Elvin Hayes vs. James Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Johnson and Elvin Hayes, 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.

Elvin Hayes played 16 years in the NBA, 1 more than James Johnson, who played 15. Elvin Hayes had the first of his seasons in 1968-69, while James Johnson had his rookie season in 2009-10. 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
Elvin Hayes 16 10 1968-69 to 1983-84
James Johnson 15 6 2009-10 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

Elvin Hayes James Johnson
Season 1968-692009-10
Team San Diego RocketsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Div 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 %
Elvin Hayes 82 45.1 28.4 - - 17.1 1.4 - - - 3.2 11.3 25.4 .447 - - - 5.7 9.1 .626
James Johnson 65 11.6 3.9 0.5 1.4 2.0 0.7 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.9 1.5 3.2 .452 0.2 0.7 .326 0.8 1.1 .729
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 6 46.3 25.8 - - 13.8 0.8 - - - 3.5 10.0 19.0 .526 - - - 5.8 8.8 .660
James Johnson 4 5.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.5 2.8 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Elvin Hayes James Johnson
Season 1969-702010-11
Team San Diego RocketsChicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement Rebounds Leader-
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 %
Elvin Hayes 82 44.7 27.5 - - 16.9 2.0 - - - 3.3 11.1 24.6 .452 - - - 5.2 7.6 .688
James Johnson 38 21.6 7.1 1.0 2.8 3.7 2.3 0.9 1.0 1.7 2.5 2.8 6.2 .456 0.2 0.9 .235 1.2 1.9 .662
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------
James Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Elvin Hayes James Johnson
Season 1970-712011-12
Team San Diego RocketsToronto Raptors
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 %
Elvin Hayes 82 44.3 28.7 - - 16.6 2.3 - - - 2.7 11.6 27.0 .428 - - - 5.5 8.2 .672
James Johnson 62 25.2 9.1 1.2 3.5 4.7 2.0 1.1 1.4 1.6 2.9 3.8 8.4 .450 0.3 1.0 .317 1.3 1.9 .704
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------
James Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Elvin Hayes James Johnson
Season 1971-722012-13
Team Houston RocketsSacramento Kings
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 %
Elvin Hayes 82 42.2 25.2 - - 14.6 3.3 - - - 2.8 10.1 23.4 .434 - - - 4.9 7.5 .649
James Johnson 54 16.3 5.1 0.9 1.8 2.7 1.1 0.8 0.9 1.3 1.8 2.2 5.2 .413 0.0 0.4 .095 0.7 1.2 .597
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------
James Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Elvin Hayes James Johnson
Season 1972-732013-14
Team Baltimore BulletsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf SemisGrizzlies 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 %
Elvin Hayes 81 41.3 21.2 - - 14.5 1.6 - - - 2.9 8.8 19.8 .444 - - - 3.6 5.4 .671
James Johnson 52 18.4 7.4 1.2 2.0 3.2 2.1 0.8 1.1 1.3 2.0 2.8 5.9 .464 0.4 1.7 .253 1.5 1.7 .844
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 5 45.6 25.8 - - 11.4 1.0 - - - 3.2 10.6 21.0 .505 - - - 4.6 6.6 .697
James Johnson 3 9.3 6.3 1.3 0.7 2.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.7 5.0 .333 0.7 1.7 .400 2.3 3.3 .700

Season 6

Elvin Hayes James Johnson
Season 1973-742014-15
Team Capital BulletsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf SemisRaptors 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 %
Elvin Hayes 81 44.5 21.4 4.4 13.7 18.1 2.0 1.1 3.0 - 3.1 8.5 20.1 .423 - - - 4.4 6.1 .721
James Johnson 70 19.6 7.9 0.9 2.8 3.7 1.4 0.8 1.0 1.1 2.2 3.4 5.8 .589 0.2 0.7 .216 1.0 1.5 .657
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 7 46.1 25.9 4.4 11.4 15.9 3.0 0.7 2.1 - 3.3 10.9 20.4 .531 - - - 4.1 5.9 .707
James Johnson 2 6.0 2.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 3.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 3.0 .000

Season 7

Elvin Hayes James Johnson
Season 1974-752015-16
Team Washington BulletsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost NBA FinalsRaptors 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 %
Elvin Hayes 82 42.3 23.0 2.7 9.5 12.2 2.5 1.9 2.3 - 2.9 9.0 20.3 .443 - - - 5.0 6.5 .766
James Johnson 57 16.2 5.0 0.5 1.7 2.2 1.2 0.5 0.6 0.9 1.5 2.0 4.2 .475 0.4 1.2 .303 0.7 1.2 .574
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 17 44.2 25.5 2.7 8.2 10.9 2.2 1.5 2.3 - 4.1 10.2 21.9 .468 - - - 5.1 7.5 .677
James Johnson 10 9.8 3.0 0.3 1.2 1.5 0.6 0.3 0.0 0.7 1.3 1.2 2.5 .480 0.4 0.9 .444 0.2 0.3 .667

