Last Updated on August 7, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
James Edwards’ career statistics are summarized on this page across every NBA regular season documented in HeatingUp. The data provides a numerical record of his NBA regular-season production, with all figures sourced from HeatingUp, covering his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls, and Portland Trail Blazers from 1977 to 1996.
James Edwards — career per-game statistics by NBA season:
| Year | Team | Age | G | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977-78 | LAL | 22 | 25 | — | 28.9 | 14.8 | 7.2 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 2.3 | .459 | — | .640 |
| 1977-78 | IND | 22 | 58 | 52 | 29.0 | 15.4 | 7.5 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1.9 | .450 | — | .649 |
| 1977-78 | 2TM | 22 | 83 | 52 | 29.0 | 15.2 | 7.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 2.0 | .453 | — | .646 |
| 1978-79 | IND | 23 | 82 | 82 | 31.0 | 16.7 | 8.5 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 2.0 | .501 | — | .676 |
| 1979-80 | IND | 24 | 82 | 82 | 28.2 | 15.7 | 7.0 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 1.6 | .512 | .000 | .681 |
| 1980-81 | IND | 25 | 81 | 80 | 29.3 | 15.6 | 7.0 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | .509 | .000 | .703 |
| 1981-82 | CLE | 26 | 77 | 75 | 33.0 | 16.7 | 7.5 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 2.1 | .511 | .000 | .684 |
| 1982-83 | CLE | 27 | 15 | 8 | 25.5 | 12.3 | 6.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 2.0 | .487 | — | .623 |
| 1982-83 | PHO | 27 | 16 | 1 | 17.8 | 8.8 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.2 | .487 | — | .660 |
| 1982-83 | 2TM | 27 | 31 | 9 | 21.5 | 10.5 | 5.0 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.6 | .487 | — | .639 |
| 1983-84 | PHO | 28 | 72 | 67 | 26.3 | 14.7 | 4.8 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.9 | .536 | .000 | .720 |
| 1984-85 | PHO | 29 | 70 | 58 | 25.5 | 14.9 | 5.5 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 2.3 | .501 | .000 | .746 |
| 1985-86 | PHO | 30 | 52 | 51 | 25.3 | 16.3 | 5.8 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | .542 | — | .702 |
| 1986-87 | PHO | 31 | 14 | 9 | 21.7 | 12.0 | 4.3 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1.1 | .518 | — | .771 |
| 1987-88 | PHO | 32 | 43 | 42 | 32.0 | 15.7 | 7.8 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 2.5 | .469 | .000 | .635 |
| 1987-88 | DET | 32 | 26 | 2 | 12.6 | 5.4 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.8 | .475 | — | .738 |
| 1987-88 | 2TM | 32 | 69 | 44 | 24.7 | 11.8 | 6.0 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.9 | .470 | .000 | .654 |
| 1988-89 | DET | 33 | 76 | 1 | 16.5 | 7.3 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.9 | .500 | .000 | .686 |
| 1989-90 | DET | 34 | 82 | 70 | 27.8 | 14.5 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.6 | .498 | .000 | .749 |
| 1990-91 | DET | 35 | 72 | 70 | 26.4 | 13.6 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.8 | .484 | .500 | .729 |
| 1991-92 | LAC | 36 | 72 | 11 | 20.0 | 9.7 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.0 | .465 | .000 | .731 |
| 1992-93 | LAL | 37 | 52 | 0 | 11.9 | 6.3 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1.0 | .452 | — | .712 |
| 1993-94 | LAL | 38 | 45 | 2 | 10.4 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.7 | .464 | — | .684 |
| 1994-95 | POR | 39 | 28 | 0 | 9.5 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.5 | .386 | — | .647 |
| 1995-96 | CHI | 40 | 28 | 0 | 9.8 | 3.5 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | .373 | — | .615 |
| Career | — | — | 1168 | 763 | 24.3 | 12.7 | 5.1 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.7 | .495 | .048 | .698 |
James Edwards — career totals by NBA season:
| Year | Team | Age | G | GS | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977-78 | LAL | 22 | 25 | — | 723 | 370 | 180 | 29 | 16 | 28 | 57 | .459 | — | .640 |
| 1977-78 | IND | 22 | 58 | 52 | 1682 | 892 | 435 | 56 | 37 | 50 | 112 | .450 | — | .649 |
| 1977-78 | 2TM | 22 | 83 | 52 | 2405 | 1262 | 615 | 85 | 53 | 78 | 169 | .453 | — | .646 |
| 1978-79 | IND | 23 | 82 | 82 | 2546 | 1366 | 693 | 92 | 60 | 109 | 162 | .501 | — | .676 |
| 1979-80 | IND | 24 | 82 | 82 | 2314 | 1287 | 578 | 127 | 55 | 104 | 131 | .512 | .000 | .681 |
| 1980-81 | IND | 25 | 81 | 80 | 2375 | 1266 | 571 | 212 | 32 | 128 | 164 | .509 | .000 | .703 |
| 1981-82 | CLE | 26 | 77 | 75 | 2539 | 1288 | 581 | 123 | 24 | 117 | 162 | .511 | .000 | .684 |
