Bernard King vs. Klay Thompson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Klay Thompson and Bernard King, 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 / 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.

Bernard King played 14 years in the NBA, 2 more than Klay Thompson, who played 12. Bernard King had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Klay Thompson 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 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
Bernard King 14 5 1977-78 to 1992-93
Klay Thompson 12 9 2011-12 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

Bernard King Klay Thompson
Season 1977-782011-12
Team New Jersey NetsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
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%
Bernard King 79 39.1 24.2 3.4 6.2 9.5 2.4 1.5 0.5 3.9 3.8 10.1 21.1 .479 - - - 4.0 5.8 .677
difference:+13+14.7+11.7+3.0+4.1+7.1+0.4+0.8+0.2-2.3-1.5+5.3+10.2+.036+2.8+4.4+.191
Klay Thompson 66 24.4 12.5 0.4 2.1 2.4 2.0 0.7 0.3 1.6 2.3 4.8 10.9 .443 1.7 4.1 .414 1.2 1.4 .868
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Bernard King nor Klay Thompson played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Bernard King Klay Thompson
Season 1978-792012-13
Team New Jersey NetsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors 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%
Bernard King 82 34.9 21.6 3.1 5.1 8.2 3.6 1.4 0.5 3.9 4.0 8.7 16.6 .522 - - - 4.3 7.5 .564
difference:+0.9+5.0+2.7+1.8+4.5+1.4+0.4-2.0-1.1+2.5+1.9+.100+2.7+5.6+.277
Klay Thompson 82 35.8 16.6 0.4 3.3 3.7 2.2 1.0 0.5 1.9 2.9 6.2 14.7 .422 2.6 6.4 .401 1.6 1.9 .841
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 2 40.5 26.0 2.5 3.0 5.5 3.5 2.0 0.0 3.0 5.0 10.5 21.0 .500 - - - 5.0 12.0 .417
difference:+10+0.8+10.8+1.7+0.8+0.9+1.7+1.0+0.6-1.0-1.3+4.2+6.5+.063+4.6+11.5+.416
Klay Thompson 12 41.3 15.2 0.8 3.8 4.6 1.8 1.0 0.6 2.0 3.7 6.3 14.5 .437 2.1 4.9 .424 0.4 0.5 .833

Season 3

Bernard King Klay Thompson
Season 1979-802013-14
Team Utah JazzGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 19 22.1 9.3 1.3 3.4 4.6 2.7 0.4 0.2 2.6 3.5 3.7 7.2 .518 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.3 .540
difference:+62+13.3+9.1+0.8+0.8+1.5+0.5+0.5+0.3-0.9-0.6+3.2+8.3+.074+2.8+6.6+1.0+.255
Klay Thompson 81 35.4 18.4 0.5 2.6 3.1 2.2 0.9 0.5 1.7 2.9 6.9 15.5 .444 2.8 6.6 .417 1.8 2.3 .795
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
Klay Thompson 7 36.7 16.4 0.6 2.9 3.4 3.6 1.0 0.7 2.1 3.4 5.7 14.0 .408 2.3 6.3 .364 2.7 3.4 .792

Season 4

Bernard King Klay Thompson
Season 1980-812014-15
Team Golden State WarriorsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 81 36.0 21.9 2.2 4.6 6.8 3.5 0.9 0.4 3.3 3.8 9.0 15.4 .588 0.0 0.1 .333 3.8 5.4 .703
difference:+4+4.1+0.2+1.8+1.7+3.6+0.6+0.2+0.4-1.4-2.2+1.2+1.5+.125+3.1+7.0+.106+0.9+2.1+.176
Klay Thompson 77 31.9 21.7 0.4 2.9 3.2 2.9 1.1 0.8 1.9 1.6 7.8 16.9 .463 3.1 7.1 .439 2.9 3.3 .879
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
Klay Thompson 21 36.2 18.6 0.4 3.4 3.9 2.6 0.8 0.9 2.0 3.0 7.1 15.9 .446 2.7 7.0 .390 1.7 2.1 .800

