Wilt Chamberlain vs. LeBron James Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of LeBron James and Wilt Chamberlain, 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 / Stats Rankings

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.

Wilt Chamberlain played 14 years in the NBA, 8 less than LeBron James, who played 22. Wilt Chamberlain had the first of his seasons in 1959-60, while LeBron James had his rookie season in 2003-04. 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
Wilt Chamberlain 14 13 1959-60 to 1972-73
LeBron James 22 18 2003-04 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Wilt Chamberlain LeBron James
Season 1959-602003-04
Team Philadelphia WarriorsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the YearAchievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div FinalsDid 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%
Wilt Chamberlain 72 46.4 37.6 - - 27.0 2.3 - - - 2.1 14.8 32.1 .461 - - - 8.0 13.8 .582
difference:+7+6.9+16.7+21.5+3.6-0.2+6.9+13.2+.044+3.6+8.0+.172
LeBron James 79 39.5 20.9 1.3 4.2 5.5 5.9 1.6 0.7 3.5 1.9 7.9 18.9 .417 0.8 2.7 .290 4.4 5.8 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 9 46.1 33.2 - - 25.8 2.1 - - - 1.9 13.9 28.0 .496 - - - 5.4 12.2 .445
LeBron James DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Wilt Chamberlain LeBron James
Season 1960-612004-05
Team Philadelphia WarriorsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisDid 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%
Wilt Chamberlain 79 47.8 38.4 - - 27.2 1.9 - - - 1.6 15.8 31.1 .509 - - - 6.7 13.3 .504
difference:+1+5.4+11.2+19.8+5.3-0.2+5.9+10.0+.037+0.7+5.3+.246
LeBron James 80 42.4 27.2 1.4 6.0 7.4 7.2 2.2 0.7 3.3 1.8 9.9 21.1 .472 1.4 3.9 .351 6.0 8.0 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 3 48.0 37.0 - - 23.0 2.0 - - - 3.3 15.0 32.0 .469 - - - 7.0 12.7 .553
LeBron James DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Wilt Chamberlain LeBron James
Season 1961-622005-06
Team Philadelphia WarriorsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div FinalsCavaliers 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%
Wilt Chamberlain 80 48.5 50.4 - - 25.7 2.4 - - - 1.5 20.0 39.5 .506 - - - 10.4 17.0 .613
difference:+1+6.0+19.0+18.7+4.2-0.8+8.9+16.4+.026+2.8+6.7+.125
LeBron James 79 42.5 31.4 0.9 6.1 7.0 6.6 1.6 0.8 3.3 2.3 11.1 23.1 .480 1.6 4.8 .335 7.6 10.3 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 12 48.0 35.0 - - 26.6 3.1 - - - 2.3 13.5 28.9 .467 - - - 8.0 12.6 .636
difference:+1+1.5+4.2+18.5+2.7-1.1+2.3+5.3+.009+1.3+3.5+.101
LeBron James 13 46.5 30.8 1.7 6.4 8.1 5.8 1.4 0.7 5.0 3.4 11.2 23.6 .476 1.6 4.8 .333 6.7 9.1 .737

Season 4

Wilt Chamberlain LeBron James
Season 1962-632006-07
Team San Francisco WarriorsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost NBA 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%
Wilt Chamberlain 80 47.6 44.8 - - 24.3 3.4 - - - 1.7 18.3 34.6 .528 - - - 8.3 13.9 .593
difference:+2+6.7+17.5+17.6+2.6-0.5+8.4+13.8+.052+2.0+4.9+.105
LeBron James 78 40.9 27.3 1.1 5.7 6.7 6.0 1.6 0.7 3.2 2.2 9.9 20.8 .476 1.3 4.0 .319 6.3 9.0 .698
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain DNP------ --- ----------
LeBron James 20 44.7 25.1 1.3 6.8 8.1 8.0 1.7 0.5 3.3 2.0 8.3 20.0 .416 1.1 3.8 .280 7.4 9.8 .755

Season 5

Wilt Chamberlain LeBron James
Season 1963-642007-08
Team San Francisco WarriorsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Scoring LeaderAchievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 80 46.1 36.9 - - 22.3 5.0 - - - 2.3 15.1 28.7 .524 - - - 6.8 12.7 .531
difference:+5+5.7+6.9+14.4+2.2-0.1+4.5+6.8+.040+0.5+2.4+.181
LeBron James 75 40.4 30.0 1.8 6.1 7.9 7.2 1.8 1.1 3.4 2.2 10.6 21.9 .484 1.5 4.8 .315 7.3 10.3 .712
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 12 46.5 34.7 - - 25.2 3.3 - - - 2.3 14.6 26.8 .543 - - - 5.5 11.6 .475
difference:+1+4.0+6.5+17.4+4.3-0.2+5.9+5.6+.132+3.9+1.2+.256
LeBron James 13 42.5 28.2 1.2 6.6 7.8 7.6 1.8 1.3 4.2 2.5 8.7 21.2 .411 1.4 5.4 .257 9.4 12.8 .731

