Jusuf Nurkic vs. Paul Pierce Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul Pierce and Jusuf Nurkic, 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 / 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.

Jusuf Nurkic played 11 years in the NBA, 8 less than Paul Pierce, who played 19. Jusuf Nurkic had the first of his seasons in 2014-15, 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
Jusuf Nurkic 11 5 2014-15 to 2024-25
Paul Pierce 19 14 1998-99 to 2016-17

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Jusuf Nurkic Paul Pierce
Season 2014-151998-99
Team Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement 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%
Jusuf Nurkic 62 17.8 6.9 2.0 4.1 6.2 0.8 0.8 1.1 1.4 3.3 2.8 6.2 .446 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.1 .636
difference:+14+16.2+9.6+0.4+0.1+0.2+1.6+0.9+0.1-1.0-0.4+3.1+7.3+.007+1.8+4.3+1.5+2.0+.077
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 Jusuf Nurkic nor Paul Pierce played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Jusuf Nurkic Paul Pierce
Season 2015-161999-00
Team Denver NuggetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Jusuf Nurkic 32 17.1 8.2 2.0 3.4 5.5 1.3 0.8 1.4 1.7 2.8 3.2 7.6 .417 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 3.1 .616
difference:+41+18.3+11.3+0.9+0.9+0.1+1.7+1.3+0.6-0.7-0.4+3.5+7.5+.025+1.3+3.7+.343+3.0+3.1+.182
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
* Neiher Jusuf Nurkic nor Paul Pierce played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3

Jusuf Nurkic Paul Pierce
Season 2016-172000-01
Team Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail BlazersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West 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%
Jusuf Nurkic 65 21.4 10.2 2.4 4.8 7.2 1.9 0.8 1.1 2.2 2.5 4.2 8.2 .507 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.2 .571
difference:+17+16.6+15.1+1.3+0.4+0.8+1.2+0.9+0.3-1.0-0.6+4.2+10.3+.053+1.8+4.7+4.9+5.8+.174
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jusuf Nurkic 1 17.0 2.0 0.0 11.0 11.0 4.0 0.0 1.0 3.0 1.0 1.0 3.0 .333 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Paul Pierce DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Jusuf Nurkic Paul Pierce
Season 2017-182001-02
Team Portland Trail BlazersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf 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%
Jusuf Nurkic 79 26.4 14.3 2.4 6.6 9.0 1.8 0.8 1.4 2.3 3.1 6.1 12.0 .505 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 3.5 .630
difference:+3+13.9+11.8+1.4+0.7+2.1+1.4+1.1+0.4-0.6-0.2+2.5+7.5+.063+2.6+6.2+.404+4.1+4.3+.179
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jusuf Nurkic 4 23.5 11.8 3.0 5.0 8.0 1.0 1.5 1.3 0.8 3.5 4.8 9.8 .487 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 2.8 .818
difference:+12+18.5+12.8+1.3+1.9+0.6+3.1+0.2-3.0-0.2+2.8+9.1+.084+1.9+6.5+5.2+7.0+.054
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

Season 5

Jusuf Nurkic Paul Pierce
Season 2018-192002-03
Team Portland Trail BlazersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jusuf Nurkic 72 27.4 15.6 3.4 7.0 10.4 3.2 1.0 1.4 2.3 3.5 5.8 11.5 .508 0.0 0.4 .103 3.9 5.1 .773
difference:+7+11.8+10.3+2.1+1.0+3.1+1.2+0.8+0.6-1.3-0.6+2.6+8.7+.092+1.5+4.5+.199+3.7+4.4+.029
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jusuf Nurkic DNP------ --- ----------
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

Season 6

Jusuf Nurkic Paul Pierce
Season 2019-202003-04
Team Portland Trail BlazersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jusuf Nurkic 8 31.6 17.6 2.9 7.4 10.3 4.0 1.4 2.0 2.4 4.9 6.8 13.6 .495 0.3 1.3 .200 3.9 4.4 .886
difference:+72+7.1+5.4+2.0+1.7+3.8+1.1+0.2+1.3-1.4-2.0+0.7+5.1+.093+1.1+3.5+.099+2.6+3.5+.067
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jusuf Nurkic 5 32.2 14.2 2.8 7.6 10.4 3.6 1.4 0.2 2.6 4.2 5.0 11.4 .439 0.6 2.2 .273 3.6 4.6 .783
difference:+1+8.6+6.6+1.3+0.3+1.6+1.1+0.1+0.8-3.7-1.2+1.5+7.6+.097+0.7+2.1+.021+2.9+3.2+.056
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

