Richard Jefferson vs. Karl-Anthony Towns Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Karl-Anthony Towns 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, 6 more than Karl-Anthony Towns, who played 11. Richard Jefferson had the first of his seasons in 2001-02, while Karl-Anthony Towns had his rookie season in 2015-16. 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
Karl-Anthony Towns 11 5 2015-16 to 2025-26

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11

Rookie Season

Richard Jefferson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2001-022015-16
Team New Jersey NetsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Nets Lost NBA FinalsDid 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%
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:+3+7.7+8.9+1.7+5.1+6.8+0.2+0.1+1.1-0.8-0.3+4.2+6.6+.085+0.2+0.4+.109+0.3+.098
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 32.0 18.3 2.8 7.7 10.5 2.0 0.7 1.7 2.2 3.0 7.6 14.1 .542 0.4 1.1 .341 2.7 3.4 .811
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
Karl-Anthony Towns DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Richard Jefferson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2002-032016-17
Team New Jersey NetsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost NBA FinalsDid 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%
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:+2+1.0+9.6+1.7+4.1+5.9+0.2+0.3+0.7-0.6-0.2+4.1+6.6+.041+1.1+3.1+.117+0.2+0.3+.089
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 37.0 25.1 3.6 8.7 12.3 2.7 0.7 1.3 2.6 2.9 9.8 18.0 .542 1.2 3.4 .367 4.3 5.2 .832
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
Karl-Anthony Towns DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Richard Jefferson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2003-042017-18
Team New Jersey NetsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisTimberwolves Lost West 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%
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:+2.6+2.8+1.6+5.1+6.6+1.4+0.3+1.1-0.5-0.8+1.0+0.7+.047+0.9+1.9+.057+0.2+0.8+.095
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 35.6 21.3 2.9 9.4 12.3 2.4 0.8 1.4 1.9 3.5 7.8 14.3 .545 1.5 3.5 .421 4.2 4.9 .858
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+7.6+4.6+1.7+5.4+7.1+1.6+0.9+0.3-1.5-0.4+0.4+2.4+.049+0.2+0.8+3.6+5.2+.026
Karl-Anthony Towns 5 34.0 15.2 3.0 10.4 13.4 2.2 0.4 1.0 2.4 2.8 5.6 12.0 .467 0.6 2.2 .273 3.4 4.6 .739

Season 4

Richard Jefferson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2004-052018-19
Team New Jersey NetsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East 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%
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:+44+8.0+2.2+1.9+3.2+5.1+0.6+0.1+1.1-0.9-0.5+1.6+.096+0.9+1.9+.063+2.0+2.4+.008
Karl-Anthony Towns 77 33.1 24.4 3.4 9.0 12.4 3.4 0.9 1.6 3.1 3.8 8.8 17.1 .518 1.8 4.6 .400 4.9 5.8 .836
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
Karl-Anthony Towns DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

Richard Jefferson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2005-062019-20
Team New Jersey NetsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisDid 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%
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:+43+5.3+7.0+1.5+2.5+4.0+0.6+0.1+1.0-0.9-0.8+2.7+4.9+.015+2.5+5.5+.093+0.9+0.9+.016
Karl-Anthony Towns 35 33.9 26.5 2.7 8.1 10.8 4.4 0.9 1.2 3.1 3.3 9.0 17.8 .508 3.3 7.9 .412 5.1 6.5 .796
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
Karl-Anthony Towns DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Richard Jefferson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2006-072020-21
Team New Jersey NetsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost East 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%
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:+5+1.8+8.5+1.8+4.4+6.2+1.8+0.2+1.0-1.0-1.5+3.0+5.4+.030+1.5+3.7+.028+1.0+0.3+.126
Karl-Anthony Towns 50 33.8 24.8 2.7 7.9 10.6 4.5 0.8 1.1 3.2 3.7 8.5 17.5 .486 2.4 6.3 .387 5.3 6.2 .859
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
Karl-Anthony Towns DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7

Richard Jefferson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2007-082021-22
Team New Jersey NetsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves 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%
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+5.5+2.0+1.5+4.2+5.6+0.5+0.1+0.8-0.7-0.9+1.2+0.2+.063+1.1+2.3+.048+1.4+2.0+.024
Karl-Anthony Towns 74 33.5 24.6 2.6 7.2 9.8 3.6 1.0 1.1 3.1 3.6 8.7 16.4 .529 2.0 4.9 .410 5.2 6.3 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson DNP------ --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns 6 37.0 21.8 1.8 9.0 10.8 2.2 0.7 2.0 4.5 4.2 6.5 13.3 .488 1.7 3.7 .455 7.2 8.3 .860

