Mel Counts vs. JaVale McGee Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of JaVale McGee and Mel Counts, 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.

Mel Counts played 12 years in the NBA, 4 less than JaVale McGee, who played 16. Mel Counts had the first of his seasons in 1964-65, while JaVale McGee had his rookie season in 2008-09. 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
Mel Counts 12 8 1964-65 to 1975-76
JaVale McGee 16 8 2008-09 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

Rookie Season

Mel Counts JaVale McGee
Season 1964-652008-09
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
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 %
Mel Counts 54 10.6 4.8 - - 4.9 0.4 - - - 2.5 1.9 5.0 .368 - - - 1.1 1.4 .784
JaVale McGee 75 15.2 6.5 1.6 2.3 3.9 0.3 0.4 1.0 0.8 2.1 2.5 5.2 .494 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.2 .660
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 4 7.5 2.3 - - 2.8 0.3 - - - 2.5 1.0 3.8 .267 - - - 0.3 0.3 1.000
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Mel Counts JaVale McGee
Season 1965-662009-10
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
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 %
Mel Counts 67 15.2 8.4 - - 6.4 0.7 - - - 3.1 3.3 8.2 .403 - - - 1.8 2.2 .828
JaVale McGee 60 16.1 6.4 1.5 2.6 4.1 0.2 0.3 1.7 0.9 2.0 2.6 5.1 .508 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 1.9 .638
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 10 8.2 4.3 - - 4.0 0.3 - - - 2.6 1.4 3.9 .359 - - - 1.5 1.7 .882
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Mel Counts JaVale McGee
Season 1966-672010-11
Team Baltimore Bullets, Los Angeles LakersWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 56 15.4 7.6 - - 6.1 0.9 - - - 3.3 3.2 7.5 .422 - - - 1.2 1.7 .734
JaVale McGee 79 27.8 10.1 2.8 5.2 8.0 0.5 0.5 2.4 1.3 2.9 4.2 7.6 .550 0.0 0.0 .000 1.7 2.9 .583
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 3 9.7 4.7 - - 2.7 0.0 - - - 2.0 1.7 6.3 .263 - - - 1.3 1.3 1.000
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Mel Counts JaVale McGee
Season 1967-682011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Wizards, Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNuggets 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 %
Mel Counts 82 21.2 11.7 - - 8.9 1.7 - - - 3.8 4.7 9.9 .475 - - - 2.3 3.1 .748
JaVale McGee 61 25.2 11.3 2.7 5.1 7.8 0.5 0.6 2.2 1.4 2.7 5.0 9.0 .556 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 2.7 .461
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 15 20.4 8.6 - - 8.9 1.6 - - - 3.5 3.6 6.7 .535 - - - 1.4 2.1 .677
JaVale McGee 7 25.9 8.6 3.3 6.3 9.6 0.7 0.7 3.1 0.6 3.0 3.3 7.6 .434 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.7 .538

Season 5

Mel Counts JaVale McGee
Season 1968-692012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNuggets 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 %
Mel Counts 77 24.2 12.4 - - 7.8 1.4 - - - 2.9 5.1 11.3 .450 - - - 2.3 2.9 .805
JaVale McGee 79 18.1 9.1 2.0 2.8 4.8 0.3 0.4 2.0 1.1 2.3 3.8 6.7 .575 0.0 0.0 1.000 1.4 2.4 .591
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 18 24.6 11.2 - - 7.9 1.4 - - - 3.7 4.1 10.7 .385 - - - 3.0 3.9 .761
JaVale McGee 6 18.7 7.2 2.8 2.3 5.2 0.0 0.7 1.0 1.8 2.8 3.0 5.2 .581 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 3.0 .389

Season 6

Mel Counts JaVale McGee
Season 1969-702013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
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 %
Mel Counts 81 27.1 12.6 - - 8.4 2.0 - - - 3.8 5.4 12.6 .427 - - - 1.9 2.5 .776
JaVale McGee 5 15.8 7.0 2.0 1.4 3.4 0.4 0.2 1.4 1.6 3.2 3.4 7.6 .447 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 14 15.1 6.1 - - 5.3 1.1 - - - 3.4 2.6 6.3 .420 - - - 0.8 0.9 .846
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Mel Counts JaVale McGee
Season 1970-712014-15
Team Phoenix SunsDenver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers
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 %
Mel Counts 80 20.9 11.0 - - 6.3 1.7 - - - 3.5 4.6 10.0 .457 - - - 1.9 2.5 .753
JaVale McGee 23 11.1 4.6 0.8 1.9 2.7 0.1 0.1 0.9 0.8 1.3 1.8 3.4 .532 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.4 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Mel Counts JaVale McGee
Season 1971-722015-16
Team Phoenix SunsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks 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 %
Mel Counts 76 11.9 5.2 - - 3.4 1.3 - - - 2.1 1.9 4.5 .427 - - - 1.3 1.8 .721
JaVale McGee 34 10.9 5.1 1.6 2.4 3.9 0.1 0.1 0.8 0.6 1.4 2.3 3.9 .575 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 1.1 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee 2 7.0 2.0 1.0 0.5 1.5 0.0 0.5 0.0 1.5 1.5 0.5 1.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 3.0 .333

