Bill Cartwright vs. Michael Jordan Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Michael Jordan and Bill Cartwright, 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.

Bill Cartwright and Michael Jordan both played 15 years in the NBA. Bill Cartwright had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Michael Jordan had his rookie season in 1984-85. 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
Bill Cartwright 15 10 1979-80 to 1994-95
Michael Jordan 15 13 1984-85 to 2002-03

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15

Rookie Season

Bill Cartwright Michael Jordan
Season 1979-801984-85
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls 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 %
Bill Cartwright 82 38.4 21.7 2.4 6.5 8.9 2.0 0.6 1.2 2.7 3.4 8.1 14.8 .547 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 6.9 .797
Michael Jordan 82 38.3 28.2 2.0 4.5 6.5 5.9 2.4 0.8 3.5 3.5 10.2 19.8 .515 0.1 0.6 .173 7.7 9.1 .845
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
Michael Jordan 4 42.8 29.3 1.8 4.0 5.8 8.5 2.8 1.0 3.8 3.8 8.5 19.5 .436 0.3 2.0 .125 12.0 14.5 .828

Season 2

Bill Cartwright Michael Jordan
Season 1980-811985-86
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdBulls 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 %
Bill Cartwright 82 35.7 20.1 2.0 5.5 7.5 1.4 0.6 1.0 2.4 3.2 7.5 13.6 .554 0.0 0.0 .000 5.0 6.3 .788
Michael Jordan 18 25.1 22.7 1.3 2.3 3.6 2.9 2.1 1.2 2.5 2.6 8.3 18.2 .457 0.2 1.0 .167 5.8 6.9 .840
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 2 24.5 10.0 2.0 4.5 6.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 3.0 3.5 3.0 8.5 .353 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 6.0 .667
Michael Jordan 3 45.0 43.7 1.7 4.7 6.3 5.7 2.3 1.3 4.7 4.3 16.0 31.7 .505 0.3 0.3 1.000 11.3 13.0 .872

Season 3

Bill Cartwright Michael Jordan
Season 1981-821986-87
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls 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 %
Bill Cartwright 72 28.6 14.4 1.6 4.2 5.8 1.2 0.7 0.9 2.3 2.9 5.4 9.6 .562 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 4.7 .763
Michael Jordan 82 40.0 37.1 2.0 3.2 5.2 4.6 2.9 1.5 3.3 2.9 13.4 27.8 .482 0.1 0.8 .182 10.2 11.9 .857
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
Michael Jordan 3 42.7 35.7 2.3 4.7 7.0 6.0 2.0 2.3 2.7 3.7 11.7 28.0 .417 0.7 1.7 .400 11.7 13.0 .897

Season 4

Bill Cartwright Michael Jordan
Season 1982-831987-88
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisBulls 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 %
Bill Cartwright 82 30.1 15.7 2.3 4.9 7.2 1.7 0.5 1.5 2.5 3.8 5.5 9.8 .566 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 6.2 .744
Michael Jordan 82 40.4 35.0 1.7 3.8 5.5 5.9 3.2 1.6 3.1 3.3 13.0 24.4 .535 0.1 0.6 .132 8.8 10.5 .841
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 6 28.7 11.2 1.5 4.2 5.7 0.7 0.5 1.2 3.2 4.2 4.2 7.2 .581 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.7 .773
Michael Jordan 10 42.7 36.3 2.3 4.8 7.1 4.7 2.4 1.1 3.9 3.8 13.8 26.0 .531 0.1 0.3 .333 8.6 9.9 .869

Season 5

Bill Cartwright Michael Jordan
Season 1983-841988-89
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisBulls Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 77 32.3 17.0 2.5 5.9 8.4 1.4 0.6 1.3 2.6 3.4 5.9 10.5 .561 0.0 0.0 .000 5.2 6.5 .805
Michael Jordan 81 40.2 32.5 1.8 6.2 8.0 8.0 2.9 0.8 3.6 3.0 11.9 22.2 .538 0.3 1.2 .276 8.3 9.8 .850
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 12 33.2 17.4 2.3 6.0 8.3 0.4 0.2 1.2 2.2 3.7 5.8 10.5 .556 0.0 0.0 - 5.8 6.7 .863
Michael Jordan 17 42.2 34.8 1.5 5.5 7.0 7.6 2.5 0.8 4.0 3.8 11.7 22.9 .510 0.6 2.1 .286 10.8 13.5 .799

Note: Bill Cartwright didn't play in 1984-85.

