Tim Duncan vs. Gene James Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gene James and Tim Duncan, 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.

Tim Duncan played 19 years in the NBA, 16 more than Gene James, who played 3. Tim Duncan had the first of his seasons in 1997-98, while Gene James had his rookie season in 1948-49. 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
Tim Duncan 19 18 1997-98 to 2015-16
Gene James 3 2 1948-49 to 1950-51

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19

Rookie Season

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 1997-981948-49
Team San Antonio SpursNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisKnicks Lost East Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 82 39.1 21.1 3.3 8.6 11.9 2.7 0.7 2.5 3.4 3.1 8.6 15.7 .549 0.0 0.1 .000 3.9 5.9 .662
Gene James 11 - 3.8 - - - 0.5 - - - 1.8 1.6 4.4 .375 - - - 0.5 1.1 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 9 41.6 20.7 2.2 6.8 9.0 1.9 0.6 2.6 2.8 2.7 8.1 15.6 .521 0.0 0.1 .000 4.4 6.7 .667
Gene James 3 - 0.7 - - - 0.7 - - - 2.0 0.0 2.0 .000 - - - 0.7 1.3 .500

Season 2

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 1998-991949-50
Team San Antonio SpursNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks Lost East Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 50 39.3 21.7 3.2 8.2 11.4 2.4 0.9 2.5 2.9 2.9 8.4 16.9 .495 0.0 0.1 .143 4.9 7.2 .690
Gene James 29 - 1.8 - - - 0.7 - - - 1.8 0.7 2.2 .297 - - - 0.5 1.1 .452
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 17 43.1 23.2 3.2 8.2 11.5 2.8 0.8 2.6 3.1 2.9 8.5 16.6 .511 0.0 0.2 .000 6.3 8.4 .748
Gene James 1 - 2.0 - - - 0.0 - - - 0.0 1.0 3.0 .333 - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 3

