LeBron James vs. Clifford Ray Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Clifford Ray and LeBron James, 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.

LeBron James played 21 years in the NBA, 11 more than Clifford Ray, who played 10. LeBron James had the first of his seasons in 2003-04, while Clifford Ray had his rookie season in 1971-72. 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
LeBron James 21 17 2003-04 to 2023-24
Clifford Ray 10 6 1971-72 to 1980-81

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21

Rookie Season

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2003-041971-72
Team Cleveland CavaliersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls 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 %
LeBron James 79 39.5 20.9 1.3 4.2 5.5 5.9 1.6 0.7 3.5 1.9 7.9 18.9 .417 0.8 2.7 .290 4.4 5.8 .754
Clifford Ray 82 22.8 7.0 - - 10.6 3.1 - - - 3.6 2.7 5.4 .499 - - - 1.6 2.7 .615
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James ------- --- ----------
Clifford Ray 4 40.3 15.3 - - 16.5 4.0 - - - 3.8 6.8 12.8 .529 - - - 1.8 2.3 .778

Season 2

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2004-051972-73
Team Cleveland CavaliersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls 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 %
LeBron James 80 42.4 27.2 1.4 6.0 7.4 7.2 2.2 0.7 3.3 1.8 9.9 21.1 .472 1.4 3.9 .351 6.0 8.0 .750
Clifford Ray 73 27.5 8.6 - - 10.9 3.7 - - - 3.2 3.5 7.1 .492 - - - 1.6 2.6 .619
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James ------- --- ----------
Clifford Ray 5 7.2 1.2 - - 1.8 0.2 - - - 0.4 0.6 1.6 .375 - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 3

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2005-061973-74
Team Cleveland CavaliersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisBulls 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 %
LeBron James 79 42.5 31.4 0.9 6.1 7.0 6.6 1.6 0.8 3.3 2.3 11.1 23.1 .480 1.6 4.8 .335 7.6 10.3 .738
Clifford Ray 80 32.9 9.3 3.6 8.7 12.2 3.1 0.7 2.2 - 3.5 3.9 7.7 .511 - - - 1.5 2.5 .608
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 13 46.5 30.8 1.7 6.4 8.1 5.8 1.4 0.7 5.0 3.4 11.2 23.6 .476 1.6 4.8 .333 6.7 9.1 .737
Clifford Ray 11 32.9 9.7 4.0 7.1 11.1 3.2 1.3 1.9 - 4.1 4.6 9.3 .500 - - - 0.5 1.4 .333

Season 4

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2006-071974-75
Team Cleveland CavaliersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 78 40.9 27.3 1.1 5.7 6.7 6.0 1.6 0.7 3.2 2.2 9.9 20.8 .476 1.3 4.0 .319 6.3 9.0 .698
Clifford Ray 82 30.7 9.4 3.2 7.5 10.6 2.2 1.2 1.4 - 3.7 3.6 7.0 .522 - - - 2.1 3.5 .602
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 20 44.7 25.1 1.3 6.8 8.1 8.0 1.7 0.5 3.3 2.0 8.3 20.0 .416 1.1 3.8 .280 7.4 9.8 .755
Clifford Ray 17 29.1 6.1 3.2 6.5 9.8 2.2 0.8 1.2 - 3.5 2.1 4.1 .522 - - - 1.9 3.1 .604

Season 5

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2007-081975-76
Team Cleveland CavaliersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisWarriors 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 %
LeBron James 75 40.4 30.0 1.8 6.1 7.9 7.2 1.8 1.1 3.4 2.2 10.6 21.9 .484 1.5 4.8 .315 7.3 10.3 .712
Clifford Ray 82 26.6 6.9 3.3 6.2 9.5 1.8 1.0 1.0 - 3.0 2.6 4.9 .525 - - - 1.7 2.8 .609
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 13 42.5 28.2 1.2 6.6 7.8 7.6 1.8 1.3 4.2 2.5 8.7 21.2 .411 1.4 5.4 .257 9.4 12.8 .731
Clifford Ray 13 29.0 9.1 3.3 6.7 10.0 1.5 1.5 1.5 - 3.6 3.7 6.1 .608 - - - 1.7 2.6 .647

