Nikola Jokic vs. Larry Nance Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Larry Nance and Nikola Jokic, 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.

Nikola Jokic played 9 years in the NBA, 4 less than Larry Nance, who played 13. Nikola Jokic had the first of his seasons in 2015-16, while Larry Nance had his rookie season in 1981-82. 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
Nikola Jokic 9 6 2015-16 to 2023-24
Larry Nance 13 8 1981-82 to 1993-94

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Nikola Jokic Larry Nance
Season 2015-161981-82
Team Denver NuggetsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
Nikola Jokic 80 21.7 10.0 2.3 4.7 7.0 2.4 1.0 0.6 1.3 2.6 3.8 7.5 .512 0.4 1.1 .333 1.9 2.4 .811
Larry Nance 80 14.8 6.6 1.2 2.0 3.2 1.0 0.5 0.9 1.3 2.1 2.8 5.5 .521 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.5 .641
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------
Larry Nance 7 18.3 7.7 1.9 2.7 4.6 1.0 1.4 1.6 1.7 2.1 3.6 5.9 .610 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.1 .500

Season 2

Nikola Jokic Larry Nance
Season 2016-171982-83
Team Denver NuggetsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
Nikola Jokic 73 27.9 16.7 2.9 6.9 9.8 4.9 0.8 0.8 2.3 2.9 6.8 11.7 .578 0.6 1.9 .324 2.6 3.1 .825
Larry Nance 82 35.5 16.7 2.9 5.7 8.7 2.4 1.2 2.6 2.3 3.1 7.2 13.0 .550 0.0 0.0 .333 2.4 3.5 .672
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------
Larry Nance 3 34.3 12.0 3.3 5.0 8.3 1.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 4.7 11.7 .400 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.3 .800

Season 3

Nikola Jokic Larry Nance
Season 2017-181983-84
Team Denver NuggetsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
Nikola Jokic 75 32.6 18.5 2.6 8.1 10.7 6.1 1.2 0.8 2.8 2.8 6.7 13.5 .499 1.5 3.7 .396 3.5 4.2 .850
Larry Nance 82 35.4 17.7 2.8 5.5 8.3 2.6 1.0 2.1 2.2 3.3 7.3 12.7 .576 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.3 .707
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------
Larry Nance 17 37.2 16.9 3.0 5.7 8.7 2.4 0.9 2.0 1.8 3.5 6.9 11.8 .590 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.5 .671

Season 4

Nikola Jokic Larry Nance
Season 2018-191984-85
Team Denver NuggetsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West 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 %
Nikola Jokic 80 31.3 20.1 2.9 8.0 10.8 7.3 1.4 0.7 3.1 2.9 7.7 15.1 .511 1.0 3.4 .307 3.6 4.4 .821
Larry Nance 61 36.1 19.9 3.2 5.6 8.8 2.6 1.4 1.7 2.2 3.0 8.4 14.4 .587 0.0 0.0 .500 3.0 4.2 .709
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nikola Jokic 14 39.8 25.1 3.9 9.1 13.0 8.4 1.1 0.9 2.6 3.9 9.4 18.6 .506 1.6 4.0 .393 4.7 5.6 .846
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Nikola Jokic Larry Nance
Season 2019-201985-86
Team Denver NuggetsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West 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 %
Nikola Jokic 73 32.0 19.9 2.3 7.5 9.7 7.0 1.2 0.6 3.1 3.0 7.7 14.7 .528 1.1 3.5 .314 3.4 4.1 .817
Larry Nance 73 34.0 20.2 2.3 6.2 8.5 3.3 1.0 1.8 2.9 3.4 8.0 13.7 .581 0.0 0.1 .000 4.2 6.1 .698
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nikola Jokic 19 36.5 24.4 1.9 7.9 9.8 5.7 1.1 0.8 3.3 3.6 9.4 18.1 .519 2.2 5.2 .429 3.5 4.2 .835
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Nikola Jokic Larry Nance
Season 2020-211986-87
Team Denver NuggetsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West 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 %
Nikola Jokic 72 34.6 26.4 2.8 8.0 10.8 8.3 1.3 0.7 3.1 2.7 10.2 18.0 .566 1.3 3.3 .388 4.8 5.5 .868
Larry Nance 69 37.2 22.5 2.7 6.0 8.7 3.4 1.2 2.1 2.2 3.2 8.5 15.4 .551 0.0 0.1 .200 5.5 7.1 .773
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nikola Jokic 10 34.5 29.8 3.7 7.9 11.6 5.0 0.6 0.9 2.4 2.3 11.6 22.8 .509 2.0 5.3 .377 4.6 5.5 .836
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Nikola Jokic Larry Nance
Season 2021-221987-88
Team Denver NuggetsPhoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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 %
Nikola Jokic 74 33.5 27.1 2.8 11.0 13.8 7.9 1.5 0.9 3.8 2.6 10.3 17.7 .583 1.3 3.9 .337 5.1 6.3 .810
Larry Nance 67 35.6 19.1 2.9 6.2 9.1 3.1 0.9 2.4 2.3 3.6 7.3 13.7 .529 0.0 0.1 .333 4.5 5.8 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nikola Jokic 5 34.2 31.0 3.4 9.8 13.2 5.8 1.6 1.0 4.8 4.0 12.2 21.2 .575 1.0 3.6 .278 5.6 6.6 .848
Larry Nance 5 40.0 16.8 2.0 5.2 7.2 3.6 0.4 2.2 2.8 2.6 6.8 12.8 .531 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 3.6 .889

