Lauri Markkanen vs. Klay Thompson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Klay Thompson and Lauri Markkanen, 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 / 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.

Lauri Markkanen played 8 years in the NBA, 4 less than Klay Thompson, who played 12. Lauri Markkanen had the first of his seasons in 2017-18, while Klay Thompson 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
Lauri Markkanen 8 0 2017-18 to 2024-25
Klay Thompson 12 9 2011-12 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8

Rookie Season

Lauri Markkanen Klay Thompson
Season 2017-182011-12
Team Chicago BullsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Lauri Markkanen 68 29.7 15.2 1.2 6.3 7.5 1.2 0.6 0.6 1.2 1.5 5.5 12.7 .434 2.1 5.9 .362 2.1 2.4 .843
difference:+2+5.3+2.7+0.8+4.2+5.1+0.8+0.1+0.3-0.4-0.8+0.7+1.8+.009+0.4+1.8+.052+0.9+1.0+.025
Klay Thompson 66 24.4 12.5 0.4 2.1 2.4 2.0 0.7 0.3 1.6 2.3 4.8 10.9 .443 1.7 4.1 .414 1.2 1.4 .868
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Lauri Markkanen nor Klay Thompson played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Lauri Markkanen Klay Thompson
Season 2018-192012-13
Team Chicago BullsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Lauri Markkanen 52 32.3 18.7 1.4 7.6 9.0 1.4 0.7 0.6 1.6 2.3 6.6 15.3 .430 2.3 6.4 .361 3.3 3.8 .872
difference:+30+3.5+2.1+1.0+4.3+5.3+0.8+0.3+0.1-0.3-0.6+0.4+0.6+.008+0.3+.040+1.7+1.9+.031
Klay Thompson 82 35.8 16.6 0.4 3.3 3.7 2.2 1.0 0.5 1.9 2.9 6.2 14.7 .422 2.6 6.4 .401 1.6 1.9 .841
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Lauri Markkanen DNP------ --- ----------
Klay Thompson 12 41.3 15.2 0.8 3.8 4.6 1.8 1.0 0.6 2.0 3.7 6.3 14.5 .437 2.1 4.9 .424 0.4 0.5 .833

Season 3

Lauri Markkanen Klay Thompson
Season 2019-202013-14
Team Chicago BullsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost West 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%
Lauri Markkanen 50 29.8 14.7 1.2 5.1 6.3 1.5 0.8 0.5 1.6 1.9 5.0 11.8 .425 2.2 6.3 .344 2.5 3.1 .824
difference:+31+5.6+3.7+0.7+2.5+3.2+0.7+0.1-0.1-1.0+1.9+3.7+.019+0.6+0.3+.073+0.7+0.8+.029
Klay Thompson 81 35.4 18.4 0.5 2.6 3.1 2.2 0.9 0.5 1.7 2.9 6.9 15.5 .444 2.8 6.6 .417 1.8 2.3 .795
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Lauri Markkanen DNP------ --- ----------
Klay Thompson 7 36.7 16.4 0.6 2.9 3.4 3.6 1.0 0.7 2.1 3.4 5.7 14.0 .408 2.3 6.3 .364 2.7 3.4 .792

Season 4

Lauri Markkanen Klay Thompson
Season 2020-212014-15
Team Chicago BullsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Lauri Markkanen 51 25.8 13.6 0.7 4.6 5.3 0.9 0.5 0.3 1.0 1.5 4.9 10.2 .480 2.3 5.8 .402 1.5 1.8 .826
difference:+26+6.1+8.1+0.3+1.7+2.1+2.0+0.6+0.5-0.9-0.1+2.9+6.7+.017+0.8+1.3+.037+1.4+1.5+.053
Klay Thompson 77 31.9 21.7 0.4 2.9 3.2 2.9 1.1 0.8 1.9 1.6 7.8 16.9 .463 3.1 7.1 .439 2.9 3.3 .879
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Lauri Markkanen DNP------ --- ----------
Klay Thompson 21 36.2 18.6 0.4 3.4 3.9 2.6 0.8 0.9 2.0 3.0 7.1 15.9 .446 2.7 7.0 .390 1.7 2.1 .800

