Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Kyrie Irving Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kyrie Irving and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 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 / Scoring / 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.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played 20 years in the NBA, 6 more than Kyrie Irving, who played 14. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had the first of his seasons in 1969-70, while Kyrie Irving 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
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 20 18 1969-70 to 1988-89
Kyrie Irving 14 7 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
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kyrie Irving
Season 1969-702011-12
Team Milwaukee BucksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rookie of the YearAchievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Div FinalsDid 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%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 43.1 28.8 - - 14.5 4.1 - - - 3.5 11.4 22.1 .518 - - - 5.9 9.1 .653
difference:+31+12.6+10.3+10.8+1.3-1.3+4.5+7.5+.049+2.5+5.3+.219
Kyrie Irving 51 30.5 18.5 0.9 2.9 3.7 5.4 1.1 0.4 3.1 2.2 6.9 14.6 .469 1.4 3.6 .399 3.4 3.8 .872
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 10 43.5 35.2 - - 16.8 4.1 - - - 2.5 13.9 24.5 .567 - - - 7.4 10.1 .733
Kyrie Irving DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kyrie Irving
Season 1970-712012-13
Team Milwaukee BucksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid 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%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 40.1 31.7 - - 16.0 3.3 - - - 3.2 13.0 22.5 .577 - - - 5.7 8.3 .690
difference:+23+5.4+9.2+12.3+2.6-0.7+4.8+4.4+.125+1.5+3.4+.165
Kyrie Irving 59 34.7 22.5 0.6 3.1 3.7 5.9 1.5 0.4 3.2 2.5 8.2 18.1 .452 1.8 4.7 .391 4.2 4.9 .855
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 14 41.2 26.6 - - 17.0 2.5 - - - 3.2 10.9 21.1 .515 - - - 4.9 7.2 .673
Kyrie Irving DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kyrie Irving
Season 1971-722013-14
Team Milwaukee BucksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf FinalsDid 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%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 81 44.2 34.8 - - 16.6 4.6 - - - 2.9 14.3 24.9 .574 - - - 6.2 9.0 .689
difference:+10+9.0+14.0+13.0+1.5-0.6+6.8+7.5+.144+2.1+4.2+.172
Kyrie Irving 71 35.2 20.8 0.7 2.9 3.6 6.1 1.5 0.3 2.7 2.3 7.5 17.4 .430 1.7 4.8 .358 4.1 4.8 .861
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 11 46.4 28.7 - - 18.2 5.1 - - - 3.2 12.6 28.9 .437 - - - 3.5 4.9 .704
Kyrie Irving DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kyrie Irving
Season 1972-732014-15
Team Milwaukee BucksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf SemisCavaliers 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%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 76 42.8 30.2 - - 16.1 5.0 - - - 2.7 12.9 23.3 .554 - - - 4.3 6.1 .713
difference:+1+6.4+8.5+12.9+0.2-0.8+5.2+6.8+.086+0.1+1.2+.150
Kyrie Irving 75 36.4 21.7 0.7 2.4 3.2 5.2 1.5 0.3 2.5 1.9 7.7 16.5 .468 2.1 5.0 .415 4.2 4.9 .863
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 6 46.0 22.8 - - 16.2 2.8 - - - 4.3 9.8 23.0 .428 - - - 3.2 5.8 .543
difference:+7+10.3+3.8+12.6+1.0-2.1+3.6+8.8+.010+1.3+0.5+.298
Kyrie Irving 13 35.7 19.0 0.8 2.8 3.6 3.8 1.3 0.8 1.5 2.2 6.2 14.2 .438 2.1 4.6 .450 4.5 5.3 .841

Season 5
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kyrie Irving
Season 1973-742015-16
Team Milwaukee BucksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks Lost NBA FinalsNBA 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%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 81 43.8 27.0 3.5 11.0 14.5 4.8 1.4 3.5 - 2.9 11.7 21.7 .539 - - - 3.6 5.2 .702
difference:+28+12.3+7.4+2.7+8.9+11.5+0.1+0.3+3.2-0.9+4.3+5.1+.091+0.4+1.6+.183
Kyrie Irving 53 31.5 19.6 0.8 2.1 3.0 4.7 1.1 0.3 2.3 2.0 7.4 16.6 .448 1.6 4.9 .321 3.2 3.6 .885
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 16 47.4 32.2 4.2 11.6 15.8 4.9 1.3 2.4 - 2.6 14.0 25.1 .557 - - - 4.2 5.7 .736
difference:+5+10.5+7.0+3.5+9.4+12.8+0.2+0.4+1.8-0.4+4.4+5.0+.082+0.5+1.5+.139
Kyrie Irving 21 36.9 25.2 0.7 2.2 3.0 4.7 1.7 0.6 2.3 2.2 9.6 20.1 .475 2.4 5.5 .440 3.7 4.2 .875

