Michael Jordan vs. James Worthy Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Worthy and Michael Jordan, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

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 Jordan played 15 years in the NBA, 3 more than James Worthy, who played 12. Michael Jordan had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, while James Worthy had his rookie season in 1982-83. 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.

Rookie Season
	Michael Jordan	James Worthy
Season	1984-85	1982-83
Team	Chicago Bulls	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	All-NBA Second Team	-
	Rookie of the Year	-
	All-Rookie First Team	All-Rookie First Team
	All-Star Game	-
Playoffs	Bulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd	Did Not Play

more >>

Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	82	38.3	28.2	2.0	4.5	6.5	5.9	2.4	0.8	3.5	3.5	10.2	19.8	.515	0.1	0.6	.173	7.7	9.1	.845
difference:	+5	+12.7	+14.8		+1.4	+1.3	+4.2	+1.2		-1.2	-0.6	+4.4	+9.8	+.064	+0.1	+0.5	+.077	+5.9	+6.2	+.221
James Worthy	77	25.6	13.4	2.0	3.1	5.2	1.7	1.2	0.8	2.3	2.9	5.8	10.0	.579	0.0	0.1	.250	1.8	2.9	.624
Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	4	42.8	29.3	1.8	4.0	5.8	8.5	2.8	1.0	3.8	3.8	8.5	19.5	.436	0.3	2.0	.125	12.0	14.5	.828
James Worthy	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Season 2
	Michael Jordan	James Worthy
Season	1985-86	1983-84
Team	Chicago Bulls	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	All-Star Game	-
Playoffs	Bulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd	Lakers Lost NBA Finals

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		%
Michael Jordan	18	25.1	22.7	1.3	2.3	3.6	2.9	2.1	1.2	2.5	2.6	8.3	18.2	.457	0.2	1.0	.167	5.8	6.9	.840
difference:	+64	+4.4	+8.2	+0.6	+2.1	+2.7	+0.4	+1.2	+0.3	-0.3	-0.4	+2.3	+7.3	+.099	+0.2	+0.9	+.167	+3.4	+3.8	+.081
James Worthy	82	29.5	14.5	1.9	4.4	6.3	2.5	0.9	0.9	2.2	3.0	6.0	10.9	.556	0.0	0.1	.000	2.4	3.1	.759
Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	3	45.0	43.7	1.7	4.7	6.3	5.7	2.3	1.3	4.7	4.3	16.0	31.7	.505	0.3	0.3	1.000	11.3	13.0	.872
difference:	+18	+11.3	+26.0		+1.4	+1.3	+3.0	+1.0	+0.8	-2.8	-1.6	+8.2	+18.7	+.094	+0.3	+0.2	+.500	+9.3	+9.7	+.263
James Worthy	21	33.7	17.7	1.7	3.3	5.0	2.7	1.3	0.5	1.9	2.7	7.8	13.0	.599	0.0	0.1	.500	2.0	3.3	.609

Season 3
	Michael Jordan	James Worthy
Season	1986-87	1984-85
Team	Chicago Bulls	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	All-NBA First Team	-
	Scoring Leader	-
	All-Star Game	-
Playoffs	Bulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd	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		%
Michael Jordan	82	40.0	37.1	2.0	3.2	5.2	4.6	2.9	1.5	3.3	2.9	13.4	27.8	.482	0.1	0.8	.182	10.2	11.9	.857
difference:	+2	+6.3	+19.5	+0.1	+1.1	+1.2	+2.1	+1.8	+0.7	-0.8	-0.4	+5.8	+14.5	+.090	+0.1	+0.7	+.182	+7.8	+8.8	+.081
James Worthy	80	33.7	17.6	2.1	4.3	6.4	2.5	1.1	0.8	2.5	2.5	7.6	13.3	.572	0.0	0.1	.000	2.4	3.1	.776
Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	3	42.7	35.7	2.3	4.7	7.0	6.0	2.0	2.3	2.7	3.7	11.7	28.0	.417	0.7	1.7	.400	11.7	13.0	.897
difference:	+16	+9.8	+14.2	+0.5	+1.5	+1.9	+3.8	+1.1	+1.6	-1.3	-0.9	+3.0	+13.9	+.205	+0.6	+1.6	+.100	+7.8	+7.2	+.221
James Worthy	19	32.9	21.5	1.8	3.2	5.1	2.2	0.9	0.7	1.4	2.8	8.7	14.1	.622	0.1	0.1	.500	3.9	5.8	.676

