Pat Riley vs. James Worthy Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Worthy and Pat Riley, 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

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.

Pat Riley played 9 years in the NBA, 3 less than James Worthy, who played 12. Pat Riley had the first of his seasons in 1967-68, while James Worthy had his rookie season in 1982-83. 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 achivements, 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
Pat Riley 9 6 1967-68 to 1975-76
James Worthy 12 9 1982-83 to 1993-94

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

Pat Riley James Worthy
Season 1967-681982-83
Team San Diego RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 80 15.8 7.9 - - 2.2 1.7 - - - 2.6 3.1 8.3 .379 - - - 1.6 2.5 .634
James Worthy 77 25.6 13.4 2.0 3.1 5.2 1.7 1.2 0.8 2.3 2.9 5.8 10.0 .579 0.0 0.1 .250 1.8 2.9 .624
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
James Worthy ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Pat Riley James Worthy
Season 1968-691983-84
Team San Diego RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Div SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 56 18.3 8.8 - - 2.0 2.4 - - - 2.6 3.6 8.9 .406 - - - 1.6 2.4 .672
James Worthy 82 29.5 14.5 1.9 4.4 6.3 2.5 0.9 0.9 2.2 3.0 6.0 10.9 .556 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.1 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 5 15.2 7.4 - - 2.2 0.4 - - - 2.6 3.2 7.4 .432 - - - 1.0 1.2 .833
James Worthy 21 33.7 17.7 1.7 3.3 5.0 2.7 1.3 0.5 1.9 2.7 7.8 13.0 .599 0.0 0.1 .500 2.0 3.3 .609

Season 3

Pat Riley James Worthy
Season 1969-701984-85
Team San Diego RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 36 13.2 5.3 - - 1.6 2.4 - - - 1.9 2.1 5.0 .417 - - - 1.1 1.5 .727
James Worthy 80 33.7 17.6 2.1 4.3 6.4 2.5 1.1 0.8 2.5 2.5 7.6 13.3 .572 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.1 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
James Worthy 19 32.9 21.5 1.8 3.2 5.1 2.2 0.9 0.7 1.4 2.8 8.7 14.1 .622 0.1 0.1 .500 3.9 5.8 .676

Season 4

Pat Riley James Worthy
Season 1970-711985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 54 9.4 4.9 - - 1.0 1.3 - - - 1.6 1.9 4.7 .413 - - - 1.0 1.6 .644
James Worthy 75 32.7 20.0 1.8 3.3 5.2 2.7 1.1 1.0 2.0 2.6 8.4 14.5 .579 0.0 0.2 .000 3.2 4.2 .771
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 7 19.3 9.4 - - 2.1 2.0 - - - 1.7 4.1 9.9 .420 - - - 1.1 1.6 .727
James Worthy 14 38.5 19.6 1.6 3.1 4.6 3.2 1.1 0.7 2.6 3.1 8.6 15.5 .558 0.0 0.3 .000 2.3 3.4 .681

Season 5

Pat Riley James Worthy
Season 1971-721986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 67 13.8 6.7 - - 1.9 1.1 - - - 1.6 2.9 6.6 .447 - - - 0.8 1.1 .743
James Worthy 82 34.4 19.4 1.9 3.8 5.7 2.8 1.3 1.0 2.0 2.5 7.9 14.7 .539 0.0 0.2 .000 3.6 4.7 .751
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 15 16.3 5.2 - - 1.9 0.9 - - - 2.5 2.2 6.6 .333 - - - 0.8 1.1 .750
James Worthy 18 37.8 23.6 1.7 3.9 5.6 3.5 1.6 1.2 2.2 2.3 9.8 16.6 .591 0.0 0.1 .000 4.1 5.4 .753

Season 6

Pat Riley James Worthy
Season 1972-731987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 55 14.6 7.3 - - 1.2 1.5 - - - 2.3 3.0 7.1 .428 - - - 1.2 1.5 .793
James Worthy 75 35.4 19.7 1.7 3.3 5.0 3.9 1.0 0.7 2.1 2.3 8.2 15.5 .531 0.0 0.2 .125 3.2 4.1 .796
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 7 7.6 2.6 - - 0.7 1.0 - - - 1.4 1.3 3.9 .333 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
James Worthy 24 37.3 21.1 2.2 3.6 5.8 4.4 1.4 0.8 2.3 2.4 8.5 16.3 .523 0.0 0.4 .111 4.0 5.3 .758

Season 7

Pat Riley James Worthy
Season 1973-741988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 72 18.9 9.5 0.5 1.3 1.8 2.1 0.8 0.0 - 2.4 4.0 9.3 .430 - - - 1.5 2.0 .764
James Worthy 81 36.5 20.5 2.1 4.0 6.0 3.6 1.3 0.7 2.2 2.2 8.7 15.8 .548 0.0 0.3 .087 3.1 4.0 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 5 21.2 7.8 0.6 0.6 1.2 2.0 0.8 0.0 - 2.2 3.6 10.0 .360 - - - 0.6 0.8 .750
James Worthy 15 40.0 24.8 2.5 4.3 6.7 2.8 1.2 1.1 2.2 2.4 10.2 18.0 .567 0.2 0.5 .375 4.2 5.3 .788

Season 8

Pat Riley James Worthy
Season 1974-751989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 46 22.1 11.0 0.5 1.3 1.8 2.6 0.8 0.1 - 2.8 4.8 11.4 .419 - - - 1.5 2.0 .742
James Worthy 80 37.0 21.1 2.0 4.0 6.0 3.6 1.2 0.6 2.0 2.4 8.9 16.2 .548 0.2 0.6 .306 3.1 4.0 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
James Worthy 9 40.7 24.2 1.2 4.3 5.6 3.0 1.6 0.3 2.4 2.0 10.0 20.1 .497 0.2 0.9 .250 4.0 4.8 .837

Season 9

Pat Riley James Worthy
Season 1975-761990-91
Team Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost NBA FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 62 13.1 4.7 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.9 0.4 0.1 - 1.8 1.9 4.9 .389 - - - 0.9 1.2 .714
James Worthy 78 38.6 21.4 1.4 3.2 4.6 3.5 1.3 0.4 1.6 1.5 9.2 18.7 .492 0.3 1.2 .289 2.7 3.4 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 5 5.4 2.6 0.0 0.0 0 1.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.2 3.0 .400 - - - 0.2 0.2 1.000
James Worthy 18 40.7 21.1 1.4 2.7 4.1 3.9 1.1 0.1 2.2 1.9 8.9 19.2 .465 0.2 1.3 .167 2.9 4.0 .736

Season 10

Pat Riley James Worthy
Season -1991-92
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
James Worthy 54 39.0 19.9 1.8 3.8 5.6 4.7 1.4 0.4 2.4 1.6 8.3 18.6 .447 0.2 0.8 .209 3.1 3.8 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
James Worthy ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Pat Riley James Worthy
Season -1992-93
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Lakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
James Worthy 82 28.8 14.9 0.9 2.1 3.0 3.4 1.1 0.3 1.7 1.1 6.2 13.9 .447 0.4 1.4 .270 2.1 2.6 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
James Worthy 5 29.6 13.8 1.4 2.0 3.4 2.6 1.0 0.0 1.4 2.2 6.4 17.2 .372 0.4 1.6 .250 0.6 1.0 .600

Season 12

Pat Riley James Worthy
Season -1993-94
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
James Worthy 80 20.0 10.2 0.6 1.7 2.3 1.9 0.6 0.2 1.2 1.0 4.3 10.5 .406 0.4 1.4 .288 1.3 1.7 .741
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
James Worthy ------- --- ----------