Mel Counts vs. Chris Paul Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Chris Paul and Mel Counts, 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.

Mel Counts played 12 years in the NBA, 7 less than Chris Paul, who played 19. Mel Counts had the first of his seasons in 1964-65, while Chris Paul had his rookie season in 2005-06. 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
Mel Counts 12 8 1964-65 to 1975-76
Chris Paul 19 15 2005-06 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19

Rookie Season

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season 1964-652005-06
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 54 10.6 4.8 - - 4.9 0.4 - - - 2.5 1.9 5.0 .368 - - - 1.1 1.4 .784
Chris Paul 78 36.0 16.1 0.8 4.3 5.1 7.8 2.2 0.1 2.3 2.8 5.2 12.1 .430 0.6 2.3 .282 5.1 6.0 .847
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 4 7.5 2.3 - - 2.8 0.3 - - - 2.5 1.0 3.8 .267 - - - 0.3 0.3 1.000
Chris Paul ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season 1965-662006-07
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 67 15.2 8.4 - - 6.4 0.7 - - - 3.1 3.3 8.2 .403 - - - 1.8 2.2 .828
Chris Paul 64 36.8 17.3 0.8 3.5 4.4 8.9 1.8 0.0 2.5 2.4 6.0 13.6 .437 0.8 2.2 .350 4.6 5.6 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 10 8.2 4.3 - - 4.0 0.3 - - - 2.6 1.4 3.9 .359 - - - 1.5 1.7 .882
Chris Paul ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season 1966-672007-08
Team Baltimore Bullets, Los Angeles LakersNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisHornets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 56 15.4 7.6 - - 6.1 0.9 - - - 3.3 3.2 7.5 .422 - - - 1.2 1.7 .734
Chris Paul 80 37.6 21.1 0.8 3.2 4.0 11.6 2.7 0.1 2.5 2.3 7.9 16.1 .488 1.2 3.1 .369 4.2 4.9 .851
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 3 9.7 4.7 - - 2.7 0.0 - - - 2.0 1.7 6.3 .263 - - - 1.3 1.3 1.000
Chris Paul 12 40.5 24.1 1.3 3.6 4.9 11.3 2.3 0.2 1.8 3.6 9.3 18.4 .502 0.4 1.8 .238 5.2 6.6 .785

Season 4

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season 1967-682008-09
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHornets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 82 21.2 11.7 - - 8.9 1.7 - - - 3.8 4.7 9.9 .475 - - - 2.3 3.1 .748
Chris Paul 78 38.5 22.8 0.9 4.7 5.5 11.0 2.8 0.1 3.0 2.7 8.1 16.1 .503 0.8 2.3 .364 5.8 6.7 .868
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 15 20.4 8.6 - - 8.9 1.6 - - - 3.5 3.6 6.7 .535 - - - 1.4 2.1 .677
Chris Paul 5 40.2 16.6 0.8 3.6 4.4 10.4 1.6 0.0 4.8 1.6 6.0 14.6 .411 1.0 3.2 .313 3.6 4.2 .857

Season 5

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season 1968-692009-10
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 77 24.2 12.4 - - 7.8 1.4 - - - 2.9 5.1 11.3 .450 - - - 2.3 2.9 .805
Chris Paul 45 38.0 18.7 0.4 3.8 4.2 10.7 2.1 0.2 2.5 2.6 7.0 14.2 .493 1.2 2.8 .409 3.6 4.2 .847
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 18 24.6 11.2 - - 7.9 1.4 - - - 3.7 4.1 10.7 .385 - - - 3.0 3.9 .761
Chris Paul ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season 1969-702010-11
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHornets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 81 27.1 12.6 - - 8.4 2.0 - - - 3.8 5.4 12.6 .427 - - - 1.9 2.5 .776
Chris Paul 80 36.0 15.9 0.5 3.6 4.1 9.8 2.4 0.1 2.2 2.5 5.4 11.6 .463 0.9 2.3 .388 4.2 4.8 .878
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 14 15.1 6.1 - - 5.3 1.1 - - - 3.4 2.6 6.3 .420 - - - 0.8 0.9 .846
Chris Paul 6 41.7 22.0 0.5 6.2 6.7 11.5 1.8 0.0 3.7 1.8 7.0 12.8 .545 1.5 3.2 .474 6.5 8.2 .796

Season 7

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season 1970-712011-12
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayClippers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 80 20.9 11.0 - - 6.3 1.7 - - - 3.5 4.6 10.0 .457 - - - 1.9 2.5 .753
Chris Paul 60 36.4 19.8 0.7 2.9 3.6 9.1 2.5 0.1 2.1 2.3 7.1 14.8 .478 1.3 3.6 .371 4.3 5.0 .861
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Chris Paul 11 38.5 17.6 0.5 4.5 5.1 7.9 2.7 0.1 3.9 2.7 6.4 14.9 .427 1.2 3.5 .333 3.7 4.3 .872

Season 8

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season 1971-722012-13
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayClippers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 76 11.9 5.2 - - 3.4 1.3 - - - 2.1 1.9 4.5 .427 - - - 1.3 1.8 .721
Chris Paul 70 33.4 16.9 0.8 3.0 3.7 9.7 2.4 0.1 2.3 2.0 5.9 12.2 .481 1.1 3.3 .328 4.1 4.6 .885
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Chris Paul 6 37.3 22.8 0.5 3.5 4.0 6.3 1.8 0.0 1.5 2.8 8.2 15.3 .533 1.0 3.2 .316 5.5 6.2 .892

