Thurl Bailey vs. Joel Embiid Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Joel Embiid and Thurl Bailey, 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.

Thurl Bailey played 12 years in the NBA, 4 more than Joel Embiid, who played 8. Thurl Bailey had the first of his seasons in 1983-84, while Joel Embiid had his rookie season in 2016-17. 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 achivements, 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
Thurl Bailey 12 9 1983-84 to 1998-99
Joel Embiid 8 7 2016-17 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

Thurl Bailey Joel Embiid
Season 1983-842016-17
Team Utah JazzPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 81 24.8 8.5 1.4 4.3 5.7 1.6 0.5 1.5 1.3 2.4 3.7 7.3 .512 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.4 .752
Joel Embiid 31 25.4 20.2 2.0 5.9 7.8 2.1 0.9 2.5 3.8 3.6 6.5 13.8 .466 1.2 3.2 .367 6.2 7.9 .783
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 11 30.9 10.6 1.4 4.2 5.5 0.9 0.2 1.0 1.5 3.0 4.5 8.8 .515 0.0 0.2 .000 1.5 1.9 .810
Joel Embiid ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Thurl Bailey Joel Embiid
Season 1984-852017-18
Team Utah JazzPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf Semis76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 80 31.0 15.2 1.9 4.7 6.6 1.7 0.6 1.3 1.9 2.7 6.3 12.9 .490 0.0 0.0 1.000 2.5 2.9 .842
Joel Embiid 63 30.3 22.9 2.3 8.7 11.0 3.2 0.6 1.8 3.7 3.3 8.1 16.8 .483 1.0 3.4 .308 5.7 7.4 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 10 37.5 16.9 2.1 7.1 9.2 2.7 0.5 1.8 2.1 3.0 6.2 15.2 .408 0.0 0.0 - 4.5 5.5 .818
Joel Embiid 8 34.8 21.4 2.9 9.8 12.6 3.0 0.9 1.8 3.6 3.9 7.5 17.3 .435 1.0 3.6 .276 5.4 7.6 .705

Season 3

Thurl Bailey Joel Embiid
Season 1985-862018-19
Team Utah JazzPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 82 28.8 14.6 1.8 4.2 6.0 1.9 0.5 1.4 1.8 2.0 5.9 13.1 .448 0.0 0.1 .000 2.8 3.4 .830
Joel Embiid 64 33.7 27.5 2.5 11.1 13.6 3.7 0.7 1.9 3.5 3.3 9.1 18.7 .484 1.2 4.1 .300 8.2 10.1 .804
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 4 36.8 16.0 2.8 5.3 8.0 3.3 0.5 0.5 1.3 3.3 7.0 19.3 .364 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 2.8 .727
Joel Embiid 11 30.4 20.2 1.9 8.5 10.5 3.4 0.7 2.3 3.6 3.1 6.2 14.5 .428 1.1 3.5 .308 6.7 8.2 .822

Season 4

Thurl Bailey Joel Embiid
Season 1986-872019-20
Team Utah JazzPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd76ers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 81 26.6 13.8 1.8 3.5 5.3 1.3 0.5 1.1 1.5 1.9 5.7 12.8 .447 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 2.9 .805
Joel Embiid 51 29.5 23.0 2.8 8.9 11.6 3.0 0.9 1.3 3.1 3.4 7.5 15.7 .477 1.1 3.4 .331 6.9 8.5 .807
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 5 30.2 15.6 2.8 3.2 6.0 1.8 0.6 1.2 2.4 2.4 6.0 12.6 .476 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 3.6 1.000
Joel Embiid 4 36.3 30.0 2.8 9.5 12.3 1.3 1.5 1.3 3.8 4.5 8.5 18.5 .459 1.0 4.0 .250 12.0 14.8 .814

Season 5

Thurl Bailey Joel Embiid
Season 1987-882020-21
Team Utah JazzPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf Semis76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 82 34.2 19.6 1.6 4.8 6.5 1.9 0.6 1.5 2.3 2.3 7.7 15.7 .492 0.0 0.0 .333 4.1 5.0 .826
Joel Embiid 51 31.1 28.5 2.2 8.4 10.6 2.8 1.0 1.4 3.1 2.4 9.0 17.6 .513 1.1 3.0 .377 9.2 10.7 .859
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 11 40.8 23.2 1.9 3.8 5.7 1.6 0.5 2.1 1.9 2.9 9.0 18.5 .488 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 6.2 .838
Joel Embiid 11 32.5 28.1 1.5 9.1 10.5 3.4 1.0 1.5 3.8 3.0 9.2 17.9 .513 1.5 3.7 .390 8.3 9.9 .835

