Zach LaVine vs. JaVale McGee Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of JaVale McGee and Zach LaVine, 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.

Zach LaVine played 11 years in the NBA, 5 less than JaVale McGee, who played 16. Zach LaVine had the first of his seasons in 2014-15, while JaVale McGee had his rookie season in 2008-09. 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
Zach LaVine 11 1 2014-15 to 2024-25
JaVale McGee 16 8 2008-09 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Zach LaVine JaVale McGee
Season 2014-152008-09
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Zach LaVine 77 24.7 10.1 0.4 2.4 2.8 3.6 0.7 0.1 2.5 2.1 3.7 8.8 .422 0.7 2.2 .341 1.9 2.3 .842
difference:+2+9.5+3.6+1.2+0.1+1.1+3.3+0.3+0.9-1.7+1.2+3.6+.072+0.7+2.2+0.5+0.1+.182
JaVale McGee 75 15.2 6.5 1.6 2.3 3.9 0.3 0.4 1.0 0.8 2.1 2.5 5.2 .494 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.2 .660
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Zach LaVine nor JaVale McGee played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Zach LaVine JaVale McGee
Season 2015-162009-10
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Zach LaVine 82 28.0 14.0 0.3 2.5 2.8 3.1 0.8 0.2 1.9 2.4 5.3 11.7 .452 1.5 3.9 .389 2.0 2.5 .793
difference:+22+11.9+7.6+1.2+0.1+1.3+2.9+0.5+1.5-1.0-0.4+2.7+6.6+.056+1.5+3.9+0.8+0.6+.155
JaVale McGee 60 16.1 6.4 1.5 2.6 4.1 0.2 0.3 1.7 0.9 2.0 2.6 5.1 .508 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.9 .638
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Zach LaVine nor JaVale McGee played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3

Zach LaVine JaVale McGee
Season 2016-172010-11
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
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%
Zach LaVine 47 37.2 18.9 0.4 3.0 3.4 3.0 0.9 0.2 1.8 2.2 6.9 15.1 .459 2.6 6.6 .387 2.5 3.0 .836
difference:+32+9.4+8.8+2.4+2.2+4.6+2.5+0.4+2.2-0.5-0.7+2.7+7.5+.091+2.6+6.6+0.8+0.1+.253
JaVale McGee 79 27.8 10.1 2.8 5.2 8.0 0.5 0.5 2.4 1.3 2.9 4.2 7.6 .550 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.9 .583
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Zach LaVine nor JaVale McGee played in the postseason in their season 3

Season 4

Zach LaVine JaVale McGee
Season 2017-182011-12
Team Chicago BullsWashington Wizards, Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Zach LaVine 24 27.3 16.7 0.4 3.5 3.9 3.0 1.0 0.2 1.8 2.3 5.7 14.8 .383 1.8 5.1 .341 3.6 4.5 .813
difference:+37+2.1+5.4+2.3+1.6+3.9+2.5+0.4+2.0-0.4-0.4+0.7+5.8+.173+1.8+5.1+2.3+1.8+.352
JaVale McGee 61 25.2 11.3 2.7 5.1 7.8 0.5 0.6 2.2 1.4 2.7 5.0 9.0 .556 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 2.7 .461
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Zach LaVine DNP------ --- ----------
JaVale McGee 7 25.9 8.6 3.3 6.3 9.6 0.7 0.7 3.1 0.6 3.0 3.3 7.6 .434 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.7 .538

Season 5

Zach LaVine JaVale McGee
Season 2018-192012-13
Team Chicago BullsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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%
Zach LaVine 63 34.5 23.7 0.6 4.0 4.7 4.5 1.0 0.4 3.4 2.2 8.4 18.0 .467 1.9 5.1 .374 5.0 6.0 .832
difference:+16+16.4+14.6+1.4+1.2+0.1+4.2+0.6+1.6-2.3-0.1+4.6+11.3+.108+1.9+5.1+3.6+3.6+.241
JaVale McGee 79 18.1 9.1 2.0 2.8 4.8 0.3 0.4 2.0 1.1 2.3 3.8 6.7 .575 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.4 .591
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Zach LaVine DNP------ --- ----------
JaVale McGee 6 18.7 7.2 2.8 2.3 5.2 0.0 0.7 1.0 1.8 2.8 3.0 5.2 .581 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 3.0 .389

Season 6

Zach LaVine JaVale McGee
Season 2019-202013-14
Team Chicago BullsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Zach LaVine 60 34.8 25.5 0.7 4.1 4.8 4.2 1.5 0.5 3.4 2.2 9.0 20.0 .450 3.1 8.1 .380 4.5 5.6 .802
difference:+55+19.0+18.5+1.3+2.7+1.4+3.8+1.3+0.9-1.8-1.0+5.6+12.4+.003+3.1+8.1+4.3+5.4+.198
JaVale McGee 5 15.8 7.0 2.0 1.4 3.4 0.4 0.2 1.4 1.6 3.2 3.4 7.6 .447 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 1.000
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Zach LaVine nor JaVale McGee played in the postseason in their season 6

