Lonzo Ball vs. Klay Thompson Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Klay Thompson 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, 6 less than Klay Thompson, who played 12. Lonzo Ball 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 |
| Lonzo Ball | 6 | 0 | 2017-18 to 2024-25 |
| Klay Thompson | 12 | 9 | 2011-12 to 2024-25 |
Rookie Season |
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| Lonzo Ball | Klay Thompson | |
| Season | 2017-18 | 2011-12 |
| Team | Los Angeles Lakers | Golden State Warriors |
| Honors & Awards | - |  All-Rookie First Team |
| All-Rookie Second Team | - | |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Did Not Play |
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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: | +14 | +9.8 | +2.3 | +0.9 | +3.5 | +4.5 | +5.2 | +1.0 | +0.5 | -1.0 | +0.9 | +0.1 | +.083 | +1.6 | +.109 | +0.6 | +.417 | |||
| 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 Lonzo Ball nor Klay Thompson played in the postseason in their season 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Season 2 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Klay Thompson | |
| Season | 2018-19 | 2012-13 |
| Team | Los Angeles Lakers | Golden State Warriors |
| Honors & Awards | ||
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Warriors Lost West 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: | +35 | +5.5 | +6.7 | +0.7 | +0.9 | +1.6 | +3.2 | +0.5 | +0.1 | -0.3 | -0.5 | +2.3 | +5.0 | +.016 | +1.0 | +1.5 | +.072 | +1.2 | +0.9 | +.424 |
| 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 | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | 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 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Klay Thompson | |
| Season | 2019-20 | 2013-14 |
| Team | New Orleans Pelicans | Golden State Warriors |
| Honors & Awards | ||
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Warriors Lost West Conf 1st Rd |
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: | +18 | +3.3 | +6.6 | +0.6 | +2.4 | +3.0 | +4.8 | +0.5 | +0.1 | -1.4 | -0.9 | +2.5 | +4.6 | +.041 | +0.5 | +0.3 | +.042 | +1.1 | +1.1 | +.229 |
| 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 | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | 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 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Klay Thompson | |
| Season | 2020-21 | 2014-15 |
| Team | New Orleans Pelicans | Golden State Warriors |
| Honors & Awards | - | All-NBA Third Team |
| - | All-Star Game | |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play |  NBA Champion |
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: | +22 | +0.1 | +7.1 | +0.2 | +1.3 | +1.6 | +2.8 | +0.4 | +0.2 | -0.3 | -0.3 | +2.5 | +4.2 | +.049 | +1.2 | +.061 | +2.0 | +2.1 | +.098 | |
| 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 | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | 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 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Klay Thompson | |
| Season | 2021-22 | 2015-16 |
| Team | Chicago Bulls | Golden State Warriors |
| Honors & Awards | - | All-NBA Third Team |
| - | All-Star Game | |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Warriors Lost NBA Finals |
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: | +45 | +1.3 | +9.1 | +0.6 | +1.0 | +1.6 | +3.0 | +1.0 | +0.3 | -0.6 | -0.5 | +3.5 | +6.4 | +.047 | +0.4 | +0.7 | +.002 | +1.8 | +2.0 | +.123 |
| 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 | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | 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 |
Note: Lonzo Ball didn't play in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Season 6 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Klay Thompson | |
| Season | 2024-25 | 2016-17 |
| Team | Chicago Bulls | Golden State Warriors |
| Honors & Awards | - | All-Star Game |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | NBA Champion |
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: | +43 | +11.8 | +14.7 | +0.1 | +0.3 | +0.3 | +1.2 | +0.5 | -0.4 | -0.2 | +5.8 | +10.7 | +.102 | +1.5 | +2.7 | +.070 | +1.8 | +2.0 | +.038 | |
| 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 | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | 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 |
Additional Years |
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* Klay Thompson played 6 seasons more than Lonzo Ball in the NBA. In that period—his seasons 7 to 12, from 2018 to 2025—Klay Thompson played in 4 Playoffs and won two NBA Championships. In those 6 extra years over Lonzo Ball, Klay Thompson got these achievements: | |
| Honors & Awards | 1 All-Defensive Second Team 2 All-Star Game |