vinnie Johnson 60 22.5 8.0 1.1 1.9 3.0 2.4 0.7 0.2 1.2 1.6 3.4 8.3 .405 0.3 1.0 .317 0.9 1.4 .647
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 3 23.0 8.3 1.0 1.7 2.7 2.3 1.7 0.3 1.7 2.3 3.7 8.0 .458 0.7 1.3 .500 0.3 0.7 .500
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------