Monta Ellis vs. LeBron James Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of LeBron James and Monta Ellis, 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 / 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.

Monta Ellis played 12 years in the NBA, 10 less than LeBron James, who played 22. Monta Ellis had the first of his seasons in 2005-06, while LeBron James had his rookie season in 2003-04. 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
Monta Ellis 12 6 2005-06 to 2016-17
LeBron James 22 18 2003-04 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Monta Ellis LeBron James
Season 2005-062003-04
Team Golden State WarriorsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Monta Ellis 49 18.1 6.8 0.4 1.7 2.1 1.6 0.7 0.2 1.2 1.4 2.7 6.5 .415 0.6 1.7 .341 0.9 1.2 .712
difference:+30+21.4+14.1+0.9+2.5+3.4+4.3+0.9+0.5-2.3-0.5+5.2+12.4+.002+0.2+1.0+.051+3.5+4.6+.042
LeBron James 79 39.5 20.9 1.3 4.2 5.5 5.9 1.6 0.7 3.5 1.9 7.9 18.9 .417 0.8 2.7 .290 4.4 5.8 .754
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Monta Ellis nor LeBron James played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Monta Ellis LeBron James
Season 2006-072004-05
Team Golden State WarriorsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Most Improved Player-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisDid 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%
Monta Ellis 77 34.3 16.5 0.8 2.4 3.2 4.1 1.7 0.3 2.9 2.7 6.2 13.1 .475 0.5 1.9 .273 3.5 4.6 .763
difference:+3+8.1+10.7+0.6+3.6+4.2+3.1+0.5+0.4-0.4-0.9+3.7+8.0+.003+0.9+2.0+.078+2.5+3.4+.013
LeBron James 80 42.4 27.2 1.4 6.0 7.4 7.2 2.2 0.7 3.3 1.8 9.9 21.1 .472 1.4 3.9 .351 6.0 8.0 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis 11 21.6 8.0 0.7 1.5 2.3 0.9 0.9 0.2 1.8 2.1 2.9 7.5 .390 0.1 0.8 .111 2.1 2.5 .821
LeBron James DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Monta Ellis LeBron James
Season 2007-082005-06
Team Golden State WarriorsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis 81 37.9 20.2 1.6 3.3 5.0 3.9 1.5 0.3 2.1 2.4 8.0 15.1 .531 0.1 0.6 .231 4.0 5.1 .767
difference:+2+4.6+11.2+0.7+2.8+2.0+2.7+0.1+0.5-1.2-0.1+3.1+8.0+.051+1.5+4.2+.104+3.6+5.2+.029
LeBron James 79 42.5 31.4 0.9 6.1 7.0 6.6 1.6 0.8 3.3 2.3 11.1 23.1 .480 1.6 4.8 .335 7.6 10.3 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis DNP------ --- ----------
LeBron James 13 46.5 30.8 1.7 6.4 8.1 5.8 1.4 0.7 5.0 3.4 11.2 23.6 .476 1.6 4.8 .333 6.7 9.1 .737

Season 4

Monta Ellis LeBron James
Season 2008-092006-07
Team Golden State WarriorsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis 25 35.7 19.0 0.6 3.8 4.3 3.7 1.6 0.3 2.7 2.7 7.8 17.2 .451 0.3 1.0 .308 3.1 3.8 .830
difference:+53+5.2+8.3+0.5+1.9+2.4+2.3+0.4-0.5-0.5+2.1+3.6+.025+1.0+3.0+.011+3.2+5.2+.132
LeBron James 78 40.9 27.3 1.1 5.7 6.7 6.0 1.6 0.7 3.2 2.2 9.9 20.8 .476 1.3 4.0 .319 6.3 9.0 .698
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis DNP------ --- ----------
LeBron James 20 44.7 25.1 1.3 6.8 8.1 8.0 1.7 0.5 3.3 2.0 8.3 20.0 .416 1.1 3.8 .280 7.4 9.8 .755

Season 5

Monta Ellis LeBron James
Season 2009-102007-08
Team Golden State WarriorsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis 64 41.4 25.5 0.7 3.3 4.0 5.3 2.2 0.4 3.8 3.0 9.9 22.0 .449 1.2 3.6 .338 4.6 6.1 .753
difference:+11+1.0+4.5+1.1+2.8+3.9+1.9+0.4+0.7-0.4-0.8+0.7+0.1+.035+0.3+1.2+.023+2.7+4.2+.041
LeBron James 75 40.4 30.0 1.8 6.1 7.9 7.2 1.8 1.1 3.4 2.2 10.6 21.9 .484 1.5 4.8 .315 7.3 10.3 .712
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis DNP------ --- ----------
LeBron James 13 42.5 28.2 1.2 6.6 7.8 7.6 1.8 1.3 4.2 2.5 8.7 21.2 .411 1.4 5.4 .257 9.4 12.8 .731

