Gary Payton vs. Mychal Thompson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Mychal Thompson and Gary Payton, 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.

Gary Payton played 17 years in the NBA, 5 more than Mychal Thompson, who played 12. Gary Payton had the first of his seasons in 1990-91, while Mychal Thompson had his rookie season in 1978-79. 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
Gary Payton 17 15 1990-91 to 2006-07
Mychal Thompson 12 11 1978-79 to 1990-91

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

Gary Payton Mychal Thompson
Season 1990-911978-79
Team Seattle SupersonicsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers 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 %
Gary Payton 82 27.4 7.2 1.3 1.6 3.0 6.4 2.0 0.2 2.2 3.0 3.2 7.0 .450 0.0 0.2 .077 0.8 1.2 .711
Mychal Thompson 73 29.4 14.7 2.7 5.6 8.3 2.4 0.9 1.8 2.8 3.7 6.3 12.8 .490 - - - 2.1 3.7 .572
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 5 27.0 4.8 1.0 1.6 2.6 6.4 1.6 0.2 1.8 3.2 2.2 5.4 .407 0.0 0.2 .000 0.4 0.4 1.000
Mychal Thompson 3 40.3 19.7 3.0 7.3 10.3 2.0 0.7 1.7 1.7 3.7 9.0 18.0 .500 - - - 1.7 3.3 .500

Note: Mychal Thompson didn't play in 1979-80.

Season 2

Gary Payton Mychal Thompson
Season 1991-921980-81
Team Seattle SupersonicsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisTrail Blazers 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 %
Gary Payton 81 31.5 9.4 1.5 2.1 3.6 6.2 1.8 0.3 2.1 3.1 4.1 9.1 .451 0.0 0.3 .130 1.2 1.8 .669
Mychal Thompson 79 35.3 17.0 2.8 5.9 8.7 3.6 0.8 2.2 3.1 3.3 7.2 14.6 .494 0.0 0.0 .000 2.6 4.1 .641
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 8 27.6 7.6 0.8 1.9 2.6 4.8 1.0 0.3 1.3 3.3 3.4 7.3 .466 0.0 0.3 .000 0.9 1.5 .583
Mychal Thompson 3 44.0 25.0 1.7 6.0 7.7 1.3 1.0 3.0 2.3 3.3 10.3 17.0 .608 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.0 .722

Season 3

Gary Payton Mychal Thompson
Season 1992-931981-82
Team Seattle SupersonicsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 82 31.1 13.5 1.2 2.3 3.4 4.9 2.2 0.3 1.8 3.0 5.8 11.7 .494 0.1 0.4 .206 1.8 2.4 .770
Mychal Thompson 79 39.6 20.8 3.3 8.4 11.7 4.0 0.9 1.4 3.1 2.9 8.6 16.5 .523 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 5.6 .628
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 19 31.8 12.3 1.2 2.2 3.3 3.7 1.8 0.2 1.8 3.4 5.5 12.4 .443 0.1 0.3 .167 1.3 1.9 .676
Mychal Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Gary Payton Mychal Thompson
Season 1993-941982-83
Team Seattle SupersonicsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers 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 %
Gary Payton 82 35.1 16.5 1.3 2.0 3.3 6.0 2.3 0.2 2.1 2.8 7.1 14.1 .504 0.2 0.7 .278 2.0 3.4 .595
Mychal Thompson 80 37.7 15.7 2.3 7.1 9.4 4.8 0.9 1.4 3.5 2.7 6.3 12.9 .489 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 5.0 .621
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 5 36.2 15.8 1.2 2.2 3.4 5.6 1.6 0.4 1.6 3.0 6.8 13.8 .493 0.6 1.8 .333 1.6 3.8 .421
Mychal Thompson 7 40.6 15.0 2.3 5.7 8.0 5.6 0.9 1.1 4.0 3.4 5.7 12.1 .471 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 5.4 .658