Season 8

Elvin Hayes James Johnson
Season 1975-762016-17
Team Washington BulletsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost East 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 %
Elvin Hayes 80 37.2 19.8 2.6 8.4 11.0 1.5 1.3 2.5 - 3.7 8.1 17.3 .470 - - - 3.6 5.7 .628
James Johnson 76 27.4 12.8 0.9 4.1 4.9 3.6 1.0 1.1 2.3 2.6 4.8 10.1 .479 1.1 3.4 .340 2.0 2.8 .707
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 7 43.6 20.0 2.3 10.3 12.6 1.4 0.7 4.0 - 3.4 7.7 17.4 .443 - - - 4.6 7.9 .582
James Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Elvin Hayes James Johnson
Season 1976-772017-18
Team Washington BulletsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf SemisHeat 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 %
Elvin Hayes 82 41.0 23.7 3.5 9.0 12.5 1.9 1.1 2.7 - 3.8 9.3 18.5 .501 - - - 5.1 7.5 .687
James Johnson 73 26.6 10.8 0.8 4.1 4.9 3.8 1.0 0.7 1.9 2.6 4.2 8.4 .503 0.8 2.5 .308 1.5 2.2 .698
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 9 45.0 21.0 3.2 10.3 13.6 1.9 1.1 2.4 - 4.3 8.2 19.2 .428 - - - 4.6 6.6 .695
James Johnson 5 32.2 12.4 0.6 5.4 6.0 4.8 1.2 1.2 2.0 3.4 4.6 8.4 .548 1.4 2.6 .538 1.8 2.8 .643

Season 10

Elvin Hayes James Johnson
Season 1977-782018-19
Team Washington BulletsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 81 40.1 19.7 4.1 9.1 13.3 1.8 1.2 2.0 2.8 3.9 7.9 17.4 .451 - - - 4.0 6.3 .634
James Johnson 55 21.2 7.8 0.4 2.8 3.2 2.5 0.6 0.5 1.3 2.1 3.0 6.9 .433 0.9 2.7 .336 0.9 1.3 .714
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 21 41.3 21.8 4.9 8.4 13.3 2.0 1.5 2.5 2.8 4.1 9.0 18.3 .491 - - - 3.8 6.3 .594
James Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Elvin Hayes James Johnson
Season 1978-792019-20
Team Washington BulletsMiami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets 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 %
Elvin Hayes 82 37.9 21.8 3.8 8.3 12.1 1.7 0.9 2.3 2.9 3.8 8.8 18.0 .487 - - - 4.3 6.5 .654
James Johnson 32 19.4 8.4 0.8 2.9 3.7 2.3 0.8 1.0 1.5 2.5 3.2 6.7 .479 1.0 2.8 .363 1.0 1.5 .646
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 19 41.4 22.5 4.9 9.1 14.0 2.0 0.9 2.7 2.9 4.2 8.9 20.8 .429 - - - 4.6 6.8 .669
James Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Elvin Hayes James Johnson
Season 1979-802020-21
Team Washington BulletsDallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost East 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 %
Elvin Hayes 81 39.3 23.0 3.3 7.7 11.1 1.6 0.8 2.3 2.7 3.8 9.4 20.7 .454 0.0 0.2 .231 4.1 5.9 .699
James Johnson 51 20.5 7.2 0.6 2.8 3.5 1.9 0.8 0.8 1.1 2.4 2.9 6.4 .446 0.6 2.4 .258 0.9 1.5 .592
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 2 46.0 20.0 5.0 6.0 11.0 3.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 8.0 20.5 .390 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 5.0 .800
James Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Elvin Hayes James Johnson
Season 1980-812021-22
Team Washington BulletsBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards
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 %
Elvin Hayes 81 36.2 17.8 2.9 6.8 9.7 1.2 0.8 2.1 2.3 3.7 7.2 16.0 .451 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 5.4 .617
James Johnson 62 19.2 5.5 0.8 2.6 3.5 2.1 0.5 0.5 0.8 2.6 2.3 5.0 .469 0.4 1.4 .271 0.5 0.9 .527
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------
James Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Elvin Hayes James Johnson
Season 1981-822022-23
Team Houston RocketsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Elvin Hayes 82 37.0 16.1 3.3 5.9 9.1 1.8 0.8 1.3 2.5 3.5 6.3 13.4 .472 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 5.1 .664
James Johnson 18 9.0 2.8 0.2 1.4 1.7 0.8 0.4 0.3 0.4 1.8 1.2 2.7 .449 0.2 0.8 .200 0.2 0.4 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 3 41.3 14.0 2.3 7.7 10.0 1.0 0.7 3.3 2.0 4.0 5.7 16.7 .340 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 5.0 .533
James Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Elvin Hayes James Johnson
Season 1982-832023-24
Team Houston RocketsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPacers TBD
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes 81 28.4 12.9 2.5 5.1 7.6 2.0 0.6 1.0 2.5 2.9 5.2 11.0 .476 0.0 0.0 .500 2.4 3.5 .683
James Johnson 9 5.2 0.9 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.9 0.6 0.1 0.6 1.0 0.3 1.1 .300 0.0 0.2 .000 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 %
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------
James Johnson 1 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.0 .500

Season 16

Elvin Hayes James Johnson
Season 1983-84-
Team Houston Rockets-
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 %
Elvin Hayes 81 12.3 5.0 1.1 2.1 3.2 0.9 0.2 0.3 1.0 1.5 2.0 4.8 .406 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.6 .652
James Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------
James Johnson ------- --- ----------