Rudy Gay vs. Joakim Noah Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Joakim Noah and Rudy Gay, 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.

Rudy Gay played 17 years in the NBA, 4 more than Joakim Noah, who played 13. Rudy Gay had the first of his seasons in 2006-07, while Joakim Noah had his rookie season in 2007-08. 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
Rudy Gay 17 3 2006-07 to 2022-23
Joakim Noah 13 8 2007-08 to 2019-20

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season

Rudy Gay Joakim Noah
Season 2006-072007-08
Team Memphis GrizzliesChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement 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%
Rudy Gay 78 27.0 10.8 1.2 3.3 4.5 1.3 0.9 0.9 1.8 2.5 4.1 9.7 .422 0.7 1.8 .364 1.9 2.7 .727
difference:+4+6.3+4.2+1.2+1.1+0.2-0.6-0.2+1.7+4.7+.060+0.7+1.8+0.1+0.1+.036
Joakim Noah 74 20.7 6.6 2.4 3.3 5.6 1.1 0.9 0.9 1.2 2.3 2.4 5.0 .482 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.6 .691
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Rudy Gay nor Joakim Noah played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Rudy Gay Joakim Noah
Season 2007-082008-09
Team Memphis GrizzliesChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 81 37.0 20.1 1.7 4.4 6.2 2.0 1.4 1.0 2.3 2.8 7.7 16.7 .461 1.7 4.8 .346 3.1 3.9 .785
difference:+1+12.8+13.4+1.4+0.1+1.4+0.7+0.8+0.4-1.3-0.2+5.1+12.0+.095+1.7+4.8+1.6+1.6+.109
Joakim Noah 80 24.2 6.7 3.1 4.5 7.6 1.3 0.6 1.4 1.0 3.0 2.6 4.7 .556 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.3 .676
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay DNP------ --- ----------
Joakim Noah 7 38.7 10.1 4.0 9.1 13.1 2.3 0.9 2.1 1.1 4.4 3.7 7.3 .510 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.6 .760

Season 3

Rudy Gay Joakim Noah
Season 2008-092009-10
Team Memphis GrizzliesChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls Lost East 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%
Rudy Gay 79 37.3 18.9 1.4 4.2 5.5 1.7 1.2 0.7 2.6 2.8 7.2 16.0 .453 1.1 3.1 .351 3.3 4.4 .767
difference:+15+7.2+8.2+2.0+3.4+5.5+0.4+0.7+0.9-0.8-0.3+3.1+7.9+.051+1.1+3.1+0.8+1.0+.023
Joakim Noah 64 30.1 10.7 3.4 7.6 11.0 2.1 0.5 1.6 1.8 3.1 4.1 8.1 .504 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.4 .744
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay DNP------ --- ----------
Joakim Noah 5 37.6 14.8 4.0 9.0 13.0 2.6 1.8 1.4 3.0 4.0 5.6 10.6 .528 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 3.8 .947

Season 4

Rudy Gay Joakim Noah
Season 2009-102010-11
Team Memphis GrizzliesChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 80 39.7 19.6 1.4 4.5 5.9 1.9 1.5 0.8 2.1 2.5 7.5 16.1 .466 0.8 2.5 .327 3.8 5.0 .753
difference:+32+6.9+7.9+2.4+2.1+4.5+0.3+0.5+0.7-0.2-0.8+3.1+7.7+.059+0.8+2.5+0.9+1.1+.014
Joakim Noah 48 32.8 11.7 3.8 6.6 10.4 2.2 1.0 1.5 1.9 3.3 4.4 8.4 .525 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 3.9 .739
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay DNP------ --- ----------
Joakim Noah 16 33.1 8.7 4.3 5.9 10.2 2.5 1.0 2.1 1.2 3.9 3.2 7.8 .411 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.2 .725

