Nathaniel Clifton vs. Clyde Drexler Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Clyde Drexler and Nathaniel Clifton, 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.

Nathaniel Clifton played 8 years in the NBA, 7 less than Clyde Drexler, who played 15. Nathaniel Clifton had the first of his seasons in 1950-51, while Clyde Drexler had his rookie season in 1983-84. 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
Nathaniel Clifton 8 6 1950-51 to 1957-58
Clyde Drexler 15 15 1983-84 to 1997-98

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Nathaniel Clifton Clyde Drexler
Season 1950-511983-84
Team New York KnicksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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 %
Nathaniel Clifton 65 - 8.6 - - 7.6 2.5 - - - 4.1 3.2 10.1 .322 - - - 2.2 4.0 .532
Clyde Drexler 82 17.2 7.7 1.4 1.5 2.9 1.9 1.3 0.4 1.5 2.5 3.1 6.8 .451 0.0 0.0 .250 1.5 2.1 .728
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nathaniel Clifton 14 - 7.1 - - 9.8 3.3 - - - 4.4 2.9 8.4 .347 - - - 1.3 3.3 .391
Clyde Drexler 5 17.0 7.2 1.4 2.0 3.4 1.6 1.0 0.2 1.4 2.2 3.0 7.0 .429 0.0 0.2 .000 1.2 1.4 .857

Season 2

Nathaniel Clifton Clyde Drexler
Season 1951-521984-85
Team New York KnicksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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 %
Nathaniel Clifton 62 33.9 10.6 - - 11.8 3.4 - - - 3.7 3.9 11.8 .335 - - - 2.7 4.1 .664
Clyde Drexler 80 31.9 17.2 2.7 3.2 6.0 5.5 2.2 0.9 2.8 3.3 7.2 14.5 .494 0.1 0.5 .216 2.8 3.7 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nathaniel Clifton 14 33.0 9.4 - - 9.5 2.4 - - - 4.8 2.8 9.5 .293 - - - 3.9 5.4 .711
Clyde Drexler 9 37.7 16.7 3.0 3.1 6.1 9.2 2.6 1.0 3.2 4.1 6.1 14.9 .410 0.2 0.8 .286 4.2 5.0 .844

Season 3

Nathaniel Clifton Clyde Drexler
Season 1952-531985-86
Team New York KnicksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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 %
Nathaniel Clifton 70 35.7 10.6 - - 10.9 3.3 - - - 3.9 3.9 11.3 .343 - - - 2.9 4.9 .583
Clyde Drexler 75 34.3 18.5 2.3 3.3 5.6 8.0 2.6 0.6 3.8 3.6 7.2 15.2 .475 0.2 0.8 .200 3.9 5.1 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nathaniel Clifton 11 36.8 12.0 - - 12.7 3.5 - - - 4.4 4.6 11.7 .395 - - - 2.7 4.3 .638
Clyde Drexler 4 36.3 18.0 2.3 4.0 6.3 6.5 1.5 0.8 4.8 4.8 6.5 14.3 .456 0.5 1.3 .400 4.5 5.8 .783

Season 4

Nathaniel Clifton Clyde Drexler
Season 1953-541986-87
Team New York KnicksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost E Div Round RobinTrail Blazers 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 %
Nathaniel Clifton 72 30.3 9.6 - - 7.3 2.4 - - - 3.0 3.6 9.7 .368 - - - 2.4 3.8 .628
Clyde Drexler 82 38.0 21.7 2.8 3.5 6.3 6.9 2.5 0.9 3.1 3.4 8.6 17.2 .502 0.1 0.6 .234 4.4 5.7 .760
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nathaniel Clifton 4 31.3 6.3 - - 9.8 1.5 - - - 3.8 2.0 6.8 .296 - - - 2.3 4.3 .529
Clyde Drexler 4 38.3 24.0 4.0 3.5 7.5 3.8 1.8 0.8 1.5 4.0 9.0 19.8 .456 0.3 1.0 .250 5.8 7.3 .793

Season 5

Nathaniel Clifton Clyde Drexler
Season 1954-551987-88
Team New York KnicksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Div SemisTrail Blazers 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 %
Nathaniel Clifton 72 33.2 13.1 - - 8.5 2.8 - - - 3.1 5.0 12.9 .386 - - - 3.1 4.6 .683
Clyde Drexler 81 37.8 27.0 3.2 3.4 6.6 5.8 2.5 0.6 2.9 3.1 10.5 20.7 .506 0.1 0.6 .212 5.9 7.2 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nathaniel Clifton 3 36.7 19.7 - - 7.7 4.3 - - - 4.0 6.7 17.3 .385 - - - 6.3 8.0 .792
Clyde Drexler 4 42.5 22.0 3.0 4.0 7.0 5.3 3.0 0.5 3.0 3.5 8.0 20.8 .386 0.8 1.5 .500 5.3 7.3 .724

Season 6

Nathaniel Clifton Clyde Drexler
Season 1955-561988-89
Team New York KnicksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers 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 %
Nathaniel Clifton 64 24.0 8.8 - - 6.0 2.4 - - - 3.0 3.3 8.5 .394 - - - 2.1 3.0 .707
Clyde Drexler 78 39.3 27.2 3.7 4.2 7.9 5.8 2.7 0.7 3.2 3.4 10.6 21.4 .496 0.3 1.3 .260 5.6 7.0 .799
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nathaniel Clifton ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 3 42.7 27.7 4.3 2.3 6.7 8.3 2.0 0.7 4.0 3.7 11.7 23.7 .493 0.0 0.7 .000 4.3 5.7 .765

