Nikola Jokic vs. Domantas Sabonis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Domantas Sabonis 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 / Scoring / Stats / 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.

Nikola Jokic played 10 years in the NBA, 1 more than Domantas Sabonis, who played 9. Nikola Jokic had the first of his seasons in 2015-16, while Domantas Sabonis 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 10 7 2015-16 to 2024-25
Domantas Sabonis 9 4 2016-17 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Nikola Jokic Domantas Sabonis
Season 2015-162016-17
Team Denver NuggetsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+1+1.6+4.1+1.7+1.7+3.4+1.4+0.5+0.2-0.3-0.1+1.4+1.6+.113+0.2+0.9+.012+1.4+1.6+.154
Domantas Sabonis 81 20.1 5.9 0.6 3.0 3.6 1.0 0.5 0.4 1.0 2.5 2.4 5.9 .399 0.6 2.0 .321 0.5 0.8 .657
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nikola Jokic DNP------ --- ----------
Domantas Sabonis 2 3.0 2.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 2.0 0.0 1.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 2.0 2.0 1.000

Season 2

Nikola Jokic Domantas Sabonis
Season 2016-172017-18
Team Denver NuggetsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPacers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+1+3.4+5.1+0.7+1.4+2.1+2.9+0.3+0.4-0.4-0.1+2.2+2.8+.064+0.4+1.4+.027+0.3+0.1+.075
Domantas Sabonis 74 24.5 11.6 2.2 5.5 7.7 2.0 0.5 0.4 1.9 3.0 4.6 8.9 .514 0.2 0.5 .351 2.3 3.0 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nikola Jokic DNP------ --- ----------
Domantas Sabonis 7 23.7 12.4 2.0 2.6 4.6 0.7 0.1 0.3 1.0 3.1 5.1 8.9 .581 0.1 1.0 .143 2.0 2.6 .778

Season 3

Nikola Jokic Domantas Sabonis
Season 2017-182018-19
Team Denver NuggetsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPacers Lost East 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%
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:+1+7.8+4.4+0.1+1.3+1.4+3.2+0.6+0.4-0.6-0.4+1.1+4.0+.091+1.4+3.5+.133+0.7+0.3+.135
Domantas Sabonis 74 24.8 14.1 2.5 6.8 9.3 2.9 0.6 0.4 2.2 3.2 5.6 9.5 .590 0.1 0.2 .529 2.8 3.9 .715
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nikola Jokic DNP------ --- ----------
Domantas Sabonis 4 24.0 8.5 1.8 5.5 7.3 4.0 0.8 0.3 1.3 3.0 3.0 7.3 .414 0.3 1.0 .250 2.3 3.5 .643

Season 4

Nikola Jokic Domantas Sabonis
Season 2018-192019-20
Team Denver NuggetsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West 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%
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:+18+3.5+1.6+0.1+1.4+1.6+2.3+0.6+0.2-0.4-0.2+0.3+1.4+.029+0.7+2.3+.053+0.1+0.4+.098
Domantas Sabonis 62 34.8 18.5 3.0 9.4 12.4 5.0 0.8 0.5 2.7 3.1 7.4 13.7 .540 0.3 1.1 .254 3.5 4.8 .723
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
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

Nikola Jokic Domantas Sabonis
Season 2019-202020-21
Team Denver NuggetsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West 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%
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:+11+4.0+0.4+0.1+2.0+2.3+0.3+0.1-0.3-0.3+0.1+0.1+.007+0.3+0.9+.007+0.5+1.2+.085
Domantas Sabonis 62 36.0 20.3 2.4 9.5 12.0 6.7 1.2 0.5 3.4 3.3 7.8 14.6 .535 0.8 2.6 .321 3.9 5.3 .732
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
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Nikola Jokic Domantas Sabonis
Season 2020-212021-22
Team Denver NuggetsIndiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf SemisDid 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%
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:+10+0.1+7.5+0.4+0.9+1.3+3.1+0.3+0.3-0.6+3.1+5.5+.007+0.7+1.3+.076+0.8+0.1+.127
Domantas Sabonis 62 34.5 18.9 3.2 8.9 12.1 5.2 1.0 0.4 3.1 3.3 7.1 12.5 .573 0.6 2.0 .312 4.0 5.4 .741
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
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7

Nikola Jokic Domantas Sabonis
Season 2021-222022-23
Team Denver NuggetsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdKings Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+5+1.1+8.0+0.4+1.9+1.5+0.6+0.7+0.4-0.9-0.9+3.0+5.8+.032+0.9+2.8+.036+1.0+0.8+.068
Domantas Sabonis 79 34.6 19.1 3.2 9.1 12.3 7.3 0.8 0.5 2.9 3.5 7.3 11.9 .615 0.4 1.1 .373 4.1 5.5 .742
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
difference:+2+0.5+14.6+1.0+3.2+2.2+1.1+0.2+0.1-1.1+5.2+7.1+.080+0.9+2.9+.078+3.3+2.6+.277
Domantas Sabonis 7 34.7 16.4 4.4 6.6 11.0 4.7 1.4 0.9 3.7 4.0 7.0 14.1 .495 0.1 0.7 .200 2.3 4.0 .571

Season 8

Nikola Jokic Domantas Sabonis
Season 2022-232023-24
Team Denver NuggetsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement Rebounds 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%
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:+13+2.0+5.1+1.2+0.7+1.9+1.6+0.4+0.1-0.3-0.5+1.7+1.8+.038+0.4+1.1+.004+1.3+0.9+.118
Domantas Sabonis 82 35.7 19.4 3.6 10.1 13.7 8.2 0.9 0.6 3.3 3.0 7.7 13.0 .594 0.4 1.1 .379 3.6 5.1 .704
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
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

Nikola Jokic Domantas Sabonis
Season 2023-242024-25
Team Denver NuggetsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf SemisDid 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%
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:+9+0.1+7.3+1.0+0.6+1.5+3.0+0.7+0.5-0.1-0.8+2.9+5.1+.007+0.2+0.7+.058+1.4+1.4+.063
Domantas Sabonis 70 34.7 19.1 3.8 10.1 13.9 6.0 0.7 0.4 2.9 3.3 7.5 12.8 .590 0.9 2.2 .417 3.1 4.1 .754
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
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Nikola Jokic played 1 season more than Domantas Sabonis in the NBA.

In that period—his season 10 in 2025—Nikola Jokic played in the Playoffs.

In that extra year over Domantas Sabonis, Nikola Jokic got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 1 All-Star Game