Kyrie Irving vs. Jermaine O'Neal Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jermaine O'Neal and Kyrie Irving, 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 / 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.

Kyrie Irving played 14 years in the NBA, 4 less than Jermaine O'Neal, who played 18. Kyrie Irving had the first of his seasons in 2011-12, while Jermaine O'Neal had his rookie season in 1996-97. 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
Kyrie Irving 14 7 2011-12 to 2024-25
Jermaine O'Neal 18 14 1996-97 to 2013-14

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Kyrie Irving Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2011-121996-97
Team Cleveland CavaliersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers Lost West 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%
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
difference:+6+20.3+14.4+1.0+0.9+5.2+1.1+0.2-2.5-1.2+5.4+11.2+.018+1.4+3.6+2.4+2.1+.269
Jermaine O'Neal 45 10.2 4.1 0.9 1.9 2.8 0.2 0.0 0.6 0.6 1.0 1.5 3.4 .451 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.7 .603
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kyrie Irving DNP------ --- ----------
Jermaine O'Neal 2 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 1.0 .000

Season 2

Kyrie Irving Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2012-131997-98
Team Cleveland CavaliersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers Lost West 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%
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
difference:+1+21.2+18.0+0.7+1.1+0.3+5.6+1.2+0.6-2.3-0.8+6.3+14.2+.033+1.8+4.7+3.4+3.4+.349
Jermaine O'Neal 60 13.5 4.5 1.3 2.0 3.4 0.3 0.3 1.0 0.9 1.7 1.9 3.9 .485 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .506
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kyrie Irving DNP------ --- ----------
Jermaine O'Neal 1 3.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 3.0 .000 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 3

Kyrie Irving Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2013-141998-99
Team Cleveland CavaliersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+35+26.6+18.3+0.5+1.4+0.9+5.7+1.4+0.1-2.3-1.2+6.5+15.1+.004+1.7+4.8+3.6+3.8+.347
Jermaine O'Neal 36 8.6 2.5 1.2 1.5 2.7 0.4 0.1 0.4 0.4 1.1 1.0 2.3 .434 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.0 .514
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kyrie Irving DNP------ --- ----------
Jermaine O'Neal 9 6.0 1.6 0.9 1.0 1.9 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.2 1.2 0.4 1.1 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.3 .500

Season 4

Kyrie Irving Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2014-151999-00
Team Cleveland CavaliersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers Lost West 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%
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
difference:+5+24.1+17.8+0.7+0.5+0.1+4.9+1.3+0.5-1.8-0.1+6.2+13.3+.018+2.1+5.0+3.4+3.5+.281
Jermaine O'Neal 70 12.3 3.9 1.4 1.9 3.3 0.3 0.2 0.8 0.7 1.8 1.5 3.2 .486 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.4 .582
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+5+30.8+17.5+0.5+2.2+2.7+3.7+1.3+0.4-1.5-1.1+5.8+12.8+.165+2.1+4.6+3.7+4.2+.174
Jermaine O'Neal 8 4.9 1.5 0.3 0.6 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.4 0.0 1.1 0.4 1.4 .273 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.1 .667

Season 5

Kyrie Irving Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2015-162000-01
Team Cleveland CavaliersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+28+1.1+6.7+2.3+4.6+6.8+3.5+0.5+2.5-0.3-1.5+2.4+5.9+.017+1.6+4.8+.321+0.3+1.2+.284
Jermaine O'Neal 81 32.6 12.9 3.1 6.7 9.8 1.2 0.6 2.8 2.0 3.5 5.0 10.7 .465 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 4.8 .601
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+17+2.4+15.4+2.3+7.3+9.5+2.9+1.7+1.9-0.5-1.1+5.3+10.3+.039+2.4+5.2+.440+2.4+1.7+.375
Jermaine O'Neal 4 39.3 9.8 3.0 9.5 12.5 1.8 0.0 2.5 1.8 3.3 4.3 9.8 .436 0.0 0.3 .000 1.3 2.5 .500

Season 6

Kyrie Irving Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2016-172001-02
Team Cleveland CavaliersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement Most Improved Player
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA FinalsPacers 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%
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
difference:+2.5+6.2+1.9+5.4+7.3+4.2+0.6+2.0-0.1-1.5+1.8+4.0+.006+2.5+5.9+.330+0.2+1.1+.217
Jermaine O'Neal 72 37.6 19.0 2.6 7.9 10.5 1.6 0.6 2.3 2.4 3.7 7.5 15.7 .479 0.0 0.2 .071 3.9 5.7 .688
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+13+1.7+8.7+0.5+4.3+4.8+4.3+0.5+1.2-0.1-2.7+2.8+5.4+.021+2.4+6.4+.373+0.6+0.1+.155
Jermaine O'Neal 5 38.0 17.2 1.2 6.4 7.6 1.0 0.8 1.6 2.8 4.8 6.8 15.2 .447 0.0 0.2 .000 3.6 4.8 .750

Season 7

Kyrie Irving Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2017-182002-03
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPacers 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%
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
difference:+17+5.0+3.6+2.0+4.5+6.5+3.1+0.2+2.0-1.6+1.0+1.7+.007+2.7+6.5+.075+0.9+2.2+.158
Jermaine O'Neal 77 37.2 20.8 2.6 7.7 10.3 2.0 0.9 2.3 2.3 3.6 7.9 16.4 .484 0.1 0.3 .333 4.8 6.6 .731
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kyrie Irving DNP------ --- ----------
Jermaine O'Neal 6 45.5 22.8 4.0 13.5 17.5 0.7 0.5 3.0 3.0 3.7 7.2 15.3 .467 0.0 0.5 .000 8.5 10.8 .785