Season 7

Nathaniel Clifton Clyde Drexler
Season 1956-571989-90
Team New York KnicksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nathaniel Clifton 71 31.4 10.7 - - 7.8 2.3 - - - 3.4 4.3 11.5 .377 - - - 2.1 3.1 .673
Clyde Drexler 73 36.8 23.3 2.8 4.1 6.9 5.9 2.0 0.7 2.6 3.0 9.2 18.6 .494 0.4 1.5 .283 4.6 5.9 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nathaniel Clifton ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 21 40.6 21.4 3.0 4.2 7.2 7.1 2.5 0.9 3.2 3.4 8.2 18.6 .441 0.4 2.0 .220 4.6 5.9 .774

Season 8

Nathaniel Clifton Clyde Drexler
Season 1957-581990-91
Team Detroit PistonsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Div FinalsTrail Blazers 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 %
Nathaniel Clifton 68 21.1 7.7 - - 5.9 1.1 - - - 3.0 3.2 8.8 .363 - - - 1.3 2.1 .623
Clyde Drexler 82 34.8 21.5 2.6 4.1 6.7 6.0 1.8 0.7 2.8 2.8 7.9 16.3 .482 0.7 2.3 .319 5.1 6.4 .794
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nathaniel Clifton 7 10.6 4.0 - - 3.3 0.6 - - - 1.6 1.6 4.3 .367 - - - 0.9 1.1 .750
Clyde Drexler 16 39.6 21.7 2.5 5.6 8.1 8.1 2.1 1.0 3.8 3.5 8.0 16.8 .476 0.9 3.5 .268 4.8 6.1 .776

Season 9

Nathaniel Clifton Clyde Drexler
Season -1991-92
Team -Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Trail Blazers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nathaniel Clifton ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 76 36.2 25.0 2.2 4.4 6.6 6.7 1.8 0.9 3.2 3.0 9.1 19.4 .470 1.5 4.4 .337 5.3 6.6 .794
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nathaniel Clifton ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 21 40.3 26.3 2.9 4.5 7.4 7.0 1.5 1.0 2.8 3.7 9.4 20.2 .466 0.9 3.9 .235 6.6 8.1 .807

Season 10

Nathaniel Clifton Clyde Drexler
Season -1992-93
Team -Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Trail Blazers 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 %
Nathaniel Clifton ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 49 34.1 19.9 2.6 3.7 6.3 5.7 1.9 0.8 2.3 3.2 7.1 16.7 .429 0.6 2.7 .233 5.0 6.0 .839
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nathaniel Clifton ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 3 38.7 19.0 2.7 3.7 6.3 4.7 1.7 1.0 1.0 3.0 6.0 14.3 .419 1.7 4.0 .417 5.3 6.7 .800

Season 11

Nathaniel Clifton Clyde Drexler
Season -1993-94
Team -Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Trail Blazers 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 %
Nathaniel Clifton ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 68 34.3 19.2 2.3 4.3 6.5 4.9 1.4 0.5 2.5 3.0 7.0 16.3 .428 1.0 3.2 .324 4.2 5.4 .777
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nathaniel Clifton ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 4 39.3 21.0 2.5 7.8 10.3 5.5 2.0 0.5 2.3 1.8 7.8 18.3 .425 0.8 3.3 .231 4.8 5.8 .826

Season 12

Nathaniel Clifton Clyde Drexler
Season -1994-95
Team -Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
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 %
Nathaniel Clifton ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 76 35.9 21.8 2.0 4.3 6.3 4.8 1.8 0.6 2.4 2.7 7.5 16.3 .461 1.9 5.4 .360 4.8 5.8 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nathaniel Clifton ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 22 38.6 20.5 2.0 5.0 7.0 5.0 1.5 0.7 2.0 3.1 7.0 14.6 .481 1.4 4.5 .303 5.0 6.4 .786

Season 13

Nathaniel Clifton Clyde Drexler
Season -1995-96
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Rockets 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 %
Nathaniel Clifton ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 52 38.4 19.3 1.9 5.3 7.2 5.8 2.0 0.5 2.6 2.9 6.4 14.7 .433 1.5 4.5 .332 5.1 6.5 .784
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nathaniel Clifton ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 8 36.5 16.6 1.9 5.9 7.8 5.0 2.6 0.5 2.5 2.8 6.1 14.8 .415 1.1 4.3 .265 3.3 4.3 .765

Season 14

Nathaniel Clifton Clyde Drexler
Season -1996-97
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Rockets 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 %
Nathaniel Clifton ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 62 36.6 18.0 1.9 4.1 6.0 5.7 1.9 0.6 2.5 2.4 6.4 14.5 .442 1.9 5.4 .355 3.2 4.3 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nathaniel Clifton ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 16 39.1 18.1 1.6 4.0 5.6 4.8 1.6 0.4 2.3 3.3 6.6 15.1 .436 2.4 6.4 .373 2.6 3.4 .778

Season 15

Nathaniel Clifton Clyde Drexler
Season -1997-98
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Rockets 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 %
Nathaniel Clifton ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 70 35.3 18.4 1.5 3.4 4.9 5.5 1.8 0.6 2.7 2.8 6.5 15.1 .427 1.5 4.8 .317 4.0 4.9 .801
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nathaniel Clifton ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 5 36.4 15.0 1.8 3.6 5.4 4.6 1.6 0.6 2.6 3.0 4.2 13.6 .309 1.0 5.2 .192 5.6 7.4 .757