Season 7

Zach LaVine JaVale McGee
Season 2020-212014-15
Team Chicago BullsDenver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Zach LaVine 58 35.1 27.4 0.6 4.4 5.0 4.9 0.8 0.5 3.5 2.4 9.8 19.4 .507 3.4 8.2 .419 4.4 5.1 .849
difference:+35+24.0+22.8+0.2+2.5+2.3+4.8+0.7+0.4-2.7-1.1+8.0+16.0+.025+3.4+8.2+3.4+3.7+.182
JaVale McGee 23 11.1 4.6 0.8 1.9 2.7 0.1 0.1 0.9 0.8 1.3 1.8 3.4 .532 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.4 .667
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Zach LaVine nor JaVale McGee played in the postseason in their season 7

Season 8

Zach LaVine JaVale McGee
Season 2021-222015-16
Team Chicago BullsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdMavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Zach LaVine 67 34.7 24.4 0.3 4.3 4.6 4.5 0.6 0.3 2.6 1.8 8.4 17.7 .476 2.8 7.1 .389 4.8 5.6 .853
difference:+33+23.8+19.3+1.3+1.9+0.7+4.4+0.5+0.5-2.0-0.4+6.1+13.8+.099+2.8+7.1+4.3+4.5+.353
JaVale McGee 34 10.9 5.1 1.6 2.4 3.9 0.1 0.1 0.8 0.6 1.4 2.3 3.9 .575 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.1 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Zach LaVine 4 38.3 19.3 0.0 5.3 5.3 6.0 0.8 0.3 3.0 2.3 6.8 15.8 .429 2.3 6.0 .375 3.5 3.8 .933
difference:+2+31.3+17.3+1.0+4.8+3.8+6.0+0.3+0.3-1.5-0.8+6.3+14.8+.071+2.3+6.0+2.5+0.8+.600
JaVale McGee 2 7.0 2.0 1.0 0.5 1.5 0.0 0.5 0.0 1.5 1.5 0.5 1.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 3.0 .333

Season 9

Zach LaVine JaVale McGee
Season 2022-232016-17
Team Chicago BullsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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%
Zach LaVine 77 35.9 24.8 0.5 3.9 4.5 4.2 0.9 0.2 2.5 2.1 8.7 18.0 .485 2.6 7.1 .375 4.7 5.6 .848
difference:+26.3+18.7+0.8+2.0+1.3+4.0+0.7+0.7-2.0-0.7+6.0+13.9+.167+2.6+7.1+4.0+4.2+.343
JaVale McGee 77 9.6 6.1 1.3 1.9 3.2 0.2 0.2 0.9 0.5 1.4 2.7 4.1 .652 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.4 .505
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Zach LaVine DNP------ --- ----------
JaVale McGee 16 9.3 5.9 1.4 1.6 3.0 0.3 0.1 0.9 0.5 1.9 2.6 3.5 .732 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.1 .722

Season 10

Zach LaVine JaVale McGee
Season 2023-242017-18
Team Chicago BullsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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%
Zach LaVine 25 34.9 19.5 0.3 4.8 5.2 3.9 0.8 0.3 2.1 2.3 6.8 15.0 .452 2.4 6.8 .349 3.5 4.1 .854
difference:+40+25.4+14.7+0.6+3.1+2.6+3.4+0.5+0.6-1.7-0.9+4.7+11.6+.169+2.4+6.7+.349+2.9+3.3+.123
JaVale McGee 65 9.5 4.8 0.9 1.7 2.6 0.5 0.3 0.9 0.4 1.4 2.1 3.4 .621 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 0.8 .731
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Zach LaVine DNP------ --- ----------
JaVale McGee 13 12.2 6.5 1.2 2.0 3.2 0.3 0.2 0.8 0.4 1.5 3.0 4.5 .672 0.0 0.1 .000 0.5 0.7 .667

Season 11

Zach LaVine JaVale McGee
Season 2024-252018-19
Team Chicago Bulls, Sacramento KingsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Zach LaVine 74 35.2 23.3 0.3 4.0 4.3 4.2 0.8 0.2 2.8 1.6 8.4 16.5 .511 3.2 7.2 .446 3.2 3.9 .825
difference:+1+12.9+11.3+2.3+0.9+3.2+3.5+0.2+1.8-1.4-1.2+3.1+8.0+.113+3.2+7.0+.363+1.9+1.9+.193
JaVale McGee 75 22.3 12.0 2.6 4.9 7.5 0.7 0.6 2.0 1.4 2.8 5.3 8.5 .624 0.0 0.2 .083 1.3 2.0 .632
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Zach LaVine nor JaVale McGee played in the postseason in their season 11

Additional Years

* JaVale McGee played 5 seasons more than Zach LaVine in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 12 to 16, from 2020 to 2024—JaVale McGee played in 3 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.