Joe Johnson vs. Tristan Thompson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Tristan Thompson and Joe Johnson, 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.

Joe Johnson played 18 years in the NBA, 4 more than Tristan Thompson, who played 14. Joe Johnson had the first of his seasons in 2001-02, while Tristan 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 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
Joe Johnson 18 13 2001-02 to 2021-22
Tristan Thompson 14 9 2011-12 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Joe Johnson Tristan Thompson
Season 2001-022011-12
Team Boston Celtics, Phoenix SunsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second TeamAchievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 77 24.9 7.5 1.0 2.4 3.3 2.3 0.8 0.3 0.9 1.5 3.3 7.6 .430 0.5 1.7 .292 0.5 0.7 .774
difference:+17+1.2+0.7+2.1+1.0+3.2+1.8+0.3+0.7-0.5-0.7+0.1+0.2+.009+0.5+1.7+1.3+2.5+.222
Tristan Thompson 60 23.7 8.2 3.1 3.4 6.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.4 2.2 3.2 7.4 .439 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.2 .552
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Joe Johnson nor Tristan Thompson played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Joe Johnson Tristan Thompson
Season 2002-032012-13
Team Phoenix SunsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 82 27.5 9.8 0.7 2.5 3.2 2.6 0.8 0.2 1.3 1.7 3.9 9.7 .397 0.9 2.5 .366 1.2 1.5 .774
difference:+3.8+1.9+3.0+3.2+6.2+1.3+0.1+0.7-0.2-1.2+0.9+.091+0.9+2.5+1.0+2.0+.166
Tristan Thompson 82 31.3 11.7 3.7 5.7 9.4 1.3 0.7 0.9 1.5 2.9 4.8 9.7 .488 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.5 .608
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 6 27.3 5.3 1.0 3.3 4.3 1.3 0.7 0.3 2.0 2.5 2.3 8.5 .275 0.3 2.2 .154 0.3 0.8 .400
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Joe Johnson Tristan Thompson
Season 2003-042013-14
Team Phoenix SunsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Joe Johnson 82 40.6 16.7 1.0 3.7 4.7 4.4 1.1 0.3 2.4 2.2 6.8 15.7 .430 1.0 3.3 .305 2.1 2.8 .750
difference:+9.0+5.0+2.3+2.2+4.5+3.5+0.6+0.1-1.1-0.1+2.4+6.4+.047+1.0+3.3+0.8+1.3+.057
Tristan Thompson 82 31.6 11.7 3.3 5.9 9.2 0.9 0.5 0.4 1.3 2.3 4.4 9.3 .477 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.1 .693
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Joe Johnson nor Tristan Thompson played in the postseason in their season 3

Season 4

Joe Johnson Tristan Thompson
Season 2004-052014-15
Team Phoenix SunsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 82 39.5 17.1 1.5 3.7 5.1 3.5 1.0 0.3 1.8 2.0 6.6 14.4 .461 2.2 4.5 .478 1.6 2.2 .750
difference:+12.7+8.6+1.8+1.0+2.9+3.0+0.6+0.4-0.8-0.3+3.3+8.4+.086+2.2+4.5+0.3+0.8+.109
Tristan Thompson 82 26.8 8.5 3.3 4.7 8.0 0.5 0.4 0.7 1.0 2.3 3.3 6.0 .547 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.0 .641
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 9 39.3 18.8 0.8 3.6 4.3 3.3 1.1 0.4 1.1 2.0 7.0 13.9 .504 2.2 4.0 .556 2.6 3.7 .697
difference:+11+2.9+9.2+3.6+2.8+6.5+2.8+0.8+0.8-0.3-0.5+3.4+7.4+.054+2.2+4.0+0.2+0.4+.112
Tristan Thompson 20 36.4 9.6 4.4 6.4 10.8 0.5 0.3 1.2 0.8 2.5 3.6 6.5 .558 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 4.1 .585

Season 5

Joe Johnson Tristan Thompson
Season 2005-062015-16
Team Atlanta HawksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 82 40.7 20.2 1.2 2.9 4.1 6.5 1.3 0.4 3.3 2.3 7.7 17.0 .453 1.6 4.4 .356 3.2 4.0 .791
difference:+13.0+12.4+2.1+2.8+4.9+5.7+0.8+0.2-2.6-0.2+4.7+11.9+.135+1.6+4.4+1.4+1.0+.175
Tristan Thompson 82 27.7 7.8 3.3 5.7 9.0 0.8 0.5 0.6 0.7 2.5 3.0 5.1 .588 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.0 .616
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson DNP------ --- ----------
Tristan Thompson 21 29.6 6.7 4.1 4.9 9.0 0.7 0.4 0.9 0.8 2.6 2.3 4.4 .527 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.5 .575

