Lonzo Ball vs. Joel Embiid Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Joel Embiid 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, 3 less than Joel Embiid, who played 9. Lonzo Ball had the first of his seasons in 2017-18, while Joel Embiid 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 |
| Lonzo Ball | 6 | 0 | 2017-18 to 2024-25 |
| Joel Embiid | 9 | 7 | 2016-17 to 2024-25 |
Rookie Season |
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| Lonzo Ball | Joel Embiid | |
| Season | 2017-18 | 2016-17 |
| Team | Los Angeles Lakers | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Honors & Awards | - |  All-Rookie First 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: | +21 | +8.8 | +10.0 | +0.7 | +0.3 | +0.9 | +5.1 | +0.8 | +1.7 | -1.2 | -1.3 | +2.6 | +3.0 | +.106 | +0.5 | +2.5 | +.062 | +5.6 | +6.5 | +.332 |
| Joel Embiid | 31 | 25.4 | 20.2 | 2.0 | 5.9 | 7.8 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 6.5 | 13.8 | .466 | 1.2 | 3.2 | .367 | 6.2 | 7.9 | .783 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| * Neiher Lonzo Ball nor Joel Embiid played in the postseason in their season 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Season 2 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Joel Embiid | |
| Season | 2018-19 | 2017-18 |
| Team | Los Angeles Lakers | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Honors & Awards | - | All-NBA Second Team |
| - | All-Defensive Second Team | |
| - | All-Star Game | |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | 76ers Lost East Conf Semis |
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: | +16 | +13.0 | +1.2 | +4.5 | +5.7 | +2.2 | +0.9 | +1.4 | -1.5 | -0.9 | +4.2 | +7.1 | +.077 | +0.6 | +1.5 | +.021 | +5.3 | +6.4 | +.352 | |
| Joel Embiid | 63 | 30.3 | 22.9 | 2.3 | 8.7 | 11.0 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 8.1 | 16.8 | .483 | 1.0 | 3.4 | .308 | 5.7 | 7.4 | .769 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Joel Embiid | 8 | 34.8 | 21.4 | 2.9 | 9.8 | 12.6 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 7.5 | 17.3 | .435 | 1.0 | 3.6 | .276 | 5.4 | 7.6 | .705 |
Season 3 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Joel Embiid | |
| Season | 2019-20 | 2018-19 |
| Team | New Orleans Pelicans | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Honors & Awards | - | All-NBA Second Team |
| - | All-Defensive Second Team | |
| - | All-Star Game | |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | 76ers Lost East Conf Semis |
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: | +1 | +1.6 | +15.7 | +1.4 | +6.1 | +7.5 | +3.3 | +0.7 | +1.3 | -0.4 | -1.3 | +4.7 | +7.8 | +.081 | +1.1 | +2.2 | +.075 | +7.5 | +8.9 | +.238 |
| Joel Embiid | 64 | 33.7 | 27.5 | 2.5 | 11.1 | 13.6 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 9.1 | 18.7 | .484 | 1.2 | 4.1 | .300 | 8.2 | 10.1 | .804 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Joel Embiid | 11 | 30.4 | 20.2 | 1.9 | 8.5 | 10.5 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 6.2 | 14.5 | .428 | 1.1 | 3.5 | .308 | 6.7 | 8.2 | .822 |
Season 4 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Joel Embiid | |
| Season | 2020-21 | 2019-20 |
| Team | New Orleans Pelicans | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Honors & Awards | - | All-Star Game |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | 76ers Lost East Conf 1st Rd |
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: | +4 | +2.3 | +8.4 | +2.2 | +4.7 | +6.8 | +2.7 | +0.6 | +0.7 | -0.9 | -1.5 | +2.2 | +3.0 | +.063 | +2.0 | +4.9 | +.047 | +6.0 | +7.3 | +.026 |
| Joel Embiid | 51 | 29.5 | 23.0 | 2.8 | 8.9 | 11.6 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 7.5 | 15.7 | .477 | 1.1 | 3.4 | .331 | 6.9 | 8.5 | .807 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Joel Embiid | 4 | 36.3 | 30.0 | 2.8 | 9.5 | 12.3 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 8.5 | 18.5 | .459 | 1.0 | 4.0 | .250 | 12.0 | 14.8 | .814 |
Season 5 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Joel Embiid | |
| Season | 2021-22 | 2020-21 |
| Team | Chicago Bulls | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Honors & Awards | - | All-NBA Second Team |
| - | All-Defensive Second Team | |
| - | All-Star Game | |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | 76ers Lost East Conf Semis |
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: | +16 | +3.5 | +15.5 | +1.2 | +4.0 | +5.2 | +2.3 | +0.8 | +0.5 | -0.8 | +4.4 | +6.7 | +.090 | +2.0 | +4.4 | +.046 | +8.6 | +9.9 | +.109 | |
| Joel Embiid | 51 | 31.1 | 28.5 | 2.2 | 8.4 | 10.6 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 9.0 | 17.6 | .513 | 1.1 | 3.0 | .377 | 9.2 | 10.7 | .859 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Joel Embiid | 11 | 32.5 | 28.1 | 1.5 | 9.1 | 10.5 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 3.8 | 3.0 | 9.2 | 17.9 | .513 | 1.5 | 3.7 | .390 | 8.3 | 9.9 | .835 |
Note: Lonzo Ball didn't play in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Season 6 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Joel Embiid | |
| Season | 2024-25 | 2021-22 |
| Team | Chicago Bulls | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Honors & Awards | - | All-NBA Second Team |
| - | Scoring Leader | |
| - | All-Star Game | |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | 76ers Lost East Conf Semis |
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: | +33 | +11.6 | +23.0 | +1.4 | +6.9 | +8.3 | +0.9 | +0.2 | +1.0 | -1.9 | -1.1 | +7.3 | +12.7 | +.133 | +0.5 | +1.9 | +.027 | +9.0 | +11.0 | +.001 |
| Joel Embiid | 68 | 33.8 | 30.6 | 2.1 | 9.6 | 11.7 | 4.2 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 9.8 | 19.6 | .499 | 1.4 | 3.7 | .371 | 9.6 | 11.8 | .814 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Joel Embiid | 10 | 38.5 | 23.6 | 2.1 | 8.6 | 10.7 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 7.8 | 16.1 | .484 | 0.7 | 3.3 | .212 | 7.3 | 8.9 | .820 |
Additional Years |
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* Joel Embiid played 3 seasons more than Lonzo Ball in the NBA. In that period—his seasons 7 to 9, from 2023 to 2025—Joel Embiid played in two Playoffs. In those 3 extra years over Lonzo Ball, Joel Embiid got these achievements: | |
| Honors & Awards | 1 Season MVP 1 All-NBA First Team 1 Scoring Leader 2 All-Star Game |