Dennis Johnson vs. Derrick Jones Jr. Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Derrick Jones Jr. and Dennis Johnson, 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.

Dennis Johnson played 14 years in the NBA, 5 more than Derrick Jones Jr., who played 9. Dennis Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Derrick Jones Jr. had his rookie season in 2016-17. 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
Dennis Johnson 14 13 1976-77 to 1989-90
Derrick Jones Jr. 9 5 2016-17 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9

Rookie Season
Dennis Johnson Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 1976-772016-17
Team Seattle SupersonicsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
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%
Dennis Johnson 81 20.6 9.2 2.0 1.7 3.7 1.5 1.5 0.7 - 2.7 3.5 7.0 .504 - - - 2.2 3.5 .624
difference:+49+3.6+3.9+0.8+0.4+1.2+1.1+1.1+0.3-0.7+1.4+3.2+.058+1.3+2.2+.083
Derrick Jones Jr. 32 17.0 5.3 1.2 1.3 2.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 2.0 2.1 3.8 .562 0.1 0.3 .273 0.9 1.3 .707
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Dennis Johnson nor Derrick Jones Jr. played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2
Dennis Johnson Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 1977-782017-18
Team Seattle SupersonicsPhoenix Suns, Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 81 27.3 12.7 1.9 1.8 3.6 2.8 1.5 0.6 2.0 2.6 4.5 10.9 .417 - - - 3.7 5.0 .732
difference:+61+15.0+9.6+0.8+0.9+1.7+2.3+1.3+0.1-1.6-1.4+3.4+8.2+.021+2.9+3.8+.065
Derrick Jones Jr. 20 12.3 3.1 1.1 0.9 1.9 0.5 0.2 0.7 0.4 1.2 1.1 2.7 .396 0.2 0.9 .167 0.8 1.2 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 22 37.6 16.1 2.1 2.5 4.6 3.3 1.0 1.0 2.5 2.9 5.5 13.4 .412 - - - 5.1 7.2 .704
Derrick Jones Jr. DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3
Dennis Johnson Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 1978-792018-19
Team Seattle SupersonicsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 80 34.0 15.9 1.8 2.9 4.7 3.5 1.3 1.2 2.4 2.6 6.0 13.9 .434 - - - 3.8 4.9 .781
difference:+20+14.8+8.9+0.2+0.5+0.7+2.9+0.5+0.5-1.7-0.5+3.3+8.5+.060+2.6+2.9+.174
Derrick Jones Jr. 60 19.2 7.0 1.6 2.4 4.0 0.6 0.8 0.7 0.7 2.1 2.7 5.4 .494 0.5 1.5 .308 1.2 2.0 .607
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 17 40.1 20.9 2.6 3.5 6.1 4.1 1.6 1.5 3.0 3.7 8.0 17.8 .450 - - - 4.9 6.4 .771
Derrick Jones Jr. DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4
Dennis Johnson Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 1979-802019-20
Team Seattle SupersonicsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsHeat Lost NBA Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 81 36.3 19.0 2.1 3.0 5.1 4.1 1.8 1.0 2.8 3.3 7.1 16.8 .422 0.1 0.7 .207 4.7 6.0 .780
difference:+22+13.0+10.5+1.0+0.2+1.2+3.0+0.8+0.4-2.3-1.1+4.0+10.9+.105+0.5+1.5+.073+3.1+3.9+.008
Derrick Jones Jr. 59 23.3 8.5 1.1 2.8 3.9 1.1 1.0 0.6 0.5 2.2 3.1 5.9 .527 0.6 2.2 .280 1.6 2.1 .772
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 15 38.8 17.1 1.7 2.6 4.3 3.8 1.8 0.7 2.9 3.2 6.7 16.3 .410 0.3 1.0 .333 3.5 4.1 .839
difference:+32.4+15.6+1.3+2.2+3.5+3.3+1.4+0.4-2.8-2.4+6.2+15.2+.061+0.4+.111+3.4+3.8+.439
Derrick Jones Jr. 15 6.4 1.5 0.4 0.4 0.8 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.8 0.5 1.1 .471 0.3 0.6 .444 0.1 0.3 .400

