Kevin Garnett vs. Pat Riley Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Pat Riley and Kevin Garnett, 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.

Kevin Garnett played 21 years in the NBA, 12 more than Pat Riley, who played 9. Kevin Garnett had the first of his seasons in 1995-96, while Pat Riley had his rookie season in 1967-68. 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
Kevin Garnett 21 14 1995-96 to 2015-16
Pat Riley 9 6 1967-68 to 1975-76

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21

Rookie Season

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 1995-961967-68
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSan Diego Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 80 28.7 10.4 2.2 4.1 6.3 1.8 1.1 1.6 1.4 2.4 4.5 9.2 .491 0.1 0.4 .286 1.3 1.9 .705
Pat Riley 80 15.8 7.9 - - 2.2 1.7 - - - 2.6 3.1 8.3 .379 - - - 1.6 2.5 .634
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett ------- --- ----------
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 1996-971968-69
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSan Diego Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets 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 %
Kevin Garnett 77 38.9 17.0 2.5 5.6 8.0 3.1 1.4 2.1 2.3 2.6 7.1 14.3 .499 0.1 0.3 .286 2.7 3.5 .754
Pat Riley 56 18.3 8.8 - - 2.0 2.4 - - - 2.6 3.6 8.9 .406 - - - 1.6 2.4 .672
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 3 41.7 17.3 4.7 4.7 9.3 3.7 1.3 1.0 1.3 2.0 8.0 17.0 .471 0.3 0.3 1.000 1.0 1.0 1.000
Pat Riley 5 15.2 7.4 - - 2.2 0.4 - - - 2.6 3.2 7.4 .432 - - - 1.0 1.2 .833

Season 3

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 1997-981969-70
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSan Diego Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 82 39.3 18.5 2.7 6.9 9.6 4.2 1.7 1.8 2.3 2.7 7.7 15.8 .491 0.0 0.2 .188 3.0 4.0 .738
Pat Riley 36 13.2 5.3 - - 1.6 2.4 - - - 1.9 2.1 5.0 .417 - - - 1.1 1.5 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 5 38.6 15.8 3.4 6.2 9.6 4.0 0.8 2.4 4.4 3.4 7.2 15.0 .480 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.8 .778
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 1998-991970-71
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 47 37.9 20.8 3.5 6.9 10.4 4.3 1.7 1.8 2.9 3.2 8.8 19.1 .460 0.1 0.3 .286 3.1 4.4 .704
Pat Riley 54 9.4 4.9 - - 1.0 1.3 - - - 1.6 1.9 4.7 .413 - - - 1.0 1.6 .644
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 4 42.5 21.8 4.0 8.0 12.0 3.8 1.8 2.0 3.3 2.5 8.8 19.8 .443 0.0 0.5 .000 4.3 5.8 .739
Pat Riley 7 19.3 9.4 - - 2.1 2.0 - - - 1.7 4.1 9.9 .420 - - - 1.1 1.6 .727

Season 5

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 1999-001971-72
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 81 40.0 22.9 2.8 9.0 11.8 5.0 1.5 1.6 3.3 2.5 9.4 18.8 .497 0.4 1.0 .370 3.8 5.0 .765
Pat Riley 67 13.8 6.7 - - 1.9 1.1 - - - 1.6 2.9 6.6 .447 - - - 0.8 1.1 .743
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 4 42.5 18.8 3.3 7.5 10.8 8.8 1.3 0.8 2.8 3.0 7.5 19.5 .385 0.5 0.8 .667 3.3 4.0 .813
Pat Riley 15 16.3 5.2 - - 1.9 0.9 - - - 2.5 2.2 6.6 .333 - - - 0.8 1.1 .750

Season 6

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 2000-011972-73
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 81 39.5 22.0 2.7 8.7 11.4 5.0 1.4 1.8 2.8 2.5 8.7 18.2 .477 0.2 0.8 .288 4.4 5.8 .764
Pat Riley 55 14.6 7.3 - - 1.2 1.5 - - - 2.3 3.0 7.1 .428 - - - 1.2 1.5 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 4 41.3 21.0 2.5 9.5 12.0 4.3 1.0 1.5 1.5 3.3 6.8 14.5 .466 0.0 0.8 .000 7.5 9.0 .833
Pat Riley 7 7.6 2.6 - - 0.7 1.0 - - - 1.4 1.3 3.9 .333 - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 7

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 2001-021973-74
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 81 39.2 21.2 3.0 9.1 12.1 5.2 1.2 1.6 2.8 2.3 8.1 17.3 .470 0.5 1.4 .319 4.4 5.5 .801
Pat Riley 72 18.9 9.5 0.5 1.3 1.8 2.1 0.8 0.0 - 2.4 4.0 9.3 .430 - - - 1.5 2.0 .764
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 3 43.3 24.0 5.3 13.3 18.7 5.0 1.7 1.7 4.0 3.7 8.0 18.7 .429 0.3 0.7 .500 7.7 10.7 .719
Pat Riley 5 21.2 7.8 0.6 0.6 1.2 2.0 0.8 0.0 - 2.2 3.6 10.0 .360 - - - 0.6 0.8 .750