Season 5

Lauri Markkanen Klay Thompson
Season 2021-222015-16
Team Cleveland CavaliersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost NBA 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%
Lauri Markkanen 61 30.8 14.8 1.0 4.7 5.7 1.3 0.7 0.5 0.9 2.1 5.1 11.5 .445 2.2 6.2 .358 2.3 2.6 .868
difference:+19+2.5+7.3+0.6+1.3+1.9+0.8+0.1+0.1-0.8-0.2+3.0+5.8+.025+1.3+1.9+.067+0.1+0.2+.005
Klay Thompson 80 33.3 22.1 0.4 3.4 3.8 2.1 0.8 0.6 1.7 1.9 8.1 17.3 .470 3.5 8.1 .425 2.4 2.8 .873
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Lauri Markkanen DNP------ --- ----------
Klay Thompson 24 35.4 24.3 0.6 3.0 3.7 2.3 1.1 0.4 2.0 2.2 8.4 18.9 .444 4.1 9.6 .424 3.4 4.0 .854

Season 6

Lauri Markkanen Klay Thompson
Season 2022-232016-17
Team Utah JazzGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Most Improved Player-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Lauri Markkanen 66 34.4 25.6 2.0 6.7 8.6 1.9 0.6 0.6 1.9 2.1 8.7 17.3 .499 3.0 7.7 .391 5.3 6.0 .875
difference:+12+0.4+3.3+1.4+3.7+4.9+0.2+0.2+0.1-0.3-0.3+0.4+0.3+.031+0.4+0.6+.023+2.9+3.2+.022
Klay Thompson 78 34.0 22.3 0.6 3.0 3.7 2.1 0.8 0.5 1.6 1.8 8.3 17.6 .468 3.4 8.3 .414 2.4 2.8 .853
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Lauri Markkanen DNP------ --- ----------
Klay Thompson 17 35.1 15.0 0.6 3.2 3.9 2.1 0.8 0.3 1.4 2.6 5.5 13.9 .397 2.4 6.2 .387 1.5 1.9 .788

Season 7

Lauri Markkanen Klay Thompson
Season 2023-242017-18
Team Utah JazzGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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%
Lauri Markkanen 55 33.1 23.2 2.2 5.9 8.2 2.0 0.9 0.5 1.4 1.8 7.8 16.2 .480 3.2 8.0 .399 4.5 5.0 .899
difference:+18+1.2+3.2+1.8+2.5+4.4+0.5+0.1-0.4-0.2+0.1+.008+0.1+0.9+.041+3.4+3.7+.062
Klay Thompson 73 34.3 20.0 0.4 3.4 3.8 2.5 0.8 0.5 1.8 1.6 7.9 16.2 .488 3.1 7.1 .440 1.1 1.3 .837
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Lauri Markkanen DNP------ --- ----------
Klay Thompson 21 37.8 19.6 0.5 3.6 4.1 1.8 0.8 0.3 1.5 2.3 7.6 16.3 .465 3.2 7.5 .427 1.3 1.5 .871

Season 8

Lauri Markkanen Klay Thompson
Season 2024-252018-19
Team Utah JazzGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost NBA 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%
Lauri Markkanen 47 31.4 19.0 1.5 4.4 5.9 1.5 0.7 0.4 1.4 1.7 6.3 14.9 .423 2.9 8.5 .346 3.4 3.9 .876
difference:+31+2.6+2.5+1.0+1.0+2.1+0.9+0.4+0.2-0.1-0.3+2.1+3.1+.044+0.2+0.8+.056+1.7+1.9+.060
Klay Thompson 78 34.0 21.5 0.5 3.4 3.8 2.4 1.1 0.6 1.5 2.0 8.4 18.0 .467 3.1 7.7 .402 1.7 2.0 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Lauri Markkanen DNP------ --- ----------
Klay Thompson 21 39.0 20.7 0.6 3.5 4.1 2.1 1.3 0.7 1.8 2.8 7.8 17.1 .456 3.3 7.5 .443 1.8 2.0 .902

Additional Years

* Klay Thompson played 4 seasons more than Lauri Markkanen in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 9 to 12, from 2022 to 2025—Klay Thompson played in two Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.