Sam Cassell vs. James Worthy Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Worthy and Sam Cassell, 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.

Sam Cassell played 15 years in the NBA, 3 more than James Worthy, who played 12. Sam Cassell had the first of his seasons in 1993-94, while James Worthy had his rookie season in 1982-83. 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
Sam Cassell 15 11 1993-94 to 2007-08
James Worthy 12 9 1982-83 to 1993-94

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Sam Cassell James Worthy
Season 1993-941982-83
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid 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%
Sam Cassell 66 17.0 6.7 0.4 1.7 2.0 2.9 0.9 0.1 1.4 2.1 2.5 5.9 .418 0.4 1.3 .295 1.4 1.6 .841
difference:+11+8.6+6.7+1.6+1.4+3.2+1.2+0.3+0.7-0.9-0.8+3.3+4.1+.161+0.4+1.2+.045+0.4+1.3+.217
James Worthy 77 25.6 13.4 2.0 3.1 5.2 1.7 1.2 0.8 2.3 2.9 5.8 10.0 .579 0.0 0.1 .250 1.8 2.9 .624
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 22 21.7 9.4 0.9 1.8 2.7 4.2 1.0 0.2 2.1 2.8 2.9 7.3 .394 0.8 2.0 .378 2.9 3.4 .865
James Worthy DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Sam Cassell James Worthy
Season 1994-951983-84
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 82 23.0 9.5 0.5 2.1 2.6 4.9 1.1 0.2 2.0 2.5 3.1 7.2 .427 0.8 2.3 .330 2.6 3.1 .843
difference:+6.5+5.0+1.4+2.3+3.7+2.4+0.2+0.7-0.2-0.5+2.9+3.7+.129+0.8+2.2+.330+0.2+.084
James Worthy 82 29.5 14.5 1.9 4.4 6.3 2.5 0.9 0.9 2.2 3.0 6.0 10.9 .556 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.1 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 22 22.0 11.0 0.4 1.5 1.9 4.0 1.0 0.1 1.5 3.0 3.4 7.7 .438 1.1 2.7 .400 3.2 3.9 .835
difference:+1+11.7+6.7+1.3+1.8+3.1+1.3+0.3+0.4-0.4-0.3+4.4+5.3+.161+1.1+2.6+.100+1.2+0.6+.226
James Worthy 21 33.7 17.7 1.7 3.3 5.0 2.7 1.3 0.5 1.9 2.7 7.8 13.0 .599 0.0 0.1 .500 2.0 3.3 .609

Season 3

Sam Cassell James Worthy
Season 1995-961984-85
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 61 27.6 14.5 0.8 2.2 3.1 4.6 0.9 0.1 2.6 2.7 4.7 10.8 .439 1.2 3.4 .348 3.9 4.7 .825
difference:+19+6.1+3.1+1.3+2.1+3.3+2.1+0.2+0.7-0.1-0.2+2.9+2.5+.133+1.2+3.3+.348+1.5+1.6+.049
James Worthy 80 33.7 17.6 2.1 4.3 6.4 2.5 1.1 0.8 2.5 2.5 7.6 13.3 .572 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.1 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 8 25.8 10.4 0.1 2.0 2.1 4.3 0.8 0.1 2.3 2.5 3.3 10.1 .321 1.0 3.6 .276 2.9 3.6 .793
difference:+11+7.1+11.1+1.7+1.2+3.0+2.1+0.1+0.6-0.9-0.3+5.4+4.0+.301+0.9+3.5+.224+1.0+2.2+.117
James Worthy 19 32.9 21.5 1.8 3.2 5.1 2.2 0.9 0.7 1.4 2.8 8.7 14.1 .622 0.1 0.1 .500 3.9 5.8 .676

Season 4

Sam Cassell James Worthy
Season 1996-971985-86
Team Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey NetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West 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%
Sam Cassell 61 28.1 15.9 0.8 2.2 3.0 5.0 1.3 0.3 2.8 3.3 5.5 12.8 .430 1.3 3.8 .351 3.5 4.1 .845
difference:+14+4.6+4.1+1.0+1.1+2.2+2.3+0.2+0.7-0.8-0.7+2.9+1.7+.149+1.3+3.6+.351+0.3+0.1+.074
James Worthy 75 32.7 20.0 1.8 3.3 5.2 2.7 1.1 1.0 2.0 2.6 8.4 14.5 .579 0.0 0.2 .000 3.2 4.2 .771
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell DNP------ --- ----------
James Worthy 14 38.5 19.6 1.6 3.1 4.6 3.2 1.1 0.7 2.6 3.1 8.6 15.5 .558 0.0 0.3 .000 2.3 3.4 .681

