Michael Jordan vs. Jeremy Lin Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jeremy Lin 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.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Stats Rankings

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, 6 more than Jeremy Lin, who played 9. Michael Jordan had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, while Jeremy Lin had his rookie season in 2010-11. 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
Michael Jordan 15 13 1984-85 to 2002-03
Jeremy Lin 9 4 2010-11 to 2018-19

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9

Rookie Season
Michael Jordan Jeremy Lin
Season 1984-852010-11
Team Chicago BullsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+53+28.5+25.6+1.6+3.7+5.3+4.5+1.3+0.5-2.9-2.4+9.2+17.3+.126+0.1+0.4+.027+7.0+8.2+.085
Jeremy Lin 29 9.8 2.6 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.4 1.1 0.3 0.6 1.1 1.0 2.5 .389 0.0 0.2 .200 0.7 0.9 .760
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2
Michael Jordan Jeremy Lin
Season 1985-862011-12
Team Chicago BullsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+17+1.8+8.1+0.8+0.2+0.5+3.3+0.5+0.9-1.1-0.4+3.4+7.3+.011+0.5+1.1+.153+1.6+1.7+.042
Jeremy Lin 35 26.9 14.6 0.5 2.5 3.1 6.2 1.6 0.3 3.6 2.2 4.9 10.9 .446 0.7 2.1 .320 4.2 5.2 .798
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3
Michael Jordan Jeremy Lin
Season 1986-872012-13
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+7.8+23.7+1.6+0.6+2.2+1.5+1.3+1.1-0.4-0.4+8.6+16.9+.041+1.0+2.3+.157+7.6+8.5+.072
Jeremy Lin 82 32.2 13.4 0.4 2.6 3.0 6.1 1.6 0.4 2.9 2.5 4.8 10.9 .441 1.1 3.1 .339 2.6 3.4 .785
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+1+21.7+31.7+2.3+2.7+5.0+4.0+1.5+2.0-0.7-1.4+10.2+22.0+.167+0.2+1.3+.233+11.2+12.5+.103
Jeremy Lin 4 21.0 4.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 0.5 0.3 2.0 2.3 1.5 6.0 .250 0.5 3.0 .167 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 4
Michael Jordan Jeremy Lin
Season 1987-882013-14
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+11+11.5+22.5+1.2+1.6+2.9+1.8+2.2+1.2-0.6-1.0+8.8+15.1+.089+1.1+2.6+.226+5.7+6.8+.018
Jeremy Lin 71 28.9 12.5 0.5 2.2 2.6 4.1 1.0 0.4 2.5 2.3 4.2 9.3 .446 1.2 3.2 .358 3.1 3.7 .823
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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+13.2+25.0+1.1+2.3+3.4+0.4+1.9+0.9-1.7-1.3+9.6+15.8+.121+0.7+3.5+.116+6.4+7.2+.056
Jeremy Lin 6 29.5 11.3 1.2 2.5 3.7 4.3 0.5 0.2 2.2 2.5 4.2 10.2 .410 0.8 3.8 .217 2.2 2.7 .813

Season 5
Michael Jordan Jeremy Lin
Season 1988-892014-15
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+7+14.4+21.3+1.4+3.9+5.4+3.4+1.8+0.4-1.4-0.4+8.2+13.4+.114+0.6+1.2+.093+5.4+6.2+.055
Jeremy Lin 74 25.8 11.2 0.4 2.3 2.6 4.6 1.1 0.4 2.2 2.6 3.7 8.8 .424 0.9 2.4 .369 2.9 3.6 .795
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6
Michael Jordan Jeremy Lin
Season 1989-902015-16
Team Chicago BullsCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf FinalsHornets Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+4+12.7+21.9+1.2+2.4+3.7+3.3+2.1+0.2-1.1-0.8+8.8+14.7+.114+0.1+0.1+.040+4.1+4.8+.033
Jeremy Lin 78 26.3 11.7 0.5 2.7 3.2 3.0 0.7 0.5 1.9 2.1 3.8 9.3 .412 1.0 2.9 .336 3.1 3.7 .815
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+9+15.1+24.3+1.1+3.8+4.9+4.2+2.1+0.9-1.9-0.4+10.0+17.6+.101+0.6+1.1+.106+3.7+4.3+.015
Jeremy Lin 7 27.0 12.4 0.4 1.9 2.3 2.6 0.7 0.0 1.6 3.0 3.7 9.0 .413 0.4 2.0 .214 4.6 5.6 .821

Season 7
Michael Jordan Jeremy Lin
Season 1990-912016-17
Team Chicago BullsBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+46+12.5+17.0+1.1+1.2+2.2+0.4+1.5+0.6-0.1-0.6+7.2+11.3+.101+1.2+3.2+.060+3.8+4.3+.035
Jeremy Lin 36 24.5 14.5 0.3 3.4 3.8 5.1 1.2 0.4 2.4 2.2 4.9 11.1 .438 1.6 4.3 .372 3.2 3.9 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8
Michael Jordan Jeremy Lin
Season 1991-922017-18
Team Chicago BullsBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+79+13.8+12.1+1.1+5.3+6.4+2.1+2.3+0.9-0.5-0.5+6.8+10.7+.102+0.7+0.7+.230+0.9+0.4+.168
Jeremy Lin 1 25.0 18.0 0.0 0.0 0 4.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 3.0 5.0 12.0 .417 1.0 2.0 .500 7.0 7.0 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9
Michael Jordan Jeremy Lin
Season 1992-932018-19
Team Chicago BullsAtlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+4+19.9+23.0+1.4+2.9+4.3+2.4+2.2+0.6-1.0-0.5+9.5+18.4+.055+0.3+0.4+.058+3.7+4.5+.001
Jeremy Lin 74 19.4 9.6 0.3 2.1 2.4 3.1 0.6 0.2 1.7 1.9 3.2 7.3 .440 0.7 2.5 .294 2.4 2.8 .838
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+11+37.8+34.0+1.7+4.7+6.3+5.5+2.0+0.9-1.8-2.8+12.9+26.7+.253+1.4+3.5+.111+6.7+8.4+.195
Jeremy Lin 8 3.4 1.1 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.6 0.3 0.3 1.1 .222 0.1 0.3 .500 0.5 0.5 1.000

Additional Years

* Michael Jordan played 6 seasons more than Jeremy Lin in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 10 to 15, from 1995 to 2003—Michael Jordan played in 4 Playoffs and won 3 NBA Championships.

In those 6 extra years over Jeremy Lin, Michael Jordan got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 3 Finals MVP
Achievement 2 Season MVP
Achievement 3 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 3 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 3 Scoring Leader
Achievement 5 All-Star Game
Achievement 2 All-Star Game MVP
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