Jimmy Butler vs. Linas Kleiza Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Linas Kleiza 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 / 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.

Jimmy Butler played 13 years in the NBA, 6 more than Linas Kleiza, who played 7. Jimmy Butler had the first of his seasons in 2011-12, while Linas Kleiza had his rookie season in 2005-06. 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
Linas Kleiza 7 4 2005-06 to 2012-13

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Jimmy Butler Linas Kleiza
Season 2011-122005-06
Team Chicago BullsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdNuggets 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 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
Linas Kleiza 61 8.5 3.5 0.6 1.3 1.9 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 1.4 1.3 2.8 .445 0.0 0.2 .154 0.9 1.3 .704
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 -
Linas Kleiza 3 4.7 2.0 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.7 .375 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Jimmy Butler Linas Kleiza
Season 2012-132006-07
Team Chicago BullsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisNuggets 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 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
Linas Kleiza 79 18.8 7.6 1.0 2.4 3.4 0.6 0.4 0.2 1.0 2.5 2.5 6.0 .422 1.1 2.8 .376 1.5 1.7 .852
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
Linas Kleiza 5 13.2 1.6 0.0 1.6 1.6 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.2 0.6 2.6 .231 0.2 1.2 .167 0.2 0.4 .500

Season 3

Jimmy Butler Linas Kleiza
Season 2013-142007-08
Team Chicago BullsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdNuggets 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
Linas Kleiza 79 23.9 11.1 1.2 3.1 4.2 1.2 0.6 0.2 1.1 2.3 3.9 8.3 .472 1.2 3.5 .339 2.1 2.7 .770
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
Linas Kleiza 4 30.5 14.0 2.0 4.5 6.5 0.8 0.3 0.0 1.3 2.8 5.5 10.3 .537 0.8 3.5 .214 2.3 3.3 .692

Season 4

Jimmy Butler Linas Kleiza
Season 2014-152008-09
Team Chicago BullsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Most Improved Player-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisNuggets 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 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
Linas Kleiza 82 22.2 9.9 1.1 2.9 4.0 0.8 0.4 0.2 1.0 1.9 3.5 7.9 .447 1.1 3.3 .326 1.8 2.5 .725
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
Linas Kleiza 14 15.0 6.9 0.6 2.6 3.2 0.5 0.4 0.1 0.1 1.2 2.2 4.7 .470 1.2 2.9 .425 1.3 1.7 .750

Note: Linas Kleiza didn't play in 2009-10.

Season 5

Jimmy Butler Linas Kleiza
Season 2015-162010-11
Team Chicago BullsToronto Raptors
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
Linas Kleiza 39 26.5 11.2 0.9 3.6 4.5 1.0 0.5 0.2 1.7 2.5 4.6 10.4 .438 1.0 3.4 .298 1.1 1.7 .631
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jimmy Butler ------- --- ----------
Linas Kleiza ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Jimmy Butler Linas Kleiza
Season 2016-172011-12
Team Chicago BullsToronto Raptors
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
Linas Kleiza 49 21.6 9.7 0.9 3.2 4.1 0.9 0.5 0.1 1.3 2.4 3.4 8.4 .402 1.3 3.7 .346 1.7 2.0 .810
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
Linas Kleiza ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Jimmy Butler Linas Kleiza
Season 2017-182012-13
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesToronto Raptors
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
Linas Kleiza 20 18.8 7.4 0.5 2.1 2.6 0.8 0.2 0.1 0.7 2.3 2.4 7.2 .333 1.0 3.3 .303 1.6 1.9 .842
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
Linas Kleiza ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Jimmy Butler Linas Kleiza
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
Linas Kleiza ------- --- ----------
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
Linas Kleiza ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Jimmy Butler Linas Kleiza
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
Linas Kleiza ------- --- ----------
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
Linas Kleiza ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Jimmy Butler Linas Kleiza
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
Linas Kleiza ------- --- ----------
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
Linas Kleiza ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Jimmy Butler Linas Kleiza
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
Linas Kleiza ------- --- ----------
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
Linas Kleiza ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Jimmy Butler Linas Kleiza
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
Linas Kleiza ------- --- ----------
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
Linas Kleiza ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Jimmy Butler Linas Kleiza
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
Linas Kleiza ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jimmy Butler ------- --- ----------
Linas Kleiza ------- --- ----------