Jalen Brunson vs. Bill Walton Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Walton and Jalen Brunson, 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 / Stats / Stats Rankings

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.

Jalen Brunson played 8 years in the NBA, 2 less than Bill Walton, who played 10. Jalen Brunson had the first of his seasons in 2018-19, while Bill Walton had his rookie season in 1974-75. 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
Jalen Brunson 8 5 2018-19 to 2025-26
Bill Walton 10 4 1974-75 to 1986-87

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Jalen Brunson Bill Walton
Season 2018-191974-75
Team Dallas MavericksPortland Trail Blazers
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%
Jalen Brunson 73 21.8 9.3 0.3 2.0 2.3 3.2 0.5 0.1 1.2 1.7 3.6 7.7 .467 0.9 2.5 .348 1.2 1.6 .725
difference:+38+11.1+3.5+2.3+8.0+10.3+1.6+0.3+2.6-1.6+1.5+2.2+.046+1.5+2.3+.039
Bill Walton 35 32.9 12.8 2.6 10.0 12.6 4.8 0.8 2.7 - 3.3 5.1 9.9 .513 - - - 2.7 3.9 .686
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Jalen Brunson nor Bill Walton played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Jalen Brunson Bill Walton
Season 2019-201975-76
Team Dallas MavericksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Jalen Brunson 57 17.9 8.2 0.4 2.0 2.4 3.3 0.4 0.1 1.2 1.3 3.2 6.8 .466 0.8 2.1 .358 1.1 1.3 .813
difference:+6+15.2+7.9+2.2+8.8+11.0+1.0+0.6+1.5-1.5+3.6+7.6+.005+1.5+3.2+.230
Bill Walton 51 33.1 16.1 2.6 10.8 13.4 4.3 1.0 1.6 - 2.8 6.8 14.4 .471 - - - 2.6 4.5 .583
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Jalen Brunson nor Bill Walton played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3

Jalen Brunson Bill Walton
Season 2020-211976-77
Team Dallas MavericksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement Blocks Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jalen Brunson 68 25.0 12.6 0.4 3.0 3.4 3.5 0.5 0.0 1.2 1.6 4.8 9.2 .523 1.2 2.9 .405 1.8 2.2 .795
difference:+3+9.8+6.0+2.8+8.1+11.0+0.3+0.5+3.2-1.1+2.8+5.1+.005+1.7+2.8+.098
Bill Walton 65 34.8 18.6 3.2 11.1 14.4 3.8 1.0 3.2 - 2.7 7.6 14.3 .528 - - - 3.5 5.0 .697
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jalen Brunson 7 16.3 8.0 0.9 1.7 2.6 1.4 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.9 2.9 6.3 .455 0.9 1.9 .462 1.4 1.9 .769
difference:+12+23.4+10.2+2.0+10.5+12.6+4.1+1.1+3.4-3.3+5.2+9.6+.052+0.7+1.1+.085
Bill Walton 19 39.7 18.2 2.9 12.2 15.2 5.5 1.1 3.4 - 4.2 8.1 15.9 .507 - - - 2.1 3.0 .684

Season 4

Jalen Brunson Bill Walton
Season 2021-221977-78
Team Dallas MavericksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf FinalsTrail Blazers Lost West 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%
Jalen Brunson 79 31.9 16.3 0.5 3.4 3.9 4.8 0.8 0.0 1.6 1.9 6.4 12.8 .502 1.2 3.2 .373 2.3 2.7 .840
difference:+21+1.4+2.6+1.5+7.8+9.3+0.2+0.2+2.5-2.0-0.6+1.5+2.4+.020+0.8+1.5+.120
Bill Walton 58 33.3 18.9 2.0 11.2 13.2 5.0 1.0 2.5 3.6 2.5 7.9 15.2 .522 - - - 3.1 4.2 .720
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jalen Brunson 18 34.9 21.6 0.8 3.8 4.6 3.7 0.8 0.1 1.1 2.1 8.1 17.3 .466 1.4 4.2 .347 4.0 5.0 .800
difference:+16+10.4+8.1+1.7+4.7+6.4+1.7+0.7+1.4-1.9-1.6+2.6+8.3+.145+1.5+1.5+.086
Bill Walton 2 24.5 13.5 2.5 8.5 11.0 2.0 1.5 1.5 3.0 0.5 5.5 9.0 .611 - - - 2.5 3.5 .714

Note: Bill Walton didn't play in 1978-79.

