Jim Paxson vs. Klay Thompson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Klay Thompson and Jim Paxson, 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.

Jim Paxson and Klay Thompson both played 11 years in the NBA. Jim Paxson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Klay Thompson 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 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
Jim Paxson 11 9 1979-80 to 1989-90
Klay Thompson 11 9 2011-12 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Jim Paxson Klay Thompson
Season 1979-802011-12
Team Portland Trail BlazersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Jim Paxson 72 17.6 6.2 0.3 1.2 1.5 2.0 0.7 0.1 1.3 1.3 2.6 6.4 .411 0.0 0.3 .045 0.9 1.3 .711
Klay Thompson 66 24.4 12.5 0.4 2.1 2.4 2.0 0.7 0.3 1.6 2.3 4.8 10.9 .443 1.7 4.1 .414 1.2 1.4 .868
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 3 14.7 5.3 0.0 1.3 1.3 1.0 0.7 0.3 0.7 0.7 1.7 5.3 .313 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.0 1.000
Klay Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Jim Paxson Klay Thompson
Season 1980-812012-13
Team Portland Trail BlazersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 79 34.2 17.1 0.9 1.7 2.7 3.8 1.8 0.1 1.7 2.2 7.4 13.8 .536 0.0 0.4 .067 2.3 3.1 .734
Klay Thompson 82 35.8 16.6 0.4 3.3 3.7 2.2 1.0 0.5 1.9 2.9 6.2 14.7 .422 2.6 6.4 .401 1.6 1.9 .841
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 1 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Klay Thompson 12 41.3 15.2 0.8 3.8 4.6 1.8 1.0 0.6 2.0 3.7 6.3 14.5 .437 2.1 4.9 .424 0.4 0.5 .833

Season 3

Jim Paxson Klay Thompson
Season 1981-822013-14
Team Portland Trail BlazersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors 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 %
Jim Paxson 82 33.6 18.9 0.9 1.8 2.7 3.4 1.6 0.1 1.8 1.9 8.1 15.3 .526 0.1 0.4 .229 2.7 3.5 .767
Klay Thompson 81 35.4 18.4 0.5 2.6 3.1 2.2 0.9 0.5 1.7 2.9 6.9 15.5 .444 2.8 6.6 .417 1.8 2.3 .795
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson ------- --- ----------
Klay Thompson 7 36.7 16.4 0.6 2.9 3.4 3.6 1.0 0.7 2.1 3.4 5.7 14.0 .408 2.3 6.3 .364 2.7 3.4 .792

Season 4

Jim Paxson Klay Thompson
Season 1982-832014-15
Team Portland Trail BlazersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 81 33.8 21.7 0.8 1.3 2.1 2.9 1.7 0.2 1.9 2.0 8.4 16.3 .515 0.0 0.3 .160 4.8 5.9 .812
Klay Thompson 77 31.9 21.7 0.4 2.9 3.2 2.9 1.1 0.8 1.9 1.6 7.8 16.9 .463 3.1 7.1 .439 2.9 3.3 .879
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 7 37.1 23.3 0.6 1.6 2.1 2.6 1.3 0.1 2.1 1.6 9.7 16.6 .586 0.3 0.6 .500 3.6 4.7 .758
Klay Thompson 21 36.2 18.6 0.4 3.4 3.9 2.6 0.8 0.9 2.0 3.0 7.1 15.9 .446 2.7 7.0 .390 1.7 2.1 .800

Season 5

Jim Paxson Klay Thompson
Season 1983-842015-16
Team Portland Trail BlazersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 81 33.2 21.3 0.8 1.3 2.1 3.1 1.5 0.1 1.8 2.0 8.4 16.3 .514 0.2 0.7 .288 4.3 5.1 .841
Klay Thompson 80 33.3 22.1 0.4 3.4 3.8 2.1 0.8 0.6 1.7 1.9 8.1 17.3 .470 3.5 8.1 .425 2.4 2.8 .873
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 5 34.4 22.8 2.2 1.6 3.8 2.4 0.4 0.0 1.8 2.6 8.0 15.6 .513 0.2 1.0 .200 6.6 8.0 .825
Klay Thompson 24 35.4 24.3 0.6 3.0 3.7 2.3 1.1 0.4 2.0 2.2 8.4 18.9 .444 4.1 9.6 .424 3.4 4.0 .854