Season 5

Rudy Gay Joakim Noah
Season 2010-112011-12
Team Memphis GrizzliesChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 54 39.9 19.8 1.5 4.7 6.2 2.8 1.7 1.1 2.5 2.4 7.6 16.1 .471 1.1 2.7 .396 3.6 4.5 .805
difference:+10+9.5+9.6+2.3+1.3+3.6+0.3+1.1+0.3-1.1-0.1+3.7+8.4+.037+1.1+2.7+1.2+1.3+.057
Joakim Noah 64 30.4 10.2 3.8 6.0 9.8 2.5 0.6 1.4 1.4 2.5 3.9 7.7 .508 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.2 .748
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay DNP------ --- ----------
Joakim Noah 3 33.0 15.0 3.0 6.3 9.3 3.0 0.7 1.3 0.3 1.7 6.3 8.7 .731 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.7 .636

Season 6

Rudy Gay Joakim Noah
Season 2011-122012-13
Team Memphis GrizzliesChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 65 37.3 19.0 2.0 4.4 6.4 2.3 1.5 0.8 2.5 2.1 7.5 16.4 .455 0.8 2.7 .312 3.2 4.0 .791
difference:+1+0.5+7.1+1.9+2.8+4.7+1.7+0.3+1.3-0.2-0.7+2.9+6.9+.026+0.8+2.6+.312+0.5+0.4+.040
Joakim Noah 66 36.8 11.9 3.9 7.2 11.1 4.0 1.2 2.1 2.7 2.8 4.6 9.5 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 3.6 .751
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 7 39.9 19.0 1.4 5.1 6.6 1.4 1.3 0.3 3.0 2.1 6.9 16.3 .421 0.6 2.7 .211 4.7 5.7 .825
difference:+5+5.8+8.2+2.9+0.2+3.0+0.9+0.5+1.9-1.0-1.5+2.6+6.4+.016+0.6+2.7+2.6+2.4+.184
Joakim Noah 12 34.1 10.8 4.3 5.3 9.6 2.3 0.8 2.2 2.0 3.6 4.3 9.9 .437 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.3 .641

Season 7

Rudy Gay Joakim Noah
Season 2012-132013-14
Team Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto RaptorsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls Lost East 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%
Rudy Gay 75 35.8 18.2 1.3 4.8 6.1 2.7 1.5 0.7 2.6 2.4 6.9 16.7 .416 1.1 3.5 .323 3.2 3.9 .814
difference:+5+0.5+5.6+2.2+2.9+5.2+2.7+0.3+0.8-0.2-0.7+2.1+6.7+.059+1.1+3.5+0.1+0.3+.077
Joakim Noah 80 35.3 12.6 3.5 7.7 11.3 5.4 1.2 1.5 2.4 3.1 4.8 10.0 .475 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 4.2 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay DNP------ --- ----------
Joakim Noah 5 42.0 10.4 3.0 9.8 12.8 4.6 1.0 1.4 3.8 3.8 4.2 8.2 .512 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.4 .588

Season 8

Rudy Gay Joakim Noah
Season 2013-142014-15
Team Toronto Raptors, Sacramento KingsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls 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%
Rudy Gay 73 34.7 20.0 1.5 4.4 6.0 2.9 1.3 0.8 3.1 2.3 7.4 16.2 .455 0.9 2.7 .330 4.4 5.3 .822
difference:+6+4.1+12.8+1.8+2.0+3.6+1.8+0.6+0.3-1.3-0.7+4.6+9.8+.010+0.9+2.7+2.8+2.7+.219
Joakim Noah 67 30.6 7.2 3.3 6.4 9.6 4.7 0.7 1.1 1.8 3.0 2.8 6.4 .445 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.6 .603
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay DNP------ --- ----------
Joakim Noah 12 32.9 5.8 3.8 7.3 11.0 3.2 0.8 1.2 1.7 3.1 2.6 6.3 .408 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.7 .350

