Elgin Baylor vs. JaVale McGee Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of JaVale McGee and Elgin Baylor, 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.

Elgin Baylor played 14 years in the NBA, 2 less than JaVale McGee, who played 16. Elgin Baylor had the first of his seasons in 1958-59, 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 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
Elgin Baylor 14 12 1958-59 to 1971-72
JaVale McGee 16 8 2008-09 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Elgin Baylor JaVale McGee
Season 1958-592008-09
Team Minneapolis LakersWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 70 40.8 24.9 - - 15.0 4.1 - - - 3.9 8.6 21.2 .408 - - - 7.6 9.8 .777
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 13 42.8 25.5 - - 12.0 3.3 - - - 4.0 9.4 23.3 .403 - - - 6.7 8.7 .770
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Elgin Baylor JaVale McGee
Season 1959-602009-10
Team Minneapolis LakersWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 70 41.0 29.6 - - 16.4 3.5 - - - 3.3 10.8 25.4 .424 - - - 8.1 11.0 .732
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 .000 1.2 1.9 .638
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 9 45.3 33.4 - - 14.1 3.4 - - - 4.2 12.3 26.0 .474 - - - 8.8 10.4 .840
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Elgin Baylor JaVale McGee
Season 1960-612010-11
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 73 42.9 34.8 - - 19.8 5.1 - - - 3.8 12.8 29.7 .430 - - - 9.3 11.8 .783
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 .000 1.7 2.9 .583
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 12 45.0 38.1 - - 15.3 4.6 - - - 3.7 14.2 30.2 .470 - - - 9.8 11.8 .824
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Elgin Baylor JaVale McGee
Season 1961-622011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Wizards, Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNuggets 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 %
Elgin Baylor 48 44.4 38.3 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.2 14.2 33.1 .428 - - - 9.9 13.1 .754
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 13 43.9 38.6 - - 17.7 3.6 - - - 3.5 14.3 32.7 .438 - - - 10.0 12.9 .774
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

Elgin Baylor JaVale McGee
Season 1962-632012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNuggets 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 %
Elgin Baylor 80 42.1 34.0 - - 14.3 4.8 - - - 2.8 12.9 28.4 .453 - - - 8.3 9.9 .837
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 1.000 1.4 2.4 .591
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 13 43.2 32.6 - - 13.6 4.5 - - - 3.7 12.3 27.8 .442 - - - 8.0 9.7 .825
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

Elgin Baylor JaVale McGee
Season 1963-642013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 78 40.6 25.4 - - 12.0 4.4 - - - 3.0 9.7 22.8 .425 - - - 6.0 7.5 .804
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 5 44.2 24.2 - - 11.6 5.6 - - - 3.4 9.0 23.8 .378 - - - 6.2 8.0 .775
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Elgin Baylor JaVale McGee
Season 1964-652014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 74 41.3 27.1 - - 12.8 3.8 - - - 3.2 10.3 25.7 .401 - - - 6.5 8.2 .792
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 1 5.0 0.0 - - 0 1.0 - - - 0.0 0.0 2.0 .000 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Elgin Baylor JaVale McGee
Season 1965-662015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsMavericks 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 %
Elgin Baylor 65 30.4 16.6 - - 9.6 3.4 - - - 2.4 6.4 15.9 .401 - - - 3.8 5.2 .739
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 .000 0.5 1.1 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 14 41.9 26.8 - - 14.1 3.7 - - - 2.7 10.4 23.4 .442 - - - 6.1 7.5 .810
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

Elgin Baylor JaVale McGee
Season 1966-672016-17
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div 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 %
Elgin Baylor 70 38.7 26.6 - - 12.8 3.1 - - - 3.0 10.2 23.7 .429 - - - 6.3 7.7 .813
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 .000 0.7 1.4 .505
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 3 40.3 23.7 - - 13.0 3.0 - - - 2.0 9.3 25.3 .368 - - - 5.0 6.7 .750
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

Elgin Baylor JaVale McGee
Season 1967-682017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 77 39.3 26.0 - - 12.2 4.6 - - - 3.0 9.8 22.2 .443 - - - 6.3 8.1 .786
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 15 42.2 28.5 - - 14.5 4.0 - - - 2.7 11.7 25.1 .468 - - - 5.1 7.5 .679
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

Elgin Baylor JaVale McGee
Season 1968-692018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 76 40.3 24.8 - - 10.6 5.4 - - - 2.7 9.6 21.5 .447 - - - 5.5 7.5 .743
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 18 35.6 15.4 - - 9.2 4.1 - - - 3.1 5.9 15.4 .385 - - - 3.5 5.6 .630
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Elgin Baylor JaVale McGee
Season 1969-702019-20
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 54 41.0 24.0 - - 10.4 5.4 - - - 2.4 9.5 19.5 .486 - - - 5.1 6.6 .773
JaVale McGee 68 16.6 6.6 1.8 3.9 5.7 0.5 0.5 1.4 0.8 2.3 2.9 4.5 .637 0.0 0.1 .500 0.8 1.2 .646
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 18 37.1 18.7 - - 9.6 4.6 - - - 2.8 7.7 16.4 .466 - - - 3.3 4.5 .741
JaVale McGee 14 9.6 2.9 1.1 2.0 3.1 0.5 0.1 0.7 0.6 1.6 1.4 2.3 .625 0.0 0.1 .000 0.1 0.1 .500

Season 13

Elgin Baylor JaVale McGee
Season 1970-712020-21
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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 %
Elgin Baylor 2 28.5 10.0 - - 5.5 1.0 - - - 3.0 4.0 9.5 .421 - - - 2.0 3.0 .667
JaVale McGee 46 14.7 7.3 1.7 3.5 5.2 0.8 0.4 1.2 1.3 2.6 3.1 6.1 .511 0.1 0.5 .208 1.0 1.5 .657
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee 4 8.5 2.0 0.8 2.3 3.0 0.8 0.3 1.3 0.3 1.0 0.8 2.5 .300 0.0 0.5 .000 0.5 1.5 .333

Season 14

Elgin Baylor JaVale McGee
Season 1971-722021-22
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
Elgin Baylor 9 26.6 11.8 - - 6.3 2.0 - - - 2.2 4.7 10.8 .433 - - - 2.4 3.0 .815
JaVale McGee 74 15.8 9.2 2.2 4.5 6.7 0.6 0.3 1.1 1.3 2.4 3.9 6.2 .629 0.0 0.1 .222 1.4 2.0 .699
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee 12 11.1 6.8 1.3 2.7 4.0 0.6 0.3 0.4 0.8 2.3 2.9 4.2 .700 0.0 0.1 .000 0.9 1.1 .846

Season 15

Elgin Baylor JaVale McGee
Season -2022-23
Team -Dallas Mavericks
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 %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee 42 8.5 4.4 0.7 1.8 2.5 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.9 1.3 1.9 3.0 .640 0.0 0.1 .400 0.6 1.0 .585
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Elgin Baylor JaVale McGee
Season -2023-24
Team -Sacramento Kings
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 %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee 46 7.4 4.0 0.9 1.8 2.7 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.7 1.0 1.7 2.9 .598 0.0 0.2 .143 0.6 1.0 .578
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------