Kevin Johnson vs. Michael Jordan Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Michael Jordan and Kevin Johnson, 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 / Stats Rankings / 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.

Kevin Johnson played 12 years in the NBA, 3 less than Michael Jordan, who played 15. Kevin Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1987-88, while Michael Jordan had his rookie season in 1984-85. 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
Kevin Johnson 12 11 1987-88 to 1999-00
Michael Jordan 15 13 1984-85 to 2002-03

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

Kevin Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1987-881984-85
Team Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 80 24.0 9.2 0.5 1.9 2.4 5.5 1.3 0.3 1.8 1.9 3.4 7.5 .461 0.1 0.3 .208 2.2 2.6 .839
difference:+2+14.3+19.0+1.5+2.6+4.1+0.4+1.1+0.5-1.7-1.6+6.8+12.3+.054+0.3+.035+5.5+6.5+.006
Michael Jordan 82 38.3 28.2 2.0 4.5 6.5 5.9 2.4 0.8 3.5 3.5 10.2 19.8 .515 0.1 0.6 .173 7.7 9.1 .845
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson DNP------ --- ----------
Michael Jordan 4 42.8 29.3 1.8 4.0 5.8 8.5 2.8 1.0 3.8 3.8 8.5 19.5 .436 0.3 2.0 .125 12.0 14.5 .828

Season 2

Kevin Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1988-891985-86
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Most Improved Player-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsBulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 81 39.2 20.4 0.6 3.6 4.2 12.2 1.7 0.3 4.0 2.8 7.0 13.9 .505 0.0 0.3 .091 6.3 7.1 .882
difference:+63+14.1+2.3+0.7+1.3+0.6+9.3+0.4+0.9-1.5-0.2+1.3+4.3+.048+0.2+0.7+.076+0.5+0.2+.042
Michael Jordan 18 25.1 22.7 1.3 2.3 3.6 2.9 2.1 1.2 2.5 2.6 8.3 18.2 .457 0.2 1.0 .167 5.8 6.9 .840
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 12 41.2 23.8 1.0 3.3 4.3 12.3 1.6 0.4 4.6 2.3 7.5 15.2 .495 0.3 0.8 .300 8.5 9.2 .927
difference:+9+3.8+19.9+0.7+1.4+2.0+6.6+0.7+0.9-0.1-2.0+8.5+16.5+.010+0.5+.700+2.8+3.8+.055
Michael Jordan 3 45.0 43.7 1.7 4.7 6.3 5.7 2.3 1.3 4.7 4.3 16.0 31.7 .505 0.3 0.3 1.000 11.3 13.0 .872

Season 3

Kevin Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1989-901986-87
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsBulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 74 37.6 22.5 0.6 3.1 3.6 11.4 1.3 0.2 3.6 1.9 7.8 15.7 .499 0.1 0.6 .195 6.8 8.1 .838
difference:+8+2.4+14.6+1.4+0.1+1.6+6.8+1.6+1.3-0.3-1.0+5.6+12.1+.017+0.2+.013+3.4+3.8+.019
Michael Jordan 82 40.0 37.1 2.0 3.2 5.2 4.6 2.9 1.5 3.3 2.9 13.4 27.8 .482 0.1 0.8 .182 10.2 11.9 .857
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 16 36.4 21.3 0.6 2.8 3.3 10.6 1.6 0.0 3.9 1.8 7.7 16.1 .479 0.1 0.7 .182 5.8 7.0 .821
difference:+13+6.3+14.4+1.7+1.9+3.7+4.6+0.4+2.3-1.2-1.9+4.0+11.9+.062+0.6+1.0+.218+5.9+6.0+.076
Michael Jordan 3 42.7 35.7 2.3 4.7 7.0 6.0 2.0 2.3 2.7 3.7 11.7 28.0 .417 0.7 1.7 .400 11.7 13.0 .897