Season 6

Monta Ellis LeBron James
Season 2010-112008-09
Team Golden State WarriorsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis 80 40.3 24.1 0.6 3.0 3.5 5.6 2.1 0.3 3.2 2.5 9.1 20.1 .451 1.7 4.7 .361 4.3 5.4 .789
difference:+1+2.6+4.3+0.7+3.3+4.1+1.6+0.4+0.8-0.2-0.8+0.6+0.2+.038+0.1+.017+3.0+4.0+.009
LeBron James 81 37.7 28.4 1.3 6.3 7.6 7.2 1.7 1.1 3.0 1.7 9.7 19.9 .489 1.6 4.7 .344 7.3 9.4 .780
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis DNP------ --- ----------
LeBron James 14 41.4 35.3 1.4 7.8 9.1 7.3 1.6 0.9 2.7 2.1 11.4 22.3 .510 1.9 5.8 .333 10.6 14.2 .749

Season 7

Monta Ellis LeBron James
Season 2011-122009-10
Team Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee BucksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost East 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%
Monta Ellis 58 36.6 20.4 0.3 3.1 3.4 6.0 1.5 0.3 3.1 2.3 7.8 17.9 .433 1.1 3.5 .308 3.8 4.7 .796
difference:+18+2.4+9.3+0.6+3.3+3.9+2.6+0.1+0.7-0.3-0.7+2.3+2.2+.070+0.6+1.6+.025+4.0+5.5+.029
LeBron James 76 39.0 29.7 0.9 6.4 7.3 8.6 1.6 1.0 3.4 1.6 10.1 20.1 .503 1.7 5.1 .333 7.8 10.2 .767
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis DNP------ --- ----------
LeBron James 11 41.8 29.1 1.4 7.9 9.3 7.6 1.7 1.8 3.8 2.1 9.6 19.2 .502 1.8 4.5 .400 8.0 10.9 .733

Season 8

Monta Ellis LeBron James
Season 2012-132010-11
Team Milwaukee BucksMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdHeat Lost NBA Finals
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis 82 37.5 19.2 0.5 3.3 3.9 6.0 2.1 0.4 3.1 2.0 7.3 17.5 .416 1.1 4.0 .287 3.5 4.6 .773
difference:+3+1.3+7.5+0.5+3.2+3.6+1.0+0.5+0.2-0.5-0.1+2.3+1.3+.094+0.1+0.5+.043+2.9+3.8+.014
LeBron James 79 38.8 26.7 1.0 6.5 7.5 7.0 1.6 0.6 3.6 2.1 9.6 18.8 .510 1.2 3.5 .330 6.4 8.4 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis 4 38.0 14.3 0.5 2.8 3.3 5.5 2.5 0.3 3.5 2.0 6.0 13.8 .436 0.8 4.8 .158 1.5 4.0 .375
difference:+17+5.9+9.4+1.1+4.0+5.1+0.4+0.8+0.9-0.4-0.7+2.3+4.0+.030+0.6+0.8+.195+4.2+3.4+.388
LeBron James 21 43.9 23.7 1.6 6.8 8.4 5.9 1.7 1.2 3.1 2.7 8.3 17.8 .466 1.4 4.0 .353 5.7 7.4 .763

Season 9

Monta Ellis LeBron James
Season 2013-142011-12
Team Dallas MavericksMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA 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%
Monta Ellis 82 36.9 19.0 0.5 3.1 3.6 5.7 1.7 0.3 3.2 2.4 7.0 15.6 .451 0.8 2.5 .330 4.1 5.2 .788
difference:+20+0.6+8.1+1.0+3.3+4.3+0.5+0.2+0.5-0.2-0.9+3.0+3.3+.080+0.1+0.1+.032+2.1+2.9+.017
LeBron James 62 37.5 27.1 1.5 6.4 7.9 6.2 1.9 0.8 3.4 1.5 10.0 18.9 .531 0.9 2.4 .362 6.2 8.1 .771
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis 7 35.6 20.4 0.9 1.6 2.4 2.9 1.3 0.1 2.1 2.7 7.4 18.1 .409 1.7 4.9 .353 3.9 4.4 .871
difference:+16+7.1+9.9+1.4+5.8+7.3+2.7+0.6+0.6-1.4-0.7+3.5+3.7+.091+0.7+1.2+.094+3.6+5.8+.132
LeBron James 23 42.7 30.3 2.3 7.4 9.7 5.6 1.9 0.7 3.5 2.0 10.9 21.8 .500 1.0 3.7 .259 7.5 10.2 .739

