Danny Ainge vs. Damian Lillard Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Damian Lillard and Danny Ainge, 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.

Danny Ainge played 14 years in the NBA, 2 more than Damian Lillard, who played 12. Danny Ainge had the first of his seasons in 1981-82, while Damian Lillard had his rookie season in 2012-13. 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
Danny Ainge 14 12 1981-82 to 1994-95
Damian Lillard 12 9 2012-13 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Danny Ainge Damian Lillard
Season 1981-822012-13
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Danny Ainge 53 10.6 4.1 0.5 0.6 1.1 1.6 0.7 0.1 1.0 1.6 1.5 4.2 .357 0.1 0.3 .294 1.1 1.2 .862
Damian Lillard 82 38.6 19.0 0.5 2.6 3.1 6.5 0.9 0.2 3.0 2.1 6.7 15.7 .429 2.3 6.1 .368 3.3 3.9 .844
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 10 12.9 5.0 0.6 0.7 1.3 1.1 0.2 0.1 1.1 2.1 1.9 4.5 .422 0.2 0.4 .500 1.0 1.3 .769
Damian Lillard ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Danny Ainge Damian Lillard
Season 1982-832013-14
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisTrail Blazers 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 %
Danny Ainge 80 25.6 9.9 1.0 1.6 2.7 3.1 1.4 0.1 1.2 3.2 4.5 9.0 .496 0.1 0.4 .172 0.9 1.2 .742
Damian Lillard 82 35.8 20.7 0.4 3.1 3.5 5.6 0.8 0.3 2.4 2.4 6.7 15.9 .424 2.7 6.8 .394 4.5 5.2 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 7 28.7 9.4 0.3 1.7 2.0 3.6 0.7 0.1 0.9 3.4 4.0 10.3 .389 0.3 0.7 .400 1.1 1.6 .727
Damian Lillard 11 42.4 22.9 1.1 4.0 5.1 6.5 1.0 0.1 2.7 2.6 7.5 17.2 .439 2.5 6.4 .386 5.4 6.0 .894

Season 3
Danny Ainge Damian Lillard
Season 1983-842014-15
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers 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 %
Danny Ainge 71 16.3 5.4 0.4 1.2 1.6 2.3 0.6 0.1 1.0 2.0 2.3 5.1 .460 0.1 0.3 .273 0.6 0.8 .821
Damian Lillard 82 35.7 21.0 0.6 4.0 4.6 6.2 1.2 0.3 2.7 2.0 7.2 16.6 .434 2.4 7.0 .343 4.2 4.9 .864
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 19 13.3 4.8 0.2 0.6 0.8 2.0 0.5 0.1 0.7 1.9 2.2 4.7 .456 0.1 0.5 .222 0.4 0.5 .700
Damian Lillard 5 40.2 21.6 0.4 3.6 4.0 4.6 0.4 0.6 2.4 3.0 7.8 19.2 .406 1.0 6.2 .161 5.0 6.4 .781

Season 4
Danny Ainge Damian Lillard
Season 1984-852015-16
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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 %
Danny Ainge 75 34.2 12.9 1.0 2.6 3.6 5.3 1.6 0.1 2.0 3.0 5.6 10.6 .529 0.2 0.7 .268 1.6 1.8 .868
Damian Lillard 75 35.7 25.1 0.6 3.4 4.0 6.8 0.9 0.4 3.2 2.2 8.2 19.7 .419 3.1 8.1 .375 5.5 6.2 .892
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 21 32.7 11.0 1.0 1.8 2.8 5.8 1.5 0.0 1.5 3.6 4.6 9.9 .466 0.3 0.8 .438 1.4 1.9 .769
Damian Lillard 11 39.7 26.5 1.1 3.2 4.3 6.3 1.3 0.3 3.0 2.1 8.1 22.0 .368 3.8 9.7 .393 6.5 7.1 .910

Season 5
Danny Ainge Damian Lillard
Season 1985-862016-17
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers 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 %
Danny Ainge 80 30.1 10.7 0.6 2.4 2.9 5.1 1.2 0.1 1.6 2.6 4.4 8.8 .504 0.3 0.9 .356 1.5 1.7 .904
Damian Lillard 75 35.9 27.0 0.6 4.3 4.9 5.9 0.9 0.3 2.6 2.0 8.8 19.8 .444 2.9 7.7 .370 6.5 7.3 .895
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 18 36.2 15.6 1.2 3.0 4.2 5.2 2.3 0.1 1.7 3.2 5.9 10.7 .554 0.8 1.9 .412 2.9 3.3 .867
Damian Lillard 4 37.8 27.8 1.0 3.5 4.5 3.3 1.3 0.5 3.3 2.8 9.8 22.5 .433 2.3 8.0 .281 6.0 6.3 .960

Season 6
Danny Ainge Damian Lillard
Season 1986-872017-18
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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 %
Danny Ainge 71 35.2 14.8 0.7 2.7 3.4 5.6 1.4 0.2 2.0 2.7 5.8 11.9 .486 1.2 2.7 .443 2.1 2.3 .897
Damian Lillard 73 36.6 26.9 0.8 3.6 4.5 6.6 1.1 0.4 2.8 1.6 8.5 19.4 .439 3.1 8.6 .361 6.8 7.4 .916
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 20 38.1 14.8 0.7 2.0 2.6 4.6 1.2 0.2 2.1 3.1 5.8 11.9 .487 1.6 3.7 .438 1.6 1.8 .861
Damian Lillard 4 40.5 18.5 0.8 3.8 4.5 4.8 1.3 0.0 4.0 2.0 6.3 17.8 .352 2.3 7.5 .300 3.8 4.3 .882

