Joel Embiid vs. Paul Pierce Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul Pierce 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.
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 9 years in the NBA, 10 less than Paul Pierce, who played 19. Joel Embiid had the first of his seasons in 2016-17, while Paul Pierce had his rookie season in 1998-99. 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 |
9 |
7 |
2016-17 to 2024-25 |
| Paul Pierce |
19 |
14 |
1998-99 to 2016-17 |
Comparison Season by Season |
|
Jump to season:
|
|
|
Rookie Season |
|
Joel Embiid |
Paul Pierce |
| Season |
2016-17 | 1998-99 |
| Team |
Philadelphia 76ers | Boston Celtics |
| Honors & Awards |
 All-Rookie First Team | All-Rookie First Team |
| Playoffs |
Did Not Play | Did Not Play |
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
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: | +17 | +8.6 | +3.7 | +0.4 | +1.9 | +1.4 | +0.3 | +0.8 | +1.5 | -1.4 | -0.7 | +0.6 | +0.3 | +.027 | +0.6 | +1.1 | +.045 | +3.3 | +3.8 | +.070 |
| Paul Pierce |
48 |
34.0 |
16.5 |
2.4 |
4.0 |
6.4 |
2.4 |
1.7 |
1.0 |
2.4 |
2.9 |
5.9 |
13.5 |
.439 |
1.8 |
4.3 |
.412 |
2.9 |
4.1 |
.713 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
| * Neiher Joel Embiid nor Paul Pierce played in the postseason in their season 1 |
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
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: | +10 | +5.1 | +3.4 | +1.2 | +4.4 | +5.6 | +0.2 | +1.5 | +1.0 | -1.3 | -0.1 | +1.4 | +1.7 | +.041 | +0.3 | +0.4 | +.035 | +0.8 | +1.2 | +.029 |
| Paul Pierce |
73 |
35.4 |
19.5 |
1.1 |
4.3 |
5.4 |
3.0 |
2.1 |
0.8 |
2.4 |
3.2 |
6.7 |
15.1 |
.442 |
1.3 |
3.8 |
.343 |
4.9 |
6.2 |
.798 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
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 |
| Paul Pierce |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
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: | +18 | +4.3 | +2.2 | +1.4 | +5.9 | +7.2 | +0.6 | +1.0 | +1.1 | -0.3 | -0.2 | +0.7 | +0.2 | +.030 | +0.6 | +0.6 | +.083 | +1.5 | +1.1 | +.059 |
| Paul Pierce |
82 |
38.0 |
25.3 |
1.1 |
5.2 |
6.4 |
3.1 |
1.7 |
0.8 |
3.2 |
3.1 |
8.4 |
18.5 |
.454 |
1.8 |
4.7 |
.383 |
6.7 |
9.0 |
.745 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
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 |
| Paul Pierce |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
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: | +31 | +10.8 | +3.1 | +1.8 | +3.0 | +4.7 | +0.2 | +1.0 | +0.3 | -0.2 | -0.5 | +1.1 | +3.8 | +.035 | +1.5 | +2.9 | +.073 | +0.6 | +0.7 | +.002 |
| Paul Pierce |
82 |
40.3 |
26.1 |
1.0 |
5.9 |
6.9 |
3.2 |
1.9 |
1.0 |
2.9 |
2.9 |
8.6 |
19.5 |
.442 |
2.6 |
6.3 |
.404 |
6.3 |
7.8 |
.809 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
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: | +12 | +5.7 | +5.4 | +1.1 | +2.6 | +3.7 | +2.8 | +0.2 | | | -1.2 | +0.9 | +0.4 | +.056 | +0.9 | +2.5 | +.038 | +4.5 | +5.0 | +.050 |
| Paul Pierce |
16 |
42.0 |
24.6 |
1.7 |
6.9 |
8.6 |
4.1 |
1.7 |
1.3 |
3.8 |
3.3 |
7.6 |
18.9 |
.403 |
1.9 |
6.5 |
.288 |
7.5 |
9.8 |
.764 |
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
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: | +28 | +8.1 | +2.6 | +0.9 | +2.4 | +3.3 | +1.6 | +0.8 | +0.6 | -0.5 | -0.5 | +0.6 | +2.6 | +.097 | +0.4 | +1.9 | +.075 | +1.6 | +1.2 | +.057 |
| Paul Pierce |
79 |
39.2 |
25.9 |
1.3 |
6.0 |
7.3 |
4.4 |
1.8 |
0.8 |
