LeBron James vs. Tom Tolbert Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Tom Tolbert 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

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 21 years in the NBA, 14 more than Tom Tolbert, who played 7. LeBron James had the first of his seasons in 2003-04, while Tom Tolbert had his rookie season in 1988-89. 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 achivements, 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 21 17 2003-04 to 2023-24
Tom Tolbert 7 1 1988-89 to 1994-95

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21

Rookie Season

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2003-041988-89
Team Cleveland CavaliersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Tom Tolbert 14 8.4 2.9 0.5 1.0 1.5 0.5 0.1 0.3 0.1 1.4 1.2 2.6 .459 0.0 0.2 .000 0.4 0.9 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James ------- --- ----------
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 2

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2004-051989-90
Team Cleveland CavaliersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Tom Tolbert 70 19.2 8.8 1.7 3.4 5.2 0.8 0.3 0.4 1.1 2.7 3.1 6.3 .493 0.1 0.3 .278 2.5 3.4 .726
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James ------- --- ----------
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 3

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2005-061990-91
Team Cleveland CavaliersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisWarriors Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Tom Tolbert 62 22.1 8.1 1.4 3.0 4.4 1.2 0.6 0.6 1.3 3.1 3.0 7.0 .423 0.1 0.3 .333 2.0 2.8 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Tom Tolbert 9 12.9 3.6 0.0 2.0 2.0 0.9 0.3 0.4 0.4 3.2 1.6 3.7 .424 0.1 0.3 .333 0.3 1.2 .273

Season 4

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2006-071991-92
Team Cleveland CavaliersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Tom Tolbert 35 8.9 2.6 0.4 1.2 1.6 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.6 2.1 0.9 2.5 .384 0.1 0.2 .250 0.6 1.1 .550
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 5

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2007-081992-93
Team Cleveland CavaliersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Tom Tolbert 72 25.5 8.1 1.8 3.9 5.7 1.3 0.5 0.3 1.7 2.7 3.1 6.3 .498 0.1 0.4 .321 1.7 2.3 .726
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 6

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2008-091993-94
Team Cleveland CavaliersLos Angeles Clippers
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 >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Tom Tolbert 49 13.1 3.8 0.7 1.5 2.2 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.8 1.2 1.5 3.6 .418 0.1 0.3 .375 0.7 0.9 .733
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 7

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2009-101994-95
Team Cleveland CavaliersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Tom Tolbert 10 5.7 1.4 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.9 0.6 1.8 .333 0.0 0.4 .000 0.2 0.2 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 8

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2010-11-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Heat Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 9

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2011-12-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 10

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2012-13-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 76 37.9 26.8 1.3 6.8 8.0 7.3 1.7 0.9 3.0 1.4 10.1 17.8 .565 1.4 3.3 .406 5.3 7.0 .753
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 23 41.7 25.9 1.6 6.8 8.4 6.6 1.8 0.8 3.0 1.9 9.2 18.8 .491 1.6 4.2 .375 5.9 7.6 .777
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 11

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2013-14-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Heat Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 77 37.7 27.1 1.1 5.9 6.9 6.3 1.6 0.3 3.5 1.6 10.0 17.6 .567 1.5 4.0 .379 5.7 7.6 .750
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 20 38.2 27.4 0.7 6.4 7.1 4.8 1.8 0.6 3.1 2.3 9.6 17.0 .565 1.8 4.3 .407 6.5 8.0 .806
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 12

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2014-15-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 69 36.1 25.3 0.7 5.3 6.0 7.4 1.6 0.7 3.9 2.0 9.0 18.5 .488 1.7 4.9 .354 5.4 7.7 .710
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 20 42.2 30.1 1.9 9.5 11.3 8.5 1.7 1.1 4.1 2.9 11.4 27.2 .417 1.3 5.5 .227 6.1 8.4 .731
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 13

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2015-16-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 76 35.6 25.3 1.5 6.0 7.4 6.8 1.4 0.6 3.3 1.9 9.7 18.6 .520 1.1 3.7 .309 4.7 6.5 .731
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 21 39.1 26.3 2.0 7.5 9.5 7.6 2.3 1.3 3.6 2.6 10.4 19.9 .525 1.5 4.5 .340 3.9 5.9 .661
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 14

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2016-17-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 74 37.8 26.4 1.3 7.3 8.6 8.7 1.2 0.6 4.1 1.8 9.9 18.2 .548 1.7 4.6 .363 4.8 7.2 .674
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 18 41.3 32.8 1.1 8.1 9.1 7.8 1.9 1.3 4.0 2.4 12.1 21.3 .565 2.4 5.9 .411 6.3 9.0 .698
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 15

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2017-18-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 82 36.9 27.5 1.2 7.5 8.6 9.1 1.4 0.9 4.2 1.7 10.5 19.3 .542 1.8 5.0 .367 4.7 6.5 .731
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 22 41.9 34.0 1.4 7.7 9.1 9.0 1.4 1.0 4.3 2.4 12.5 23.2 .539 1.8 5.2 .342 7.2 9.7 .746
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 16

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2018-19-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 55 35.2 27.4 1.0 7.4 8.5 8.3 1.3 0.6 3.6 1.7 10.1 19.9 .510 2.0 5.9 .339 5.1 7.6 .665
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James ------- --- ----------
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 17

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2019-20-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 67 34.6 25.3 1.0 6.9 7.8 10.2 1.2 0.5 3.9 1.8 9.6 19.4 .493 2.2 6.3 .348 3.9 5.7 .693
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 21 36.3 27.6 1.3 9.4 10.8 8.8 1.2 0.9 4.0 1.9 10.2 18.2 .560 2.1 5.7 .370 5.1 7.1 .720
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 18

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2020-21-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 45 33.4 25.0 0.6 7.0 7.7 7.8 1.1 0.6 3.7 1.6 9.4 18.3 .513 2.3 6.3 .365 4.0 5.7 .698
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 6 37.3 23.3 1.2 6.0 7.2 8.0 1.5 0.3 4.2 1.2 9.0 19.0 .474 3.0 8.0 .375 2.3 3.8 .609
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 19

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2021-22-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 56 37.2 30.3 1.1 7.1 8.2 6.2 1.3 1.1 3.5 2.2 11.4 21.8 .524 2.9 8.0 .359 4.5 6.0 .756
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James ------- --- ----------
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 20

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2022-23-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 55 35.5 28.9 1.2 7.1 8.3 6.8 0.9 0.6 3.2 1.6 11.1 22.2 .500 2.2 6.9 .321 4.6 5.9 .768
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 16 38.7 24.5 1.6 8.3 9.9 6.5 1.1 1.1 2.5 1.8 9.2 18.4 .498 1.8 6.6 .264 4.4 5.8 .761
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------

Season 21

LeBron James Tom Tolbert
Season 2023-24-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Cup MVP-
Achievement Cup All-Tournament Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
Others NBA Cup In-Season Tournament Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 71 35.3 25.7 0.9 6.4 7.3 8.3 1.3 0.5 3.5 1.1 9.6 17.9 .540 2.1 5.1 .410 4.3 5.7 .750
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 5 40.8 27.8 0.8 6.0 6.8 8.8 2.4 1.0 3.8 2.2 11.2 19.8 .566 2.0 5.2 .385 3.4 4.6 .739
Tom Tolbert ------- --- ----------