Season 8

Nikola Jokic Larry Nance
Season 2022-231988-89
Team Denver NuggetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers 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 %
Nikola Jokic 69 33.7 24.5 2.4 9.4 11.8 9.8 1.3 0.7 3.6 2.5 9.4 14.8 .632 0.8 2.2 .383 4.9 6.0 .822
Larry Nance 73 34.6 17.2 2.1 5.8 8.0 2.2 0.8 2.8 1.6 2.5 6.8 12.6 .539 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 4.6 .799
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nikola Jokic 20 39.5 30.0 3.5 10.0 13.5 9.5 1.1 1.0 3.5 3.5 11.4 20.7 .548 1.8 3.8 .461 5.6 7.0 .799
Larry Nance 5 39.0 19.4 3.2 4.6 7.8 3.2 0.6 2.4 1.8 2.4 7.6 13.8 .551 0.0 0.0 - 4.2 6.4 .656

Season 9

Nikola Jokic Larry Nance
Season 2023-241989-90
Team Denver NuggetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets TBDCavaliers 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 %
Nikola Jokic 79 34.6 26.4 2.8 9.5 12.4 9.0 1.4 0.9 3.0 2.5 10.4 17.9 .583 1.1 2.9 .359 4.5 5.5 .817
Larry Nance 62 33.3 16.3 2.6 5.7 8.3 2.6 0.9 2.0 1.8 3.0 6.6 13.0 .511 0.0 0.0 1.000 3.0 3.9 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nikola Jokic 11 39.5 28.2 3.4 9.5 12.9 8.8 1.5 0.6 3.4 2.7 10.9 19.6 .556 1.1 3.9 .279 5.3 5.8 .906
Larry Nance 5 31.8 12.2 0.8 4.0 4.8 2.4 0.6 2.0 0.8 4.0 5.2 9.0 .578 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.4 .750

Season 10

Nikola Jokic Larry Nance
Season -1990-91
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
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 %
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------
Larry Nance 80 36.6 19.2 2.5 6.1 8.6 3.0 0.8 2.5 1.6 2.7 7.9 15.1 .524 0.0 0.1 .250 3.3 4.1 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Nikola Jokic Larry Nance
Season -1991-92
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs -Cavaliers 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 %
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------
Larry Nance 81 35.6 17.0 2.6 5.6 8.3 2.9 1.0 3.0 1.1 2.5 6.9 12.7 .539 0.0 0.1 .000 3.2 4.0 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------
Larry Nance 17 40.1 18.0 2.6 6.6 9.2 2.5 0.8 2.7 1.5 3.3 7.3 14.8 .494 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.1 .829

Season 12

Nikola Jokic Larry Nance
Season -1992-93
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Cavaliers 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 %
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------
Larry Nance 77 35.8 16.5 2.4 6.3 8.7 2.9 0.7 2.6 1.4 2.9 6.9 12.6 .549 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 3.2 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------
Larry Nance 9 36.6 16.1 3.9 4.3 8.2 2.3 0.9 1.6 0.7 3.7 6.8 12.0 .565 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.3 .767

Season 13

Nikola Jokic Larry Nance
Season -1993-94
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
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 %
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------
Larry Nance 33 27.5 11.2 2.3 4.5 6.9 1.5 0.8 1.7 1.2 2.9 4.6 9.5 .487 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.6 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nikola Jokic ------- --- ----------
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------