James Edwards vs. Dennis Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dennis Johnson and James Edwards, 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.

James Edwards played 19 years in the NBA, 5 more than Dennis Johnson, who played 14. James Edwards had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Dennis Johnson had his rookie season in 1976-77. 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
James Edwards 19 11 1977-78 to 1995-96
Dennis Johnson 14 13 1976-77 to 1989-90

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19

Rookie Season

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1977-781976-77
Team Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana PacersSeattle Supersonics
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 %
James Edwards 83 29.0 15.2 2.4 5.0 7.4 1.0 0.6 0.9 2.0 3.9 6.0 13.2 .453 - - - 3.3 5.1 .646
Dennis Johnson 81 20.6 9.2 2.0 1.7 3.7 1.5 1.5 0.7 - 2.7 3.5 7.0 .504 - - - 2.2 3.5 .624
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1978-791977-78
Team Indiana PacersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 82 31.0 16.7 2.2 6.3 8.5 1.1 0.7 1.3 2.0 4.4 6.5 13.0 .501 - - - 3.6 5.4 .676
Dennis Johnson 81 27.3 12.7 1.9 1.8 3.6 2.8 1.5 0.6 2.0 2.6 4.5 10.9 .417 - - - 3.7 5.0 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Dennis Johnson 22 37.6 16.1 2.1 2.5 4.6 3.3 1.0 1.0 2.5 2.9 5.5 13.4 .412 - - - 5.1 7.2 .704

Season 3

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1979-801978-79
Team Indiana PacersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-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 %
James Edwards 82 28.2 15.7 2.2 4.9 7.0 1.5 0.7 1.3 1.6 4.0 6.4 12.6 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 4.1 .681
Dennis Johnson 80 34.0 15.9 1.8 2.9 4.7 3.5 1.3 1.2 2.4 2.6 6.0 13.9 .434 - - - 3.8 4.9 .781
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Dennis Johnson 17 40.1 20.9 2.6 3.5 6.1 4.1 1.6 1.5 3.0 3.7 8.0 17.8 .450 - - - 4.9 6.4 .771

Season 4

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1980-811979-80
Team Indiana PacersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 %
James Edwards 81 29.3 15.6 2.4 4.7 7.0 2.6 0.4 1.6 2.0 3.8 6.3 12.4 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 4.3 .703
Dennis Johnson 81 36.3 19.0 2.1 3.0 5.1 4.1 1.8 1.0 2.8 3.3 7.1 16.8 .422 0.1 0.7 .207 4.7 6.0 .780
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 2 28.0 7.0 2.0 5.0 7.0 2.5 0.5 0.5 2.0 4.0 3.5 12.0 .292 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Dennis Johnson 15 38.8 17.1 1.7 2.6 4.3 3.8 1.8 0.7 2.9 3.2 6.7 16.3 .410 0.3 1.0 .333 3.5 4.1 .839

Season 5

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1981-821980-81
Team Cleveland CavaliersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
James Edwards 77 33.0 16.7 2.5 5.1 7.5 1.6 0.3 1.5 2.1 4.5 6.9 13.4 .511 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.4 .684
Dennis Johnson 79 33.1 18.8 2.0 2.6 4.6 3.7 1.7 0.8 2.6 3.1 6.7 15.4 .436 0.1 0.6 .216 5.2 6.3 .820
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Dennis Johnson 7 38.1 19.6 1.0 3.7 4.7 2.9 1.3 1.3 2.7 2.6 7.4 15.7 .473 0.1 0.7 .200 4.6 6.0 .762

