Julius Erving vs. Gus Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gus Johnson and Julius Erving, 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

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.

Julius Erving played 11 years in the NBA, 1 more than Gus Johnson, who played 10. Julius Erving had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Gus Johnson had his rookie season in 1963-64. 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
Julius Erving 11 11 1976-77 to 1986-87
Gus Johnson 10 5 1963-64 to 1972-73

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Julius Erving Gus Johnson
Season 1976-771963-64
Team Philadelphia 76ersBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 82 35.9 21.6 2.3 6.1 8.5 3.7 1.9 1.4 - 3.1 8.4 16.7 .499 - - - 4.9 6.3 .777
Gus Johnson 78 36.5 17.3 - - 13.6 2.2 - - - 4.1 7.3 17.0 .430 - - - 2.7 4.1 .658
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 19 39.9 27.3 2.2 4.3 6.4 4.5 2.2 1.2 - 2.4 10.7 20.5 .523 - - - 5.8 7.1 .821
Gus Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Julius Erving Gus Johnson
Season 1977-781964-65
Team Philadelphia 76ersBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsBullets Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 74 32.8 20.6 2.4 4.1 6.5 3.8 1.8 1.3 3.2 2.8 8.3 16.4 .502 - - - 4.1 4.9 .845
Gus Johnson 76 38.1 18.6 - - 13.0 3.6 - - - 3.4 7.6 18.1 .418 - - - 3.4 5.1 .676
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 10 35.8 21.8 4.0 5.7 9.7 4.0 1.5 1.8 3.5 3.0 8.8 18.0 .489 - - - 4.2 5.6 .750
Gus Johnson 10 37.7 15.8 - - 11.1 3.4 - - - 3.8 6.2 17.3 .358 - - - 3.4 4.6 .739

Season 3

Julius Erving Gus Johnson
Season 1978-791965-66
Team Philadelphia 76ersBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisBullets Lost West Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 78 35.9 23.1 2.5 4.7 7.2 4.6 1.7 1.3 4.0 2.7 9.2 18.7 .491 - - - 4.8 6.4 .745
Gus Johnson 42 30.6 16.1 - - 13.0 2.7 - - - 3.2 6.5 15.7 .413 - - - 3.1 4.2 .736
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 9 41.3 25.4 3.2 4.6 7.8 5.9 2.0 1.9 4.2 2.4 9.9 19.1 .517 - - - 5.7 7.4 .761
Gus Johnson 1 8.0 2.0 - - 0 0.0 - - - 1.0 1.0 4.0 .250 - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 4

Julius Erving Gus Johnson
Season 1979-801966-67
Team Philadelphia 76ersBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 78 36.1 26.9 2.8 4.6 7.4 4.6 2.2 1.8 3.6 2.7 10.7 20.7 .519 0.1 0.3 .200 5.4 6.8 .787
Gus Johnson 73 36.0 20.7 - - 11.7 2.7 - - - 3.8 8.5 18.9 .450 - - - 3.7 5.2 .708
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 18 38.6 24.4 1.7 5.8 7.6 4.4 2.0 2.1 3.1 3.1 9.2 18.8 .488 0.1 0.5 .222 6.0 7.6 .794
Gus Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Julius Erving Gus Johnson
Season 1980-811967-68
Team Philadelphia 76ersBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 82 35.0 24.6 3.0 5.0 8.0 4.4 2.1 1.8 3.2 2.8 9.7 18.6 .521 0.0 0.2 .222 5.1 6.5 .787
Gus Johnson 60 37.9 19.1 - - 13.0 2.7 - - - 3.7 8.0 17.2 .467 - - - 3.0 4.5 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 16 37.0 22.9 3.3 3.9 7.1 3.4 1.4 2.6 3.4 3.4 8.9 18.8 .475 0.0 0.1 .000 5.1 6.7 .757
Gus Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Julius Erving Gus Johnson
Season 1981-821968-69
Team Philadelphia 76ersBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 81 34.4 24.4 2.7 4.2 6.9 3.9 2.0 1.7 2.6 2.8 9.6 17.6 .546 0.0 0.1 .273 5.1 6.7 .763
Gus Johnson 49 34.1 17.9 - - 11.6 2.0 - - - 3.6 7.3 16.0 .459 - - - 3.3 4.6 .717
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 21 37.1 22.0 2.7 4.7 7.4 4.7 1.8 1.8 3.2 2.6 8.0 15.4 .519 0.0 0.3 .167 5.9 7.9 .752
Gus Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Julius Erving Gus Johnson
Season 1982-831969-70
Team Philadelphia 76ersBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBullets Lost East Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 72 33.6 21.4 2.4 4.4 6.8 3.7 1.6 1.8 2.7 2.8 8.4 16.3 .517 0.0 0.1 .286 4.6 6.0 .759
Gus Johnson 78 37.4 17.3 - - 13.9 3.4 - - - 3.4 7.4 16.4 .451 - - - 2.5 3.5 .724
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 13 37.9 18.4 2.5 5.2 7.6 3.4 1.2 2.1 3.0 3.2 7.3 16.2 .450 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 5.2 .721
Gus Johnson 7 42.6 18.4 - - 11.4 1.3 - - - 2.9 7.3 15.9 .459 - - - 3.9 4.9 .794

