LeBron James vs. Domantas Sabonis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Domantas Sabonis and LeBron James, 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.

LeBron James played 22 years in the NBA, 13 more than Domantas Sabonis, who played 9. LeBron James had the first of his seasons in 2003-04, while Domantas Sabonis had his rookie season in 2016-17. 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
LeBron James 22 18 2003-04 to 2024-25
Domantas Sabonis 9 4 2016-17 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9

Rookie Season

LeBron James Domantas Sabonis
Season 2003-042016-17
Team Cleveland CavaliersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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%
LeBron James 79 39.5 20.9 1.3 4.2 5.5 5.9 1.6 0.7 3.5 1.9 7.9 18.9 .417 0.8 2.7 .290 4.4 5.8 .754
difference:+2+19.4+15.0+0.7+1.2+1.9+4.9+1.1+0.3-2.5-0.6+5.5+13.0+.018+0.2+0.7+.031+3.9+5.0+.097
Domantas Sabonis 81 20.1 5.9 0.6 3.0 3.6 1.0 0.5 0.4 1.0 2.5 2.4 5.9 .399 0.6 2.0 .321 0.5 0.8 .657
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James DNP------ --- ----------
Domantas Sabonis 2 3.0 2.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 2.0 0.0 1.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 2.0 2.0 1.000

Season 2

LeBron James Domantas Sabonis
Season 2004-052017-18
Team Cleveland CavaliersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayPacers 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%
LeBron James 80 42.4 27.2 1.4 6.0 7.4 7.2 2.2 0.7 3.3 1.8 9.9 21.1 .472 1.4 3.9 .351 6.0 8.0 .750
difference:+6+17.9+15.6+0.8+0.5+0.3+5.2+1.7+0.3-1.4-1.2+5.3+12.2+.042+1.2+3.4+3.7+5.0
Domantas Sabonis 74 24.5 11.6 2.2 5.5 7.7 2.0 0.5 0.4 1.9 3.0 4.6 8.9 .514 0.2 0.5 .351 2.3 3.0 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James DNP------ --- ----------
Domantas Sabonis 7 23.7 12.4 2.0 2.6 4.6 0.7 0.1 0.3 1.0 3.1 5.1 8.9 .581 0.1 1.0 .143 2.0 2.6 .778

Season 3

LeBron James Domantas Sabonis
Season 2005-062018-19
Team Cleveland CavaliersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisPacers 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%
LeBron James 79 42.5 31.4 0.9 6.1 7.0 6.6 1.6 0.8 3.3 2.3 11.1 23.1 .480 1.6 4.8 .335 7.6 10.3 .738
difference:+5+17.7+17.3+1.6+0.7+2.3+3.7+1.0+0.4-1.1-0.9+5.5+13.6+.110+1.5+4.6+.194+4.8+6.4+.023
Domantas Sabonis 74 24.8 14.1 2.5 6.8 9.3 2.9 0.6 0.4 2.2 3.2 5.6 9.5 .590 0.1 0.2 .529 2.8 3.9 .715
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 13 46.5 30.8 1.7 6.4 8.1 5.8 1.4 0.7 5.0 3.4 11.2 23.6 .476 1.6 4.8 .333 6.7 9.1 .737
difference:+9+22.5+22.3+0.1+0.9+0.8+1.8+0.6+0.4-3.7-0.4+8.2+16.3+.062+1.3+3.8+.083+4.4+5.6+.094
Domantas Sabonis 4 24.0 8.5 1.8 5.5 7.3 4.0 0.8 0.3 1.3 3.0 3.0 7.3 .414 0.3 1.0 .250 2.3 3.5 .643

Season 4

LeBron James Domantas Sabonis
Season 2006-072019-20
Team Cleveland CavaliersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 78 40.9 27.3 1.1 5.7 6.7 6.0 1.6 0.7 3.2 2.2 9.9 20.8 .476 1.3 4.0 .319 6.3 9.0 .698
difference:+16+6.1+8.8+1.9+3.7+5.7+1.0+0.8+0.2-0.5-0.9+2.5+7.1+.064+1.0+2.9+.065+2.8+4.2+.025
Domantas Sabonis 62 34.8 18.5 3.0 9.4 12.4 5.0 0.8 0.5 2.7 3.1 7.4 13.7 .540 0.3 1.1 .254 3.5 4.8 .723
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 20 44.7 25.1 1.3 6.8 8.1 8.0 1.7 0.5 3.3 2.0 8.3 20.0 .416 1.1 3.8 .280 7.4 9.8 .755
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

LeBron James Domantas Sabonis
Season 2007-082020-21
Team Cleveland CavaliersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 75 40.4 30.0 1.8 6.1 7.9 7.2 1.8 1.1 3.4 2.2 10.6 21.9 .484 1.5 4.8 .315 7.3 10.3 .712
difference:+13+4.4+9.7+0.6+3.4+4.1+0.5+0.6+0.6-1.1+2.8+7.3+.051+0.7+2.2+.006+3.4+5.0+.020
Domantas Sabonis 62 36.0 20.3 2.4 9.5 12.0 6.7 1.2 0.5 3.4 3.3 7.8 14.6 .535 0.8 2.6 .321 3.9 5.3 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 13 42.5 28.2 1.2 6.6 7.8 7.6 1.8 1.3 4.2 2.5 8.7 21.2 .411 1.4 5.4 .257 9.4 12.8 .731
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

