Dale Ellis vs. Michael Jordan Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Michael Jordan 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, 2 more than Michael Jordan, who played 15. Dale Ellis had the first of his seasons in 1983-84, while Michael Jordan had his rookie season in 1984-85. 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
Michael Jordan 15 13 1984-85 to 2002-03

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 Michael Jordan
Season 1983-841984-85
Team Dallas MavericksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisBulls 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 %
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
Michael Jordan 82 38.3 28.2 2.0 4.5 6.5 5.9 2.4 0.8 3.5 3.5 10.2 19.8 .515 0.1 0.6 .173 7.7 9.1 .845
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
Michael Jordan 4 42.8 29.3 1.8 4.0 5.8 8.5 2.8 1.0 3.8 3.8 8.5 19.5 .436 0.3 2.0 .125 12.0 14.5 .828

Season 2

Dale Ellis Michael Jordan
Season 1984-851985-86
Team Dallas MavericksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls 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 %
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
Michael Jordan 18 25.1 22.7 1.3 2.3 3.6 2.9 2.1 1.2 2.5 2.6 8.3 18.2 .457 0.2 1.0 .167 5.8 6.9 .840
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
Michael Jordan 3 45.0 43.7 1.7 4.7 6.3 5.7 2.3 1.3 4.7 4.3 16.0 31.7 .505 0.3 0.3 1.000 11.3 13.0 .872

Season 3

Dale Ellis Michael Jordan
Season 1985-861986-87
Team Dallas MavericksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisBulls 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 %
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
Michael Jordan 82 40.0 37.1 2.0 3.2 5.2 4.6 2.9 1.5 3.3 2.9 13.4 27.8 .482 0.1 0.8 .182 10.2 11.9 .857
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
Michael Jordan 3 42.7 35.7 2.3 4.7 7.0 6.0 2.0 2.3 2.7 3.7 11.7 28.0 .417 0.7 1.7 .400 11.7 13.0 .897

Season 4

Dale Ellis Michael Jordan
Season 1986-871987-88
Team Seattle SupersonicsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement Most Improved Player-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsBulls 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 %
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
Michael Jordan 82 40.4 35.0 1.7 3.8 5.5 5.9 3.2 1.6 3.1 3.3 13.0 24.4 .535 0.1 0.6 .132 8.8 10.5 .841
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
Michael Jordan 10 42.7 36.3 2.3 4.8 7.1 4.7 2.4 1.1 3.9 3.8 13.8 26.0 .531 0.1 0.3 .333 8.6 9.9 .869

Season 5

Dale Ellis Michael Jordan
Season 1987-881988-89
Team Seattle SupersonicsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls Lost East 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 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
Michael Jordan 81 40.2 32.5 1.8 6.2 8.0 8.0 2.9 0.8 3.6 3.0 11.9 22.2 .538 0.3 1.2 .276 8.3 9.8 .850
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
Michael Jordan 17 42.2 34.8 1.5 5.5 7.0 7.6 2.5 0.8 4.0 3.8 11.7 22.9 .510 0.6 2.1 .286 10.8 13.5 .799

Season 6

Dale Ellis Michael Jordan
Season 1988-891989-90
Team Seattle SupersonicsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisBulls Lost East 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 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
Michael Jordan 82 39.0 33.6 1.7 5.1 6.9 6.3 2.8 0.7 3.0 2.9 12.6 24.0 .526 1.1 3.0 .376 7.2 8.5 .848
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
Michael Jordan 16 42.1 36.7 1.5 5.7 7.2 6.8 2.8 0.9 3.5 3.4 13.7 26.6 .514 1.0 3.1 .320 8.3 9.9 .836

Season 7

Dale Ellis Michael Jordan
Season 1989-901990-91
Team Seattle SupersonicsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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 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
Michael Jordan 82 37.0 31.5 1.4 4.6 6.0 5.5 2.7 1.0 2.5 2.8 12.1 22.4 .539 0.4 1.1 .312 7.0 8.2 .851
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
Michael Jordan 17 40.5 31.1 1.1 5.3 6.4 8.4 2.4 1.4 2.5 3.1 11.6 22.1 .524 0.6 1.5 .385 7.4 8.7 .845

