Dennis Johnson vs. Rajon Rondo Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rajon Rondo 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, 2 less than Rajon Rondo, who played 16. Dennis Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Rajon Rondo had his rookie season in 2006-07. 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
Rajon Rondo 16 10 2006-07 to 2021-22

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Dennis Johnson Rajon Rondo
Season 1976-772006-07
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second 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%
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:+3+2.9+2.8+1.1+1.1+2.3+0.1+0.6-0.4+1.1+1.2+.086+0.7+1.1+.023
Rajon Rondo 78 23.5 6.4 0.9 2.8 3.7 3.8 1.6 0.1 1.8 2.3 2.4 5.8 .418 0.1 0.4 .207 1.5 2.4 .647
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Dennis Johnson nor Rajon Rondo played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Dennis Johnson Rajon Rondo
Season 1977-782007-08
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+4+2.6+2.1+0.9+1.4+0.6+2.3+0.2+0.4-0.1-0.2+0.1+1.6+.075+2.3+2.7+.121
Rajon Rondo 77 29.9 10.6 1.0 3.2 4.2 5.1 1.7 0.2 1.9 2.4 4.6 9.3 .492 0.1 0.2 .263 1.4 2.3 .611
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
difference:+4+5.6+5.9+0.6+0.1+0.5+3.3+0.7+0.7-0.7-0.1+1.4+3.3+.005+3.3+4.6+.013
Rajon Rondo 26 32.0 10.2 1.5 2.6 4.1 6.6 1.7 0.3 1.8 2.8 4.1 10.1 .407 0.2 0.8 .250 1.8 2.6 .691

Season 3

Dennis Johnson Rajon Rondo
Season 1978-792008-09
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
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:+1.0+4.0+0.5+1.1+0.5+4.7+0.6+1.1-0.2-0.2+1.2+4.4+.071+1.6+1.5+.139
Rajon Rondo 80 33.0 11.9 1.3 4.0 5.2 8.2 1.9 0.1 2.6 2.4 4.8 9.5 .505 0.2 0.6 .313 2.2 3.4 .642
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
difference:+3+1.1+4.0+0.3+3.9+3.6+5.7+0.9+1.3-0.3-0.3+1.4+1.9+.033+1.8+1.6+.114
Rajon Rondo 14 41.2 16.9 2.3 7.4 9.7 9.8 2.5 0.2 2.7 3.4 6.6 15.9 .417 0.4 1.7 .250 3.1 4.8 .657

Season 4

Dennis Johnson Rajon Rondo
Season 1979-802009-10
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics 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:+0.3+5.3+0.9+0.2+0.7+5.7+0.5+0.9-0.2-0.9+1.4+5.6+.086+0.1+0.3+.006+2.5+2.5+.159
Rajon Rondo 81 36.6 13.7 1.2 3.2 4.4 9.8 2.3 0.1 3.0 2.4 5.7 11.2 .508 0.2 1.0 .213 2.2 3.5 .621
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:+9+1.8+1.3+0.1+1.4+1.3+5.5+0.1+0.6-0.1-0.8+0.4+2.7+.053+0.1+.042+0.7+0.7+.243
Rajon Rondo 24 40.6 15.8 1.6 4.0 5.6 9.3 1.9 0.1 3.0 2.4 6.3 13.6 .463 0.4 1.0 .375 2.8 4.8 .596

Season 5

Dennis Johnson Rajon Rondo
Season 1980-812010-11
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
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:+11+4.1+8.2+0.7+0.5+0.2+7.5+0.6+0.6-0.8-1.3+2.0+5.5+.039+.017+4.1+4.4+.252
Rajon Rondo 68 37.2 10.6 1.3 3.1 4.4 11.2 2.3 0.2 3.4 1.8 4.7 9.9 .475 0.1 0.6 .233 1.1 1.9 .568
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:+2+0.2+5.6+0.2+0.5+0.7+6.7+0.2+1.3-1.0-0.8+1.7+3.8+.004+0.1+0.4+.200+1.9+1.8+.130
Rajon Rondo 9 38.3 14.0 1.2 4.2 5.4 9.6 1.1 0.0 3.7 1.8 5.7 11.9 .477 0.0 0.3 .000 2.7 4.2 .632

