Zydrunas Ilgauskas vs. Richard Jefferson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Richard Jefferson and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, 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.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas played 13 years in the NBA, 4 less than Richard Jefferson, who played 17. Zydrunas Ilgauskas had the first of his seasons in 1997-98, while Richard Jefferson had his rookie season in 2001-02. 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
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 13 7 1997-98 to 2010-11
Richard Jefferson 17 12 2001-02 to 2017-18

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

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Richard Jefferson
Season 1997-982001-02
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st RdNets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 82 29.0 13.9 3.4 5.4 8.8 0.9 0.6 1.6 1.8 3.5 5.5 10.7 .518 0.0 0.0 .250 2.8 3.7 .762
Richard Jefferson 79 24.3 9.4 1.1 2.6 3.7 1.8 0.8 0.6 1.4 2.7 3.4 7.5 .457 0.2 0.7 .232 2.4 3.4 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 4 36.8 17.3 3.5 4.0 7.5 0.5 0.5 1.3 2.5 5.5 7.0 12.3 .571 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 6.3 .520
Richard Jefferson 20 22.1 7.0 0.8 3.8 4.6 1.3 0.6 0.5 1.3 2.0 2.7 5.7 .465 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 3.0 .550

Season 2

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Richard Jefferson
Season 1998-992002-03
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 5 34.2 15.2 3.4 5.4 8.8 0.8 0.8 1.4 1.8 4.8 5.8 11.4 .509 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 6.0 .600
Richard Jefferson 80 36.0 15.5 1.9 4.6 6.4 2.5 1.0 0.6 2.0 2.7 5.7 11.4 .501 0.1 0.3 .250 4.1 5.5 .743
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 20 35.7 14.1 1.5 4.9 6.4 2.4 0.8 0.2 2.3 3.4 5.5 11.6 .476 0.0 0.2 .000 3.1 4.3 .718

Note: Zydrunas Ilgauskas didn't play in 1999-00.

Season 3

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Richard Jefferson
Season 2000-012003-04
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 24 25.7 11.7 2.7 4.0 6.7 0.8 0.6 1.5 2.5 3.3 4.8 9.8 .487 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 3.3 .679
Richard Jefferson 82 38.2 18.5 1.3 4.3 5.7 3.8 1.1 0.3 2.4 2.7 6.8 13.6 .498 0.6 1.6 .364 4.4 5.7 .763
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 11 41.6 19.8 1.3 5.0 6.3 3.8 1.3 0.7 3.9 3.2 6.0 14.4 .418 0.8 3.0 .273 7.0 9.8 .713

Season 4

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Richard Jefferson
Season 2001-022004-05
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 62 21.4 11.1 2.2 3.2 5.4 1.1 0.3 1.4 1.5 3.0 3.9 9.1 .425 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.5 .754
Richard Jefferson 33 41.1 22.2 1.5 5.8 7.3 4.0 1.0 0.5 4.0 3.3 7.2 17.1 .422 0.9 2.7 .337 6.9 8.2 .844
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 4 35.5 15.8 2.0 3.5 5.5 2.3 0.8 0.0 2.0 3.5 5.0 12.5 .400 0.5 2.5 .200 5.3 7.8 .677

Season 5

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Richard Jefferson
Season 2002-032005-06
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 81 30.0 17.2 3.0 4.6 7.5 1.6 0.7 1.9 2.6 3.4 6.1 13.9 .441 0.0 0.1 .000 4.9 6.3 .781
Richard Jefferson 78 39.2 19.5 1.2 5.6 6.8 3.8 0.8 0.2 2.2 2.5 6.3 12.9 .493 0.8 2.4 .319 6.0 7.4 .812
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 11 39.7 22.2 0.6 3.5 4.1 4.1 0.9 0.4 2.7 2.9 8.2 15.0 .545 1.1 2.6 .414 4.7 5.7 .825

Season 6

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Richard Jefferson
Season 2003-042006-07
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 81 31.3 15.3 3.4 4.6 8.1 1.3 0.5 2.5 2.0 3.4 5.8 11.9 .483 0.0 0.1 .286 3.7 5.0 .746
Richard Jefferson 55 35.6 16.3 0.9 3.5 4.4 2.7 0.6 0.1 2.2 2.2 5.5 12.1 .456 0.9 2.6 .359 4.3 5.9 .733
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 12 40.8 19.7 0.3 5.3 5.6 2.3 0.8 0.4 2.3 2.0 6.8 14.0 .482 1.1 3.3 .325 5.1 5.5 .924

