Joel Embiid vs. Jerry West Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jerry West and Joel Embiid, 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 / Stats Rankings

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.

Joel Embiid played 10 years in the NBA, 4 less than Jerry West, who played 14. Joel Embiid had the first of his seasons in 2016-17, while Jerry West had his rookie season in 1960-61. 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
Joel Embiid 10 7 2016-17 to 2025-26
Jerry West 14 13 1960-61 to 1973-74

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10

Rookie Season

Joel Embiid Jerry West
Season 2016-171960-61
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid 31 25.4 20.2 2.0 5.9 7.8 2.1 0.9 2.5 3.8 3.6 6.5 13.8 .466 1.2 3.2 .367 6.2 7.9 .783
difference:+48+10.0+2.6+0.1+2.1-0.9+0.2+2.2+.047+2.0+1.6+.117
Jerry West 79 35.4 17.6 - - 7.7 4.2 - - - 2.7 6.7 16.0 .419 - - - 4.2 6.3 .666
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid DNP------ --- ----------
Jerry West 12 38.4 22.9 - - 8.7 5.3 - - - 3.3 8.3 16.8 .490 - - - 6.4 8.8 .726

Season 2

Joel Embiid Jerry West
Season 2017-181961-62
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid 63 30.3 22.9 2.3 8.7 11.0 3.2 0.6 1.8 3.7 3.3 8.1 16.8 .483 1.0 3.4 .308 5.7 7.4 .769
difference:+12+10.9+7.9+3.1+2.2-1.0+2.6+7.1+.038+3.8+4.9
Jerry West 75 41.2 30.8 - - 7.9 5.4 - - - 2.3 10.7 23.9 .445 - - - 9.5 12.3 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid 8 34.8 21.4 2.9 9.8 12.6 3.0 0.9 1.8 3.6 3.9 7.5 17.3 .435 1.0 3.6 .276 5.4 7.6 .705
difference:+5+8.0+10.1+5.8+1.4-1.0+3.6+6.5+.030+3.9+3.9+.102
Jerry West 13 42.8 31.5 - - 6.8 4.4 - - - 2.9 11.1 23.8 .465 - - - 9.3 11.5 .807

Season 3

Joel Embiid Jerry West
Season 2018-191962-63
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid 64 33.7 27.5 2.5 11.1 13.6 3.7 0.7 1.9 3.5 3.3 9.1 18.7 .484 1.2 4.1 .300 8.2 10.1 .804
difference:+9+5.6+0.4+6.6+1.9-0.6+1.1+3.4+.023+1.5+1.4+.026
Jerry West 55 39.3 27.1 - - 7.0 5.6 - - - 2.7 10.2 22.1 .461 - - - 6.7 8.7 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid 11 30.4 20.2 1.9 8.5 10.5 3.4 0.7 2.3 3.6 3.1 6.2 14.5 .428 1.1 3.5 .308 6.7 8.2 .822
difference:+2+11.0+7.6+2.3+1.3-0.5+4.9+7.5+.075+1.0+0.5+.082
Jerry West 13 41.4 27.8 - - 8.2 4.7 - - - 2.6 11.1 22.0 .503 - - - 5.7 7.7 .740

Season 4

Joel Embiid Jerry West
Season 2019-201963-64
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost West Div Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid 51 29.5 23.0 2.8 8.9 11.6 3.0 0.9 1.3 3.1 3.4 7.5 15.7 .477 1.1 3.4 .331 6.9 8.5 .807
difference:+21+10.9+5.7+5.6+2.6-0.6+2.8+5.5+.007+1.2+1.3+.025
Jerry West 72 40.4 28.7 - - 6.0 5.6 - - - 2.8 10.3 21.2 .484 - - - 8.1 9.8 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid 4 36.3 30.0 2.8 9.5 12.3 1.3 1.5 1.3 3.8 4.5 8.5 18.5 .459 1.0 4.0 .250 12.0 14.8 .814
difference:+1+4.9+1.2+5.1+2.1-0.5+2.9+4.5+.037+3.6+4.2+.022
Jerry West 5 41.2 31.2 - - 7.2 3.4 - - - 4.0 11.4 23.0 .496 - - - 8.4 10.6 .792

Season 5

Joel Embiid Jerry West
Season 2020-211964-65
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid 51 31.1 28.5 2.2 8.4 10.6 2.8 1.0 1.4 3.1 2.4 9.0 17.6 .513 1.1 3.0 .377 9.2 10.7 .859
difference:+23+10.3+2.5+4.6+2.1-0.6+2.1+4.8+.016+0.4+.038
Jerry West 74 41.4 31.0 - - 6.0 4.9 - - - 3.0 11.1 22.4 .497 - - - 8.8 10.7 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid 11 32.5 28.1 1.5 9.1 10.5 3.4 1.0 1.5 3.8 3.0 9.2 17.9 .513 1.5 3.7 .390 8.3 9.9 .835
difference:+10.2+12.5+4.8+1.9-0.4+4.9+14.0+.071+4.2+4.1+.055
Jerry West 11 42.7 40.6 - - 5.7 5.3 - - - 3.4 14.1 31.9 .442 - - - 12.5 14.0 .890