Season 6

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2008-091976-77
Team Cleveland CavaliersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf FinalsWarriors 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 %
LeBron James 81 37.7 28.4 1.3 6.3 7.6 7.2 1.7 1.1 3.0 1.7 9.7 19.9 .489 1.6 4.7 .344 7.3 9.4 .780
Clifford Ray 77 26.2 8.2 2.6 5.4 8.0 1.5 1.0 1.1 - 3.1 3.4 5.8 .584 - - - 1.4 2.6 .528
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 14 41.4 35.3 1.4 7.8 9.1 7.3 1.6 0.9 2.7 2.1 11.4 22.3 .510 1.9 5.8 .333 10.6 14.2 .749
Clifford Ray 10 30.4 10.0 5.4 6.1 11.5 1.5 0.4 0.9 - 3.7 4.2 7.6 .553 - - - 1.6 2.8 .571

Season 7

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2009-101977-78
Team Cleveland CavaliersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
LeBron James 76 39.0 29.7 0.9 6.4 7.3 8.6 1.6 1.0 3.4 1.6 10.1 20.1 .503 1.7 5.1 .333 7.8 10.2 .767
Clifford Ray 79 28.7 8.8 3.0 6.6 9.6 1.9 0.9 1.1 1.9 3.7 3.4 6.0 .571 - - - 1.9 3.1 .609
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 11 41.8 29.1 1.4 7.9 9.3 7.6 1.7 1.8 3.8 2.1 9.6 19.2 .502 1.8 4.5 .400 8.0 10.9 .733
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------

Season 8

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2010-111978-79
Team Miami HeatGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Heat 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 %
LeBron James 79 38.8 26.7 1.0 6.5 7.5 7.0 1.6 0.6 3.6 2.1 9.6 18.8 .510 1.2 3.5 .330 6.4 8.4 .759
Clifford Ray 82 23.4 6.9 2.6 4.8 7.4 1.7 0.6 0.6 1.9 3.2 2.8 5.4 .526 - - - 1.3 2.3 .558
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 21 43.9 23.7 1.6 6.8 8.4 5.9 1.7 1.2 3.1 2.7 8.3 17.8 .466 1.4 4.0 .353 5.7 7.4 .763
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------

Season 9

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2011-121979-80
Team Miami HeatGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First 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 %
LeBron James 62 37.5 27.1 1.5 6.4 7.9 6.2 1.9 0.8 3.4 1.5 10.0 18.9 .531 0.9 2.4 .362 6.2 8.1 .771
Clifford Ray 81 20.8 6.0 1.5 4.2 5.8 2.3 0.6 0.4 1.9 3.3 2.5 4.7 .530 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.8 .564
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 23 42.7 30.3 2.3 7.4 9.7 5.6 1.9 0.7 3.5 2.0 10.9 21.8 .500 1.0 3.7 .259 7.5 10.2 .739
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------

Season 10

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2012-131980-81
Team Miami HeatGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First 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 %
LeBron James 76 37.9 26.8 1.3 6.8 8.0 7.3 1.7 0.9 3.0 1.4 10.1 17.8 .565 1.4 3.3 .406 5.3 7.0 .753
Clifford Ray 66 12.7 2.4 1.1 2.2 3.3 0.8 0.4 0.2 1.1 2.9 1.0 2.3 .421 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.9 .468
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 23 41.7 25.9 1.6 6.8 8.4 6.6 1.8 0.8 3.0 1.9 9.2 18.8 .491 1.6 4.2 .375 5.9 7.6 .777
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------

Season 11

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2013-14-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Heat Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 77 37.7 27.1 1.1 5.9 6.9 6.3 1.6 0.3 3.5 1.6 10.0 17.6 .567 1.5 4.0 .379 5.7 7.6 .750
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 20 38.2 27.4 0.7 6.4 7.1 4.8 1.8 0.6 3.1 2.3 9.6 17.0 .565 1.8 4.3 .407 6.5 8.0 .806
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------