Season 8

Julius Erving Gus Johnson
Season 1983-841970-71
Team Philadelphia 76ersBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf 1st RdBullets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 77 34.8 22.4 2.5 4.4 6.9 4.0 1.8 1.8 3.0 2.8 8.8 17.2 .512 0.1 0.3 .333 4.7 6.3 .754
Gus Johnson 66 38.5 18.2 - - 17.1 2.9 - - - 3.4 7.5 16.5 .453 - - - 3.2 4.4 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 5 38.8 18.2 1.8 4.6 6.4 5.0 1.6 1.2 4.2 2.8 7.2 15.2 .474 0.0 0.2 .000 3.8 4.4 .864
Gus Johnson 11 33.2 13.0 - - 10.4 2.7 - - - 3.1 4.9 11.6 .422 - - - 3.2 4.3 .745

Season 9

Julius Erving Gus Johnson
Season 1984-851971-72
Team Philadelphia 76ersBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsBullets 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 %
Julius Erving 78 32.5 20.0 2.2 3.1 5.3 3.0 1.7 1.4 2.7 2.6 7.8 15.8 .494 0.0 0.2 .214 4.3 5.7 .765
Gus Johnson 39 17.1 6.4 - - 5.8 1.3 - - - 2.3 2.6 6.9 .383 - - - 1.1 1.6 .683
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 13 33.4 17.1 2.2 3.4 5.6 3.7 1.9 0.8 2.8 2.6 6.5 14.4 .449 0.0 0.1 .000 4.2 4.8 .857
Gus Johnson 5 15.4 4.0 - - 5.0 0.6 - - - 3.4 1.8 6.0 .300 - - - 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 10

Julius Erving Gus Johnson
Season 1985-861972-73
Team Philadelphia 76ersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 74 33.4 18.1 2.3 2.7 5.0 3.4 1.5 1.1 2.9 2.6 7.0 14.7 .480 0.1 0.4 .281 3.9 5.0 .785
Gus Johnson 21 19.9 7.8 - - 6.5 1.5 - - - 2.6 3.3 8.6 .381 - - - 1.2 1.7 .694
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 12 36.1 17.7 2.2 3.7 5.8 4.2 0.9 1.3 3.3 2.7 6.8 15.0 .450 0.2 0.9 .182 4.0 5.4 .738
Gus Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Julius Erving Gus Johnson
Season 1986-87-
Team Philadelphia 76ers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Julius Erving 60 32.0 16.8 1.9 2.5 4.4 3.2 1.3 1.6 2.6 2.3 6.7 14.2 .471 0.2 0.9 .264 3.2 3.9 .813
Gus Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 5 36.0 18.2 2.8 2.2 5.0 3.4 1.4 1.2 1.8 3.8 6.8 16.4 .415 0.4 1.2 .333 4.2 5.0 .840
Gus Johnson ------- --- ----------