Michael Jordan vs. Ricky Rubio Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ricky Rubio 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, 3 more than Ricky Rubio, who played 12. Michael Jordan had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, while Ricky Rubio had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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
Ricky Rubio 12 3 2011-12 to 2022-23

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season
Michael Jordan Ricky Rubio
Season 1984-852011-12
Team Chicago BullsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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:+41+4.1+17.6+1.5+0.8+2.3+2.3+0.2+0.6-0.3-1.1+6.8+10.3+.158+0.7+1.7+.167+4.6+5.3+.042
Ricky Rubio 41 34.2 10.6 0.5 3.7 4.2 8.2 2.2 0.2 3.2 2.4 3.4 9.5 .357 0.8 2.3 .340 3.1 3.8 .803
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
Ricky Rubio DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2
Michael Jordan Ricky Rubio
Season 1985-862012-13
Team Chicago BullsMinnesota Timberwolves
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:+39+4.6+12.0+0.5+0.9+0.4+4.4+0.3+1.1-0.5-0.1+5.1+9.2+.097+0.3+0.6+.126+2.1+2.3+.041
Ricky Rubio 57 29.7 10.7 0.8 3.2 4.0 7.3 2.4 0.1 3.0 2.5 3.2 9.0 .360 0.5 1.6 .293 3.7 4.6 .799
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
Ricky Rubio DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3
Michael Jordan Ricky Rubio
Season 1986-872013-14
Team Chicago BullsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
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+27.6+1.3+0.2+1.0+4.0+0.6+1.4-0.6-0.2+10.3+19.6+.101+0.4+0.8+.149+7.4+8.4+.055
Ricky Rubio 82 32.2 9.5 0.7 3.4 4.2 8.6 2.3 0.1 2.7 2.7 3.1 8.2 .381 0.5 1.6 .331 2.8 3.5 .802
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
Ricky Rubio DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4
Michael Jordan Ricky Rubio
Season 1987-882014-15
Team Chicago BullsMinnesota Timberwolves
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 SemisDid Not Play
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:+60+8.9+24.7+0.8+1.0+0.2+2.9+1.5+1.6-0.2-0.6+9.5+14.4+.179+0.5+1.7+.123+6.2+7.3+.038
Ricky Rubio 22 31.5 10.3 0.9 4.8 5.7 8.8 1.7 0.0 2.9 2.7 3.5 10.0 .356 0.6 2.3 .255 2.6 3.2 .803
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
Ricky Rubio DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5
Michael Jordan Ricky Rubio
Season 1988-892015-16
Team Chicago BullsMinnesota Timberwolves
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:+5+9.6+22.4+1.3+2.4+3.7+0.7+0.8+0.7-1.1-0.4+9.0+14.5+.164+0.5+1.3+.050+4.8+5.7+.003
Ricky Rubio 76 30.6 10.1 0.5 3.8 4.3 8.7 2.1 0.1 2.5 2.6 2.9 7.7 .374 0.8 2.5 .326 3.5 4.1 .847
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
Ricky Rubio DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6
Michael Jordan Ricky Rubio
Season 1989-902016-17
Team Chicago BullsMinnesota Timberwolves
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 FinalsDid Not Play
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:+7+6.1+22.5+0.8+1.9+2.8+2.8+1.1+0.6-0.4-0.2+9.1+15.3+.124+0.3+0.4+.070+3.8+4.7+.043
Ricky Rubio 75 32.9 11.1 0.9 3.2 4.1 9.1 1.7 0.1 2.6 2.7 3.5 8.7 .402 0.8 2.6 .306 3.4 3.8 .891
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
Ricky Rubio DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7
Michael Jordan Ricky Rubio
Season 1990-912017-18
Team Chicago BullsUtah Jazz
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 ChampionJazz Lost West Conf Semis
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:+5+7.7+18.4+0.8+0.6+1.4+0.2+1.1+0.9-0.2-0.1+7.6+11.7+.121+0.8+2.4+.040+4.1+4.9+.015
Ricky Rubio 77 29.3 13.1 0.6 4.0 4.6 5.3 1.6 0.1 2.7 2.7 4.5 10.7 .418 1.2 3.5 .352 2.9 3.3 .866
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
difference:+11+10.3+17.1+0.3+1.2+0.9+1.4+1.1+0.9-0.5-0.9+6.9+8.9+.170+1.1+3.8+.072+4.4+4.9+.062
Ricky Rubio 6 30.2 14.0 0.8 6.5 7.3 7.0 1.3 0.5 3.0 2.2 4.7 13.2 .354 1.7 5.3 .313 3.0 3.8 .783

