Jimmy Butler vs. Don Ford Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Don Ford and Jimmy Butler, 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.

Jimmy Butler played 13 years in the NBA, 6 more than Don Ford, who played 7. Jimmy Butler had the first of his seasons in 2011-12, while Don Ford had his rookie season in 1975-76. 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
Jimmy Butler 13 11 2011-12 to 2023-24
Don Ford 7 3 1975-76 to 1981-82

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Jimmy Butler Don Ford
Season 2011-121975-76
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Jimmy Butler 42 8.5 2.6 0.5 0.8 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.8 1.9 .405 0.0 0.3 .182 1.0 1.3 .768
Don Ford 76 24.2 9.6 1.6 2.8 4.4 1.5 0.7 0.2 - 2.4 4.1 9.3 .438 - - - 1.4 1.8 .748
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jimmy Butler 3 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Don Ford ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Jimmy Butler Don Ford
Season 2012-131976-77
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisLakers 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 %
Jimmy Butler 82 26.0 8.6 1.7 2.3 4.0 1.4 1.0 0.4 0.8 1.2 2.9 6.2 .467 0.5 1.3 .381 2.3 2.8 .803
Don Ford 82 21.7 7.3 1.3 3.0 4.3 1.6 0.7 0.3 - 2.1 3.2 7.0 .460 - - - 0.9 1.2 .716
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jimmy Butler 12 40.8 13.3 0.8 4.4 5.2 2.7 1.3 0.5 1.3 2.2 4.2 9.6 .435 1.3 3.1 .405 3.8 4.6 .818
Don Ford 11 30.3 10.1 2.0 3.3 5.3 3.4 1.5 0.4 - 2.5 3.8 8.9 .429 - - - 2.5 3.3 .750

Season 3
Jimmy Butler Don Ford
Season 2013-141977-78
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
Jimmy Butler 67 38.7 13.1 1.3 3.6 4.9 2.6 1.9 0.5 1.5 1.6 4.1 10.3 .397 1.0 3.6 .283 3.9 5.0 .769
Don Ford 79 24.6 7.7 1.3 3.1 4.5 1.8 0.9 0.6 1.1 2.7 3.4 7.3 .472 - - - 0.9 1.1 .756
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jimmy Butler 5 43.6 13.6 1.2 4.0 5.2 2.2 1.2 0.0 0.6 2.6 4.4 11.4 .386 1.2 4.0 .300 3.6 4.6 .783
Don Ford 1 10.0 0.0 2.0 3.0 5.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.0 0.0 3.0 .000 - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 4
Jimmy Butler Don Ford
Season 2014-151978-79
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Most Improved Player-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisLakers 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 %
Jimmy Butler 65 38.7 20.0 1.8 4.1 5.8 3.3 1.8 0.6 1.4 1.7 6.5 14.0 .462 1.1 3.0 .378 5.9 7.1 .834
Don Ford 79 19.5 6.7 1.1 2.3 3.4 1.3 0.6 0.3 1.2 2.2 2.9 5.7 .507 - - - 0.9 1.1 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jimmy Butler 12 42.2 22.9 1.5 4.1 5.6 3.2 2.4 0.8 1.8 2.3 7.8 17.8 .441 2.3 6.0 .389 4.9 6.0 .819
Don Ford 8 17.3 4.1 0.3 2.5 2.8 0.9 0.4 0.3 0.5 2.5 2.0 3.8 .533 - - - 0.1 0.4 .333

Season 5
Jimmy Butler Don Ford
Season 2015-161979-80
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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 %
Jimmy Butler 67 36.9 20.9 1.2 4.2 5.3 4.8 1.6 0.6 2.0 1.9 7.0 15.4 .454 1.0 3.1 .312 5.9 7.1 .832
Don Ford 73 13.7 4.2 0.6 1.9 2.5 0.9 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.8 1.8 3.8 .478 0.0 0.0 .333 0.6 0.7 .849
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jimmy Butler ------- --- ----------
Don Ford ------- --- ----------