Season 5

Sam Cassell James Worthy
Season 1997-981986-87
Team New Jersey NetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 75 34.7 19.6 1.0 2.1 3.0 8.0 1.6 0.3 3.6 3.5 6.8 15.4 .441 0.2 1.1 .188 5.8 6.8 .860
difference:+7+0.3+0.2+0.9+1.7+2.7+5.2+0.3+0.7-1.6-1.0+1.1+0.7+.098+0.2+0.9+.188+2.2+2.1+.109
James Worthy 82 34.4 19.4 1.9 3.8 5.7 2.8 1.3 1.0 2.0 2.5 7.9 14.7 .539 0.0 0.2 .000 3.6 4.7 .751
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 3 9.0 2.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.0 0.3 0.7 2.3 1.0 3.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
difference:+15+28.8+21.6+1.4+3.2+4.6+1.8+1.6+0.9-1.5+8.8+13.6+.258+0.1+4.1+5.4
James Worthy 18 37.8 23.6 1.7 3.9 5.6 3.5 1.6 1.2 2.2 2.3 9.8 16.6 .591 0.0 0.1 .000 4.1 5.4 .753

Season 6

Sam Cassell James Worthy
Season 1998-991987-88
Team New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 8 24.9 15.9 0.6 1.3 1.9 4.5 1.1 0.0 2.5 2.8 4.9 11.6 .419 0.3 1.3 .200 5.9 6.3 .940
difference:+67+10.5+3.8+1.1+2.0+3.1+0.6+0.1+0.7-0.4-0.5+3.3+3.9+.112+0.3+1.1+.075+2.7+2.2+.144
James Worthy 75 35.4 19.7 1.7 3.3 5.0 3.9 1.0 0.7 2.1 2.3 8.2 15.5 .531 0.0 0.2 .125 3.2 4.1 .796
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 3 34.3 15.3 0.0 2.0 2.0 8.7 1.0 0.0 2.3 4.7 5.3 10.7 .500 0.0 0.3 .000 4.7 5.3 .875
difference:+21+3.0+5.8+2.2+1.6+3.8+4.3+0.4+0.8-2.3+3.2+5.6+.023+0.1+.111+0.7+.117
James Worthy 24 37.3 21.1 2.2 3.6 5.8 4.4 1.4 0.8 2.3 2.4 8.5 16.3 .523 0.0 0.4 .111 4.0 5.3 .758

Season 7

Sam Cassell James Worthy
Season 1999-001988-89
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 81 35.8 18.6 0.9 2.9 3.7 9.0 1.3 0.1 3.3 3.1 6.7 14.4 .466 0.3 1.1 .289 4.8 5.5 .876
difference:+0.7+1.9+1.2+1.1+2.3+5.4+0.6-1.1-0.9+2.0+1.4+.082+0.3+0.8+.202+1.7+1.5+.094
James Worthy 81 36.5 20.5 2.1 4.0 6.0 3.6 1.3 0.7 2.2 2.2 8.7 15.8 .548 0.0 0.3 .087 3.1 4.0 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 5 35.6 15.8 0.0 3.4 3.4 9.0 0.8 0.0 1.8 3.8 6.0 14.4 .417 0.2 1.0 .200 3.6 4.2 .857
difference:+10+4.4+9.0+2.5+0.9+3.3+6.2+0.4+1.1-0.4-1.4+4.2+3.6+.150+0.5+.175+0.6+1.1+.069
James Worthy 15 40.0 24.8 2.5 4.3 6.7 2.8 1.2 1.1 2.2 2.4 10.2 18.0 .567 0.2 0.5 .375 4.2 5.3 .788

Season 8

Sam Cassell James Worthy
Season 2000-011989-90
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsLakers Lost West 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%
Sam Cassell 76 35.6 18.2 0.6 3.2 3.8 7.6 1.2 0.1 2.9 2.8 7.1 14.9 .474 0.4 1.3 .306 3.6 4.3 .858
difference:+4+1.4+2.9+1.4+0.8+2.2+4.0+0.5-0.9-0.4+1.8+1.3+.074+0.2+0.7+0.5+0.3+.076
James Worthy 80 37.0 21.1 2.0 4.0 6.0 3.6 1.2 0.6 2.0 2.4 8.9 16.2 .548 0.2 0.6 .306 3.1 4.0 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 18 37.9 17.4 0.7 3.9 4.6 6.7 1.1 0.2 2.9 4.2 6.1 15.4 .396 0.6 1.7 .333 4.7 5.4 .866
difference:+9+2.8+6.8+0.5+0.4+1.0+3.7+0.5+0.1-0.5-2.2+3.9+4.7+.101+0.4+0.8+.083+0.7+0.6+.029
James Worthy 9 40.7 24.2 1.2 4.3 5.6 3.0 1.6 0.3 2.4 2.0 10.0 20.1 .497 0.2 0.9 .250 4.0 4.8 .837

