Sam Jones vs. Steve Kerr Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Steve Kerr and Sam Jones, 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.

Sam Jones played 12 years in the NBA, 3 less than Steve Kerr, who played 15. Sam Jones had the first of his seasons in 1957-58, while Steve Kerr had his rookie season in 1988-89. 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 Jones 12 12 1957-58 to 1968-69
Steve Kerr 15 11 1988-89 to 2002-03

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Sam Jones Steve Kerr
Season 1957-581988-89
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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%
Sam Jones 56 10.6 4.6 - - 2.9 0.7 - - - 0.8 1.8 4.2 .429 - - - 1.1 1.5 .714
difference:+30+4.6+2.5+2.2+0.2-0.3+1.0+2.4+.006+0.9+1.2+.047
Steve Kerr 26 6.0 2.1 0.1 0.5 0.7 0.9 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.5 0.8 1.8 .435 0.3 0.7 .471 0.2 0.3 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Jones 8 9.4 3.9 - - 3.0 0.5 - - - 0.9 1.3 2.8 .455 - - - 1.4 2.0 .688
Steve Kerr DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Sam Jones Steve Kerr
Season 1958-591989-90
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers 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%
Sam Jones 71 20.6 10.7 - - 6.0 1.4 - - - 1.4 4.3 9.9 .434 - - - 2.1 2.8 .770
difference:+7+0.7+4.0+4.7+1.8-0.6+1.8+4.4+.010+1.3+1.9+.093
Steve Kerr 78 21.3 6.7 0.2 1.1 1.3 3.2 0.6 0.1 0.9 0.8 2.5 5.5 .444 0.9 1.8 .507 0.8 0.9 .863
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Jones 11 17.5 10.3 - - 5.7 1.5 - - - 1.3 3.6 9.8 .370 - - - 3.0 3.5 .846
difference:+6+2.9+8.7+4.5+0.5-0.1+2.8+7.0+.084+3.0+3.5
Steve Kerr 5 14.6 1.6 0.2 1.0 1.2 2.0 0.8 0.0 0.4 1.2 0.8 2.8 .286 0.0 0.6 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 3

Sam Jones Steve Kerr
Season 1959-601990-91
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid not play
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 Jones 74 20.4 11.9 - - 5.1 1.7 - - - 1.4 4.8 10.6 .454 - - - 2.3 3.0 .764
difference:+17+4.5+7.1+4.5+0.6-0.5+3.1+6.7+.010+1.5+2.1+.085
Steve Kerr 57 15.9 4.8 0.1 0.6 0.6 2.3 0.5 0.1 0.7 0.9 1.7 3.9 .444 0.5 1.1 .452 0.8 0.9 .849
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Jones 13 15.2 8.2 - - 3.2 1.4 - - - 1.2 3.5 9.0 .385 - - - 1.3 1.6 .810
Steve Kerr DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Sam Jones Steve Kerr
Season 1960-611991-92
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers 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%
Sam Jones 78 26.0 15.0 - - 5.4 2.8 - - - 1.9 6.2 13.7 .449 - - - 2.7 3.4 .787
difference:+30+8.4+8.4+3.8+0.5-1.3+3.7+8.8+.062+1.8+2.3+.046
Steve Kerr 48 17.6 6.6 0.3 1.3 1.6 2.3 0.6 0.2 0.6 0.6 2.5 4.9 .511 0.7 1.5 .432 0.9 1.1 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Jones 10 25.8 13.1 - - 5.4 2.2 - - - 2.2 5.0 11.2 .446 - - - 3.1 3.5 .886
difference:+2+13.4+9.4+4.9+1.4-1.2+3.5+7.8+.007+2.7+3.1+.114
Steve Kerr 12 12.4 3.7 0.1 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.4 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.5 3.4 .439 0.3 0.9 .273 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 5

Sam Jones Steve Kerr
Season 1961-621992-93
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid 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%
Sam Jones 78 30.6 18.4 - - 5.9 3.0 - - - 1.9 7.6 16.5 .464 - - - 3.1 3.8 .818
difference:+26+21.3+15.8+5.0+1.7-1.2+6.6+14.2+.030+2.7+3.3+.099
Steve Kerr 52 9.3 2.6 0.1 0.8 0.9 1.3 0.2 0.0 0.5 0.7 1.0 2.3 .434 0.1 0.5 .231 0.4 0.5 .917
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Jones 14 36.0 20.6 - - 7.1 3.1 - - - 2.1 8.8 19.8 .444 - - - 3.0 4.3 .700
Steve Kerr DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Sam Jones Steve Kerr
Season 1962-631993-94
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBulls 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%
Sam Jones 76 30.6 19.7 - - 5.2 3.2 - - - 2.1 8.2 17.2 .476 - - - 3.4 4.3 .793
difference:+6+5.8+11.1+3.6+0.6-0.9+4.7+10.2+.021+2.4+3.1+.063
Steve Kerr 82 24.8 8.6 0.3 1.3 1.6 2.6 0.9 0.0 0.7 1.2 3.5 7.0 .497 0.6 1.5 .419 1.0 1.2 .856
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Jones 13 34.6 23.8 - - 6.2 2.5 - - - 3.2 9.2 19.1 .484 - - - 5.3 6.4 .831
difference:+3+16.0+20.3+4.8+1.5-1.9+7.9+15.5+.123+5.0+6.1+.169
Steve Kerr 10 18.6 3.5 0.2 1.2 1.4 1.0 0.7 0.0 0.1 1.3 1.3 3.6 .361 0.6 1.6 .375 0.3 0.3 1.000