LeBron James Domantas Sabonis
Season 2008-092021-22
Team Cleveland CavaliersIndiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 81 37.7 28.4 1.3 6.3 7.6 7.2 1.7 1.1 3.0 1.7 9.7 19.9 .489 1.6 4.7 .344 7.3 9.4 .780
difference:+19+3.2+9.5+1.9+2.6+4.5+2.0+0.7+0.7-0.1-1.6+2.6+7.4+.084+1.0+2.7+.032+3.3+4.0+.039
Domantas Sabonis 62 34.5 18.9 3.2 8.9 12.1 5.2 1.0 0.4 3.1 3.3 7.1 12.5 .573 0.6 2.0 .312 4.0 5.4 .741
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 14 41.4 35.3 1.4 7.8 9.1 7.3 1.6 0.9 2.7 2.1 11.4 22.3 .510 1.9 5.8 .333 10.6 14.2 .749
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7

LeBron James Domantas Sabonis
Season 2009-102022-23
Team Cleveland CavaliersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisKings Lost West 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%
LeBron James 76 39.0 29.7 0.9 6.4 7.3 8.6 1.6 1.0 3.4 1.6 10.1 20.1 .503 1.7 5.1 .333 7.8 10.2 .767
difference:+3+4.4+10.6+2.3+2.7+5.0+1.3+0.8+0.5-0.5-1.9+2.8+8.2+.112+1.3+4.0+.040+3.7+4.7+.025
Domantas Sabonis 79 34.6 19.1 3.2 9.1 12.3 7.3 0.8 0.5 2.9 3.5 7.3 11.9 .615 0.4 1.1 .373 4.1 5.5 .742
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 11 41.8 29.1 1.4 7.9 9.3 7.6 1.7 1.8 3.8 2.1 9.6 19.2 .502 1.8 4.5 .400 8.0 10.9 .733
difference:+4+7.1+12.7+3.0+1.3+1.7+2.9+0.3+0.9-0.1-1.9+2.6+5.1+.007+1.7+3.8+.200+5.7+6.9+.162
Domantas Sabonis 7 34.7 16.4 4.4 6.6 11.0 4.7 1.4 0.9 3.7 4.0 7.0 14.1 .495 0.1 0.7 .200 2.3 4.0 .571

Season 8

LeBron James Domantas Sabonis
Season 2010-112023-24
Team Miami HeatSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Heat Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 79 38.8 26.7 1.0 6.5 7.5 7.0 1.6 0.6 3.6 2.1 9.6 18.8 .510 1.2 3.5 .330 6.4 8.4 .759
difference:+3+3.1+7.3+2.6+3.6+6.2+1.2+0.7-0.3-0.9+1.9+5.8+.084+0.8+2.4+.049+2.8+3.3+.055
Domantas Sabonis 82 35.7 19.4 3.6 10.1 13.7 8.2 0.9 0.6 3.3 3.0 7.7 13.0 .594 0.4 1.1 .379 3.6 5.1 .704
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 21 43.9 23.7 1.6 6.8 8.4 5.9 1.7 1.2 3.1 2.7 8.3 17.8 .466 1.4 4.0 .353 5.7 7.4 .763
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

LeBron James Domantas Sabonis
Season 2011-122024-25
Team Miami HeatSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 62 37.5 27.1 1.5 6.4 7.9 6.2 1.9 0.8 3.4 1.5 10.0 18.9 .531 0.9 2.4 .362 6.2 8.1 .771
difference:+8+2.8+8.0+2.3+3.7+6.0+0.2+1.2+0.4-0.5-1.8+2.5+6.1+.059+0.2+.055+3.1+4.0+.017
Domantas Sabonis 70 34.7 19.1 3.8 10.1 13.9 6.0 0.7 0.4 2.9 3.3 7.5 12.8 .590 0.9 2.2 .417 3.1 4.1 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 23 42.7 30.3 2.3 7.4 9.7 5.6 1.9 0.7 3.5 2.0 10.9 21.8 .500 1.0 3.7 .259 7.5 10.2 .739
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* LeBron James played 13 seasons more than Domantas Sabonis in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 10 to 22, from 2013 to 2025—LeBron James played in 11 Playoffs and won 3 NBA Championships and one NBA Cup.

In those 13 extra years over Domantas Sabonis, LeBron James got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 3 Finals MVP
Achievement 1 Season MVP
Achievement 7 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 2 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 4 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 1 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 1 All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement 1 Assists Leader
Achievement 1 Cup MVP
Achievement 1 Cup All-Tournament Team
Achievement 13 All-Star Game
Achievement 1 All-Star Game MVP