Season 6

Joe Johnson Tristan Thompson
Season 2006-072016-17
Team Atlanta HawksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 57 41.4 25.0 0.9 3.3 4.2 4.4 1.1 0.2 3.1 2.0 9.4 20.0 .471 2.1 5.5 .381 4.1 5.5 .748
difference:+21+11.5+16.9+2.8+2.2+5.0+3.4+0.6+0.9-2.3-0.3+6.0+14.4+.129+2.1+5.5+2.7+2.8+.250
Tristan Thompson 78 29.9 8.1 3.7 5.5 9.2 1.0 0.5 1.1 0.8 2.3 3.4 5.6 .600 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.7 .498
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson DNP------ --- ----------
Tristan Thompson 18 31.2 8.2 3.8 4.5 8.3 1.4 0.5 0.7 1.2 2.0 3.0 5.1 .587 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.3 .667

Season 7

Joe Johnson Tristan Thompson
Season 2007-082017-18
Team Atlanta HawksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost NBA 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%
Joe Johnson 82 40.8 21.7 1.0 3.5 4.5 5.8 1.0 0.2 2.7 2.0 7.9 18.3 .432 2.1 5.4 .381 3.9 4.6 .834
difference:+29+20.6+15.9+1.4+0.8+2.1+5.2+0.7+0.1-2.0-0.1+5.4+13.9+.130+2.1+5.4+3.1+3.1+.290
Tristan Thompson 53 20.2 5.8 2.4 4.3 6.6 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.9 2.5 4.4 .562 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .544
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 7 39.3 20.0 1.3 2.6 3.9 4.0 0.3 0.0 2.3 2.3 6.7 16.4 .409 2.3 5.1 .444 4.3 4.7 .909
difference:+12+17.4+13.8+1.0+1.0+2.0+3.4+0.2+0.4-1.7-0.9+4.1+12.0+.181+2.3+5.0+.444+3.2+3.3+.168
Tristan Thompson 19 21.9 6.2 2.3 3.6 5.9 0.6 0.1 0.4 0.6 1.4 2.6 4.4 .590 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.4 .741

Season 8

Joe Johnson Tristan Thompson
Season 2008-092018-19
Team Atlanta HawksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Hawks 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%
Joe Johnson 79 39.5 21.4 0.8 3.6 4.4 5.8 1.1 0.2 2.5 2.2 7.8 18.0 .437 1.9 5.2 .360 3.8 4.6 .826
difference:+36+11.6+10.5+3.2+2.6+5.8+3.8+0.4+0.2-1.1-0.1+3.1+9.2+.092+1.9+5.2+2.2+2.1+.184
Tristan Thompson 43 27.9 10.9 4.0 6.2 10.2 2.0 0.7 0.4 1.4 2.1 4.7 8.8 .529 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.5 .642
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 11 39.0 16.4 1.5 2.9 4.5 3.5 1.3 0.0 2.9 2.2 6.4 15.3 .417 1.1 3.2 .343 2.5 4.1 .622
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

Joe Johnson Tristan Thompson
Season 2009-102019-20
Team Atlanta HawksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 76 38.0 21.3 1.0 3.7 4.6 4.9 1.1 0.1 1.9 1.9 8.4 18.2 .458 1.7 4.6 .369 2.9 3.5 .818
difference:+19+7.8+9.3+3.0+2.5+5.5+2.8+0.5+0.8-0.1-0.3+3.3+8.3+.054+1.5+4.2+.022+1.2+0.7+.203
Tristan Thompson 57 30.2 12.0 4.0 6.2 10.1 2.1 0.6 0.9 1.8 2.2 5.1 9.9 .512 0.2 0.4 .391 1.7 2.8 .615
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 11 40.0 17.9 1.8 3.3 5.1 5.0 0.9 0.3 2.3 2.0 7.0 18.1 .387 0.8 3.7 .220 3.1 3.8 .810
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 10

Joe Johnson Tristan Thompson
Season 2010-112020-21
Team Atlanta HawksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 72 35.5 18.2 0.8 3.2 4.0 4.7 0.7 0.1 2.0 1.8 7.1 16.1 .443 1.2 4.2 .297 2.7 3.4 .802
difference:+18+11.7+10.6+2.3+1.8+4.1+3.5+0.3+0.5-0.9-0.4+4.0+10.1+.075+1.2+4.1+.297+1.4+1.2+.210
Tristan Thompson 54 23.8 7.6 3.1 5.0 8.1 1.2 0.4 0.6 1.1 2.2 3.1 6.0 .518 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 2.2 .592
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 12 41.4 18.8 1.5 3.1 4.6 3.3 1.1 0.1 2.6 1.6 7.3 16.5 .439 1.5 3.5 .429 2.8 3.5 .810
difference:+7+15.0+8.4+4.3+0.9+5.2+2.3+0.3+1.1-1.6-0.8+3.3+9.7+.149+1.5+3.5+0.4+0.1+.104
Tristan Thompson 5 26.4 10.4 5.8 4.0 9.8 1.0 0.8 1.2 1.0 2.4 4.0 6.8 .588 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.4 .706