Season 6

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1982-831981-82
Team Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix SunsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdSuns 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 %
James Edwards 31 21.5 10.5 1.8 3.2 5.0 1.3 0.4 0.6 1.6 3.5 4.1 8.5 .487 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.5 .639
Dennis Johnson 80 36.7 19.5 1.8 3.4 5.1 4.6 1.3 0.7 2.9 3.2 7.2 15.4 .470 0.1 0.5 .190 5.0 6.2 .806
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 3 18.0 9.3 2.0 4.0 6.0 1.3 0.3 0.3 1.7 2.3 3.7 8.7 .423 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.0 1.000
Dennis Johnson 7 38.7 22.3 1.9 2.6 4.4 4.6 2.1 0.6 3.6 4.0 9.0 18.9 .477 0.0 0.4 .000 4.3 5.6 .769

Season 7

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1983-841982-83
Team Phoenix SunsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsSuns 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 %
James Edwards 72 26.3 14.7 1.5 3.3 4.8 2.6 0.3 0.4 1.9 3.5 6.1 11.3 .536 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.5 .720
Dennis Johnson 77 33.1 14.2 1.2 3.2 4.4 5.0 1.3 0.5 2.6 2.6 5.2 11.2 .462 0.1 0.4 .161 3.8 4.8 .791
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 17 27.2 13.8 1.3 4.1 5.4 1.6 0.2 0.6 1.8 3.6 5.5 11.1 .492 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 4.0 .706
Dennis Johnson 3 36.0 18.0 2.0 5.7 7.7 5.7 1.7 0.7 2.7 3.0 7.3 16.0 .458 0.0 0.3 .000 3.3 4.0 .833

Season 8

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1984-851983-84
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 %
James Edwards 70 25.5 14.9 1.4 4.2 5.5 2.2 0.4 0.7 2.3 3.4 5.5 10.9 .501 0.0 0.0 .000 3.9 5.3 .746
Dennis Johnson 80 33.3 13.2 1.1 2.4 3.5 4.2 1.2 0.7 2.2 3.1 4.8 11.0 .437 0.1 0.4 .125 3.5 4.1 .852
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Dennis Johnson 22 36.7 16.6 1.4 2.2 3.6 4.4 1.1 0.3 2.4 3.4 5.9 14.5 .404 0.1 0.3 .429 4.7 5.5 .867

Season 9

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1985-861984-85
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 52 25.3 16.3 1.5 4.3 5.8 1.4 0.4 0.6 2.5 3.8 6.1 11.3 .542 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 5.8 .702
Dennis Johnson 80 37.2 15.7 1.1 2.8 4.0 6.8 1.2 0.5 2.7 2.8 6.2 13.3 .462 0.1 0.3 .269 3.3 3.8 .853
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Dennis Johnson 21 40.4 17.3 1.1 2.9 4.0 7.3 1.5 0.4 3.4 3.1 6.8 15.2 .445 0.0 0.7 .000 3.8 4.4 .860

Season 10

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1986-871985-86
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 %
James Edwards 14 21.7 12.0 1.4 2.9 4.3 1.4 0.4 0.5 1.1 3.0 4.1 7.9 .518 0.0 0.0 - 3.9 5.0 .771
Dennis Johnson 78 35.0 15.6 0.9 2.6 3.4 5.8 1.4 0.4 2.2 2.6 6.2 13.6 .455 0.1 0.5 .143 3.1 3.8 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Dennis Johnson 18 39.7 16.2 1.3 2.9 4.2 5.9 2.2 0.3 2.8 3.2 6.1 13.6 .445 0.3 0.9 .375 3.7 4.7 .798

Season 11

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1987-881986-87
Team Phoenix Suns, Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Pistons Lost NBA FinalsCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 69 24.7 11.8 1.7 4.2 6.0 1.1 0.2 0.5 1.9 3.1 4.4 9.3 .470 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 4.7 .654
Dennis Johnson 79 37.1 13.4 0.6 2.7 3.3 7.5 1.1 0.5 2.2 2.5 5.4 12.1 .444 0.1 0.8 .113 2.6 3.2 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 22 14.0 6.3 1.0 2.0 3.1 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.5 2.5 2.5 5.0 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 1.9 .659
Dennis Johnson 23 41.9 18.9 1.0 2.9 4.0 8.9 0.7 0.3 1.9 3.1 7.3 15.7 .465 0.1 1.1 .115 4.2 4.9 .850

