Michael Jordan vs. Calvin Murphy Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Calvin Murphy and Michael Jordan, 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.

Michael Jordan played 15 years in the NBA, 2 more than Calvin Murphy, who played 13. Michael Jordan had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, while Calvin Murphy had his rookie season in 1970-71. 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
Michael Jordan 15 13 1984-85 to 2002-03
Calvin Murphy 13 6 1970-71 to 1982-83

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Jordan Calvin Murphy
Season 1984-851970-71
Team Chicago BullsSan Diego Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 82 38.3 28.2 2.0 4.5 6.5 5.9 2.4 0.8 3.5 3.5 10.2 19.8 .515 0.1 0.6 .173 7.7 9.1 .845
Calvin Murphy 82 24.6 15.8 - - 3.0 4.0 - - - 3.2 5.7 12.5 .458 - - - 4.3 5.3 .820
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 4 42.8 29.3 1.8 4.0 5.8 8.5 2.8 1.0 3.8 3.8 8.5 19.5 .436 0.3 2.0 .125 12.0 14.5 .828
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Jordan Calvin Murphy
Season 1985-861971-72
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 18 25.1 22.7 1.3 2.3 3.6 2.9 2.1 1.2 2.5 2.6 8.3 18.2 .457 0.2 1.0 .167 5.8 6.9 .840
Calvin Murphy 82 31.0 18.2 - - 3.1 4.8 - - - 3.6 7.0 15.3 .455 - - - 4.3 4.8 .890
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 3 45.0 43.7 1.7 4.7 6.3 5.7 2.3 1.3 4.7 4.3 16.0 31.7 .505 0.3 0.3 1.000 11.3 13.0 .872
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Michael Jordan Calvin Murphy
Season 1986-871972-73
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 82 40.0 37.1 2.0 3.2 5.2 4.6 2.9 1.5 3.3 2.9 13.4 27.8 .482 0.1 0.8 .182 10.2 11.9 .857
Calvin Murphy 77 22.0 13.0 - - 1.9 3.4 - - - 2.7 4.9 10.6 .465 - - - 3.1 3.5 .888
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 3 42.7 35.7 2.3 4.7 7.0 6.0 2.0 2.3 2.7 3.7 11.7 28.0 .417 0.7 1.7 .400 11.7 13.0 .897
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Michael Jordan Calvin Murphy
Season 1987-881973-74
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Michael Jordan 82 40.4 35.0 1.7 3.8 5.5 5.9 3.2 1.6 3.1 3.3 13.0 24.4 .535 0.1 0.6 .132 8.8 10.5 .841
Calvin Murphy 81 36.1 20.4 0.6 1.7 2.3 7.4 1.9 0.0 - 3.8 8.3 15.9 .522 - - - 3.8 4.4 .868
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 10 42.7 36.3 2.3 4.8 7.1 4.7 2.4 1.1 3.9 3.8 13.8 26.0 .531 0.1 0.3 .333 8.6 9.9 .869
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Michael Jordan Calvin Murphy
Season 1988-891974-75
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf FinalsRockets Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 81 40.2 32.5 1.8 6.2 8.0 8.0 2.9 0.8 3.6 3.0 11.9 22.2 .538 0.3 1.2 .276 8.3 9.8 .850
Calvin Murphy 78 32.2 18.7 0.7 1.6 2.2 4.9 1.6 0.1 - 3.6 7.1 14.8 .484 - - - 4.4 4.9 .883
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 17 42.2 34.8 1.5 5.5 7.0 7.6 2.5 0.8 4.0 3.8 11.7 22.9 .510 0.6 2.1 .286 10.8 13.5 .799
Calvin Murphy 8 38.1 24.4 1.1 1.3 2.4 5.6 1.8 0.1 - 4.5 9.0 19.5 .462 - - - 6.4 7.1 .895

Season 6

Michael Jordan Calvin Murphy
Season 1989-901975-76
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East 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 %
Michael Jordan 82 39.0 33.6 1.7 5.1 6.9 6.3 2.8 0.7 3.0 2.9 12.6 24.0 .526 1.1 3.0 .376 7.2 8.5 .848
Calvin Murphy 82 36.5 21.0 0.6 1.9 2.5 7.3 1.8 0.1 - 3.6 8.2 16.7 .493 - - - 4.5 5.0 .907
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 16 42.1 36.7 1.5 5.7 7.2 6.8 2.8 0.9 3.5 3.4 13.7 26.6 .514 1.0 3.1 .320 8.3 9.9 .836
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Michael Jordan Calvin Murphy
Season 1990-911976-77
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 82 37.0 31.5 1.4 4.6 6.0 5.5 2.7 1.0 2.5 2.8 12.1 22.4 .539 0.4 1.1 .312 7.0 8.2 .851
Calvin Murphy 82 33.7 17.9 0.7 1.4 2.1 4.7 1.8 0.1 - 3.4 7.3 14.8 .490 - - - 3.3 3.7 .886
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 17 40.5 31.1 1.1 5.3 6.4 8.4 2.4 1.4 2.5 3.1 11.6 22.1 .524 0.6 1.5 .385 7.4 8.7 .845
Calvin Murphy 12 35.0 19.3 0.6 1.0 1.6 6.3 1.6 0.2 - 3.9 8.5 17.8 .479 - - - 2.3 2.5 .933

