Ernie Grunfeld vs. Kevin Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kevin Johnson and Ernie Grunfeld, 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.

Ernie Grunfeld played 9 years in the NBA, 3 less than Kevin Johnson, who played 12. Ernie Grunfeld had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Kevin Johnson had his rookie season in 1987-88. 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
Ernie Grunfeld 9 5 1977-78 to 1985-86
Kevin Johnson 12 11 1987-88 to 1999-00

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Ernie Grunfeld Kevin Johnson
Season 1977-781987-88
Team Milwaukee BucksCleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ernie Grunfeld 73 17.3 6.9 1.0 1.7 2.7 2.0 0.7 0.3 1.3 2.1 2.8 6.3 .443 - - - 1.3 2.0 .657
Kevin Johnson 80 24.0 9.2 0.5 1.9 2.4 5.5 1.3 0.3 1.8 1.9 3.4 7.5 .461 0.1 0.3 .208 2.2 2.6 .839
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ernie Grunfeld 7 11.0 5.4 0.6 1.0 1.6 2.4 0.4 0.1 1.0 0.9 2.4 4.6 .531 - - - 0.6 0.7 .800
Kevin Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Ernie Grunfeld Kevin Johnson
Season 1978-791988-89
Team Milwaukee BucksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Most Improved Player
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 82 21.7 10.3 1.5 2.9 4.4 2.6 0.7 0.2 1.7 2.7 4.0 8.1 .493 - - - 2.3 3.1 .761
Kevin Johnson 81 39.2 20.4 0.6 3.6 4.2 12.2 1.7 0.3 4.0 2.8 7.0 13.9 .505 0.0 0.3 .091 6.3 7.1 .882
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
Kevin Johnson 12 41.2 23.8 1.0 3.3 4.3 12.3 1.6 0.4 4.6 2.3 7.5 15.2 .495 0.3 0.8 .300 8.5 9.2 .927

Season 3

Ernie Grunfeld Kevin Johnson
Season 1979-801989-90
Team Kansas City KingsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf 1st RdSuns 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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 80 17.5 5.9 1.1 1.8 2.9 1.4 0.7 0.1 1.0 1.9 2.3 5.3 .443 0.0 0.0 .500 1.3 1.6 .771
Kevin Johnson 74 37.6 22.5 0.6 3.1 3.6 11.4 1.3 0.2 3.6 1.9 7.8 15.7 .499 0.1 0.6 .195 6.8 8.1 .838
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ernie Grunfeld 3 10.7 3.7 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.7 3.0 .556 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 1.0 .333
Kevin Johnson 16 36.4 21.3 0.6 2.8 3.3 10.6 1.6 0.0 3.9 1.8 7.7 16.1 .479 0.1 0.7 .182 5.8 7.0 .821

Season 4

Ernie Grunfeld Kevin Johnson
Season 1980-811990-91
Team Kansas City KingsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf FinalsSuns 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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 79 20.1 7.5 0.4 2.2 2.6 2.6 0.8 0.2 1.1 2.0 3.3 6.2 .535 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.3 .743
Kevin Johnson 77 36.0 22.2 0.7 2.8 3.5 10.1 2.1 0.1 3.5 2.3 7.7 14.9 .516 0.1 0.6 .205 6.7 8.0 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ernie Grunfeld 15 42.2 16.8 0.7 3.5 4.2 5.9 2.0 0.6 2.9 3.4 6.5 13.4 .488 0.1 0.3 .500 3.6 4.5 .806
Kevin Johnson 4 36.5 12.8 0.5 2.8 3.3 9.8 0.5 0.3 3.0 2.3 4.0 13.3 .302 0.3 1.8 .143 4.5 7.5 .600

Season 5

Ernie Grunfeld Kevin Johnson
Season 1981-821991-92
Team Kansas City KingsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 81 23.4 12.7 0.7 1.6 2.2 3.4 0.9 0.5 1.8 2.4 5.2 10.1 .511 0.0 0.2 .143 2.3 2.8 .821
Kevin Johnson 78 37.2 19.7 0.8 3.0 3.7 10.7 1.5 0.3 3.5 2.3 6.9 14.4 .479 0.1 0.6 .217 5.7 7.1 .807
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
Kevin Johnson 8 41.9 23.6 1.0 3.1 4.1 11.6 1.5 0.3 3.1 3.0 7.8 16.0 .484 0.4 0.8 .500 7.8 9.0 .861