Season 8

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 2002-031974-75
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 82 40.5 23.0 3.0 10.5 13.4 6.0 1.4 1.6 2.8 2.4 9.1 18.1 .502 0.2 0.9 .282 4.6 6.1 .751
Pat Riley 46 22.1 11.0 0.5 1.3 1.8 2.6 0.8 0.1 - 2.8 4.8 11.4 .419 - - - 1.5 2.0 .742
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 6 44.0 27.0 1.8 13.8 15.7 5.2 1.7 1.7 3.0 3.8 11.8 23.0 .514 0.5 1.5 .333 2.8 4.7 .607
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 2003-041975-76
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesLos Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf FinalsSuns Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 82 39.4 24.2 3.0 10.9 13.9 5.0 1.5 2.2 2.6 2.5 9.8 19.6 .499 0.1 0.5 .256 4.5 5.7 .791
Pat Riley 62 13.1 4.7 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.9 0.4 0.1 - 1.8 1.9 4.9 .389 - - - 0.9 1.2 .714
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 18 43.5 24.3 2.2 12.4 14.6 5.1 1.3 2.3 4.2 3.2 9.3 20.7 .452 0.3 0.9 .313 5.4 6.9 .776
Pat Riley 5 5.4 2.6 0.0 0.0 0 1.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.2 3.0 .400 - - - 0.2 0.2 1.000

Season 10

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 2004-05-
Team Minnesota Timberwolves-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 82 38.1 22.2 3.0 10.5 13.5 5.7 1.5 1.4 2.7 2.5 8.3 16.6 .502 0.1 0.3 .240 5.4 6.7 .811
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett ------- --- ----------
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 2005-06-
Team Minnesota Timberwolves-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 76 38.9 21.8 2.8 9.9 12.7 4.1 1.4 1.4 2.4 2.7 8.2 15.7 .526 0.1 0.4 .267 5.2 6.4 .810
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett ------- --- ----------
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 2006-07-
Team Minnesota Timberwolves-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 76 39.4 22.4 2.4 10.4 12.8 4.1 1.2 1.7 2.7 2.4 8.4 17.6 .476 0.2 0.7 .214 5.5 6.6 .835
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett ------- --- ----------
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 2007-08-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 71 32.8 18.8 1.9 7.3 9.2 3.4 1.4 1.3 1.9 2.3 7.5 13.9 .539 0.0 0.2 .000 3.8 4.7 .801
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 26 38.0 20.4 2.8 7.8 10.5 3.3 1.3 1.1 2.1 2.8 8.3 16.8 .495 0.1 0.3 .250 3.6 4.5 .810
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 2008-09-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 57 31.1 15.8 1.4 7.1 8.5 2.5 1.1 1.2 1.6 2.2 6.9 13.0 .531 0.0 0.1 .250 1.9 2.3 .841
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett ------- --- ----------
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 2009-10-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 69 29.9 14.3 1.1 6.2 7.3 2.7 1.0 0.8 1.5 2.5 5.8 11.2 .521 0.0 0.1 .200 2.7 3.2 .837
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 23 33.3 15.0 1.4 6.0 7.4 2.5 1.1 0.9 1.3 3.2 6.5 13.1 .495 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 2.4 .839
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 2010-11-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Kevin Garnett 71 31.3 14.9 1.2 7.7 8.9 2.4 1.3 0.8 1.6 2.1 6.1 11.6 .528 0.0 0.1 .200 2.6 3.1 .862
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 9 36.4 14.9 2.3 8.6 10.9 2.6 1.9 1.0 2.1 3.0 6.2 14.1 .441 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.2 .759
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 2011-12-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 60 31.1 15.8 1.1 7.1 8.2 2.9 0.9 1.0 1.8 2.4 6.5 13.0 .503 0.1 0.2 .333 2.7 3.2 .857
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 20 36.9 19.2 1.6 8.8 10.3 1.5 1.2 1.5 2.2 3.0 8.0 16.0 .497 0.1 0.2 .250 3.3 4.0 .813
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 2012-13-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Kevin Garnett 68 29.7 14.8 1.1 6.7 7.8 2.3 1.1 0.9 1.6 2.3 6.2 12.5 .496 0.0 0.2 .125 2.3 3.0 .786
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 6 35.3 12.7 1.5 12.2 13.7 3.5 0.8 1.0 3.2 3.8 5.0 10.0 .500 0.0 0.3 .000 2.7 2.8 .941
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------

Season 19

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 2013-14-
Team Brooklyn Nets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets 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 %
Kevin Garnett 54 20.5 6.5 1.1 5.5 6.6 1.5 0.8 0.7 1.3 2.3 2.9 6.6 .441 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 0.9 .809
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 12 20.8 6.9 1.6 4.8 6.3 1.3 0.8 0.4 1.1 2.1 2.8 5.3 .524 0.0 0.2 .000 1.4 1.9 .739
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------

Season 20

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 2014-15-
Team Brooklyn Nets, Minnesota Timberwolves-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 47 20.3 6.9 1.0 5.6 6.6 1.6 1.0 0.4 1.0 2.3 3.0 6.5 .467 0.0 0.1 .143 0.8 1.0 .800
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett ------- --- ----------
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------

Season 21

Kevin Garnett Pat Riley
Season 2015-16-
Team Minnesota Timberwolves-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett 38 14.6 3.2 0.4 3.6 3.9 1.6 0.7 0.3 0.4 1.8 1.4 3.0 .470 0.0 0.0 .000 0.4 0.6 .667
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Garnett ------- --- ----------
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------