Michael Finley vs. Richard Jefferson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Richard Jefferson and Michael Finley, 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 / 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.

Michael Finley played 15 years in the NBA, 2 less than Richard Jefferson, who played 17. Michael Finley had the first of his seasons in 1995-96, while Richard Jefferson had his rookie season in 2001-02. 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
Michael Finley 15 10 1995-96 to 2009-10
Richard Jefferson 17 12 2001-02 to 2017-18

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Finley Richard Jefferson
Season 1995-962001-02
Team Phoenix SunsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 82 39.2 15.0 1.7 2.9 4.6 3.5 1.0 0.4 1.6 2.4 5.7 11.9 .476 0.7 2.3 .328 3.0 3.9 .749
Richard Jefferson 79 24.3 9.4 1.1 2.6 3.7 1.8 0.8 0.6 1.4 2.7 3.4 7.5 .457 0.2 0.7 .232 2.4 3.4 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 20 22.1 7.0 0.8 3.8 4.6 1.3 0.6 0.5 1.3 2.0 2.7 5.7 .465 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 3.0 .550

Season 2

Michael Finley Richard Jefferson
Season 1996-972002-03
Team Phoenix Suns, Dallas MavericksNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 83 33.6 15.0 1.1 3.4 4.5 2.7 0.8 0.3 2.0 1.7 5.7 12.9 .444 1.2 3.4 .361 2.4 3.0 .808
Richard Jefferson 80 36.0 15.5 1.9 4.6 6.4 2.5 1.0 0.6 2.0 2.7 5.7 11.4 .501 0.1 0.3 .250 4.1 5.5 .743
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 20 35.7 14.1 1.5 4.9 6.4 2.4 0.8 0.2 2.3 3.4 5.5 11.6 .476 0.0 0.2 .000 3.1 4.3 .718

Season 3

Michael Finley Richard Jefferson
Season 1997-982003-04
Team Dallas MavericksNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 82 41.4 21.5 1.8 3.5 5.3 4.9 1.6 0.4 2.7 2.0 8.2 18.4 .449 1.1 3.0 .357 4.0 5.1 .784
Richard Jefferson 82 38.2 18.5 1.3 4.3 5.7 3.8 1.1 0.3 2.4 2.7 6.8 13.6 .498 0.6 1.6 .364 4.4 5.7 .763
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 11 41.6 19.8 1.3 5.0 6.3 3.8 1.3 0.7 3.9 3.2 6.0 14.4 .418 0.8 3.0 .273 7.0 9.8 .713

Season 4

Michael Finley Richard Jefferson
Season 1998-992004-05
Team Dallas MavericksNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets 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 %
Michael Finley 50 41.0 20.2 1.4 3.9 5.3 4.4 1.3 0.3 2.1 1.9 7.8 17.5 .444 0.9 2.7 .331 3.7 4.5 .823
Richard Jefferson 33 41.1 22.2 1.5 5.8 7.3 4.0 1.0 0.5 4.0 3.3 7.2 17.1 .422 0.9 2.7 .337 6.9 8.2 .844
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 4 35.5 15.8 2.0 3.5 5.5 2.3 0.8 0.0 2.0 3.5 5.0 12.5 .400 0.5 2.5 .200 5.3 7.8 .677

Season 5

Michael Finley Richard Jefferson
Season 1999-002005-06
Team Dallas MavericksNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 82 42.2 22.6 1.5 4.8 6.3 5.3 1.3 0.4 2.4 2.1 9.1 20.0 .457 1.2 3.0 .401 3.2 3.9 .820
Richard Jefferson 78 39.2 19.5 1.2 5.6 6.8 3.8 0.8 0.2 2.2 2.5 6.3 12.9 .493 0.8 2.4 .319 6.0 7.4 .812
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 11 39.7 22.2 0.6 3.5 4.1 4.1 0.9 0.4 2.7 2.9 8.2 15.0 .545 1.1 2.6 .414 4.7 5.7 .825

