Tim Duncan vs. Steve Francis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Steve Francis 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, 10 more than Steve Francis, who played 9. Tim Duncan had the first of his seasons in 1997-98, while Steve Francis had his rookie season in 1999-00. 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
Steve Francis 9 1 1999-00 to 2007-08

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9

Rookie Season
Tim Duncan Steve Francis
Season 1997-981999-00
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rookie of the YearAchievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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:+5+3.0+3.1+1.3+5.3+6.6+3.9+0.8+2.1-0.6-0.1+2.1+1.2+.104+1.4+3.9+.345+0.2+1.2+.124
Steve Francis 77 36.1 18.0 2.0 3.3 5.3 6.6 1.5 0.4 4.0 3.0 6.5 14.5 .445 1.4 4.0 .345 3.7 4.7 .786
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
Steve Francis DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2
Tim Duncan Steve Francis
Season 1998-992000-01
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
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:+30+0.6+1.8+0.8+3.7+4.5+4.1+0.9+2.1-0.4-0.5+1.5+1.7+.044+1.7+4.1+.253+0.4+1.7+.127
Steve Francis 80 39.9 19.9 2.4 4.5 6.9 6.5 1.8 0.4 3.3 3.4 6.9 15.2 .451 1.7 4.2 .396 4.5 5.5 .817
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
Steve Francis DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3
Tim Duncan Steve Francis
Season 1999-002001-02
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
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:+17+2.2+1.6+1.7+3.7+5.4+3.2+0.3+1.8-0.6-0.2+1.1+0.4+.073+1.2+3.6+.233+0.5+0.7+.012
Steve Francis 57 41.1 21.6 1.8 5.2 7.0 6.4 1.2 0.4 3.9 3.0 7.4 17.7 .417 1.2 3.7 .324 5.7 7.4 .773
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Tim Duncan nor Steve Francis played in the postseason in their season 3

Season 4
Tim Duncan Steve Francis
Season 2000-012002-03
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
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:+1+2.3+1.2+1.2+4.8+6.0+3.2+0.8+1.8-0.7-0.1+1.6+0.9+.064+0.9+2.7+.095+0.9+0.8+.182
Steve Francis 81 41.0 21.0 2.0 4.2 6.2 6.2 1.7 0.5 3.7 3.1 7.0 16.2 .435 1.0 3.0 .354 5.9 7.3 .800
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
Steve Francis DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5
Tim Duncan Steve Francis
Season 2001-022003-04
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
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 SemisRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+3+0.2+8.9+1.8+5.4+7.2+2.5+1.1+2.1-0.5-0.7+3.6+4.2+.105+0.9+3.1+.192+2.5+3.0+.024
Steve Francis 79 40.4 16.6 1.5 4.0 5.5 6.2 1.8 0.4 3.7 3.3 5.7 14.1 .403 0.9 3.2 .292 4.3 5.5 .775
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:+4+2.4+8.4+1.9+4.1+6.0+2.6+0.7+4.1-0.1-1.2+3.1+6.1+.024+1.3+3.1+.079+3.4+3.2+.097
Steve Francis 5 44.6 19.2 1.2 7.2 8.4 7.6 1.4 0.2 4.2 3.6 6.0 14.0 .429 1.4 3.4 .412 5.8 8.0 .725

Season 6
Tim Duncan Steve Francis
Season 2002-032004-05
Team San Antonio SpursOrlando Magic
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 ChampionDid Not Play
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:+3+1.1+2.0+1.6+5.5+7.1+3.1+0.7+2.5-1.0-0.6+1.6+0.1+.090+0.4+1.3+.026+0.8+.113
Steve Francis 78 38.2 21.3 1.6 4.2 5.8 7.0 1.4 0.4 4.1 3.5 7.2 17.1 .423 0.5 1.6 .299 6.4 7.8 .823
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
Steve Francis DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7
Tim Duncan Steve Francis
Season 2003-042005-06
Team San Antonio SpursOrlando Magic, New York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
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:+1+2.4+7.9+2.2+6.1+8.3+1.8+0.2+2.5-0.4-0.5+3.8+6.2+.066+0.4+1.0+.134+0.6+2.8+.188
Steve Francis 70 34.2 14.4 1.1 3.1 4.1 4.9 1.1 0.2 3.1 2.9 4.8 10.9 .435 0.4 1.2 .301 4.5 5.7 .787
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
Steve Francis DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8
Tim Duncan Steve Francis
Season 2004-052006-07
Team San Antonio SpursNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
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:+22+5.3+9.0+2.3+5.2+7.5+1.2+0.2+2.3-0.4-0.7+4.6+8.0+.088+1.0+2.4+.045+0.6+2.1+.159
Steve Francis 44 28.1 11.3 0.8 2.8 3.6 3.9 0.9 0.3 2.3 2.9 3.2 7.8 .408 1.0 2.5 .378 4.0 4.8 .829
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
Steve Francis DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9
Tim Duncan Steve Francis
Season 2005-062007-08
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
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:+70+14.9+13.1+2.1+6.6+8.7+0.2+1.5-1.1-0.2+5.3+9.1+.151+0.4+1.6+.165+2.9+4.4+.064
Steve Francis 10 19.9 5.5 0.8 1.5 2.3 3.0 0.9 0.5 1.4 2.5 1.9 5.7 .333 0.4 1.7 .235 1.3 2.3 .565
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
Steve Francis DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Tim Duncan played 10 seasons more than Steve Francis in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 10 to 19, from 2007 to 2016—Tim Duncan played in 10 Playoffs and won two NBA Championships.

In those 10 extra years over Steve Francis, Tim Duncan got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 2 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 2 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 2 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 2 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 4 All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement 7 All-Star Game
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