Season 6

Bill Cartwright Michael Jordan
Season 1985-861989-90
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 2 18.0 6.0 1.0 4.0 5.0 2.5 0.5 0.5 3.0 3.0 1.5 3.5 .429 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 5.0 .600
Michael Jordan 82 39.0 33.6 1.7 5.1 6.9 6.3 2.8 0.7 3.0 2.9 12.6 24.0 .526 1.1 3.0 .376 7.2 8.5 .848
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
Michael Jordan 16 42.1 36.7 1.5 5.7 7.2 6.8 2.8 0.9 3.5 3.4 13.7 26.6 .514 1.0 3.1 .320 8.3 9.9 .836

Season 7

Bill Cartwright Michael Jordan
Season 1986-871990-91
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 58 34.3 17.5 2.3 5.4 7.7 1.7 0.7 0.4 2.2 3.2 5.8 10.9 .531 0.0 0.0 - 6.0 7.6 .790
Michael Jordan 82 37.0 31.5 1.4 4.6 6.0 5.5 2.7 1.0 2.5 2.8 12.1 22.4 .539 0.4 1.1 .312 7.0 8.2 .851
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
Michael Jordan 17 40.5 31.1 1.1 5.3 6.4 8.4 2.4 1.4 2.5 3.1 11.6 22.1 .524 0.6 1.5 .385 7.4 8.7 .845

Season 8

Bill Cartwright Michael Jordan
Season 1987-881991-92
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 82 20.4 11.1 1.5 3.1 4.7 1.0 0.5 0.5 1.6 2.9 3.5 6.4 .544 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 5.2 .798
Michael Jordan 80 38.8 30.1 1.1 5.3 6.4 6.1 2.3 0.9 2.5 2.5 11.8 22.7 .519 0.3 1.3 .270 6.1 7.4 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 4 19.0 7.3 2.0 2.8 4.8 1.5 0.0 0.8 2.0 3.0 2.3 4.5 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.8 .733
Michael Jordan 22 41.8 34.5 1.7 4.5 6.2 5.8 2.0 0.7 3.7 2.8 13.2 26.4 .499 0.8 2.0 .386 7.4 8.6 .857

Season 9

Bill Cartwright Michael Jordan
Season 1988-891992-93
Team Chicago BullsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 78 29.9 12.4 1.9 4.7 6.7 1.2 0.3 0.5 2.4 3.0 4.7 9.8 .475 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.9 .766
Michael Jordan 78 39.3 32.6 1.7 5.0 6.7 5.5 2.8 0.8 2.7 2.4 12.7 25.7 .495 1.0 2.9 .352 6.1 7.3 .837
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 17 34.3 11.8 1.9 5.2 7.1 1.2 0.5 0.7 2.4 4.1 4.2 8.7 .486 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.7 .700
Michael Jordan 19 41.2 35.1 1.7 5.1 6.7 6.0 2.1 0.9 2.4 3.1 13.2 27.8 .475 1.5 3.8 .389 7.2 8.9 .805

Note: Michael Jordan didn't play in 1993-94.