Season 6

Joel Embiid Jerry West
Season 2021-221965-66
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisLakers 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%
Joel Embiid 68 33.8 30.6 2.1 9.6 11.7 4.2 1.1 1.5 3.1 2.7 9.8 19.6 .499 1.4 3.7 .371 9.6 11.8 .814
difference:+11+6.9+0.7+4.6+1.9-0.4+0.6+2.3+.026+1.0+0.6+.046
Jerry West 79 40.7 31.3 - - 7.1 6.1 - - - 3.1 10.4 21.9 .473 - - - 10.6 12.4 .860
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid 10 38.5 23.6 2.1 8.6 10.7 2.1 0.4 0.8 3.2 3.4 7.8 16.1 .484 0.7 3.3 .212 7.3 8.9 .820
difference:+4+5.7+10.6+4.4+3.5-0.5+5.4+9.4+.034+0.5+.052
Jerry West 14 44.2 34.2 - - 6.3 5.6 - - - 2.9 13.2 25.5 .518 - - - 7.8 8.9 .872

Season 7

Joel Embiid Jerry West
Season 2022-231966-67
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisLakers Lost West Div Semis
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid 66 34.6 33.1 1.7 8.4 10.2 4.2 1.0 1.7 3.4 3.1 11.0 20.1 .548 1.0 3.0 .330 10.0 11.7 .857
difference:+5.9+4.4+4.3+2.6-0.7+1.2+0.9+.084+0.9+1.3+.021
Jerry West 66 40.5 28.7 - - 5.9 6.8 - - - 2.4 9.8 21.0 .464 - - - 9.1 10.4 .878
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid 9 37.3 23.7 1.8 8.0 9.8 2.7 0.7 2.8 3.9 3.0 7.3 17.0 .431 0.6 3.1 .179 8.4 9.3 .905
difference:+8+36.3+23.7+8.8+2.7-3.0+7.3+17.0+8.4+9.3
Jerry West 1 1.0 0.0 - - 1.0 0.0 - - - 0.0 0.0 0.0 - - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 8

Joel Embiid Jerry West
Season 2023-241967-68
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid 39 33.6 34.7 2.4 8.6 11.0 5.6 1.2 1.7 3.8 2.9 11.5 21.8 .529 1.4 3.6 .388 10.2 11.6 .883
difference:+12+4.0+8.4+5.2+0.5-0.1+2.2+3.6+.015+2.5+2.1+.072
Jerry West 51 37.6 26.3 - - 5.8 6.1 - - - 3.0 9.3 18.2 .514 - - - 7.7 9.5 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid 6 41.3 33.0 3.2 7.7 10.8 5.7 1.2 1.5 4.2 3.3 9.8 22.2 .444 2.2 6.5 .333 11.2 13.0 .859
difference:+9+0.2+2.2+5.4+0.2-0.2+1.2+1.3+.083+2.4+1.7+.078
Jerry West 15 41.5 30.8 - - 5.4 5.5 - - - 3.1 11.0 20.9 .527 - - - 8.8 11.3 .781

Season 9

Joel Embiid Jerry West
Season 2024-251968-69
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid 19 30.2 23.8 1.9 6.3 8.2 4.5 0.7 0.9 3.3 2.2 7.4 16.6 .444 1.2 4.1 .299 7.8 8.9 .882
difference:+42+9.0+2.1+3.9+2.4-0.4+1.5+2.4+.027+0.2+0.9+.061
Jerry West 61 39.2 25.9 - - 4.3 6.9 - - - 2.6 8.9 19.0 .471 - - - 8.0 9.8 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid DNP------ --- ----------
Jerry West 18 42.1 30.9 - - 3.9 7.5 - - - 2.9 10.9 23.5 .463 - - - 9.1 11.3 .804

Season 10

Joel Embiid Jerry West
Season 2025-261969-70
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid 11 26.2 20.5 1.8 4.8 6.6 2.8 0.8 1.3 2.5 2.0 6.8 16.2 .421 1.1 4.8 .226 5.7 7.0 .818
difference:+63+15.8+10.7+2.0+4.7-0.2+4.4+6.4+.076+3.0+3.6+.006
Jerry West 74 42.0 31.2 - - 4.6 7.5 - - - 2.2 11.2 22.6 .497 - - - 8.7 10.6 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joel Embiid DNP------ --- ----------
Jerry West 18 46.1 31.2 - - 3.7 8.4 - - - 3.1 10.9 23.2 .469 - - - 9.4 11.8 .802

Additional Years

* Jerry West played 4 seasons more than Joel Embiid in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 11 to 14, from 1971 to 1974—Jerry West played in 3 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.

In those 4 extra years over Joel Embiid, Jerry West got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 3 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 3 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 1 Assists Leader
Achievement 4 All-Star Game
Achievement 1 All-Star Game MVP