Season 9

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season 1972-732013-14
Team Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsClippers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 66 10.0 4.6 - - 3.8 1.0 - - - 1.6 2.0 4.5 .449 - - - 0.6 0.9 .672
Chris Paul 62 35.0 19.1 0.6 3.7 4.3 10.7 2.5 0.1 2.3 2.5 6.5 14.0 .467 1.3 3.4 .368 4.8 5.6 .855
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 17 19.2 9.1 - - 6.1 1.6 - - - 3.0 3.6 7.8 .459 - - - 1.9 2.4 .780
Chris Paul 13 36.3 19.8 0.9 3.3 4.2 10.3 2.8 0.0 3.0 3.8 7.1 15.2 .467 2.5 5.4 .457 3.2 4.1 .774

Season 10

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season 1973-742014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisClippers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 45 11.1 3.2 1.2 2.0 3.2 1.2 0.4 0.5 - 1.9 1.4 3.7 .365 - - - 0.5 0.7 .727
Chris Paul 82 34.8 19.1 0.6 4.0 4.6 10.2 1.9 0.2 2.3 2.5 6.9 14.3 .485 1.7 4.3 .398 3.5 3.9 .900
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 4 8.5 3.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 - 0.8 1.5 3.0 .500 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
Chris Paul 12 37.1 22.1 0.6 3.8 4.4 8.8 1.8 0.3 2.2 3.1 7.9 15.8 .503 2.3 5.4 .415 4.0 4.3 .941

Season 11

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season 1974-752015-16
Team New Orleans JazzLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayClippers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 75 18.9 6.9 1.4 4.5 5.9 2.4 0.7 0.6 - 2.6 2.9 6.6 .438 - - - 1.1 1.5 .761
Chris Paul 74 32.7 19.5 0.5 3.7 4.2 10.0 2.1 0.2 2.6 2.5 7.0 15.1 .462 1.6 4.4 .371 4.0 4.4 .896
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Chris Paul 4 31.3 23.8 1.0 3.0 4.0 7.3 2.3 0.0 1.0 3.0 9.3 19.0 .487 1.5 5.0 .300 3.8 3.8 1.000

Season 12

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season 1975-762016-17
Team New Orleans JazzLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayClippers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 30 10.6 3.0 0.9 2.4 3.3 1.3 0.5 0.3 - 2.5 1.2 3.0 .407 - - - 0.5 0.7 .762
Chris Paul 61 31.5 18.1 0.7 4.3 5.0 9.2 2.0 0.1 2.4 2.4 6.1 12.9 .476 2.0 5.0 .411 3.8 4.3 .892
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Chris Paul 7 37.1 25.3 0.6 4.4 5.0 9.9 1.7 0.1 2.7 3.4 9.6 19.3 .496 2.0 5.4 .368 4.1 4.7 .879

Season 13

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season -2017-18
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Rockets Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Chris Paul 58 31.8 18.6 0.6 4.8 5.4 7.9 1.7 0.2 2.2 2.4 6.3 13.8 .460 2.5 6.5 .380 3.5 3.8 .919
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Chris Paul 15 34.5 21.1 0.6 5.3 5.9 5.8 2.0 0.3 1.9 3.1 7.9 17.1 .459 2.5 6.6 .374 2.9 3.5 .830

Season 14

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season -2018-19
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Rockets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Chris Paul 58 32.0 15.6 0.6 3.9 4.6 8.2 2.0 0.3 2.6 2.5 5.2 12.4 .419 2.2 6.1 .358 3.0 3.5 .862
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Chris Paul 11 36.1 17.0 1.3 5.1 6.4 5.5 2.2 0.6 3.4 3.3 6.0 13.5 .446 1.5 5.7 .270 3.5 4.1 .844

Season 15

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season -2019-20
Team -Oklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Thunder Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Chris Paul 70 31.5 17.6 0.4 4.6 5.0 6.7 1.6 0.2 2.3 2.3 6.2 12.7 .489 1.6 4.3 .365 3.6 4.0 .907
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Chris Paul 7 37.3 21.3 0.4 7.0 7.4 5.3 1.6 0.4 3.3 2.6 7.9 16.0 .491 2.3 6.1 .372 3.3 3.7 .885

Season 16

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season -2020-21
Team -Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Suns Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Chris Paul 70 31.4 16.4 0.4 4.1 4.5 8.9 1.4 0.3 2.2 2.4 6.3 12.6 .499 1.5 3.7 .395 2.4 2.6 .934
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Chris Paul 20 34.2 19.2 0.5 3.1 3.5 8.6 1.2 0.2 2.2 2.4 7.5 15.0 .497 1.5 3.3 .446 2.9 3.3 .877

Season 17

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season -2021-22
Team -Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Suns Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Chris Paul 65 32.9 14.7 0.3 4.0 4.4 10.8 1.9 0.3 2.4 2.1 5.6 11.3 .493 1.0 3.1 .317 2.6 3.1 .837
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Chris Paul 13 34.5 17.5 0.5 3.6 4.2 8.3 1.5 0.2 2.4 3.1 6.7 11.9 .561 1.5 3.8 .388 2.7 2.8 .946

Season 18

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season -2022-23
Team -Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Suns Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Chris Paul 59 32.0 13.9 0.5 3.8 4.3 8.9 1.5 0.4 1.9 2.1 5.0 11.3 .440 1.7 4.4 .375 2.3 2.7 .831
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Chris Paul 7 35.7 12.4 0.7 4.3 5.0 7.4 1.7 0.7 1.0 2.3 5.4 13.0 .418 1.3 4.0 .321 0.3 0.6 .500

Season 19

Mel Counts Chris Paul
Season -2023-24
Team -Golden State Warriors
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 %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Chris Paul 58 26.4 9.2 0.3 3.6 3.9 6.8 1.2 0.1 1.3 1.9 3.6 8.1 .441 1.3 3.6 .371 0.7 0.9 .827
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Chris Paul ------- --- ----------