Season 10

Bill Cartwright Michael Jordan
Season 1989-901994-95
Team Chicago BullsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf FinalsBulls 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 %
Bill Cartwright 71 30.4 11.4 1.9 4.6 6.5 2.0 0.5 0.5 1.7 3.4 4.1 8.4 .488 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 3.9 .811
Michael Jordan 17 39.3 26.9 1.5 5.4 6.9 5.3 1.8 0.8 2.1 2.8 9.8 23.8 .411 0.9 1.9 .500 6.4 8.0 .801
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 16 28.9 8.1 1.6 3.1 4.7 1.0 0.3 0.3 1.6 3.3 3.1 7.6 .413 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.7 .674
Michael Jordan 10 42.0 31.5 2.0 4.5 6.5 4.5 2.3 1.4 4.1 3.0 12.0 24.8 .484 1.1 3.0 .367 6.4 7.9 .810

Season 11

Bill Cartwright Michael Jordan
Season 1990-911995-96
Team Chicago BullsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 79 28.8 9.6 2.1 4.0 6.2 1.6 0.4 0.2 1.4 2.1 4.0 8.2 .490 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.3 .697
Michael Jordan 82 37.7 30.4 1.8 4.8 6.6 4.3 2.2 0.5 2.4 2.4 11.2 22.6 .495 1.4 3.2 .427 6.7 8.0 .834
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 17 30.1 9.5 1.5 3.2 4.7 1.9 0.5 0.4 1.2 3.2 4.1 7.9 .519 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.9 .688
Michael Jordan 18 40.7 30.7 1.7 3.2 4.9 4.1 1.8 0.3 2.3 2.7 10.4 22.6 .459 1.4 3.4 .403 8.5 10.4 .818

Season 12

Bill Cartwright Michael Jordan
Season 1991-921996-97
Team Chicago BullsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 64 23.0 8.0 1.5 3.6 5.1 1.4 0.3 0.2 1.2 2.0 3.3 7.0 .467 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.5 .604
Michael Jordan 82 37.9 29.6 1.4 4.5 5.9 4.3 1.7 0.5 2.0 1.9 11.2 23.1 .486 1.4 3.6 .374 5.9 7.0 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 22 27.8 5.6 1.3 3.1 4.5 1.7 0.5 0.2 1.2 3.2 2.5 5.3 .474 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.4 .419
Michael Jordan 19 42.3 31.1 2.2 5.7 7.9 4.8 1.6 0.9 2.6 2.4 11.9 26.2 .456 0.7 3.5 .194 6.5 7.8 .831

Season 13

Bill Cartwright Michael Jordan
Season 1992-931997-98
Team Chicago BullsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 63 19.9 5.6 1.3 2.4 3.7 1.3 0.3 0.2 1.0 2.4 2.2 5.4 .411 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.6 .735
Michael Jordan 82 38.8 28.7 1.6 4.2 5.8 3.5 1.7 0.5 2.3 1.8 10.7 23.1 .465 0.4 1.5 .238 6.9 8.8 .784
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 19 23.4 6.3 1.5 3.0 4.5 1.5 0.6 0.2 0.7 2.7 2.4 5.2 .465 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 1.9 .778
Michael Jordan 21 41.5 32.4 1.6 3.5 5.1 3.5 1.5 0.6 2.1 2.2 11.6 25.0 .462 0.6 2.0 .302 8.6 10.6 .812

Note: Michael Jordan didn't play in 1998-99, 1999-00 and 2000-01.

Season 14

Bill Cartwright Michael Jordan
Season 1993-942001-02
Team Chicago BullsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Bill Cartwright 42 18.6 5.6 1.0 2.6 3.6 1.4 0.2 0.2 1.2 2.0 2.3 4.5 .513 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.4 .684
Michael Jordan 60 34.9 22.9 0.8 4.8 5.7 5.2 1.4 0.4 2.7 2.0 9.2 22.1 .416 0.2 0.9 .189 4.4 5.6 .790
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 9 21.0 4.6 2.1 2.8 4.9 1.2 0.3 0.2 0.7 2.9 1.6 4.8 .326 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.8 .813
Michael Jordan ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Bill Cartwright Michael Jordan
Season 1994-952002-03
Team Seattle SupersonicsWashington Wizards
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 %
Bill Cartwright 29 14.8 2.4 0.9 2.1 3.0 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.6 2.4 0.9 2.4 .391 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.8 .625
Michael Jordan 82 37.0 20.0 0.9 5.2 6.1 3.8 1.5 0.5 2.1 2.1 8.3 18.6 .445 0.2 0.7 .291 3.2 4.0 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
Michael Jordan ------- --- ----------