Season 10

Monta Ellis LeBron James
Season 2014-152012-13
Team Dallas MavericksMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis 80 33.7 18.9 0.4 2.0 2.4 4.1 1.9 0.3 2.5 2.5 7.5 16.9 .445 1.0 3.6 .285 2.9 3.8 .752
difference:+4+4.2+7.9+0.9+4.8+5.6+3.2+0.2+0.6-0.5-1.1+2.6+0.9+.120+0.4+0.3+.121+2.4+3.2+.001
LeBron James 76 37.9 26.8 1.3 6.8 8.0 7.3 1.7 0.9 3.0 1.4 10.1 17.8 .565 1.4 3.3 .406 5.3 7.0 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis 5 39.4 26.0 0.8 2.4 3.2 5.2 2.0 0.6 3.2 3.6 10.4 22.2 .468 2.2 6.0 .367 3.0 4.0 .750
difference:+18+2.3+0.1+0.8+4.4+5.2+1.4+0.2+0.2-0.2-1.7+1.2+3.4+.023+0.6+1.8+.008+2.9+3.6+.027
LeBron James 23 41.7 25.9 1.6 6.8 8.4 6.6 1.8 0.8 3.0 1.9 9.2 18.8 .491 1.6 4.2 .375 5.9 7.6 .777

Season 11

Monta Ellis LeBron James
Season 2015-162013-14
Team Indiana PacersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdHeat Lost NBA Finals
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis 81 33.8 13.8 0.5 2.8 3.3 4.7 1.9 0.5 2.5 2.1 5.4 12.6 .427 1.1 3.5 .309 2.0 2.5 .786
difference:+4+3.9+13.3+0.6+3.1+3.6+1.6+0.3+0.2-1.0-0.5+4.6+5.0+.140+0.4+0.5+.070+3.7+5.1+.036
LeBron James 77 37.7 27.1 1.1 5.9 6.9 6.3 1.6 0.3 3.5 1.6 10.0 17.6 .567 1.5 4.0 .379 5.7 7.6 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis 7 32.1 11.6 0.6 3.3 3.9 4.3 2.1 0.0 2.4 2.4 4.7 10.9 .434 1.0 3.0 .333 1.1 1.4 .800
difference:+13+6.1+15.8+0.1+3.1+3.2+0.5+0.3+0.6-0.7-0.1+4.9+6.1+.131+0.8+1.3+.074+5.4+6.6+.006
LeBron James 20 38.2 27.4 0.7 6.4 7.1 4.8 1.8 0.6 3.1 2.3 9.6 17.0 .565 1.8 4.3 .407 6.5 8.0 .806

Season 12

Monta Ellis LeBron James
Season 2016-172014-15
Team Indiana PacersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis 74 27.0 8.5 0.3 2.5 2.8 3.2 1.1 0.4 1.8 2.0 3.3 7.5 .443 0.6 1.8 .319 1.3 1.7 .727
difference:+5+9.1+16.8+0.4+2.8+3.2+4.2+0.5+0.3-2.1+5.7+11.0+.045+1.1+3.1+.035+4.1+6.0+.017
LeBron James 69 36.1 25.3 0.7 5.3 6.0 7.4 1.6 0.7 3.9 2.0 9.0 18.5 .488 1.7 4.9 .354 5.4 7.7 .710
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Monta Ellis 4 19.0 5.5 0.3 1.8 2.0 1.3 0.5 0.3 1.0 1.3 2.0 5.0 .400 0.5 2.0 .250 1.0 1.3 .800
difference:+16+23.2+24.6+1.6+7.7+9.3+7.2+1.2+0.8-3.1-1.6+9.4+22.2+.017+0.8+3.5+.023+5.1+7.1+.069
LeBron James 20 42.2 30.1 1.9 9.5 11.3 8.5 1.7 1.1 4.1 2.9 11.4 27.2 .417 1.3 5.5 .227 6.1 8.4 .731

Additional Years

* LeBron James played 10 seasons more than Monta Ellis in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 13 to 22, from 2016 to 2025—LeBron James played in 8 Playoffs and won two NBA Championships and one NBA Cup.

In those 10 extra years over Monta Ellis, LeBron James got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 2 Finals MVP
Achievement 4 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 2 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 4 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 1 Assists Leader
Achievement 1 Cup MVP
Achievement 1 Cup All-Tournament Team
Achievement 10 All-Star Game
Achievement 1 All-Star Game MVP