Season 11

Joe Johnson Tristan Thompson
Season 2011-122021-22
Team Atlanta HawksSacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf 1st RdBulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 60 35.5 18.8 0.9 2.8 3.7 3.9 0.8 0.2 1.9 1.3 7.1 15.5 .454 2.1 5.4 .388 2.6 3.1 .849
difference:+3+19.8+12.8+1.2+0.1+1.4+3.3+0.4+0.2-1.1-0.4+4.6+10.8+.074+2.1+5.3+.055+1.5+1.1+.323
Tristan Thompson 57 15.7 6.0 2.1 2.9 5.1 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.7 2.5 4.7 .528 0.0 0.1 .333 1.1 2.0 .526
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 6 40.5 17.2 1.0 2.5 3.5 3.5 1.3 0.2 2.7 1.8 6.3 17.0 .373 1.5 6.0 .250 3.0 4.0 .750
difference:+1+32.9+16.4+0.6+1.3+1.9+3.1+1.1+0.2-1.7-1.0+5.9+16.0+.027+1.5+6.0+3.0+4.0
Tristan Thompson 5 7.6 0.8 0.4 1.2 1.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 1.0 0.8 0.4 1.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

Joe Johnson Tristan Thompson
Season 2012-132022-23
Team Brooklyn NetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 72 36.7 16.3 0.7 2.3 3.0 3.5 0.7 0.2 1.7 1.4 6.2 14.6 .423 2.1 5.5 .375 1.8 2.2 .820
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 7 38.7 14.9 0.6 2.6 3.1 2.7 1.1 0.0 1.7 1.9 6.1 14.7 .417 1.4 5.6 .256 1.1 1.3 .889
difference:+1+33.4+13.1+0.1+1.6+1.4+2.4+1.1-1.5-1.7+5.3+12.9+.038+1.4+5.6+0.9+0.5+.689
Tristan Thompson 6 5.3 1.8 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.8 .455 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.8 .200

Season 13

Joe Johnson Tristan Thompson
Season 2013-142023-24
Team Brooklyn NetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 79 32.6 15.8 0.6 2.8 3.4 2.7 0.6 0.1 1.5 1.6 5.8 12.9 .454 2.1 5.1 .401 2.0 2.5 .815
difference:+30+21.4+12.5+0.9+0.7+0.2+1.7+0.4+0.2-0.9-0.4+4.3+10.5+.154+2.1+5.1+1.7+1.4+.527
Tristan Thompson 49 11.2 3.3 1.5 2.1 3.6 1.0 0.2 0.3 0.6 1.2 1.5 2.4 .608 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 1.1 .288
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 12 39.1 21.2 0.8 3.1 3.8 2.9 0.5 0.3 1.6 1.7 8.2 15.3 .533 1.8 4.4 .415 3.0 3.6 .837
difference:+2+30.4+19.7+0.2+2.1+1.8+1.9+0.4+0.2-1.4-0.8+7.5+13.7+.095+1.8+4.4+2.9+3.4+.337
Tristan Thompson 10 8.7 1.5 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.9 0.7 1.6 .438 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.2 .500

Season 14

Joe Johnson Tristan Thompson
Season 2014-152024-25
Team Brooklyn NetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 80 34.9 14.4 0.7 4.1 4.8 3.7 0.7 0.2 1.7 1.5 5.6 12.8 .435 1.5 4.2 .359 1.8 2.2 .801
difference:+40+26.7+12.7+0.1+1.5+1.4+3.1+0.6+0.1-1.3-0.6+4.8+11.0+.002+1.5+4.1+.359+1.6+1.4+.568
Tristan Thompson 40 8.2 1.7 0.8 2.6 3.4 0.6 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.9 0.8 1.8 .437 0.0 0.1 .000 0.2 0.8 .233
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joe Johnson 6 41.5 16.5 0.8 6.8 7.7 4.8 1.2 0.0 0.8 2.7 5.7 15.7 .362 2.0 6.8 .293 3.2 4.0 .792
difference:+3+31.8+14.2+0.1+2.5+2.7+4.5+0.9+0.7-0.1-2.0+4.7+13.7+.138+2.0+6.8+2.9+3.0+.459
Tristan Thompson 3 9.7 2.3 0.7 4.3 5.0 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.7 0.7 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 1.0 .333

Additional Years

* Joe Johnson played 4 seasons more than Tristan Thompson in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 18, from 2016 to 2022—Joe Johnson played in 3 Playoffs.