Tim Duncan vs. John Starks Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of John Starks 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 / 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.

Tim Duncan played 19 years in the NBA, 6 more than John Starks, who played 13. Tim Duncan had the first of his seasons in 1997-98, while John Starks 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
Tim Duncan 19 18 1997-98 to 2015-16
John Starks 13 9 1988-89 to 2001-02

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Tim Duncan John Starks
Season 1997-981988-89
Team San Antonio SpursGolden State Warriors
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 SemisDid 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%
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
difference:+46+30.3+17.0+2.9+7.9+10.8+1.9+0.1+2.4-2.3-2.1+7.2+12.2+.141+0.3+0.6+.385+3.0+4.5+.008
John Starks 36 8.8 4.1 0.4 0.7 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.0 1.4 3.5 .408 0.3 0.7 .385 0.9 1.4 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
John Starks DNP------ --- ----------

Note: John Starks didn't play in 1989-90.

Season 2

Tim Duncan John Starks
Season 1998-991990-91
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 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%
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
difference:+11+20.1+14.1+2.7+6.5+9.3+0.9+0.1+2.2-1.7-0.7+5.4+10.2+.056+0.4+1.4+.147+3.6+5.5+.062
John Starks 61 19.2 7.6 0.5 1.7 2.1 3.3 1.0 0.3 1.2 2.2 3.0 6.7 .439 0.4 1.5 .290 1.3 1.7 .752
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+14+33.8+21.2+2.9+7.5+10.5+0.8+0.8+2.6-1.1-1.6+7.8+14.9+.111+0.2+5.6+7.7+.252
John Starks 3 9.3 2.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.3 0.7 1.7 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000

Season 3

Tim Duncan John Starks
Season 1999-001991-92
Team San Antonio SpursNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+8+13.1+9.3+3.0+7.1+10.1+0.2+0.4+2.0-1.5+3.6+6.3+.041+1.1+3.2+.257+3.3+4.4+.017
John Starks 82 25.8 13.9 0.5 1.8 2.3 3.4 1.3 0.2 1.8 2.8 4.9 11.0 .449 1.1 3.3 .348 2.9 3.7 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Duncan DNP------ --- ----------
John Starks 12 24.6 12.1 0.6 1.9 2.5 3.2 1.4 0.0 1.8 3.8 3.8 10.3 .374 0.9 3.8 .239 3.5 4.3 .808

Season 4

Tim Duncan John Starks
Season 2000-011992-93
Team San Antonio SpursNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsKnicks 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%
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
difference:+2+7.7+4.7+2.5+7.1+9.6+2.1+0.2+2.1-0.8-0.1+2.2+2.1+.071+1.3+3.9+.062+1.7+4.0+.177
John Starks 80 31.0 17.5 0.7 1.9 2.6 5.1 1.1 0.2 2.2 2.9 6.4 15.0 .428 1.4 4.2 .321 3.3 4.1 .795
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+2+2.2+7.9+3.9+7.1+11.0+2.6+0.1+2.5-0.1-0.5+3.3+5.6+.048+1.8+4.9+.627+2.9+5.2+.078
John Starks 15 38.3 16.5 0.3 3.2 3.5 6.4 1.0 0.2 3.7 3.8 5.9 13.3 .440 1.9 5.0 .373 2.9 4.0 .717

Season 5

Tim Duncan John Starks
Season 2001-021993-94
Team San Antonio SpursNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisKnicks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+23+5.7+6.5+2.7+6.9+9.6+2.2+0.9+2.4-0.1-0.6+2.4+1.7+.088+1.9+5.6+.235+3.6+4.3+.045
John Starks 59 34.9 19.0 0.6 2.5 3.1 5.9 1.6 0.1 3.1 3.2 6.9 16.6 .420 1.9 5.7 .335 3.2 4.2 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+16+8.6+13.0+2.7+9.3+12.1+0.4+0.7+4.2-1.8-1.0+4.7+8.5+.072+1.8+5.0+.023+5.3+6.2+.052
John Starks 25 33.6 14.6 0.4 2.0 2.3 4.6 1.4 0.1 2.3 3.4 4.4 11.6 .381 1.9 5.3 .356 3.9 5.0 .770

Season 6

Tim Duncan John Starks
Season 2002-031994-95
Team San Antonio SpursNew York Knicks
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 ChampionKnicks 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%
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
difference:+1+5.2+8.0+2.8+7.4+10.2+1.2+0.5+2.8-1.1-0.3+3.6+3.9+.118+2.6+7.3+.082+3.5+4.9+.027
John Starks 80 34.1 15.3 0.4 2.3 2.7 5.1 1.2 0.1 2.0 3.2 5.2 13.3 .395 2.7 7.6 .355 2.1 2.9 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+13+8.0+9.1+3.8+9.3+13.1+0.1+0.6+3.2-0.8-0.3+3.8+5.5+.079+2.7+6.3+.411+4.1+5.9+.058
John Starks 11 34.5 15.6 0.2 2.1 2.3 5.2 1.2 0.1 2.4 3.6 5.3 11.7 .450 2.7 6.6 .411 2.4 3.8 .619

