LaMelo Ball vs. George Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of George Johnson and LaMelo Ball, 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.

LaMelo Ball played 4 years in the NBA, 9 less than George Johnson, who played 13. LaMelo Ball had the first of his seasons in 2020-21, while George Johnson had his rookie season in 1972-73. 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
LaMelo Ball 4 0 2020-21 to 2023-24
George Johnson 13 8 1972-73 to 1985-86

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

LaMelo Ball George Johnson
Season 2020-211972-73
Team Charlotte HornetsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors 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 %
LaMelo Ball 51 28.8 15.7 1.2 4.7 5.9 6.1 1.6 0.4 2.8 2.7 5.7 13.2 .436 1.8 5.1 .352 2.5 3.2 .758
George Johnson 56 6.2 1.6 - - 2.5 0.1 - - - 0.7 0.7 1.8 .410 - - - 0.1 0.3 .412
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson 9 5.0 1.4 - - 1.6 0.3 - - - 0.8 0.7 1.7 .400 - - - 0.1 0.4 .250

Season 2

LaMelo Ball George Johnson
Season 2021-221973-74
Team Charlotte HornetsGolden State Warriors
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 %
LaMelo Ball 75 32.3 20.1 1.4 5.2 6.7 7.6 1.6 0.4 3.3 3.2 7.2 16.7 .429 2.9 7.5 .389 2.8 3.2 .872
George Johnson 66 19.6 6.1 2.9 5.0 7.9 1.1 0.5 1.9 - 2.7 2.6 5.4 .483 - - - 0.9 1.6 .551
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 3

LaMelo Ball George Johnson
Season 2022-231974-75
Team Charlotte HornetsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
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 %
LaMelo Ball 36 35.2 23.3 1.2 5.3 6.4 8.4 1.3 0.3 3.6 3.3 8.2 20.0 .411 4.0 10.6 .376 2.8 3.4 .836
George Johnson 82 17.5 4.4 2.6 4.4 7.0 0.8 0.4 1.7 - 2.5 1.9 3.9 .476 - - - 0.7 1.1 .659
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson 17 18.9 5.2 3.2 4.2 7.4 0.9 0.5 2.4 - 2.9 2.1 3.7 .571 - - - 0.9 1.6 .593

Season 4

LaMelo Ball George Johnson
Season 2023-241975-76
Team Charlotte HornetsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors 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 %
LaMelo Ball 22 32.3 23.9 1.3 3.8 5.1 8.0 1.8 0.2 3.8 3.6 8.3 19.2 .433 3.2 9.0 .355 4.1 4.7 .865
George Johnson 82 21.3 4.9 2.4 5.2 7.6 1.0 0.6 2.1 - 3.4 2.0 4.2 .484 - - - 0.9 1.3 .673
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson 13 20.1 5.8 2.9 3.8 6.7 1.3 1.1 1.8 - 3.5 2.4 4.2 .574 - - - 1.1 1.5 .737

Season 5

LaMelo Ball George Johnson
Season -1976-77
Team -Golden State Warriors, Buffalo Braves
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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson 78 21.2 6.0 2.6 5.2 7.8 1.3 0.5 2.3 - 3.2 2.5 5.5 .462 - - - 0.9 1.3 .724
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 6

LaMelo Ball George Johnson
Season -1977-78
Team -New Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Blocks Leader
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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson 81 29.8 8.7 3.0 6.6 9.6 1.4 1.0 3.4 2.7 4.2 3.5 8.9 .395 - - - 1.6 2.3 .719
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 7

LaMelo Ball George Johnson
Season -1978-79
Team -New Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Nets 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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson 78 26.4 6.6 2.6 5.3 7.9 1.1 0.9 3.2 2.3 4.0 2.6 6.2 .427 - - - 1.3 1.8 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson 2 35.0 14.5 4.0 8.5 12.5 1.0 1.0 3.5 2.0 4.0 7.0 10.5 .667 - - - 0.5 1.5 .333

Season 8

LaMelo Ball George Johnson
Season -1979-80
Team -New Jersey Nets
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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson 81 26.2 7.2 2.4 5.1 7.4 2.1 0.7 3.2 2.5 3.9 3.1 6.7 .457 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.6 .706
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

LaMelo Ball George Johnson
Season -1980-81
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Blocks Leader
Playoffs -Spurs 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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson 82 23.6 5.0 2.6 4.7 7.3 1.1 0.6 3.4 1.3 3.3 2.0 4.2 .473 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .734
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson 7 23.6 4.4 3.4 5.6 9.0 0.9 0.4 2.3 1.0 2.9 1.7 3.7 .462 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.4 .700

Season 10

LaMelo Ball George Johnson
Season -1981-82
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement Blocks Leader
Playoffs -Spurs 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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson 75 21.0 3.0 2.0 4.0 6.1 1.1 0.3 3.1 1.2 3.5 1.2 2.6 .467 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.9 .672
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson 9 19.4 1.2 1.3 3.8 5.1 1.3 0.7 1.7 0.4 3.8 0.4 0.9 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.6 .600

Season 11

LaMelo Ball George Johnson
Season -1982-83
Team -Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Hawks 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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson 37 12.5 1.7 1.2 2.0 3.2 0.5 0.3 1.6 0.5 1.9 0.7 1.5 .439 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.5 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson 1 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Note: George Johnson didn't play in 1983-84.

Season 12

LaMelo Ball George Johnson
Season -1984-85
Team -New Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Nets 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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson 65 12.3 1.6 1.1 1.7 2.8 0.3 0.3 1.2 0.6 2.3 0.6 1.2 .532 0.0 0.0 1.000 0.3 0.4 .815
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson 1 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 13

LaMelo Ball George Johnson
Season -1985-86
Team -Seattle Supersonics
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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson 41 6.4 0.9 0.6 0.8 1.5 0.3 0.1 0.9 0.3 1.1 0.3 0.6 .522 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .688
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
George Johnson ------- --- ----------