Season 5

Gary Payton Mychal Thompson
Season 1994-951983-84
Team Seattle SupersonicsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers 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 %
Gary Payton 82 36.8 20.6 1.3 2.1 3.4 7.1 2.5 0.2 2.5 2.5 8.4 16.4 .509 0.9 2.8 .302 3.0 4.2 .716
Mychal Thompson 79 33.5 15.7 3.0 5.7 8.7 3.9 1.1 1.4 3.0 3.0 6.2 11.8 .524 0.0 0.0 .000 3.4 5.1 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 4 43.0 17.8 1.5 1.0 2.5 5.3 1.3 0.0 2.0 3.3 8.0 16.8 .478 0.5 2.5 .200 1.3 3.0 .417
Mychal Thompson 4 30.3 15.3 2.3 5.0 7.3 3.8 1.3 0.8 1.5 2.8 5.5 11.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 5.5 .773

Season 6

Gary Payton Mychal Thompson
Season 1995-961984-85
Team Seattle SupersonicsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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 %
Gary Payton 81 39.0 19.3 1.3 2.9 4.2 7.5 2.9 0.2 3.2 2.7 7.6 15.8 .484 1.2 3.7 .328 2.8 3.8 .748
Mychal Thompson 79 33.1 18.4 2.7 5.2 7.8 2.6 1.0 1.3 2.9 2.7 7.2 14.1 .515 0.0 0.0 - 3.9 5.7 .684
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 21 43.4 20.7 0.9 4.2 5.1 6.8 1.8 0.3 3.0 3.3 7.7 15.9 .485 2.0 4.8 .410 3.3 5.2 .633
Mychal Thompson 9 27.8 14.8 2.8 5.2 8.0 1.6 0.8 1.3 2.1 3.6 5.6 11.3 .490 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.4 .673

Season 7

Gary Payton Mychal Thompson
Season 1996-971985-86
Team Seattle SupersonicsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisTrail Blazers 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 %
Gary Payton 82 39.2 21.8 1.3 3.3 4.6 7.1 2.4 0.2 2.6 2.5 8.6 18.1 .476 1.5 4.6 .313 3.1 4.3 .715
Mychal Thompson 82 31.3 14.7 2.2 5.2 7.4 2.1 0.9 0.4 2.4 3.3 6.1 12.3 .498 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.8 .641
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 12 45.6 23.8 1.7 3.8 5.4 8.7 2.2 0.3 2.9 2.2 8.8 21.3 .412 2.1 6.3 .333 4.2 5.1 .820
Mychal Thompson 4 35.0 19.0 2.8 5.5 8.3 3.5 0.3 0.8 2.5 3.3 7.8 13.5 .574 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 6.5 .538

Season 8

Gary Payton Mychal Thompson
Season 1997-981986-87
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement 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 %
Gary Payton 82 38.4 19.2 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.3 2.3 0.2 2.8 2.4 7.1 15.6 .453 1.6 4.8 .338 3.4 4.6 .744
Mychal Thompson 82 23.0 11.4 1.7 3.3 5.0 1.4 0.5 0.9 1.6 2.5 4.4 9.7 .450 0.0 0.0 .500 2.7 3.6 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 10 42.7 24.0 0.9 2.5 3.4 7.0 1.8 0.1 2.6 3.1 8.7 18.3 .475 1.9 5.0 .380 4.7 5.0 .940
Mychal Thompson 18 22.3 8.8 1.6 3.3 4.9 0.5 0.4 0.9 0.9 2.8 3.4 7.6 .453 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.8 .680

Season 9

Gary Payton Mychal Thompson
Season 1998-991987-88
Team Seattle SupersonicsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
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 %
Gary Payton 50 40.2 21.7 1.2 3.6 4.9 8.7 2.2 0.2 3.1 2.3 8.0 18.5 .434 1.7 5.6 .295 4.0 5.5 .721
Mychal Thompson 80 25.1 11.6 2.5 3.6 6.1 0.8 0.5 1.0 1.4 3.1 4.6 9.0 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.7 .634
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------
Mychal Thompson 24 25.6 9.7 2.6 4.5 7.1 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.4 2.9 4.1 8.0 .513 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.6 .581