Season 4
	Michael Jordan	James Worthy
Season	1987-88	1985-86
Team	Chicago Bulls	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	Season MVP	-
	All-NBA First Team	-
	All-Defensive First Team	-
	Defensive Player of the Year	-
	Scoring Leader	-
	Steals Leader	-
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
	All-Star Game MVP	-
Playoffs	Bulls Lost East Conf Semis	Lakers Lost West Conf Finals

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		%
Michael Jordan	82	40.4	35.0	1.7	3.8	5.5	5.9	3.2	1.6	3.1	3.3	13.0	24.4	.535	0.1	0.6	.132	8.8	10.5	.841
difference:	+7	+7.7	+15.0	+0.1	+0.5	+0.3	+3.2	+2.1	+0.6	-1.1	-0.7	+4.6	+9.9	+.044	+0.1	+0.4	+.132	+5.6	+6.3	+.070
James Worthy	75	32.7	20.0	1.8	3.3	5.2	2.7	1.1	1.0	2.0	2.6	8.4	14.5	.579	0.0	0.2	.000	3.2	4.2	.771
Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	10	42.7	36.3	2.3	4.8	7.1	4.7	2.4	1.1	3.9	3.8	13.8	26.0	.531	0.1	0.3	.333	8.6	9.9	.869
difference:	+4	+4.2	+16.7	+0.7	+1.7	+2.5	+1.5	+1.3	+0.4	-1.3	-0.7	+5.2	+10.5	+.027	+0.1		+.333	+6.3	+6.5	+.188
James Worthy	14	38.5	19.6	1.6	3.1	4.6	3.2	1.1	0.7	2.6	3.1	8.6	15.5	.558	0.0	0.3	.000	2.3	3.4	.681

Season 5
	Michael Jordan	James Worthy
Season	1988-89	1986-87
Team	Chicago Bulls	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	All-NBA First Team	-
	All-Defensive First Team	-
	Scoring Leader	-
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Bulls Lost East Conf Finals	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		%
Michael Jordan	81	40.2	32.5	1.8	6.2	8.0	8.0	2.9	0.8	3.6	3.0	11.9	22.2	.538	0.3	1.2	.276	8.3	9.8	.850
difference:	+1	+5.8	+13.1	+0.1	+2.4	+2.3	+5.2	+1.6	+0.2	-1.6	-0.5	+4.0	+7.5	+.001	+0.3	+1.0	+.276	+4.7	+5.1	+.099
James Worthy	82	34.4	19.4	1.9	3.8	5.7	2.8	1.3	1.0	2.0	2.5	7.9	14.7	.539	0.0	0.2	.000	3.6	4.7	.751
Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	17	42.2	34.8	1.5	5.5	7.0	7.6	2.5	0.8	4.0	3.8	11.7	22.9	.510	0.6	2.1	.286	10.8	13.5	.799
difference:	+1	+4.4	+11.2	+0.2	+1.6	+1.4	+4.1	+0.9	+0.4	-1.8	-1.5	+1.9	+6.3	+.081	+0.6	+2.0	+.286	+6.7	+8.1	+.046
James Worthy	18	37.8	23.6	1.7	3.9	5.6	3.5	1.6	1.2	2.2	2.3	9.8	16.6	.591	0.0	0.1	.000	4.1	5.4	.753

Season 6
	Michael Jordan	James Worthy
Season	1989-90	1987-88
Team	Chicago Bulls	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	-	Finals MVP
	All-NBA First Team	-
	All-Defensive First Team	-
	Scoring Leader	-
	Steals Leader	-
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Bulls Lost East Conf Finals	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		%
Michael Jordan	82	39.0	33.6	1.7	5.1	6.9	6.3	2.8	0.7	3.0	2.9	12.6	24.0	.526	1.1	3.0	.376	7.2	8.5	.848
difference:	+7	+3.6	+13.9		+1.8	+1.9	+2.4	+1.8		-0.9	-0.6	+4.4	+8.5	+.005	+1.1	+2.8	+.251	+4.0	+4.4	+.052
James Worthy	75	35.4	19.7	1.7	3.3	5.0	3.9	1.0	0.7	2.1	2.3	8.2	15.5	.531	0.0	0.2	.125	3.2	4.1	.796
Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	16	42.1	36.7	1.5	5.7	7.2	6.8	2.8	0.9	3.5	3.4	13.7	26.6	.514	1.0	3.1	.320	8.3	9.9	.836
difference:	+8	+4.8	+15.6	+0.7	+2.1	+1.4	+2.4	+1.4	+0.1	-1.2	-1.0	+5.2	+10.3	+.009	+1.0	+2.7	+.209	+4.3	+4.6	+.078
James Worthy	24	37.3	21.1	2.2	3.6	5.8	4.4	1.4	0.8	2.3	2.4	8.5	16.3	.523	0.0	0.4	.111	4.0	5.3	.758

