Lonzo Ball vs. Manu Ginobili Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Manu Ginobili 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, 10 less than Manu Ginobili, who played 16. Lonzo Ball had the first of his seasons in 2017-18, while Manu Ginobili had his rookie season in 2002-03. 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 |
| Manu Ginobili | 16 | 15 | 2002-03 to 2017-18 |
Rookie Season |
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| Lonzo Ball | Manu Ginobili | |
| Season | 2017-18 | 2002-03 |
| Team | Los Angeles Lakers | San Antonio Spurs |
| Honors & Awards |  All-Rookie Second Team | All-Rookie Second Team |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play |  NBA Champion |
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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: | +17 | +13.5 | +2.6 | +0.6 | +3.9 | +4.6 | +5.2 | +0.3 | +0.6 | -1.2 | -0.2 | +1.4 | +5.0 | +.078 | +1.0 | +3.6 | +.040 | +1.2 | +1.1 | +.286 |
| Manu Ginobili | 69 | 20.7 | 7.6 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 5.8 | .438 | 0.7 | 2.1 | .345 | 1.8 | 2.5 | .737 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manu Ginobili | 24 | 27.5 | 9.4 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 3.8 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 7.7 | .386 | 1.2 | 3.0 | .384 | 2.3 | 3.1 | .757 |
Season 2 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Manu Ginobili | |
| Season | 2018-19 | 2003-04 |
| Team | Los Angeles Lakers | San Antonio Spurs |
| Honors & Awards | ||
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Spurs 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: | +30 | +0.9 | +2.9 | +0.8 | +0.8 | +1.6 | +0.3 | +0.2 | -0.1 | +0.4 | +0.5 | +.012 | +0.5 | +1.7 | +.030 | +2.7 | +2.9 | +.385 | ||
| Manu Ginobili | 77 | 29.4 | 12.8 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 4.3 | 10.2 | .418 | 1.1 | 3.2 | .359 | 3.1 | 3.9 | .802 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manu Ginobili | 10 | 27.9 | 13.0 | 1.5 | 3.8 | 5.3 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 4.2 | 9.4 | .447 | 1.0 | 3.5 | .286 | 3.6 | 4.4 | .818 |
Season 3 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Manu Ginobili | |
| Season | 2019-20 | 2004-05 |
| Team | New Orleans Pelicans | San Antonio Spurs |
| Honors & Awards | - | All-Star Game |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | NBA Champion |
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: | +11 | +2.5 | +4.2 | +0.1 | +1.6 | +1.7 | +3.1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | -0.8 | -0.6 | +0.6 | +0.4 | +.068 | +1.0 | +2.8 | +.001 | +4.1 | +4.8 | +.237 |
| Manu Ginobili | 74 | 29.6 | 16.0 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 5.0 | 10.5 | .471 | 1.3 | 3.5 | .376 | 4.8 | 6.0 | .803 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manu Ginobili | 23 | 33.7 | 20.8 | 0.8 | 5.0 | 5.8 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 6.3 | 12.4 | .507 | 1.8 | 4.2 | .438 | 6.4 | 8.0 | .795 |
Season 4 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Manu Ginobili | |
| Season | 2020-21 | 2005-06 |
| Team | New Orleans Pelicans | San Antonio Spurs |
| Honors & Awards | ||
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Spurs Lost West Conf Semis |
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: | +10 | +3.9 | +0.5 | +1.3 | +1.3 | +2.1 | +0.1 | +0.2 | -0.3 | -0.5 | +0.5 | +2.4 | +.048 | +1.8 | +5.0 | +.004 | +3.4 | +4.3 | +.003 | |
| Manu Ginobili | 65 | 27.9 | 15.1 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 4.8 | 10.3 | .462 | 1.3 | 3.3 | .382 | 4.3 | 5.5 | .778 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manu Ginobili | 13 | 32.8 | 18.4 | 0.7 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 5.8 | 12.1 | .484 | 1.1 | 3.2 | .333 | 5.6 | 6.7 | .839 |
Season 5 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Manu Ginobili | |
| Season | 2021-22 | 2006-07 |
| Team | Chicago Bulls | San Antonio Spurs |
| Honors & Awards | ||
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | NBA Champion |
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: | +40 | +7.1 | +3.5 | +0.2 | +0.8 | +1.0 | +1.6 | +0.3 | +0.5 | -0.2 | -0.3 | +0.7 | +0.5 | +.041 | +1.4 | +3.1 | +.027 | +3.7 | +4.2 | +.110 |
| Manu Ginobili | 75 | 27.5 | 16.5 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 5.3 | 11.4 | .464 | 1.7 | 4.3 | .396 | 4.3 | 5.0 | .860 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manu Ginobili | 20 | 30.1 | 16.7 | 0.8 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 5.0 | 12.4 | .401 | 1.9 | 5.0 | .384 | 4.9 | 5.8 | .836 |
Note: Lonzo Ball didn't play in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Season 6 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Manu Ginobili | |
| Season | 2024-25 | 2007-08 |
| Team | Chicago Bulls | San Antonio Spurs |
| Honors & Awards | - | All-NBA Third Team |
| - | Sixth Man of the Year | |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Spurs Lost West Conf Finals |
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: | +39 | +8.9 | +11.9 | +0.2 | +1.2 | +1.4 | +1.2 | +0.2 | +0.1 | -1.5 | -0.7 | +3.6 | +6.4 | +.094 | +0.2 | +0.3 | +.057 | +4.5 | +5.2 | +.045 |
| Manu Ginobili | 74 | 31.1 | 19.5 | 0.9 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 6.1 | 13.3 | .460 | 2.1 | 5.3 | .401 | 5.1 | 6.0 | .860 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manu Ginobili | 17 | 32.9 | 17.8 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 5.8 | 13.6 | .422 | 2.2 | 6.0 | .373 | 4.1 | 4.5 | .896 |
Additional Years |
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* Manu Ginobili played 10 seasons more than Lonzo Ball in the NBA. In that period—his seasons 7 to 16, from 2009 to 2018—Manu Ginobili played in 9 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship. In those 10 extra years over Lonzo Ball, Manu Ginobili got these achievements: | |
| Honors & Awards | 1 All-NBA Third Team 1 All-Star Game |