Season 8
Michael Jordan Ricky Rubio
Season 1991-922018-19
Team Chicago BullsUtah Jazz
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 ChampionJazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+12+10.9+17.4+0.6+2.2+2.8+1.0+0.8-0.1-0.1+7.5+12.0+.115+0.9+2.4+.041+3.2+4.0+.023
Ricky Rubio 68 27.9 12.7 0.5 3.1 3.6 6.1 1.3 0.1 2.6 2.6 4.3 10.7 .404 1.2 3.7 .311 2.9 3.4 .855
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
difference:+17+8.2+19.1+1.1+1.9+3.0+2.8+0.4+0.5-0.7+7.6+13.2+.075+2.0+.186+4.0+4.6+.007
Ricky Rubio 5 33.6 15.4 0.6 2.6 3.2 8.6 2.4 0.2 3.0 2.8 5.6 13.2 .424 0.8 4.0 .200 3.4 4.0 .850

Season 9
Michael Jordan Ricky Rubio
Season 1992-932019-20
Team Chicago BullsPhoenix Suns
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 ChampionDid Not Play
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:+13+8.3+19.6+1.0+1.0+2.0+3.3+1.4+0.6-0.2+8.3+15.1+.080+0.2+0.4+.009+3.1+3.8+.026
Ricky Rubio 65 31.0 13.0 0.7 4.0 4.7 8.8 1.4 0.2 2.7 2.6 4.4 10.6 .415 1.2 3.3 .361 3.0 3.5 .863
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
Ricky Rubio DNP------ --- ----------

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

Season 10
Michael Jordan Ricky Rubio
Season 1994-952020-21
Team Chicago BullsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+51+13.2+18.3+1.1+2.5+3.6+1.1+0.4+0.7-0.5-0.8+7.0+16.5+.023+0.1+1.2+.192+4.5+5.8+.066
Ricky Rubio 68 26.1 8.6 0.4 2.9 3.3 6.4 1.4 0.1 1.6 2.0 2.8 7.3 .388 1.0 3.1 .308 1.9 2.2 .867
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Ricky Rubio DNP------ --- ----------

Season 11
Michael Jordan Ricky Rubio
Season 1995-962021-22
Team Chicago BullsCleveland Cavaliers
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-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
11th 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 37.7 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:+48+9.2+17.3+1.4+1.1+2.5+2.3+0.8+0.3-0.2-0.2+6.8+10.5+.132+0.3+1.9+.088+4.1+5.0+.020
Ricky Rubio 34 28.5 13.1 0.4 3.7 4.1 6.6 1.4 0.2 2.6 2.2 4.4 12.1 .363 1.7 5.1 .339 2.6 3.0 .854
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Ricky Rubio DNP------ --- ----------

Season 12
Michael Jordan Ricky Rubio
Season 1996-972022-23
Team Chicago BullsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
12th 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 37.9 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:+49+20.7+24.4+1.1+2.7+3.8+0.8+0.9+0.3-1.1-0.4+9.4+17.7+.143+0.8+1.1+.118+5.1+5.9+.033
Ricky Rubio 33 17.2 5.2 0.3 1.8 2.1 3.5 0.8 0.2 0.9 1.5 1.8 5.4 .343 0.6 2.5 .256 0.8 1.1 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+16+36.6+31.1+1.5+4.4+5.9+3.8+1.3+0.9-0.9-0.7+11.9+25.9+.456+0.7+3.5+6.5+7.8
Ricky Rubio 3 5.7 0.0 0.7 1.3 2.0 1.0 0.3 0.0 1.7 1.7 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Additional Years

* Michael Jordan played 3 seasons more than Ricky Rubio 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 Ricky Rubio, Michael Jordan got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Finals MVP
Achievement 1 Season MVP
Achievement 1 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 1 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 1 Scoring Leader
Achievement 3 All-Star Game
Achievement 1 All-Star Game MVP
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