Season 9

Rudy Gay Joakim Noah
Season 2014-152015-16
Team Sacramento KingsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Rudy Gay 68 35.4 21.1 1.4 4.4 5.9 3.7 1.0 0.6 2.7 2.3 7.5 16.4 .455 1.2 3.2 .359 5.0 5.8 .858
difference:+39+13.5+16.8+1.6+1.4+2.9+0.1+0.4+0.4-0.9-0.4+5.7+11.8+.072+1.2+3.2+4.2+4.2+.369
Joakim Noah 29 21.9 4.3 3.0 5.8 8.8 3.8 0.6 1.0 1.8 2.7 1.8 4.6 .383 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.6 .489
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Rudy Gay nor Joakim Noah played in the postseason in their season 9

Season 10

Rudy Gay Joakim Noah
Season 2015-162016-17
Team Sacramento KingsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Rudy Gay 70 34.0 17.2 1.5 5.0 6.5 1.7 1.4 0.7 2.0 2.6 6.7 14.4 .463 1.1 3.1 .344 2.8 3.6 .780
difference:+24+11.9+12.2+2.0+0.2+2.3+0.5+0.7+0.1-0.7-0.2+4.5+10.0+.027+1.1+3.1+2.1+1.9+.344
Joakim Noah 46 22.1 5.0 3.5 5.2 8.8 2.2 0.7 0.8 1.3 2.8 2.2 4.4 .490 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.7 .436
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Rudy Gay nor Joakim Noah played in the postseason in their season 10

Season 11

Rudy Gay Joakim Noah
Season 2016-172017-18
Team Sacramento KingsNew 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%
Rudy Gay 30 33.8 18.7 1.2 5.2 6.3 2.8 1.5 0.9 2.5 2.6 6.7 14.7 .455 1.4 3.8 .372 3.9 4.6 .855
difference:+23+28.1+17.0+0.3+4.1+4.3+2.2+1.2+0.6-1.9-1.9+6.0+13.3+.045+1.4+3.8+3.6+4.0+.355
Joakim Noah 7 5.7 1.7 0.9 1.1 2.0 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.7 0.7 1.4 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.6 .500
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Rudy Gay nor Joakim Noah played in the postseason in their season 11

Season 12

Rudy Gay Joakim Noah
Season 2017-182018-19
Team San Antonio SpursMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 57 21.6 11.5 1.3 3.8 5.1 1.3 0.8 0.7 1.4 1.7 4.4 9.4 .471 0.6 2.1 .314 2.0 2.5 .772
difference:+15+5.1+4.4+0.1+0.5+0.6+0.8+0.3-0.2-0.6+1.8+4.3+.045+0.6+2.1+0.1+0.1+.056
Joakim Noah 42 16.5 7.1 1.4 4.3 5.7 2.1 0.5 0.7 1.2 2.3 2.6 5.1 .516 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.6 .716
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 5 32.0 12.2 1.8 3.8 5.6 2.2 1.6 0.2 1.2 3.2 5.2 13.0 .400 0.8 3.6 .222 1.0 1.8 .556
Joakim Noah DNP------ --- ----------

Season 13

Rudy Gay Joakim Noah
Season 2018-192019-20
Team San Antonio SpursLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdClippers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 69 26.7 13.7 0.9 5.9 6.8 2.6 0.8 0.5 1.7 2.3 5.4 10.8 .504 1.1 2.7 .402 1.7 2.1 .816
difference:+64+16.7+10.9+0.1+3.7+3.6+1.2+0.6+0.3-0.5-0.5+4.6+9.2+.004+1.1+2.7+0.5+0.5+.066
Joakim Noah 5 10.0 2.8 1.0 2.2 3.2 1.4 0.2 0.2 1.2 1.8 0.8 1.6 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.6 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 7 25.6 11.1 1.9 5.3 7.1 1.7 0.4 0.7 1.4 1.9 4.0 10.0 .400 1.1 2.7 .421 2.0 2.4 .824
difference:+5+24.6+11.1+1.9+5.3+7.1+1.7+0.4+0.7-1.4-1.9+4.0+10.0+1.1+2.7+2.0+2.4
Joakim Noah 2 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Additional Years

* Rudy Gay played 4 seasons more than Joakim Noah in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 17, from 2020 to 2023—Rudy Gay didn't play in the postseason.