Bam Adebayo vs. James Donaldson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Donaldson and Bam Adebayo, 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.

Bam Adebayo played 7 years in the NBA, 7 less than James Donaldson, who played 14. Bam Adebayo had the first of his seasons in 2017-18, while James Donaldson had his rookie season in 1980-81. 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
Bam Adebayo 7 6 2017-18 to 2023-24
James Donaldson 14 9 1980-81 to 1994-95

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Bam Adebayo James Donaldson
Season 2017-181980-81
Team Miami HeatSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Bam Adebayo 69 19.8 6.9 1.7 3.8 5.5 1.5 0.5 0.6 1.0 2.0 2.5 4.9 .512 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.6 .721
James Donaldson 68 14.4 5.3 1.6 3.0 4.5 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.0 1.2 1.9 3.5 .542 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.5 .594
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bam Adebayo 5 15.4 3.4 1.8 2.2 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.4 1.6 1.4 3.0 .467 0.0 0.2 .000 0.6 2.8 .214
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Bam Adebayo James Donaldson
Season 2018-191981-82
Team Miami HeatSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 %
Bam Adebayo 82 23.3 8.9 2.0 5.3 7.3 2.2 0.9 0.8 1.5 2.5 3.4 5.9 .576 0.0 0.2 .200 2.0 2.8 .735
James Donaldson 82 20.9 8.1 1.7 4.3 6.0 0.6 0.3 1.7 1.4 2.3 3.1 5.1 .609 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.9 .629
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
James Donaldson 8 23.6 6.8 3.1 6.1 9.3 0.9 0.3 0.6 1.3 2.0 2.3 5.4 .419 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.0 .750

Season 3

Bam Adebayo James Donaldson
Season 2019-201982-83
Team Miami HeatSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Heat Lost NBA 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 %
Bam Adebayo 72 33.6 15.9 2.4 7.8 10.2 5.1 1.1 1.3 2.8 2.5 6.1 11.0 .557 0.0 0.2 .143 3.7 5.3 .691
James Donaldson 82 21.8 8.9 1.6 4.5 6.1 1.2 0.2 1.2 1.6 2.1 3.5 6.0 .583 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.7 .688
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bam Adebayo 19 36.2 17.8 2.5 7.8 10.3 4.4 1.0 0.8 2.5 3.1 6.5 11.6 .564 0.0 0.1 .000 4.7 6.1 .783
James Donaldson 2 23.5 12.0 2.5 6.0 8.5 1.0 0.0 1.5 0.0 2.0 5.5 11.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.5 .667

Season 4

Bam Adebayo James Donaldson
Season 2020-211983-84
Team Miami HeatSan Diego Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Bam Adebayo 64 33.5 18.7 2.2 6.7 9.0 5.4 1.2 1.0 2.6 2.3 7.1 12.5 .570 0.0 0.1 .250 4.4 5.5 .799
James Donaldson 82 30.8 11.8 2.0 5.9 7.9 1.1 0.5 1.7 2.1 2.6 4.4 7.4 .596 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.0 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bam Adebayo 4 34.0 15.5 3.5 5.8 9.3 4.3 1.3 0.5 2.8 2.8 6.5 14.3 .456 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.3 .769
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Bam Adebayo James Donaldson
Season 2021-221984-85
Team Miami HeatLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Bam Adebayo 56 32.6 19.1 2.4 7.6 10.1 3.4 1.4 0.8 2.6 3.1 7.3 13.0 .557 0.0 0.1 .000 4.6 6.1 .753
James Donaldson 82 29.2 11.3 2.0 6.1 8.1 0.6 0.3 1.6 2.5 2.6 4.3 6.7 .637 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.7 .749
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bam Adebayo 18 34.1 14.8 2.1 5.9 8.0 2.7 1.0 0.7 2.1 3.1 5.8 9.7 .594 0.0 0.1 .000 3.2 4.2 .763
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Bam Adebayo James Donaldson
Season 2022-231985-86
Team Miami HeatLos Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Heat Lost NBA FinalsMavericks 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 %
Bam Adebayo 75 34.6 20.4 2.5 6.7 9.2 3.2 1.2 0.8 2.5 2.8 8.0 14.9 .540 0.0 0.2 .083 4.3 5.4 .806
James Donaldson 83 32.3 8.6 2.1 7.5 9.6 1.2 0.3 1.7 1.5 2.3 3.1 5.5 .558 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.1 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bam Adebayo 23 37.0 17.9 2.7 7.1 9.9 3.7 0.9 0.7 2.7 3.1 7.3 15.1 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.1 .821
James Donaldson 10 41.0 10.9 3.0 8.7 11.7 1.0 0.6 1.2 1.0 2.6 3.6 4.8 .750 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 4.0 .925