Season 7

Sam Jones Steve Kerr
Season 1963-641994-95
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBulls Lost East Conf Semis
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 Jones 76 31.3 19.4 - - 4.6 2.7 - - - 2.5 8.1 17.9 .450 - - - 3.3 4.2 .783
difference:+6+8.9+11.2+3.1+0.9-1.1+4.9+11.9+.077+2.5+3.2+.005
Steve Kerr 82 22.4 8.2 0.2 1.2 1.5 1.8 0.5 0.0 0.6 1.4 3.2 6.0 .527 1.1 2.1 .524 0.8 1.0 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Jones 10 35.6 23.2 - - 4.7 2.3 - - - 2.4 9.1 18.0 .506 - - - 5.0 6.8 .735
difference:+16.3+18.1+4.1+0.8-1.0+7.2+14.0+.031+4.5+6.3+.265
Steve Kerr 10 19.3 5.1 0.1 0.5 0.6 1.5 0.1 0.0 0.0 1.4 1.9 4.0 .475 0.8 1.9 .421 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 8

Sam Jones Steve Kerr
Season 1964-651995-96
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
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 Jones 80 36.1 25.9 - - 5.1 2.8 - - - 2.2 10.3 22.7 .452 - - - 5.4 6.5 .820
difference:+2+12.7+17.5+3.8+0.5-0.9+7.3+16.8+.054+4.4+5.5+.109
Steve Kerr 82 23.4 8.4 0.3 1.0 1.3 2.3 0.8 0.0 0.5 1.3 3.0 5.9 .506 1.5 2.9 .515 1.0 1.0 .929
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Jones 12 41.3 28.6 - - 4.6 2.5 - - - 3.3 11.3 24.5 .459 - - - 6.1 7.0 .869
difference:+6+21.5+21.8+3.6+0.8-2.1+9.1+19.7+.011+4.6+5.3+.002
Steve Kerr 18 19.8 6.8 0.2 0.8 1.0 1.7 0.8 0.0 0.7 1.2 2.2 4.8 .448 0.9 2.9 .321 1.5 1.7 .871

Season 9

Sam Jones Steve Kerr
Season 1965-661996-97
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
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 Jones 67 32.2 23.5 - - 5.2 3.2 - - - 2.5 9.3 19.9 .469 - - - 4.9 6.1 .799
difference:+15+9.5+15.4+3.6+1.1-1.3+6.3+14.2+.064+4.2+5.3+.007
Steve Kerr 82 22.7 8.1 0.4 1.2 1.6 2.1 0.8 0.0 0.5 1.2 3.0 5.7 .533 1.3 2.9 .464 0.7 0.8 .806
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Jones 17 35.4 24.8 - - 5.1 3.1 - - - 3.8 9.1 20.2 .449 - - - 6.7 8.0 .838
difference:+2+17.5+19.8+4.2+2.0-2.5+7.4+16.1+.020+6.0+7.3+.091
Steve Kerr 19 17.9 5.0 0.2 0.7 0.9 1.1 0.9 0.1 0.4 1.3 1.7 4.1 .429 0.8 2.2 .381 0.7 0.7 .929

Season 10

Sam Jones Steve Kerr
Season 1966-671997-98
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Div FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
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 Jones 72 32.3 22.1 - - 4.7 3.0 - - - 2.7 8.9 19.5 .454 - - - 4.4 5.2 .857
difference:+22+9.9+14.6+3.2+1.1-1.3+6.2+13.5+3.5+4.2+.061
Steve Kerr 50 22.4 7.5 0.3 1.3 1.5 1.9 0.5 0.1 0.5 1.4 2.7 6.0 .454 1.1 2.6 .438 0.9 1.0 .918
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Jones 9 36.2 26.7 - - 5.1 3.1 - - - 3.3 10.6 23.0 .459 - - - 5.6 6.4 .862
difference:+12+16.4+21.8+4.3+1.4-2.1+9.0+19.4+.025+4.7+5.4+.044
Steve Kerr 21 19.8 4.9 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.7 0.3 0.0 0.2 1.2 1.6 3.6 .434 0.9 2.0 .463 0.9 1.0 .818

Season 11

Sam Jones Steve Kerr
Season 1967-681998-99
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
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 Jones 73 33.0 21.3 - - 4.9 3.0 - - - 2.5 8.5 18.5 .461 - - - 4.3 5.2 .827
difference:+29+16.3+16.9+3.9+1.9-1.9+7.0+14.5+.070+3.6+4.4+.059
Steve Kerr 44 16.7 4.4 0.1 0.9 1.0 1.1 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.6 1.5 4.0 .391 0.6 1.8 .313 0.7 0.8 .886
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Jones 19 36.1 20.5 - - 3.4 2.6 - - - 3.1 8.5 19.3 .441 - - - 3.5 4.4 .786
difference:+8+27.4+18.3+2.6+1.9-2.6+7.8+16.6+.174+3.0+3.9+.047
Steve Kerr 11 8.7 2.2 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.4 0.5 0.7 2.7 .267 0.3 1.2 .231 0.5 0.5 .833

Season 12

Sam Jones Steve Kerr
Season 1968-691999-00
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid 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 Jones 70 26.0 16.3 - - 3.8 2.6 - - - 1.7 7.1 15.8 .450 - - - 2.1 2.7 .783
difference:+38+17.6+13.5+3.2+2.2-1.3+6.1+13.5+.018+1.8+2.4+.035
Steve Kerr 32 8.4 2.8 0.1 0.5 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.4 1.0 2.3 .432 0.5 1.0 .516 0.3 0.3 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Sam Jones 18 28.6 16.8 - - 3.2 2.1 - - - 2.5 6.9 16.4 .419 - - - 3.1 3.8 .797
Steve Kerr DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Steve Kerr played 3 seasons more than Sam Jones in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 13 to 15, from 2001 to 2003—Steve Kerr played in 3 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.