Season 6

Wilt Chamberlain LeBron James
Season 1964-652008-09
Team San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div FinalsCavaliers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 73 45.2 34.7 - - 22.9 3.4 - - - 2.0 14.6 28.5 .510 - - - 5.6 12.1 .464
difference:+8+7.5+6.3+15.3+3.8-0.3+4.9+8.6+.021+1.7+2.7+.316
LeBron James 81 37.7 28.4 1.3 6.3 7.6 7.2 1.7 1.1 3.0 1.7 9.7 19.9 .489 1.6 4.7 .344 7.3 9.4 .780
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 11 48.7 29.3 - - 27.2 4.4 - - - 2.6 11.2 21.1 .530 - - - 6.9 12.4 .559
difference:+3+7.3+6.0+18.1+2.9-0.5+0.2+1.2+.020+3.7+1.8+.190
LeBron James 14 41.4 35.3 1.4 7.8 9.1 7.3 1.6 0.9 2.7 2.1 11.4 22.3 .510 1.9 5.8 .333 10.6 14.2 .749

Season 7

Wilt Chamberlain LeBron James
Season 1965-662009-10
Team Philadelphia 76ersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVPAchievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div FinalsCavaliers 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%
Wilt Chamberlain 79 47.3 33.5 - - 24.6 5.2 - - - 2.2 13.6 25.2 .540 - - - 6.3 12.4 .513
difference:+3+8.3+3.8+17.3+3.4-0.6+3.5+5.1+.037+1.5+2.2+.254
LeBron James 76 39.0 29.7 0.9 6.4 7.3 8.6 1.6 1.0 3.4 1.6 10.1 20.1 .503 1.7 5.1 .333 7.8 10.2 .767
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 5 48.0 28.0 - - 30.2 3.0 - - - 2.0 11.2 22.0 .509 - - - 5.6 13.6 .412
difference:+6+6.2+1.1+20.9+4.6-0.1+1.6+2.8+.007+2.4+2.7+.321
LeBron James 11 41.8 29.1 1.4 7.9 9.3 7.6 1.7 1.8 3.8 2.1 9.6 19.2 .502 1.8 4.5 .400 8.0 10.9 .733

Season 8

Wilt Chamberlain LeBron James
Season 1966-672010-11
Team Philadelphia 76ersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHeat Lost NBA Finals
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 81 45.5 24.1 - - 24.2 7.8 - - - 1.8 9.7 14.2 .683 - - - 4.8 10.8 .441
difference:+2+6.7+2.6+16.7+0.8-0.3+0.1+4.6+.173+1.6+2.4+.318
LeBron James 79 38.8 26.7 1.0 6.5 7.5 7.0 1.6 0.6 3.6 2.1 9.6 18.8 .510 1.2 3.5 .330 6.4 8.4 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 15 47.9 21.7 - - 29.1 9.0 - - - 2.5 8.8 15.2 .579 - - - 4.1 10.7 .388
difference:+6+4.0+2.0+20.7+3.1-0.2+0.5+2.6+.113+1.6+3.3+.375
LeBron James 21 43.9 23.7 1.6 6.8 8.4 5.9 1.7 1.2 3.1 2.7 8.3 17.8 .466 1.4 4.0 .353 5.7 7.4 .763

Season 9

Wilt Chamberlain LeBron James
Season 1967-682011-12
Team Philadelphia 76ersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement Season MVPAchievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 82 46.8 24.3 - - 23.8 8.6 - - - 2.0 10.0 16.8 .595 - - - 4.3 11.4 .380
difference:+20+9.3+2.8+15.9+2.4-0.5+2.1+.064+1.9+3.3+.391
LeBron James 62 37.5 27.1 1.5 6.4 7.9 6.2 1.9 0.8 3.4 1.5 10.0 18.9 .531 0.9 2.4 .362 6.2 8.1 .771
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 13 48.5 23.7 - - 24.7 6.5 - - - 2.2 9.5 17.8 .534 - - - 4.6 12.2 .380
difference:+10+5.8+6.6+15.0+0.9-0.2+1.4+4.0+.034+2.9+2.0+.359
LeBron James 23 42.7 30.3 2.3 7.4 9.7 5.6 1.9 0.7 3.5 2.0 10.9 21.8 .500 1.0 3.7 .259 7.5 10.2 .739

Season 10

Wilt Chamberlain LeBron James
Season 1968-692012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 81 45.3 20.5 - - 21.1 4.5 - - - 1.8 7.9 13.6 .583 - - - 4.7 10.6 .446
difference:+5+7.4+6.3+13.1+2.8-0.4+2.2+4.2+.018+0.6+3.6+.307
LeBron James 76 37.9 26.8 1.3 6.8 8.0 7.3 1.7 0.9 3.0 1.4 10.1 17.8 .565 1.4 3.3 .406 5.3 7.0 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 18 46.2 13.9 - - 24.7 2.6 - - - 3.1 5.3 9.8 .545 - - - 3.2 8.2 .392
difference:+5+4.5+12.0+16.3+4.0-1.2+3.9+9.0+.054+2.7+0.6+.385
LeBron James 23 41.7 25.9 1.6 6.8 8.4 6.6 1.8 0.8 3.0 1.9 9.2 18.8 .491 1.6 4.2 .375 5.9 7.6 .777

