Vinnie Johnson vs. James Worthy Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Worthy and Vinnie Johnson, 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 / 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.

Vinnie Johnson played 13 years in the NBA, 1 more than James Worthy, who played 12. Vinnie Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while James Worthy had his rookie season in 1982-83. 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
Vinnie Johnson 13 10 1979-80 to 1991-92
James Worthy 12 9 1982-83 to 1993-94

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season

Vinnie Johnson James Worthy
Season 1979-801982-83
Team Seattle SupersonicsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 38 8.6 3.2 0.5 0.9 1.4 1.4 0.5 0.1 1.1 1.1 1.2 3.0 .391 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.0 .795
James Worthy 77 25.6 13.4 2.0 3.1 5.2 1.7 1.2 0.8 2.3 2.9 5.8 10.0 .579 0.0 0.1 .250 1.8 2.9 .624
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 5 2.4 0.4 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.6 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
James Worthy ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Vinnie Johnson James Worthy
Season 1980-811983-84
Team Seattle SupersonicsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 81 28.5 13.0 2.4 2.1 4.5 4.2 1.0 0.2 2.7 2.4 5.2 9.7 .534 0.0 0.1 .200 2.6 3.3 .793
James Worthy 82 29.5 14.5 1.9 4.4 6.3 2.5 0.9 0.9 2.2 3.0 6.0 10.9 .556 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.1 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson ------- --- ----------
James Worthy 21 33.7 17.7 1.7 3.3 5.0 2.7 1.3 0.5 1.9 2.7 7.8 13.0 .599 0.0 0.1 .500 2.0 3.3 .609

Season 3

Vinnie Johnson James Worthy
Season 1981-821984-85
Team Seattle Supersonics, Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 74 17.5 7.4 1.1 1.0 2.1 2.3 0.8 0.3 1.3 1.4 2.9 6.0 .489 0.0 0.2 .250 1.4 1.9 .754
James Worthy 80 33.7 17.6 2.1 4.3 6.4 2.5 1.1 0.8 2.5 2.5 7.6 13.3 .572 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.1 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson ------- --- ----------
James Worthy 19 32.9 21.5 1.8 3.2 5.1 2.2 0.9 0.7 1.4 2.8 8.7 14.1 .622 0.1 0.1 .500 3.9 5.8 .676

Season 4

Vinnie Johnson James Worthy
Season 1982-831985-86
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 82 30.6 15.8 2.0 2.3 4.3 3.7 1.1 0.6 1.9 3.2 6.3 12.4 .513 0.1 0.5 .275 3.0 3.8 .778
James Worthy 75 32.7 20.0 1.8 3.3 5.2 2.7 1.1 1.0 2.0 2.6 8.4 14.5 .579 0.0 0.2 .000 3.2 4.2 .771
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson ------- --- ----------
James Worthy 14 38.5 19.6 1.6 3.1 4.6 3.2 1.1 0.7 2.6 3.1 8.6 15.5 .558 0.0 0.3 .000 2.3 3.4 .681

Season 5

Vinnie Johnson James Worthy
Season 1983-841986-87
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 82 23.3 13.0 1.6 1.3 2.9 3.3 0.5 0.2 1.6 2.4 5.2 11.0 .473 0.0 0.2 .211 2.5 3.4 .753
James Worthy 82 34.4 19.4 1.9 3.8 5.7 2.8 1.3 1.0 2.0 2.5 7.9 14.7 .539 0.0 0.2 .000 3.6 4.7 .751
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 5 26.4 10.2 1.0 1.8 2.8 2.4 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.8 3.4 9.2 .370 0.0 0.2 .000 3.4 3.8 .895
James Worthy 18 37.8 23.6 1.7 3.9 5.6 3.5 1.6 1.2 2.2 2.3 9.8 16.6 .591 0.0 0.1 .000 4.1 5.4 .753

Season 6

Vinnie Johnson James Worthy
Season 1984-851987-88
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 82 25.5 12.8 1.6 1.4 3.1 4.0 0.9 0.2 1.6 2.5 5.2 11.5 .454 0.1 0.3 .185 2.3 3.0 .769
James Worthy 75 35.4 19.7 1.7 3.3 5.0 3.9 1.0 0.7 2.1 2.3 8.2 15.5 .531 0.0 0.2 .125 3.2 4.1 .796
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 9 26.1 14.2 1.7 1.3 3.0 3.2 0.7 0.1 1.7 2.7 5.9 11.4 .515 0.0 0.3 .000 2.4 3.1 .786
James Worthy 24 37.3 21.1 2.2 3.6 5.8 4.4 1.4 0.8 2.3 2.4 8.5 16.3 .523 0.0 0.4 .111 4.0 5.3 .758

