Gilbert Arenas vs. Jimmy Butler Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jimmy Butler and Gilbert Arenas, 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 / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings / 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.

Gilbert Arenas played 11 years in the NBA, 4 less than Jimmy Butler, who played 15. Gilbert Arenas had the first of his seasons in 2001-02, while Jimmy Butler had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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
Gilbert Arenas 11 5 2001-02 to 2011-12
Jimmy Butler 15 12 2011-12 to 2025-26

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Gilbert Arenas Jimmy Butler
Season 2001-022011-12
Team Golden State WarriorsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 47 24.6 10.9 0.9 1.9 2.8 3.7 1.5 0.2 2.1 2.4 3.7 8.2 .453 0.8 2.4 .345 2.6 3.4 .775
difference:+5+16.1+8.3+0.4+1.1+1.5+3.4+1.2+0.1-1.8-1.9+2.9+6.3+.048+0.8+2.1+.163+1.6+2.1+.007
Jimmy Butler 42 8.5 2.6 0.5 0.8 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.8 1.9 .405 0.0 0.3 .182 1.0 1.3 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas DNP------ --- ----------
Jimmy Butler 3 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Gilbert Arenas Jimmy Butler
Season 2002-032012-13
Team Golden State WarriorsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Most Improved Player-
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 82 35.0 18.3 1.2 3.5 4.7 6.3 1.5 0.2 3.5 3.2 6.2 14.4 .431 1.3 3.8 .348 4.5 5.7 .791
difference:+9.0+9.7+0.5+1.2+0.7+4.9+0.5+0.2-2.7-2.0+3.3+8.2+.036+0.8+2.5+.033+2.2+2.9+.012
Jimmy Butler 82 26.0 8.6 1.7 2.3 4.0 1.4 1.0 0.4 0.8 1.2 2.9 6.2 .467 0.5 1.3 .381 2.3 2.8 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas DNP------ --- ----------
Jimmy Butler 12 40.8 13.3 0.8 4.4 5.2 2.7 1.3 0.5 1.3 2.2 4.2 9.6 .435 1.3 3.1 .405 3.8 4.6 .818

Season 3

Gilbert Arenas Jimmy Butler
Season 2003-042013-14
Team Washington WizardsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 55 37.6 19.6 1.0 3.6 4.6 5.0 1.9 0.2 4.1 3.2 6.5 16.6 .392 2.3 6.1 .375 4.3 5.8 .748
difference:+12+1.1+6.5+0.3+0.3+2.4+0.3-2.6-1.6+2.4+6.3+.005+1.3+2.5+.092+0.4+0.8+.021
Jimmy Butler 67 38.7 13.1 1.3 3.6 4.9 2.6 1.9 0.5 1.5 1.6 4.1 10.3 .397 1.0 3.6 .283 3.9 5.0 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas DNP------ --- ----------
Jimmy Butler 5 43.6 13.6 1.2 4.0 5.2 2.2 1.2 0.0 0.6 2.6 4.4 11.4 .386 1.2 4.0 .300 3.6 4.6 .783

Season 4

Gilbert Arenas Jimmy Butler
Season 2004-052014-15
Team Washington WizardsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Most Improved Player
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Wizards Lost East Conf SemisBulls Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 80 40.9 25.5 1.0 3.7 4.7 5.1 1.7 0.3 3.0 3.1 8.2 19.0 .431 2.6 7.0 .365 6.5 8.0 .814
difference:+15+2.2+5.5+0.8+0.4+1.1+1.8+0.1+0.3-1.6-1.4+1.7+5.0+.031+1.5+4.0+.013+0.6+0.9+.020
Jimmy Butler 65 38.7 20.0 1.8 4.1 5.8 3.3 1.8 0.6 1.4 1.7 6.5 14.0 .462 1.1 3.0 .378 5.9 7.1 .834
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 10 45.1 23.6 0.8 4.4 5.2 6.2 2.1 0.6 3.9 3.4 7.3 19.4 .376 1.8 7.7 .234 7.2 9.4 .766
difference:+2+2.9+0.7+0.7+0.3+0.4+3.0+0.3+0.2-2.1-1.1+0.5+1.6+.065+0.5+1.7+.155+2.3+3.4+.053
Jimmy Butler 12 42.2 22.9 1.5 4.1 5.6 3.2 2.4 0.8 1.8 2.3 7.8 17.8 .441 2.3 6.0 .389 4.9 6.0 .819