Season 11

Wilt Chamberlain LeBron James
Season 1969-702013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHeat Lost NBA Finals
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 12 42.1 27.3 - - 18.4 4.1 - - - 2.6 10.8 18.9 .568 - - - 5.8 13.1 .446
difference:+65+4.4+0.2+11.5+2.2-1.0+0.8+1.3+.001+0.1+5.5+.304
LeBron James 77 37.7 27.1 1.1 5.9 6.9 6.3 1.6 0.3 3.5 1.6 10.0 17.6 .567 1.5 4.0 .379 5.7 7.6 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 18 47.3 22.1 - - 22.2 4.5 - - - 2.3 8.8 16.0 .549 - - - 4.6 11.2 .406
difference:+2+9.1+5.3+15.1+0.3+0.8+1.0+.016+1.9+3.2+.400
LeBron James 20 38.2 27.4 0.7 6.4 7.1 4.8 1.8 0.6 3.1 2.3 9.6 17.0 .565 1.8 4.3 .407 6.5 8.0 .806

Season 12

Wilt Chamberlain LeBron James
Season 1970-712014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 82 44.3 20.7 - - 18.2 4.3 - - - 2.1 8.1 15.0 .545 - - - 4.4 8.2 .538
difference:+13+8.2+4.6+12.2+3.1-0.1+0.9+3.5+.057+1.0+0.5+.172
LeBron James 69 36.1 25.3 0.7 5.3 6.0 7.4 1.6 0.7 3.9 2.0 9.0 18.5 .488 1.7 4.9 .354 5.4 7.7 .710
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 12 46.2 18.3 - - 20.2 4.4 - - - 2.8 7.1 15.6 .455 - - - 4.2 8.1 .515
difference:+8+4.0+11.8+8.9+4.1-0.1+4.3+11.6+.038+1.9+0.3+.216
LeBron James 20 42.2 30.1 1.9 9.5 11.3 8.5 1.7 1.1 4.1 2.9 11.4 27.2 .417 1.3 5.5 .227 6.1 8.4 .731

Season 13

Wilt Chamberlain LeBron James
Season 1971-722015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVPAchievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 82 42.3 14.8 - - 19.2 4.0 - - - 2.4 6.0 9.3 .649 - - - 2.7 6.4 .422
difference:+6+6.7+10.5+11.8+2.8-0.5+3.7+9.3+.129+2.0+0.1+.309
LeBron James 76 35.6 25.3 1.5 6.0 7.4 6.8 1.4 0.6 3.3 1.9 9.7 18.6 .520 1.1 3.7 .309 4.7 6.5 .731
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 15 46.9 14.7 - - 21.0 3.3 - - - 3.1 5.3 9.5 .563 - - - 4.0 8.1 .492
difference:+6+7.8+11.6+11.5+4.3-0.5+5.1+10.4+.038+0.1+2.2+.169
LeBron James 21 39.1 26.3 2.0 7.5 9.5 7.6 2.3 1.3 3.6 2.6 10.4 19.9 .525 1.5 4.5 .340 3.9 5.9 .661

Season 14

Wilt Chamberlain LeBron James
Season 1972-732016-17
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 82 43.2 13.2 - - 18.6 4.5 - - - 2.3 5.2 7.1 .727 - - - 2.8 5.5 .510
difference:+8+5.4+13.2+10.0+4.2-0.5+4.7+11.1+.179+2.0+1.7+.164
LeBron James 74 37.8 26.4 1.3 7.3 8.6 8.7 1.2 0.6 4.1 1.8 9.9 18.2 .548 1.7 4.6 .363 4.8 7.2 .674
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Wilt Chamberlain 17 47.1 10.4 - - 22.5 3.5 - - - 2.8 3.8 6.8 .552 - - - 2.9 5.8 .500
difference:+1+5.8+22.4+13.4+4.3-0.4+8.3+14.5+.013+3.4+3.2+.198
LeBron James 18 41.3 32.8 1.1 8.1 9.1 7.8 1.9 1.3 4.0 2.4 12.1 21.3 .565 2.4 5.9 .411 6.3 9.0 .698

Additional Years

* LeBron James played 8 seasons more than Wilt Chamberlain in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 22, from 2018 to 2025—LeBron James played in 6 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship and one NBA Cup.

In those 8 extra years over Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron James got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Finals MVP
Achievement 2 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 2 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 4 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 1 Assists Leader
Achievement 1 Cup MVP
Achievement 1 Cup All-Tournament Team
Achievement 8 All-Star Game
Achievement 1 All-Star Game MVP