Bill Laimbeer vs. Gary Payton Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gary Payton and Bill Laimbeer, 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.

Bill Laimbeer played 14 years in the NBA, 3 less than Gary Payton, who played 17. Bill Laimbeer had the first of his seasons in 1980-81, while Gary Payton had his rookie season in 1990-91. 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
Bill Laimbeer 14 9 1980-81 to 1993-94
Gary Payton 17 15 1990-91 to 2006-07

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Bill Laimbeer Gary Payton
Season 1980-811990-91
Team Cleveland CavaliersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 %
Bill Laimbeer 81 30.4 9.8 3.3 5.3 8.6 2.7 0.7 1.0 1.6 4.1 4.2 8.3 .503 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.9 .765
Gary Payton 82 27.4 7.2 1.3 1.6 3.0 6.4 2.0 0.2 2.2 3.0 3.2 7.0 .450 0.0 0.2 .077 0.8 1.2 .711
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 5 27.0 4.8 1.0 1.6 2.6 6.4 1.6 0.2 1.8 3.2 2.2 5.4 .407 0.0 0.2 .000 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 2

Bill Laimbeer Gary Payton
Season 1981-821991-92
Team Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit PistonsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 %
Bill Laimbeer 80 22.9 9.0 2.9 4.8 7.7 1.3 0.5 0.8 1.5 3.7 3.3 6.7 .494 0.1 0.2 .308 2.3 2.9 .793
Gary Payton 81 31.5 9.4 1.5 2.1 3.6 6.2 1.8 0.3 2.1 3.1 4.1 9.1 .451 0.0 0.3 .130 1.2 1.8 .669
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 8 27.6 7.6 0.8 1.9 2.6 4.8 1.0 0.3 1.3 3.3 3.4 7.3 .466 0.0 0.3 .000 0.9 1.5 .583

Season 3

Bill Laimbeer Gary Payton
Season 1982-831992-93
Team Detroit PistonsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 %
Bill Laimbeer 82 35.0 13.6 3.4 8.7 12.1 3.2 0.6 1.4 2.1 3.9 5.3 10.7 .497 0.0 0.2 .154 3.0 3.8 .790
Gary Payton 82 31.1 13.5 1.2 2.3 3.4 4.9 2.2 0.3 1.8 3.0 5.8 11.7 .494 0.1 0.4 .206 1.8 2.4 .770
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 19 31.8 12.3 1.2 2.2 3.3 3.7 1.8 0.2 1.8 3.4 5.5 12.4 .443 0.1 0.3 .167 1.3 1.9 .676

Season 4

Bill Laimbeer Gary Payton
Season 1983-841993-94
Team Detroit PistonsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 %
Bill Laimbeer 82 34.9 17.3 4.0 8.2 12.2 1.8 0.6 1.0 1.8 3.3 6.7 12.7 .530 0.0 0.1 .000 3.9 4.5 .866
Gary Payton 82 35.1 16.5 1.3 2.0 3.3 6.0 2.3 0.2 2.1 2.8 7.1 14.1 .504 0.2 0.7 .278 2.0 3.4 .595
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer 5 33.0 15.2 2.8 9.6 12.4 2.4 0.8 0.6 2.4 4.6 5.8 10.2 .569 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 4.0 .900
Gary Payton 5 36.2 15.8 1.2 2.2 3.4 5.6 1.6 0.4 1.6 3.0 6.8 13.8 .493 0.6 1.8 .333 1.6 3.8 .421

Season 5

Bill Laimbeer Gary Payton
Season 1984-851994-95
Team Detroit PistonsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf SemisSupersonics 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 %
Bill Laimbeer 82 35.3 17.5 3.6 8.8 12.4 1.9 0.8 0.9 1.6 3.8 7.3 14.4 .506 0.0 0.2 .222 3.0 3.7 .797
Gary Payton 82 36.8 20.6 1.3 2.1 3.4 7.1 2.5 0.2 2.5 2.5 8.4 16.4 .509 0.9 2.8 .302 3.0 4.2 .716
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer 9 36.1 14.7 4.0 6.7 10.7 1.7 0.8 0.8 1.8 3.6 5.3 11.9 .449 0.0 0.2 .000 4.0 5.7 .706
Gary Payton 4 43.0 17.8 1.5 1.0 2.5 5.3 1.3 0.0 2.0 3.3 8.0 16.8 .478 0.5 2.5 .200 1.3 3.0 .417