Season 4

Kevin Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1990-911987-88
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 77 36.0 22.2 0.7 2.8 3.5 10.1 2.1 0.1 3.5 2.3 7.7 14.9 .516 0.1 0.6 .205 6.7 8.0 .843
difference:+5+4.4+12.8+1.0+1.0+2.0+4.2+1.1+1.5-0.4-1.0+5.3+9.5+.019+.073+2.1+2.5+.002
Michael Jordan 82 40.4 35.0 1.7 3.8 5.5 5.9 3.2 1.6 3.1 3.3 13.0 24.4 .535 0.1 0.6 .132 8.8 10.5 .841
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 4 36.5 12.8 0.5 2.8 3.3 9.8 0.5 0.3 3.0 2.3 4.0 13.3 .302 0.3 1.8 .143 4.5 7.5 .600
difference:+6+6.2+23.5+1.8+2.0+3.8+5.1+1.9+0.8-0.9-1.5+9.8+12.7+.229+0.2+1.5+.190+4.1+2.4+.269
Michael Jordan 10 42.7 36.3 2.3 4.8 7.1 4.7 2.4 1.1 3.9 3.8 13.8 26.0 .531 0.1 0.3 .333 8.6 9.9 .869

Season 5

Kevin Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1991-921988-89
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisBulls Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 78 37.2 19.7 0.8 3.0 3.7 10.7 1.5 0.3 3.5 2.3 6.9 14.4 .479 0.1 0.6 .217 5.7 7.1 .807
difference:+3+3.0+12.8+1.0+3.2+4.3+2.7+1.4+0.5-0.1-0.7+5.0+7.8+.059+0.2+0.6+.059+2.6+2.7+.043
Michael Jordan 81 40.2 32.5 1.8 6.2 8.0 8.0 2.9 0.8 3.6 3.0 11.9 22.2 .538 0.3 1.2 .276 8.3 9.8 .850
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 8 41.9 23.6 1.0 3.1 4.1 11.6 1.5 0.3 3.1 3.0 7.8 16.0 .484 0.4 0.8 .500 7.8 9.0 .861
difference:+9+0.3+11.2+0.5+2.4+2.9+4.0+1.0+0.5-0.9-0.8+3.9+6.9+.026+0.2+1.3+.214+3.0+4.5+.062
Michael Jordan 17 42.2 34.8 1.5 5.5 7.0 7.6 2.5 0.8 4.0 3.8 11.7 22.9 .510 0.6 2.1 .286 10.8 13.5 .799

Season 6

Kevin Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1992-931989-90
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost NBA FinalsBulls Lost East Conf 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%
Kevin Johnson 49 33.5 16.1 0.6 1.5 2.1 7.8 1.7 0.4 3.1 2.0 5.8 11.5 .499 0.0 0.2 .125 4.6 5.6 .819
difference:+33+5.5+17.5+1.1+3.6+4.8+1.5+1.1+0.3-0.1-0.9+6.8+12.5+.027+1.1+2.8+.251+2.6+2.9+.029
Michael Jordan 82 39.0 33.6 1.7 5.1 6.9 6.3 2.8 0.7 3.0 2.9 12.6 24.0 .526 1.1 3.0 .376 7.2 8.5 .848
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 23 39.7 17.8 0.4 2.3 2.7 7.9 1.5 0.6 3.7 2.5 6.2 13.0 .480 0.0 0.1 .000 5.4 6.8 .795
difference:+7+2.4+18.9+1.1+3.4+4.5+1.1+1.3+0.3-0.2-0.9+7.5+13.6+.034+1.0+3.0+.320+2.9+3.1+.041
Michael Jordan 16 42.1 36.7 1.5 5.7 7.2 6.8 2.8 0.9 3.5 3.4 13.7 26.6 .514 1.0 3.1 .320 8.3 9.9 .836

