Nikola Jokic vs. Derrick Jones Jr. Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Derrick Jones Jr. and Nikola Jokic, 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.

Nikola Jokic played 11 years in the NBA, 1 more than Derrick Jones Jr., who played 10. Nikola Jokic had the first of his seasons in 2015-16, while Derrick Jones Jr. had his rookie season in 2016-17. 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
Nikola Jokic 11 7 2015-16 to 2025-26
Derrick Jones Jr. 10 5 2016-17 to 2025-26

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season
Nikola Jokic Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 2015-162016-17
Team Denver NuggetsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards 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%
Nikola Jokic 80 21.7 10.0 2.3 4.7 7.0 2.4 1.0 0.6 1.3 2.6 3.8 7.5 .512 0.4 1.1 .333 1.9 2.4 .811
difference:+48+4.7+4.7+1.1+3.4+4.5+2.0+0.6+0.2-0.9-0.6+1.7+3.7+.050+0.3+0.8+.060+1.0+1.1+.104
Derrick Jones Jr. 32 17.0 5.3 1.2 1.3 2.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 2.0 2.1 3.8 .562 0.1 0.3 .273 0.9 1.3 .707
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Nikola Jokic nor Derrick Jones Jr. played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2
Nikola Jokic Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 2016-172017-18
Team Denver NuggetsPhoenix Suns, Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Nikola Jokic 73 27.9 16.7 2.9 6.9 9.8 4.9 0.8 0.8 2.3 2.9 6.8 11.7 .578 0.6 1.9 .324 2.6 3.1 .825
difference:+53+15.6+13.6+1.8+6.0+7.9+4.4+0.6+0.1-1.9-1.7+5.7+9.0+.182+0.4+1.0+.157+1.8+1.9+.158
Derrick Jones Jr. 20 12.3 3.1 1.1 0.9 1.9 0.5 0.2 0.7 0.4 1.2 1.1 2.7 .396 0.2 0.9 .167 0.8 1.2 .667
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Nikola Jokic nor Derrick Jones Jr. played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3
Nikola Jokic Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 2017-182018-19
Team Denver NuggetsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Nikola Jokic 75 32.6 18.5 2.6 8.1 10.7 6.1 1.2 0.8 2.8 2.8 6.7 13.5 .499 1.5 3.7 .396 3.5 4.2 .850
difference:+15+13.4+11.5+1.0+5.7+6.7+5.5+0.4+0.1-2.1-0.7+4.0+8.1+.005+1.0+2.2+.088+2.3+2.2+.243
Derrick Jones Jr. 60 19.2 7.0 1.6 2.4 4.0 0.6 0.8 0.7 0.7 2.1 2.7 5.4 .494 0.5 1.5 .308 1.2 2.0 .607
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Nikola Jokic nor Derrick Jones Jr. played in the postseason in their season 3

Season 4
Nikola Jokic Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 2018-192019-20
Team Denver NuggetsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf SemisHeat 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%
Nikola Jokic 80 31.3 20.1 2.9 8.0 10.8 7.3 1.4 0.7 3.1 2.9 7.7 15.1 .511 1.0 3.4 .307 3.6 4.4 .821
difference:+21+8.0+11.6+1.8+5.2+6.9+6.2+0.4+0.1-2.6-0.7+4.6+9.2+.016+0.4+1.2+.027+2.0+2.3+.049
Derrick Jones Jr. 59 23.3 8.5 1.1 2.8 3.9 1.1 1.0 0.6 0.5 2.2 3.1 5.9 .527 0.6 2.2 .280 1.6 2.1 .772
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nikola Jokic 14 39.8 25.1 3.9 9.1 13.0 8.4 1.1 0.9 2.6 3.9 9.4 18.6 .506 1.6 4.0 .393 4.7 5.6 .846
difference:+1+33.4+23.6+3.5+8.7+12.2+7.9+0.7+0.6-2.5-3.1+8.9+17.5+.035+1.3+3.4+.051+4.6+5.3+.446
Derrick Jones Jr. 15 6.4 1.5 0.4 0.4 0.8 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.8 0.5 1.1 .471 0.3 0.6 .444 0.1 0.3 .400

Season 5
Nikola Jokic Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 2019-202020-21
Team Denver NuggetsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf FinalsTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nikola Jokic 73 32.0 19.9 2.3 7.5 9.7 7.0 1.2 0.6 3.1 3.0 7.7 14.7 .528 1.1 3.5 .314 3.4 4.1 .817
difference:+15+9.3+13.1+1.0+5.3+6.2+6.2+0.6+0.3-2.5-0.8+5.2+9.5+.044+0.4+1.2+.002+2.4+2.5+.169
Derrick Jones Jr. 58 22.7 6.8 1.3 2.2 3.5 0.8 0.6 0.9 0.6 2.2 2.5 5.2 .484 0.7 2.3 .316 1.0 1.6 .648
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nikola Jokic 19 36.5 24.4 1.9 7.9 9.8 5.7 1.1 0.8 3.3 3.6 9.4 18.1 .519 2.2 5.2 .429 3.5 4.2 .835
difference:+17+31.5+22.4+1.9+7.9+9.8+5.7+0.6+0.8-3.3-2.6+8.4+15.6+.119+2.2+4.2+.429+3.5+4.2
Derrick Jones Jr. 2 5.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.5 .400 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 6
Nikola Jokic Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 2020-212021-22
Team Denver NuggetsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf SemisBulls 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%
Nikola Jokic 72 34.6 26.4 2.8 8.0 10.8 8.3 1.3 0.7 3.1 2.7 10.2 18.0 .566 1.3 3.3 .388 4.8 5.5 .868
difference:+21+17.0+20.8+1.6+5.9+7.5+7.7+0.8+0.1-2.5-0.6+8.1+14.2+.028+0.9+2.1+.060+3.7+4.1+.068
Derrick Jones Jr. 51 17.6 5.6 1.2 2.1 3.3 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.6 2.1 2.1 3.8 .538 0.4 1.2 .328 1.1 1.4 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nikola Jokic 10 34.5 29.8 3.7 7.9 11.6 5.0 0.6 0.9 2.4 2.3 11.6 22.8 .509 2.0 5.3 .377 4.6 5.5 .836
difference:+5+22.7+26.0+3.1+7.1+10.2+4.6+0.4+0.9-1.8-0.7+10.2+19.4+.097+1.4+3.1+.104+4.2+4.9+.169
Derrick Jones Jr. 5 11.8 3.8 0.6 0.8 1.4 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.6 1.6 1.4 3.4 .412 0.6 2.2 .273 0.4 0.6 .667

