James Johnson vs. Karl-Anthony Towns Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Karl-Anthony Towns and James Johnson, 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.

James Johnson played 15 years in the NBA, 6 more than Karl-Anthony Towns, who played 9. James Johnson had the first of his seasons in 2009-10, while Karl-Anthony Towns had his rookie season in 2015-16. 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 Johnson 15 6 2009-10 to 2023-24
Karl-Anthony Towns 9 4 2015-16 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15

Rookie Season

James Johnson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2009-102015-16
Team Chicago BullsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Bulls Lost East 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 %
James Johnson 65 11.6 3.9 0.5 1.4 2.0 0.7 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.9 1.5 3.2 .452 0.2 0.7 .326 0.8 1.1 .729
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 32.0 18.3 2.8 7.7 10.5 2.0 0.7 1.7 2.2 3.0 7.6 14.1 .542 0.4 1.1 .341 2.7 3.4 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Johnson 4 5.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.5 2.8 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 2

James Johnson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2010-112016-17
Team Chicago Bulls, Toronto RaptorsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
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 Johnson 38 21.6 7.1 1.0 2.8 3.7 2.3 0.9 1.0 1.7 2.5 2.8 6.2 .456 0.2 0.9 .235 1.2 1.9 .662
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 37.0 25.1 3.6 8.7 12.3 2.7 0.7 1.3 2.6 2.9 9.8 18.0 .542 1.2 3.4 .367 4.3 5.2 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Johnson ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 3

James Johnson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2011-122017-18
Team Toronto RaptorsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves 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 Johnson 62 25.2 9.1 1.2 3.5 4.7 2.0 1.1 1.4 1.6 2.9 3.8 8.4 .450 0.3 1.0 .317 1.3 1.9 .704
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 35.6 21.3 2.9 9.4 12.3 2.4 0.8 1.4 1.9 3.5 7.8 14.3 .545 1.5 3.5 .421 4.2 4.9 .858
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Johnson ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns 5 34.0 15.2 3.0 10.4 13.4 2.2 0.4 1.0 2.4 2.8 5.6 12.0 .467 0.6 2.2 .273 3.4 4.6 .739

Season 4

James Johnson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2012-132018-19
Team Sacramento KingsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 Johnson 54 16.3 5.1 0.9 1.8 2.7 1.1 0.8 0.9 1.3 1.8 2.2 5.2 .413 0.0 0.4 .095 0.7 1.2 .597
Karl-Anthony Towns 77 33.1 24.4 3.4 9.0 12.4 3.4 0.9 1.6 3.1 3.8 8.8 17.1 .518 1.8 4.6 .400 4.9 5.8 .836
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Johnson ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 5

James Johnson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2013-142019-20
Team Memphis GrizzliesMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Grizzlies 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 %
James Johnson 52 18.4 7.4 1.2 2.0 3.2 2.1 0.8 1.1 1.3 2.0 2.8 5.9 .464 0.4 1.7 .253 1.5 1.7 .844
Karl-Anthony Towns 35 33.9 26.5 2.7 8.1 10.8 4.4 0.9 1.2 3.1 3.3 9.0 17.8 .508 3.3 7.9 .412 5.1 6.5 .796
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Johnson 3 9.3 6.3 1.3 0.7 2.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.7 5.0 .333 0.7 1.7 .400 2.3 3.3 .700
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 6

James Johnson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2014-152020-21
Team Toronto RaptorsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Raptors Lost East 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 %
James Johnson 70 19.6 7.9 0.9 2.8 3.7 1.4 0.8 1.0 1.1 2.2 3.4 5.8 .589 0.2 0.7 .216 1.0 1.5 .657
Karl-Anthony Towns 50 33.8 24.8 2.7 7.9 10.6 4.5 0.8 1.1 3.2 3.7 8.5 17.5 .486 2.4 6.3 .387 5.3 6.2 .859
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Johnson 2 6.0 2.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 3.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 3.0 .000
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 7