Season 6

Bill Laimbeer Gary Payton
Season 1985-861995-96
Team Detroit PistonsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdSupersonics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer 82 35.3 16.6 3.7 9.4 13.1 1.8 0.7 0.8 1.6 3.5 6.6 13.5 .492 0.0 0.2 .286 3.2 3.9 .834
Gary Payton 81 39.0 19.3 1.3 2.9 4.2 7.5 2.9 0.2 3.2 2.7 7.6 15.8 .484 1.2 3.7 .328 2.8 3.8 .748
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer 4 42.0 22.5 5.0 9.0 14.0 0.3 0.5 0.8 2.0 4.8 8.5 17.0 .500 0.3 0.3 1.000 5.3 5.8 .913
Gary Payton 21 43.4 20.7 0.9 4.2 5.1 6.8 1.8 0.3 3.0 3.3 7.7 15.9 .485 2.0 4.8 .410 3.3 5.2 .633

Season 7

Bill Laimbeer Gary Payton
Season 1986-871996-97
Team Detroit PistonsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsSupersonics 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 %
Bill Laimbeer 82 34.8 15.4 3.0 8.7 11.6 1.8 0.9 0.8 1.5 3.5 6.2 12.3 .501 0.1 0.3 .286 3.0 3.3 .894
Gary Payton 82 39.2 21.8 1.3 3.3 4.6 7.1 2.4 0.2 2.6 2.5 8.6 18.1 .476 1.5 4.6 .313 3.1 4.3 .715
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer 15 36.2 12.3 2.0 8.4 10.4 2.5 1.0 0.8 1.3 3.5 5.6 10.9 .515 0.1 0.3 .200 1.0 1.6 .625
Gary Payton 12 45.6 23.8 1.7 3.8 5.4 8.7 2.2 0.3 2.9 2.2 8.8 21.3 .412 2.1 6.3 .333 4.2 5.1 .820

Season 8

Bill Laimbeer Gary Payton
Season 1987-881997-98
Team Detroit PistonsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost NBA FinalsSupersonics 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 %
Bill Laimbeer 82 35.3 13.5 2.0 8.1 10.1 2.4 0.8 1.0 1.7 3.5 5.5 11.3 .493 0.2 0.5 .333 2.3 2.6 .874
Gary Payton 82 38.4 19.2 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.3 2.3 0.2 2.8 2.4 7.1 15.6 .453 1.6 4.8 .338 3.4 4.6 .744
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer 23 33.9 11.9 1.9 7.7 9.6 1.9 0.8 0.8 1.3 3.3 5.0 10.9 .456 0.2 0.7 .294 1.7 2.0 .889
Gary Payton 10 42.7 24.0 0.9 2.5 3.4 7.0 1.8 0.1 2.6 3.1 8.7 18.3 .475 1.9 5.0 .380 4.7 5.0 .940

Season 9

Bill Laimbeer Gary Payton
Season 1988-891998-99
Team Detroit PistonsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
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 %
Bill Laimbeer 81 32.6 13.7 1.7 7.9 9.6 2.2 0.6 1.2 1.6 3.2 5.5 11.1 .499 0.4 1.1 .349 2.2 2.6 .840
Gary Payton 50 40.2 21.7 1.2 3.6 4.9 8.7 2.2 0.2 3.1 2.3 8.0 18.5 .434 1.7 5.6 .295 4.0 5.5 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer 17 29.2 10.1 1.5 6.7 8.2 1.8 0.4 0.5 1.1 3.2 3.9 8.4 .465 0.9 2.5 .357 1.5 1.8 .806
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Bill Laimbeer Gary Payton
Season 1989-901999-00
Team Detroit PistonsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics 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 %
Bill Laimbeer 81 33.0 12.1 2.0 7.6 9.6 2.1 0.7 1.0 1.2 3.4 4.7 9.7 .484 0.7 2.0 .361 2.0 2.4 .854
Gary Payton 82 41.8 24.2 1.2 5.2 6.5 8.9 1.9 0.2 2.7 2.2 9.1 20.3 .448 2.2 6.3 .340 3.8 5.2 .735
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer 20 33.4 11.1 2.1 8.5 10.6 1.4 1.2 0.9 0.8 3.9 4.6 10.0 .457 0.8 2.2 .349 1.3 1.5 .862
Gary Payton 5 44.2 25.8 1.6 6.0 7.6 7.4 1.8 0.2 3.6 3.2 10.0 22.6 .442 1.8 4.6 .391 4.0 5.2 .769