Season 8

Richard Jefferson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2008-092022-23
Team Milwaukee BucksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves 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%
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:+53+2.8+1.2+1.0+2.6+3.5+2.4+0.1+0.4-1.0-0.7+0.8+0.1+.056+0.7+2.1+.031+1.0+1.6+.069
Karl-Anthony Towns 29 33.0 20.8 1.7 6.5 8.1 4.8 0.7 0.6 3.0 3.8 7.3 14.8 .495 2.1 5.7 .366 4.1 4.7 .874
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson DNP------ --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns 5 36.0 18.2 1.2 9.0 10.2 2.0 0.6 0.8 3.6 4.2 6.4 14.0 .457 1.2 4.8 .250 4.2 5.6 .750

Season 9

Richard Jefferson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2009-102023-24
Team San Antonio SpursMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisTimberwolves Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson 81 31.1 12.3 0.7 3.7 4.4 2.0 0.6 0.5 1.3 2.2 4.5 9.6 .467 0.7 2.3 .316 2.6 3.5 .735
difference:+19+1.6+9.5+0.8+3.1+3.9+1.0+0.1+0.2-1.6-1.1+3.2+5.7+.037+1.5+3.0+.100+1.5+1.2+.138
Karl-Anthony Towns 62 32.7 21.8 1.5 6.8 8.3 3.0 0.7 0.7 2.9 3.3 7.7 15.3 .504 2.2 5.3 .416 4.1 4.7 .873
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson 10 33.4 9.4 0.8 4.5 5.3 1.8 0.6 0.6 1.5 2.0 3.4 7.0 .486 0.1 0.5 .200 2.5 3.3 .758
difference:+6+0.8+9.7+1.4+2.3+3.7+0.8+0.2+0.4-0.2-1.4+3.4+7.5+.020+1.8+4.7+.161+1.2+1.0+.097
Karl-Anthony Towns 16 32.6 19.1 2.2 6.8 9.0 2.6 0.8 0.2 1.7 3.4 6.8 14.5 .466 1.9 5.2 .361 3.7 4.3 .855

Season 10

Richard Jefferson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2010-112024-25
Team San Antonio SpursNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdKnicks Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson 81 30.4 11.0 0.7 3.2 3.8 1.3 0.5 0.4 1.1 2.0 3.8 7.9 .474 1.7 3.8 .440 1.8 2.4 .759
difference:+9+4.6+13.4+2.2+6.6+9.0+1.8+0.5+0.3-1.6-1.5+5.1+9.0+.052+0.3+0.9+.020+2.9+3.3+.070
Karl-Anthony Towns 72 35.0 24.4 2.9 9.8 12.8 3.1 1.0 0.7 2.7 3.5 8.9 16.9 .526 2.0 4.7 .420 4.7 5.7 .829
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Richard Jefferson 6 29.3 6.5 0.3 3.8 4.2 0.8 0.5 0.5 1.0 2.2 2.0 5.2 .387 1.0 2.8 .353 1.5 1.8 .818
difference:+12+6.2+14.9+1.8+5.7+7.4+0.5+0.2+0.2-1.2-2.1+5.7+10.6+.101+0.4+1.3+.002+3.1+3.6+.027
Karl-Anthony Towns 18 35.5 21.4 2.1 9.5 11.6 1.3 0.7 0.7 2.2 4.3 7.7 15.8 .488 1.4 4.1 .351 4.6 5.4 .845

Season 11

Richard Jefferson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2011-122025-26
Team San Antonio Spurs, Golden State WarriorsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Richard Jefferson 63 27.7 9.2 0.4 3.1 3.5 1.4 0.6 0.3 0.8 1.9 3.2 7.7 .416 1.8 4.3 .420 0.9 1.3 .694
difference:+41+5.4+13.3+2.7+5.7+8.4+2.0+0.2+0.4-1.8-1.5+4.2+8.1+.051+0.1+1.1+.067+4.9+5.3+.189
Karl-Anthony Towns 22 33.1 22.5 3.1 8.8 11.9 3.4 0.8 0.7 2.6 3.4 7.4 15.8 .467 1.9 5.4 .353 5.8 6.6 .883
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Richard Jefferson nor Karl-Anthony Towns played in the postseason in their season 11

Additional Years

* Richard Jefferson played 6 seasons more than Karl-Anthony Towns in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 12 to 17, from 2013 to 2018—Richard Jefferson played in 4 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.