Season 7
	Michael Jordan	James Worthy
Season	1990-91	1988-89
Team	Chicago Bulls	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	Finals MVP	-
	Season MVP	-
	All-NBA First Team	-
	All-Defensive First Team	-
	Scoring Leader	-
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	NBA Champion	Lakers Lost NBA Finals

more >>

7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	82	37.0	31.5	1.4	4.6	6.0	5.5	2.7	1.0	2.5	2.8	12.1	22.4	.539	0.4	1.1	.312	7.0	8.2	.851
difference:	+1	+0.5	+11.0	+0.7	+0.6		+1.9	+1.4	+0.3	-0.3	-0.6	+3.4	+6.6	+.009	+0.4	+0.8	+.225	+3.9	+4.2	+.069
James Worthy	81	36.5	20.5	2.1	4.0	6.0	3.6	1.3	0.7	2.2	2.2	8.7	15.8	.548	0.0	0.3	.087	3.1	4.0	.782
Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	17	40.5	31.1	1.1	5.3	6.4	8.4	2.4	1.4	2.5	3.1	11.6	22.1	.524	0.6	1.5	.385	7.4	8.7	.845
difference:	+2	+0.5	+6.3	+1.4	+1.0	+0.3	+5.6	+1.2	+0.3	-0.3	-0.7	+1.4	+4.1	+.043	+0.4	+1.0	+.010	+3.2	+3.4	+.057
James Worthy	15	40.0	24.8	2.5	4.3	6.7	2.8	1.2	1.1	2.2	2.4	10.2	18.0	.567	0.2	0.5	.375	4.2	5.3	.788

Season 8
	Michael Jordan	James Worthy
Season	1991-92	1989-90
Team	Chicago Bulls	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	Finals MVP	-
	Season MVP	-
	All-NBA First Team	-
	-	All-NBA Third Team
	All-Defensive First Team	-
	Scoring Leader	-
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	NBA Champion	Lakers Lost West Conf Semis

more >>

8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	80	38.8	30.1	1.1	5.3	6.4	6.1	2.3	0.9	2.5	2.5	11.8	22.7	.519	0.3	1.3	.270	6.1	7.4	.832
difference:		+1.8	+9.0	+0.9	+1.3	+0.4	+2.5	+1.1	+0.3	-0.5	-0.1	+2.9	+6.5	+.029	+0.1	+0.7	+.036	+3.0	+3.4	+.050
James Worthy	80	37.0	21.1	2.0	4.0	6.0	3.6	1.2	0.6	2.0	2.4	8.9	16.2	.548	0.2	0.6	.306	3.1	4.0	.782
Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	22	41.8	34.5	1.7	4.5	6.2	5.8	2.0	0.7	3.7	2.8	13.2	26.4	.499	0.8	2.0	.386	7.4	8.6	.857
difference:	+13	+1.1	+10.3	+0.5	+0.2	+0.6	+2.8	+0.4	+0.4	-1.3	-0.8	+3.2	+6.3	+.002	+0.6	+1.1	+.136	+3.4	+3.8	+.020
James Worthy	9	40.7	24.2	1.2	4.3	5.6	3.0	1.6	0.3	2.4	2.0	10.0	20.1	.497	0.2	0.9	.250	4.0	4.8	.837

Season 9
	Michael Jordan	James Worthy
Season	1992-93	1990-91
Team	Chicago Bulls	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	Finals MVP	-
	All-NBA First Team	-
	-	All-NBA Third Team
	All-Defensive First Team	-
	Scoring Leader	-
	Steals Leader	-
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	NBA Champion	Lakers Lost NBA Finals

more >>

9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	78	39.3	32.6	1.7	5.0	6.7	5.5	2.8	0.8	2.7	2.4	12.7	25.7	.495	1.0	2.9	.352	6.1	7.3	.837
difference:		+0.7	+11.2	+0.3	+1.8	+2.1	+2.0	+1.5	+0.4	-1.1	-0.9	+3.5	+7.0	+.003	+0.7	+1.7	+.063	+3.4	+3.9	+.040
James Worthy	78	38.6	21.4	1.4	3.2	4.6	3.5	1.3	0.4	1.6	1.5	9.2	18.7	.492	0.3	1.2	.289	2.7	3.4	.797
Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	19	41.2	35.1	1.7	5.1	6.7	6.0	2.1	0.9	2.4	3.1	13.2	27.8	.475	1.5	3.8	.389	7.2	8.9	.805
difference:	+1	+0.5	+14.0	+0.3	+2.4	+2.6	+2.1	+1.0	+0.8	-0.2	-1.2	+4.3	+8.6	+.010	+1.3	+2.5	+.222	+4.3	+4.9	+.069
James Worthy	18	40.7	21.1	1.4	2.7	4.1	3.9	1.1	0.1	2.2	1.9	8.9	19.2	.465	0.2	1.3	.167	2.9	4.0	.736

Note: Michael Jordan didn't play in 1993-94.