Season 6

Michael Finley Richard Jefferson
Season 2000-012006-07
Team Dallas MavericksNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisNets Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 82 42.0 21.5 1.3 3.9 5.2 4.4 1.4 0.4 2.3 2.1 8.7 18.9 .458 1.1 3.2 .346 3.1 4.0 .775
Richard Jefferson 55 35.6 16.3 0.9 3.5 4.4 2.7 0.6 0.1 2.2 2.2 5.5 12.1 .456 0.9 2.6 .359 4.3 5.9 .733
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 10 43.4 19.7 1.3 4.0 5.3 4.4 1.2 0.2 2.4 2.3 7.2 20.0 .360 1.7 4.7 .362 3.6 4.4 .818
Richard Jefferson 12 40.8 19.7 0.3 5.3 5.6 2.3 0.8 0.4 2.3 2.0 6.8 14.0 .482 1.1 3.3 .325 5.1 5.5 .924

Season 7

Michael Finley Richard Jefferson
Season 2001-022007-08
Team Dallas MavericksNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks 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 %
Michael Finley 69 39.9 20.6 1.3 3.9 5.2 3.3 0.9 0.4 1.7 2.1 8.2 17.8 .463 1.1 3.2 .339 3.0 3.6 .837
Richard Jefferson 82 39.0 22.6 1.1 3.0 4.2 3.1 0.9 0.3 2.4 2.7 7.5 16.2 .466 0.9 2.6 .362 6.6 8.3 .798
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 8 46.5 24.6 1.6 4.6 6.3 2.3 1.5 0.5 1.9 3.0 8.6 18.5 .466 1.8 4.6 .378 5.6 6.3 .900
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Michael Finley Richard Jefferson
Season 2002-032008-09
Team Dallas MavericksMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West 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 %
Michael Finley 69 38.3 19.3 1.6 4.3 5.8 3.0 1.1 0.3 1.7 1.5 7.3 17.3 .425 1.7 4.7 .370 2.9 3.3 .861
Richard Jefferson 82 35.8 19.6 0.7 3.9 4.6 2.4 0.8 0.2 2.0 3.1 6.5 14.9 .439 1.4 3.6 .397 5.1 6.3 .805
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 20 41.1 18.3 1.3 4.5 5.8 3.0 1.3 0.6 1.6 2.3 6.6 15.1 .435 2.4 5.7 .412 2.9 3.3 .864
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Michael Finley Richard Jefferson
Season 2003-042009-10
Team Dallas MavericksSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdSpurs 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 %
Michael Finley 72 38.6 18.6 1.1 3.4 4.5 2.9 1.2 0.5 1.2 1.6 7.1 16.1 .443 2.1 5.1 .405 2.3 2.7 .850
Richard Jefferson 81 31.1 12.3 0.7 3.7 4.4 2.0 0.6 0.5 1.3 2.2 4.5 9.6 .467 0.7 2.3 .316 2.6 3.5 .735
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 5 39.4 13.0 1.2 2.0 3.2 2.6 0.8 0.6 1.8 1.6 5.2 13.6 .382 1.4 5.2 .269 1.2 2.0 .600
Richard Jefferson 10 33.4 9.4 0.8 4.5 5.3 1.8 0.6 0.6 1.5 2.0 3.4 7.0 .486 0.1 0.5 .200 2.5 3.3 .758

Season 10

Michael Finley Richard Jefferson
Season 2004-052010-11
Team Dallas MavericksSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisSpurs 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 %
Michael Finley 64 36.8 15.7 0.7 3.4 4.1 2.6 0.8 0.3 0.9 1.9 6.0 14.2 .427 1.8 4.5 .407 1.8 2.1 .831
Richard Jefferson 81 30.4 11.0 0.7 3.2 3.8 1.3 0.5 0.4 1.1 2.0 3.8 7.9 .474 1.7 3.8 .440 1.8 2.4 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 13 38.2 13.1 1.0 3.3 4.3 2.2 1.3 0.0 1.0 2.5 5.0 11.8 .425 1.8 4.7 .393 1.2 1.4 .889
Richard Jefferson 6 29.3 6.5 0.3 3.8 4.2 0.8 0.5 0.5 1.0 2.2 2.0 5.2 .387 1.0 2.8 .353 1.5 1.8 .818