Season 12

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1988-891987-88
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 %
James Edwards 76 16.5 7.3 0.9 2.1 3.0 0.6 0.1 0.4 0.9 3.0 2.8 5.6 .500 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 2.6 .686
Dennis Johnson 77 34.7 12.6 0.8 2.3 3.1 7.8 1.2 0.4 2.5 2.6 4.6 10.4 .438 0.2 0.6 .261 3.3 3.9 .856
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 17 18.6 7.1 0.6 1.5 2.1 0.7 0.1 0.5 0.9 3.1 2.4 5.0 .471 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.0 .784
Dennis Johnson 17 41.3 15.9 0.9 3.6 4.5 8.2 1.4 0.5 2.6 3.0 5.4 12.4 .433 0.4 0.9 .375 4.8 6.1 .796

Season 13

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1989-901988-89
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 %
James Edwards 82 27.8 14.5 1.4 2.8 4.2 0.8 0.3 0.5 1.6 3.6 5.6 11.3 .498 0.0 0.0 .000 3.2 4.3 .749
Dennis Johnson 72 32.1 10.0 0.4 2.2 2.6 6.6 1.3 0.3 2.4 2.9 3.8 8.9 .434 0.1 0.7 .140 2.2 2.7 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 20 26.8 14.3 1.2 2.4 3.6 0.7 0.3 0.6 1.6 3.7 5.7 11.6 .494 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 4.8 .604
Dennis Johnson 3 19.7 2.7 0.7 0.7 1.3 3.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.7 1.3 5.0 .267 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 14

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1990-911989-90
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsCeltics 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 %
James Edwards 72 26.4 13.6 1.3 2.6 3.8 0.9 0.2 0.4 1.8 3.5 5.3 11.0 .484 0.0 0.0 .500 3.0 4.1 .729
Dennis Johnson 75 27.1 7.1 0.6 2.0 2.7 6.5 1.1 0.2 1.6 2.4 2.7 6.3 .434 0.0 0.3 .042 1.6 1.9 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 15 23.0 10.7 1.0 1.5 2.5 0.6 0.1 0.2 1.6 2.9 4.1 10.0 .407 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.7 .691
Dennis Johnson 5 32.4 13.8 0.4 2.4 2.8 5.6 0.4 0.4 2.0 3.4 6.0 12.4 .484 0.4 1.2 .333 1.4 1.4 1.000

Season 15

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1991-92-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
James Edwards 72 20.0 9.7 0.8 2.0 2.8 0.7 0.3 0.5 1.0 3.3 3.5 7.5 .465 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 3.8 .731
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 5 17.4 6.4 1.0 1.6 2.6 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.8 2.2 2.0 4.8 .417 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.8 .632
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 16

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1992-93-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
James Edwards 52 11.9 6.3 0.6 1.3 1.9 0.8 0.2 0.1 1.0 2.3 2.3 5.2 .452 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.3 .712
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 3 4.7 2.0 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.3 .750 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 17

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1993-94-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
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 %
James Edwards 45 10.4 4.7 0.2 1.2 1.4 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.7 2.0 1.7 3.7 .464 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.8 .684
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 18

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1994-95-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail 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 %
James Edwards 28 9.5 2.7 0.4 1.2 1.5 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.5 1.6 1.1 3.0 .386 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.6 .647
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 1 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 19

James Edwards Dennis Johnson
Season 1995-96-
Team Chicago Bulls-
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 %
James Edwards 28 9.8 3.5 0.5 0.9 1.4 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.8 2.2 1.5 3.9 .373 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.9 .615
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 6 4.7 1.8 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.7 0.7 1.5 .444 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.7 .750
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------