Marques Johnson vs. Kevin Love Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kevin Love and Marques Johnson, 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.

Marques Johnson played 11 years in the NBA, 5 less than Kevin Love, who played 16. Marques Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Kevin Love had his rookie season in 2008-09. 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
Marques Johnson 11 6 1977-78 to 1989-90
Kevin Love 16 6 2008-09 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Marques Johnson Kevin Love
Season 1977-782008-09
Team Milwaukee BucksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Bucks Lost West 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 %
Marques Johnson 80 34.6 19.5 3.7 6.9 10.6 2.4 1.2 1.3 2.2 2.8 7.9 15.1 .522 - - - 3.8 5.1 .736
Kevin Love 81 25.3 11.1 3.4 5.7 9.1 1.0 0.4 0.6 1.5 2.5 3.9 8.5 .459 0.0 0.2 .105 3.3 4.1 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 9 35.7 24.0 3.9 8.6 12.4 3.4 1.1 1.9 1.6 2.8 9.3 17.0 .549 - - - 5.3 7.1 .750
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Marques Johnson Kevin Love
Season 1978-792009-10
Team Milwaukee BucksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First 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 %
Marques Johnson 77 36.1 25.6 2.8 4.9 7.6 3.0 1.5 1.2 2.2 2.4 10.6 19.4 .550 - - - 4.3 5.7 .760
Kevin Love 60 28.6 14.0 3.8 7.2 11.0 2.3 0.7 0.4 2.0 2.3 4.9 10.8 .450 0.6 1.8 .330 3.8 4.6 .815
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Marques Johnson Kevin Love
Season 1979-802010-11
Team Milwaukee BucksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Most Improved Player
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost West 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 %
Marques Johnson 77 34.9 21.7 2.8 4.5 7.4 3.5 1.3 0.9 2.4 2.2 8.9 16.5 .544 0.0 0.1 .222 3.8 4.8 .791
Kevin Love 73 35.8 20.2 4.5 10.7 15.2 2.5 0.6 0.4 2.1 2.0 6.6 14.1 .470 1.2 2.9 .417 5.8 6.8 .850
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 7 43.3 19.9 2.4 4.4 6.9 2.9 0.7 0.9 1.1 2.9 7.7 18.3 .422 0.1 0.4 .333 4.3 5.7 .750
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Marques Johnson Kevin Love
Season 1980-812011-12
Team Milwaukee BucksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Marques Johnson 76 33.4 20.3 3.0 3.9 6.8 4.6 1.5 0.5 2.5 2.6 8.4 15.2 .552 0.0 0.1 .000 3.5 5.0 .706
Kevin Love 55 39.0 26.0 4.1 9.2 13.3 2.0 0.9 0.5 2.3 2.8 8.6 19.3 .448 1.9 5.1 .372 6.9 8.4 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 7 38.0 24.7 5.9 3.6 9.4 4.9 1.4 1.0 1.9 2.0 10.7 19.3 .556 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 4.6 .719
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Marques Johnson Kevin Love
Season 1981-822012-13
Team Milwaukee BucksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Marques Johnson 60 31.7 16.5 2.6 3.5 6.1 3.6 1.0 0.6 2.4 2.4 6.7 12.7 .532 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.3 .700
Kevin Love 18 34.3 18.3 3.6 10.4 14.0 2.3 0.7 0.5 2.2 1.9 5.8 16.6 .352 1.1 5.1 .217 5.6 7.9 .704
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 6 39.2 18.8 3.8 3.5 7.3 3.3 1.0 0.3 2.0 4.2 7.3 16.7 .440 0.2 0.7 .250 4.0 7.0 .571
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Marques Johnson Kevin Love
Season 1982-832013-14
Team Milwaukee BucksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Marques Johnson 80 35.7 21.4 2.5 4.6 7.0 4.5 1.3 0.7 2.5 2.6 9.0 17.8 .509 0.1 0.3 .200 3.3 4.5 .735
Kevin Love 77 36.3 26.1 2.9 9.6 12.5 4.4 0.8 0.5 2.5 1.8 8.4 18.5 .457 2.5 6.6 .376 6.8 8.2 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 9 42.4 22.0 3.1 4.9 8.0 4.2 0.9 0.8 2.3 2.4 9.4 19.4 .486 0.0 0.1 .000 3.1 4.8 .651
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Marques Johnson Kevin Love
Season 1983-842014-15
Team Milwaukee BucksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 74 36.7 20.7 2.3 4.1 6.5 4.3 1.6 0.6 2.4 2.6 8.7 17.4 .502 0.0 0.2 .154 3.3 4.6 .709
Kevin Love 75 33.8 16.4 1.9 7.9 9.7 2.2 0.7 0.5 1.6 1.9 5.5 12.7 .434 1.9 5.2 .367 3.4 4.3 .804
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 16 37.8 20.3 1.8 3.5 5.3 3.4 1.1 0.4 2.7 3.1 8.1 17.1 .473 0.1 0.3 .250 4.1 5.6 .722
Kevin Love 4 26.8 14.3 1.5 5.5 7.0 2.5 0.3 0.5 1.5 3.0 4.3 10.3 .415 2.3 5.3 .429 3.5 4.8 .737