Season 5

Gilbert Arenas Jimmy Butler
Season 2005-062015-16
Team Washington WizardsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Wizards Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 80 42.3 29.3 0.7 2.8 3.5 6.1 2.0 0.3 3.7 3.6 9.3 20.9 .447 2.5 6.8 .369 8.2 10.0 .820
difference:+13+5.4+8.4+0.5+1.4+1.8+1.3+0.4+0.3-1.7-1.7+2.3+5.5+.007+1.5+3.7+.057+2.3+2.9+.012
Jimmy Butler 67 36.9 20.9 1.2 4.2 5.3 4.8 1.6 0.6 2.0 1.9 7.0 15.4 .454 1.0 3.1 .312 5.9 7.1 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 6 47.3 34.0 1.2 4.3 5.5 5.3 2.2 0.7 3.3 3.5 10.8 23.3 .464 3.3 7.7 .435 9.0 11.7 .771
Jimmy Butler DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Gilbert Arenas Jimmy Butler
Season 2006-072016-17
Team Washington WizardsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls 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%
Gilbert Arenas 74 39.8 28.4 0.8 3.7 4.6 6.0 1.9 0.2 3.2 3.4 8.7 20.9 .418 2.8 7.9 .351 8.2 9.7 .844
difference:+2+2.8+4.5+0.9+0.8+1.6+0.5+0.2-1.1-1.9+1.2+4.4+.037+1.6+4.6+.016+0.5+0.8+.021
Jimmy Butler 76 37.0 23.9 1.7 4.5 6.2 5.5 1.9 0.4 2.1 1.5 7.5 16.5 .455 1.2 3.3 .367 7.7 8.9 .865
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas DNP------ --- ----------
Jimmy Butler 6 39.8 22.7 1.5 5.8 7.3 4.3 1.7 0.8 2.5 1.7 7.7 18.0 .426 1.0 3.8 .261 6.3 7.8 .809

Season 7

Gilbert Arenas Jimmy Butler
Season 2007-082017-18
Team Washington WizardsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Wizards Lost East Conf 1st RdTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 13 32.7 19.4 0.5 3.5 3.9 5.1 1.8 0.1 3.8 2.3 6.0 15.1 .398 1.7 6.0 .282 5.7 7.4 .771
difference:+46+4.0+2.8+0.8+0.5+1.4+0.2+0.2+0.3-2.0-1.0+1.4+0.5+.076+0.5+2.6+.068+0.5+0.2+.083
Jimmy Butler 59 36.7 22.2 1.3 4.0 5.3 4.9 2.0 0.4 1.8 1.3 7.4 15.6 .474 1.2 3.4 .350 6.2 7.2 .854
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 4 23.5 10.8 0.0 1.8 1.8 2.8 0.5 0.0 2.0 3.3 3.5 9.0 .389 1.3 3.0 .417 2.5 3.0 .833
difference:+1+10.5+5.0+0.6+3.6+4.2+1.2+0.3+0.2-1.0-1.5+2.1+3.6+.055+0.3+0.4+.054+0.5+0.6
Jimmy Butler 5 34.0 15.8 0.6 5.4 6.0 4.0 0.8 0.2 1.0 1.8 5.6 12.6 .444 1.6 3.4 .471 3.0 3.6 .833

Season 8

Gilbert Arenas Jimmy Butler
Season 2008-092018-19
Team Washington WizardsMinnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 2 31.5 13.0 0.5 4.0 4.5 10.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 2.0 3.0 11.5 .261 1.0 3.5 .286 6.0 8.0 .750
difference:+63+2.1+5.7+1.4+0.6+0.8+6.0+1.9+0.1-1.0-0.3+3.4+2.4+.201+0.5+.061+1.2+2.4+.105
Jimmy Butler 65 33.6 18.7 1.9 3.4 5.3 4.0 1.9 0.6 1.5 1.7 6.4 13.9 .462 1.0 3.0 .347 4.8 5.6 .855
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas DNP------ --- ----------
Jimmy Butler 12 35.1 19.4 1.8 4.2 6.0 5.2 1.5 0.6 1.8 1.7 6.6 14.6 .451 1.0 3.8 .267 5.3 6.0 .875