Season 9

Mel Counts JaVale McGee
Season 1972-732016-17
Team Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Mel Counts 66 10.0 4.6 - - 3.8 1.0 - - - 1.6 2.0 4.5 .449 - - - 0.6 0.9 .672
JaVale McGee 77 9.6 6.1 1.3 1.9 3.2 0.2 0.2 0.9 0.5 1.4 2.7 4.1 .652 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 1.4 .505
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 17 19.2 9.1 - - 6.1 1.6 - - - 3.0 3.6 7.8 .459 - - - 1.9 2.4 .780
JaVale McGee 16 9.3 5.9 1.4 1.6 3.0 0.3 0.1 0.9 0.5 1.9 2.6 3.5 .732 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.1 .722

Season 10

Mel Counts JaVale McGee
Season 1973-742017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 45 11.1 3.2 1.2 2.0 3.2 1.2 0.4 0.5 - 1.9 1.4 3.7 .365 - - - 0.5 0.7 .727
JaVale McGee 65 9.5 4.8 0.9 1.7 2.6 0.5 0.3 0.9 0.4 1.4 2.1 3.4 .621 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 0.8 .731
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 4 8.5 3.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 - 0.8 1.5 3.0 .500 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
JaVale McGee 13 12.2 6.5 1.2 2.0 3.2 0.3 0.2 0.8 0.4 1.5 3.0 4.5 .672 0.0 0.1 .000 0.5 0.7 .667

Season 11

Mel Counts JaVale McGee
Season 1974-752018-19
Team New Orleans JazzLos Angeles Lakers
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 %
Mel Counts 75 18.9 6.9 1.4 4.5 5.9 2.4 0.7 0.6 - 2.6 2.9 6.6 .438 - - - 1.1 1.5 .761
JaVale McGee 75 22.3 12.0 2.6 4.9 7.5 0.7 0.6 2.0 1.4 2.8 5.3 8.5 .624 0.0 0.2 .083 1.3 2.0 .632
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Mel Counts JaVale McGee
Season 1975-762019-20
Team New Orleans JazzLos Angeles Lakers
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 %
Mel Counts 30 10.6 3.0 0.9 2.4 3.3 1.3 0.5 0.3 - 2.5 1.2 3.0 .407 - - - 0.5 0.7 .762
JaVale McGee 68 16.6 6.6 1.8 3.9 5.7 0.5 0.5 1.4 0.8 2.3 2.9 4.5 .637 0.0 0.1 .500 0.8 1.2 .646
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee 14 9.6 2.9 1.1 2.0 3.1 0.5 0.1 0.7 0.6 1.6 1.4 2.3 .625 0.0 0.1 .000 0.1 0.1 .500

Season 13

Mel Counts JaVale McGee
Season -2020-21
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Nuggets 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 %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee 46 14.7 7.3 1.7 3.5 5.2 0.8 0.4 1.2 1.3 2.6 3.1 6.1 .511 0.1 0.5 .208 1.0 1.5 .657
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee 4 8.5 2.0 0.8 2.3 3.0 0.8 0.3 1.3 0.3 1.0 0.8 2.5 .300 0.0 0.5 .000 0.5 1.5 .333

Season 14

Mel Counts JaVale McGee
Season -2021-22
Team -Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Suns 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 %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee 74 15.8 9.2 2.2 4.5 6.7 0.6 0.3 1.1 1.3 2.4 3.9 6.2 .629 0.0 0.1 .222 1.4 2.0 .699
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee 12 11.1 6.8 1.3 2.7 4.0 0.6 0.3 0.4 0.8 2.3 2.9 4.2 .700 0.0 0.1 .000 0.9 1.1 .846

Season 15

Mel Counts JaVale McGee
Season -2022-23
Team -Dallas Mavericks
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 %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee 42 8.5 4.4 0.7 1.8 2.5 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.9 1.3 1.9 3.0 .640 0.0 0.1 .400 0.6 1.0 .585
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Mel Counts JaVale McGee
Season -2023-24
Team -Sacramento Kings
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 %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee 46 7.4 4.0 0.9 1.8 2.7 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.7 1.0 1.7 2.9 .598 0.0 0.2 .143 0.6 1.0 .578
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------