Walter Davis vs. Rudy Gay Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rudy Gay and Walter Davis, 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.

Walter Davis played 15 years in the NBA, 2 less than Rudy Gay, who played 17. Walter Davis had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Rudy Gay had his rookie season in 2006-07. 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
Walter Davis 15 10 1977-78 to 1991-92
Rudy Gay 17 3 2006-07 to 2022-23

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Walter Davis Rudy Gay
Season 1977-782006-07
Team Phoenix SunsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 81 32.0 24.2 2.0 4.0 6.0 3.4 1.4 0.2 3.5 3.0 9.7 18.4 .526 - - - 4.8 5.8 .830
Rudy Gay 78 27.0 10.8 1.2 3.3 4.5 1.3 0.9 0.9 1.8 2.5 4.1 9.7 .422 0.7 1.8 .364 1.9 2.7 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 2 33.0 25.0 2.0 6.5 8.5 4.0 1.5 0.0 3.0 4.0 9.5 20.0 .475 - - - 6.0 8.0 .750
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Walter Davis Rudy Gay
Season 1978-792007-08
Team Phoenix SunsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Walter Davis 79 30.8 23.6 1.4 3.3 4.7 4.3 1.9 0.3 3.7 3.2 9.7 17.2 .561 - - - 4.3 5.2 .831
Rudy Gay 81 37.0 20.1 1.7 4.4 6.2 2.0 1.4 1.0 2.3 2.8 7.7 16.7 .461 1.7 4.8 .346 3.1 3.9 .785
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 15 32.7 22.1 1.6 3.0 4.6 5.3 1.7 0.3 4.4 2.7 8.5 16.3 .520 - - - 5.2 6.4 .813
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Walter Davis Rudy Gay
Season 1979-802008-09
Team Phoenix SunsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Walter Davis 75 30.8 21.5 1.0 2.6 3.6 4.5 1.5 0.3 3.2 2.7 8.8 15.5 .563 0.0 0.1 .000 4.0 4.9 .819
Rudy Gay 79 37.3 18.9 1.4 4.2 5.5 1.7 1.2 0.7 2.6 2.8 7.2 16.0 .453 1.1 3.1 .351 3.3 4.4 .767
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 8 30.6 20.8 1.1 1.8 2.9 4.4 0.5 0.1 2.5 2.5 8.6 17.1 .504 0.0 0.4 .000 3.5 4.8 .737
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Walter Davis Rudy Gay
Season 1980-812009-10
Team Phoenix SunsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Walter Davis 78 28.0 18.0 0.8 1.8 2.6 3.9 1.2 0.2 2.8 2.5 7.6 14.1 .539 0.1 0.2 .412 2.7 3.2 .836
Rudy Gay 80 39.7 19.6 1.4 4.5 5.9 1.9 1.5 0.8 2.1 2.5 7.5 16.1 .466 0.8 2.5 .327 3.8 5.0 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 7 28.4 16.0 1.0 1.7 2.7 3.1 1.0 0.1 2.4 2.4 7.3 15.1 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.4 .588
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Walter Davis Rudy Gay
Season 1981-822010-11
Team Phoenix SunsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Walter Davis 55 21.5 14.4 0.4 1.5 1.9 2.9 0.8 0.1 2.0 1.9 6.4 12.2 .523 0.1 0.3 .188 1.7 2.0 .820
Rudy Gay 54 39.9 19.8 1.5 4.7 6.2 2.8 1.7 1.1 2.5 2.4 7.6 16.1 .471 1.1 2.7 .396 3.6 4.5 .805
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 7 24.7 18.1 0.7 2.4 3.1 4.3 0.7 0.1 1.7 2.7 7.4 16.6 .448 0.1 0.4 .333 3.1 3.4 .917
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Walter Davis Rudy Gay
Season 1982-832011-12
Team Phoenix SunsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdGrizzlies 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 %
Walter Davis 80 31.1 19.0 0.8 1.7 2.5 5.0 1.5 0.2 2.4 2.3 8.3 16.1 .516 0.1 0.3 .304 2.3 2.8 .818
Rudy Gay 65 37.3 19.0 2.0 4.4 6.4 2.3 1.5 0.8 2.5 2.1 7.5 16.4 .455 0.8 2.7 .312 3.2 4.0 .791
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 3 37.7 26.0 1.7 3.3 5.0 4.3 2.0 1.7 1.7 2.0 10.0 23.0 .435 0.3 0.7 .500 5.7 7.0 .810
Rudy Gay 7 39.9 19.0 1.4 5.1 6.6 1.4 1.3 0.3 3.0 2.1 6.9 16.3 .421 0.6 2.7 .211 4.7 5.7 .825

