Jeremy Lin vs. Steve Nash Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Steve Nash and Jeremy Lin, 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 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.

Jeremy Lin played 9 years in the NBA, 9 less than Steve Nash, who played 18. Jeremy Lin had the first of his seasons in 2010-11, while Steve Nash had his rookie season in 1996-97. 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
Jeremy Lin 9 4 2010-11 to 2018-19
Steve Nash 18 12 1996-97 to 2013-14

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Jeremy Lin Steve Nash
Season 2010-111996-97
Team Golden State WarriorsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns Lost West 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%
Jeremy Lin 29 9.8 2.6 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.4 1.1 0.3 0.6 1.1 1.0 2.5 .389 0.0 0.2 .200 0.7 0.9 .760
difference:+36+0.7+0.7+0.2+0.1+0.2+0.7+0.8+0.3-0.4-0.3+0.1+0.2+.034+0.4+0.6+.218+0.1+0.1+.064
Steve Nash 65 10.5 3.3 0.2 0.7 1.0 2.1 0.3 0.0 1.0 1.4 1.1 2.7 .423 0.4 0.8 .418 0.6 0.8 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------
Steve Nash 4 3.8 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 1.3 0.5 2.3 .222 0.3 1.0 .250 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Jeremy Lin Steve Nash
Season 2011-121997-98
Team New York KnicksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 35 26.9 14.6 0.5 2.5 3.1 6.2 1.6 0.3 3.6 2.2 4.9 10.9 .446 0.7 2.1 .320 4.2 5.2 .798
difference:+41+5.0+5.5+0.1+0.8+1.0+2.8+0.8+0.2-2.3-0.3+1.4+3.2+.013+0.4+0.5+.095+3.2+4.1+.062
Steve Nash 76 21.9 9.1 0.4 1.7 2.1 3.4 0.8 0.1 1.3 1.9 3.5 7.7 .459 1.1 2.6 .415 1.0 1.1 .860
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------
Steve Nash 4 12.8 5.5 0.5 2.0 2.5 1.8 0.5 0.0 0.8 1.8 2.0 4.5 .444 0.3 1.3 .200 1.3 2.0 .625

Season 3

Jeremy Lin Steve Nash
Season 2012-131998-99
Team Houston RocketsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 82 32.2 13.4 0.4 2.6 3.0 6.1 1.6 0.4 2.9 2.5 4.8 10.9 .441 1.1 3.1 .339 2.6 3.4 .785
difference:+42+0.5+5.5+0.4+0.5+0.1+0.6+0.7+0.3-0.8+1.9+3.0+.078+0.1+0.2+.035+1.6+2.2+.041
Steve Nash 40 31.7 7.9 0.8 2.1 2.9 5.5 0.9 0.1 2.1 2.5 2.9 7.9 .363 1.2 3.3 .374 1.0 1.2 .826
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 4 21.0 4.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 0.5 0.3 2.0 2.3 1.5 6.0 .250 0.5 3.0 .167 0.5 0.5 1.000
Steve Nash DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Jeremy Lin Steve Nash
Season 2013-141999-00
Team Houston RocketsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 71 28.9 12.5 0.5 2.2 2.6 4.1 1.0 0.4 2.5 2.3 4.2 9.3 .446 1.2 3.2 .358 3.1 3.7 .823
difference:+15+1.5+3.9+0.1+0.6+0.4+0.8+0.3+0.3-0.7-0.1+1.1+2.8+.031+0.1+0.5+.045+1.8+2.2+.059
Steve Nash 56 27.4 8.6 0.6 1.6 2.2 4.9 0.7 0.1 1.8 2.2 3.1 6.5 .477 1.1 2.7 .403 1.3 1.5 .882
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 6 29.5 11.3 1.2 2.5 3.7 4.3 0.5 0.2 2.2 2.5 4.2 10.2 .410 0.8 3.8 .217 2.2 2.7 .813
Steve Nash DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

Jeremy Lin Steve Nash
Season 2014-152000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 74 25.8 11.2 0.4 2.3 2.6 4.6 1.1 0.4 2.2 2.6 3.7 8.8 .424 0.9 2.4 .369 2.9 3.6 .795
difference:+4+8.3+4.4+0.3+0.2+0.6+2.7+0.1+0.3-0.7-0.3+1.8+2.5+.063+0.4+0.7+.037+0.4+0.1+.100
Steve Nash 70 34.1 15.6 0.7 2.5 3.2 7.3 1.0 0.1 2.9 2.3 5.5 11.3 .487 1.3 3.1 .406 3.3 3.7 .895
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------
Steve Nash 10 37.0 13.6 0.6 2.6 3.2 6.4 0.6 0.1 2.5 1.9 4.5 10.8 .417 1.6 3.9 .410 3.0 3.4 .882