Season 7

Kevin Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1993-941990-91
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 67 36.6 20.0 0.8 1.7 2.5 9.5 1.9 0.1 3.5 1.9 7.1 14.6 .487 0.1 0.4 .222 5.7 6.9 .819
difference:+15+0.4+11.5+0.6+2.9+3.5+4.0+0.8+0.9-1.0-0.9+5.0+7.8+.052+0.3+0.7+.090+1.3+1.3+.032
Michael Jordan 82 37.0 31.5 1.4 4.6 6.0 5.5 2.7 1.0 2.5 2.8 12.1 22.4 .539 0.4 1.1 .312 7.0 8.2 .851
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 10 42.7 26.6 1.0 2.5 3.5 9.6 1.0 0.1 3.4 2.3 9.7 21.2 .458 0.3 1.0 .300 6.9 8.1 .852
difference:+7+2.2+4.5+0.1+2.8+2.9+1.2+1.4+1.3-0.9-0.8+1.9+0.9+.066+0.3+0.5+.085+0.5+0.6+.007
Michael Jordan 17 40.5 31.1 1.1 5.3 6.4 8.4 2.4 1.4 2.5 3.1 11.6 22.1 .524 0.6 1.5 .385 7.4 8.7 .845

Season 8

Kevin Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1994-951991-92
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 47 28.8 15.5 0.7 1.8 2.4 7.7 1.0 0.4 2.2 1.9 5.2 11.1 .470 0.1 0.6 .154 5.0 6.1 .810
difference:+33+10.0+14.6+0.4+3.5+4.0+1.6+1.3+0.5-0.3-0.6+6.6+11.6+.049+0.2+0.7+.116+1.1+1.3+.022
Michael Jordan 80 38.8 30.1 1.1 5.3 6.4 6.1 2.3 0.9 2.5 2.5 11.8 22.7 .519 0.3 1.3 .270 6.1 7.4 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 10 37.1 24.8 0.7 3.4 4.1 9.3 0.9 0.4 3.4 2.5 8.6 15.0 .573 0.5 1.0 .500 7.1 8.4 .845
difference:+12+4.7+9.7+1.0+1.1+2.1+3.5+1.1+0.3-0.3-0.3+4.6+11.4+.074+0.3+1.0+.114+0.3+0.2+.012
Michael Jordan 22 41.8 34.5 1.7 4.5 6.2 5.8 2.0 0.7 3.7 2.8 13.2 26.4 .499 0.8 2.0 .386 7.4 8.6 .857

Season 9

Kevin Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1995-961992-93
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 56 35.8 18.7 0.8 3.2 3.9 9.2 1.5 0.2 3.0 2.6 6.1 12.0 .507 0.4 1.0 .368 6.1 7.1 .859
difference:+22+3.5+13.9+0.9+1.8+2.8+3.7+1.3+0.6-0.3-0.2+6.6+13.7+.012+0.6+1.9+.016+0.2+.022
Michael Jordan 78 39.3 32.6 1.7 5.0 6.7 5.5 2.8 0.8 2.7 2.4 12.7 25.7 .495 1.0 2.9 .352 6.1 7.3 .837
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 4 37.8 17.3 0.5 3.8 4.3 10.8 0.5 0.5 2.8 2.0 6.8 14.3 .474 0.3 1.0 .250 3.5 4.3 .824
difference:+15+3.4+17.8+1.2+1.3+2.4+4.8+1.6+0.4-0.4-1.1+6.4+13.5+.001+1.2+2.8+.139+3.7+4.6+.019
Michael Jordan 19 41.2 35.1 1.7 5.1 6.7 6.0 2.1 0.9 2.4 3.1 13.2 27.8 .475 1.5 3.8 .389 7.2 8.9 .805

Note: Michael Jordan didn't play in 1993-94.