Season 6

Dennis Johnson Rajon Rondo
Season 1981-822011-12
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
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:+27+0.2+7.6+0.6+0.3+0.3+7.1+0.5+0.6-0.7-1.3+2.4+4.6+.022+0.1+0.3+.048+3.0+2.8+.209
Rajon Rondo 53 36.9 11.9 1.2 3.7 4.8 11.7 1.8 0.1 3.6 1.9 4.8 10.8 .448 0.2 0.8 .238 2.0 3.4 .597
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:+12+3.9+5.0+0.1+2.3+2.3+7.3+0.3+0.5-0.2-1.9+1.6+3.1+.009+0.4+1.2+.267+2.2+2.7+.073
Rajon Rondo 19 42.6 17.3 1.8 4.9 6.7 11.9 2.4 0.1 3.8 2.1 7.4 15.8 .468 0.4 1.6 .267 2.1 2.9 .696

Season 7

Dennis Johnson Rajon Rondo
Season 1982-832012-13
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
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:+39+4.3+0.5+0.1+1.2+1.2+6.1+0.5+0.3-1.3-0.1+0.7+1.0+.022+0.2+0.9+.079+2.2+2.4+.146
Rajon Rondo 38 37.4 13.7 1.1 4.4 5.6 11.1 1.8 0.2 3.9 2.5 5.9 12.2 .484 0.3 1.3 .240 1.6 2.4 .645
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
Rajon Rondo DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Dennis Johnson Rajon Rondo
Season 1983-842013-14
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
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:+50+1.5+0.4+2.3+2.0+5.6+0.1+0.6-1.1-0.9+0.1+0.7+.034+0.8+2.6+.164+2.1+1.9+.225
Rajon Rondo 30 33.3 11.7 0.7 4.7 5.5 9.8 1.3 0.1 3.3 2.2 4.7 11.7 .403 0.9 3.0 .289 1.4 2.2 .627
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
Rajon Rondo DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

Dennis Johnson Rajon Rondo
Season 1984-852014-15
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsMavericks 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:+12+7.5+6.8+1.6+1.5+1.1+0.1+0.4-0.4-0.5+2.2+3.8+.036+0.3+1.0+.045+2.8+2.7+.456
Rajon Rondo 68 29.7 8.9 1.1 4.4 5.5 7.9 1.3 0.1 3.1 2.3 4.0 9.5 .426 0.4 1.3 .314 0.5 1.1 .397
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:+19+21.9+7.8+0.6+2.4+3.0+4.3+1.5+0.4-2.4-0.1+2.3+5.2+.005+0.5+0.3+.500+3.8+4.4
Rajon Rondo 2 18.5 9.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 3.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 3.0 4.5 10.0 .450 0.5 1.0 .500 0.0 0.0 -

Season 10

Dennis Johnson Rajon Rondo
Season 1985-862015-16
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 78 35.0 15.6 0.9 2.6 3.4 5.8 1.4 0.4 2.2 2.6 6.2 13.6 .455 0.1 0.5 .143 3.1 3.8 .818
difference:+6+0.2+3.7+0.2+2.4+2.6+5.9+0.6+0.3-1.7-0.2+1.3+2.7+.001+0.8+1.9+.222+1.9+1.7+.238
Rajon Rondo 72 35.2 11.9 1.1 5.0 6.0 11.7 2.0 0.1 3.9 2.4 4.9 10.9 .454 0.9 2.4 .365 1.2 2.1 .580
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 18 39.7 16.2 1.3 2.9 4.2 5.9 2.2 0.3 2.8 3.2 6.1 13.6 .445 0.3 0.9 .375 3.7 4.7 .798
Rajon Rondo DNP------ --- ----------