Season 5
Dennis Johnson Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 1980-812020-21
Team Phoenix SunsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 79 33.1 18.8 2.0 2.6 4.6 3.7 1.7 0.8 2.6 3.1 6.7 15.4 .436 0.1 0.6 .216 5.2 6.3 .820
difference:+21+10.4+12.0+0.7+0.4+1.1+2.9+1.1+0.1-2.0-0.9+4.2+10.2+.048+0.6+1.7+.100+4.2+4.7+.172
Derrick Jones Jr. 58 22.7 6.8 1.3 2.2 3.5 0.8 0.6 0.9 0.6 2.2 2.5 5.2 .484 0.7 2.3 .316 1.0 1.6 .648
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 7 38.1 19.6 1.0 3.7 4.7 2.9 1.3 1.3 2.7 2.6 7.4 15.7 .473 0.1 0.7 .200 4.6 6.0 .762
difference:+5+33.1+17.6+1.0+3.7+4.7+2.9+0.8+1.3-2.7-1.6+6.4+13.2+.073+0.1+0.3+.200+4.6+6.0
Derrick Jones Jr. 2 5.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.5 .400 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 6
Dennis Johnson Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 1981-822021-22
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisBulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 80 36.7 19.5 1.8 3.4 5.1 4.6 1.3 0.7 2.9 3.2 7.2 15.4 .470 0.1 0.5 .190 5.0 6.2 .806
difference:+29+19.1+13.9+0.6+1.3+1.8+4.0+0.8+0.1-2.3-1.1+5.1+11.6+.068+0.3+0.7+.138+3.9+4.8+.006
Derrick Jones Jr. 51 17.6 5.6 1.2 2.1 3.3 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.6 2.1 2.1 3.8 .538 0.4 1.2 .328 1.1 1.4 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 7 38.7 22.3 1.9 2.6 4.4 4.6 2.1 0.6 3.6 4.0 9.0 18.9 .477 0.0 0.4 .000 4.3 5.6 .769
difference:+2+26.9+18.5+1.3+1.8+3.0+4.2+1.9+0.6-3.0-2.4+7.6+15.5+.065+0.6+1.8+.273+3.9+5.0+.102
Derrick Jones Jr. 5 11.8 3.8 0.6 0.8 1.4 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.6 1.6 1.4 3.4 .412 0.6 2.2 .273 0.4 0.6 .667

Season 7
Dennis Johnson Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 1982-832022-23
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 77 33.1 14.2 1.2 3.2 4.4 5.0 1.3 0.5 2.6 2.6 5.2 11.2 .462 0.1 0.4 .161 3.8 4.8 .791
difference:+13+19.1+9.2+0.3+1.7+2.0+4.5+0.8+0.1-2.2-1.3+3.4+7.6+.038+0.3+0.9+.177+2.8+3.5+.053
Derrick Jones Jr. 64 14.0 5.0 0.9 1.5 2.4 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.4 1.3 1.8 3.6 .500 0.4 1.3 .338 1.0 1.3 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 3 36.0 18.0 2.0 5.7 7.7 5.7 1.7 0.7 2.7 3.0 7.3 16.0 .458 0.0 0.3 .000 3.3 4.0 .833
Derrick Jones Jr. DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8
Dennis Johnson Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 1983-842023-24
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks 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%
Dennis Johnson 80 33.3 13.2 1.1 2.4 3.5 4.2 1.2 0.7 2.2 3.1 4.8 11.0 .437 0.1 0.4 .125 3.5 4.1 .852
difference:+4+9.8+4.6+0.2+0.2+3.2+0.5-1.3-1.5+1.7+4.5+.046+1.0+2.7+.218+2.2+2.3+.139
Derrick Jones Jr. 76 23.5 8.6 1.1 2.2 3.3 1.0 0.7 0.7 0.9 1.6 3.1 6.5 .483 1.1 3.1 .343 1.3 1.8 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 22 36.7 16.6 1.4 2.2 3.6 4.4 1.1 0.3 2.4 3.4 5.9 14.5 .404 0.1 0.3 .429 4.7 5.5 .867
difference:+7.3+7.5+0.1+0.2+0.1+3.2+0.6+0.7-1.6-0.9+2.4+7.2+.077+1.0+2.7+.060+3.7+4.1+.134
Derrick Jones Jr. 22 29.4 9.1 1.5 2.0 3.5 1.2 0.5 1.0 0.8 2.5 3.5 7.3 .481 1.1 3.0 .369 1.0 1.4 .733

Season 9
Dennis Johnson Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 1984-852024-25
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsClippers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 80 37.2 15.7 1.1 2.8 4.0 6.8 1.2 0.5 2.7 2.8 6.2 13.3 .462 0.1 0.3 .269 3.3 3.8 .853
difference:+3+12.9+5.6+0.1+0.6+0.6+6.0+0.2+0.1-1.8-0.8+2.2+5.7+.064+0.9+2.5+.087+2.2+2.3+.150
Derrick Jones Jr. 77 24.3 10.1 1.2 2.2 3.4 0.8 1.0 0.4 0.9 2.0 4.0 7.6 .526 1.0 2.8 .356 1.1 1.5 .703
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 21 40.4 17.3 1.1 2.9 4.0 7.3 1.5 0.4 3.4 3.1 6.8 15.2 .445 0.0 0.7 .000 3.8 4.4 .860
difference:+14+22.0+10.0+0.4+1.8+2.1+7.0+0.9+0.9-3.0-2.7+3.8+8.3+.007+0.9+2.2+.300+3.4+3.3+.485
Derrick Jones Jr. 7 18.4 7.3 0.7 1.1 1.9 0.3 0.6 1.3 0.4 0.4 3.0 6.9 .438 0.9 2.9 .300 0.4 1.1 .375

Additional Years

* Dennis Johnson played 5 seasons more than Derrick Jones Jr. in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 10 to 14, from 1986 to 1990—Dennis Johnson played in 5 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.

In those 5 extra years over Derrick Jones Jr., Dennis Johnson got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 1 All-Defensive Second Team
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