Pau Gasol vs. Ricky Rubio Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ricky Rubio and Pau Gasol, 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.

Pau Gasol played 18 years in the NBA, 6 more than Ricky Rubio, who played 12. Pau Gasol had the first of his seasons in 2001-02, 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
Pau Gasol 18 12 2001-02 to 2018-19
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

Pau Gasol Ricky Rubio
Season 2001-022011-12
Team Memphis GrizzliesMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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%
Pau Gasol 82 36.7 17.6 2.9 6.0 8.9 2.7 0.5 2.1 2.7 2.4 6.7 13.0 .518 0.0 0.1 .200 4.1 5.8 .709
difference:+41+2.5+7.0+2.4+2.3+4.7+5.5+1.7+1.9-0.5+3.3+3.5+.161+0.8+2.2+.140+1.0+2.0+.094
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
* Neiher Pau Gasol nor Ricky Rubio played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Pau Gasol Ricky Rubio
Season 2002-032012-13
Team Memphis GrizzliesMinnesota Timberwolves
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%
Pau Gasol 82 36.0 19.0 2.3 6.4 8.8 2.8 0.4 1.8 2.6 2.7 6.9 13.6 .510 0.0 0.1 .100 5.1 6.9 .736
difference:+25+6.3+8.3+1.5+3.2+4.8+4.5+2.0+1.7-0.4-0.2+3.7+4.6+.150+0.5+1.5+.193+1.4+2.3+.063
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
* Neiher Pau Gasol nor Ricky Rubio played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3

Pau Gasol Ricky Rubio
Season 2003-042013-14
Team Memphis GrizzliesMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West 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%
Pau Gasol 78 31.5 17.7 2.6 5.1 7.7 2.5 0.6 1.7 2.4 2.4 6.5 13.4 .482 0.1 0.2 .267 4.7 6.6 .714
difference:+4+0.7+8.2+1.9+1.7+3.5+6.1+1.7+1.6-0.3-0.3+3.4+5.2+.101+0.4+1.4+.064+1.9+3.1+.088
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%
Pau Gasol 4 33.5 18.5 1.0 4.0 5.0 2.5 1.0 1.5 1.3 2.5 7.0 12.3 .571 0.0 0.0 - 4.5 5.0 .900
Ricky Rubio DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Pau Gasol Ricky Rubio
Season 2004-052014-15
Team Memphis GrizzliesMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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%
Pau Gasol 56 32.0 17.8 2.3 5.0 7.3 2.4 0.7 1.7 2.4 2.6 6.4 12.4 .514 0.0 0.1 .167 5.0 6.6 .768
difference:+34+0.5+7.5+1.4+0.2+1.6+6.4+1.0+1.7-0.5-0.1+2.9+2.4+.158+0.6+2.2+.088+2.4+3.4+.035
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%
Pau Gasol 4 33.0 21.3 3.8 3.8 7.5 2.5 0.5 1.8 1.8 3.0 9.8 20.0 .488 0.3 0.3 1.000 1.5 3.0 .500
Ricky Rubio DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

Pau Gasol Ricky Rubio
Season 2005-062015-16
Team Memphis GrizzliesMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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%
Pau Gasol 80 39.2 20.4 2.4 6.5 8.9 4.6 0.6 1.9 2.9 2.3 7.5 14.9 .503 0.0 0.2 .250 5.3 7.7 .689
difference:+4+8.6+10.3+1.9+2.7+4.6+4.1+1.5+1.8-0.4-0.3+4.6+7.2+.129+0.8+2.3+.076+1.8+3.6+.158
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%
Pau Gasol 4 39.5 20.3 1.0 5.8 6.8 3.0 0.5 1.3 2.8 2.8 7.3 16.8 .433 0.0 0.3 .000 5.8 7.5 .767
Ricky Rubio DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Pau Gasol Ricky Rubio
Season 2006-072016-17
Team Memphis GrizzliesMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Pau Gasol 59 36.2 20.8 2.5 7.3 9.8 3.4 0.5 2.1 2.7 2.3 7.8 14.5 .538 0.1 0.2 .273 5.1 6.8 .748
difference:+16+3.3+9.7+1.6+4.1+5.7+5.7+1.2+2.0-0.1-0.4+4.3+5.8+.136+0.7+2.4+.033+1.7+3.0+.143
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
* Neiher Pau Gasol nor Ricky Rubio played in the postseason in their season 6