Season 10

Gary Payton Mychal Thompson
Season 1999-001988-89
Team Seattle SupersonicsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Gary Payton 82 41.8 24.2 1.2 5.2 6.5 8.9 1.9 0.2 2.7 2.2 9.1 20.3 .448 2.2 6.3 .340 3.8 5.2 .735
Mychal Thompson 80 24.9 9.2 2.0 3.9 5.8 0.6 0.7 0.7 1.2 2.8 3.6 6.5 .559 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.9 .678
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 5 44.2 25.8 1.6 6.0 7.6 7.4 1.8 0.2 3.6 3.2 10.0 22.6 .442 1.8 4.6 .391 4.0 5.2 .769
Mychal Thompson 15 25.1 11.4 2.6 2.5 5.1 0.7 0.4 0.8 0.9 3.5 4.3 8.5 .508 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 4.0 .683

Season 11

Gary Payton Mychal Thompson
Season 2000-011989-90
Team Seattle SupersonicsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First 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 %
Gary Payton 79 41.1 23.1 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.1 1.6 0.3 2.6 2.3 9.2 20.1 .456 1.3 3.4 .375 3.4 4.5 .766
Mychal Thompson 70 26.9 10.1 2.5 4.3 6.8 0.6 0.5 1.0 1.1 3.0 4.0 8.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.9 .706
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------
Mychal Thompson 9 25.0 6.4 1.7 2.7 4.3 0.2 0.2 1.4 1.9 2.9 2.3 4.9 .477 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.9 .615

Season 12

Gary Payton Mychal Thompson
Season 2001-021990-91
Team Seattle SupersonicsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Gary Payton 82 40.3 22.1 1.0 3.9 4.8 9.0 1.6 0.3 2.5 2.2 9.0 19.2 .467 0.9 2.9 .314 3.3 4.1 .797
Mychal Thompson 72 15.0 4.0 1.0 2.1 3.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.6 1.6 3.2 .496 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.2 .705
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 5 41.2 22.2 2.0 6.6 8.6 5.8 0.6 0.4 2.6 2.4 9.0 21.2 .425 0.8 3.0 .267 3.4 5.8 .586
Mychal Thompson 8 5.3 0.5 0.4 0.8 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.1 1.3 0.3 0.9 .286 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 13

Gary Payton Mychal Thompson
Season 2002-03-
Team Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Gary Payton 80 40.1 20.4 1.0 3.2 4.2 8.3 1.7 0.3 2.3 2.3 8.3 18.3 .454 0.7 2.3 .297 3.1 4.4 .710
Mychal Thompson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 6 41.8 18.5 0.7 2.3 3.0 8.7 1.3 0.2 2.2 3.0 8.0 18.7 .429 0.2 2.5 .067 2.3 3.3 .700
Mychal Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Gary Payton Mychal Thompson
Season 2003-04-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 82 34.5 14.6 0.9 3.3 4.2 5.5 1.2 0.2 1.8 2.1 5.9 12.5 .471 0.7 2.0 .333 2.2 3.1 .714
Mychal Thompson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 22 35.0 7.8 0.9 2.4 3.3 5.3 1.0 0.2 1.3 2.7 3.1 8.5 .366 0.6 2.5 .250 1.0 1.3 .750
Mychal Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Gary Payton Mychal Thompson
Season 2004-05-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Gary Payton 77 33.0 11.3 0.6 2.4 3.1 6.1 1.1 0.2 1.9 1.6 4.4 9.4 .468 0.5 1.7 .326 2.0 2.6 .761
Mychal Thompson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 7 34.1 10.3 1.1 3.0 4.1 4.6 0.9 0.1 1.6 1.4 4.7 10.6 .446 0.1 2.0 .071 0.7 0.9 .833
Mychal Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Gary Payton Mychal Thompson
Season 2005-06-
Team Miami Heat-
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 %
Gary Payton 81 28.5 7.7 0.4 2.5 2.9 3.2 0.9 0.1 1.3 2.1 2.8 6.8 .420 0.8 2.8 .287 1.2 1.6 .794
Mychal Thompson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 23 24.3 5.8 0.3 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.0 0.1 0.8 2.4 2.1 5.0 .422 0.7 2.5 .293 0.8 1.1 .720
Mychal Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Gary Payton Mychal Thompson
Season 2006-07-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Gary Payton 68 22.1 5.3 0.3 1.7 1.9 3.0 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.7 2.1 5.4 .393 0.5 1.8 .260 0.6 0.8 .667
Mychal Thompson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 2 16.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 1.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Mychal Thompson ------- --- ----------