Season 11

Dennis Johnson Rajon Rondo
Season 1986-872016-17
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsBulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
11th 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 37.1 13.4 0.6 2.7 3.3 7.5 1.1 0.5 2.2 2.5 5.4 12.1 .444 0.1 0.8 .113 2.6 3.2 .833
difference:+10+10.4+5.6+0.5+1.4+1.8+0.8+0.3+0.3-0.2-0.4+2.1+4.0+.036+0.6+1.1+.263+2.2+2.5+.233
Rajon Rondo 69 26.7 7.8 1.1 4.1 5.1 6.7 1.4 0.2 2.4 2.1 3.3 8.1 .408 0.7 1.9 .376 0.4 0.7 .600
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 23 41.9 18.9 1.0 2.9 4.0 8.9 0.7 0.3 1.9 3.1 7.3 15.7 .465 0.1 1.1 .115 4.2 4.9 .850
difference:+21+8.4+7.4+2.5+2.1+4.5+1.1+2.8+0.2-0.1-0.1+1.8+2.7+.042+0.1+1.9+.115+3.7+3.9+.350
Rajon Rondo 2 33.5 11.5 3.5 5.0 8.5 10.0 3.5 0.5 2.0 3.0 5.5 13.0 .423 0.0 3.0 .000 0.5 1.0 .500

Season 12

Dennis Johnson Rajon Rondo
Season 1987-882017-18
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans Pelicans
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsPelicans Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
12th 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 34.7 12.6 0.8 2.3 3.1 7.8 1.2 0.4 2.5 2.6 4.6 10.4 .438 0.2 0.6 .261 3.3 3.9 .856
difference:+12+8.5+4.3+0.3+1.3+0.9+0.4+0.1+0.2-0.2-0.8+1.0+2.8+.030+0.6+1.7+.072+2.9+3.2+.313
Rajon Rondo 65 26.2 8.3 0.5 3.6 4.0 8.2 1.1 0.2 2.3 1.8 3.6 7.6 .468 0.8 2.3 .333 0.4 0.7 .543
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 17 41.3 15.9 0.9 3.6 4.5 8.2 1.4 0.5 2.6 3.0 5.4 12.4 .433 0.4 0.9 .375 4.8 6.1 .796
difference:+8+7.7+5.6+0.1+3.0+3.1+4.0+0.3-1.1-0.8+1.2+2.2+.020+0.5+1.2+.046+3.8+4.5+.153
Rajon Rondo 9 33.6 10.3 1.0 6.6 7.6 12.2 1.4 0.2 3.7 2.2 4.2 10.2 .413 0.9 2.1 .421 1.0 1.6 .643

Season 13

Dennis Johnson Rajon Rondo
Season 1988-892018-19
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 72 32.1 10.0 0.4 2.2 2.6 6.6 1.3 0.3 2.4 2.9 3.8 8.9 .434 0.1 0.7 .140 2.2 2.7 .821
difference:+26+2.3+0.8+0.3+2.3+2.7+1.4+0.1+0.1-0.4-0.7+0.5+.029+1.0+2.4+.219+1.7+1.9+.182
Rajon Rondo 46 29.8 9.2 0.7 4.5 5.3 8.0 1.2 0.2 2.8 2.2 3.8 9.4 .405 1.1 3.1 .359 0.5 0.8 .639
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 3 19.7 2.7 0.7 0.7 1.3 3.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.7 1.3 5.0 .267 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Rajon Rondo DNP------ --- ----------

Season 14

Dennis Johnson Rajon Rondo
Season 1989-902019-20
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 75 27.1 7.1 0.6 2.0 2.7 6.5 1.1 0.2 1.6 2.4 2.7 6.3 .434 0.0 0.3 .042 1.6 1.9 .843
difference:+27+6.6+0.1+0.5+0.3+1.5+0.3+0.2-0.3-1.2+0.2+0.5+.016+0.9+2.3+.286+1.0+1.0+.184
Rajon Rondo 48 20.5 7.1 0.5 2.5 3.0 5.0 0.8 0.0 1.9 1.2 2.9 6.8 .418 0.9 2.6 .328 0.6 0.9 .659
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dennis Johnson 5 32.4 13.8 0.4 2.4 2.8 5.6 0.4 0.4 2.0 3.4 6.0 12.4 .484 0.4 1.2 .333 1.4 1.4 1.000
difference:+11+7.7+4.9+0.4+1.1+1.5+1.0+1.0+0.3-0.1-1.1+2.6+4.8+.029+0.9+1.9+.067+0.6+0.2+.316
Rajon Rondo 16 24.7 8.9 0.8 3.5 4.3 6.6 1.4 0.1 2.1 2.3 3.4 7.6 .455 1.3 3.1 .400 0.8 1.2 .684

Additional Years

* Rajon Rondo played 2 seasons more than Dennis Johnson in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 16, from 2021 to 2022—Rajon Rondo played in one postseason.