Season 10
	Michael Jordan	James Worthy
Season	1994-95	1991-92
Team	Chicago Bulls	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	-	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Bulls Lost East Conf Semis	Did Not Play

more >>

10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	17	39.3	26.9	1.5	5.4	6.9	5.3	1.8	0.8	2.1	2.8	9.8	23.8	.411	0.9	1.9	.500	6.4	8.0	.801
difference:	+37	+0.3	+7.0	+0.3	+1.6	+1.3	+0.6	+0.4	+0.4	-0.3	-1.2	+1.5	+5.2	+.036	+0.7	+1.1	+.291	+3.3	+4.2	+.013
James Worthy	54	39.0	19.9	1.8	3.8	5.6	4.7	1.4	0.4	2.4	1.6	8.3	18.6	.447	0.2	0.8	.209	3.1	3.8	.814
Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	10	42.0	31.5	2.0	4.5	6.5	4.5	2.3	1.4	4.1	3.0	12.0	24.8	.484	1.1	3.0	.367	6.4	7.9	.810
James Worthy	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Season 11
	Michael Jordan	James Worthy
Season	1995-96	1992-93
Team	Chicago Bulls	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	Finals MVP	-
	Season MVP	-
	All-NBA First Team	-
	All-Defensive First Team	-
	Scoring Leader	-
	All-Star Game	-
	All-Star Game MVP	-
Playoffs	NBA Champion	Lakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd

more >>

11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	82	37.7	30.4	1.8	4.8	6.6	4.3	2.2	0.5	2.4	2.4	11.2	22.6	.495	1.4	3.2	.427	6.7	8.0	.834
difference:		+8.9	+15.5	+0.9	+2.7	+3.6	+0.9	+1.1	+0.2	-0.7	-1.3	+5.0	+8.7	+.048	+1.0	+1.8	+.157	+4.6	+5.4	+.024
James Worthy	82	28.8	14.9	0.9	2.1	3.0	3.4	1.1	0.3	1.7	1.1	6.2	13.9	.447	0.4	1.4	.270	2.1	2.6	.810
Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	18	40.7	30.7	1.7	3.2	4.9	4.1	1.8	0.3	2.3	2.7	10.4	22.6	.459	1.4	3.4	.403	8.5	10.4	.818
difference:	+13	+11.1	+16.9	+0.3	+1.2	+1.5	+1.5	+0.8	+0.3	-0.9	-0.5	+4.0	+5.4	+.087	+1.0	+1.8	+.153	+7.9	+9.4	+.218
James Worthy	5	29.6	13.8	1.4	2.0	3.4	2.6	1.0	0.0	1.4	2.2	6.4	17.2	.372	0.4	1.6	.250	0.6	1.0	.600

Season 12
	Michael Jordan	James Worthy
Season	1996-97	1993-94
Team	Chicago Bulls	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	Finals MVP	-
	All-NBA First Team	-
	All-Defensive First Team	-
	Scoring Leader	-
	All-Star Game	-
Playoffs	NBA Champion	Did Not Play

more >>

12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	82	37.9	29.6	1.4	4.5	5.9	4.3	1.7	0.5	2.0	1.9	11.2	23.1	.486	1.4	3.6	.374	5.9	7.0	.833
difference:	+2	+17.9	+19.4	+0.8	+2.8	+3.6	+2.4	+1.1	+0.3	-0.8	-0.9	+6.9	+12.6	+.080	+1.0	+2.2	+.086	+4.6	+5.3	+.092
James Worthy	80	20.0	10.2	0.6	1.7	2.3	1.9	0.6	0.2	1.2	1.0	4.3	10.5	.406	0.4	1.4	.288	1.3	1.7	.741
Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Michael Jordan	19	42.3	31.1	2.2	5.7	7.9	4.8	1.6	0.9	2.6	2.4	11.9	26.2	.456	0.7	3.5	.194	6.5	7.8	.831
James Worthy	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Additional Years
* Michael Jordan played 3 seasons more than James Worthy in the NBA. In that period—his seasons 13 to 15, from 1998 to 2003—Michael Jordan played in one postseason and won the NBA Championship. In those 3 extra years over James Worthy, Michael Jordan got these achievements:
Honors & Awards	1 Finals MVP 1 Season MVP 1 All-NBA First Team 1 All-Defensive First Team 1 Scoring Leader 3 All-Star Game 1 All-Star Game MVP