Kevin Johnson vs. John Paxson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of John Paxson and Kevin Johnson, 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.

Kevin Johnson played 12 years in the NBA, 1 more than John Paxson, who played 11. Kevin Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1987-88, while John Paxson 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
Kevin Johnson 12 11 1987-88 to 1999-00
John Paxson 11 10 1983-84 to 1993-94

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Kevin Johnson John Paxson
Season 1987-881983-84
Team Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix SunsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Johnson 80 24.0 9.2 0.5 1.9 2.4 5.5 1.3 0.3 1.8 1.9 3.4 7.5 .461 0.1 0.3 .208 2.2 2.6 .839
John Paxson 49 9.3 2.9 0.1 0.6 0.7 3.0 0.2 0.0 0.7 1.0 1.2 2.8 .445 0.1 0.4 .182 0.3 0.5 .615
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Johnson ------- --- ----------
John Paxson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Kevin Johnson John Paxson
Season 1988-891984-85
Team Phoenix SunsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Most Improved Player-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsSpurs 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 %
Kevin Johnson 81 39.2 20.4 0.6 3.6 4.2 12.2 1.7 0.3 4.0 2.8 7.0 13.9 .505 0.0 0.3 .091 6.3 7.1 .882
John Paxson 78 16.1 6.2 0.2 0.6 0.9 2.8 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.5 2.5 4.9 .509 0.1 0.4 .294 1.1 1.3 .840
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Johnson 12 41.2 23.8 1.0 3.3 4.3 12.3 1.6 0.4 4.6 2.3 7.5 15.2 .495 0.3 0.8 .300 8.5 9.2 .927
John Paxson 5 22.8 10.2 0.0 1.0 1.0 4.2 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.8 4.2 8.4 .500 0.4 1.8 .222 1.4 1.8 .778

Season 3

Kevin Johnson John Paxson
Season 1989-901985-86
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsBulls 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 %
Kevin Johnson 74 37.6 22.5 0.6 3.1 3.6 11.4 1.3 0.2 3.6 1.9 7.8 15.7 .499 0.1 0.6 .195 6.8 8.1 .838
John Paxson 75 20.9 5.3 0.2 1.0 1.3 3.7 0.7 0.0 0.8 2.3 2.0 4.4 .466 0.2 0.7 .300 1.0 1.2 .804
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Johnson 16 36.4 21.3 0.6 2.8 3.3 10.6 1.6 0.0 3.9 1.8 7.7 16.1 .479 0.1 0.7 .182 5.8 7.0 .821
John Paxson 3 26.7 9.0 0.0 0.0 0 1.7 1.0 0.0 1.0 3.0 2.3 5.0 .467 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 5.7 .765

Season 4

Kevin Johnson John Paxson
Season 1990-911986-87
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls 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 %
Kevin Johnson 77 36.0 22.2 0.7 2.8 3.5 10.1 2.1 0.1 3.5 2.3 7.7 14.9 .516 0.1 0.6 .205 6.7 8.0 .843
John Paxson 82 32.8 11.3 0.3 1.4 1.7 5.7 0.8 0.1 1.3 2.5 4.7 9.7 .487 0.6 1.7 .371 1.3 1.6 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Johnson 4 36.5 12.8 0.5 2.8 3.3 9.8 0.5 0.3 3.0 2.3 4.0 13.3 .302 0.3 1.8 .143 4.5 7.5 .600
John Paxson 3 29.0 8.7 0.0 1.0 1.0 3.7 0.7 0.0 1.7 3.0 3.7 7.3 .500 1.0 2.3 .429 0.3 0.3 1.000

Season 5

Kevin Johnson John Paxson
Season 1991-921987-88
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisBulls 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 %
Kevin Johnson 78 37.2 19.7 0.8 3.0 3.7 10.7 1.5 0.3 3.5 2.3 6.9 14.4 .479 0.1 0.6 .217 5.7 7.1 .807
John Paxson 81 23.3 7.9 0.2 1.1 1.3 3.7 0.6 0.0 0.8 1.9 3.5 7.2 .493 0.4 1.2 .347 0.4 0.6 .733
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Johnson 8 41.9 23.6 1.0 3.1 4.1 11.6 1.5 0.3 3.1 3.0 7.8 16.0 .484 0.4 0.8 .500 7.8 9.0 .861
John Paxson 10 16.5 4.6 0.0 0.4 0.4 3.0 0.1 0.1 0.5 2.4 2.0 5.3 .377 0.2 1.2 .167 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 6

Kevin Johnson John Paxson
Season 1992-931988-89
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost NBA FinalsBulls 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 %
Kevin Johnson 49 33.5 16.1 0.6 1.5 2.1 7.8 1.7 0.4 3.1 2.0 5.8 11.5 .499 0.0 0.2 .125 4.6 5.6 .819
John Paxson 78 22.3 7.3 0.2 1.0 1.2 3.9 0.7 0.1 0.9 2.1 3.2 6.6 .480 0.6 1.7 .331 0.4 0.5 .861
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Johnson 23 39.7 17.8 0.4 2.3 2.7 7.9 1.5 0.6 3.7 2.5 6.2 13.0 .480 0.0 0.1 .000 5.4 6.8 .795
John Paxson 16 18.9 5.8 0.1 0.5 0.6 2.1 0.8 0.0 0.9 2.2 2.3 4.9 .474 0.3 1.2 .263 0.9 1.0 .875