Season 7

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Richard Jefferson
Season 2004-052007-08
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew Jersey Nets
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 78 33.5 16.9 3.8 4.8 8.6 1.3 0.7 2.1 2.4 4.0 5.9 12.6 .468 0.0 0.1 .286 5.2 6.4 .799
Richard Jefferson 82 39.0 22.6 1.1 3.0 4.2 3.1 0.9 0.3 2.4 2.7 7.5 16.2 .466 0.9 2.6 .362 6.6 8.3 .798
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Richard Jefferson
Season 2005-062008-09
Team Cleveland CavaliersMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 78 29.3 15.6 3.1 4.4 7.6 1.2 0.5 1.7 2.0 3.6 5.8 11.4 .506 0.0 0.1 .000 4.1 4.9 .834
Richard Jefferson 82 35.8 19.6 0.7 3.9 4.6 2.4 0.8 0.2 2.0 3.1 6.5 14.9 .439 1.4 3.6 .397 5.1 6.3 .805
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 13 27.2 10.4 2.5 3.8 6.3 0.8 0.4 2.1 1.8 3.5 4.2 9.2 .454 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.8 .750
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Richard Jefferson
Season 2006-072009-10
Team Cleveland CavaliersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA FinalsSpurs 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 78 27.3 11.9 3.1 4.6 7.7 1.6 0.6 1.3 1.8 3.3 4.9 10.2 .485 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.5 .807
Richard Jefferson 81 31.1 12.3 0.7 3.7 4.4 2.0 0.6 0.5 1.3 2.2 4.5 9.6 .467 0.7 2.3 .316 2.6 3.5 .735
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 20 32.5 12.6 3.3 6.4 9.7 0.9 0.5 0.8 1.6 3.0 4.9 9.9 .492 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 3.4 .838
Richard Jefferson 10 33.4 9.4 0.8 4.5 5.3 1.8 0.6 0.6 1.5 2.0 3.4 7.0 .486 0.1 0.5 .200 2.5 3.3 .758

Season 10

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Richard Jefferson
Season 2007-082010-11
Team Cleveland CavaliersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisSpurs 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 73 30.4 14.1 3.6 5.7 9.3 1.4 0.5 1.6 1.8 3.4 5.7 12.0 .474 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.3 .802
Richard Jefferson 81 30.4 11.0 0.7 3.2 3.8 1.3 0.5 0.4 1.1 2.0 3.8 7.9 .474 1.7 3.8 .440 1.8 2.4 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 13 30.2 13.1 2.5 5.0 7.5 1.6 0.4 1.1 1.6 2.7 5.2 10.8 .479 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.4 .818
Richard Jefferson 6 29.3 6.5 0.3 3.8 4.2 0.8 0.5 0.5 1.0 2.2 2.0 5.2 .387 1.0 2.8 .353 1.5 1.8 .818

Season 11

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Richard Jefferson
Season 2008-092011-12
Team Cleveland CavaliersSan Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 65 27.2 12.9 2.4 5.1 7.5 1.0 0.4 1.3 1.4 2.8 5.3 11.1 .472 0.2 0.6 .385 2.1 2.7 .799
Richard Jefferson 63 27.7 9.2 0.4 3.1 3.5 1.4 0.6 0.3 0.8 1.9 3.2 7.7 .416 1.8 4.3 .420 0.9 1.3 .694
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 14 29.1 10.5 1.9 5.9 7.8 1.2 0.4 0.9 0.6 3.4 4.4 9.9 .449 0.1 0.9 .154 1.5 2.4 .636
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Richard Jefferson
Season 2009-102012-13
Team Cleveland CavaliersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisWarriors 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 64 20.9 7.4 1.8 3.6 5.4 0.8 0.2 0.8 1.0 2.9 3.0 6.8 .443 0.2 0.4 .478 1.2 1.6 .743
Richard Jefferson 56 10.1 3.1 0.1 1.4 1.5 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.8 1.1 2.4 .456 0.3 0.8 .311 0.7 0.9 .717
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 7 9.9 1.7 1.0 0.6 1.6 0.4 0.0 1.0 0.1 1.4 0.7 1.9 .385 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .667
Richard Jefferson 7 5.6 1.9 0.3 0.7 1.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.7 0.6 1.3 .444 0.3 0.4 .667 0.4 1.3 .333

Season 13

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Richard Jefferson
Season 2010-112013-14
Team Miami HeatUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 72 15.9 5.0 1.5 2.5 4.0 0.4 0.3 0.8 0.7 2.6 2.3 4.4 .508 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.6 .783
Richard Jefferson 82 27.0 10.1 0.2 2.5 2.7 1.6 0.7 0.2 1.1 2.0 3.6 8.0 .450 1.5 3.7 .409 1.5 2.0 .741
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 9 11.6 3.6 1.7 1.9 3.6 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.8 1.6 3.3 .467 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.7 .667
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Richard Jefferson
Season -2014-15
Team -Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Mavericks 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 74 16.8 5.8 0.3 2.1 2.5 0.8 0.4 0.1 0.7 1.6 1.9 4.4 .444 0.9 2.1 .426 1.1 1.5 .684
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 4 12.8 3.8 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.0 0.8 2.3 1.3 3.5 .357 0.8 2.0 .375 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 15

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Richard Jefferson
Season -2015-16
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 74 17.9 5.5 0.2 1.5 1.7 0.8 0.4 0.2 0.6 1.7 1.9 4.2 .458 0.9 2.3 .382 0.8 1.2 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 21 18.1 5.4 0.8 2.8 3.5 0.7 0.5 0.0 0.6 1.6 2.1 4.0 .524 0.5 1.3 .393 0.7 1.0 .750

Season 16

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Richard Jefferson
Season -2016-17
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 79 20.4 5.7 0.4 2.2 2.6 1.0 0.3 0.1 0.7 1.9 1.9 4.3 .446 0.8 2.4 .333 1.0 1.4 .741
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 14 12.8 3.9 0.7 1.1 1.8 0.5 0.1 0.2 0.6 2.1 1.1 2.7 .421 0.4 1.4 .263 1.3 2.0 .643

Season 17

Zydrunas Ilgauskas Richard Jefferson
Season -2017-18
Team -Denver Nuggets
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 20 8.2 1.5 0.1 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.6 0.6 1.4 .444 0.1 0.4 .286 0.2 0.4 .571
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------