John Lucas vs. Nikola Vucevic Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nikola Vucevic and John Lucas, 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.

John Lucas played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than Nikola Vucevic, who played 13. John Lucas had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Nikola Vucevic had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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
John Lucas 14 6 1976-77 to 1989-90
Nikola Vucevic 13 4 2011-12 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

John Lucas Nikola Vucevic
Season 1976-772011-12
Team Houston RocketsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Rockets Lost East Conf Finals76ers 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 %
John Lucas 82 30.9 11.1 0.7 2.0 2.7 5.6 1.5 0.2 - 2.1 4.7 9.9 .477 - - - 1.6 2.1 .789
Nikola Vucevic 51 15.9 5.5 1.7 3.1 4.8 0.6 0.4 0.7 0.6 2.2 2.6 5.7 .450 0.1 0.2 .375 0.4 0.7 .529
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Lucas 12 35.8 14.7 0.3 2.4 2.8 6.9 2.0 0.3 - 2.8 6.3 11.6 .540 - - - 2.2 2.8 .765
Nikola Vucevic 1 3.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.0 .500

Season 2

John Lucas Nikola Vucevic
Season 1977-782012-13
Team Houston RocketsOrlando Magic
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 %
John Lucas 82 35.8 12.4 0.6 2.5 3.1 9.4 2.0 0.1 2.6 2.5 5.0 11.5 .435 - - - 2.4 3.0 .772
Nikola Vucevic 77 33.2 13.1 3.5 8.4 11.9 1.9 0.8 1.0 1.8 2.8 6.0 11.5 .519 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.6 .683
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Lucas ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 3

John Lucas Nikola Vucevic
Season 1978-792013-14
Team Golden State WarriorsOrlando Magic
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 %
John Lucas 82 37.7 16.1 0.8 2.2 3.0 9.3 1.9 0.1 3.1 2.8 6.5 14.0 .462 - - - 3.2 3.9 .822
Nikola Vucevic 57 31.8 14.2 3.2 7.7 11.0 1.8 1.1 0.8 2.0 3.0 6.2 12.2 .507 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.4 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Lucas ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 4

John Lucas Nikola Vucevic
Season 1979-802014-15
Team Golden State WarriorsOrlando Magic
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 %
John Lucas 80 34.5 12.6 0.8 2.0 2.8 7.5 1.7 0.0 2.3 2.5 4.9 10.4 .467 0.2 0.5 .286 2.8 3.6 .768
Nikola Vucevic 74 34.2 19.3 3.2 7.7 10.9 2.0 0.7 0.7 2.0 3.0 8.5 16.3 .523 0.0 0.1 .333 2.2 2.9 .752
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Lucas ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 5

John Lucas Nikola Vucevic
Season 1980-812015-16
Team Golden State WarriorsOrlando Magic
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 %
John Lucas 66 29.1 8.4 0.5 1.8 2.3 7.0 1.3 0.0 2.8 2.1 3.4 7.7 .439 0.1 0.4 .167 1.6 2.2 .738
Nikola Vucevic 65 31.3 18.2 2.7 6.2 8.9 2.8 0.8 1.1 1.9 2.7 8.2 16.1 .510 0.0 0.1 .222 1.7 2.3 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Lucas ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 6

John Lucas Nikola Vucevic
Season 1981-822016-17
Team Washington BulletsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards
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 %
John Lucas 79 24.6 8.4 0.5 1.6 2.1 7.0 1.2 0.1 2.0 1.3 3.3 7.8 .426 0.0 0.3 .091 1.7 2.2 .784
Nikola Vucevic 75 28.8 14.6 2.3 8.0 10.4 2.8 1.0 1.0 1.6 2.4 6.4 13.7 .468 0.3 1.0 .307 1.4 2.1 .669
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Lucas 7 10.6 4.4 0.0 1.1 1.1 2.9 0.4 0.1 0.6 0.9 2.0 3.7 .538 0.1 0.4 .333 0.3 0.4 .667
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 7

John Lucas Nikola Vucevic
Season 1982-832017-18
Team Washington BulletsOrlando Magic
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 %
John Lucas 35 11.0 4.1 0.2 0.6 0.8 2.9 0.7 0.0 1.3 0.5 1.8 3.7 .473 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 1.2 .500
Nikola Vucevic 57 29.5 16.5 1.8 7.4 9.2 3.4 1.0 1.1 1.9 2.5 7.0 14.7 .475 1.1 3.6 .314 1.4 1.6 .819
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Lucas ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 8

