Dale Ellis vs. James Worthy Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Worthy and Dale Ellis, 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.

Dale Ellis played 17 years in the NBA, 5 more than James Worthy, who played 12. Dale Ellis had the first of his seasons in 1983-84, 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
Dale Ellis 17 10 1983-84 to 1999-00
James Worthy 12 9 1982-83 to 1993-94

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Dale Ellis James Worthy
Season 1983-841982-83
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Mavericks 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 %
Dale Ellis 67 15.8 8.2 1.6 2.1 3.7 0.8 0.6 0.1 1.2 1.8 3.4 7.4 .456 0.2 0.4 .414 1.3 1.8 .719
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 %
Dale Ellis 8 22.3 7.4 2.4 2.9 5.3 0.5 1.3 0.3 0.6 2.1 3.3 10.0 .325 0.1 1.5 .083 0.8 1.0 .750
James Worthy ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Dale Ellis James Worthy
Season 1984-851983-84
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West 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 %
Dale Ellis 72 18.3 9.3 1.4 1.9 3.3 0.8 0.6 0.1 0.8 1.8 3.8 8.4 .454 0.6 1.5 .385 1.1 1.4 .740
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 %
Dale Ellis 4 17.0 5.8 1.0 0.8 1.8 0.8 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.8 2.5 5.8 .435 0.5 1.3 .400 0.3 0.5 .500
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

Dale Ellis James Worthy
Season 1985-861984-85
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West 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 %
Dale Ellis 72 15.1 7.1 1.2 1.1 2.3 0.5 0.6 0.1 0.5 1.1 2.7 6.5 .411 0.9 2.4 .364 0.8 1.1 .720
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 %
Dale Ellis 7 9.6 4.3 0.4 0.6 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.3 3.1 .409 1.0 1.7 .583 0.7 0.7 1.000
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

Dale Ellis James Worthy
Season 1986-871985-86
Team Seattle SupersonicsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Most Improved Player-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsLakers 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 %
Dale Ellis 82 37.5 24.9 2.3 3.2 5.5 2.9 1.3 0.4 2.9 3.3 9.6 18.5 .516 1.0 2.9 .358 4.7 6.0 .787
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 %
Dale Ellis 14 37.9 25.2 2.6 3.8 6.4 2.6 0.7 0.4 2.4 3.9 10.6 21.7 .487 0.9 2.6 .361 3.1 3.9 .815
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

Dale Ellis James Worthy
Season 1987-881986-87
Team Seattle SupersonicsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West 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 %
Dale Ellis 75 37.2 25.8 2.2 2.3 4.5 2.6 1.0 0.1 2.3 2.9 10.2 20.3 .503 1.4 3.5 .413 4.0 5.3 .767
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 %
Dale Ellis 5 34.4 20.8 2.2 2.4 4.6 3.0 0.6 0.4 2.4 3.4 8.0 16.6 .482 0.6 2.4 .250 4.2 5.8 .724
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

Dale Ellis James Worthy
Season 1988-891987-88
Team Seattle SupersonicsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West 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 %
Dale Ellis 82 38.9 27.5 1.9 2.3 4.2 2.0 1.3 0.3 2.7 2.4 10.5 20.9 .501 2.0 4.1 .478 4.6 5.6 .816
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 %
Dale Ellis 8 38.0 22.9 1.8 2.3 4.0 1.3 1.4 0.1 2.6 2.4 9.0 20.0 .450 1.9 4.6 .405 3.0 4.1 .727
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

Dale Ellis James Worthy
Season 1989-901988-89
Team Seattle SupersonicsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Dale Ellis 55 37.0 23.5 1.6 2.7 4.3 2.0 1.1 0.1 2.2 2.3 9.1 18.4 .497 1.7 4.7 .375 3.5 4.3 .818
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 %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
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

