James Donaldson vs. Trae Young Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Trae Young and James Donaldson, 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.

James Donaldson played 14 years in the NBA, 8 more than Trae Young, who played 6. James Donaldson had the first of his seasons in 1980-81, while Trae Young had his rookie season in 2018-19. 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
James Donaldson 14 9 1980-81 to 1994-95
Trae Young 6 3 2018-19 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

James Donaldson Trae Young
Season 1980-812018-19
Team Seattle SupersonicsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie 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 %
James Donaldson 68 14.4 5.3 1.6 3.0 4.5 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.0 1.2 1.9 3.5 .542 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.5 .594
Trae Young 81 30.9 19.1 0.8 2.9 3.7 8.1 0.9 0.2 3.8 1.7 6.5 15.5 .418 1.9 6.0 .324 4.2 5.1 .829
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------
Trae Young ------- --- ----------

Season 2

James Donaldson Trae Young
Season 1981-822019-20
Team Seattle SupersonicsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
James Donaldson 82 20.9 8.1 1.7 4.3 6.0 0.6 0.3 1.7 1.4 2.3 3.1 5.1 .609 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.9 .629
Trae Young 60 35.3 29.6 0.5 3.7 4.3 9.3 1.1 0.1 4.8 1.7 9.1 20.8 .437 3.4 9.5 .361 8.0 9.3 .860
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 8 23.6 6.8 3.1 6.1 9.3 0.9 0.3 0.6 1.3 2.0 2.3 5.4 .419 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.0 .750
Trae Young ------- --- ----------

Season 3

James Donaldson Trae Young
Season 1982-832020-21
Team Seattle SupersonicsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdHawks Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 82 21.8 8.9 1.6 4.5 6.1 1.2 0.2 1.2 1.6 2.1 3.5 6.0 .583 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.7 .688
Trae Young 63 33.7 25.3 0.6 3.3 3.9 9.4 0.8 0.2 4.1 1.8 7.7 17.7 .438 2.2 6.3 .343 7.7 8.7 .886
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 2 23.5 12.0 2.5 6.0 8.5 1.0 0.0 1.5 0.0 2.0 5.5 11.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.5 .667
Trae Young 16 37.7 28.8 0.4 2.4 2.8 9.5 1.3 0.0 4.0 2.2 9.4 22.4 .418 2.8 9.0 .313 7.3 8.4 .866

Season 4

James Donaldson Trae Young
Season 1983-842021-22
Team San Diego ClippersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third 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 %
James Donaldson 82 30.8 11.8 2.0 5.9 7.9 1.1 0.5 1.7 2.1 2.6 4.4 7.4 .596 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.0 .761
Trae Young 76 34.9 28.4 0.7 3.1 3.7 9.7 0.9 0.1 4.0 1.7 9.4 20.3 .460 3.1 8.0 .382 6.6 7.3 .904
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------
Trae Young 5 37.2 15.4 1.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 0.6 0.0 6.2 2.6 4.4 13.8 .319 1.4 7.6 .184 5.2 6.6 .788

Season 5

James Donaldson Trae Young
Season 1984-852022-23
Team Los Angeles ClippersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
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 %
James Donaldson 82 29.2 11.3 2.0 6.1 8.1 0.6 0.3 1.6 2.5 2.6 4.3 6.7 .637 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.7 .749
Trae Young 73 34.8 26.2 0.8 2.2 3.0 10.2 1.1 0.1 4.1 1.4 8.2 19.0 .429 2.1 6.3 .335 7.8 8.8 .886
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------
Trae Young 6 38.3 29.2 0.8 2.8 3.7 10.2 1.7 0.7 4.0 1.8 10.0 24.8 .403 3.0 9.0 .333 6.2 7.2 .860

Season 6

James Donaldson Trae Young
Season 1985-862023-24
Team Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas MavericksAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks 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 %
James Donaldson 83 32.3 8.6 2.1 7.5 9.6 1.2 0.3 1.7 1.5 2.3 3.1 5.5 .558 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.1 .803
Trae Young 54 36.0 25.7 0.4 2.3 2.8 10.8 1.3 0.2 4.4 2.0 8.0 18.7 .430 3.2 8.7 .373 6.4 7.5 .855
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 10 41.0 10.9 3.0 8.7 11.7 1.0 0.6 1.2 1.0 2.6 3.6 4.8 .750 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 4.0 .925
Trae Young ------- --- ----------

Season 7

James Donaldson Trae Young
Season 1986-87-
Team Dallas Mavericks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks 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 %
James Donaldson 82 36.9 10.8 3.6 8.3 11.9 0.8 0.6 1.7 1.3 2.3 3.8 6.5 .586 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.0 .812
Trae Young ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 3 22.7 5.3 0.7 5.0 5.7 0.7 0.3 1.0 0.7 2.0 1.3 1.7 .800 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.0 .889
Trae Young ------- --- ----------

Season 8

James Donaldson Trae Young
Season 1987-88-
Team Dallas Mavericks-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Mavericks 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 %
James Donaldson 81 31.1 7.0 3.0 6.3 9.3 0.8 0.5 1.3 1.4 2.2 2.6 4.7 .558 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.3 .778
Trae Young ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 17 29.4 9.3 2.8 5.8 8.6 0.7 0.4 0.9 1.7 2.4 4.0 6.1 .654 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 2.2 .595
Trae Young ------- --- ----------

Season 9

James Donaldson Trae Young
Season 1988-89-
Team Dallas Mavericks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 53 32.9 9.1 3.0 7.8 10.8 0.7 0.5 1.5 1.6 2.1 3.6 6.4 .573 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.3 .766
Trae Young ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------
Trae Young ------- --- ----------

Season 10

James Donaldson Trae Young
Season 1989-90-
Team Dallas Mavericks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks 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 %
James Donaldson 73 31.0 9.1 2.1 6.5 8.6 0.8 0.3 0.6 1.6 1.8 3.5 6.6 .539 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.9 .700
Trae Young ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 3 24.7 7.3 2.0 3.3 5.3 0.7 0.7 0.0 1.3 2.7 3.0 4.3 .692 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.7 .800
Trae Young ------- --- ----------

Season 11

James Donaldson Trae Young
Season 1990-91-
Team Dallas Mavericks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 82 34.1 10.0 2.5 6.4 8.9 0.8 0.4 1.1 1.8 2.2 4.0 7.5 .532 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.8 .721
Trae Young ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson ------- --- ----------
Trae Young ------- --- ----------

Season 12

James Donaldson Trae Young
Season 1991-92-
Team Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
James Donaldson 58 18.5 4.9 1.7 3.3 5.0 0.6 0.1 0.8 0.8 1.8 1.9 4.2 .457 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.5 .709
Trae Young ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 2 5.5 2.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Trae Young ------- --- ----------

Season 13

James Donaldson Trae Young
Season 1992-93-
Team Utah Jazz-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
James Donaldson 6 15.7 3.5 1.0 3.8 4.8 0.2 0.2 1.2 0.7 2.2 1.3 2.3 .571 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .556
Trae Young ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 1 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Trae Young ------- --- ----------

Note: James Donaldson didn't play in 1993-94.

Season 14

James Donaldson Trae Young
Season 1994-95-
Team Utah Jazz-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
James Donaldson 43 14.3 2.6 0.4 2.0 2.5 0.3 0.1 0.7 0.5 1.5 1.0 1.7 .595 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.7 .710
Trae Young ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Donaldson 5 15.2 2.8 0.6 1.2 1.8 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.4 1.6 1.0 1.2 .833 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 0.8 1.000
Trae Young ------- --- ----------