Brian Cardinal vs. Joel Embiid Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Joel Embiid and Brian Cardinal, 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.

Brian Cardinal played 12 years in the NBA, 4 more than Joel Embiid, who played 8. Brian Cardinal had the first of his seasons in 2000-01, while Joel Embiid had his rookie season in 2016-17. 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
Brian Cardinal 12 4 2000-01 to 2011-12
Joel Embiid 8 7 2016-17 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Brian Cardinal Joel Embiid
Season 2000-012016-17
Team Detroit PistonsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
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 %
Brian Cardinal 15 8.4 2.1 0.5 1.0 1.5 0.2 0.5 0.1 0.6 1.8 0.7 2.1 .323 0.0 0.3 .000 0.7 1.2 .611
Joel Embiid 31 25.4 20.2 2.0 5.9 7.8 2.1 0.9 2.5 3.8 3.6 6.5 13.8 .466 1.2 3.2 .367 6.2 7.9 .783
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal ------- --- ----------
Joel Embiid ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Brian Cardinal Joel Embiid
Season 2001-022017-18
Team Detroit PistonsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal 8 5.4 2.1 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.8 1.6 .462 0.4 0.9 .429 0.3 0.3 1.000
Joel Embiid 63 30.3 22.9 2.3 8.7 11.0 3.2 0.6 1.8 3.7 3.3 8.1 16.8 .483 1.0 3.4 .308 5.7 7.4 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal ------- --- ----------
Joel Embiid 8 34.8 21.4 2.9 9.8 12.6 3.0 0.9 1.8 3.6 3.9 7.5 17.3 .435 1.0 3.6 .276 5.4 7.6 .705

Season 3

Brian Cardinal Joel Embiid
Season 2002-032018-19
Team Washington WizardsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal 5 3.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.8 .250 0.0 0.2 .000 0.4 0.4 1.000
Joel Embiid 64 33.7 27.5 2.5 11.1 13.6 3.7 0.7 1.9 3.5 3.3 9.1 18.7 .484 1.2 4.1 .300 8.2 10.1 .804
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal ------- --- ----------
Joel Embiid 11 30.4 20.2 1.9 8.5 10.5 3.4 0.7 2.3 3.6 3.1 6.2 14.5 .428 1.1 3.5 .308 6.7 8.2 .822

Season 4

Brian Cardinal Joel Embiid
Season 2003-042019-20
Team Golden State WarriorsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal 76 21.5 9.6 1.3 2.9 4.2 1.4 0.9 0.3 1.1 2.7 2.9 6.1 .472 0.7 1.6 .444 3.1 3.6 .878
Joel Embiid 51 29.5 23.0 2.8 8.9 11.6 3.0 0.9 1.3 3.1 3.4 7.5 15.7 .477 1.1 3.4 .331 6.9 8.5 .807
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal ------- --- ----------
Joel Embiid 4 36.3 30.0 2.8 9.5 12.3 1.3 1.5 1.3 3.8 4.5 8.5 18.5 .459 1.0 4.0 .250 12.0 14.8 .814

Season 5

Brian Cardinal Joel Embiid
Season 2004-052020-21
Team Memphis GrizzliesPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf 1st Rd76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal 58 24.7 9.0 1.1 2.8 3.9 2.0 1.5 0.3 1.4 3.0 2.8 7.4 .370 0.8 2.2 .352 2.7 3.1 .873
Joel Embiid 51 31.1 28.5 2.2 8.4 10.6 2.8 1.0 1.4 3.1 2.4 9.0 17.6 .513 1.1 3.0 .377 9.2 10.7 .859
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal 4 19.5 6.5 0.5 2.5 3.0 0.5 0.8 0.0 0.3 2.8 2.3 5.8 .391 0.0 1.0 .000 2.0 2.8 .727
Joel Embiid 11 32.5 28.1 1.5 9.1 10.5 3.4 1.0 1.5 3.8 3.0 9.2 17.9 .513 1.5 3.7 .390 8.3 9.9 .835