Season 6
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kyrie Irving
Season 1974-752016-17
Team Milwaukee BucksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 65 42.3 30.0 3.0 11.0 14.0 4.1 1.0 3.3 - 3.2 12.5 24.4 .513 - - - 5.0 6.6 .763
difference:+7+7.2+4.8+2.3+8.5+10.8+1.7+0.2+3.0-1.0+3.2+4.7+.040+0.9+2.0+.142
Kyrie Irving 72 35.1 25.2 0.7 2.5 3.2 5.8 1.2 0.3 2.5 2.2 9.3 19.7 .473 2.5 6.1 .401 4.1 4.6 .905
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar DNP------ --- ----------
Kyrie Irving 18 36.3 25.9 0.7 2.1 2.8 5.3 1.3 0.4 2.7 2.1 9.6 20.6 .468 2.4 6.6 .373 4.2 4.7 .905

Season 7
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kyrie Irving
Season 1975-762017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 41.2 27.7 3.3 13.5 16.9 5.0 1.5 4.1 - 3.6 11.1 21.1 .529 - - - 5.5 7.8 .703
difference:+22+9.0+3.3+2.7+10.3+13.1+0.1+0.4+3.8-1.6+2.2+3.0+.038+1.6+3.4+.186
Kyrie Irving 60 32.2 24.4 0.6 3.2 3.8 5.1 1.1 0.3 2.3 2.0 8.9 18.1 .491 2.8 6.8 .408 3.9 4.4 .889
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Kareem Abdul-Jabbar nor Kyrie Irving played in the postseason in their season 7

Season 8
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kyrie Irving
Season 1976-772018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 36.8 26.2 3.2 10.0 13.3 3.9 1.2 3.2 - 3.2 10.8 18.7 .579 - - - 4.6 6.5 .701
difference:+15+3.8+2.4+2.1+6.1+8.3+3.0+0.3+2.7-0.7+1.8+0.2+.092+1.4+2.8+.172
Kyrie Irving 67 33.0 23.8 1.1 3.9 5.0 6.9 1.5 0.5 2.6 2.5 9.0 18.5 .487 2.6 6.5 .401 3.2 3.7 .873
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 11 42.5 34.6 4.6 13.1 17.7 4.1 1.7 3.5 - 3.8 13.4 22.0 .607 - - - 7.9 10.9 .725
difference:+2+5.8+13.3+4.0+9.3+13.4+2.9+0.3+3.1-0.9+5.7+2.1+.222+3.9+6.5+.175
Kyrie Irving 9 36.7 21.3 0.6 3.8 4.3 7.0 1.4 0.4 3.1 2.9 7.7 19.9 .385 2.0 6.4 .310 4.0 4.4 .900

Season 9
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kyrie Irving
Season 1977-782019-20
Team Los Angeles LakersBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 62 36.5 25.8 3.0 9.9 12.9 4.3 1.7 3.0 3.4 2.9 10.7 19.4 .550 - - - 4.4 5.6 .783
difference:+42+3.6+1.6+1.9+5.8+7.7+2.1+0.3+2.5-0.8-0.2+0.7+1.4+.072+0.3+0.5+.139
Kyrie Irving 20 32.9 27.4 1.1 4.1 5.2 6.4 1.4 0.5 2.6 2.7 10.0 20.8 .478 2.8 7.1 .394 4.7 5.1 .922
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3 44.7 27.0 4.7 9.0 13.7 3.7 0.7 4.0 4.7 4.7 12.7 24.3 .521 - - - 1.7 3.0 .556
Kyrie Irving DNP------ --- ----------

Season 10
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kyrie Irving
Season 1978-792020-21
Team Los Angeles LakersBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisNets Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 80 39.5 23.8 2.6 10.2 12.8 5.4 1.0 4.0 3.5 2.9 9.7 16.8 .577 - - - 4.4 5.9 .736
difference:+26+4.6+3.1+1.6+6.4+8.0+0.6+0.4+3.3-1.1-0.3+0.5+3.3+.071+0.7+1.9+.186
Kyrie Irving 54 34.9 26.9 1.0 3.8 4.8 6.0 1.4 0.7 2.4 2.6 10.2 20.1 .506 2.8 7.0 .402 3.7 4.0 .922
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 8 45.9 28.5 2.3 10.4 12.6 4.8 1.0 4.1 3.6 3.3 11.0 19.0 .579 - - - 6.5 7.8 .839
difference:+1+9.8+5.8+1.0+6.0+6.8+1.4+3.5-2.4-1.2+2.4+0.9+.107+3.6+4.7+.090
Kyrie Irving 9 36.1 22.7 1.3 4.4 5.8 3.4 1.0 0.6 1.2 2.1 8.6 18.1 .472 2.7 7.2 .369 2.9 3.1 .929