3.6 |
2.9 |
8.4 |
20.2 |
.416 |
1.5 |
4.9 |
.302 |
7.6 |
9.5 |
.802 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
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: | +1 | +12.0 | +1.0 | +0.4 | +1.2 | +1.5 | +3.3 | +1.1 | +0.7 | -0.6 | -0.8 | +1.5 | +1.4 | +.114 | +0.1 | +0.8 | +.034 | +1.8 | +1.8 | +.028 |
| Paul Pierce |
10 |
44.5 |
27.1 |
1.1 |
7.9 |
9.0 |
6.7 |
2.1 |
0.8 |
4.4 |
3.8 |
7.7 |
19.3 |
.399 |
1.6 |
4.5 |
.356 |
10.1 |
11.7 |
.863 |
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
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: | +12 | +4.9 | +7.6 | +1.2 | +3.9 | +5.2 | +0.9 | +0.5 | +0.8 | -0.7 | -0.2 | +2.3 | +0.9 | +.097 | | +1.1 | +.072 | +3.1 | +3.9 | +.005 |
| Paul Pierce |
80 |
38.7 |
23.0 |
0.9 |
5.7 |
6.5 |
5.1 |
1.6 |
0.7 |
3.8 |
2.9 |
7.5 |
18.7 |
.402 |
1.4 |
4.8 |
.299 |
6.5 |
7.9 |
.819 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
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: | +6 | +2.3 | +2.8 | +0.6 | +1.3 | +1.9 | +0.4 | +0.9 | +0.2 | -3.1 | -0.4 | +1.3 | +2.9 | +.142 | +0.6 | +1.0 | +.082 | +0.8 | +1.1 | +.019 |
| Paul Pierce |
4 |
40.8 |
20.8 |
1.5 |
7.3 |
8.8 |
2.5 |
1.3 |
1.0 |
6.3 |
3.0 |
6.5 |
19.0 |
.342 |
1.3 |
4.3 |
.294 |
6.5 |
7.8 |
.839 |
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
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: | +16 | +1.5 | +11.5 | +0.7 | +2.8 | +3.6 | | +0.6 | +1.2 | -0.6 | | +4.2 | +5.2 | +.093 | +0.3 | +0.6 | +.040 | +3.3 | +3.6 | +.035 |
| Paul Pierce |
82 |
36.1 |
21.6 |
1.0 |
5.6 |
6.6 |
4.2 |
1.6 |
0.5 |
2.8 |
3.1 |
6.8 |
14.9 |
.455 |
1.3 |
3.6 |
.370 |
6.7 |
8.1 |
.822 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
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: | +2 | +2.4 | +0.8 | +0.8 | +1.3 | +2.1 | +1.9 | +1.2 | +1.4 | -1.2 | -0.4 | +0.6 | +3.7 | +.074 | +0.4 | +0.8 | +.080 | | +0.4 | +.037 |
| Paul Pierce |
7 |
39.7 |
22.9 |
1.0 |
6.7 |
7.7 |
4.6 |
1.9 |
1.4 |
2.7 |
2.6 |
6.7 |
13.3 |
.505 |
1.0 |
3.9 |
.259 |
8.4 |
9.7 |
.868 |
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
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: | +40 | +5.4 | +7.9 | +1.4 | +2.9 | +4.3 | +0.9 | +0.2 | +1.3 | -0.3 | -0.1 | +2.8 | +3.3 | +.058 | | +0.4 | +.034 | +2.3 | +1.3 | +.111 |
| Paul Pierce |
79 |
39.0 |
26.8 |
1.0 |
5.7 |
6.7 |
4.7 |
1.4 |
0.4 |
3.5 |
2.8 |
8.7 |
18.5 |
.471 |
1.4 |
4.0 |
.354 |
7.9 |
10.3 |
.772 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
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 |
| Paul Pierce |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
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: | +28 | +6.8 | +1.2 | +1.1 | +1.2 | +2.3 | +0.4 | +0.3 | +0.6 | -0.1 | -0.4 | +0.5 | +1.5 | +.005 | +1.1 | +1.8 | +.090 | +1.0 | +0.3 | +.086 |
| Paul Pierce |
47 |
37.0 |
25.0 |
0.8 |
5.1 |
5.9 |
4.1 |
1.0 |
0.3 |
3.2 |
2.6 |
7.9 |
18.1 |
.439 |
2.3 |
5.9 |
.389 |
6.8 |
8.6 |
.796 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
| * Neiher Joel Embiid nor Paul Pierce played in the postseason in their season 9 |
|
Additional Years |
* Paul Pierce played 10 seasons more than Joel Embiid in the NBA.
In that period—his seasons 10 to 19, from 2008 to 2017—Paul Pierce played in 10 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship. In those 10 extra years over Joel Embiid, Paul Pierce got these achievements: |
| Honors & Awards | 1 Finals MVP
1 All-NBA Second Team
1 All-NBA Third Team
5 All-Star Game
|