Season 5

Jalen Brunson Bill Walton
Season 2022-231979-80
Team New York KnicksSan Diego Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisDid 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%
Jalen Brunson 68 35.0 24.0 0.6 3.0 3.5 6.2 0.9 0.2 2.1 2.2 8.6 17.6 .491 2.0 4.7 .416 4.8 5.8 .829
difference:+54+10.9+10.1+1.4+4.0+5.5+3.8+0.3+2.5-0.5-0.4+2.8+6.1+.012+2.0+4.7+2.5+1.9+.236
Bill Walton 14 24.1 13.9 2.0 7.0 9.0 2.4 0.6 2.7 2.6 2.6 5.8 11.5 .503 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.9 .593
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jalen Brunson 11 40.3 27.8 0.8 4.1 4.9 5.6 1.5 0.1 2.1 2.4 9.9 20.9 .474 2.4 7.3 .325 5.6 6.2 .912
Bill Walton DNP------ --- ----------

Note: Bill Walton didn't play in 1980-81 and 1981-82.

Season 6

Jalen Brunson Bill Walton
Season 2023-241982-83
Team New York KnicksSan Diego Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jalen Brunson 77 35.4 28.7 0.6 3.1 3.6 6.7 0.9 0.2 2.4 1.9 10.3 21.4 .479 2.7 6.8 .401 5.5 6.5 .847
difference:+44+2.1+14.6+1.7+4.4+6.2+3.1+0.1+3.4-0.8-1.5+4.2+9.9+.049+2.7+6.8+3.5+3.0+.291
Bill Walton 33 33.3 14.1 2.3 7.5 9.8 3.6 1.0 3.6 3.2 3.4 6.1 11.5 .528 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.5 .556
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jalen Brunson 13 39.8 32.4 0.6 2.7 3.3 7.5 0.8 0.2 2.7 2.0 11.6 26.2 .444 2.0 6.5 .310 7.2 9.2 .775
Bill Walton DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7

Jalen Brunson Bill Walton
Season 2024-251983-84
Team New York KnicksSan Diego Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Clutch Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsDid 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%
Jalen Brunson 65 35.4 26.0 0.4 2.5 2.9 7.3 0.9 0.1 2.5 2.1 9.0 18.5 .488 2.3 6.1 .383 5.7 6.9 .821
difference:+10+8.6+13.9+2.0+3.8+5.8+4.0+0.1+1.5-0.7-0.7+3.8+9.1+.068+2.3+6.1+4.0+4.1+.224
Bill Walton 55 26.8 12.1 2.4 6.3 8.7 3.3 0.8 1.6 3.2 2.8 5.2 9.4 .556 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.8 .597
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jalen Brunson 18 37.8 29.4 0.7 2.8 3.4 7.0 0.4 0.3 3.1 3.3 10.1 21.8 .461 2.7 7.4 .358 6.7 7.8 .851
Bill Walton DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Jalen Brunson Bill Walton
Season 2025-261984-85
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Jalen Brunson 5 34.8 31.2 0.6 3.0 3.6 5.4 1.0 0.0 2.0 2.8 11.0 22.8 .482 2.6 8.0 .325 6.6 8.0 .825
difference:+62+10.2+21.1+1.9+3.4+5.4+3.1+0.3+2.1-0.6-0.1+7.0+15.1+.039+2.6+8.0+4.5+5.0+.145
Bill Walton 67 24.6 10.1 2.5 6.4 9.0 2.3 0.7 2.1 2.6 2.7 4.0 7.7 .521 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.0 .680
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Jalen Brunson nor Bill Walton played in the postseason in their season 8

Additional Years

* Bill Walton played 2 seasons more than Jalen Brunson in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 9 to 10, from 1986 to 1987—Bill Walton played in two Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.

In those 2 extra years over Jalen Brunson, Bill Walton got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Sixth Man of the Year