Season 7

Pau Gasol Ricky Rubio
Season 2007-082017-18
Team Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsJazz 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%
Pau Gasol 66 35.6 18.9 2.3 6.0 8.4 3.2 0.5 1.5 1.9 2.1 7.2 13.5 .534 0.1 0.2 .250 4.4 5.5 .807
difference:+11+6.3+5.8+1.7+2.0+3.8+2.1+1.1+1.4-0.8-0.6+2.7+2.8+.116+1.1+3.3+.102+1.5+2.2+.059
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%
Pau Gasol 21 39.8 16.9 2.6 6.7 9.3 4.0 0.5 1.9 2.1 2.9 6.7 12.7 .530 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.0 .692
difference:+15+9.6+2.9+1.8+0.2+2.0+3.0+0.8+1.4-0.9-0.7+2.0+0.5+.176+1.7+5.3+0.4+1.2+.091
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

Pau Gasol Ricky Rubio
Season 2008-092018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
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%
Pau Gasol 81 37.0 18.9 3.2 6.4 9.6 3.5 0.6 1.0 1.9 2.1 7.3 12.9 .567 0.0 0.0 - 4.2 5.4 .781
difference:+13+9.1+6.2+2.7+3.3+6.0+2.6+0.7+0.9-0.7-0.5+3.0+2.2+.163+1.2+3.7+1.3+2.0+.074
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%
Pau Gasol 23 40.5 18.3 3.0 7.9 10.8 2.5 0.8 2.0 1.9 3.0 7.0 12.0 .580 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.1 .714
difference:+18+6.9+2.9+2.4+5.3+7.6+6.1+1.6+1.8-1.1-0.2+1.4+1.2+.156+0.8+4.0+0.9+2.1+.136
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

Pau Gasol Ricky Rubio
Season 2009-102019-20
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
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%
Pau Gasol 65 37.0 18.3 3.7 7.6 11.3 3.4 0.6 1.7 2.2 2.3 7.0 13.0 .536 0.0 0.1 .000 4.4 5.6 .790
difference:+6.0+5.3+3.0+3.6+6.6+5.4+0.8+1.5-0.5-0.3+2.6+2.4+.121+1.2+3.2+.361+1.4+2.1+.073
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%
Pau Gasol 23 39.7 19.6 4.0 7.1 11.1 3.5 0.4 2.1 1.9 2.7 7.2 13.3 .539 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 6.9 .759
Ricky Rubio DNP------ --- ----------

Season 10

Pau Gasol Ricky Rubio
Season 2010-112020-21
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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%
Pau Gasol 82 37.0 18.8 3.3 6.9 10.2 3.3 0.6 1.6 1.7 2.5 7.2 13.7 .529 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 5.2 .823
difference:+14+10.9+10.2+2.9+4.0+6.9+3.1+0.8+1.5-0.1-0.5+4.4+6.4+.141+1.0+3.1+2.4+3.0+.044
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%
Pau Gasol 10 35.8 13.1 3.2 4.6 7.8 3.8 0.4 1.7 1.7 3.3 4.7 11.2 .420 0.1 0.2 .500 3.6 4.5 .800
Ricky Rubio DNP------ --- ----------

Season 11

Pau Gasol Ricky Rubio
Season 2011-122021-22
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid 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%
Pau Gasol 65 37.4 17.4 2.8 7.6 10.4 3.6 0.6 1.4 2.2 2.0 7.1 14.1 .501 0.1 0.4 .259 3.1 4.0 .782
difference:+31+8.9+4.3+2.4+3.9+6.3+3.0+0.8+1.2-0.4-0.2+2.7+2.0+.138+1.6+4.7+.080+0.5+1.0+.072
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%
Pau Gasol 12 37.0 12.5 3.2 6.3 9.5 3.7 0.5 2.1 1.7 3.0 5.2 11.9 .434 0.2 0.4 .400 2.0 2.4 .828
Ricky Rubio DNP------ --- ----------

Season 12

Pau Gasol Ricky Rubio
Season 2012-132022-23
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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%
Pau Gasol 49 33.8 13.7 2.3 6.3 8.6 4.1 0.5 1.2 2.1 1.9 5.5 11.8 .466 0.2 0.6 .286 2.6 3.6 .702
difference:+16+16.6+8.5+2.0+4.5+6.5+0.6+0.3+1.0-1.2-0.4+3.7+6.4+.123+0.4+1.9+.030+1.8+2.5+.098
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%
Pau Gasol 4 36.5 14.0 1.8 9.8 11.5 6.5 0.5 0.8 3.3 1.0 6.3 13.0 .481 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.8 .545
difference:+1+30.8+14.0+1.1+8.5+9.5+5.5+0.2+0.8-1.6-0.7+6.3+12.7+.481+1.5+2.8
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

* Pau Gasol played 6 seasons more than Ricky Rubio in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 13 to 18, from 2014 to 2019—Pau Gasol played in 3 Playoffs.

In those 6 extra years over Ricky Rubio, Pau Gasol got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 2 All-Star Game