| 1982-83 | CLE | 27 | 15 | 8 | 382 | 184 | 96 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 30 | .487 | — | .623 |
| 1982-83 | PHO | 27 | 16 | 1 | 285 | 141 | 59 | 27 | 5 | 5 | 19 | .487 | — | .660 |
| 1982-83 | 2TM | 27 | 31 | 9 | 667 | 325 | 155 | 40 | 12 | 19 | 49 | .487 | — | .639 |
| 1983-84 | PHO | 28 | 72 | 67 | 1897 | 1059 | 348 | 184 | 23 | 30 | 140 | .536 | .000 | .720 |
| 1984-85 | PHO | 29 | 70 | 58 | 1787 | 1044 | 387 | 153 | 26 | 52 | 162 | .501 | .000 | .746 |
| 1985-86 | PHO | 30 | 52 | 51 | 1314 | 848 | 301 | 74 | 23 | 29 | 128 | .542 | — | .702 |
| 1986-87 | PHO | 31 | 14 | 9 | 304 | 168 | 60 | 19 | 6 | 7 | 15 | .518 | — | .771 |
| 1987-88 | PHO | 32 | 43 | 42 | 1377 | 673 | 335 | 73 | 14 | 32 | 108 | .469 | .000 | .635 |
| 1987-88 | DET | 32 | 26 | 2 | 328 | 141 | 77 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 22 | .475 | — | .738 |
| 1987-88 | 2TM | 32 | 69 | 44 | 1705 | 814 | 412 | 78 | 16 | 37 | 130 | .470 | .000 | .654 |
| 1988-89 | DET | 33 | 76 | 1 | 1254 | 555 | 231 | 49 | 11 | 31 | 72 | .500 | .000 | .686 |
| 1989-90 | DET | 34 | 82 | 70 | 2283 | 1189 | 345 | 63 | 23 | 37 | 133 | .498 | .000 | .749 |
| 1990-91 | DET | 35 | 72 | 70 | 1903 | 982 | 277 | 65 | 12 | 30 | 126 | .484 | .500 | .729 |
| 1991-92 | LAC | 36 | 72 | 11 | 1437 | 698 | 202 | 53 | 24 | 33 | 72 | .465 | .000 | .731 |
| 1992-93 | LAL | 37 | 52 | 0 | 617 | 328 | 100 | 41 | 10 | 7 | 51 | .452 | — | .712 |
| 1993-94 | LAL | 38 | 45 | 2 | 469 | 210 | 65 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 30 | .464 | — | .684 |
| 1994-95 | POR | 39 | 28 | 0 | 266 | 75 | 43 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 14 | .386 | — | .647 |
| 1995-96 | CHI | 40 | 28 | 0 | 274 | 98 | 40 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 21 | .373 | — | .615 |
| Career | — | — | 1168 | 763 | 28356 | 14862 | 6004 | 1499 | 420 | 867 | 1931 | .495 | .048 | .698 |
James Edwards — NBA career per-game evolution & impact:
| Year | Team(s) | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK | Impact Index* | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977‑78 | IND/LAL | Emerging backup | ~29.0 | Moderate | ~15.2 | ~7.4 | ~1.0 | ~1.5 | 12.05 | Rookie season adapting to pro pace, showing scoring/rebounding promise |
| 1978‑79 | Indiana Pacers | Rebounding center | 31.0 | High | 16.7 | 8.5 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 14.15 | Breakout rebound numbers with uptick in defense |
| 1979‑80 | Indiana Pacers | Rebounding center | 28.2 | High | 15.7 | 7.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 13.1 | Stable role anchoring boards and rim presence |
| 1980‑81 | Indiana | Scoring rebounder | 29.3 | High | 15.6 | 7.0 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 13.6 | Biggest assist bump; more involved in offense |
| 1981‑82 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Scoring rebounder | 33.0 | High | 16.7 | 7.5 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 13.75 | All-around starter role, balanced contributions |
| 1983‑84 | Phoenix Suns | Veteran starter | 26.3 | Moderate | 14.7 | 4.8 | 2.6 | ~0.7 | 11.4 | Adjusted role, less rebound but still scoring and playmaking |
| 1985‑86 | Phoenix Suns | Rebounding center | 25.3 | Moderate | 16.3 | 5.8 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 12.0 | Career FG% peak, strong rim protection returns |
| 1987‑88 | Detroit Tigers | Veteran starter | 24.7 | Moderate | 11.8 | 6.0 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 10.4 | Sharpened defense and rebound focus |
| 1989‑90 | Detroit Pistons | Veteran starter | 27.8 | High | 14.5 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 10.75 | Key bench scoring-center, championship season |
| 1990‑91 | Detroit Pistons | Veteran starter | 26.4 | High | 13.6 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 10.05 | Sustained efficiency, still strong defensive presence |
| 1991‑92 | L.A. Clippers | Veteran starter | 20.0 | Moderate | 9.7 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 7.10 | Transitioning into reduced role |
| 1992‑93 | L.A. Lakers | Mentor reserve | 11.9 | Low | 6.3 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 4.5 | Spot-up veteran bench minutes |
| 1994‑95 | Portland | Mentor reserve | 9.5 | Low | 2.7 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 2.5 | Minimal court time late in career |
| 1995‑96 | Chicago Bulls | Mentor reserve | 9.8 | Low | 3.5 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 3.0 | Final season: veteran depth on champion team |