Rafer Alston vs. Jimmy Butler Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jimmy Butler and Rafer Alston, 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.

Rafer Alston played 11 years in the NBA, 2 less than Jimmy Butler, who played 13. Rafer Alston had the first of his seasons in 1999-00, while Jimmy Butler 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 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
Rafer Alston 11 6 1999-00 to 2009-10
Jimmy Butler 13 11 2011-12 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season

Rafer Alston Jimmy Butler
Season 1999-002011-12
Team Milwaukee BucksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdBulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston 27 13.4 2.2 0.2 0.7 0.9 2.6 0.4 0.0 1.1 1.1 1.0 3.5 .284 0.1 0.5 .214 0.1 0.1 .750
Jimmy Butler 42 8.5 2.6 0.5 0.8 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.8 1.9 .405 0.0 0.3 .182 1.0 1.3 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston 4 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.8 .000 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.5 .000
Jimmy Butler 3 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Rafer Alston Jimmy Butler
Season 2000-012012-13
Team Milwaukee BucksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsBulls Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston 37 7.8 2.1 0.1 0.7 0.8 1.8 0.4 0.0 0.5 0.7 0.8 2.3 .357 0.2 0.8 .267 0.2 0.4 .692
Jimmy Butler 82 26.0 8.6 1.7 2.3 4.0 1.4 1.0 0.4 0.8 1.2 2.9 6.2 .467 0.5 1.3 .381 2.3 2.8 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston 5 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.2 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Jimmy Butler 12 40.8 13.3 0.8 4.4 5.2 2.7 1.3 0.5 1.3 2.2 4.2 9.6 .435 1.3 3.1 .405 3.8 4.6 .818

Season 3

Rafer Alston Jimmy Butler
Season 2001-022013-14
Team Milwaukee BucksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston 50 12.0 3.5 0.2 1.2 1.4 2.9 0.6 0.0 0.8 0.8 1.3 3.8 .346 0.5 1.4 .380 0.4 0.6 .621
Jimmy Butler 67 38.7 13.1 1.3 3.6 4.9 2.6 1.9 0.5 1.5 1.6 4.1 10.3 .397 1.0 3.6 .283 3.9 5.0 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston ------- --- ----------
Jimmy Butler 5 43.6 13.6 1.2 4.0 5.2 2.2 1.2 0.0 0.6 2.6 4.4 11.4 .386 1.2 4.0 .300 3.6 4.6 .783

Season 4

Rafer Alston Jimmy Butler
Season 2002-032014-15
Team Toronto RaptorsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Most Improved Player
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston 47 20.9 7.8 0.4 1.8 2.3 4.1 0.8 0.3 1.8 2.6 3.0 7.1 .415 1.1 2.8 .392 0.8 1.1 .685
Jimmy Butler 65 38.7 20.0 1.8 4.1 5.8 3.3 1.8 0.6 1.4 1.7 6.5 14.0 .462 1.1 3.0 .378 5.9 7.1 .834
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston ------- --- ----------
Jimmy Butler 12 42.2 22.9 1.5 4.1 5.6 3.2 2.4 0.8 1.8 2.3 7.8 17.8 .441 2.3 6.0 .389 4.9 6.0 .819

Season 5

Rafer Alston Jimmy Butler
Season 2003-042015-16
Team Miami HeatChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston 82 31.5 10.2 0.3 2.4 2.8 4.5 1.4 0.2 1.6 2.6 3.5 9.3 .376 2.0 5.3 .371 1.3 1.6 .769
Jimmy Butler 67 36.9 20.9 1.2 4.2 5.3 4.8 1.6 0.6 2.0 1.9 7.0 15.4 .454 1.0 3.1 .312 5.9 7.1 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston 13 22.6 7.0 0.3 1.9 2.2 1.7 0.4 0.1 0.8 1.7 2.2 7.0 .319 0.9 4.0 .231 1.6 1.9 .840
Jimmy Butler ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Rafer Alston Jimmy Butler
Season 2004-052016-17
Team Toronto RaptorsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston 80 34.0 14.2 0.5 3.0 3.5 6.4 1.5 0.1 2.1 2.7 5.0 12.2 .414 1.7 4.9 .357 2.4 3.2 .740
Jimmy Butler 76 37.0 23.9 1.7 4.5 6.2 5.5 1.9 0.4 2.1 1.5 7.5 16.5 .455 1.2 3.3 .367 7.7 8.9 .865
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston ------- --- ----------
Jimmy Butler 6 39.8 22.7 1.5 5.8 7.3 4.3 1.7 0.8 2.5 1.7 7.7 18.0 .426 1.0 3.8 .261 6.3 7.8 .809