Season 11

Michael Finley Richard Jefferson
Season 2005-062011-12
Team San Antonio SpursSan Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Michael Finley 77 26.5 10.1 0.4 2.8 3.2 1.5 0.5 0.1 0.8 1.3 3.7 9.0 .412 1.4 3.6 .394 1.3 1.5 .852
Richard Jefferson 63 27.7 9.2 0.4 3.1 3.5 1.4 0.6 0.3 0.8 1.9 3.2 7.7 .416 1.8 4.3 .420 0.9 1.3 .694
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 13 31.6 10.5 0.1 3.7 3.8 1.4 0.6 0.2 0.7 1.5 3.8 8.1 .476 1.4 3.6 .383 1.4 1.5 .900
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Michael Finley Richard Jefferson
Season 2006-072012-13
Team San Antonio SpursGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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 %
Michael Finley 82 22.2 9.0 0.4 2.3 2.7 1.3 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.9 3.3 8.1 .412 1.3 3.5 .364 1.1 1.2 .918
Richard Jefferson 56 10.1 3.1 0.1 1.4 1.5 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.8 1.1 2.4 .456 0.3 0.8 .311 0.7 0.9 .717
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 20 26.9 11.3 0.4 2.5 2.9 1.1 0.6 0.2 0.7 1.4 3.7 8.9 .410 2.2 5.3 .419 1.8 2.0 .897
Richard Jefferson 7 5.6 1.9 0.3 0.7 1.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.7 0.6 1.3 .444 0.3 0.4 .667 0.4 1.3 .333

Season 13

Michael Finley Richard Jefferson
Season 2007-082013-14
Team San Antonio SpursUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West 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 %
Michael Finley 82 26.9 10.1 0.3 2.8 3.1 1.4 0.4 0.1 0.7 1.1 3.8 9.3 .414 1.6 4.4 .370 0.8 1.0 .800
Richard Jefferson 82 27.0 10.1 0.2 2.5 2.7 1.6 0.7 0.2 1.1 2.0 3.6 8.0 .450 1.5 3.7 .409 1.5 2.0 .741
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 17 23.0 6.7 0.1 1.9 1.9 1.0 0.3 0.2 0.4 1.5 2.5 6.3 .402 1.1 3.1 .365 0.5 0.5 1.000
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Michael Finley Richard Jefferson
Season 2008-092014-15
Team San Antonio SpursDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdMavericks 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 %
Michael Finley 81 28.8 9.7 0.3 3.0 3.3 1.4 0.5 0.2 0.8 1.0 3.7 8.5 .437 1.6 3.9 .411 0.6 0.8 .823
Richard Jefferson 74 16.8 5.8 0.3 2.1 2.5 0.8 0.4 0.1 0.7 1.6 1.9 4.4 .444 0.9 2.1 .426 1.1 1.5 .684
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 5 28.6 8.0 0.6 2.4 3.0 1.0 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.6 3.0 6.8 .441 1.4 3.0 .467 0.6 0.8 .750
Richard Jefferson 4 12.8 3.8 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.0 0.8 2.3 1.3 3.5 .357 0.8 2.0 .375 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 15

Michael Finley Richard Jefferson
Season 2009-102015-16
Team San Antonio Spurs, Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 46 15.4 4.4 0.1 1.4 1.5 0.9 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.7 1.8 4.0 .440 0.7 1.8 .390 0.2 0.3 .533
Richard Jefferson 74 17.9 5.5 0.2 1.5 1.7 0.8 0.4 0.2 0.6 1.7 1.9 4.2 .458 0.9 2.3 .382 0.8 1.2 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley 18 6.0 0.8 0.1 0.6 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.3 1.1 .250 0.2 0.6 .273 0.1 0.1 1.000
Richard Jefferson 21 18.1 5.4 0.8 2.8 3.5 0.7 0.5 0.0 0.6 1.6 2.1 4.0 .524 0.5 1.3 .393 0.7 1.0 .750

Season 16

Michael Finley Richard Jefferson
Season -2016-17
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 79 20.4 5.7 0.4 2.2 2.6 1.0 0.3 0.1 0.7 1.9 1.9 4.3 .446 0.8 2.4 .333 1.0 1.4 .741
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 14 12.8 3.9 0.7 1.1 1.8 0.5 0.1 0.2 0.6 2.1 1.1 2.7 .421 0.4 1.4 .263 1.3 2.0 .643

Season 17

Michael Finley Richard Jefferson
Season -2017-18
Team -Denver Nuggets
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 %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson 20 8.2 1.5 0.1 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.6 0.6 1.4 .444 0.1 0.4 .286 0.2 0.4 .571
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Finley ------- --- ----------
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------