Season 6

Jeremy Lin Steve Nash
Season 2015-162001-02
Team Charlotte HornetsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hornets Lost East Conf 1st RdMavericks Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 78 26.3 11.7 0.5 2.7 3.2 3.0 0.7 0.5 1.9 2.1 3.8 9.3 .412 1.0 2.9 .336 3.1 3.7 .815
difference:+4+8.3+6.2+0.1+0.2+0.1+4.7+0.1+0.5-0.9-0.1+2.6+4.0+.071+0.9+1.3+.119+0.1+0.1+.072
Steve Nash 82 34.6 17.9 0.6 2.5 3.1 7.7 0.6 0.0 2.8 2.0 6.4 13.3 .483 1.9 4.2 .455 3.2 3.6 .887
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 7 27.0 12.4 0.4 1.9 2.3 2.6 0.7 0.0 1.6 3.0 3.7 9.0 .413 0.4 2.0 .214 4.6 5.6 .821
difference:+1+13.5+7.1+0.5+1.2+1.7+6.2+0.2-2.2-0.5+2.7+5.8+.019+2.1+3.6+.230+0.3+1.2+.150
Steve Nash 8 40.5 19.5 0.9 3.1 4.0 8.8 0.5 0.0 3.8 2.5 6.4 14.8 .432 2.5 5.6 .444 4.3 4.4 .971

Season 7

Jeremy Lin Steve Nash
Season 2016-172002-03
Team Brooklyn NetsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 36 24.5 14.5 0.3 3.4 3.8 5.1 1.2 0.4 2.4 2.2 4.9 11.1 .438 1.6 4.3 .372 3.2 3.9 .816
difference:+46+8.6+3.2+0.5+1.3+0.9+2.2+0.2+0.3-0.1-0.6+1.4+2.5+.027+0.2+1.0+.041+0.6+0.2+.093
Steve Nash 82 33.1 17.7 0.8 2.1 2.9 7.3 1.0 0.1 2.3 1.6 6.3 13.6 .465 1.4 3.3 .413 3.8 4.1 .909
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------
Steve Nash 20 36.4 16.1 0.8 2.8 3.5 7.3 0.9 0.1 2.6 2.4 5.8 12.9 .447 1.9 3.8 .487 2.8 3.2 .873

Season 8

Jeremy Lin Steve Nash
Season 2017-182003-04
Team Brooklyn NetsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 1 25.0 18.0 0.0 0.0 0 4.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 3.0 5.0 12.0 .417 1.0 2.0 .500 7.0 7.0 1.000
difference:+77+8.5+3.5+0.8+2.2+3.0+4.8+0.9+0.1-0.3-1.2+0.1+1.2+.053+0.3+1.3+.095+4.1+3.8+.084
Steve Nash 78 33.5 14.5 0.8 2.2 3.0 8.8 0.9 0.1 2.7 1.8 5.1 10.8 .470 1.3 3.3 .405 2.9 3.2 .916
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------
Steve Nash 5 39.2 13.6 1.2 4.0 5.2 9.0 0.8 0.0 2.4 2.8 5.4 14.0 .386 1.2 3.2 .375 1.6 1.8 .889

Season 9

Jeremy Lin Steve Nash
Season 2018-192004-05
Team Atlanta Hawks, Toronto RaptorsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns Lost West Conf 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%
Jeremy Lin 74 19.4 9.6 0.3 2.1 2.4 3.1 0.6 0.2 1.7 1.9 3.2 7.3 .440 0.7 2.5 .294 2.4 2.8 .838
difference:+1+14.9+5.9+0.5+0.5+0.9+8.4+0.4+0.1-1.6-0.1+2.5+4.1+.062+0.6+0.4+.137+0.4+0.4+.049
Steve Nash 75 34.3 15.5 0.8 2.6 3.3 11.5 1.0 0.1 3.3 1.8 5.7 11.4 .502 1.3 2.9 .431 2.8 3.2 .887
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 8 3.4 1.1 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.6 0.3 0.3 1.1 .222 0.1 0.3 .500 0.5 0.5 1.000
difference:+7+37.3+22.8+0.6+3.8+4.4+10.8+0.8+0.2-4.1-2.1+9.0+16.8+.298+1.3+3.3+.111+3.3+3.6+.081
Steve Nash 15 40.7 23.9 0.6 4.2 4.8 11.3 0.9 0.2 4.7 2.4 9.3 17.9 .520 1.4 3.6 .389 3.8 4.1 .919

Additional Years

* Steve Nash played 9 seasons more than Jeremy Lin in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 10 to 18, from 2006 to 2014—Steve Nash played in 5 Playoffs.

In those 9 extra years over Jeremy Lin, Steve Nash got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Season MVP
Achievement 2 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 2 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 4 Assists Leader
Achievement 5 All-Star Game