Season 7

Vinnie Johnson James Worthy
Season 1985-861988-89
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 79 25.0 13.9 1.5 1.4 2.9 3.4 1.0 0.3 1.1 2.3 5.9 12.6 .467 0.0 0.2 .154 2.1 2.7 .771
James Worthy 81 36.5 20.5 2.1 4.0 6.0 3.6 1.3 0.7 2.2 2.2 8.7 15.8 .548 0.0 0.3 .087 3.1 4.0 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 4 21.3 12.8 2.0 2.3 4.3 2.8 0.8 0.0 1.3 2.3 5.5 12.3 .449 0.0 0.3 .000 1.8 3.3 .538
James Worthy 15 40.0 24.8 2.5 4.3 6.7 2.8 1.2 1.1 2.2 2.4 10.2 18.0 .567 0.2 0.5 .375 4.2 5.3 .788

Season 8

Vinnie Johnson James Worthy
Season 1986-871989-90
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsLakers 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 78 27.8 15.7 1.6 1.7 3.3 3.8 1.2 0.2 1.7 2.0 6.8 14.8 .462 0.1 0.2 .286 2.0 2.6 .786
James Worthy 80 37.0 21.1 2.0 4.0 6.0 3.6 1.2 0.6 2.0 2.4 8.9 16.2 .548 0.2 0.6 .306 3.1 4.0 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 15 25.9 14.7 1.3 1.6 2.9 4.1 0.6 0.3 1.5 2.2 6.3 13.8 .459 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 2.4 .861
James Worthy 9 40.7 24.2 1.2 4.3 5.6 3.0 1.6 0.3 2.4 2.0 10.0 20.1 .497 0.2 0.9 .250 4.0 4.8 .837

Season 9

Vinnie Johnson James Worthy
Season 1987-881990-91
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost NBA FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 82 23.6 12.2 1.1 1.7 2.8 3.3 0.7 0.2 1.9 2.0 5.2 11.7 .443 0.1 0.3 .208 1.8 2.6 .677
James Worthy 78 38.6 21.4 1.4 3.2 4.6 3.5 1.3 0.4 1.6 1.5 9.2 18.7 .492 0.3 1.2 .289 2.7 3.4 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 23 20.7 10.3 1.5 1.7 3.3 1.9 0.7 0.2 0.9 2.1 4.4 10.4 .423 0.0 0.3 .143 1.4 2.2 .660
James Worthy 18 40.7 21.1 1.4 2.7 4.1 3.9 1.1 0.1 2.2 1.9 8.9 19.2 .465 0.2 1.3 .167 2.9 4.0 .736

Season 10

Vinnie Johnson James Worthy
Season 1988-891991-92
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 82 25.3 13.8 1.3 1.8 3.1 3.0 0.9 0.2 1.3 1.9 5.6 12.1 .464 0.2 0.5 .295 2.4 3.2 .734
James Worthy 54 39.0 19.9 1.8 3.8 5.6 4.7 1.4 0.4 2.4 1.6 8.3 18.6 .447 0.2 0.8 .209 3.1 3.8 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 17 21.9 14.1 0.9 1.7 2.6 2.5 0.2 0.2 1.2 1.9 5.4 11.8 .455 0.6 1.4 .417 2.8 3.6 .758
James Worthy ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Vinnie Johnson James Worthy
Season 1989-901992-93
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 82 24.0 9.8 1.3 1.8 3.1 3.1 0.9 0.2 1.5 1.7 4.1 9.5 .431 0.1 0.4 .147 1.6 2.4 .668
James Worthy 82 28.8 14.9 0.9 2.1 3.0 3.4 1.1 0.3 1.7 1.1 6.2 13.9 .447 0.4 1.4 .270 2.1 2.6 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 20 23.2 10.3 1.4 1.4 2.8 2.7 0.4 0.2 1.6 1.9 4.3 9.2 .462 0.1 0.4 .286 1.7 2.2 .791
James Worthy 5 29.6 13.8 1.4 2.0 3.4 2.6 1.0 0.0 1.4 2.2 6.4 17.2 .372 0.4 1.6 .250 0.6 1.0 .600

Season 12

Vinnie Johnson James Worthy
Season 1990-911993-94
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 82 29.1 11.7 1.3 2.1 3.4 3.3 0.9 0.2 1.4 2.0 5.0 11.4 .434 0.1 0.4 .324 1.6 2.5 .646
James Worthy 80 20.0 10.2 0.6 1.7 2.3 1.9 0.6 0.2 1.2 1.0 4.3 10.5 .406 0.4 1.4 .288 1.3 1.7 .741
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 15 29.2 15.2 2.5 2.6 5.1 2.9 0.7 0.3 1.1 2.2 6.8 14.7 .464 0.1 0.9 .154 1.5 2.1 .710
James Worthy ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Vinnie Johnson James Worthy
Season 1991-92-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Vinnie Johnson 60 22.5 8.0 1.1 1.9 3.0 2.4 0.7 0.2 1.2 1.6 3.4 8.3 .405 0.3 1.0 .317 0.9 1.4 .647
James Worthy ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 3 23.0 8.3 1.0 1.7 2.7 2.3 1.7 0.3 1.7 2.3 3.7 8.0 .458 0.7 1.3 .500 0.3 0.7 .500
James Worthy ------- --- ----------