Season 9

Gilbert Arenas Jimmy Butler
Season 2009-102019-20
Team Washington WizardsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHeat Lost NBA Finals
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 32 36.5 22.6 0.5 3.6 4.2 7.2 1.3 0.3 3.7 3.0 7.9 19.3 .411 2.0 5.7 .348 4.8 6.5 .739
difference:+26+2.7+2.7+1.3+1.2+2.5+1.2+0.5+0.3-1.5-1.6+2.0+6.2+.044+1.5+3.6+.104+2.8+2.6+.095
Jimmy Butler 58 33.8 19.9 1.8 4.8 6.7 6.0 1.8 0.6 2.2 1.4 5.9 13.1 .455 0.5 2.1 .244 7.6 9.1 .834
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas DNP------ --- ----------
Jimmy Butler 21 38.4 22.2 2.2 4.3 6.5 6.0 2.0 0.7 2.8 1.8 6.9 14.0 .488 0.7 2.0 .349 7.8 9.1 .859

Season 10

Gilbert Arenas Jimmy Butler
Season 2010-112020-21
Team Washington Wizards, Orlando MagicMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdHeat Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 70 25.7 10.8 0.3 2.4 2.7 3.9 1.1 0.3 2.5 2.7 3.8 10.5 .366 1.4 4.7 .297 1.7 2.2 .784
difference:+18+7.9+10.7+1.5+2.7+4.2+3.2+1.0-0.4-1.3+3.2+3.7+.131+0.9+2.7+.052+5.2+5.8+.079
Jimmy Butler 52 33.6 21.5 1.8 5.1 6.9 7.1 2.1 0.3 2.1 1.4 7.0 14.2 .497 0.5 2.0 .245 6.9 8.0 .863
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 5 16.2 8.6 0.8 2.0 2.8 2.4 0.2 0.2 1.2 2.8 3.6 8.4 .429 0.6 2.4 .250 0.8 1.2 .667
difference:+1+22.3+5.9+0.7+4.0+4.7+4.6+1.1+0.1-1.1-1.3+1.2+7.6+.132+0.4+1.4+.017+3.2+4.3+.060
Jimmy Butler 4 38.5 14.5 1.5 6.0 7.5 7.0 1.3 0.3 2.3 1.5 4.8 16.0 .297 1.0 3.8 .267 4.0 5.5 .727

Season 11

Gilbert Arenas Jimmy Butler
Season 2011-122021-22
Team Memphis GrizzliesMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf 1st RdHeat Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 17 12.4 4.2 0.1 0.9 1.1 1.1 0.6 0.1 0.7 2.1 1.5 3.8 .406 0.8 2.3 .333 0.4 0.6 .700
difference:+40+21.5+17.2+1.7+3.2+4.8+4.4+1.0+0.4-1.4-0.6+5.5+10.7+.074+0.3+0.3+.100+6.5+7.4+.170
Jimmy Butler 57 33.9 21.4 1.8 4.1 5.9 5.5 1.6 0.5 2.1 1.5 7.0 14.5 .480 0.5 2.0 .233 6.9 8.0 .870
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 6 3.8 0.7 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.0 0.3 1.3 .250 0.0 0.7 .000 0.0 0.0 -
difference:+11+33.2+26.7+2.4+4.7+7.2+4.4+2.1+0.6-1.3-0.5+9.5+18.0+.256+1.4+3.3+.338+6.5+7.8
Jimmy Butler 17 37.0 27.4 2.4 4.9 7.4 4.6 2.1 0.6 1.5 1.5 9.8 19.3 .506 1.4 4.0 .338 6.5 7.8 .841

Additional Years

* Jimmy Butler played 4 seasons more than Gilbert Arenas in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 12 to 15, from 2023 to 2026—Jimmy Butler played in two Playoffs.

In those 4 extra years over Gilbert Arenas, Jimmy Butler got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA Second Team