Dale Ellis James Worthy
Season 1990-911989-90
Team Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 %
Dale Ellis 51 27.9 16.8 1.3 2.1 3.4 1.9 1.0 0.2 1.6 2.2 6.7 14.1 .474 1.1 3.1 .363 2.4 3.3 .723
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 %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
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

Dale Ellis James Worthy
Season 1991-921990-91
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Dale Ellis 81 27.0 15.7 1.1 2.0 3.1 1.3 0.7 0.2 1.5 1.9 6.0 12.8 .469 1.7 4.1 .419 2.0 2.6 .774
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 %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
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

Dale Ellis James Worthy
Season 1992-931991-92
Team San Antonio SpursLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Dale Ellis 82 33.3 16.7 1.0 2.8 3.8 1.3 1.0 0.2 1.4 2.2 6.6 13.3 .499 1.5 3.6 .401 1.9 2.4 .797
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 %
Dale Ellis 10 30.5 12.5 0.9 2.6 3.5 1.1 0.4 0.0 1.0 2.5 5.1 11.3 .451 1.0 3.2 .313 1.3 1.6 .813
James Worthy ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Dale Ellis James Worthy
Season 1993-941992-93
Team San Antonio SpursLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
Dale Ellis 77 33.6 15.2 0.9 2.4 3.3 1.0 0.9 0.1 1.0 1.8 6.2 12.6 .494 1.7 4.3 .395 1.1 1.4 .776
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 %
Dale Ellis 4 28.5 10.5 0.8 1.8 2.5 0.3 0.8 0.0 1.0 1.5 4.3 10.8 .395 1.3 4.3 .294 0.8 1.3 .600
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

Dale Ellis James Worthy
Season 1994-951993-94
Team Denver NuggetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Dale Ellis 81 24.6 11.3 0.7 2.0 2.7 0.7 0.5 0.1 1.0 1.8 4.3 9.6 .453 1.3 3.2 .403 1.4 1.6 .866
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 %
Dale Ellis 3 24.3 12.0 2.0 2.7 4.7 1.0 0.7 0.3 0.7 2.0 3.3 9.3 .357 1.3 4.3 .308 4.0 4.3 .923
James Worthy ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Dale Ellis James Worthy
Season 1995-96-
Team Denver Nuggets-
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 %
Dale Ellis 81 32.4 14.9 1.1 2.8 3.9 1.7 0.7 0.1 1.2 2.4 5.7 11.8 .479 1.9 4.5 .412 1.7 2.2 .760
James Worthy ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
James Worthy ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Dale Ellis James Worthy
Season 1996-97-
Team Denver Nuggets-
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 %
Dale Ellis 82 35.9 16.6 1.2 2.4 3.6 2.0 0.7 0.1 1.8 2.2 5.8 14.0 .414 2.3 6.4 .364 2.6 3.2 .817
James Worthy ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
James Worthy ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Dale Ellis James Worthy
Season 1997-98-
Team Seattle Supersonics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Dale Ellis 79 24.5 11.8 0.6 1.7 2.3 1.1 0.8 0.1 0.9 1.6 4.4 8.9 .497 1.6 3.5 .464 1.4 1.8 .782
James Worthy ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis 10 17.2 5.6 0.4 0.9 1.3 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.2 1.0 2.0 5.3 .377 1.1 2.6 .423 0.5 0.6 .833
James Worthy ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Dale Ellis James Worthy
Season 1998-99-
Team Seattle Supersonics-
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 %
Dale Ellis 48 25.7 10.3 0.5 1.9 2.4 0.8 0.5 0.1 0.9 1.6 3.6 8.2 .441 2.0 4.5 .433 1.1 1.5 .757
James Worthy ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
James Worthy ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Dale Ellis James Worthy
Season 1999-00-
Team Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Hornets-
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 %
Dale Ellis 42 13.4 4.2 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.5 1.1 1.6 3.8 .415 0.9 2.4 .370 0.2 0.3 .692
James Worthy ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
James Worthy ------- --- ----------