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 1999-001950-51
Team San Antonio SpursNew York Knicks, Baltimore Bullets (1st)
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 74 38.9 23.2 3.5 8.9 12.4 3.2 0.9 2.2 3.3 2.8 8.5 17.3 .490 0.0 0.1 .091 6.2 8.1 .761
Gene James 48 - 4.2 - - 2.9 1.5 - - - 2.5 1.6 4.9 .336 - - - 0.9 1.5 .620
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan ------- --- ----------
Gene James ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 2000-01-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 82 38.7 22.2 3.2 9.0 12.2 3.0 0.9 2.3 3.0 3.0 8.6 17.1 .499 0.1 0.3 .259 5.0 8.1 .618
Gene James ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 13 40.5 24.4 4.2 10.3 14.5 3.8 1.1 2.7 3.8 3.3 9.2 18.9 .488 0.1 0.1 1.000 5.8 9.2 .639
Gene James ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 2001-02-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Tim Duncan 82 40.6 25.5 3.3 9.4 12.7 3.7 0.7 2.5 3.2 2.6 9.3 18.3 .508 0.0 0.1 .100 6.8 8.5 .799
Gene James ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 9 42.2 27.6 3.1 11.3 14.4 5.0 0.7 4.3 4.1 2.4 9.1 20.1 .453 0.1 0.3 .333 9.2 11.2 .822
Gene James ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 2002-03-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 81 39.3 23.3 3.2 9.7 12.9 3.9 0.7 2.9 3.1 2.9 8.8 17.2 .513 0.1 0.3 .273 5.6 7.8 .710
Gene James ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 24 42.5 24.7 4.0 11.4 15.4 5.3 0.6 3.3 3.2 3.3 9.1 17.2 .529 0.0 0.3 .000 6.5 9.7 .677
Gene James ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 2003-04-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Tim Duncan 69 36.6 22.3 3.3 9.2 12.4 3.1 0.9 2.7 2.7 2.4 8.6 17.1 .501 0.0 0.2 .167 5.1 8.5 .599
Gene James ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 10 40.4 22.1 3.3 8.0 11.3 3.2 0.8 2.0 4.2 3.4 8.3 15.9 .522 0.0 0.1 .000 5.5 8.7 .632
Gene James ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 2004-05-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 66 33.4 20.3 3.1 8.0 11.1 2.7 0.7 2.6 1.9 2.2 7.8 15.8 .496 0.0 0.1 .333 4.6 6.9 .670
Gene James ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 23 37.7 23.6 3.8 8.7 12.4 2.7 0.3 2.3 2.7 2.9 8.6 18.5 .464 0.0 0.2 .200 6.4 8.9 .717
Gene James ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 2005-06-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Tim Duncan 80 34.8 18.6 2.9 8.1 11.0 3.2 0.9 2.0 2.5 2.7 7.2 14.8 .484 0.0 0.1 .400 4.2 6.7 .629
Gene James ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 13 37.9 25.8 2.5 8.0 10.5 3.3 0.8 1.9 2.6 3.8 9.3 16.2 .573 0.0 0.2 .000 7.2 10.1 .718
Gene James ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 2006-07-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 80 34.1 20.0 2.7 7.9 10.6 3.4 0.8 2.4 2.8 2.5 7.7 14.1 .546 0.0 0.1 .111 4.5 7.1 .637
Gene James ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 20 36.8 22.2 3.7 7.8 11.5 3.3 0.7 3.1 3.0 3.0 8.7 16.7 .521 0.0 0.0 - 4.8 7.5 .644
Gene James ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 2007-08-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 78 34.0 19.3 3.0 8.3 11.3 2.8 0.7 1.9 2.3 2.4 7.5 15.1 .497 0.0 0.1 .000 4.3 5.9 .730
Gene James ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 17 39.2 20.2 3.6 10.9 14.5 3.3 0.9 2.1 2.4 2.4 7.9 17.7 .449 0.1 0.3 .200 4.2 6.8 .626
Gene James ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 2008-09-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 75 33.7 19.3 2.7 8.0 10.7 3.5 0.5 1.7 2.2 2.3 7.4 14.8 .504 0.0 0.0 .000 4.5 6.4 .692
Gene James ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 5 32.8 19.8 2.4 5.6 8.0 3.2 0.6 1.2 1.4 2.2 8.2 15.4 .532 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.6 .607
Gene James ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 2009-10-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Tim Duncan 78 31.3 17.9 2.8 7.3 10.1 3.2 0.6 1.5 1.8 1.9 7.2 13.9 .518 0.0 0.1 .182 3.5 4.8 .725
Gene James ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 10 37.3 19.0 3.0 6.9 9.9 2.6 0.8 1.7 2.4 2.7 7.8 15.0 .520 0.1 0.2 .500 3.3 6.9 .478
Gene James ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 2010-11-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 76 28.4 13.4 2.2 6.7 8.9 2.7 0.7 1.9 1.6 1.6 5.5 11.0 .500 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.4 .716
Gene James ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 6 35.3 12.7 2.7 7.8 10.5 2.7 0.5 2.5 3.0 2.8 5.5 11.5 .478 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.7 .625
Gene James ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 2011-12-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 58 28.2 15.4 1.9 7.1 9.0 2.3 0.7 1.5 1.7 1.7 6.2 12.6 .492 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.3 .695
Gene James ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 14 33.1 17.4 2.3 7.1 9.4 2.8 0.7 2.1 1.5 2.1 7.2 14.6 .495 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 4.1 .707
Gene James ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 2012-13-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 69 30.1 17.8 1.8 8.1 9.9 2.7 0.7 2.7 2.1 1.7 7.1 14.1 .502 0.0 0.1 .286 3.6 4.3 .817
Gene James ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 21 35.0 18.1 2.6 7.6 10.2 1.9 0.9 1.6 2.0 2.5 7.2 15.3 .470 0.0 0.0 .000 3.8 4.7 .806
Gene James ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 2013-14-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 74 29.2 15.1 2.1 7.6 9.7 3.0 0.6 1.9 2.1 1.8 6.0 12.2 .490 0.0 0.1 .000 3.1 4.3 .731
Gene James ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 23 32.7 16.3 2.8 6.3 9.2 2.0 0.3 1.3 1.1 2.3 6.5 12.4 .523 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 4.3 .760
Gene James ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 2014-15-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 77 28.9 13.9 2.2 6.9 9.1 3.0 0.8 2.0 1.7 2.1 5.4 10.6 .512 0.0 0.1 .286 3.0 4.0 .740
Gene James ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 7 35.7 17.9 2.7 8.4 11.1 3.3 1.3 1.4 1.0 3.7 7.6 12.9 .589 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 4.9 .559
Gene James ------- --- ----------

Season 19

Tim Duncan Gene James
Season 2015-16-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Tim Duncan 61 25.2 8.6 1.9 5.4 7.3 2.7 0.8 1.3 1.5 2.0 3.5 7.2 .488 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.1 .702
Gene James ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Duncan 10 21.8 5.9 1.0 3.8 4.8 1.4 0.2 1.3 1.0 1.8 2.2 5.2 .423 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.1 .714
Gene James ------- --- ----------