Season 10

Kevin Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1996-971994-95
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls 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%
Kevin Johnson 70 38.0 20.1 0.8 2.8 3.6 9.3 1.5 0.2 3.1 2.0 6.3 12.7 .496 1.3 2.9 .441 6.3 7.4 .852
difference:+53+1.3+6.8+0.7+2.6+3.3+4.0+0.3+0.6-1.0-0.8+3.5+11.1+.085+0.4+1.0+.059+0.1+0.6+.051
Michael Jordan 17 39.3 26.9 1.5 5.4 6.9 5.3 1.8 0.8 2.1 2.8 9.8 23.8 .411 0.9 1.9 .500 6.4 8.0 .801
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 5 41.6 16.8 1.6 2.8 4.4 6.0 2.6 0.0 3.6 3.0 5.2 17.6 .295 0.6 4.4 .136 5.8 6.6 .879
difference:+5+0.4+14.7+0.4+1.7+2.1+1.5+0.3+1.4-0.5+6.8+7.2+.189+0.5+1.4+.231+0.6+1.3+.069
Michael Jordan 10 42.0 31.5 2.0 4.5 6.5 4.5 2.3 1.4 4.1 3.0 12.0 24.8 .484 1.1 3.0 .367 6.4 7.9 .810

Season 11

Kevin Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1997-981995-96
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 50 25.8 9.5 0.7 2.6 3.3 4.9 0.5 0.2 2.0 1.1 3.1 6.9 .447 0.1 0.5 .154 3.2 3.7 .871
difference:+32+11.9+20.9+1.1+2.2+3.3+0.6+1.7+0.3-0.4-1.3+8.1+15.7+.048+1.3+2.7+.273+3.5+4.3+.037
Michael Jordan 82 37.7 30.4 1.8 4.8 6.6 4.3 2.2 0.5 2.4 2.4 11.2 22.6 .495 1.4 3.2 .427 6.7 8.0 .834
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 4 30.5 13.8 0.5 1.8 2.3 4.8 0.5 0.3 1.5 1.5 5.8 10.5 .548 0.3 1.0 .250 2.0 3.0 .667
difference:+14+10.2+16.9+1.2+1.4+2.6+0.7+1.3-0.8-1.2+4.6+12.1+.089+1.1+2.4+.153+6.5+7.4+.151
Michael Jordan 18 40.7 30.7 1.7 3.2 4.9 4.1 1.8 0.3 2.3 2.7 10.4 22.6 .459 1.4 3.4 .403 8.5 10.4 .818

Note: Kevin Johnson didn't play in 1998-99.

Season 12

Kevin Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1999-001996-97
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 6 18.8 6.7 0.0 2.7 2.7 4.0 0.3 0.0 1.2 1.0 2.7 4.7 .571 0.2 0.2 1.000 1.2 1.2 1.000
difference:+76+19.1+22.9+1.4+1.8+3.2+0.3+1.4+0.5-0.8-0.9+8.5+18.4+.085+1.2+3.4+.626+4.7+5.8+.167
Michael Jordan 82 37.9 29.6 1.4 4.5 5.9 4.3 1.7 0.5 2.0 1.9 11.2 23.1 .486 1.4 3.6 .374 5.9 7.0 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kevin Johnson 9 14.3 3.2 0.0 1.4 1.4 2.6 0.3 0.1 1.4 1.1 1.3 4.1 .324 0.0 0.3 .000 0.6 0.7 .833
difference:+10+28.0+27.9+2.2+4.3+6.5+2.2+1.3+0.8-1.2-1.3+10.6+22.1+.132+0.7+3.2+.194+5.9+7.1+.002
Michael Jordan 19 42.3 31.1 2.2 5.7 7.9 4.8 1.6 0.9 2.6 2.4 11.9 26.2 .456 0.7 3.5 .194 6.5 7.8 .831

Additional Years

* Michael Jordan played 3 seasons more than Kevin Johnson in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 13 to 15, from 1998 to 2003—Michael Jordan played in one postseason and won the NBA Championship.

In those 3 extra years over Kevin Johnson, Michael Jordan got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Finals MVP
Achievement 1 Season MVP
Achievement 1 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 1 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 1 Scoring Leader
Achievement 3 All-Star Game
Achievement 1 All-Star Game MVP