Season 9

Sam Cassell James Worthy
Season 2001-021990-91
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA 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%
Sam Cassell 74 35.2 19.7 0.7 3.5 4.2 6.7 1.2 0.2 2.4 2.8 7.5 16.2 .463 1.0 2.8 .348 3.8 4.4 .860
difference:+4+3.4+1.7+0.7+0.3+0.4+3.2+0.1+0.2-0.8-1.3+1.7+2.5+.029+0.7+1.6+.059+1.1+1.0+.063
James Worthy 78 38.6 21.4 1.4 3.2 4.6 3.5 1.3 0.4 1.6 1.5 9.2 18.7 .492 0.3 1.2 .289 2.7 3.4 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell DNP------ --- ----------
James Worthy 18 40.7 21.1 1.4 2.7 4.1 3.9 1.1 0.1 2.2 1.9 8.9 19.2 .465 0.2 1.3 .167 2.9 4.0 .736

Season 10

Sam Cassell James Worthy
Season 2002-031991-92
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdDid 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%
Sam Cassell 78 34.6 19.7 0.7 3.7 4.4 5.8 1.1 0.2 2.3 2.8 7.0 14.9 .470 0.8 2.1 .362 4.9 5.7 .861
difference:+24+4.4+0.2+1.1+0.1+1.2+1.1+0.3+0.2-0.1-1.2+1.3+3.7+.023+0.6+1.3+.153+1.8+1.9+.047
James Worthy 54 39.0 19.9 1.8 3.8 5.6 4.7 1.4 0.4 2.4 1.6 8.3 18.6 .447 0.2 0.8 .209 3.1 3.8 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 6 36.2 17.2 0.5 2.7 3.2 2.7 0.5 0.2 2.8 3.3 6.5 13.8 .470 1.8 3.5 .524 2.3 2.5 .933
James Worthy DNP------ --- ----------

Season 11

Sam Cassell James Worthy
Season 2003-041992-93
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf FinalsLakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 81 35.0 19.8 0.5 2.8 3.3 7.3 1.3 0.2 2.7 3.0 7.7 15.7 .488 0.9 2.3 .398 3.6 4.1 .873
difference:+1+6.2+4.9+0.4+0.7+0.3+3.9+0.2+0.1-1.0-1.9+1.5+1.8+.041+0.5+0.9+.128+1.5+1.5+.063
James Worthy 82 28.8 14.9 0.9 2.1 3.0 3.4 1.1 0.3 1.7 1.1 6.2 13.9 .447 0.4 1.4 .270 2.1 2.6 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Cassell 16 31.1 16.6 0.2 2.3 2.5 4.4 0.8 0.2 2.7 3.3 5.9 12.6 .465 1.6 3.8 .417 3.3 3.8 .852
difference:+11+1.5+2.8+1.2+0.3+0.9+1.8+0.2+0.2-1.3-1.1+0.5+4.6+.093+1.2+2.2+.167+2.7+2.8+.252
James Worthy 5 29.6 13.8 1.4 2.0 3.4 2.6 1.0 0.0 1.4 2.2 6.4 17.2 .372 0.4 1.6 .250 0.6 1.0 .600

Season 12

Sam Cassell James Worthy
Season 2004-051993-94
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Sam Cassell 59 25.8 13.5 0.4 2.2 2.7 5.1 0.6 0.2 1.8 2.7 5.4 11.6 .464 0.5 1.7 .262 2.3 2.6 .865
difference:+21+5.8+3.3+0.2+0.5+0.4+3.2-0.6-1.7+1.1+1.1+.058+0.1+0.3+.026+1.0+0.9+.124
James Worthy 80 20.0 10.2 0.6 1.7 2.3 1.9 0.6 0.2 1.2 1.0 4.3 10.5 .406 0.4 1.4 .288 1.3 1.7 .741
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Sam Cassell nor James Worthy played in the postseason in their season 12

Additional Years

* Sam Cassell played 3 seasons more than James Worthy in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 13 to 15, from 2006 to 2008—Sam Cassell played in two Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.