LeBron James vs. Gene Shue Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gene Shue 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 Gene Shue, who played 10. LeBron James had the first of his seasons in 2003-04, while Gene Shue had his rookie season in 1954-55. 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
Gene Shue 10 7 1954-55 to 1963-64

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 Gene Shue
Season 2003-041954-55
Team Cleveland CavaliersPhiladelphia Warriors, New York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks Lost East Div 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
Gene Shue 62 15.3 4.2 - - 2.5 1.4 - - - 1.0 1.6 4.7 .346 - - - 1.0 1.3 .756
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James ------- --- ----------
Gene Shue 3 16.3 7.3 - - 4.0 1.3 - - - 1.7 2.7 5.7 .471 - - - 2.0 2.3 .857

Season 2

LeBron James Gene Shue
Season 2004-051955-56
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
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 %
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
Gene Shue 72 24.3 9.2 - - 2.9 2.5 - - - 1.5 3.3 8.7 .384 - - - 2.5 3.3 .764
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James ------- --- ----------
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------

Season 3

LeBron James Gene Shue
Season 2005-061956-57
Team Cleveland CavaliersFort Wayne Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisPistons Lost West Div 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 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
Gene Shue 72 34.3 10.9 - - 5.8 3.3 - - - 1.9 3.8 9.9 .385 - - - 3.3 4.4 .763
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
Gene Shue 2 39.5 16.0 - - 3.5 4.0 - - - 1.5 7.0 13.5 .519 - - - 2.0 2.0 1.000

Season 4

LeBron James Gene Shue
Season 2006-071957-58
Team Cleveland CavaliersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA FinalsPistons Lost West Div Finals
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
Gene Shue 63 37.0 15.6 - - 5.3 2.7 - - - 2.4 5.6 14.6 .384 - - - 4.4 5.2 .844
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
Gene Shue 7 40.1 18.6 - - 6.6 4.7 - - - 2.1 6.4 17.6 .366 - - - 5.7 6.1 .930

Season 5

LeBron James Gene Shue
Season 2007-081958-59
Team Cleveland CavaliersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisPistons Lost West Div Semis
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
Gene Shue 72 38.1 17.6 - - 4.7 3.2 - - - 1.8 6.4 16.6 .388 - - - 4.7 5.8 .803
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
Gene Shue 3 39.3 27.7 - - 4.7 3.3 - - - 2.3 9.3 20.0 .467 - - - 9.0 11.0 .818

Season 6

LeBron James Gene Shue
Season 2008-091959-60
Team Cleveland CavaliersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf FinalsPistons Lost West Div 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
Gene Shue 75 44.5 22.8 - - 5.5 3.9 - - - 1.9 8.3 20.0 .413 - - - 6.3 7.2 .872
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
Gene Shue 2 44.5 24.0 - - 6.0 3.0 - - - 2.5 7.5 19.0 .395 - - - 9.0 10.0 .900

Season 7

LeBron James Gene Shue
Season 2009-101960-61
Team Cleveland CavaliersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisPistons Lost West Div Semis
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
Gene Shue 78 43.1 22.6 - - 4.3 6.8 - - - 2.7 8.3 19.8 .421 - - - 6.0 7.0 .856
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
Gene Shue 5 37.2 18.6 - - 2.4 4.4 - - - 2.2 7.0 14.4 .486 - - - 4.6 5.8 .793

Season 8

LeBron James Gene Shue
Season 2010-111961-62
Team Miami HeatDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost NBA FinalsPistons Lost West Div 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 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
Gene Shue 80 39.3 19.0 - - 4.7 5.8 - - - 2.4 7.3 17.8 .408 - - - 4.5 5.6 .810
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
Gene Shue 10 36.9 16.1 - - 3.0 4.9 - - - 2.9 6.2 15.1 .411 - - - 3.7 4.8 .771

Season 9

LeBron James Gene Shue
Season 2011-121962-63
Team Miami HeatNew York Knicks
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
Gene Shue 78 29.3 11.7 - - 2.4 3.3 - - - 2.2 4.5 11.5 .396 - - - 2.7 3.9 .689
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------

Season 10

LeBron James Gene Shue
Season 2012-131963-64
Team Miami HeatBaltimore Bullets
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
Gene Shue 47 20.5 4.2 - - 2.0 3.2 - - - 2.1 1.7 5.9 .293 - - - 0.8 1.3 .590
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------

Season 11

LeBron James Gene Shue
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------

Season 12

LeBron James Gene Shue
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------

Season 13

LeBron James Gene Shue
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------

Season 14

LeBron James Gene Shue
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------

Season 15

LeBron James Gene Shue
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------

Season 16

LeBron James Gene Shue
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James ------- --- ----------
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------

Season 17

LeBron James Gene Shue
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------

Season 18

LeBron James Gene Shue
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------

Season 19

LeBron James Gene Shue
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LeBron James ------- --- ----------
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------

Season 20

LeBron James Gene Shue
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------

Season 21

LeBron James Gene Shue
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------
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
Gene Shue ------- --- ----------