Kobe Bryant vs. Gary Payton II Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gary Payton II and Kobe Bryant, 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.

Kobe Bryant played 20 years in the NBA, 12 more than Gary Payton II, who played 8. Kobe Bryant had the first of his seasons in 1996-97, while Gary Payton II had his rookie season in 2016-17. 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
Kobe Bryant 20 15 1996-97 to 2015-16
Gary Payton II 8 2 2016-17 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20

Rookie Season

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 1996-972016-17
Team Los Angeles LakersMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Kobe Bryant 71 15.5 7.6 0.7 1.2 1.9 1.3 0.7 0.3 1.6 1.4 2.5 5.9 .417 0.7 1.9 .375 1.9 2.3 .819
Gary Payton II 6 16.5 3.3 0.0 2.0 2.0 2.2 0.5 0.7 1.7 1.5 1.3 3.7 .364 0.2 1.5 .111 0.5 0.8 .600
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 9 14.8 8.2 0.1 1.1 1.2 1.2 0.3 0.2 1.6 2.6 2.3 6.1 .382 0.7 2.6 .261 2.9 3.3 .867
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 1997-982017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersMilwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Kobe Bryant 79 26.0 15.4 1.0 2.1 3.1 2.5 0.9 0.5 2.0 2.3 4.9 11.6 .428 0.9 2.8 .341 4.6 5.8 .794
Gary Payton II 23 9.6 3.0 0.6 1.3 1.9 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.3 1.3 1.3 3.2 .405 0.3 1.1 .240 0.1 0.4 .333
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 11 20.2 8.7 0.6 1.3 1.9 1.5 0.3 0.7 1.0 2.5 2.8 6.9 .408 0.3 1.3 .214 2.8 4.1 .689
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 1998-992018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Kobe Bryant 50 37.9 19.9 1.1 4.2 5.3 3.8 1.4 1.0 3.1 3.1 7.2 15.6 .465 0.5 2.0 .267 4.9 5.8 .839
Gary Payton II 3 5.3 3.7 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.3 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.7 2.7 .625 0.3 0.7 .500 0.0 0.0 -
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 8 39.6 19.8 1.6 5.3 6.9 4.6 1.9 1.3 3.9 3.0 7.6 17.8 .430 1.0 2.9 .348 3.5 4.4 .800
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 1999-002019-20
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 66 38.2 22.5 1.6 4.7 6.3 4.9 1.6 0.9 2.8 3.3 8.4 17.9 .468 0.7 2.2 .319 5.0 6.1 .821
Gary Payton II 29 14.9 3.9 0.9 1.9 2.8 1.7 1.1 0.2 0.7 1.9 1.7 4.0 .414 0.4 1.6 .283 0.1 0.3 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 22 39.0 21.1 1.2 3.3 4.5 4.4 1.5 1.5 2.5 4.0 7.9 17.9 .442 1.0 2.9 .344 4.3 5.7 .754
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 2000-012020-21
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 68 40.9 28.5 1.5 4.3 5.9 5.0 1.7 0.6 3.2 3.3 10.3 22.2 .464 0.9 2.9 .305 7.0 8.2 .853
Gary Payton II 10 4.0 2.5 0.2 0.9 1.1 0.1 0.6 0.1 0.1 0.8 1.0 1.3 .769 0.2 0.4 .500 0.3 0.4 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 16 43.4 29.4 1.8 5.4 7.3 6.1 1.6 0.8 3.2 3.3 10.5 22.4 .469 0.7 2.1 .324 7.8 9.4 .821
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 2001-022021-22
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 80 38.3 25.2 1.4 4.1 5.5 5.5 1.5 0.4 2.8 2.9 9.4 20.0 .469 0.4 1.7 .250 6.1 7.4 .829
Gary Payton II 71 17.6 7.1 1.0 2.5 3.5 0.9 1.4 0.3 0.6 1.8 3.0 4.8 .616 0.6 1.7 .358 0.5 0.8 .603
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 19 43.8 26.6 1.5 4.4 5.8 4.6 1.4 0.9 2.8 3.4 9.8 22.7 .434 1.2 3.1 .379 5.8 7.6 .759
Gary Payton II 12 16.9 6.5 1.1 2.0 3.1 1.3 1.2 0.6 0.5 1.9 2.4 3.7 .659 0.7 1.3 .533 1.0 1.5 .667

Season 7

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 2002-032022-23
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisWarriors 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 %
Kobe Bryant 82 41.5 30.0 1.3 5.6 6.9 5.9 2.2 0.8 3.5 2.7 10.6 23.5 .451 1.5 4.0 .383 7.3 8.7 .843
Gary Payton II 22 16.7 4.6 1.1 2.0 3.1 1.4 1.0 0.2 0.7 2.0 1.9 3.1 .594 0.6 1.2 .500 0.3 0.3 .857
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 12 44.3 32.1 1.3 3.8 5.1 5.2 1.2 0.1 3.5 2.9 11.4 26.4 .432 2.1 5.2 .403 7.2 8.7 .827
Gary Payton II 12 15.9 6.8 1.8 1.8 3.7 0.8 0.7 0.5 0.9 1.6 3.0 4.5 .667 0.3 1.3 .267 0.5 0.8 .667