Season 7

Walter Davis Rudy Gay
Season 1983-842012-13
Team Phoenix SunsMemphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Walter Davis 78 32.6 20.0 0.5 2.1 2.6 5.5 1.4 0.2 2.7 2.6 8.4 16.3 .512 0.3 1.1 .230 3.0 3.5 .863
Rudy Gay 75 35.8 18.2 1.3 4.8 6.1 2.7 1.5 0.7 2.6 2.4 6.9 16.7 .416 1.1 3.5 .323 3.2 3.9 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 17 36.6 24.9 0.9 1.8 2.7 6.4 1.7 0.2 2.5 3.2 10.3 19.2 .535 0.2 0.6 .273 4.1 4.6 .897
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Walter Davis Rudy Gay
Season 1984-852013-14
Team Phoenix SunsToronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
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 %
Walter Davis 23 24.8 15.0 0.3 1.3 1.5 4.3 0.8 0.0 2.2 1.8 6.0 13.4 .450 0.1 0.4 .300 2.8 3.2 .877
Rudy Gay 73 34.7 20.0 1.5 4.4 6.0 2.9 1.3 0.8 3.1 2.3 7.4 16.2 .455 0.9 2.7 .330 4.4 5.3 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Walter Davis Rudy Gay
Season 1985-862014-15
Team Phoenix SunsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
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 %
Walter Davis 70 32.0 21.8 0.8 2.1 2.9 5.2 1.4 0.0 3.1 2.2 8.9 18.4 .485 0.3 1.1 .237 3.7 4.4 .843
Rudy Gay 68 35.4 21.1 1.4 4.4 5.9 3.7 1.0 0.6 2.7 2.3 7.5 16.4 .455 1.2 3.2 .359 5.0 5.8 .858
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Walter Davis Rudy Gay
Season 1986-872015-16
Team Phoenix SunsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Walter Davis 79 33.5 23.6 1.1 1.9 3.1 4.6 1.2 0.1 2.9 2.3 9.9 19.2 .514 0.3 1.0 .259 3.6 4.2 .862
Rudy Gay 70 34.0 17.2 1.5 5.0 6.5 1.7 1.4 0.7 2.0 2.6 6.7 14.4 .463 1.1 3.1 .344 2.8 3.6 .780
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Walter Davis Rudy Gay
Season 1987-882016-17
Team Phoenix SunsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
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 %
Walter Davis 68 28.7 17.9 0.5 1.9 2.3 4.1 1.3 0.0 1.9 1.9 7.2 15.2 .473 0.5 1.4 .375 3.0 3.4 .887
Rudy Gay 30 33.8 18.7 1.2 5.2 6.3 2.8 1.5 0.9 2.5 2.6 6.7 14.7 .455 1.4 3.8 .372 3.9 4.6 .855
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Walter Davis Rudy Gay
Season 1988-892017-18
Team Denver NuggetsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdSpurs 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 %
Walter Davis 81 22.9 15.6 0.5 1.4 1.9 2.3 0.9 0.1 1.6 2.3 6.6 13.3 .498 0.2 0.9 .290 2.2 2.5 .879
Rudy Gay 57 21.6 11.5 1.3 3.8 5.1 1.3 0.8 0.7 1.4 1.7 4.4 9.4 .471 0.6 2.1 .314 2.0 2.5 .772
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 3 31.3 25.7 0.7 1.0 1.7 1.3 1.0 0.0 2.7 3.7 10.3 20.0 .517 0.0 1.3 .000 5.0 5.0 1.000
Rudy Gay 5 32.0 12.2 1.8 3.8 5.6 2.2 1.6 0.2 1.2 3.2 5.2 13.0 .400 0.8 3.6 .222 1.0 1.8 .556

Season 13

Walter Davis Rudy Gay
Season 1989-902018-19
Team Denver NuggetsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdSpurs 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 %
Walter Davis 69 23.7 17.5 0.7 1.9 2.6 2.2 0.9 0.1 1.5 2.3 7.2 15.0 .481 0.1 0.7 .130 3.0 3.3 .912
Rudy Gay 69 26.7 13.7 0.9 5.9 6.8 2.6 0.8 0.5 1.7 2.3 5.4 10.8 .504 1.1 2.7 .402 1.7 2.1 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 3 23.3 14.0 1.3 1.7 3.0 2.0 0.3 0.0 1.7 1.3 6.0 15.0 .400 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 2.0 1.000
Rudy Gay 7 25.6 11.1 1.9 5.3 7.1 1.7 0.4 0.7 1.4 1.9 4.0 10.0 .400 1.1 2.7 .421 2.0 2.4 .824

Season 14

Walter Davis Rudy Gay
Season 1990-912019-20
Team Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail BlazersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Walter Davis 71 20.9 13.0 1.0 1.5 2.5 1.8 1.1 0.0 1.2 2.1 5.7 12.1 .468 0.2 0.5 .306 1.5 1.6 .915
Rudy Gay 67 21.8 10.8 0.9 4.5 5.4 1.7 0.5 0.5 1.3 1.5 4.0 8.9 .446 1.1 3.3 .336 1.8 2.0 .882
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 13 8.5 3.3 0.5 0.6 1.2 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.5 0.4 1.5 3.7 .396 0.0 0.1 .000 0.4 0.5 .833
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Walter Davis Rudy Gay
Season 1991-922020-21
Team Denver NuggetsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
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 %
Walter Davis 46 16.1 9.9 0.4 1.1 1.5 1.5 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.5 4.0 8.8 .459 0.1 0.3 .313 1.8 2.0 .872
Rudy Gay 63 21.6 11.4 0.7 4.1 4.8 1.4 0.7 0.6 1.0 1.8 4.2 10.0 .420 1.7 4.4 .381 1.3 1.6 .804
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Walter Davis Rudy Gay
Season -2021-22
Team -Utah Jazz
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 %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay 55 18.9 8.1 1.0 3.4 4.4 1.0 0.5 0.3 0.9 1.7 2.9 6.9 .414 1.3 3.7 .345 1.1 1.4 .785
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Walter Davis Rudy Gay
Season -2022-23
Team -Utah Jazz
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 %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay 56 14.6 5.2 0.6 2.3 2.9 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.2 1.9 5.1 .380 0.6 2.3 .254 0.8 0.9 .857
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------