Season 7

Kevin Johnson John Paxson
Season 1993-941989-90
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisBulls 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 %
Kevin Johnson 67 36.6 20.0 0.8 1.7 2.5 9.5 1.9 0.1 3.5 1.9 7.1 14.6 .487 0.1 0.4 .222 5.7 6.9 .819
John Paxson 82 28.8 10.0 0.3 1.1 1.5 4.1 1.0 0.1 1.0 2.1 4.5 8.6 .516 0.4 1.1 .359 0.7 0.8 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Johnson 10 42.7 26.6 1.0 2.5 3.5 9.6 1.0 0.1 3.4 2.3 9.7 21.2 .458 0.3 1.0 .300 6.9 8.1 .852
John Paxson 15 26.3 6.1 0.1 1.3 1.5 3.6 0.6 0.0 1.0 2.8 2.5 5.8 .425 0.3 0.6 .444 0.9 0.9 1.000

Season 8

Kevin Johnson John Paxson
Season 1994-951990-91
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Johnson 47 28.8 15.5 0.7 1.8 2.4 7.7 1.0 0.4 2.2 1.9 5.2 11.1 .470 0.1 0.6 .154 5.0 6.1 .810
John Paxson 82 24.0 8.7 0.2 0.9 1.1 3.6 0.8 0.0 0.8 1.7 3.9 7.0 .548 0.5 1.2 .438 0.4 0.5 .829
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Johnson 10 37.1 24.8 0.7 3.4 4.1 9.3 0.9 0.4 3.4 2.5 8.6 15.0 .573 0.5 1.0 .500 7.1 8.4 .845
John Paxson 17 28.6 8.2 0.1 1.2 1.4 3.1 0.6 0.0 0.4 1.9 3.6 6.9 .530 0.1 0.8 .143 0.8 0.8 1.000

Season 9

Kevin Johnson John Paxson
Season 1995-961991-92
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Johnson 56 35.8 18.7 0.8 3.2 3.9 9.2 1.5 0.2 3.0 2.6 6.1 12.0 .507 0.4 1.0 .368 6.1 7.1 .859
John Paxson 79 24.6 7.0 0.3 0.9 1.2 3.1 0.6 0.1 0.6 1.8 3.3 6.2 .528 0.2 0.6 .273 0.4 0.5 .784
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Johnson 4 37.8 17.3 0.5 3.8 4.3 10.8 0.5 0.5 2.8 2.0 6.8 14.3 .474 0.3 1.0 .250 3.5 4.3 .824
John Paxson 22 27.2 7.9 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.8 0.6 0.0 0.6 2.4 3.3 6.3 .525 0.5 1.2 .444 0.7 0.9 .842

Season 10

Kevin Johnson John Paxson
Season 1996-971992-93
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Johnson 70 38.0 20.1 0.8 2.8 3.6 9.3 1.5 0.2 3.1 2.0 6.3 12.7 .496 1.3 2.9 .441 6.3 7.4 .852
John Paxson 59 17.5 4.2 0.2 0.7 0.8 2.3 0.6 0.0 0.5 1.7 1.8 3.9 .451 0.3 0.7 .463 0.3 0.3 .850
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Johnson 5 41.6 16.8 1.6 2.8 4.4 6.0 2.6 0.0 3.6 3.0 5.2 17.6 .295 0.6 4.4 .136 5.8 6.6 .879
John Paxson 19 17.4 4.9 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.3 0.1 0.2 1.6 1.8 3.2 .583 0.8 1.3 .625 0.4 0.6 .727

Season 11

Kevin Johnson John Paxson
Season 1997-981993-94
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls 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 %
Kevin Johnson 50 25.8 9.5 0.7 2.6 3.3 4.9 0.5 0.2 2.0 1.1 3.1 6.9 .447 0.1 0.5 .154 3.2 3.7 .871
John Paxson 27 12.7 2.6 0.1 0.6 0.7 1.2 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.7 1.1 2.5 .441 0.3 0.8 .409 0.0 0.1 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Johnson 4 30.5 13.8 0.5 1.8 2.3 4.8 0.5 0.3 1.5 1.5 5.8 10.5 .548 0.3 1.0 .250 2.0 3.0 .667
John Paxson 9 6.4 0.7 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.3 0.8 .429 0.0 0.1 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Note: Kevin Johnson didn't play in 1998-99.

Season 12

Kevin Johnson John Paxson
Season 1999-00-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Kevin Johnson 6 18.8 6.7 0.0 2.7 2.7 4.0 0.3 0.0 1.2 1.0 2.7 4.7 .571 0.2 0.2 1.000 1.2 1.2 1.000
John Paxson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Johnson 9 14.3 3.2 0.0 1.4 1.4 2.6 0.3 0.1 1.4 1.1 1.3 4.1 .324 0.0 0.3 .000 0.6 0.7 .833
John Paxson ------- --- ----------