Richard Jefferson vs. Jayson Tatum Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jayson Tatum and Richard Jefferson, 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.

Richard Jefferson played 17 years in the NBA, 9 more than Jayson Tatum, who played 8. Richard Jefferson had the first of his seasons in 2001-02, while Jayson Tatum had his rookie season in 2017-18. 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
Richard Jefferson 17 12 2001-02 to 2017-18
Jayson Tatum 8 8 2017-18 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Richard Jefferson Jayson Tatum
Season 2001-022017-18
Team New Jersey NetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Nets Lost NBA FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson 79 24.3 9.4 1.1 2.6 3.7 1.8 0.8 0.6 1.4 2.7 3.4 7.5 .457 0.2 0.7 .232 2.4 3.4 .713
difference:+1+6.2+4.5+0.5+1.8+1.3+0.2+0.2+0.1-0.6+1.6+2.9+.018+1.1+2.3+.202+0.3+0.2+.113
Jayson Tatum 80 30.5 13.9 0.6 4.4 5.0 1.6 1.0 0.7 1.4 2.1 5.0 10.4 .475 1.3 3.0 .434 2.7 3.2 .826
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson 20 22.1 7.0 0.8 3.8 4.6 1.3 0.6 0.5 1.3 2.0 2.7 5.7 .465 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 3.0 .550
difference:+1+13.8+11.5+0.3+0.2+1.4+0.6-0.9-0.6+3.8+8.0+.006+1.2+3.6+.324+2.6+2.1+.295
Jayson Tatum 19 35.9 18.5 0.5 3.8 4.4 2.7 1.2 0.5 2.2 2.6 6.5 13.7 .471 1.2 3.7 .324 4.3 5.1 .845

Season 2

Richard Jefferson Jayson Tatum
Season 2002-032018-19
Team New Jersey NetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost NBA FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson 80 36.0 15.5 1.9 4.6 6.4 2.5 1.0 0.6 2.0 2.7 5.7 11.4 .501 0.1 0.3 .250 4.1 5.5 .743
difference:+1+4.9+0.2+1.0+0.6+0.4+0.4+0.1+0.1-0.5-0.6+0.2+1.7+.051+1.4+3.6+.123+1.6+2.6+.112
Jayson Tatum 79 31.1 15.7 0.9 5.2 6.0 2.1 1.1 0.7 1.5 2.1 5.9 13.1 .450 1.5 3.9 .373 2.5 2.9 .855
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson 20 35.7 14.1 1.5 4.9 6.4 2.4 0.8 0.2 2.3 3.4 5.5 11.6 .476 0.0 0.2 .000 3.1 4.3 .718
difference:+11+2.9+1.1+0.7+1.0+0.3+0.5+0.3+0.6-0.3-1.1+0.1+0.8+.038+1.1+3.2+.323+0.1+.026
Jayson Tatum 9 32.8 15.2 0.8 5.9 6.7 1.9 1.1 0.8 2.0 2.3 5.4 12.4 .438 1.1 3.4 .323 3.2 4.3 .744

Season 3

Richard Jefferson Jayson Tatum
Season 2003-042019-20
Team New Jersey NetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson 82 38.2 18.5 1.3 4.3 5.7 3.8 1.1 0.3 2.4 2.7 6.8 13.6 .498 0.6 1.6 .364 4.4 5.7 .763
difference:+16+3.9+4.9+0.3+1.7+1.3+0.8+0.3+0.6-0.1-0.6+1.6+5.0+.048+2.3+5.5+.039+0.6+1.0+.049
Jayson Tatum 66 34.3 23.4 1.0 6.0 7.0 3.0 1.4 0.9 2.3 2.1 8.4 18.6 .450 2.9 7.1 .403 3.8 4.7 .812
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson 11 41.6 19.8 1.3 5.0 6.3 3.8 1.3 0.7 3.9 3.2 6.0 14.4 .418 0.8 3.0 .273 7.0 9.8 .713
difference:+6+1.0+5.9+3.7+3.7+1.2+0.3+0.5-1.1-0.8+2.5+5.2+.016+2.0+4.4+.100+1.1+2.6+.100
Jayson Tatum 17 40.6 25.7 1.3 8.7 10.0 5.0 1.0 1.2 2.8 2.4 8.5 19.6 .434 2.8 7.4 .373 5.9 7.2 .813

Season 4

Richard Jefferson Jayson Tatum
Season 2004-052020-21
Team New Jersey NetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson 33 41.1 22.2 1.5 5.8 7.3 4.0 1.0 0.5 4.0 3.3 7.2 17.1 .422 0.9 2.7 .337 6.9 8.2 .844
difference:+31+5.3+4.2+0.7+0.8+0.1+0.3+0.2-1.3-1.4+2.3+3.5+.037+2.0+4.9+.049+2.3+2.9+.024
Jayson Tatum 64 35.8 26.4 0.8 6.6 7.4 4.3 1.2 0.5 2.7 1.9 9.5 20.6 .459 2.9 7.6 .386 4.6 5.3 .868
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson 4 35.5 15.8 2.0 3.5 5.5 2.3 0.8 0.0 2.0 3.5 5.0 12.5 .400 0.5 2.5 .200 5.3 7.8 .677
difference:+1+1.5+14.8+1.4+1.7+0.3+2.3+0.4+1.6-0.6-0.5+4.4+9.7+.023+2.3+4.7+.189+3.7+2.0+.241
Jayson Tatum 5 37.0 30.6 0.6 5.2 5.8 4.6 1.2 1.6 2.6 3.0 9.4 22.2 .423 2.8 7.2 .389 9.0 9.8 .918

