Aaron Gordon vs. Dennis Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dennis Johnson and Aaron Gordon, 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.

Aaron Gordon played 11 years in the NBA, 3 less than Dennis Johnson, who played 14. Aaron Gordon had the first of his seasons in 2014-15, while Dennis Johnson had his rookie season in 1976-77. 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 achievements, 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
Aaron Gordon 11 6 2014-15 to 2024-25
Dennis Johnson 14 13 1976-77 to 1989-90

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11

Rookie Season

Aaron Gordon Dennis Johnson
Season 2014-151976-77
Team Orlando MagicSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon 47 17.0 5.2 1.0 2.6 3.6 0.7 0.4 0.5 0.8 1.8 2.0 4.4 .447 0.3 1.0 .271 0.9 1.3 .721
difference:+34+3.6+4.0+1.0+0.9+0.1+0.8+1.1+0.2-0.9+1.5+2.6+.057+1.3+2.2+.097
Dennis Johnson 81 20.6 9.2 2.0 1.7 3.7 1.5 1.5 0.7 - 2.7 3.5 7.0 .504 - - - 2.2 3.5 .624
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Aaron Gordon nor Dennis Johnson played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Aaron Gordon Dennis Johnson
Season 2015-161977-78
Team Orlando MagicSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon 78 23.9 9.2 2.0 4.5 6.5 1.6 0.8 0.7 0.8 2.0 3.5 7.4 .473 0.5 1.8 .296 1.7 2.5 .668
difference:+3+3.4+3.5+0.1+2.7+2.9+1.2+0.7+0.1-1.2-0.6+1.0+3.5+.056+2.0+2.5+.064
Dennis Johnson 81 27.3 12.7 1.9 1.8 3.6 2.8 1.5 0.6 2.0 2.6 4.5 10.9 .417 - - - 3.7 5.0 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon DNP------ --- ----------
Dennis Johnson 22 37.6 16.1 2.1 2.5 4.6 3.3 1.0 1.0 2.5 2.9 5.5 13.4 .412 - - - 5.1 7.2 .704

Season 3

Aaron Gordon Dennis Johnson
Season 2016-171978-79
Team Orlando MagicSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon 80 28.7 12.7 1.5 3.6 5.1 1.9 0.8 0.5 1.1 2.2 4.9 10.8 .454 1.0 3.3 .288 2.0 2.7 .719
difference:+5.3+3.2+0.3+0.7+0.4+1.6+0.5+0.7-1.3-0.4+1.1+3.1+.020+1.8+2.2+.062
Dennis Johnson 80 34.0 15.9 1.8 2.9 4.7 3.5 1.3 1.2 2.4 2.6 6.0 13.9 .434 - - - 3.8 4.9 .781
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon DNP------ --- ----------
Dennis Johnson 17 40.1 20.9 2.6 3.5 6.1 4.1 1.6 1.5 3.0 3.7 8.0 17.8 .450 - - - 4.9 6.4 .771

Season 4

Aaron Gordon Dennis Johnson
Season 2017-181979-80
Team 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 Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon 58 32.9 17.6 1.5 6.4 7.9 2.3 1.0 0.8 1.8 1.9 6.5 14.9 .434 2.0 5.9 .336 2.7 3.9 .698
difference:+23+3.4+1.4+0.6+3.4+2.8+1.8+0.8+0.2-1.0-1.4+0.6+1.9+.012+1.9+5.2+.129+2.0+2.1+.082
Dennis Johnson 81 36.3 19.0 2.1 3.0 5.1 4.1 1.8 1.0 2.8 3.3 7.1 16.8 .422 0.1 0.7 .207 4.7 6.0 .780
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon DNP------ --- ----------
Dennis Johnson 15 38.8 17.1 1.7 2.6 4.3 3.8 1.8 0.7 2.9 3.2 6.7 16.3 .410 0.3 1.0 .333 3.5 4.1 .839

Season 5

Aaron Gordon Dennis Johnson
Season 2018-191980-81
Team Orlando MagicPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdSuns Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon 78 33.8 16.0 1.7 5.7 7.4 3.7 0.7 0.7 2.1 2.2 6.0 13.4 .449 1.6 4.4 .349 2.4 3.2 .731
difference:+1+0.7+2.8+0.3+3.1+2.8+1.0+0.1-0.5-0.9+0.7+2.0+.013+1.5+3.8+.133+2.8+3.1+.089
Dennis Johnson 79 33.1 18.8 2.0 2.6 4.6 3.7 1.7 0.8 2.6 3.1 6.7 15.4 .436 0.1 0.6 .216 5.2 6.3 .820
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon 5 32.8 15.2 2.2 5.0 7.2 3.6 1.2 0.2 2.6 3.2 5.8 12.4 .468 1.6 4.0 .400 2.0 3.8 .526
difference:+2+5.3+4.4+1.2+1.3+2.5+0.7+0.1+1.1-0.1-0.6+1.6+3.3+.005+1.5+3.3+.200+2.6+2.2+.236
Dennis Johnson 7 38.1 19.6 1.0 3.7 4.7 2.9 1.3 1.3 2.7 2.6 7.4 15.7 .473 0.1 0.7 .200 4.6 6.0 .762

Season 6

Aaron Gordon Dennis Johnson
Season 2019-201981-82
Team Orlando MagicPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon 62 32.5 14.4 1.7 5.9 7.7 3.7 0.8 0.6 1.6 2.0 5.4 12.4 .437 1.2 3.8 .308 2.4 3.6 .674
difference:+18+4.2+5.1+0.1+2.5+2.6+0.9+0.5+0.1-1.3-1.2+1.8+3.0+.033+1.1+3.3+.118+2.6+2.6+.132
Dennis Johnson 80 36.7 19.5 1.8 3.4 5.1 4.6 1.3 0.7 2.9 3.2 7.2 15.4 .470 0.1 0.5 .190 5.0 6.2 .806
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon DNP------ --- ----------
Dennis Johnson 7 38.7 22.3 1.9 2.6 4.4 4.6 2.1 0.6 3.6 4.0 9.0 18.9 .477 0.0 0.4 .000 4.3 5.6 .769

Season 7

Aaron Gordon Dennis Johnson
Season 2020-211982-83
Team Orlando Magic, Denver NuggetsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf SemisSuns Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon 50 27.7 12.4 1.5 4.1 5.7 3.2 0.7 0.7 1.9 1.8 4.6 10.0 .463 1.2 3.5 .335 1.9 3.0 .651
difference:+27+5.4+1.8+0.3+0.9+1.3+1.8+0.6+0.2-0.7-0.8+0.6+1.2+.001+1.1+3.1+.174+1.9+1.8+.140
Dennis Johnson 77 33.1 14.2 1.2 3.2 4.4 5.0 1.3 0.5 2.6 2.6 5.2 11.2 .462 0.1 0.4 .161 3.8 4.8 .791
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon 10 29.9 11.1 2.1 3.3 5.4 2.0 0.5 0.3 1.4 2.3 4.3 9.9 .434 0.9 2.3 .391 1.6 2.5 .640
difference:+7+6.1+6.9+0.1+2.4+2.3+3.7+1.2+0.4-1.3-0.7+3.0+6.1+.024+0.9+2.0+.391+1.7+1.5+.193
Dennis Johnson 3 36.0 18.0 2.0 5.7 7.7 5.7 1.7 0.7 2.7 3.0 7.3 16.0 .458 0.0 0.3 .000 3.3 4.0 .833

Season 8

Aaron Gordon Dennis Johnson
Season 2021-221983-84
Team Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon 75 31.7 15.0 1.7 4.2 5.9 2.5 0.6 0.6 1.8 2.0 5.8 11.1 .520 1.2 3.5 .335 2.3 3.1 .743
difference:+5+1.6+1.8+0.6+1.8+2.4+1.7+0.6+0.1-0.4-1.1+1.0+0.1+.083+1.1+3.1+.210+1.2+1.0+.109
Dennis Johnson 80 33.3 13.2 1.1 2.4 3.5 4.2 1.2 0.7 2.2 3.1 4.8 11.0 .437 0.1 0.4 .125 3.5 4.1 .852
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon 5 32.0 13.8 3.6 3.6 7.2 2.6 0.4 1.2 1.6 2.8 4.6 10.8 .426 0.6 3.0 .200 4.0 5.6 .714
difference:+17+4.7+2.8+2.2+1.4+3.6+1.8+0.7+0.9-0.8-0.6+1.3+3.7+.022+0.5+2.7+.229+0.7+0.1+.153
Dennis Johnson 22 36.7 16.6 1.4 2.2 3.6 4.4 1.1 0.3 2.4 3.4 5.9 14.5 .404 0.1 0.3 .429 4.7 5.5 .867