Season 6

Ernie Grunfeld Kevin Johnson
Season 1982-831992-93
Team New York KnicksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisSuns Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ernie Grunfeld 77 18.5 5.4 0.5 1.6 2.1 1.8 0.5 0.1 1.1 2.2 2.2 4.9 .443 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.3 .827
Kevin Johnson 49 33.5 16.1 0.6 1.5 2.1 7.8 1.7 0.4 3.1 2.0 5.8 11.5 .499 0.0 0.2 .125 4.6 5.6 .819
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ernie Grunfeld 6 19.7 8.0 0.3 1.0 1.3 1.7 1.2 0.3 1.5 2.8 2.5 5.7 .441 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.2 .947
Kevin Johnson 23 39.7 17.8 0.4 2.3 2.7 7.9 1.5 0.6 3.7 2.5 6.2 13.0 .480 0.0 0.1 .000 5.4 6.8 .795

Season 7

Ernie Grunfeld Kevin Johnson
Season 1983-841993-94
Team New York KnicksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisSuns 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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 76 14.7 5.2 0.3 1.3 1.6 1.4 0.6 0.1 0.9 2.0 2.2 4.8 .459 0.0 0.1 .222 0.8 1.1 .771
Kevin Johnson 67 36.6 20.0 0.8 1.7 2.5 9.5 1.9 0.1 3.5 1.9 7.1 14.6 .487 0.1 0.4 .222 5.7 6.9 .819
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ernie Grunfeld 11 7.6 2.4 0.1 0.7 0.8 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.4 1.1 1.0 2.1 .478 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.4 1.000
Kevin Johnson 10 42.7 26.6 1.0 2.5 3.5 9.6 1.0 0.1 3.4 2.3 9.7 21.2 .458 0.3 1.0 .300 6.9 8.1 .852

Season 8

Ernie Grunfeld Kevin Johnson
Season 1984-851994-95
Team New York KnicksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 69 15.4 6.6 0.6 1.6 2.2 1.5 0.7 0.1 0.6 1.9 2.7 5.6 .490 0.0 0.1 .250 1.1 1.5 .740
Kevin Johnson 47 28.8 15.5 0.7 1.8 2.4 7.7 1.0 0.4 2.2 1.9 5.2 11.1 .470 0.1 0.6 .154 5.0 6.1 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
Kevin Johnson 10 37.1 24.8 0.7 3.4 4.1 9.3 0.9 0.4 3.4 2.5 8.6 15.0 .573 0.5 1.0 .500 7.1 8.4 .845

Season 9

Ernie Grunfeld Kevin Johnson
Season 1985-861995-96
Team New York KnicksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
Ernie Grunfeld 76 18.4 5.4 0.6 2.2 2.7 1.6 0.5 0.2 0.7 2.5 1.9 4.7 .417 0.3 0.8 .426 1.2 1.4 .833
Kevin Johnson 56 35.8 18.7 0.8 3.2 3.9 9.2 1.5 0.2 3.0 2.6 6.1 12.0 .507 0.4 1.0 .368 6.1 7.1 .859
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
Kevin Johnson 4 37.8 17.3 0.5 3.8 4.3 10.8 0.5 0.5 2.8 2.0 6.8 14.3 .474 0.3 1.0 .250 3.5 4.3 .824

Season 10

Ernie Grunfeld Kevin Johnson
Season -1996-97
Team -Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Suns 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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
Kevin Johnson 70 38.0 20.1 0.8 2.8 3.6 9.3 1.5 0.2 3.1 2.0 6.3 12.7 .496 1.3 2.9 .441 6.3 7.4 .852
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
Kevin Johnson 5 41.6 16.8 1.6 2.8 4.4 6.0 2.6 0.0 3.6 3.0 5.2 17.6 .295 0.6 4.4 .136 5.8 6.6 .879

Season 11

Ernie Grunfeld Kevin Johnson
Season -1997-98
Team -Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Suns 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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
Kevin Johnson 50 25.8 9.5 0.7 2.6 3.3 4.9 0.5 0.2 2.0 1.1 3.1 6.9 .447 0.1 0.5 .154 3.2 3.7 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
Kevin Johnson 4 30.5 13.8 0.5 1.8 2.3 4.8 0.5 0.3 1.5 1.5 5.8 10.5 .548 0.3 1.0 .250 2.0 3.0 .667

Note: Kevin Johnson didn't play in 1998-99.

Season 12

Ernie Grunfeld Kevin Johnson
Season -1999-00
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 %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
Kevin Johnson 6 18.8 6.7 0.0 2.7 2.7 4.0 0.3 0.0 1.2 1.0 2.7 4.7 .571 0.2 0.2 1.000 1.2 1.2 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ernie Grunfeld ------- --- ----------
Kevin Johnson 9 14.3 3.2 0.0 1.4 1.4 2.6 0.3 0.1 1.4 1.1 1.3 4.1 .324 0.0 0.3 .000 0.6 0.7 .833