Season 6

Brian Cardinal Joel Embiid
Season 2005-062021-22
Team Memphis GrizzliesPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf 1st Rd76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal 36 11.2 3.4 0.3 1.2 1.5 0.9 0.6 0.0 0.8 1.8 1.3 3.1 .414 0.4 0.8 .448 0.5 0.8 .704
Joel Embiid 68 33.8 30.6 2.1 9.6 11.7 4.2 1.1 1.5 3.1 2.7 9.8 19.6 .499 1.4 3.7 .371 9.6 11.8 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal 3 7.3 1.0 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.3 0.7 .500 0.3 0.7 .500 0.0 0.0 -
Joel Embiid 10 38.5 23.6 2.1 8.6 10.7 2.1 0.4 0.8 3.2 3.4 7.8 16.1 .484 0.7 3.3 .212 7.3 8.9 .820

Season 7

Brian Cardinal Joel Embiid
Season 2006-072022-23
Team Memphis GrizzliesPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal 28 11.2 4.5 0.5 1.6 2.1 1.1 0.8 0.0 0.8 1.5 1.5 3.0 .494 0.6 1.6 .409 0.9 1.0 .926
Joel Embiid 66 34.6 33.1 1.7 8.4 10.2 4.2 1.0 1.7 3.4 3.1 11.0 20.1 .548 1.0 3.0 .330 10.0 11.7 .857
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal ------- --- ----------
Joel Embiid 9 37.3 23.7 1.8 8.0 9.8 2.7 0.7 2.8 3.9 3.0 7.3 17.0 .431 0.6 3.1 .179 8.4 9.3 .905

Season 8

Brian Cardinal Joel Embiid
Season 2007-082023-24
Team Memphis GrizzliesPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal 37 11.9 3.4 0.7 1.9 2.6 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.6 1.7 1.2 3.4 .341 0.7 2.2 .309 0.4 0.5 .684
Joel Embiid 39 33.6 34.7 2.4 8.6 11.0 5.6 1.2 1.7 3.8 2.9 11.5 21.8 .529 1.4 3.6 .388 10.2 11.6 .883
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal ------- --- ----------
Joel Embiid 6 41.3 33.0 3.2 7.7 10.8 5.7 1.2 1.5 4.2 3.3 9.8 22.2 .444 2.2 6.5 .333 11.2 13.0 .859

Season 9

Brian Cardinal Joel Embiid
Season 2008-09-
Team Minnesota Timberwolves-
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 %
Brian Cardinal 64 14.2 3.0 0.6 1.6 2.2 1.2 0.6 0.2 0.8 2.1 1.0 2.6 .385 0.5 1.4 .326 0.5 0.5 .857
Joel Embiid ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal ------- --- ----------
Joel Embiid ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Brian Cardinal Joel Embiid
Season 2009-10-
Team Minnesota Timberwolves-
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 %
Brian Cardinal 29 9.2 1.7 0.2 0.8 1.0 0.8 0.3 0.1 0.2 1.9 0.5 1.2 .389 0.1 0.3 .333 0.6 0.6 .944
Joel Embiid ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal ------- --- ----------
Joel Embiid ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Brian Cardinal Joel Embiid
Season 2010-11-
Team Dallas Mavericks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal 56 11.0 2.6 0.2 0.9 1.1 0.7 0.4 0.1 0.3 1.5 0.8 1.8 .430 0.8 1.6 .483 0.3 0.3 .944
Joel Embiid ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal 9 4.1 1.1 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.9 0.3 0.4 .750 0.3 0.4 .750 0.1 0.2 .500
Joel Embiid ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Brian Cardinal Joel Embiid
Season 2011-12-
Team Dallas Mavericks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks 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 %
Brian Cardinal 44 6.3 1.0 0.1 0.7 0.8 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.9 0.3 1.3 .255 0.2 1.1 .204 0.1 0.1 .833
Joel Embiid ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Cardinal 2 4.5 1.5 0.0 1.5 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 .500 0.5 0.5 1.000 0.0 0.0 -
Joel Embiid ------- --- ----------