Season 7
Nikola Jokic Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 2021-222022-23
Team Denver NuggetsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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%
Nikola Jokic 74 33.5 27.1 2.8 11.0 13.8 7.9 1.5 0.9 3.8 2.6 10.3 17.7 .583 1.3 3.9 .337 5.1 6.3 .810
difference:+10+19.5+22.1+1.9+9.5+11.4+7.4+1.0+0.3-3.4-1.3+8.5+14.1+.083+0.9+2.6+.001+4.1+5.0+.072
Derrick Jones Jr. 64 14.0 5.0 0.9 1.5 2.4 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.4 1.3 1.8 3.6 .500 0.4 1.3 .338 1.0 1.3 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nikola Jokic 5 34.2 31.0 3.4 9.8 13.2 5.8 1.6 1.0 4.8 4.0 12.2 21.2 .575 1.0 3.6 .278 5.6 6.6 .848
Derrick Jones Jr. DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8
Nikola Jokic Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 2022-232023-24
Team Denver NuggetsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks 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%
Nikola Jokic 69 33.7 24.5 2.4 9.4 11.8 9.8 1.3 0.7 3.6 2.5 9.4 14.8 .632 0.8 2.2 .383 4.9 6.0 .822
difference:+7+10.2+15.9+1.3+7.2+8.5+8.8+0.6-2.7-0.9+6.3+8.3+.149+0.3+0.9+.040+3.6+4.2+.109
Derrick Jones Jr. 76 23.5 8.6 1.1 2.2 3.3 1.0 0.7 0.7 0.9 1.6 3.1 6.5 .483 1.1 3.1 .343 1.3 1.8 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nikola Jokic 20 39.5 30.0 3.5 10.0 13.5 9.5 1.1 1.0 3.5 3.5 11.4 20.7 .548 1.8 3.8 .461 5.6 7.0 .799
difference:+2+10.1+20.9+2.0+8.0+10.0+8.3+0.6-2.7-1.0+7.9+13.4+.067+0.7+0.8+.092+4.6+5.6+.066
Derrick Jones Jr. 22 29.4 9.1 1.5 2.0 3.5 1.2 0.5 1.0 0.8 2.5 3.5 7.3 .481 1.1 3.0 .369 1.0 1.4 .733

Season 9
Nikola Jokic Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 2023-242024-25
Team Denver NuggetsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf SemisClippers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nikola Jokic 79 34.6 26.4 2.8 9.5 12.4 9.0 1.4 0.9 3.0 2.5 10.4 17.9 .583 1.1 2.9 .359 4.5 5.5 .817
difference:+2+10.3+16.3+1.6+7.3+9.0+8.2+0.4+0.5-2.1-0.5+6.4+10.3+.057+0.1+0.1+.003+3.4+4.0+.114
Derrick Jones Jr. 77 24.3 10.1 1.2 2.2 3.4 0.8 1.0 0.4 0.9 2.0 4.0 7.6 .526 1.0 2.8 .356 1.1 1.5 .703
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nikola Jokic 12 40.2 28.7 3.6 9.8 13.4 8.7 1.4 0.7 3.3 2.7 11.1 20.3 .545 1.2 4.4 .264 5.3 5.9 .901
difference:+5+21.8+21.4+2.9+8.7+11.5+8.4+0.8+0.6-2.9-2.3+8.1+13.4+.107+0.3+1.5+.036+4.9+4.8+.526
Derrick Jones Jr. 7 18.4 7.3 0.7 1.1 1.9 0.3 0.6 1.3 0.4 0.4 3.0 6.9 .438 0.9 2.9 .300 0.4 1.1 .375

Season 10
Nikola Jokic Derrick Jones Jr.
Season 2024-252025-26
Team Denver NuggetsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West 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%
Nikola Jokic 70 36.7 29.6 2.9 9.9 12.7 10.2 1.8 0.6 3.3 2.3 11.2 19.5 .576 2.0 4.7 .417 5.2 6.4 .800
difference:+57+11.8+19.1+2.1+8.4+10.3+9.1+1.0+0.6-2.5-0.3+7.4+12.4+.043+0.8+1.2+.069+3.5+4.2+.014
Derrick Jones Jr. 13 24.9 10.5 0.8 1.5 2.4 1.1 0.8 1.2 0.8 2.0 3.8 7.1 .533 1.2 3.5 .348 1.7 2.2 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nikola Jokic 14 40.2 26.2 2.1 10.6 12.7 8.0 2.0 0.9 3.9 3.4 9.4 19.1 .489 1.9 5.1 .380 5.6 7.2 .772
Derrick Jones Jr. DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Nikola Jokic played 1 season more than Derrick Jones Jr. in the NBA.

In that period—his season 11 in 2026—Nikola Jokic didn't play in the postseason.

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