Larry Johnson vs. Michael Jordan Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Michael Jordan and Larry 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 / 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.

Larry Johnson played 10 years in the NBA, 5 less than Michael Jordan, who played 15. Larry Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1991-92, 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
Larry Johnson 10 6 1991-92 to 2000-01
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

Rookie Season

Larry Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1991-921984-85
Team Charlotte HornetsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA 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 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%
Larry Johnson 82 37.2 19.2 3.9 7.0 11.0 3.6 1.0 0.6 2.0 2.7 7.5 15.3 .490 0.1 0.3 .227 4.1 5.0 .829
difference:+1.1+9.0+1.9+2.5+4.5+2.3+1.4+0.2-1.5-0.8+2.7+4.5+.025+0.3+.054+3.6+4.1+.016
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%
Larry 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

Larry Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1992-931985-86
Team Charlotte HornetsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hornets Lost East Conf SemisBulls 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%
Larry Johnson 82 40.5 22.1 3.4 7.1 10.5 4.3 0.6 0.3 2.8 2.3 8.9 16.9 .526 0.2 0.9 .254 4.1 5.3 .767
difference:+64+15.4+0.6+2.1+4.8+6.9+1.4+1.5+0.9-0.3-0.3+0.6+1.3+.069+0.1+.087+1.7+1.6+.073
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%
Larry Johnson 9 38.7 19.8 2.1 4.8 6.9 3.3 0.6 0.2 2.1 3.0 7.6 13.6 .557 0.1 0.4 .250 4.6 5.8 .788
difference:+6+6.3+23.9+0.4+0.1+0.6+2.4+1.7+1.1-2.6-1.3+8.4+18.1+.052+0.2+0.1+.750+6.7+7.2+.084
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

Larry Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1993-941986-87
Team Charlotte HornetsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls 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%
Larry Johnson 51 34.5 16.4 2.8 6.0 8.8 3.6 0.6 0.3 2.3 2.6 6.8 13.2 .515 0.1 0.4 .238 2.7 3.9 .695
difference:+31+5.5+20.7+0.8+2.8+3.6+1.0+2.3+1.2-1.0-0.3+6.6+14.6+.033+0.4+.056+7.5+8.0+.162
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%
Larry Johnson DNP------ --- ----------
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

Larry Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1994-951987-88
Team Charlotte HornetsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First 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 Hornets Lost East 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%
Larry Johnson 81 39.9 18.8 2.3 4.9 7.2 4.6 1.0 0.3 2.6 2.1 7.2 15.0 .480 1.0 2.6 .386 3.4 4.4 .774
difference:+1+0.5+16.2+0.6+1.1+1.7+1.3+2.2+1.3-0.5-1.2+5.8+9.4+.055+0.9+2.0+.254+5.4+6.1+.067
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%
Larry Johnson 4 43.0 20.8 2.5 3.3 5.8 2.8 1.0 0.5 1.5 1.8 7.8 16.3 .477 0.3 2.3 .111 5.0 6.3 .800
difference:+6+0.3+15.5+0.2+1.5+1.3+1.9+1.4+0.6-2.4-2.0+6.0+9.7+.054+0.2+2.0+.222+3.6+3.6+.069
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

Larry Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1995-961988-89
Team Charlotte HornetsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls 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%
Larry Johnson 81 40.4 20.5 3.1 5.4 8.4 4.4 0.7 0.5 2.2 2.1 7.2 15.1 .476 0.8 2.3 .366 5.3 7.0 .757
difference:+0.2+12.0+1.3+0.8+0.4+3.6+2.2+0.3-1.4-0.9+4.7+7.1+.062+0.5+1.1+.090+3.0+2.8+.093
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%
Larry Johnson DNP------ --- ----------
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

Larry Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1996-971989-90
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisBulls 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%
Larry Johnson 76 34.4 12.8 2.2 3.0 5.2 2.3 0.8 0.5 1.8 3.3 4.9 9.7 .512 0.4 1.4 .324 2.5 3.6 .693
difference:+6+4.6+20.8+0.5+2.1+1.7+4.0+2.0+0.2-1.2-0.4+7.7+14.3+.014+0.7+1.6+.052+4.7+4.9+.155
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%
Larry Johnson 9 32.6 13.8 1.2 2.8 4.0 2.6 0.8 0.1 1.7 3.0 4.8 8.6 .558 0.7 1.9 .353 3.6 4.2 .842
difference:+7+9.5+22.9+0.3+2.9+3.2+4.2+2.0+0.8-1.8-0.4+8.9+18.0+.044+0.3+1.2+.033+4.7+5.7+.006
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