Season 8

Marques Johnson Kevin Love
Season 1984-852015-16
Team Los Angeles ClippersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 72 34.0 16.4 2.6 3.3 5.9 3.4 1.0 0.4 2.4 2.7 6.9 15.2 .452 0.0 0.2 .231 2.6 3.6 .731
Kevin Love 77 31.5 16.0 1.9 8.0 9.9 2.4 0.8 0.5 1.8 2.1 5.3 12.7 .419 2.1 5.7 .360 3.4 4.1 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love 20 30.7 14.7 1.7 7.1 8.8 2.1 0.5 0.4 1.4 1.7 4.6 12.0 .385 2.3 5.6 .414 3.2 3.8 .840

Season 9

Marques Johnson Kevin Love
Season 1985-862016-17
Team Los Angeles ClippersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 75 34.7 20.3 2.1 3.5 5.5 3.8 1.4 0.7 2.4 2.9 8.2 16.0 .510 0.0 0.2 .067 4.0 5.2 .760
Kevin Love 60 31.4 19.0 2.5 8.6 11.1 1.9 0.9 0.4 2.0 2.1 6.2 14.5 .427 2.4 6.5 .373 4.3 4.9 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love 18 32.1 16.8 2.0 8.6 10.6 1.7 1.2 0.9 1.7 2.6 5.3 12.1 .436 2.8 6.2 .450 3.5 4.2 .840

Season 10

Marques Johnson Kevin Love
Season 1986-872017-18
Team Los Angeles ClippersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson 10 30.2 16.6 0.9 2.4 3.3 2.8 1.2 0.5 1.7 2.4 6.8 15.5 .439 0.0 0.6 .000 3.0 4.2 .714
Kevin Love 59 28.0 17.6 1.7 7.5 9.3 1.7 0.7 0.4 1.5 2.0 5.7 12.4 .458 2.3 5.6 .415 4.0 4.5 .880
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love 21 31.4 14.9 2.3 7.9 10.2 1.6 0.7 0.4 2.0 2.8 5.2 13.2 .392 1.7 5.0 .340 2.8 3.0 .922

Note: Marques Johnson didn't play in 1987-88 and 1988-89.

Season 11

Marques Johnson Kevin Love
Season 1989-902018-19
Team Golden State WarriorsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Marques Johnson 10 9.9 4.0 0.8 0.9 1.7 0.9 0.0 0.1 1.0 1.2 1.2 3.2 .375 0.2 0.3 .667 1.4 1.7 .824
Kevin Love 22 27.2 17.0 1.5 9.4 10.9 2.2 0.3 0.2 1.9 2.5 5.0 12.9 .385 2.4 6.7 .361 4.7 5.2 .904
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Marques Johnson Kevin Love
Season -2019-20
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love 56 31.8 17.6 1.0 8.8 9.8 3.2 0.6 0.3 2.5 1.6 5.8 13.0 .450 2.6 7.0 .374 3.3 3.9 .854
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Marques Johnson Kevin Love
Season -2020-21
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love 25 24.9 12.2 0.7 6.8 7.4 2.5 0.6 0.1 1.5 1.0 4.1 10.1 .409 2.3 6.2 .365 1.7 2.0 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Marques Johnson Kevin Love
Season -2021-22
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love 74 22.5 13.6 1.2 6.1 7.2 2.2 0.4 0.2 1.3 1.4 4.4 10.3 .430 2.5 6.4 .392 2.2 2.7 .838
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Marques Johnson Kevin Love
Season -2022-23
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
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 %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love 62 20.0 8.2 1.0 5.5 6.4 1.9 0.3 0.2 1.1 1.6 2.7 6.8 .389 1.6 4.8 .334 1.3 1.5 .879
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love 20 18.0 6.9 0.7 4.9 5.6 1.2 0.5 0.4 0.5 1.8 2.3 6.0 .378 1.7 4.4 .375 0.7 0.8 .875

Season 16

Marques Johnson Kevin Love
Season -2023-24
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Heat Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love 55 16.8 8.8 1.1 5.1 6.1 2.1 0.3 0.2 0.9 1.8 2.9 6.5 .440 1.5 4.4 .344 1.5 2.0 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Marques Johnson ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love 5 6.4 1.8 0.2 2.6 2.8 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.8 .444 0.2 0.8 .250 0.0 0.0 -