Season 6

Jim Paxson Klay Thompson
Season 1984-852016-17
Team Portland Trail BlazersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 68 33.1 17.9 1.0 2.3 3.3 3.9 1.5 0.1 1.6 1.7 7.5 14.5 .514 0.1 0.6 .154 2.9 3.6 .790
Klay Thompson 78 34.0 22.3 0.6 3.0 3.7 2.1 0.8 0.5 1.6 1.8 8.3 17.6 .468 3.4 8.3 .414 2.4 2.8 .853
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 9 23.6 12.9 0.7 1.6 2.2 2.3 0.7 0.0 0.6 1.8 5.2 11.2 .465 0.3 1.1 .300 2.1 2.7 .792
Klay Thompson 17 35.1 15.0 0.6 3.2 3.9 2.1 0.8 0.3 1.4 2.6 5.5 13.9 .397 2.4 6.2 .387 1.5 1.9 .788

Season 7

Jim Paxson Klay Thompson
Season 1985-862017-18
Team Portland Trail BlazersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 75 25.7 13.1 0.6 1.4 2.0 3.7 1.3 0.1 1.5 2.1 5.0 10.6 .470 0.3 0.8 .323 2.9 3.3 .889
Klay Thompson 73 34.3 20.0 0.4 3.4 3.8 2.5 0.8 0.5 1.8 1.6 7.9 16.2 .488 3.1 7.1 .440 1.1 1.3 .837
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 4 17.8 10.5 0.3 0.8 1.0 3.8 0.8 0.0 1.5 3.0 3.5 9.3 .378 0.5 1.5 .333 3.0 3.8 .800
Klay Thompson 21 37.8 19.6 0.5 3.6 4.1 1.8 0.8 0.3 1.5 2.3 7.6 16.3 .465 3.2 7.5 .427 1.3 1.5 .871

Season 8

Jim Paxson Klay Thompson
Season 1986-872018-19
Team Portland Trail BlazersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 72 25.0 12.1 0.6 1.4 1.9 3.3 1.1 0.2 1.5 1.9 4.7 10.2 .460 0.4 1.4 .265 2.4 3.0 .806
Klay Thompson 78 34.0 21.5 0.5 3.4 3.8 2.4 1.1 0.6 1.5 2.0 8.4 18.0 .467 3.1 7.7 .402 1.7 2.0 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 4 23.5 8.5 1.0 1.3 2.3 3.3 1.3 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.3 8.0 .406 0.0 0.5 .000 2.0 2.3 .889
Klay Thompson 21 39.0 20.7 0.6 3.5 4.1 2.1 1.3 0.7 1.8 2.8 7.8 17.1 .456 3.3 7.5 .443 1.8 2.0 .902

Note: Klay Thompson didn't play in 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Season 9

Jim Paxson Klay Thompson
Season 1987-882021-22
Team Portland Trail Blazers, Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 45 17.8 7.7 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.7 0.1 0.9 1.6 3.0 6.6 .460 0.1 0.5 .238 1.5 1.8 .861
Klay Thompson 32 29.4 20.4 0.5 3.4 3.9 2.8 0.5 0.5 1.3 1.7 7.7 17.9 .429 3.6 9.3 .385 1.4 1.6 .902
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 15 12.5 3.3 0.1 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.1 0.8 1.2 1.1 3.9 .288 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.3 .800
Klay Thompson 22 36.0 19.0 0.3 3.6 3.9 2.3 1.1 0.7 1.3 2.1 7.2 16.7 .429 3.5 9.1 .385 1.2 1.4 .867

Season 10

Jim Paxson Klay Thompson
Season 1988-892022-23
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 57 20.0 8.6 0.3 1.0 1.3 1.9 0.7 0.1 1.0 1.7 3.5 7.8 .454 0.1 0.4 .167 1.5 1.8 .816
Klay Thompson 69 33.0 21.9 0.6 3.6 4.1 2.4 0.7 0.4 1.8 1.9 7.9 18.1 .436 4.4 10.6 .412 1.7 1.9 .879
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson ------- --- ----------
Klay Thompson 13 36.0 18.5 0.1 4.1 4.2 2.2 0.5 0.3 2.0 2.2 6.5 16.8 .388 3.8 10.5 .368 1.6 1.8 .875

Season 11

Jim Paxson Klay Thompson
Season 1989-902023-24
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Jim Paxson 72 17.8 6.4 0.3 0.7 1.1 1.9 0.5 0.1 0.8 1.6 2.7 5.9 .453 0.1 0.3 .250 1.0 1.3 .811
Klay Thompson 77 29.7 17.9 0.5 2.8 3.3 2.3 0.6 0.5 1.5 1.6 6.4 14.7 .432 3.5 9.0 .387 1.6 1.8 .927
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 5 12.4 3.8 0.0 0.0 0 1.4 1.0 0.0 0.6 0.2 1.6 3.2 .500 0.0 0.2 .000 0.6 0.8 .750
Klay Thompson ------- --- ----------