Season 5

Bernard King Klay Thompson
Season 1981-822015-16
Team Golden State WarriorsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 79 36.2 23.2 1.8 4.2 5.9 3.6 1.0 0.3 3.4 3.6 9.4 16.5 .566 0.0 0.1 .200 4.5 6.3 .705
difference:+1+2.9+1.1+1.4+0.8+2.1+1.5+0.2+0.3-1.7-1.7+1.3+0.8+.096+3.5+8.0+.225+2.1+3.5+.168
Klay Thompson 80 33.3 22.1 0.4 3.4 3.8 2.1 0.8 0.6 1.7 1.9 8.1 17.3 .470 3.5 8.1 .425 2.4 2.8 .873
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
Klay Thompson 24 35.4 24.3 0.6 3.0 3.7 2.3 1.1 0.4 2.0 2.2 8.4 18.9 .444 4.1 9.6 .424 3.4 4.0 .854

Season 6

Bernard King Klay Thompson
Season 1982-832016-17
Team New York KnicksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 68 32.5 21.9 1.5 3.3 4.8 2.9 1.3 0.2 2.9 3.4 8.9 16.8 .528 0.0 0.1 .000 4.1 5.7 .722
difference:+10+1.5+0.4+0.9+0.3+1.1+0.8+0.5+0.3-1.3-1.6+0.6+0.8+.060+3.4+8.2+.414+1.7+2.9+.131
Klay Thompson 78 34.0 22.3 0.6 3.0 3.7 2.1 0.8 0.5 1.6 1.8 8.3 17.6 .468 3.4 8.3 .414 2.4 2.8 .853
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 6 30.7 23.5 1.3 2.7 4.0 2.2 0.3 0.0 1.7 2.7 9.3 16.2 .577 0.2 0.5 .333 4.7 5.8 .800
difference:+11+4.4+8.5+0.7+0.5+0.1+0.1+0.5+0.3-0.3-0.1+3.8+2.3+.180+2.2+5.7+.054+3.2+3.9+.012
Klay Thompson 17 35.1 15.0 0.6 3.2 3.9 2.1 0.8 0.3 1.4 2.6 5.5 13.9 .397 2.4 6.2 .387 1.5 1.9 .788

Season 7

Bernard King Klay Thompson
Season 1983-842017-18
Team New York KnicksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 77 34.6 26.3 1.6 3.5 5.1 2.1 1.0 0.2 2.6 3.5 10.3 18.1 .572 0.0 0.1 .000 5.7 7.3 .779
difference:+4+0.3+6.3+1.2+0.1+1.3+0.4+0.2+0.3-0.8-1.9+2.4+1.9+.084+3.1+7.0+.440+4.6+6.0+.058
Klay Thompson 73 34.3 20.0 0.4 3.4 3.8 2.5 0.8 0.5 1.8 1.6 7.9 16.2 .488 3.1 7.1 .440 1.1 1.3 .837
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 12 39.8 34.8 2.3 3.8 6.2 3.0 1.2 0.5 2.6 4.0 13.5 23.5 .574 0.0 0.1 .000 7.8 10.3 .756
difference:+9+2.0+15.2+1.8+0.2+2.1+1.2+0.4+0.2-1.1-1.7+5.9+7.2+.109+3.2+7.4+.427+6.5+8.8+.115
Klay Thompson 21 37.8 19.6 0.5 3.6 4.1 1.8 0.8 0.3 1.5 2.3 7.6 16.3 .465 3.2 7.5 .427 1.3 1.5 .871

Season 8

Bernard King Klay Thompson
Season 1984-852018-19
Team New York KnicksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 55 37.5 32.9 2.1 3.7 5.8 3.7 1.3 0.3 3.7 3.5 12.6 23.7 .530 0.0 0.2 .100 7.7 10.0 .772
difference:+23+3.5+11.4+1.6+0.3+2.0+1.3+0.2+0.3-2.2-1.5+4.2+5.7+.063+3.1+7.5+.302+6.0+8.0+.044
Klay Thompson 78 34.0 21.5 0.5 3.4 3.8 2.4 1.1 0.6 1.5 2.0 8.4 18.0 .467 3.1 7.7 .402 1.7 2.0 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
Klay Thompson 21 39.0 20.7 0.6 3.5 4.1 2.1 1.3 0.7 1.8 2.8 7.8 17.1 .456 3.3 7.5 .443 1.8 2.0 .902

Note: Bernard King didn't play in 1985-86.