Season 8

Kyrie Irving Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2018-192003-04
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisPacers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+11+2.7+3.7+1.4+3.6+5.0+4.8+0.7+2.1-0.3-0.7+1.2+0.6+.053+2.6+6.3+.290+1.3+2.2+.116
Jermaine O'Neal 78 35.7 20.1 2.5 7.5 10.0 2.1 0.8 2.6 2.3 3.2 7.8 17.9 .434 0.0 0.2 .111 4.5 5.9 .757
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+7+0.9+2.1+1.2+3.5+4.8+5.8+0.9+1.9-1.3-0.4+0.5+2.9+.038+2.0+6.1+.310+0.8+2.5+.200
Jermaine O'Neal 16 37.6 19.2 1.8 7.3 9.1 1.2 0.5 2.3 1.8 3.3 7.2 17.0 .423 0.0 0.3 .000 4.8 6.9 .700

Season 9

Kyrie Irving Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2019-202004-05
Team Brooklyn NetsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPacers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+24+1.9+3.1+0.8+2.8+3.6+4.5+0.8+1.5-0.4-1.2+1.2+1.4+.026+2.8+7.0+.227+2.0+3.8+.168
Jermaine O'Neal 44 34.8 24.3 1.9 6.9 8.8 1.9 0.6 2.0 3.0 3.9 8.8 19.4 .452 0.0 0.1 .167 6.7 8.9 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kyrie Irving DNP------ --- ----------
Jermaine O'Neal 13 36.8 16.0 1.6 6.4 8.0 2.2 0.5 2.6 2.8 3.7 5.9 16.2 .365 0.0 0.2 .000 4.2 5.5 .750

Season 10

Kyrie Irving Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2020-212005-06
Team Brooklyn NetsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisPacers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+3+0.4+6.8+1.0+3.5+4.5+3.4+0.9+1.6-0.6-0.9+2.7+4.3+.034+2.7+6.8+.102+1.4+3.2+.213
Jermaine O'Neal 51 35.3 20.1 2.0 7.3 9.3 2.6 0.5 2.3 3.0 3.5 7.5 15.8 .472 0.1 0.2 .300 5.1 7.2 .709
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+3+0.1+1.7+0.2+1.6+1.7+1.7+0.5+1.7-3.1-2.6+1.3+4.1+.052+2.7+6.9+.369+3.4+5.7+.212
Jermaine O'Neal 6 36.0 21.0 1.5 6.0 7.5 1.7 0.5 2.3 4.3 4.7 7.3 14.0 .524 0.0 0.3 .000 6.3 8.8 .717

Season 11

Kyrie Irving Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2021-222006-07
Team Brooklyn NetsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+40+2.0+8.0+1.6+3.6+5.2+3.4+0.7+2.0-0.4-0.6+2.8+4.7+.033+3.4+8.1+.418+0.9+2.1+.148
Jermaine O'Neal 69 35.6 19.4 2.2 7.4 9.6 2.4 0.7 2.6 2.9 3.4 7.2 16.5 .436 0.0 0.1 .000 5.0 6.5 .767
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
Jermaine O'Neal DNP------ --- ----------

Season 12

Kyrie Irving Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2022-232007-08
Team Brooklyn Nets, Dallas MavericksIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
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
difference:+18+8.6+13.5+1.0+0.7+1.6+3.3+0.6+1.3-0.4-0.3+4.5+7.9+.055+3.1+8.2+.379+1.2+0.7+.163
Jermaine O'Neal 42 28.7 13.6 2.0 4.8 6.7 2.2 0.5 2.1 2.5 3.1 5.4 12.2 .439 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 3.9 .742
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Kyrie Irving nor Jermaine O'Neal played in the postseason in their season 12

Season 13

Kyrie Irving Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2023-242008-09
Team Dallas MavericksToronto Raptors, Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost NBA FinalsHeat Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+10+5.2+12.3+1.1+0.3+1.4+3.4+0.9+1.5-0.3-1.2+4.3+8.2+.023+3.0+7.3+0.7+0.3+.117
Jermaine O'Neal 68 29.8 13.3 1.9 4.5 6.4 1.8 0.4 2.0 2.1 3.1 5.4 11.3 .474 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.3 .788
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+16+13.0+8.8+0.2+0.6+0.8+3.6+0.5+1.2-0.6-0.2+3.8+9.6+.082+2.4+6.2+1.2+2.0+.099
Jermaine O'Neal 6 27.0 13.3 1.2 3.3 4.5 1.5 0.5 1.5 1.7 3.0 4.7 8.5 .549 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 5.3 .750

Season 14

Kyrie Irving Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2024-252009-10
Team Dallas MavericksMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayHeat Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+20+7.7+11.1+0.6+1.6+2.1+3.3+0.9+0.9-0.4-1.0+3.3+8.3+.056+2.9+7.2+1.6+1.1+.196
Jermaine O'Neal 70 28.4 13.6 1.8 5.2 6.9 1.3 0.4 1.4 1.8 3.0 5.6 10.6 .529 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.2 .720
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kyrie Irving DNP------ --- ----------
Jermaine O'Neal 5 23.4 4.2 2.0 3.6 5.6 1.0 0.8 2.0 1.4 2.6 1.8 8.8 .205 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.4 .429

Additional Years

* Jermaine O'Neal played 4 seasons more than Kyrie Irving in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 18, from 2011 to 2014—Jermaine O'Neal played in two Playoffs.