Danny Ainge vs. Gary Payton Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gary Payton 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 / 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.

Danny Ainge played 14 years in the NBA, 3 less than Gary Payton, who played 17. Danny Ainge had the first of his seasons in 1981-82, while Gary Payton had his rookie season in 1990-91. 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
Gary Payton 17 15 1990-91 to 2006-07

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Danny Ainge Gary Payton
Season 1981-821990-91
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 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 %
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
Gary Payton 82 27.4 7.2 1.3 1.6 3.0 6.4 2.0 0.2 2.2 3.0 3.2 7.0 .450 0.0 0.2 .077 0.8 1.2 .711
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
Gary Payton 5 27.0 4.8 1.0 1.6 2.6 6.4 1.6 0.2 1.8 3.2 2.2 5.4 .407 0.0 0.2 .000 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 2

Danny Ainge Gary Payton
Season 1982-831991-92
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisSupersonics 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
Gary Payton 81 31.5 9.4 1.5 2.1 3.6 6.2 1.8 0.3 2.1 3.1 4.1 9.1 .451 0.0 0.3 .130 1.2 1.8 .669
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
Gary Payton 8 27.6 7.6 0.8 1.9 2.6 4.8 1.0 0.3 1.3 3.3 3.4 7.3 .466 0.0 0.3 .000 0.9 1.5 .583

Season 3

Danny Ainge Gary Payton
Season 1983-841992-93
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics 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 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
Gary Payton 82 31.1 13.5 1.2 2.3 3.4 4.9 2.2 0.3 1.8 3.0 5.8 11.7 .494 0.1 0.4 .206 1.8 2.4 .770
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
Gary Payton 19 31.8 12.3 1.2 2.2 3.3 3.7 1.8 0.2 1.8 3.4 5.5 12.4 .443 0.1 0.3 .167 1.3 1.9 .676

Season 4

Danny Ainge Gary Payton
Season 1984-851993-94
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
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
Gary Payton 82 35.1 16.5 1.3 2.0 3.3 6.0 2.3 0.2 2.1 2.8 7.1 14.1 .504 0.2 0.7 .278 2.0 3.4 .595
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
Gary Payton 5 36.2 15.8 1.2 2.2 3.4 5.6 1.6 0.4 1.6 3.0 6.8 13.8 .493 0.6 1.8 .333 1.6 3.8 .421

Season 5

Danny Ainge Gary Payton
Season 1985-861994-95
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics 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
Gary Payton 82 36.8 20.6 1.3 2.1 3.4 7.1 2.5 0.2 2.5 2.5 8.4 16.4 .509 0.9 2.8 .302 3.0 4.2 .716
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
Gary Payton 4 43.0 17.8 1.5 1.0 2.5 5.3 1.3 0.0 2.0 3.3 8.0 16.8 .478 0.5 2.5 .200 1.3 3.0 .417

Season 6

Danny Ainge Gary Payton
Season 1986-871995-96
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsSupersonics Lost NBA Finals
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
Gary Payton 81 39.0 19.3 1.3 2.9 4.2 7.5 2.9 0.2 3.2 2.7 7.6 15.8 .484 1.2 3.7 .328 2.8 3.8 .748
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
Gary Payton 21 43.4 20.7 0.9 4.2 5.1 6.8 1.8 0.3 3.0 3.3 7.7 15.9 .485 2.0 4.8 .410 3.3 5.2 .633

Season 7

Danny Ainge Gary Payton
Season 1987-881996-97
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsSupersonics 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 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
Gary Payton 82 39.2 21.8 1.3 3.3 4.6 7.1 2.4 0.2 2.6 2.5 8.6 18.1 .476 1.5 4.6 .313 3.1 4.3 .715
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
Gary Payton 12 45.6 23.8 1.7 3.8 5.4 8.7 2.2 0.3 2.9 2.2 8.8 21.3 .412 2.1 6.3 .333 4.2 5.1 .820

Season 8

Danny Ainge Gary Payton
Season 1988-891997-98
Team Boston Celtics, Sacramento KingsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
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
Gary Payton 82 38.4 19.2 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.3 2.3 0.2 2.8 2.4 7.1 15.6 .453 1.6 4.8 .338 3.4 4.6 .744
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 10 42.7 24.0 0.9 2.5 3.4 7.0 1.8 0.1 2.6 3.1 8.7 18.3 .475 1.9 5.0 .380 4.7 5.0 .940