Note: Klay Thompson didn't play in 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Season 9

Bernard King Klay Thompson
Season 1986-872021-22
Team New York KnicksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 6 35.7 22.7 2.2 3.2 5.3 3.2 0.3 0.0 2.5 2.3 8.7 17.5 .495 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 7.2 .744
difference:+26+6.3+2.3+1.7+0.2+1.4+0.4+0.2+0.5-1.2-0.6+1.0+0.4+.066+3.6+9.3+3.9+5.6+.158
Klay Thompson 32 29.4 20.4 0.5 3.4 3.9 2.8 0.5 0.5 1.3 1.7 7.7 17.9 .429 3.6 9.3 .385 1.4 1.6 .902
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
Klay Thompson 22 36.0 19.0 0.3 3.6 3.9 2.3 1.1 0.7 1.3 2.1 7.2 16.7 .429 3.5 9.1 .385 1.2 1.4 .867

Season 10

Bernard King Klay Thompson
Season 1987-882022-23
Team Washington BulletsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 69 29.6 17.2 1.2 2.8 4.1 2.8 0.7 0.1 3.1 2.9 6.8 13.6 .501 0.0 0.1 .167 3.6 4.7 .762
difference:+3.4+4.7+0.6+0.8+0.4+0.3-1.3-1.0+1.1+4.5+.065+4.4+10.5+.245+1.9+2.8+.117
Klay Thompson 69 33.0 21.9 0.6 3.6 4.1 2.4 0.7 0.4 1.8 1.9 7.9 18.1 .436 4.4 10.6 .412 1.7 1.9 .879
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 5 33.6 13.8 0.6 1.6 2.2 1.8 0.6 0.0 2.8 3.4 5.2 10.6 .491 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 4.2 .810
difference:+8+2.4+4.7+0.5+2.5+2.0+0.4+0.1+0.3-0.8-1.2+1.3+6.2+.103+3.8+10.5+1.8+2.4+.065
Klay Thompson 13 36.0 18.5 0.1 4.1 4.2 2.2 0.5 0.3 2.0 2.2 6.5 16.8 .388 3.8 10.5 .368 1.6 1.8 .875

Season 11

Bernard King Klay Thompson
Season 1988-892023-24
Team Washington BulletsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Bernard King 81 31.6 20.7 1.6 3.1 4.7 3.6 0.8 0.2 2.8 2.7 8.1 16.9 .477 0.1 0.4 .167 4.5 5.4 .819
difference:+4+1.9+2.8+1.1+0.3+1.4+1.3+0.2+0.3-1.3-1.1+1.7+2.2+.045+3.4+8.6+.220+2.9+3.6+.108
Klay Thompson 77 29.7 17.9 0.5 2.8 3.3 2.3 0.6 0.5 1.5 1.6 6.4 14.7 .432 3.5 9.0 .387 1.6 1.8 .927
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Bernard King nor Klay Thompson played in the postseason in their season 11

Season 12

Bernard King Klay Thompson
Season 1989-902024-25
Team Washington BulletsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 82 32.8 22.4 1.6 3.4 4.9 4.6 0.6 0.1 3.0 2.8 8.7 17.8 .487 0.0 0.3 .130 5.0 6.3 .803
difference:+10+5.5+8.4+1.0+0.6+1.5+2.6+0.1+0.3-1.8-1.7+3.7+5.6+.075+3.0+7.4+.261+4.1+5.3+.102
Klay Thompson 72 27.3 14.0 0.6 2.8 3.4 2.0 0.7 0.4 1.2 1.1 5.0 12.2 .412 3.0 7.7 .391 0.9 1.0 .905
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Bernard King nor Klay Thompson played in the postseason in their season 12

Additional Years

* Bernard King played 2 seasons more than Klay Thompson in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 13 to 14, from 1991 to 1993—Bernard King played in one postseason.

In those 2 extra years over Klay Thompson, Bernard King got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 1 All-Star Game