Season 7

Rafer Alston Jimmy Butler
Season 2005-062017-18
Team Houston RocketsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves 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 %
Rafer Alston 63 38.6 12.1 0.6 3.5 4.0 6.7 1.6 0.2 2.5 3.1 4.4 11.7 .379 1.6 5.0 .327 1.6 2.3 .692
Jimmy Butler 59 36.7 22.2 1.3 4.0 5.3 4.9 2.0 0.4 1.8 1.3 7.4 15.6 .474 1.2 3.4 .350 6.2 7.2 .854
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston ------- --- ----------
Jimmy Butler 5 34.0 15.8 0.6 5.4 6.0 4.0 0.8 0.2 1.0 1.8 5.6 12.6 .444 1.6 3.4 .471 3.0 3.6 .833

Season 8

Rafer Alston Jimmy Butler
Season 2006-072018-19
Team Houston RocketsMinnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston 82 37.1 13.3 0.4 3.1 3.4 5.4 1.6 0.1 2.1 2.4 4.7 12.4 .375 2.3 6.5 .363 1.6 2.2 .734
Jimmy Butler 65 33.6 18.7 1.9 3.4 5.3 4.0 1.9 0.6 1.5 1.7 6.4 13.9 .462 1.0 3.0 .347 4.8 5.6 .855
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston 7 44.1 10.9 0.9 6.0 6.9 5.0 1.9 0.4 2.4 3.3 3.6 10.6 .338 2.3 7.1 .320 1.4 1.9 .769
Jimmy Butler 12 35.1 19.4 1.8 4.2 6.0 5.2 1.5 0.6 1.8 1.7 6.6 14.6 .451 1.0 3.8 .267 5.3 6.0 .875

Season 9

Rafer Alston Jimmy Butler
Season 2007-082019-20
Team Houston RocketsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdHeat Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston 74 34.1 13.1 0.4 3.1 3.5 5.3 1.3 0.2 2.2 1.9 4.9 12.5 .394 1.9 5.5 .351 1.3 1.9 .715
Jimmy Butler 58 33.8 19.9 1.8 4.8 6.7 6.0 1.8 0.6 2.2 1.4 5.9 13.1 .455 0.5 2.1 .244 7.6 9.1 .834
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston 4 31.5 14.3 0.5 1.0 1.5 4.5 1.0 0.0 1.5 1.8 5.3 12.0 .438 2.8 6.3 .440 1.0 1.3 .800
Jimmy Butler 21 38.4 22.2 2.2 4.3 6.5 6.0 2.0 0.7 2.8 1.8 6.9 14.0 .488 0.7 2.0 .349 7.8 9.1 .859

Season 10

Rafer Alston Jimmy Butler
Season 2008-092020-21
Team Houston Rockets, Orlando MagicMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
Playoffs Magic Lost NBA FinalsHeat Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston 77 31.8 11.7 0.4 2.5 2.9 5.3 1.4 0.1 1.8 1.8 4.1 10.6 .385 1.5 4.3 .338 2.0 2.7 .750
Jimmy Butler 52 33.6 21.5 1.8 5.1 6.9 7.1 2.1 0.3 2.1 1.4 7.0 14.2 .497 0.5 2.0 .245 6.9 8.0 .863
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston 23 32.2 12.2 0.1 2.3 2.4 4.1 1.4 0.2 1.7 2.3 4.6 12.1 .380 1.6 4.9 .319 1.4 1.9 .750
Jimmy Butler 4 38.5 14.5 1.5 6.0 7.5 7.0 1.3 0.3 2.3 1.5 4.8 16.0 .297 1.0 3.8 .267 4.0 5.5 .727

Season 11

Rafer Alston Jimmy Butler
Season 2009-102021-22
Team New Jersey Nets, Miami HeatMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHeat Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston 52 27.3 8.2 0.3 2.2 2.5 3.4 1.0 0.2 1.8 2.0 3.0 8.6 .348 1.1 3.2 .345 1.1 1.6 .728
Jimmy Butler 57 33.9 21.4 1.8 4.1 5.9 5.5 1.6 0.5 2.1 1.5 7.0 14.5 .480 0.5 2.0 .233 6.9 8.0 .870
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston ------- --- ----------
Jimmy Butler 17 37.0 27.4 2.4 4.9 7.4 4.6 2.1 0.6 1.5 1.5 9.8 19.3 .506 1.4 4.0 .338 6.5 7.8 .841

Season 12

Rafer Alston Jimmy Butler
Season -2022-23
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Playoffs -Heat Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston ------- --- ----------
Jimmy Butler 64 33.4 22.9 2.2 3.7 5.9 5.3 1.8 0.3 1.6 1.3 7.5 13.9 .539 0.6 1.6 .350 7.4 8.7 .850
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston ------- --- ----------
Jimmy Butler 22 39.7 26.9 2.1 4.3 6.5 5.9 1.8 0.6 1.9 1.7 9.4 20.1 .468 1.3 3.5 .359 6.8 8.5 .806

Season 13

Rafer Alston Jimmy Butler
Season -2023-24
Team -Miami Heat
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 %
Rafer Alston ------- --- ----------
Jimmy Butler 60 34.0 20.8 1.8 3.6 5.3 5.0 1.3 0.3 1.7 1.1 6.6 13.2 .499 1.0 2.4 .414 6.6 7.7 .858
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rafer Alston ------- --- ----------
Jimmy Butler ------- --- ----------