Gary Payton vs. Thabo Sefolosha Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Thabo Sefolosha and Gary Payton, 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.

Gary Payton played 17 years in the NBA, 3 more than Thabo Sefolosha, who played 14. Gary Payton had the first of his seasons in 1990-91, while Thabo Sefolosha 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 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
Gary Payton 17 15 1990-91 to 2006-07
Thabo Sefolosha 14 9 2006-07 to 2019-20

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

Gary Payton Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1990-912006-07
Team Seattle SupersonicsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 71 12.2 3.6 0.5 1.7 2.2 0.8 0.5 0.2 0.8 1.4 1.5 3.6 .426 0.2 0.6 .357 0.3 0.6 .511
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 9 11.0 3.3 0.4 1.4 1.9 0.8 0.2 0.0 0.8 1.2 1.1 2.9 .385 0.3 0.9 .375 0.8 1.3 .583

Season 2

Gary Payton Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1991-922007-08
Team Seattle SupersonicsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 69 20.8 6.7 0.7 3.0 3.7 1.9 0.9 0.4 1.3 1.9 2.6 6.1 .428 0.4 1.3 .330 1.1 1.5 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Gary Payton Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1992-932008-09
Team Seattle SupersonicsChicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 66 22.0 5.9 0.8 2.8 3.7 1.7 1.1 0.7 1.0 1.6 2.3 5.4 .426 0.4 1.3 .276 0.9 1.1 .836
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Gary Payton Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1993-942009-10
Team Seattle SupersonicsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdThunder 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 %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 82 28.6 6.0 0.9 3.8 4.7 1.8 1.2 0.6 1.1 1.9 2.4 5.4 .440 0.5 1.6 .313 0.7 1.1 .674
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 6 21.2 4.5 0.5 2.5 3.0 1.2 0.8 1.0 0.3 2.5 1.3 4.5 .296 0.5 2.2 .231 1.3 1.5 .889

Season 5

Gary Payton Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1994-952010-11
Team Seattle SupersonicsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdThunder 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 %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 79 25.9 5.1 0.8 3.6 4.4 1.4 1.2 0.5 0.7 2.2 2.0 4.2 .471 0.4 1.3 .275 0.7 1.0 .747
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 17 20.2 4.6 0.7 2.4 3.1 0.7 0.9 0.3 0.9 1.4 1.8 3.9 .463 0.2 1.5 .154 0.8 0.8 1.000

Season 6

Gary Payton Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1995-962011-12
Team Seattle SupersonicsOklahoma City Thunder
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 Supersonics Lost NBA FinalsThunder Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 42 21.8 4.8 0.5 2.5 3.0 1.1 0.9 0.4 1.0 1.9 1.6 3.7 .432 0.7 1.7 .437 0.9 1.0 .884
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 20 22.3 5.3 0.6 2.1 2.7 1.3 1.5 0.5 0.6 2.2 2.1 5.1 .402 0.8 2.5 .327 0.4 0.5 .889

Season 7

Gary Payton Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1996-972012-13
Team Seattle SupersonicsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisThunder 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 %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 81 27.5 7.6 0.7 3.2 3.9 1.5 1.3 0.5 0.8 2.2 2.8 5.8 .481 1.3 3.2 .419 0.7 0.9 .826
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 11 27.3 5.7 1.2 3.3 4.5 2.1 1.1 0.5 0.7 2.4 1.9 5.5 .344 1.1 3.5 .316 0.8 1.0 .818

Season 8

Gary Payton Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1997-982013-14
Team Seattle SupersonicsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisThunder 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 %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 61 26.0 6.3 0.8 2.8 3.6 1.5 1.3 0.3 0.9 1.5 2.3 5.6 .415 0.8 2.5 .316 0.9 1.1 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 15 15.7 3.7 0.5 1.6 2.1 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.5 0.7 1.5 3.7 .418 0.4 1.5 .261 0.3 0.3 .800

Season 9

Gary Payton Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1998-992014-15
Team Seattle SupersonicsAtlanta Hawks
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 %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 52 18.8 5.3 1.0 3.3 4.3 1.4 1.0 0.4 0.7 1.3 2.0 4.8 .418 0.5 1.5 .321 0.9 1.1 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Gary Payton Thabo Sefolosha
Season 1999-002015-16
Team Seattle SupersonicsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdHawks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 75 23.4 6.4 0.7 3.8 4.5 1.4 1.1 0.5 0.9 1.5 2.5 4.9 .507 0.6 1.6 .341 0.8 1.3 .626
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 10 20.3 5.9 0.8 3.3 4.1 1.7 1.0 0.6 1.0 1.7 2.2 4.6 .478 0.7 1.9 .368 0.8 1.5 .533

Season 11

Gary Payton Thabo Sefolosha
Season 2000-012016-17
Team Seattle SupersonicsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks 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 %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 62 25.7 7.2 0.9 3.5 4.4 1.7 1.5 0.5 0.9 1.6 2.8 6.4 .441 0.7 1.9 .342 0.9 1.2 .733
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha 4 2.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 1.0 .250

Season 12

Gary Payton Thabo Sefolosha
Season 2001-022017-18
Team Seattle SupersonicsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 38 21.2 8.2 0.8 3.5 4.2 0.9 1.4 0.3 0.8 1.6 3.1 6.3 .492 0.8 2.2 .381 1.2 1.4 .815
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Gary Payton Thabo Sefolosha
Season 2002-032018-19
Team Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee BucksUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdJazz 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 %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 50 12.2 3.8 0.2 2.3 2.5 0.5 0.9 0.1 0.5 0.8 1.4 3.0 .477 0.7 1.6 .436 0.3 0.4 .636
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 4 10.5 1.3 0.3 1.8 2.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.8 0.5 3.5 .143 0.3 2.0 .125 0.0 0.0 -

Season 14

Gary Payton Thabo Sefolosha
Season 2003-042019-20
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
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
Thabo Sefolosha 41 10.6 2.2 0.5 1.8 2.3 0.6 0.6 0.3 0.4 1.0 0.9 2.2 .407 0.4 1.3 .278 0.1 0.2 .375
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Gary Payton Thabo Sefolosha
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 %
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
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Gary Payton Thabo Sefolosha
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 %
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
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Gary Payton Thabo Sefolosha
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 %
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
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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 -
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------