Season 8

Michael Jordan Calvin Murphy
Season 1991-921977-78
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
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 %
Michael Jordan 80 38.8 30.1 1.1 5.3 6.4 6.1 2.3 0.9 2.5 2.5 11.8 22.7 .519 0.3 1.3 .270 6.1 7.4 .832
Calvin Murphy 76 38.2 25.6 0.8 1.4 2.2 3.4 1.5 0.0 2.3 3.2 11.2 22.9 .491 - - - 3.2 3.5 .918
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 22 41.8 34.5 1.7 4.5 6.2 5.8 2.0 0.7 3.7 2.8 13.2 26.4 .499 0.8 2.0 .386 7.4 8.6 .857
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Michael Jordan Calvin Murphy
Season 1992-931978-79
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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 %
Michael Jordan 78 39.3 32.6 1.7 5.0 6.7 5.5 2.8 0.8 2.7 2.4 12.7 25.7 .495 1.0 2.9 .352 6.1 7.3 .837
Calvin Murphy 82 35.9 20.2 1.0 1.2 2.1 4.3 1.4 0.1 2.3 3.5 8.6 17.4 .496 - - - 3.0 3.2 .928
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 19 41.2 35.1 1.7 5.1 6.7 6.0 2.1 0.9 2.4 3.1 13.2 27.8 .475 1.5 3.8 .389 7.2 8.9 .805
Calvin Murphy 2 36.5 13.0 1.0 0.5 1.5 3.0 4.0 0.5 1.0 4.5 4.5 15.5 .290 - - - 4.0 4.5 .889

Note: Michael Jordan didn't play in 1993-94.

Season 10

Michael Jordan Calvin Murphy
Season 1994-951979-80
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisRockets Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 17 39.3 26.9 1.5 5.4 6.9 5.3 1.8 0.8 2.1 2.8 9.8 23.8 .411 0.9 1.9 .500 6.4 8.0 .801
Calvin Murphy 76 35.2 20.0 0.9 1.1 2.0 3.9 1.9 0.1 2.1 3.5 8.2 16.7 .493 0.0 0.3 .040 3.6 4.0 .897
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 10 42.0 31.5 2.0 4.5 6.5 4.5 2.3 1.4 4.1 3.0 12.0 24.8 .484 1.1 3.0 .367 6.4 7.9 .810
Calvin Murphy 7 37.9 18.7 0.6 0.9 1.4 3.7 1.6 0.0 2.3 4.1 8.3 15.4 .537 0.3 0.6 .500 1.9 1.9 1.000

Season 11

Michael Jordan Calvin Murphy
Season 1995-961980-81
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 82 37.7 30.4 1.8 4.8 6.6 4.3 2.2 0.5 2.4 2.4 11.2 22.6 .495 1.4 3.2 .427 6.7 8.0 .834
Calvin Murphy 76 26.5 16.7 0.4 0.7 1.1 2.9 1.5 0.1 1.7 2.8 6.9 14.1 .492 0.1 0.2 .235 2.7 2.8 .958
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 18 40.7 30.7 1.7 3.2 4.9 4.1 1.8 0.3 2.3 2.7 10.4 22.6 .459 1.4 3.4 .403 8.5 10.4 .818
Calvin Murphy 19 28.4 18.1 0.4 0.9 1.3 3.0 1.4 0.0 2.2 3.6 7.5 15.1 .495 0.1 0.4 .286 3.1 3.2 .967

Season 12

Michael Jordan Calvin Murphy
Season 1996-971981-82
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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 %
Michael Jordan 82 37.9 29.6 1.4 4.5 5.9 4.3 1.7 0.5 2.0 1.9 11.2 23.1 .486 1.4 3.6 .374 5.9 7.0 .833
Calvin Murphy 64 18.8 10.2 0.3 0.6 1.0 2.5 0.7 0.0 1.3 2.2 4.3 10.1 .427 0.0 0.3 .063 1.6 1.7 .909
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 19 42.3 31.1 2.2 5.7 7.9 4.8 1.6 0.9 2.6 2.4 11.9 26.2 .456 0.7 3.5 .194 6.5 7.8 .831
Calvin Murphy 3 19.0 5.7 0.7 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.3 0.0 1.3 2.3 1.7 7.3 .227 0.0 1.0 .000 2.3 2.7 .875

Season 13

Michael Jordan Calvin Murphy
Season 1997-981982-83
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
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 %
Michael Jordan 82 38.8 28.7 1.6 4.2 5.8 3.5 1.7 0.5 2.3 1.8 10.7 23.1 .465 0.4 1.5 .238 6.9 8.8 .784
Calvin Murphy 64 22.2 12.8 0.5 0.6 1.2 2.5 0.9 0.1 1.4 2.5 5.3 11.8 .447 0.1 0.2 .286 2.2 2.3 .920
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 21 41.5 32.4 1.6 3.5 5.1 3.5 1.5 0.6 2.1 2.2 11.6 25.0 .462 0.6 2.0 .302 8.6 10.6 .812
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------

Note: Michael Jordan didn't play in 1998-99, 1999-00 and 2000-01.

Season 14

Michael Jordan Calvin Murphy
Season 2001-02-
Team Washington Wizards-
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 %
Michael Jordan 60 34.9 22.9 0.8 4.8 5.7 5.2 1.4 0.4 2.7 2.0 9.2 22.1 .416 0.2 0.9 .189 4.4 5.6 .790
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan ------- --- ----------
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Michael Jordan Calvin Murphy
Season 2002-03-
Team Washington Wizards-
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 %
Michael Jordan 82 37.0 20.0 0.9 5.2 6.1 3.8 1.5 0.5 2.1 2.1 8.3 18.6 .445 0.2 0.7 .291 3.2 4.0 .821
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan ------- --- ----------
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------