Season 5

Richard Jefferson Jayson Tatum
Season 2005-062021-22
Team New Jersey NetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson 78 39.2 19.5 1.2 5.6 6.8 3.8 0.8 0.2 2.2 2.5 6.3 12.9 .493 0.8 2.4 .319 6.0 7.4 .812
difference:+2+3.3+7.4+0.1+1.3+1.2+0.6+0.2+0.4-0.7-0.2+3.0+7.7+.040+2.2+6.2+.034+0.7+1.2+.041
Jayson Tatum 76 35.9 26.9 1.1 6.9 8.0 4.4 1.0 0.6 2.9 2.3 9.3 20.6 .453 3.0 8.6 .353 5.3 6.2 .853
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson 11 39.7 22.2 0.6 3.5 4.1 4.1 0.9 0.4 2.7 2.9 8.2 15.0 .545 1.1 2.6 .414 4.7 5.7 .825
difference:+13+1.3+3.4+0.4+2.2+2.6+2.1+0.3+0.5-1.5-0.1+0.2+4.7+.119+2.1+5.6+.021+1.0+1.4+.025
Jayson Tatum 24 41.0 25.6 1.0 5.7 6.7 6.2 1.2 0.9 4.2 3.0 8.4 19.7 .426 3.2 8.2 .393 5.7 7.1 .800

Season 6

Richard Jefferson Jayson Tatum
Season 2006-072022-23
Team New Jersey NetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson 55 35.6 16.3 0.9 3.5 4.4 2.7 0.6 0.1 2.2 2.2 5.5 12.1 .456 0.9 2.6 .359 4.3 5.9 .733
difference:+19+1.3+13.8+0.2+4.2+4.4+1.9+0.5+0.6-0.7+4.3+9.0+.010+2.3+6.7+.009+2.9+2.5+.121
Jayson Tatum 74 36.9 30.1 1.1 7.7 8.8 4.6 1.1 0.7 2.9 2.2 9.8 21.1 .466 3.2 9.3 .350 7.2 8.4 .854
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson 12 40.8 19.7 0.3 5.3 5.6 2.3 0.8 0.4 2.3 2.0 6.8 14.0 .482 1.1 3.3 .325 5.1 5.5 .924
difference:+8+0.8+7.5+1.0+3.9+4.9+3.0+0.3+0.7-0.5-0.2+2.5+6.2+.024+1.6+4.9+.002+0.9+1.4+.048
Jayson Tatum 20 40.0 27.2 1.3 9.2 10.5 5.3 1.1 1.1 2.8 2.2 9.3 20.2 .458 2.7 8.2 .323 6.0 6.9 .876

Season 7

Richard Jefferson Jayson Tatum
Season 2007-082023-24
Team New Jersey NetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did not playNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson 82 39.0 22.6 1.1 3.0 4.2 3.1 0.9 0.3 2.4 2.7 7.5 16.2 .466 0.9 2.6 .362 6.6 8.3 .798
difference:+8+3.3+4.3+0.2+4.2+3.9+1.8+0.1+0.3-0.1-0.7+1.6+3.1+.005+2.2+5.6+.014+1.0+1.6+.035
Jayson Tatum 74 35.7 26.9 0.9 7.2 8.1 4.9 1.0 0.6 2.5 2.0 9.1 19.3 .471 3.1 8.2 .376 5.6 6.7 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson DNP------ --- ----------
Jayson Tatum 19 40.4 25.0 0.9 8.8 9.7 6.3 1.1 0.7 2.6 2.8 8.4 19.6 .427 2.1 7.3 .283 6.2 7.2 .861

Season 8

Richard Jefferson Jayson Tatum
Season 2008-092024-25
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did not playCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson 82 35.8 19.6 0.7 3.9 4.6 2.4 0.8 0.2 2.0 3.1 6.5 14.9 .439 1.4 3.6 .397 5.1 6.3 .805
difference:+10+0.6+7.2+4.1+4.1+3.6+0.3+0.3-0.9-0.9+2.7+5.4+.013+2.1+6.5+.054+0.1+0.2+.009
Jayson Tatum 72 36.4 26.8 0.7 8.0 8.7 6.0 1.1 0.5 2.9 2.2 9.2 20.3 .452 3.5 10.1 .343 5.0 6.1 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson DNP------ --- ----------
Jayson Tatum 8 40.3 28.1 1.1 10.4 11.5 5.4 2.1 0.8 3.3 2.6 9.3 21.9 .423 3.6 9.8 .372 6.0 6.8 .889

Additional Years

* Richard Jefferson played 9 seasons more than Jayson Tatum in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 9 to 17, from 2010 to 2018—Richard Jefferson played in 6 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.