Season 11
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kyrie Irving
Season 1979-802021-22
Team Los Angeles LakersBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNets 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%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 38.3 24.8 2.3 8.5 10.8 4.5 1.0 3.4 3.6 2.6 10.2 16.9 .604 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 5.8 .765
difference:+53+0.7+2.6+1.7+4.7+6.4+1.3+0.4+2.8-1.1-0.2+0.2+4.3+.135+3.4+8.2+0.3+1.4+.150
Kyrie Irving 29 37.6 27.4 0.6 3.8 4.4 5.8 1.4 0.6 2.5 2.8 10.0 21.2 .469 3.4 8.2 .418 4.1 4.4 .915
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 15 41.2 31.9 3.4 8.7 12.1 3.1 1.1 3.9 3.7 3.4 13.2 23.1 .572 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 7.0 .790
difference:+11+1.3+10.6+1.9+4.9+6.8+2.2+0.7+2.6-1.4-0.1+6.2+7.3+.128+2.0+5.3+0.2+1.7+.210
Kyrie Irving 4 42.5 21.3 1.5 3.8 5.3 5.3 1.8 1.3 2.3 3.3 7.0 15.8 .444 2.0 5.3 .381 5.3 5.3 1.000

Season 12
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kyrie Irving
Season 1980-812022-23
Team Los Angeles LakersBrooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 80 37.2 26.2 2.5 7.8 10.3 3.4 0.7 2.9 3.1 3.1 10.5 18.2 .574 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 6.9 .766
difference:+20+0.1+0.9+1.5+3.7+5.2+2.1+0.4+2.1-1.0-0.3+0.6+1.9+.080+3.1+8.3+1.2+2.3+.139
Kyrie Irving 60 37.3 27.1 1.0 4.1 5.1 5.5 1.1 0.8 2.1 2.8 9.9 20.1 .494 3.1 8.3 .379 4.1 4.6 .905
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3 44.7 26.7 4.3 12.3 16.7 4.0 1.0 2.7 3.7 4.7 10.0 21.7 .462 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 9.3 .714
Kyrie Irving DNP------ --- ----------

Season 13
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kyrie Irving
Season 1981-822023-24
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 76 35.2 23.9 2.3 6.4 8.7 3.0 0.8 2.7 3.0 2.9 9.9 17.1 .579 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 5.8 .706
difference:+18+0.2+1.7+1.5+2.2+3.7+2.2+0.5+2.2-1.2-1.0+0.2+2.4+.082+3.0+7.3+0.8+2.2+.199
Kyrie Irving 58 35.0 25.6 0.8 4.2 5.0 5.2 1.3 0.5 1.8 1.9 9.7 19.5 .497 3.0 7.3 .411 3.3 3.6 .905
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 14 35.2 20.4 2.4 6.1 8.5 3.6 1.0 3.2 2.9 3.2 8.2 15.8 .520 0.0 0.0 - 3.9 6.2 .632
difference:+8+4.8+1.7+1.4+3.4+4.8+1.5+2.9-0.6-0.4+0.3+2.3+.053+2.4+6.2+1.1+2.9+.217
Kyrie Irving 22 40.0 22.1 1.0 2.7 3.7 5.1 1.0 0.3 2.3 2.8 8.5 18.1 .467 2.4 6.2 .390 2.8 3.3 .849

Season 14
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Kyrie Irving
Season 1982-832024-25
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 79 32.3 21.8 2.1 5.4 7.5 2.5 0.8 2.2 2.5 2.8 9.1 15.5 .588 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 4.7 .749
difference:+29+3.8+2.9+0.9+1.8+2.7+2.1+0.5+1.7-0.3-0.8+0.2+3.4+.115+2.9+7.2+0.4+0.4+.167
Kyrie Irving 50 36.1 24.7 1.2 3.6 4.8 4.6 1.3 0.5 2.2 2.0 8.9 18.9 .473 2.9 7.2 .401 3.9 4.3 .916
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 15 39.2 27.1 1.7 6.0 7.7 2.8 1.1 3.7 3.3 4.1 10.9 19.1 .568 0.0 0.1 .000 5.3 7.1 .755
Kyrie Irving DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played 6 seasons more than Kyrie Irving in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 20, from 1984 to 1989—Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in 6 Playoffs and won 3 NBA Championships.

In those 6 extra years over Kyrie Irving, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Finals MVP
Achievement 2 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 1 All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement 6 All-Star Game
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