Season 7
Danny Ainge Damian Lillard
Season 1987-882018-19
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsTrail Blazers 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 %
Danny Ainge 81 37.3 15.7 0.7 2.3 3.1 6.2 1.4 0.2 1.9 2.5 6.0 12.1 .491 1.8 4.4 .415 2.0 2.2 .878
Damian Lillard 80 35.5 25.8 0.9 3.8 4.6 6.9 1.1 0.4 2.7 1.9 8.5 19.2 .444 3.0 8.0 .369 5.9 6.4 .912
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 17 39.4 11.6 0.9 2.2 3.1 6.4 0.5 0.1 2.4 3.8 4.2 10.8 .386 1.1 3.4 .328 2.2 2.5 .881
Damian Lillard 16 40.6 26.9 0.5 4.3 4.8 6.6 1.7 0.3 3.8 2.5 8.6 20.6 .418 3.7 9.9 .373 5.9 7.1 .833

Season 8
Danny Ainge Damian Lillard
Season 1988-892019-20
Team Boston Celtics, Sacramento KingsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers 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 %
Danny Ainge 73 32.6 17.5 1.0 2.5 3.5 5.5 1.3 0.1 2.0 2.5 6.6 14.4 .457 1.6 4.2 .380 2.8 3.3 .854
Damian Lillard 66 37.5 30.0 0.5 3.8 4.3 8.0 1.1 0.3 2.9 1.7 9.5 20.4 .463 4.1 10.2 .401 7.0 7.8 .888
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge ------- --- ----------
Damian Lillard 4 35.8 24.3 0.3 3.3 3.5 4.3 0.5 0.3 3.5 1.0 6.5 16.0 .406 3.3 8.3 .394 8.0 8.3 .970

Season 9
Danny Ainge Damian Lillard
Season 1989-902020-21
Team Sacramento KingsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers 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 %
Danny Ainge 75 36.4 17.9 0.9 3.4 4.3 6.0 1.5 0.2 2.5 3.2 6.7 15.4 .438 1.4 3.9 .374 3.0 3.6 .831
Damian Lillard 67 35.8 28.8 0.5 3.7 4.2 7.5 0.9 0.3 3.0 1.5 9.0 19.9 .451 4.1 10.5 .391 6.7 7.2 .928
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge ------- --- ----------
Damian Lillard 6 41.3 34.3 0.2 4.2 4.3 10.2 1.0 0.7 2.2 1.5 10.3 22.3 .463 5.8 13.0 .449 7.8 8.3 .940

Season 10
Danny Ainge Damian Lillard
Season 1990-912021-22
Team Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West 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 %
Danny Ainge 80 21.4 11.1 0.6 2.0 2.6 3.6 0.8 0.2 1.3 2.4 4.2 8.9 .472 1.3 3.1 .406 1.4 1.7 .826
Damian Lillard 29 36.4 24.0 0.4 3.7 4.1 7.3 0.6 0.4 2.9 1.3 7.7 19.0 .402 3.2 9.8 .324 5.5 6.2 .878
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 16 17.3 8.0 0.1 1.7 1.8 1.9 0.8 0.3 1.5 2.1 2.9 6.6 .448 0.7 2.3 .306 1.4 1.8 .821
Damian Lillard ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Danny Ainge Damian Lillard
Season 1991-922022-23
Team Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 81 19.7 9.7 0.5 1.3 1.8 2.5 0.9 0.2 0.9 1.8 3.7 8.3 .442 1.0 2.8 .339 1.3 1.6 .824
Damian Lillard 58 36.3 32.2 0.8 4.0 4.8 7.3 0.9 0.3 3.3 1.9 9.6 20.7 .463 4.2 11.3 .371 8.8 9.6 .914
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 21 21.4 10.6 0.4 1.5 1.9 2.3 0.7 0.0 1.2 2.8 3.9 8.0 .479 1.0 2.5 .404 1.9 2.2 .830
Damian Lillard ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Danny Ainge Damian Lillard
Season 1992-932023-24
Team Phoenix SunsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Suns Lost NBA FinalsBucks 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 %
Danny Ainge 80 27.0 11.8 0.6 2.1 2.7 3.3 0.9 0.1 1.4 2.2 4.2 9.1 .462 1.9 4.7 .403 1.5 1.8 .848
Damian Lillard 73 35.3 24.3 0.5 3.9 4.4 7.0 1.0 0.2 2.6 1.8 7.4 17.5 .424 3.0 8.5 .354 6.5 7.0 .920
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 24 24.6 8.1 0.8 1.7 2.5 2.3 0.5 0.1 0.9 2.5 2.7 7.1 .376 1.4 3.3 .413 1.4 1.6 .872
Damian Lillard 4 39.0 31.3 0.5 2.8 3.3 5.0 1.0 0.0 2.3 2.0 8.5 20.3 .420 5.0 12.0 .417 9.3 9.5 .974

Season 13
Danny Ainge Damian Lillard
Season 1993-94-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Danny Ainge 68 22.9 8.9 0.4 1.5 1.9 2.6 0.8 0.1 1.2 2.1 3.3 7.9 .417 1.2 3.6 .328 1.1 1.4 .830
Damian Lillard ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 10 23.0 8.6 0.7 1.6 2.3 2.1 0.6 0.1 0.5 2.6 2.7 5.9 .458 1.7 4.0 .425 1.5 2.1 .714
Damian Lillard ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Danny Ainge Damian Lillard
Season 1994-95-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Danny Ainge 74 18.6 7.7 0.3 1.1 1.5 2.8 0.6 0.1 1.1 2.1 2.6 5.7 .460 1.1 2.9 .364 1.4 1.8 .808
Damian Lillard ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 10 13.7 6.0 0.2 0.8 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.6 1.5 1.9 3.8 .500 1.2 2.6 .462 1.0 1.1 .909
Damian Lillard ------- --- ----------
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