Larry Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1997-981990-91
Team New York KnicksChicago 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 Knicks Lost East 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%
Larry Johnson 70 34.5 15.5 2.5 3.2 5.7 2.1 0.6 0.2 1.8 2.8 6.1 12.6 .485 0.2 0.9 .238 3.1 4.0 .756
difference:+12+2.5+16.0+1.1+1.4+0.3+3.4+2.1+0.8-0.7+6.0+9.8+.054+0.2+0.2+.074+3.9+4.2+.095
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%
Larry Johnson 8 38.8 17.9 3.1 3.5 6.6 1.6 1.3 0.4 3.1 3.8 6.5 13.4 .486 0.3 1.3 .200 4.6 6.3 .740
difference:+9+1.7+13.2+2.0+1.8+0.2+6.8+1.1+1.0-0.6-0.7+5.1+8.7+.038+0.3+0.2+.185+2.8+2.4+.105
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

Larry Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1998-991991-92
Team New York KnicksChicago 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 Knicks Lost NBA FinalsNBA 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%
Larry Johnson 49 33.4 12.0 1.9 3.9 5.8 2.4 0.7 0.2 1.8 3.0 4.3 9.3 .459 0.7 1.9 .359 2.7 3.3 .817
difference:+31+5.4+18.1+0.8+1.4+0.6+3.7+1.6+0.7-0.7-0.5+7.5+13.4+.060+0.4+0.6+.089+3.4+4.1+.015
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%
Larry Johnson 20 34.1 11.5 1.1 3.8 4.9 1.6 1.1 0.1 1.7 3.2 4.4 10.2 .426 1.2 4.1 .293 1.6 2.3 .674
difference:+2+7.7+23.0+0.6+0.7+1.3+4.2+0.9+0.6-2.0-0.4+8.8+16.2+.073+0.4+2.1+.093+5.8+6.3+.183
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

Larry Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 1999-001992-93
Team New York KnicksChicago 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 Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsNBA 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%
Larry Johnson 70 32.6 10.7 1.2 4.2 5.4 2.5 0.6 0.1 1.3 2.9 4.0 9.3 .433 0.8 2.5 .333 1.8 2.4 .766
difference:+8+6.7+21.9+0.5+0.8+1.3+3.0+2.2+0.7-1.4-0.5+8.7+16.4+.062+0.2+0.4+.019+4.3+4.9+.071
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%
Larry Johnson 16 36.8 11.3 0.9 4.1 5.0 1.6 0.5 0.1 1.4 2.9 4.4 9.5 .461 0.8 2.1 .394 1.7 2.1 .794
difference:+3+4.4+23.8+0.8+1.0+1.7+4.4+1.6+0.8-1.0-0.2+8.8+18.3+.014+0.7+1.7+.005+5.5+6.8+.011
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

Larry Johnson Michael Jordan
Season 2000-011994-95
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls 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%
Larry Johnson 65 32.4 9.9 1.4 4.2 5.6 2.0 0.6 0.4 1.5 3.2 3.8 9.2 .411 0.8 2.5 .313 1.6 2.0 .797
difference:+48+6.9+17.0+0.1+1.2+1.3+3.3+1.2+0.4-0.6-0.4+6.0+14.6+0.1+0.6+.187+4.8+6.0+.004
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%
Larry Johnson DNP------ --- ----------
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

Additional Years

* Michael Jordan played 5 seasons more than Larry Johnson in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 11 to 15, from 1996 to 2003—Michael Jordan played in 3 Playoffs and won 3 NBA Championships.

In those 5 extra years over Larry Johnson, Michael Jordan got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 3 Finals MVP
Achievement 2 Season MVP
Achievement 3 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 3 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 3 Scoring Leader
Achievement 5 All-Star Game
Achievement 2 All-Star Game MVP