Season 11

Bill Laimbeer Gary Payton
Season 1990-912000-01
Team Detroit PistonsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Bill Laimbeer 82 32.5 11.0 2.1 6.9 9.0 1.9 0.5 0.7 1.2 3.0 4.5 9.5 .478 0.5 1.5 .296 1.5 1.8 .837
Gary Payton 79 41.1 23.1 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.1 1.6 0.3 2.6 2.3 9.2 20.1 .456 1.3 3.4 .375 3.4 4.5 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer 15 29.7 10.9 2.8 5.3 8.1 1.3 0.3 0.8 1.1 3.6 4.4 9.9 .446 0.3 1.1 .294 1.8 2.1 .871
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Bill Laimbeer Gary Payton
Season 1991-922001-02
Team Detroit PistonsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 %
Bill Laimbeer 81 27.6 9.7 1.3 4.3 5.6 2.0 0.6 0.7 1.3 2.8 4.2 9.0 .470 0.4 1.0 .376 0.8 0.9 .893
Gary Payton 82 40.3 22.1 1.0 3.9 4.8 9.0 1.6 0.3 2.5 2.2 9.0 19.2 .467 0.9 2.9 .314 3.3 4.1 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer 5 29.0 8.2 1.0 5.6 6.6 1.6 0.8 0.2 1.0 3.6 3.4 9.2 .370 0.4 2.0 .200 1.0 1.0 1.000
Gary Payton 5 41.2 22.2 2.0 6.6 8.6 5.8 0.6 0.4 2.6 2.4 9.0 21.2 .425 0.8 3.0 .267 3.4 5.8 .586

Season 13

Bill Laimbeer Gary Payton
Season 1992-932002-03
Team Detroit PistonsSeattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBucks 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 %
Bill Laimbeer 79 24.5 8.7 1.4 3.9 5.3 1.6 0.6 0.5 0.7 2.7 3.7 7.3 .509 0.1 0.3 .370 1.2 1.3 .894
Gary Payton 80 40.1 20.4 1.0 3.2 4.2 8.3 1.7 0.3 2.3 2.3 8.3 18.3 .454 0.7 2.3 .297 3.1 4.4 .710
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 6 41.8 18.5 0.7 2.3 3.0 8.7 1.3 0.2 2.2 3.0 8.0 18.7 .429 0.2 2.5 .067 2.3 3.3 .700

Season 14

Bill Laimbeer Gary Payton
Season 1993-942003-04
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer 11 22.5 9.8 0.8 4.3 5.1 1.3 0.5 0.4 0.9 2.7 4.3 8.2 .522 0.3 0.8 .333 1.0 1.2 .846
Gary Payton 82 34.5 14.6 0.9 3.3 4.2 5.5 1.2 0.2 1.8 2.1 5.9 12.5 .471 0.7 2.0 .333 2.2 3.1 .714
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 22 35.0 7.8 0.9 2.4 3.3 5.3 1.0 0.2 1.3 2.7 3.1 8.5 .366 0.6 2.5 .250 1.0 1.3 .750

Season 15

Bill Laimbeer Gary Payton
Season -2004-05
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
Bill Laimbeer ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 77 33.0 11.3 0.6 2.4 3.1 6.1 1.1 0.2 1.9 1.6 4.4 9.4 .468 0.5 1.7 .326 2.0 2.6 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 7 34.1 10.3 1.1 3.0 4.1 4.6 0.9 0.1 1.6 1.4 4.7 10.6 .446 0.1 2.0 .071 0.7 0.9 .833

Season 16

Bill Laimbeer Gary Payton
Season -2005-06
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
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 %
Bill Laimbeer ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 81 28.5 7.7 0.4 2.5 2.9 3.2 0.9 0.1 1.3 2.1 2.8 6.8 .420 0.8 2.8 .287 1.2 1.6 .794
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 23 24.3 5.8 0.3 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.0 0.1 0.8 2.4 2.1 5.0 .422 0.7 2.5 .293 0.8 1.1 .720

Season 17

Bill Laimbeer Gary Payton
Season -2006-07
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Heat 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 %
Bill Laimbeer ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 68 22.1 5.3 0.3 1.7 1.9 3.0 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.7 2.1 5.4 .393 0.5 1.8 .260 0.6 0.8 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Laimbeer ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 2 16.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 1.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -