Anthony Davis vs. Gary Payton Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gary Payton and Anthony Davis, 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 / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings

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.

Anthony Davis played 13 years in the NBA, 4 less than Gary Payton, who played 17. Anthony Davis had the first of his seasons in 2012-13, 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 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
Anthony Davis 13 6 2012-13 to 2024-25
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

Rookie Season

Anthony Davis Gary Payton
Season 2012-131990-91
Team New Orleans HornetsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 64 28.8 13.5 2.6 5.6 8.2 1.0 1.2 1.8 1.4 2.5 5.5 10.6 .516 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 3.5 .751
difference:+18+1.4+6.3+1.3+4.0+5.2+5.4+0.8+1.6-0.8-0.5+2.3+3.6+.066+0.1+.077+1.8+2.3+.040
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
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

Anthony Davis Gary Payton
Season 2013-141991-92
Team New Orleans PelicansSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 67 35.2 20.8 3.1 7.0 10.0 1.6 1.3 2.8 1.6 3.0 7.8 15.0 .519 0.0 0.1 .222 5.2 6.6 .791
difference:+14+3.7+11.4+1.6+4.9+6.4+4.6+0.5+2.5-0.5-0.1+3.7+5.9+.068+0.2+.092+4.0+4.8+.122
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
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

Anthony Davis Gary Payton
Season 2014-151992-93
Team New Orleans PelicansSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pelicans Lost West Conf 1st RdSupersonics Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 68 36.1 24.4 2.5 7.7 10.2 2.2 1.5 2.9 1.4 2.1 9.4 17.6 .535 0.0 0.2 .083 5.5 6.8 .805
difference:+14+5.0+10.9+1.3+5.4+6.8+2.7+0.7+2.6-0.4-0.9+3.6+5.9+.041+0.1+0.2+.123+3.7+4.4+.035
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 4 43.0 31.5 2.3 8.8 11.0 2.0 1.3 3.0 3.3 3.0 11.8 21.8 .540 0.0 0.5 .000 8.0 9.0 .889
difference:+15+11.2+19.2+1.1+6.6+7.7+1.7+0.5+2.8-1.5-0.4+6.3+9.4+.097+0.1+0.2+.167+6.7+7.1+.213
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

Anthony Davis Gary Payton
Season 2015-161993-94
Team New Orleans PelicansSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 61 35.5 24.3 2.1 8.1 10.3 1.9 1.3 2.0 2.0 2.4 9.2 18.6 .493 0.6 1.8 .324 5.3 7.0 .758
difference:+21+0.4+7.8+0.8+6.1+7.0+4.1+1.0+1.8-0.1-0.4+2.1+4.5+.011+0.4+1.1+.046+3.3+3.6+.163
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
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

Anthony Davis Gary Payton
Season 2016-171994-95
Team New Orleans PelicansSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 75 36.1 28.0 2.3 9.5 11.8 2.1 1.3 2.2 2.4 2.2 10.3 20.3 .505 0.5 1.8 .299 6.9 8.6 .802
difference:+7+0.7+7.4+1.0+7.4+8.4+5.0+1.2+2.0-0.1-0.3+1.9+3.9+.004+0.4+1.0+.003+3.9+4.4+.086
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
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

Anthony Davis Gary Payton
Season 2017-181995-96
Team New Orleans PelicansSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pelicans Lost West Conf SemisSupersonics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 75 36.4 28.1 2.5 8.6 11.1 2.3 1.5 2.6 2.2 2.1 10.4 19.5 .534 0.7 2.2 .340 6.6 8.0 .828
difference:+6+2.6+8.8+1.2+5.7+6.9+5.2+1.4+2.4-1.0-0.6+2.8+3.7+.050+0.5+1.5+.012+3.8+4.2+.080
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 9 39.8 30.1 2.7 10.8 13.4 1.7 2.0 2.3 2.6 3.3 11.8 22.7 .520 0.7 2.4 .273 5.9 7.1 .828
difference:+12+3.6+9.4+1.8+6.6+8.3+5.1+0.2+2.0-0.4+4.1+6.8+.035+1.3+2.4+.137+2.6+1.9+.195
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

Anthony Davis Gary Payton
Season 2018-191996-97
Team New Orleans PelicansSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 56 33.0 25.9 3.1 8.9 12.0 3.9 1.6 2.4 2.0 2.4 9.5 18.3 .517 0.9 2.6 .331 6.1 7.7 .794
difference:+26+6.2+4.1+1.8+5.6+7.4+3.2+0.8+2.2-0.6-0.1+0.9+0.2+.041+0.6+2.0+.018+3.0+3.4+.079
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
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

Anthony Davis Gary Payton
Season 2019-201997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 62 34.4 26.1 2.3 7.0 9.3 3.2 1.5 2.3 2.5 2.5 8.9 17.7 .503 1.2 3.5 .330 7.2 8.5 .846
difference:+20+4.0+6.9+1.4+3.4+4.7+5.1+0.8+2.1-0.3-0.1+1.8+2.1+.050+0.4+1.3+.008+3.8+3.9+.102
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 21 36.6 27.7 2.6 7.1 9.7 3.5 1.2 1.4 2.5 2.7 9.8 17.1 .571 1.1 2.9 .383 7.1 8.5 .832
difference:+11+6.1+3.7+1.7+4.6+6.3+3.5+0.6+1.3-0.1-0.4+1.1+1.2+.096+0.8+2.1+.003+2.4+3.5+.108
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

Anthony Davis Gary Payton
Season 2020-211998-99
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 36 32.3 21.8 1.7 6.2 7.9 3.1 1.3 1.6 2.1 1.7 8.4 17.0 .491 0.7 2.8 .260 4.4 5.9 .738
difference:+14+7.9+0.1+0.5+2.6+3.0+5.6+0.9+1.4-1.0-0.6+0.4+1.5+.057+1.0+2.8+.035+0.4+0.4+.017
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 5 28.8 17.4 1.4 5.2 6.6 2.6 0.6 1.6 1.2 1.8 5.0 12.4 .403 0.4 2.2 .182 7.0 8.4 .833
Gary Payton DNP------ --- ----------

Season 10

Anthony Davis Gary Payton
Season 2021-221999-00
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 40 35.1 23.2 2.7 7.2 9.9 3.1 1.2 2.3 2.1 2.4 9.3 17.4 .532 0.3 1.8 .186 4.4 6.1 .713
difference:+42+6.7+1.0+1.5+2.0+3.4+5.8+0.7+2.1-0.6-0.2+0.2+2.9+.084+1.9+4.5+.154+0.6+0.9+.022
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
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

Anthony Davis Gary Payton
Season 2022-232000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 56 34.0 25.9 3.5 9.1 12.5 2.6 1.1 2.0 2.2 2.6 9.7 17.2 .563 0.3 1.3 .257 6.2 7.9 .784
difference:+23+7.1+2.8+2.6+5.5+7.9+5.5+0.5+1.7-0.4-0.3+0.5+2.9+.107+1.0+2.1+.118+2.8+3.4+.018
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 16 38.0 22.6 2.4 11.7 14.1 2.6 1.4 3.1 2.1 2.9 8.3 15.9 .520 0.3 0.9 .333 5.8 6.8 .852
Gary Payton DNP------ --- ----------

Season 12

Anthony Davis Gary Payton
Season 2023-242001-02
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Cup All-Tournament Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdSupersonics Lost West Conf 1st Rd
Others NBA Cup NBA Cup Champion-
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 76 35.5 24.7 3.1 9.5 12.6 3.5 1.2 2.3 2.1 2.3 9.4 16.9 .556 0.4 1.4 .271 5.5 6.8 .816
difference:+6+4.8+2.6+2.1+5.6+7.8+5.5+0.4+2.0-0.4-0.1+0.4+2.3+.089+0.5+1.5+.043+2.2+2.7+.019
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 5 41.6 27.8 3.0 12.6 15.6 4.0 0.4 1.6 2.2 3.8 11.8 18.6 .634 0.0 1.0 .000 4.2 5.2 .808
difference:+0.4+5.6+1.0+6.0+7.0+1.8+0.2+1.2-0.4-1.4+2.8+2.6+.209+0.8+2.0+.267+0.8+0.6+.222
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

Anthony Davis Gary Payton
Season 2024-252002-03
Team Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas MavericksSeattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBucks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 51 33.5 24.7 2.6 8.9 11.6 3.5 1.2 2.2 2.2 1.9 9.2 17.8 .516 0.7 2.4 .282 5.6 7.2 .775
difference:+29+6.6+4.3+1.6+5.7+7.4+4.8+0.5+1.9-0.1-0.4+0.9+0.5+.062+0.1+.015+2.5+2.8+.065
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
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

Additional Years

* Gary Payton played 4 seasons more than Anthony Davis in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 17, from 2004 to 2007—Gary Payton played in 4 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.