Season 9

Aaron Gordon Dennis Johnson
Season 2022-231984-85
Team Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon 68 30.2 16.3 2.4 4.1 6.6 3.0 0.8 0.8 1.4 1.9 6.3 11.2 .564 0.9 2.5 .347 2.8 4.6 .608
difference:+12+7.0+0.6+1.3+1.3+2.6+3.8+0.4+0.3-1.3-0.9+0.1+2.1+.102+0.8+2.2+.078+0.5+0.8+.245
Dennis Johnson 80 37.2 15.7 1.1 2.8 4.0 6.8 1.2 0.5 2.7 2.8 6.2 13.3 .462 0.1 0.3 .269 3.3 3.8 .853
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon 20 35.7 13.3 2.5 3.6 6.0 2.6 0.6 0.7 1.0 2.9 5.1 9.8 .518 0.9 2.3 .391 2.3 3.5 .652
difference:+1+4.7+4.0+1.4+0.7+2.0+4.7+0.9+0.3-2.4-0.2+1.7+5.4+.073+0.9+1.6+.391+1.5+0.9+.208
Dennis Johnson 21 40.4 17.3 1.1 2.9 4.0 7.3 1.5 0.4 3.4 3.1 6.8 15.2 .445 0.0 0.7 .000 3.8 4.4 .860

Season 10

Aaron Gordon Dennis Johnson
Season 2023-241985-86
Team Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon 73 31.5 13.9 2.4 4.1 6.5 3.5 0.8 0.6 1.4 1.9 5.5 9.8 .556 0.5 1.9 .290 2.4 3.7 .658
difference:+5+3.5+1.7+1.5+1.5+3.1+2.3+0.6+0.2-0.8-0.7+0.7+3.8+.101+0.4+1.4+.147+0.7+0.1+.160
Dennis Johnson 78 35.0 15.6 0.9 2.6 3.4 5.8 1.4 0.4 2.2 2.6 6.2 13.6 .455 0.1 0.5 .143 3.1 3.8 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon 12 37.1 14.3 3.0 4.3 7.3 4.4 0.8 0.6 1.5 2.3 5.8 9.8 .585 0.9 2.3 .407 1.9 2.3 .821
difference:+6+2.6+1.9+1.7+1.4+3.1+1.5+1.4+0.3-1.3-0.9+0.3+3.8+.140+0.6+1.4+.032+1.8+2.4+.023
Dennis Johnson 18 39.7 16.2 1.3 2.9 4.2 5.9 2.2 0.3 2.8 3.2 6.1 13.6 .445 0.3 0.9 .375 3.7 4.7 .798

Season 11

Aaron Gordon Dennis Johnson
Season 2024-251986-87
Team Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon 51 28.4 14.7 1.6 3.3 4.8 3.2 0.5 0.3 1.4 1.6 5.2 9.7 .531 1.5 3.4 .436 2.8 3.5 .810
difference:+28+8.7+1.3+1.0+0.6+1.5+4.3+0.6+0.2-0.8-0.9+0.2+2.4+.087+1.4+2.6+.323+0.2+0.3+.023
Dennis Johnson 79 37.1 13.4 0.6 2.7 3.3 7.5 1.1 0.5 2.2 2.5 5.4 12.1 .444 0.1 0.8 .113 2.6 3.2 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Aaron Gordon 14 37.3 16.2 3.6 4.0 7.6 2.7 0.6 0.4 1.9 2.4 5.8 11.9 .485 1.6 4.1 .379 3.1 3.6 .860
difference:+9+4.6+2.7+2.6+1.1+3.6+6.2+0.1+0.1-0.7+1.5+3.8+.020+1.5+3.0+.264+1.1+1.3+.010
Dennis Johnson 23 41.9 18.9 1.0 2.9 4.0 8.9 0.7 0.3 1.9 3.1 7.3 15.7 .465 0.1 1.1 .115 4.2 4.9 .850

Additional Years

* Dennis Johnson played 3 seasons more than Aaron Gordon in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 12 to 14, from 1988 to 1990—Dennis Johnson played in 3 Playoffs.