Season 6

Thurl Bailey Joel Embiid
Season 1988-892021-22
Team Utah JazzPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 82 33.9 19.5 1.4 4.0 5.5 1.7 0.6 1.1 2.5 2.3 7.5 15.5 .483 0.0 0.1 .400 4.4 5.4 .825
Joel Embiid 68 33.8 30.6 2.1 9.6 11.7 4.2 1.1 1.5 3.1 2.7 9.8 19.6 .499 1.4 3.7 .371 9.6 11.8 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 3 40.7 12.0 3.3 5.0 8.3 1.0 0.3 1.3 3.0 3.7 4.0 11.3 .353 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 5.0 .800
Joel Embiid 10 38.5 23.6 2.1 8.6 10.7 2.1 0.4 0.8 3.2 3.4 7.8 16.1 .484 0.7 3.3 .212 7.3 8.9 .820

Season 7

Thurl Bailey Joel Embiid
Season 1989-902022-23
Team Utah JazzPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 82 31.5 14.2 1.4 3.6 5.0 1.7 0.4 1.2 1.7 2.1 5.7 11.9 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 3.5 .779
Joel Embiid 66 34.6 33.1 1.7 8.4 10.2 4.2 1.0 1.7 3.4 3.1 11.0 20.1 .548 1.0 3.0 .330 10.0 11.7 .857
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 5 38.0 21.0 1.6 4.8 6.4 1.4 1.0 1.2 1.0 3.8 8.6 17.6 .489 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 4.8 .792
Joel Embiid 9 37.3 23.7 1.8 8.0 9.8 2.7 0.7 2.8 3.9 3.0 7.3 17.0 .431 0.6 3.1 .179 8.4 9.3 .905

Season 8

Thurl Bailey Joel Embiid
Season 1990-912023-24
Team Utah JazzPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf Semis76ers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 82 30.3 12.4 1.2 3.7 5.0 1.5 0.6 1.1 1.6 2.0 4.9 10.6 .458 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.3 .808
Joel Embiid 39 33.6 34.7 2.4 8.6 11.0 5.6 1.2 1.7 3.8 2.9 11.5 21.8 .529 1.4 3.6 .388 10.2 11.6 .883
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 9 25.3 7.6 1.2 2.3 3.6 1.0 0.3 0.7 1.3 3.0 2.6 7.1 .359 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 2.8 .880
Joel Embiid 6 41.3 33.0 3.2 7.7 10.8 5.7 1.2 1.5 4.2 3.3 9.8 22.2 .444 2.2 6.5 .333 11.2 13.0 .859

Season 9

Thurl Bailey Joel Embiid
Season 1991-92-
Team Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 84 25.0 11.3 1.5 4.3 5.8 0.9 0.4 1.4 1.3 1.9 4.4 10.0 .440 0.0 0.0 .000 2.6 3.2 .796
Joel Embiid ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Joel Embiid ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Thurl Bailey Joel Embiid
Season 1992-93-
Team Minnesota Timberwolves-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 70 18.2 7.5 0.8 2.3 3.1 0.9 0.3 0.7 0.9 1.3 2.9 6.4 .455 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.0 .838
Joel Embiid ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Joel Embiid ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Thurl Bailey Joel Embiid
Season 1993-94-
Team Minnesota Timberwolves-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 79 16.4 7.4 0.8 1.9 2.7 0.7 0.3 0.7 0.7 1.2 2.9 5.8 .510 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 1.9 .799
Joel Embiid ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Joel Embiid ------- --- ----------

Note: Thurl Bailey didn't play in 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98.

Season 12

Thurl Bailey Joel Embiid
Season 1998-99-
Team Utah Jazz-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 43 12.6 4.2 0.8 1.3 2.2 0.6 0.2 0.7 0.6 1.8 1.8 4.1 .446 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 0.8 .735
Joel Embiid ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 11 10.5 3.4 0.5 0.9 1.4 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.7 1.7 1.5 3.0 .515 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .750
Joel Embiid ------- --- ----------