Season 7

Bam Adebayo James Donaldson
Season 2023-241986-87
Team Miami HeatDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdMavericks 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 %
Bam Adebayo 71 34.0 19.3 2.2 8.1 10.4 3.9 1.1 0.9 2.3 2.2 7.5 14.3 .521 0.2 0.6 .357 4.1 5.5 .755
James Donaldson 82 36.9 10.8 3.6 8.3 11.9 0.8 0.6 1.7 1.3 2.3 3.8 6.5 .586 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.0 .812
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bam Adebayo 5 38.4 22.6 2.2 7.2 9.4 3.8 0.4 0.0 1.6 3.0 9.6 19.4 .495 0.4 2.0 .200 3.0 4.2 .714
James Donaldson 3 22.7 5.3 0.7 5.0 5.7 0.7 0.3 1.0 0.7 2.0 1.3 1.7 .800 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.0 .889

Season 8

Bam Adebayo James Donaldson
Season -1987-88
Team -Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Mavericks 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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
James Donaldson 81 31.1 7.0 3.0 6.3 9.3 0.8 0.5 1.3 1.4 2.2 2.6 4.7 .558 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.3 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
James Donaldson 17 29.4 9.3 2.8 5.8 8.6 0.7 0.4 0.9 1.7 2.4 4.0 6.1 .654 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 2.2 .595

Season 9

Bam Adebayo James Donaldson
Season -1988-89
Team -Dallas Mavericks
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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
James Donaldson 53 32.9 9.1 3.0 7.8 10.8 0.7 0.5 1.5 1.6 2.1 3.6 6.4 .573 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.3 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Bam Adebayo James Donaldson
Season -1989-90
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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
James Donaldson 73 31.0 9.1 2.1 6.5 8.6 0.8 0.3 0.6 1.6 1.8 3.5 6.6 .539 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.9 .700
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
James Donaldson 3 24.7 7.3 2.0 3.3 5.3 0.7 0.7 0.0 1.3 2.7 3.0 4.3 .692 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.7 .800

Season 11

Bam Adebayo James Donaldson
Season -1990-91
Team -Dallas Mavericks
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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
James Donaldson 82 34.1 10.0 2.5 6.4 8.9 0.8 0.4 1.1 1.8 2.2 4.0 7.5 .532 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.8 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Bam Adebayo James Donaldson
Season -1991-92
Team -Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
James Donaldson 58 18.5 4.9 1.7 3.3 5.0 0.6 0.1 0.8 0.8 1.8 1.9 4.2 .457 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.5 .709
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
James Donaldson 2 5.5 2.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 13

Bam Adebayo James Donaldson
Season -1992-93
Team -Utah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Jazz 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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
James Donaldson 6 15.7 3.5 1.0 3.8 4.8 0.2 0.2 1.2 0.7 2.2 1.3 2.3 .571 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .556
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
James Donaldson 1 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Note: James Donaldson didn't play in 1993-94.

Season 14

Bam Adebayo James Donaldson
Season -1994-95
Team -Utah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Jazz 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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
James Donaldson 43 14.3 2.6 0.4 2.0 2.5 0.3 0.1 0.7 0.5 1.5 1.0 1.7 .595 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.7 .710
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
James Donaldson 5 15.2 2.8 0.6 1.2 1.8 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.4 1.6 1.0 1.2 .833 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 0.8 1.000