Season 7

Tim Duncan John Starks
Season 2003-041995-96
Team San Antonio SpursNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisKnicks 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%
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
difference:+12+5.8+9.7+2.9+6.7+9.5+0.8+0.4+2.6-0.8-0.4+4.0+6.7+.058+1.8+4.7+.194+3.5+6.4+.154
John Starks 81 30.8 12.6 0.4 2.5 2.9 3.9 1.3 0.1 1.9 2.8 4.6 10.4 .443 1.8 4.9 .361 1.6 2.1 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+2+1.1+6.1+2.9+4.7+7.7+0.9+0.8+1.9-1.1-0.1+3.4+5.0+.074+2.6+5.5+.467+1.9+3.8+.112
John Starks 8 39.3 16.0 0.4 3.3 3.6 4.1 1.6 0.1 3.1 3.3 4.9 10.9 .448 2.6 5.6 .467 3.6 4.9 .744

Season 8

Tim Duncan John Starks
Season 2004-051996-97
Team San Antonio SpursNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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%
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
difference:+11+6.9+6.5+2.6+5.8+8.4+0.1+0.5+2.5-0.2-0.3+3.0+4.7+.065+1.9+5.2+.036+2.4+4.0+.099
John Starks 77 26.5 13.8 0.5 2.2 2.7 2.8 1.2 0.1 2.1 2.5 4.8 11.1 .431 1.9 5.3 .369 2.2 2.9 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+14+9.4+9.6+3.0+6.0+9.0+0.1+0.8+2.3-0.5-0.1+3.7+7.5+.020+1.4+4.4+.117+3.6+5.5+.089
John Starks 9 28.3 14.0 0.8 2.7 3.4 2.8 1.1 0.0 2.2 2.8 4.9 11.0 .444 1.4 4.6 .317 2.8 3.4 .806

Season 9

Tim Duncan John Starks
Season 2005-061997-98
Team San Antonio SpursNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisKnicks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+2+8.1+5.7+2.3+5.9+8.2+0.5+0.1+1.9-0.8-0.2+2.7+3.3+.091+1.6+4.8+.073+1.9+3.8+.158
John Starks 82 26.7 12.9 0.6 2.2 2.8 2.7 1.0 0.1 1.7 2.5 4.5 11.5 .393 1.6 4.9 .327 2.3 2.9 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+3+6.5+9.4+2.1+4.4+6.5+1.0+0.8+1.8-1.5-0.3+3.4+3.7+.101+2.5+5.7+.424+5.1+7.7+.157
John Starks 10 31.4 16.4 0.4 3.6 4.0 2.3 1.6 0.1 1.1 3.5 5.9 12.5 .472 2.5 5.9 .424 2.1 2.4 .875

Season 10

Tim Duncan John Starks
Season 2006-071998-99
Team San Antonio SpursGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid 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%
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
difference:+30+0.4+6.2+2.0+5.3+7.3+1.3+0.6+2.3-1.1-0.2+2.3+0.5+.176+1.6+5.3+.179+3.0+5.1+.103
John Starks 50 33.7 13.8 0.7 2.6 3.3 4.7 1.4 0.1 1.7 2.7 5.4 14.6 .370 1.6 5.4 .290 1.5 2.0 .740
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
John Starks DNP------ --- ----------

Season 11

Tim Duncan John Starks
Season 2007-081999-00
Team San Antonio SpursGolden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsDid 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%
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
difference:+41+1.8+5.4+2.7+5.8+8.6+2.1+0.4+1.8-0.5-0.4+2.0+0.5+.122+1.6+4.5+.345+2.9+4.3+.117
John Starks 37 32.2 13.9 0.3 2.5 2.7 4.9 1.1 0.1 1.8 2.8 5.5 14.6 .375 1.6 4.6 .345 1.4 1.6 .847
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
John Starks DNP------ --- ----------

Season 12

Tim Duncan John Starks
Season 2008-092000-01
Team San Antonio SpursUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdJazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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 - 4.5 6.4 .692
difference:+5.4+10.0+2.3+6.3+8.6+1.1+0.5+1.6-0.9-0.6+3.8+5.7+.106+0.9+2.4+3.3+4.9+.110
John Starks 75 28.3 9.3 0.4 1.7 2.1 2.4 1.0 0.1 1.3 2.9 3.6 9.1 .398 0.9 2.4 .352 1.2 1.5 .802
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+2+20.8+16.1+2.4+4.6+7.0+2.9+0.3+0.9-0.7-0.5+6.9+11.4+.199+0.3+1.3+2.7+4.9+.393
John Starks 3 12.0 3.7 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.7 1.3 4.0 .333 0.3 1.3 .250 0.7 0.7 1.000

Season 13

Tim Duncan John Starks
Season 2009-102001-02
Team San Antonio SpursUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+12+17.2+13.5+2.6+6.5+9.1+2.1+0.1+1.5-1.0+5.5+9.2+.150+0.4+1.3+.123+3.0+4.2+.080
John Starks 66 14.1 4.4 0.2 0.8 1.0 1.1 0.5 0.0 0.8 1.9 1.7 4.7 .368 0.4 1.4 .305 0.5 0.6 .805
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
John Starks DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Tim Duncan played 6 seasons more than John Starks in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 19, from 2011 to 2016—Tim Duncan played in 6 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.

In those 6 extra years over John Starks, Tim Duncan got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 2 All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement 3 All-Star Game