Buddy Hield vs. Klay Thompson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Klay Thompson and Buddy Hield, 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 / 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.

Buddy Hield played 9 years in the NBA, 3 less than Klay Thompson, who played 12. Buddy Hield had the first of his seasons in 2016-17, 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
Buddy Hield 9 2 2016-17 to 2024-25
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

Rookie Season

Buddy Hield Klay Thompson
Season 2016-172011-12
Team New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento KingsGolden 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%
Buddy Hield 82 23.0 10.6 0.4 2.9 3.3 1.5 0.5 0.1 1.2 1.4 4.0 9.4 .426 1.8 4.6 .391 0.8 0.9 .842
difference:+16+1.4+1.9+0.8+0.9+0.5+0.2+0.2-0.4-0.9+0.8+1.5+.017+0.1+0.5+.023+0.4+0.5+.026
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 Buddy Hield nor Klay Thompson played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Buddy Hield Klay Thompson
Season 2017-182012-13
Team Sacramento KingsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors 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%
Buddy Hield 80 25.3 13.5 0.7 3.2 3.8 1.9 1.1 0.3 1.6 1.9 5.2 11.7 .446 2.2 5.1 .431 0.9 1.0 .877
difference:+2+10.5+3.1+0.3+0.1+0.1+0.3+0.1+0.2-0.3-1.0+1.0+3.0+.024+0.4+1.3+.030+0.7+0.9+.036
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%
Buddy Hield DNP------ --- ----------
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

Buddy Hield Klay Thompson
Season 2018-192013-14
Team Sacramento KingsGolden 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%
Buddy Hield 82 31.9 20.7 1.3 3.7 5.0 2.5 0.7 0.4 1.8 2.5 7.6 16.6 .458 3.4 7.9 .427 2.1 2.4 .886
difference:+1+3.5+2.3+0.8+1.1+1.9+0.3+0.2+0.1-0.1-0.4+0.7+1.1+.014+0.6+1.3+.010+0.3+0.1+.091
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%
Buddy Hield 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

Buddy Hield Klay Thompson
Season 2019-202014-15
Team Sacramento KingsGolden 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%
Buddy Hield 72 30.8 19.2 0.8 3.8 4.6 3.0 0.9 0.2 2.3 2.3 6.9 16.1 .429 3.8 9.6 .394 1.6 1.9 .846
difference:+5+1.1+2.5+0.4+0.9+1.4+0.1+0.2+0.6-0.4-0.7+0.9+0.8+.034+0.7+2.5+.045+1.3+1.4+.033
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%
Buddy Hield 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

Buddy Hield Klay Thompson
Season 2020-212015-16
Team Sacramento KingsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement 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%
Buddy Hield 71 34.3 16.6 0.4 4.3 4.7 3.6 0.9 0.4 1.8 2.5 5.7 14.0 .406 4.0 10.2 .391 1.2 1.5 .846
difference:+9+1.0+5.5+0.9+0.9+1.5+0.1+0.2-0.1-0.6+2.4+3.3+.064+0.5+2.1+.034+1.2+1.3+.027
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%
Buddy Hield 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

Buddy Hield Klay Thompson
Season 2021-222016-17
Team Sacramento Kings, Indiana PacersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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%
Buddy Hield 81 30.9 15.6 0.8 3.5 4.4 2.8 0.9 0.3 1.9 2.3 5.5 13.6 .406 3.2 8.8 .366 1.4 1.6 .874
difference:+3+3.1+6.7+0.2+0.5+0.7+0.7+0.1+0.2-0.3-0.5+2.8+4.0+.062+0.2+0.5+.048+1.0+1.2+.021
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%
Buddy Hield DNP------ --- ----------
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

Buddy Hield Klay Thompson
Season 2022-232017-18
Team Indiana PacersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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%
Buddy Hield 80 31.0 16.8 0.8 4.2 5.0 2.8 1.2 0.3 1.7 2.0 5.9 13.0 .458 3.6 8.5 .425 1.3 1.6 .822
difference:+7+3.3+3.2+0.4+0.8+1.2+0.3+0.4+0.2-0.1-0.4+2.0+3.2+.030+0.5+1.4+.015+0.2+0.3+.015
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%
Buddy Hield DNP------ --- ----------
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

Buddy Hield Klay Thompson
Season 2023-242018-19
Team Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors 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%
Buddy Hield 84 25.7 12.1 0.7 2.5 3.2 2.8 0.8 0.5 1.2 2.0 4.4 10.1 .436 2.6 6.8 .386 0.6 0.7 .881
difference:+6+8.3+9.4+0.2+0.9+0.6+0.4+0.3+0.1-0.3+4.0+7.9+.031+0.5+0.9+.016+1.1+1.3+.065
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%
Buddy Hield 4 12.8 5.5 0.5 0.8 1.3 0.5 0.0 0.3 0.5 1.0 1.8 4.3 .412 1.5 3.3 .462 0.5 0.5 1.000
difference:+17+26.2+15.2+0.1+2.7+2.8+1.6+1.3+0.4-1.3-1.8+6.0+12.8+.044+1.8+4.2+.019+1.3+1.5+.098
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: Klay Thompson didn't play in 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Season 9

Buddy Hield Klay Thompson
Season 2024-252021-22
Team Golden State WarriorsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisNBA 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%
Buddy Hield 82 22.7 11.1 0.6 2.6 3.2 1.6 0.8 0.3 1.1 1.6 4.0 9.6 .417 2.5 6.7 .370 0.6 0.8 .828
difference:+50+6.7+9.3+0.1+0.8+0.7+1.2+0.3+0.2-0.2-0.1+3.7+8.3+.012+1.1+2.6+.015+0.8+0.8+.074
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%
Buddy Hield 12 27.3 12.5 1.5 2.0 3.5 1.8 1.2 0.4 1.1 2.0 4.3 10.4 .416 2.8 6.4 .429 1.1 1.2 .929
difference:+10+8.7+6.5+1.2+1.6+0.4+0.5+0.1+0.3-0.2-0.1+2.9+6.3+.013+0.7+2.7+.044+0.1+0.2+.062
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

Additional Years

* Klay Thompson played 3 seasons more than Buddy Hield in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 10 to 12, from 2023 to 2025—Klay Thompson played in one postseason.