Season 7

Jusuf Nurkic Paul Pierce
Season 2020-212004-05
Team Portland Trail BlazersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jusuf Nurkic 37 23.8 11.5 2.3 6.6 9.0 3.4 1.0 1.1 2.0 2.8 4.6 9.0 .514 0.3 0.8 .400 1.9 3.1 .619
difference:+45+12.3+10.1+1.3+1.0+2.4+0.8+0.6+0.6-0.8-0.3+2.2+5.9+.059+1.0+2.8+.030+4.8+5.0+.203
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jusuf Nurkic 6 28.8 13.2 3.0 7.3 10.3 2.7 0.5 1.2 2.3 5.0 5.0 9.2 .545 0.2 0.8 .200 3.0 4.2 .720
difference:+1+10.9+9.7+2.0+0.6+2.6+1.9+1.4+0.2-0.4-2.4+1.7+4.1+.040+0.8+3.1+.059+5.4+5.5+.148
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

Season 8

Jusuf Nurkic Paul Pierce
Season 2021-222005-06
Team Portland Trail BlazersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Jusuf Nurkic 56 28.2 15.0 3.0 8.1 11.1 2.8 1.1 0.6 2.6 3.4 5.7 10.7 .535 0.3 1.0 .268 3.3 4.8 .690
difference:+23+10.8+11.8+2.0+2.4+4.4+1.9+0.3+0.2-0.9-0.6+3.0+7.8+.064+1.1+3.0+.086+4.6+5.5+.082
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
* Neiher Jusuf Nurkic nor Paul Pierce played in the postseason in their season 8

Season 9

Jusuf Nurkic Paul Pierce
Season 2022-232006-07
Team Portland Trail BlazersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Jusuf Nurkic 52 26.8 13.3 2.2 6.9 9.1 2.9 0.8 0.8 2.3 3.6 5.0 9.7 .519 0.8 2.3 .361 2.4 3.7 .661
difference:+5+10.2+11.7+1.4+1.8+3.2+1.2+0.2+0.5-0.9-1.0+2.9+8.4+.080+1.5+3.6+.028+4.4+4.9+.135
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 Jusuf Nurkic nor Paul Pierce played in the postseason in their season 9

Season 10

Jusuf Nurkic Paul Pierce
Season 2023-242007-08
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jusuf Nurkic 76 27.3 10.9 2.9 8.1 11.0 4.0 1.1 1.1 2.3 3.3 4.2 8.3 .510 0.3 1.2 .244 2.2 3.4 .640
difference:+4+8.6+8.7+2.2+3.6+5.9+0.5+0.2+0.6-0.5-0.8+2.2+5.4+.046+1.5+3.4+.148+2.9+2.7+.203
Paul Pierce 80 35.9 19.6 0.7 4.5 5.1 4.5 1.3 0.5 2.8 2.5 6.4 13.7 .464 1.8 4.6 .392 5.1 6.1 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jusuf Nurkic 4 26.0 7.8 3.3 5.0 8.3 2.8 1.5 1.5 1.5 3.8 3.3 6.5 .500 0.0 0.5 .000 1.3 2.8 .455
difference:+22+12.1+11.9+2.5+0.8+3.3+1.8+0.4+1.2-1.7-0.3+3.0+7.7+.059+1.7+4.1+.361+4.2+4.0+.347
Paul Pierce 26 38.1 19.7 0.8 4.2 5.0 4.6 1.1 0.3 3.2 3.5 6.3 14.2 .441 1.7 4.6 .361 5.5 6.8 .802

Season 11

Jusuf Nurkic Paul Pierce
Season 2024-252008-09
Team Phoenix Suns, Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jusuf Nurkic 51 20.8 8.9 1.7 6.1 7.8 2.3 0.8 0.7 1.9 2.5 3.3 6.9 .477 0.6 2.1 .305 1.7 2.5 .664
difference:+30+16.7+11.6+1.0+1.1+2.2+1.3+0.2+0.4-0.9-0.2+3.4+7.7+.020+0.9+1.7+.086+4.0+4.3+.166
Paul Pierce 81 37.5 20.5 0.7 5.0 5.6 3.6 1.0 0.3 2.8 2.7 6.7 14.6 .457 1.5 3.8 .391 5.7 6.8 .830
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jusuf Nurkic DNP------ --- ----------
Paul Pierce 14 39.7 21.0 0.3 5.5 5.8 3.1 1.1 0.4 2.4 3.1 6.8 15.8 .430 1.4 4.1 .333 6.1 7.2 .842

Additional Years

* Paul Pierce played 8 seasons more than Jusuf Nurkic in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 12 to 19, from 2010 to 2017—Paul Pierce played in 8 Playoffs.

In those 8 extra years over Jusuf Nurkic, Paul Pierce got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 3 All-Star Game