Season 12

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2014-15-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 69 36.1 25.3 0.7 5.3 6.0 7.4 1.6 0.7 3.9 2.0 9.0 18.5 .488 1.7 4.9 .354 5.4 7.7 .710
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 20 42.2 30.1 1.9 9.5 11.3 8.5 1.7 1.1 4.1 2.9 11.4 27.2 .417 1.3 5.5 .227 6.1 8.4 .731
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------

Season 13

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2015-16-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA 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 %
LeBron James 76 35.6 25.3 1.5 6.0 7.4 6.8 1.4 0.6 3.3 1.9 9.7 18.6 .520 1.1 3.7 .309 4.7 6.5 .731
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 21 39.1 26.3 2.0 7.5 9.5 7.6 2.3 1.3 3.6 2.6 10.4 19.9 .525 1.5 4.5 .340 3.9 5.9 .661
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------

Season 14

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2016-17-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 74 37.8 26.4 1.3 7.3 8.6 8.7 1.2 0.6 4.1 1.8 9.9 18.2 .548 1.7 4.6 .363 4.8 7.2 .674
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 18 41.3 32.8 1.1 8.1 9.1 7.8 1.9 1.3 4.0 2.4 12.1 21.3 .565 2.4 5.9 .411 6.3 9.0 .698
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------

Season 15

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2017-18-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 82 36.9 27.5 1.2 7.5 8.6 9.1 1.4 0.9 4.2 1.7 10.5 19.3 .542 1.8 5.0 .367 4.7 6.5 .731
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 22 41.9 34.0 1.4 7.7 9.1 9.0 1.4 1.0 4.3 2.4 12.5 23.2 .539 1.8 5.2 .342 7.2 9.7 .746
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------

Season 16

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2018-19-
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 %
LeBron James 55 35.2 27.4 1.0 7.4 8.5 8.3 1.3 0.6 3.6 1.7 10.1 19.9 .510 2.0 5.9 .339 5.1 7.6 .665
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James ------- --- ----------
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------

Season 17

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2019-20-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
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 %
LeBron James 67 34.6 25.3 1.0 6.9 7.8 10.2 1.2 0.5 3.9 1.8 9.6 19.4 .493 2.2 6.3 .348 3.9 5.7 .693
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 21 36.3 27.6 1.3 9.4 10.8 8.8 1.2 0.9 4.0 1.9 10.2 18.2 .560 2.1 5.7 .370 5.1 7.1 .720
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------

Season 18

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2020-21-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
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 %
LeBron James 45 33.4 25.0 0.6 7.0 7.7 7.8 1.1 0.6 3.7 1.6 9.4 18.3 .513 2.3 6.3 .365 4.0 5.7 .698
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 6 37.3 23.3 1.2 6.0 7.2 8.0 1.5 0.3 4.2 1.2 9.0 19.0 .474 3.0 8.0 .375 2.3 3.8 .609
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------

Season 19

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2021-22-
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 %
LeBron James 56 37.2 30.3 1.1 7.1 8.2 6.2 1.3 1.1 3.5 2.2 11.4 21.8 .524 2.9 8.0 .359 4.5 6.0 .756
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James ------- --- ----------
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------

Season 20

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2022-23-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
LeBron James 55 35.5 28.9 1.2 7.1 8.3 6.8 0.9 0.6 3.2 1.6 11.1 22.2 .500 2.2 6.9 .321 4.6 5.9 .768
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 16 38.7 24.5 1.6 8.3 9.9 6.5 1.1 1.1 2.5 1.8 9.2 18.4 .498 1.8 6.6 .264 4.4 5.8 .761
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------

Season 21

LeBron James Clifford Ray
Season 2023-24-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Cup MVP-
Achievement Cup All-Tournament Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
Others NBA Cup In-Season Tournament Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 71 35.3 25.7 0.9 6.4 7.3 8.3 1.3 0.5 3.5 1.1 9.6 17.9 .540 2.1 5.1 .410 4.3 5.7 .750
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James 5 40.8 27.8 0.8 6.0 6.8 8.8 2.4 1.0 3.8 2.2 11.2 19.8 .566 2.0 5.2 .385 3.4 4.6 .739
Clifford Ray ------- --- ----------