Season 9

Danny Ainge Gary Payton
Season 1989-901998-99
Team Sacramento KingsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
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 %
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
Gary Payton 50 40.2 21.7 1.2 3.6 4.9 8.7 2.2 0.2 3.1 2.3 8.0 18.5 .434 1.7 5.6 .295 4.0 5.5 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Danny Ainge Gary Payton
Season 1990-911999-00
Team Portland Trail BlazersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 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 %
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
Gary Payton 82 41.8 24.2 1.2 5.2 6.5 8.9 1.9 0.2 2.7 2.2 9.1 20.3 .448 2.2 6.3 .340 3.8 5.2 .735
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
Gary Payton 5 44.2 25.8 1.6 6.0 7.6 7.4 1.8 0.2 3.6 3.2 10.0 22.6 .442 1.8 4.6 .391 4.0 5.2 .769

Season 11

Danny Ainge Gary Payton
Season 1991-922000-01
Team Portland Trail BlazersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First 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
Gary Payton 79 41.1 23.1 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.1 1.6 0.3 2.6 2.3 9.2 20.1 .456 1.3 3.4 .375 3.4 4.5 .766
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
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Danny Ainge Gary Payton
Season 1992-932001-02
Team Phoenix SunsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns 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 %
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
Gary Payton 82 40.3 22.1 1.0 3.9 4.8 9.0 1.6 0.3 2.5 2.2 9.0 19.2 .467 0.9 2.9 .314 3.3 4.1 .797
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
Gary Payton 5 41.2 22.2 2.0 6.6 8.6 5.8 0.6 0.4 2.6 2.4 9.0 21.2 .425 0.8 3.0 .267 3.4 5.8 .586

Season 13

Danny Ainge Gary Payton
Season 1993-942002-03
Team Phoenix SunsSeattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisBucks 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 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
Gary Payton 80 40.1 20.4 1.0 3.2 4.2 8.3 1.7 0.3 2.3 2.3 8.3 18.3 .454 0.7 2.3 .297 3.1 4.4 .710
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
Gary Payton 6 41.8 18.5 0.7 2.3 3.0 8.7 1.3 0.2 2.2 3.0 8.0 18.7 .429 0.2 2.5 .067 2.3 3.3 .700

Season 14

Danny Ainge Gary Payton
Season 1994-952003-04
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
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
Gary Payton 82 34.5 14.6 0.9 3.3 4.2 5.5 1.2 0.2 1.8 2.1 5.9 12.5 .471 0.7 2.0 .333 2.2 3.1 .714
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
Gary Payton 22 35.0 7.8 0.9 2.4 3.3 5.3 1.0 0.2 1.3 2.7 3.1 8.5 .366 0.6 2.5 .250 1.0 1.3 .750

Season 15

Danny Ainge Gary Payton
Season -2004-05
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Celtics 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 ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 77 33.0 11.3 0.6 2.4 3.1 6.1 1.1 0.2 1.9 1.6 4.4 9.4 .468 0.5 1.7 .326 2.0 2.6 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 7 34.1 10.3 1.1 3.0 4.1 4.6 0.9 0.1 1.6 1.4 4.7 10.6 .446 0.1 2.0 .071 0.7 0.9 .833

Season 16

Danny Ainge Gary Payton
Season -2005-06
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -NBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 81 28.5 7.7 0.4 2.5 2.9 3.2 0.9 0.1 1.3 2.1 2.8 6.8 .420 0.8 2.8 .287 1.2 1.6 .794
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 23 24.3 5.8 0.3 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.0 0.1 0.8 2.4 2.1 5.0 .422 0.7 2.5 .293 0.8 1.1 .720

Season 17

Danny Ainge Gary Payton
Season -2006-07
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Heat 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 ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 68 22.1 5.3 0.3 1.7 1.9 3.0 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.7 2.1 5.4 .393 0.5 1.8 .260 0.6 0.8 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 2 16.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 1.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -