Jimmy Butler vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 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 / Scoring / Stats / 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.

Jimmy Butler played 15 years in the NBA, 7 more than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who played 8. Jimmy Butler had the first of his seasons in 2011-12, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had his rookie season in 2018-19. 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
Jimmy Butler 15 12 2011-12 to 2025-26
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 8 4 2018-19 to 2025-26

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season
Jimmy Butler Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 2011-122018-19
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdClippers 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%
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
difference:+40+18.0+8.2+0.2+1.3+1.5+3.0+0.9+0.4-1.4-1.6+3.4+6.8+.071+0.6+1.4+.185+0.9+1.1+.032
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 82 26.5 10.8 0.7 2.1 2.8 3.3 1.2 0.5 1.7 2.1 4.2 8.7 .476 0.6 1.7 .367 1.9 2.4 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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 -
difference:+3+27.5+13.7+0.7+2.0+2.7+3.2+1.0+0.8-0.8-2.5+4.7+10.0+1.5+3.0+2.8+3.3
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 6 28.8 13.7 0.7 2.0 2.7 3.2 1.0 0.8 0.8 2.8 4.7 10.0 .467 1.5 3.0 .500 2.8 3.3 .850

Season 2
Jimmy Butler Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 2012-132019-20
Team Chicago BullsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisThunder 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%
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
difference:+12+8.7+10.4+1.0+2.9+1.9+1.9+0.1+0.3-1.1-0.5+3.9+8.3+.004+0.7+2.3+.034+1.8+2.3+.004
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 70 34.7 19.0 0.7 5.2 5.9 3.3 1.1 0.7 1.9 1.7 6.8 14.5 .471 1.2 3.6 .347 4.1 5.1 .807
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+5+0.9+3.0+0.4+0.5+0.1+1.4+0.3+0.1-0.8-0.2+1.4+3.3+.002+0.7+1.9+.005+0.7+1.3+.139
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 7 39.9 16.3 0.4 4.9 5.3 4.1 1.0 0.4 2.1 2.4 5.6 12.9 .433 2.0 5.0 .400 3.1 3.3 .957

Season 3
Jimmy Butler Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 2013-142020-21
Team Chicago BullsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East 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%
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
difference:+32+5.0+10.6+0.8+0.6+0.2+3.3+1.1+0.2-1.5-0.4+4.1+5.8+.111+1.0+1.3+.135+1.4+1.5+.039
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 35 33.7 23.7 0.5 4.2 4.7 5.9 0.8 0.7 3.0 2.0 8.2 16.1 .508 2.0 4.9 .418 5.3 6.5 .808
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4
Jimmy Butler Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 2014-152021-22
Team Chicago BullsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Most Improved Player-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisDid 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%
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
difference:+9+4.0+4.5+1.1+0.2+0.8+2.6+0.5+0.2-1.4-0.8+2.0+4.8+.009+0.5+2.3+.078+0.1+.024
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 56 34.7 24.5 0.7 4.3 5.0 5.9 1.3 0.8 2.8 2.5 8.5 18.8 .453 1.6 5.3 .300 5.9 7.2 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5
Jimmy Butler Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 2015-162022-23
Team Chicago BullsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+1+1.4+10.5+0.3+0.2+0.5+0.7+0.4-0.8-0.9+3.4+4.9+.056+0.1+0.6+.033+3.9+3.8+.073
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 68 35.5 31.4 0.9 4.0 4.8 5.5 1.6 1.0 2.8 2.8 10.4 20.3 .510 0.9 2.5 .345 9.8 10.9 .905
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Jimmy Butler nor Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played in the postseason in their season 5

Season 6
Jimmy Butler Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 2016-172023-24
Team Chicago BullsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdThunder 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%
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
difference:+1+3.0+6.2+0.8+0.2+0.7+0.7+0.1+0.5-0.1-1.0+3.1+3.3+.080+0.1+0.3+.014+0.1+0.2+.009
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 75 34.0 30.1 0.9 4.7 5.5 6.2 2.0 0.9 2.2 2.5 10.6 19.8 .535 1.3 3.6 .353 7.6 8.7 .874
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+4+0.1+7.5+0.7+0.6+0.1+2.1+0.4+0.9-0.3-1.4+3.4+4.4+.070+0.6+0.1+.171+0.1+0.3+.019
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 10 39.9 30.2 0.8 6.4 7.2 6.4 1.3 1.7 2.2 3.1 11.1 22.4 .496 1.6 3.7 .432 6.4 8.1 .790

Season 7
Jimmy Butler Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 2017-182024-25
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Cup All-Tournament Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+17+2.5+10.5+0.4+0.1+0.3+1.5+0.3+0.6-0.6-0.9+3.9+6.2+.045+0.9+2.3+.025+1.7+1.6+.044
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 76 34.2 32.7 0.9 4.1 5.0 6.4 1.7 1.0 2.4 2.2 11.3 21.8 .519 2.1 5.7 .375 7.9 8.8 .898
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+18+3.0+14.1+0.4+1.1+0.7+2.5+0.9+0.7-1.6-1.0+4.5+9.3+.018+0.2+1.5+.188+5.3+5.8+.043
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 23 37.0 29.9 1.0 4.3 5.3 6.5 1.7 0.9 2.6 2.8 10.1 21.9 .462 1.4 4.9 .283 8.3 9.4 .876

Season 8
Jimmy Butler Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 2018-192025-26
Team Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+41+0.5+13.9+1.4+0.8+0.7+2.5+0.4+0.1-0.3-0.2+4.4+5.3+.100+1.3+2.0+.107+4.0+4.3+.027
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 24 33.1 32.6 0.5 4.2 4.6 6.5 1.5 0.7 1.8 1.9 10.8 19.2 .562 2.3 5.0 .454 8.8 9.9 .882
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Jimmy Butler played 7 seasons more than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 9 to 15, from 2020 to 2026—Jimmy Butler played in 5 Playoffs.

In those 7 extra years over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jimmy Butler got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 2 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 1 All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement 1 Steals Leader
Achievement 2 All-Star Game
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