Lonzo Ball vs. Joe Johnson Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Joe Johnson and Lonzo Ball, 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
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.
Lonzo Ball played 6 years in the NBA, 12 less than Joe Johnson, who played 18. Lonzo Ball had the first of his seasons in 2017-18, while Joe Johnson had his rookie season in 2001-02. 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 |
| Lonzo Ball | 6 | 0 | 2017-18 to 2024-25 |
| Joe Johnson | 18 | 13 | 2001-02 to 2021-22 |
Rookie Season |
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| Lonzo Ball | Joe Johnson | |
| Season | 2017-18 | 2001-02 |
| Team | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns |
| Honors & Awards |  All-Rookie Second Team | All-Rookie Second Team |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Did Not Play |
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | 52 | 34.2 | 10.2 | 1.3 | 5.6 | 6.9 | 7.2 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 3.9 | 10.8 | .360 | 1.7 | 5.7 | .305 | 0.6 | 1.4 | .451 |
| difference: | +25 | +9.3 | +2.7 | +0.3 | +3.2 | +3.6 | +4.9 | +0.9 | +0.5 | -1.7 | -0.8 | +0.6 | +3.2 | +.070 | +1.2 | +4.0 | +.013 | +0.1 | +0.7 | +.323 |
| Joe Johnson | 77 | 24.9 | 7.5 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 3.3 | 7.6 | .430 | 0.5 | 1.7 | .292 | 0.5 | 0.7 | .774 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| * Neiher Lonzo Ball nor Joe Johnson played in the postseason in their season 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Season 2 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Joe Johnson | |
| Season | 2018-19 | 2002-03 |
| Team | Los Angeles Lakers | Phoenix Suns |
| Honors & Awards | ||
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Suns Lost West Conf 1st Rd |
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | 47 | 30.3 | 9.9 | 1.1 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 9.7 | .406 | 1.6 | 4.9 | .329 | 0.4 | 1.0 | .417 |
| difference: | +35 | +2.8 | +0.1 | +0.4 | +1.7 | +2.1 | +2.8 | +0.7 | +0.2 | -0.9 | -0.7 | +.009 | +0.7 | +2.4 | +.037 | +0.8 | +0.5 | +.357 | ||
| Joe Johnson | 82 | 27.5 | 9.8 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 3.9 | 9.7 | .397 | 0.9 | 2.5 | .366 | 1.2 | 1.5 | .774 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Joe Johnson | 6 | 27.3 | 5.3 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 8.5 | .275 | 0.3 | 2.2 | .154 | 0.3 | 0.8 | .400 |
Season 3 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Joe Johnson | |
| Season | 2019-20 | 2003-04 |
| Team | New Orleans Pelicans | Phoenix Suns |
| Honors & Awards | ||
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Did Not Play |
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | 63 | 32.1 | 11.8 | 1.1 | 5.0 | 6.1 | 7.0 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 4.4 | 10.9 | .403 | 2.3 | 6.3 | .375 | 0.7 | 1.2 | .566 |
| difference: | +19 | +8.5 | +4.9 | +0.1 | +1.3 | +1.4 | +2.6 | +0.3 | +0.3 | -0.7 | -0.2 | +2.4 | +4.8 | +.027 | +1.3 | +3.0 | +.070 | +1.4 | +1.6 | +.184 |
| Joe Johnson | 82 | 40.6 | 16.7 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 6.8 | 15.7 | .430 | 1.0 | 3.3 | .305 | 2.1 | 2.8 | .750 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| * Neiher Lonzo Ball nor Joe Johnson played in the postseason in their season 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Season 4 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Joe Johnson | |
| Season | 2020-21 | 2004-05 |
| Team | New Orleans Pelicans | Phoenix Suns |
| Honors & Awards | ||
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Suns Lost West Conf Finals |
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | 55 | 31.8 | 14.6 | 0.6 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 5.3 | 12.7 | .414 | 3.1 | 8.3 | .378 | 0.9 | 1.2 | .781 |
| difference: | +27 | +7.7 | +2.5 | +0.9 | +0.5 | +0.3 | +2.2 | +0.5 | +0.3 | -0.4 | -0.1 | +1.3 | +1.7 | +.047 | +0.9 | +3.8 | +.100 | +0.7 | +1.0 | +.031 |
| Joe Johnson | 82 | 39.5 | 17.1 | 1.5 | 3.7 | 5.1 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 6.6 | 14.4 | .461 | 2.2 | 4.5 | .478 | 1.6 | 2.2 | .750 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Joe Johnson | 9 | 39.3 | 18.8 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 13.9 | .504 | 2.2 | 4.0 | .556 | 2.6 | 3.7 | .697 |
Season 5 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Joe Johnson | |
| Season | 2021-22 | 2005-06 |
| Team | Chicago Bulls | Atlanta Hawks |
| Honors & Awards | ||
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Did Not Play |
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | 35 | 34.6 | 13.0 | 1.0 | 4.4 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 4.6 | 10.9 | .423 | 3.1 | 7.4 | .423 | 0.6 | 0.8 | .750 |
| difference: | +47 | +6.1 | +7.2 | +0.2 | +1.5 | +1.3 | +1.4 | +0.5 | +0.5 | -1.0 | -0.1 | +3.1 | +6.1 | +.030 | +1.5 | +3.0 | +.067 | +2.6 | +3.2 | +.041 |
| Joe Johnson | 82 | 40.7 | 20.2 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 4.1 | 6.5 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 7.7 | 17.0 | .453 | 1.6 | 4.4 | .356 | 3.2 | 4.0 | .791 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| * Neiher Lonzo Ball nor Joe Johnson played in the postseason in their season 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Lonzo Ball didn't play in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Season 6 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Joe Johnson | |
| Season | 2024-25 | 2006-07 |
| Team | Chicago Bulls | Atlanta Hawks |
| Honors & Awards | - | All-Star Game |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Did Not Play |
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | 35 | 22.2 | 7.6 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 6.9 | .366 | 1.9 | 5.6 | .344 | 0.6 | 0.8 | .815 |
| difference: | +22 | +19.2 | +17.4 | +0.2 | +0.6 | +0.8 | +1.1 | +0.2 | +0.3 | -1.9 | -0.4 | +6.9 | +13.1 | +.105 | +0.2 | +0.1 | +.037 | +3.5 | +4.7 | +.067 |
| Joe Johnson | 57 | 41.4 | 25.0 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 9.4 | 20.0 | .471 | 2.1 | 5.5 | .381 | 4.1 | 5.5 | .748 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| * Neiher Lonzo Ball nor Joe Johnson played in the postseason in their season 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Additional Years |
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* Joe Johnson played 12 seasons more than Lonzo Ball in the NBA. In that period—his seasons 7 to 18, from 2008 to 2022—Joe Johnson played in 11 Playoffs. In those 12 extra years over Lonzo Ball, Joe Johnson got these achievements: | |
| Honors & Awards | 1 All-NBA Third Team 6 All-Star Game |