Season 8

Dale Ellis Michael Jordan
Season 1990-911991-92
Team Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee BucksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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 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
Michael Jordan 80 38.8 30.1 1.1 5.3 6.4 6.1 2.3 0.9 2.5 2.5 11.8 22.7 .519 0.3 1.3 .270 6.1 7.4 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
Michael Jordan 22 41.8 34.5 1.7 4.5 6.2 5.8 2.0 0.7 3.7 2.8 13.2 26.4 .499 0.8 2.0 .386 7.4 8.6 .857

Season 9

Dale Ellis Michael Jordan
Season 1991-921992-93
Team Milwaukee BucksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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 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
Michael Jordan 78 39.3 32.6 1.7 5.0 6.7 5.5 2.8 0.8 2.7 2.4 12.7 25.7 .495 1.0 2.9 .352 6.1 7.3 .837
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
Michael Jordan 19 41.2 35.1 1.7 5.1 6.7 6.0 2.1 0.9 2.4 3.1 13.2 27.8 .475 1.5 3.8 .389 7.2 8.9 .805

Note: Michael Jordan didn't play in 1993-94.

Season 10

Dale Ellis Michael Jordan
Season 1992-931994-95
Team San Antonio SpursChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisBulls 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 %
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
Michael Jordan 17 39.3 26.9 1.5 5.4 6.9 5.3 1.8 0.8 2.1 2.8 9.8 23.8 .411 0.9 1.9 .500 6.4 8.0 .801
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
Michael Jordan 10 42.0 31.5 2.0 4.5 6.5 4.5 2.3 1.4 4.1 3.0 12.0 24.8 .484 1.1 3.0 .367 6.4 7.9 .810

Season 11

Dale Ellis Michael Jordan
Season 1993-941995-96
Team San Antonio SpursChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Spurs 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 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
Michael Jordan 82 37.7 30.4 1.8 4.8 6.6 4.3 2.2 0.5 2.4 2.4 11.2 22.6 .495 1.4 3.2 .427 6.7 8.0 .834
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
Michael Jordan 18 40.7 30.7 1.7 3.2 4.9 4.1 1.8 0.3 2.3 2.7 10.4 22.6 .459 1.4 3.4 .403 8.5 10.4 .818

Season 12

Dale Ellis Michael Jordan
Season 1994-951996-97
Team Denver NuggetsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets 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 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
Michael Jordan 82 37.9 29.6 1.4 4.5 5.9 4.3 1.7 0.5 2.0 1.9 11.2 23.1 .486 1.4 3.6 .374 5.9 7.0 .833
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
Michael Jordan 19 42.3 31.1 2.2 5.7 7.9 4.8 1.6 0.9 2.6 2.4 11.9 26.2 .456 0.7 3.5 .194 6.5 7.8 .831

Season 13

Dale Ellis Michael Jordan
Season 1995-961997-98
Team Denver NuggetsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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 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
Michael Jordan 82 38.8 28.7 1.6 4.2 5.8 3.5 1.7 0.5 2.3 1.8 10.7 23.1 .465 0.4 1.5 .238 6.9 8.8 .784
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
Michael Jordan 21 41.5 32.4 1.6 3.5 5.1 3.5 1.5 0.6 2.1 2.2 11.6 25.0 .462 0.6 2.0 .302 8.6 10.6 .812

Note: Michael Jordan didn't play in 1998-99, 1999-00 and 2000-01.

Season 14

Dale Ellis Michael Jordan
Season 1996-972001-02
Team Denver NuggetsWashington Wizards
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 %
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
Michael Jordan 60 34.9 22.9 0.8 4.8 5.7 5.2 1.4 0.4 2.7 2.0 9.2 22.1 .416 0.2 0.9 .189 4.4 5.6 .790
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
Michael Jordan ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Dale Ellis Michael Jordan
Season 1997-982002-03
Team Seattle SupersonicsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics 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 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
Michael Jordan 82 37.0 20.0 0.9 5.2 6.1 3.8 1.5 0.5 2.1 2.1 8.3 18.6 .445 0.2 0.7 .291 3.2 4.0 .821
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
Michael Jordan ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Dale Ellis Michael Jordan
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
Michael Jordan ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
Michael Jordan ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Dale Ellis Michael Jordan
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
Michael Jordan ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
Michael Jordan ------- --- ----------