James Johnson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2015-162021-22
Team Toronto RaptorsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Raptors Lost East Conf FinalsTimberwolves 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 Johnson 57 16.2 5.0 0.5 1.7 2.2 1.2 0.5 0.6 0.9 1.5 2.0 4.2 .475 0.4 1.2 .303 0.7 1.2 .574
Karl-Anthony Towns 74 33.5 24.6 2.6 7.2 9.8 3.6 1.0 1.1 3.1 3.6 8.7 16.4 .529 2.0 4.9 .410 5.2 6.3 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Johnson 10 9.8 3.0 0.3 1.2 1.5 0.6 0.3 0.0 0.7 1.3 1.2 2.5 .480 0.4 0.9 .444 0.2 0.3 .667
Karl-Anthony Towns 6 37.0 21.8 1.8 9.0 10.8 2.2 0.7 2.0 4.5 4.2 6.5 13.3 .488 1.7 3.7 .455 7.2 8.3 .860

Season 8

James Johnson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2016-172022-23
Team Miami HeatMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves 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 Johnson 76 27.4 12.8 0.9 4.1 4.9 3.6 1.0 1.1 2.3 2.6 4.8 10.1 .479 1.1 3.4 .340 2.0 2.8 .707
Karl-Anthony Towns 29 33.0 20.8 1.7 6.5 8.1 4.8 0.7 0.6 3.0 3.8 7.3 14.8 .495 2.1 5.7 .366 4.1 4.7 .874
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Johnson ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns 5 36.0 18.2 1.2 9.0 10.2 2.0 0.6 0.8 3.6 4.2 6.4 14.0 .457 1.2 4.8 .250 4.2 5.6 .750

Season 9

James Johnson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2017-182023-24
Team Miami HeatMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdTimberwolves TBD
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Johnson 73 26.6 10.8 0.8 4.1 4.9 3.8 1.0 0.7 1.9 2.6 4.2 8.4 .503 0.8 2.5 .308 1.5 2.2 .698
Karl-Anthony Towns 62 32.7 21.8 1.5 6.8 8.3 3.0 0.7 0.7 2.9 3.3 7.7 15.3 .504 2.2 5.3 .416 4.1 4.7 .873
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Johnson 5 32.2 12.4 0.6 5.4 6.0 4.8 1.2 1.2 2.0 3.4 4.6 8.4 .548 1.4 2.6 .538 1.8 2.8 .643
Karl-Anthony Towns 10 31.7 18.4 2.0 7.0 9.0 2.9 0.6 0.2 1.7 3.8 6.7 13.1 .511 2.1 4.4 .477 2.9 3.6 .806

Season 10

James Johnson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2018-19-
Team Miami Heat-
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 Johnson 55 21.2 7.8 0.4 2.8 3.2 2.5 0.6 0.5 1.3 2.1 3.0 6.9 .433 0.9 2.7 .336 0.9 1.3 .714
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Johnson ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 11

James Johnson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2019-20-
Team Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves-
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 Johnson 32 19.4 8.4 0.8 2.9 3.7 2.3 0.8 1.0 1.5 2.5 3.2 6.7 .479 1.0 2.8 .363 1.0 1.5 .646
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Johnson ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 12

James Johnson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2020-21-
Team Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans-
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 Johnson 51 20.5 7.2 0.6 2.8 3.5 1.9 0.8 0.8 1.1 2.4 2.9 6.4 .446 0.6 2.4 .258 0.9 1.5 .592
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Johnson ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 13

James Johnson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2021-22-
Team Brooklyn Nets-
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 Johnson 62 19.2 5.5 0.8 2.6 3.5 2.1 0.5 0.5 0.8 2.6 2.3 5.0 .469 0.4 1.4 .271 0.5 0.9 .527
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Johnson ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 14

James Johnson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2022-23-
Team Indiana Pacers-
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 Johnson 18 9.0 2.8 0.2 1.4 1.7 0.8 0.4 0.3 0.4 1.8 1.2 2.7 .449 0.2 0.8 .200 0.2 0.4 .500
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Johnson ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 15

James Johnson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2023-24-
Team Indiana Pacers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers TBD-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Johnson 9 5.2 0.9 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.9 0.6 0.1 0.6 1.0 0.3 1.1 .300 0.0 0.2 .000 0.2 0.2 1.000
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Johnson 1 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.0 .500
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------