John Lucas Nikola Vucevic
Season 1983-842018-19
Team San Antonio SpursOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMagic 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 %
John Lucas 63 28.7 10.9 0.4 2.5 2.9 10.7 1.5 0.1 2.3 2.0 4.4 9.4 .462 0.3 1.1 .275 1.9 2.5 .764
Nikola Vucevic 80 31.4 20.8 2.8 9.2 12.0 3.8 1.0 1.1 2.0 2.0 8.8 16.9 .518 1.1 2.9 .364 2.2 2.8 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Lucas ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic 5 29.4 11.2 1.8 6.2 8.0 3.0 0.4 1.0 2.6 2.4 4.2 11.6 .362 0.6 2.6 .231 2.2 2.8 .786

Season 9

John Lucas Nikola Vucevic
Season 1984-852019-20
Team Houston RocketsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdMagic 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 %
John Lucas 47 24.6 11.4 0.4 1.4 1.8 6.8 1.3 0.0 2.2 1.7 4.4 9.5 .462 0.4 1.4 .318 2.2 2.7 .798
Nikola Vucevic 62 32.2 19.6 2.3 8.6 10.9 3.6 0.9 0.8 1.4 2.2 8.0 16.7 .477 1.6 4.7 .339 2.1 2.7 .784
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Lucas 5 30.4 13.6 1.4 2.8 4.2 5.4 1.2 0.0 1.4 2.8 5.2 16.0 .325 0.4 2.8 .143 2.8 4.4 .636
Nikola Vucevic 5 37.0 28.0 1.8 9.2 11.0 4.0 0.8 0.6 2.6 2.6 11.2 22.2 .505 3.6 8.8 .409 2.0 2.2 .909

Season 10

John Lucas Nikola Vucevic
Season 1985-862020-21
Team Houston RocketsOrlando Magic, Chicago Bulls
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 %
John Lucas 65 32.6 15.5 0.5 1.7 2.2 8.8 1.2 0.1 2.3 1.9 5.6 12.6 .446 0.7 2.2 .308 3.6 4.6 .775
Nikola Vucevic 70 33.5 23.4 2.1 9.6 11.7 3.8 0.9 0.7 1.8 2.0 9.5 19.9 .477 2.5 6.3 .400 1.9 2.2 .840
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Lucas ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 11

John Lucas Nikola Vucevic
Season 1986-872021-22
Team Milwaukee BucksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East 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 %
John Lucas 43 31.6 17.5 0.7 2.2 2.9 6.7 1.7 0.1 2.1 1.9 6.6 14.5 .457 1.1 2.9 .365 3.2 4.0 .787
Nikola Vucevic 73 33.1 17.6 1.9 9.1 11.0 3.2 1.0 1.0 1.9 2.5 7.5 15.8 .473 1.4 4.5 .314 1.3 1.7 .760
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Lucas 12 30.2 15.6 0.3 1.8 2.1 5.2 1.2 0.1 1.7 1.4 5.7 12.5 .453 1.0 3.0 .333 3.3 4.0 .813
Nikola Vucevic 5 36.2 19.4 2.8 9.6 12.4 3.2 0.4 1.2 1.6 2.8 8.0 18.2 .440 2.6 8.4 .310 0.8 1.0 .800

Season 12

John Lucas Nikola Vucevic
Season 1987-882022-23
Team Milwaukee BucksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
John Lucas 81 21.8 9.2 0.4 1.6 2.0 4.8 1.1 0.0 1.5 1.3 3.5 7.8 .445 0.6 1.9 .338 1.6 2.0 .802
Nikola Vucevic 82 33.5 17.6 1.9 9.1 11.0 3.2 0.7 0.7 1.7 2.2 7.3 14.0 .520 1.5 4.2 .349 1.6 1.9 .835
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Lucas 5 16.0 5.8 1.0 0.6 1.6 3.8 1.0 0.0 1.2 1.0 2.0 5.4 .370 0.6 2.6 .231 1.2 1.8 .667
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 13

John Lucas Nikola Vucevic
Season 1988-892023-24
Team Seattle SupersonicsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
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 %
John Lucas 74 11.4 4.2 0.3 0.8 1.1 3.5 0.8 0.0 0.9 0.7 1.6 4.0 .398 0.2 0.9 .265 0.7 1.0 .701
Nikola Vucevic 76 34.3 18.0 2.8 7.8 10.5 3.3 0.7 0.8 1.6 2.5 7.7 15.9 .484 1.2 4.1 .294 1.4 1.7 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Lucas 4 9.3 2.8 0.0 0.3 0.3 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.3 1.3 4.3 .294 0.0 0.8 .000 0.3 0.5 .500
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 14

John Lucas Nikola Vucevic
Season 1989-90-
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 %
John Lucas 49 19.1 5.8 0.4 1.4 1.8 4.9 0.9 0.0 1.7 1.2 2.2 5.9 .375 0.5 1.8 .299 0.9 1.1 .764
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Lucas ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------