Michael Jordan vs. Rod Thorn Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rod Thorn 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, 7 more than Rod Thorn, who played 8. Michael Jordan had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, while Rod Thorn had his rookie season in 1963-64. 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
Rod Thorn 8 2 1963-64 to 1970-71

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 Rod Thorn
Season 1984-851963-64
Team Chicago BullsBaltimore Bullets
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
Rod Thorn 75 34.6 14.4 - - 4.8 3.7 - - - 2.5 5.5 13.5 .405 - - - 3.4 4.7 .731
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
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Jordan Rod Thorn
Season 1985-861964-65
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
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
Rod Thorn 74 23.9 11.0 - - 3.6 2.2 - - - 1.6 4.3 10.1 .427 - - - 2.4 3.3 .724
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
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Michael Jordan Rod Thorn
Season 1986-871965-66
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons, St. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdHawks 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 %
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
Rod Thorn 73 23.8 10.7 - - 2.9 2.0 - - - 2.0 4.2 10.0 .420 - - - 2.3 3.2 .712
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
Rod Thorn 10 11.9 3.8 - - 1.7 1.0 - - - 0.9 1.2 3.9 .308 - - - 1.4 1.8 .778

Season 4

Michael Jordan Rod Thorn
Season 1987-881966-67
Team Chicago BullsSt. Louis Hawks
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 SemisHawks 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 %
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
Rod Thorn 67 17.4 8.8 - - 2.4 1.8 - - - 1.3 3.5 7.8 .445 - - - 1.9 2.6 .727
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
Rod Thorn 9 17.3 10.1 - - 3.1 1.2 - - - 1.4 3.7 8.6 .429 - - - 2.8 3.0 .926

Season 5

Michael Jordan Rod Thorn
Season 1988-891967-68
Team Chicago BullsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring 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 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
Rod Thorn 66 25.3 15.2 - - 4.0 3.5 - - - 1.8 5.7 12.7 .451 - - - 3.8 5.2 .737
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
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Michael Jordan Rod Thorn
Season 1989-901968-69
Team Chicago BullsSeattle Supersonics
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
Rod Thorn 29 19.6 11.5 - - 2.9 2.8 - - - 2.0 4.5 9.8 .463 - - - 2.4 3.3 .732
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
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Michael Jordan Rod Thorn
Season 1990-911969-70
Team Chicago BullsSeattle Supersonics
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
Rod Thorn 19 5.5 2.9 - - 0.8 0.9 - - - 0.4 1.1 2.4 .444 - - - 0.8 1.3 .625
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
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Michael Jordan Rod Thorn
Season 1991-921970-71
Team Chicago BullsSeattle Supersonics
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
Rod Thorn 63 12.2 5.6 - - 1.6 2.9 - - - 1.0 2.2 4.7 .472 - - - 1.1 1.6 .676
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
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Michael Jordan Rod Thorn
Season 1992-93-
Team Chicago Bulls-
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 Champion-
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
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------
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
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------

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

Season 10

Michael Jordan Rod Thorn
Season 1994-95-
Team Chicago Bulls-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls 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
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------
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
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Michael Jordan Rod Thorn
Season 1995-96-
Team Chicago Bulls-
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 Champion-
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
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------
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
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Michael Jordan Rod Thorn
Season 1996-97-
Team Chicago Bulls-
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 Champion-
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
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------
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
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Michael Jordan Rod Thorn
Season 1997-98-
Team Chicago Bulls-
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 Champion-
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
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------
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
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------

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

Season 14

Michael Jordan Rod Thorn
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
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan ------- --- ----------
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Michael Jordan Rod Thorn
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
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan ------- --- ----------
Rod Thorn ------- --- ----------