Michael Jordan vs. Nick Van Exel Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nick Van Exel 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 / Games against each other

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 Nick Van Exel, who played 13. Michael Jordan had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, while Nick Van Exel had his rookie season in 1993-94. 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
Nick Van Exel 13 7 1993-94 to 2005-06

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 Nick Van Exel
Season 1984-851993-94
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second 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
Nick Van Exel 81 33.3 13.6 0.6 2.4 2.9 5.8 1.0 0.1 1.8 1.9 5.1 13.0 .394 1.5 4.5 .338 1.9 2.4 .781
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
Nick Van Exel ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Michael Jordan Nick Van Exel
Season 1985-861994-95
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
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
Nick Van Exel 80 36.8 16.9 0.3 2.5 2.8 8.3 1.2 0.1 2.8 2.0 5.8 13.8 .420 2.3 6.4 .358 2.9 3.8 .783
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
Nick Van Exel 10 46.4 20.0 0.9 2.9 3.8 7.3 2.1 0.3 2.2 3.3 6.7 16.2 .414 2.1 6.6 .318 4.5 5.9 .763

Season 3
Michael Jordan Nick Van Exel
Season 1986-871995-96
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers 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 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
Nick Van Exel 74 34.0 14.9 0.4 2.1 2.4 6.9 0.9 0.1 2.1 1.6 5.4 12.8 .417 1.9 5.4 .357 2.2 2.8 .799
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
Nick Van Exel 4 34.3 11.8 1.0 3.0 4.0 6.8 0.5 0.0 2.8 2.5 4.0 13.5 .296 1.3 4.0 .313 2.5 3.3 .769

Season 4
Michael Jordan Nick Van Exel
Season 1987-881996-97
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
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 SemisLakers 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 %
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
Nick Van Exel 79 37.2 15.3 0.6 2.3 2.9 8.5 0.9 0.1 2.7 1.4 5.5 13.6 .402 2.2 5.9 .378 2.1 2.5 .825
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
Nick Van Exel 9 39.2 14.4 0.7 2.8 3.4 6.4 1.1 0.0 2.0 2.1 5.0 13.2 .378 1.3 4.9 .273 3.1 3.8 .824

Season 5
Michael Jordan Nick Van Exel
Season 1988-891997-98
Team Chicago BullsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf FinalsLakers 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 %
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
Nick Van Exel 64 32.1 13.8 0.5 2.5 3.0 6.9 1.0 0.1 1.6 1.9 4.9 11.6 .419 1.9 4.9 .389 2.1 2.7 .791
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
Nick Van Exel 13 28.3 11.6 0.7 1.8 2.5 4.2 0.6 0.1 1.7 2.3 3.8 11.6 .331 1.7 5.4 .314 2.2 3.1 .725

Season 6
Michael Jordan Nick Van Exel
Season 1989-901998-99
Team Chicago BullsDenver Nuggets
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
Nick Van Exel 50 36.0 16.5 0.3 2.0 2.3 7.4 0.8 0.1 2.4 1.8 6.1 15.4 .398 1.4 4.7 .308 2.8 3.5 .811
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
Nick Van Exel ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Michael Jordan Nick Van Exel
Season 1990-911999-00
Team Chicago BullsDenver Nuggets
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 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
Nick Van Exel 79 37.3 16.1 0.4 3.5 3.9 9.0 0.9 0.1 2.8 1.9 6.0 15.4 .390 1.7 5.1 .332 2.5 3.0 .817
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
Nick Van Exel ------- --- ----------

Season 8
Michael Jordan Nick Van Exel
Season 1991-922000-01
Team Chicago BullsDenver Nuggets
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
Nick Van Exel 71 37.9 17.7 0.6 2.8 3.4 8.5 0.9 0.3 2.3 1.5 6.5 15.7 .414 1.9 5.0 .377 2.9 3.5 .819
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
Nick Van Exel ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Michael Jordan Nick Van Exel
Season 1992-932001-02
Team Chicago BullsDenver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks 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 %
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
Nick Van Exel 72 34.7 18.4 0.4 3.1 3.5 6.6 0.6 0.2 2.2 1.4 7.0 17.0 .409 1.7 4.9 .340 2.8 3.5 .801
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
Nick Van Exel 8 32.8 11.1 0.9 2.1 3.0 3.9 1.0 0.0 1.5 3.3 4.6 12.6 .366 0.9 4.3 .206 1.0 1.5 .667

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

Season 10
Michael Jordan Nick Van Exel
Season 1994-952002-03
Team Chicago BullsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisMavericks 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 %
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
Nick Van Exel 73 27.8 12.5 0.5 2.4 2.8 4.3 0.6 0.1 1.7 1.2 4.7 11.4 .412 1.6 4.3 .378 1.5 2.0 .764
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
Nick Van Exel 20 33.7 19.5 0.9 2.5 3.4 4.1 0.6 0.0 2.0 2.4 7.5 16.3 .460 2.2 5.6 .393 2.3 3.2 .703

Season 11
Michael Jordan Nick Van Exel
Season 1995-962003-04
Team Chicago BullsGolden State Warriors
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 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
Nick Van Exel 39 32.2 12.6 0.4 2.3 2.7 5.3 0.5 0.1 2.0 1.5 4.8 12.3 .390 1.2 3.8 .307 1.8 2.5 .707
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
Nick Van Exel ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Michael Jordan Nick Van Exel
Season 1996-972004-05
Team Chicago BullsPortland Trail Blazers
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 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 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
Nick Van Exel 53 30.5 11.1 0.4 2.7 3.0 4.3 0.8 0.0 1.7 1.3 4.0 10.6 .381 1.9 4.8 .389 1.1 1.4 .784
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
Nick Van Exel ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Michael Jordan Nick Van Exel
Season 1997-982005-06
Team Chicago BullsSan Antonio Spurs
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 ChampionSpurs 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 %
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
Nick Van Exel 65 15.2 5.5 0.1 1.3 1.4 1.9 0.2 0.0 0.9 0.9 2.1 5.3 .397 0.8 2.4 .357 0.4 0.6 .683
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
Nick Van Exel 12 11.1 2.2 0.1 0.9 1.0 1.4 0.3 0.2 0.4 1.2 0.6 2.7 .219 0.3 0.8 .300 0.8 0.8 1.000

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

Season 14
Michael Jordan Nick Van Exel
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
Nick Van Exel ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel ------- --- ----------

Season 15
Michael Jordan Nick Van Exel
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
Nick Van Exel ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel ------- --- ----------
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