Season 6
Jimmy Butler Don Ford
Season 2016-171980-81
Team Chicago BullsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Jimmy Butler 76 37.0 23.9 1.7 4.5 6.2 5.5 1.9 0.4 2.1 1.5 7.5 16.5 .455 1.2 3.3 .367 7.7 8.9 .865
Don Ford 64 15.6 3.5 1.2 1.4 2.6 1.3 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.6 1.6 3.5 .446 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.4 .917
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jimmy Butler 6 39.8 22.7 1.5 5.8 7.3 4.3 1.7 0.8 2.5 1.7 7.7 18.0 .426 1.0 3.8 .261 6.3 7.8 .809
Don Ford ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Jimmy Butler Don Ford
Season 2017-181981-82
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Timberwolves 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 %
Jimmy Butler 59 36.7 22.2 1.3 4.0 5.3 4.9 2.0 0.4 1.8 1.3 7.4 15.6 .474 1.2 3.4 .350 6.2 7.2 .854
Don Ford 21 9.6 1.1 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.5 0.4 0.0 0.7 1.4 0.4 1.1 .375 0.0 0.0 .000 0.2 0.3 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jimmy Butler 5 34.0 15.8 0.6 5.4 6.0 4.0 0.8 0.2 1.0 1.8 5.6 12.6 .444 1.6 3.4 .471 3.0 3.6 .833
Don Ford ------- --- ----------

Season 8
Jimmy Butler Don Ford
Season 2018-19-
Team Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Jimmy Butler 65 33.6 18.7 1.9 3.4 5.3 4.0 1.9 0.6 1.5 1.7 6.4 13.9 .462 1.0 3.0 .347 4.8 5.6 .855
Don Ford ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jimmy Butler 12 35.1 19.4 1.8 4.2 6.0 5.2 1.5 0.6 1.8 1.7 6.6 14.6 .451 1.0 3.8 .267 5.3 6.0 .875
Don Ford ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Jimmy Butler Don Ford
Season 2019-20-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Heat Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jimmy Butler 58 33.8 19.9 1.8 4.8 6.7 6.0 1.8 0.6 2.2 1.4 5.9 13.1 .455 0.5 2.1 .244 7.6 9.1 .834
Don Ford ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jimmy Butler 21 38.4 22.2 2.2 4.3 6.5 6.0 2.0 0.7 2.8 1.8 6.9 14.0 .488 0.7 2.0 .349 7.8 9.1 .859
Don Ford ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Jimmy Butler Don Ford
Season 2020-21-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Jimmy Butler 52 33.6 21.5 1.8 5.1 6.9 7.1 2.1 0.3 2.1 1.4 7.0 14.2 .497 0.5 2.0 .245 6.9 8.0 .863
Don Ford ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jimmy Butler 4 38.5 14.5 1.5 6.0 7.5 7.0 1.3 0.3 2.3 1.5 4.8 16.0 .297 1.0 3.8 .267 4.0 5.5 .727
Don Ford ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Jimmy Butler Don Ford
Season 2021-22-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Jimmy Butler 57 33.9 21.4 1.8 4.1 5.9 5.5 1.6 0.5 2.1 1.5 7.0 14.5 .480 0.5 2.0 .233 6.9 8.0 .870
Don Ford ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jimmy Butler 17 37.0 27.4 2.4 4.9 7.4 4.6 2.1 0.6 1.5 1.5 9.8 19.3 .506 1.4 4.0 .338 6.5 7.8 .841
Don Ford ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Jimmy Butler Don Ford
Season 2022-23-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Playoffs Heat Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jimmy Butler 64 33.4 22.9 2.2 3.7 5.9 5.3 1.8 0.3 1.6 1.3 7.5 13.9 .539 0.6 1.6 .350 7.4 8.7 .850
Don Ford ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jimmy Butler 22 39.7 26.9 2.1 4.3 6.5 5.9 1.8 0.6 1.9 1.7 9.4 20.1 .468 1.3 3.5 .359 6.8 8.5 .806
Don Ford ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Jimmy Butler Don Ford
Season 2023-24-
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 %
Jimmy Butler 60 34.0 20.8 1.8 3.6 5.3 5.0 1.3 0.3 1.7 1.1 6.6 13.2 .499 1.0 2.4 .414 6.6 7.7 .858
Don Ford ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jimmy Butler ------- --- ----------
Don Ford ------- --- ----------
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