Season 8

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 2003-042023-24
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive 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 %
Kobe Bryant 65 37.6 24.0 1.6 3.9 5.5 5.1 1.7 0.4 2.6 2.7 7.9 18.1 .438 1.1 3.3 .327 7.0 8.2 .852
Gary Payton II 44 15.5 5.5 1.0 1.5 2.6 1.1 0.9 0.4 0.6 1.8 2.3 4.2 .563 0.5 1.3 .364 0.3 0.5 .609
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 22 44.2 24.5 0.8 3.9 4.7 5.5 1.9 0.3 2.8 2.7 8.6 20.9 .413 1.1 4.4 .247 6.1 7.5 .813
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 2004-05-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 66 40.7 27.6 1.4 4.5 5.9 6.0 1.3 0.8 4.1 2.6 8.7 20.1 .433 2.0 5.9 .339 8.2 10.1 .816
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 2005-06-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 80 41.0 35.4 0.9 4.4 5.3 4.5 1.8 0.4 3.1 2.9 12.2 27.2 .450 2.3 6.5 .347 8.7 10.2 .850
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 7 44.9 27.9 0.6 5.7 6.3 5.1 1.1 0.4 4.7 3.6 10.3 20.7 .497 2.0 5.0 .400 5.3 6.9 .771
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 2006-07-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 77 40.8 31.6 1.0 4.7 5.7 5.4 1.4 0.5 3.3 2.7 10.6 22.8 .463 1.8 5.2 .344 8.7 10.0 .868
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 5 43.0 32.8 0.2 5.0 5.2 4.4 1.0 0.4 4.4 2.0 12.0 26.0 .462 2.0 5.6 .357 6.8 7.4 .919
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 2007-08-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 82 38.9 28.3 1.1 5.2 6.3 5.4 1.8 0.5 3.1 2.8 9.5 20.6 .459 1.8 5.1 .361 7.6 9.0 .840
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 21 41.1 30.1 0.9 4.8 5.7 5.6 1.7 0.4 3.3 2.8 10.6 22.0 .479 1.5 5.0 .302 7.5 9.2 .809
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 2008-09-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 82 36.1 26.8 1.1 4.1 5.2 4.9 1.5 0.5 2.6 2.3 9.8 20.9 .467 1.4 4.1 .351 5.9 6.9 .856
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 23 40.9 30.2 0.8 4.5 5.3 5.5 1.7 0.9 2.6 2.6 10.5 23.0 .457 1.6 4.6 .349 7.6 8.6 .883
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 2009-10-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 73 38.8 27.0 1.1 4.3 5.4 5.0 1.5 0.3 3.2 2.6 9.8 21.5 .456 1.4 4.1 .329 6.0 7.4 .811
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 23 40.1 29.2 1.1 4.9 6.0 5.5 1.3 0.7 3.4 3.3 10.2 22.2 .458 2.1 5.7 .374 6.7 8.0 .842
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 2010-11-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Kobe Bryant 82 33.9 25.3 1.0 4.1 5.1 4.7 1.2 0.1 3.0 2.1 9.0 20.0 .451 1.4 4.3 .323 5.9 7.1 .828
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 10 35.4 22.8 0.8 2.6 3.4 3.3 1.6 0.3 3.1 2.3 8.3 18.6 .446 1.2 4.1 .293 5.0 6.1 .820
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 2011-12-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Kobe Bryant 58 38.5 27.9 1.1 4.3 5.4 4.6 1.2 0.3 3.5 1.8 9.9 23.0 .430 1.5 4.9 .303 6.6 7.8 .845
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 12 39.7 30.0 1.3 3.5 4.8 4.3 1.3 0.2 2.8 2.8 11.0 25.1 .439 1.4 5.0 .283 6.6 7.9 .832
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 2012-13-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 78 38.6 27.3 0.8 4.7 5.6 6.0 1.4 0.3 3.7 2.2 9.5 20.4 .463 1.7 5.2 .324 6.7 8.0 .839
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 2013-14-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 6 29.5 13.8 0.3 4.0 4.3 6.3 1.2 0.2 5.7 1.5 5.2 12.2 .425 0.5 2.7 .188 3.0 3.5 .857
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------

Season 19

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 2014-15-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 35 34.5 22.3 0.7 4.9 5.7 5.6 1.3 0.2 3.7 1.9 7.6 20.4 .373 1.5 5.3 .293 5.6 6.9 .813
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------

Season 20

Kobe Bryant Gary Payton II
Season 2015-16-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 66 28.2 17.6 0.6 3.1 3.7 2.8 0.9 0.2 2.0 1.7 6.0 16.9 .358 2.0 7.1 .285 3.5 4.3 .826
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton II ------- --- ----------