Bob Lanier vs. Michael Ruffin Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Michael Ruffin and Bob Lanier, 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.

Bob Lanier played 14 years in the NBA, 5 more than Michael Ruffin, who played 9. Bob Lanier had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Michael Ruffin had his rookie season in 1999-00. 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
Bob Lanier 14 9 1970-71 to 1983-84
Michael Ruffin 9 4 1999-00 to 2008-09

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Bob Lanier Michael Ruffin
Season 1970-711999-00
Team Detroit PistonsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
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 %
Bob Lanier 82 24.6 15.6 - - 8.1 1.8 - - - 3.3 6.1 13.5 .455 - - - 3.3 4.6 .726
Michael Ruffin 71 13.7 2.2 1.6 1.9 3.5 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.8 2.4 0.8 1.9 .420 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.2 .489
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Michael Ruffin ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Bob Lanier Michael Ruffin
Season 1971-722000-01
Team Detroit PistonsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Bob Lanier 80 38.7 25.7 - - 14.2 3.1 - - - 3.7 10.4 21.1 .493 - - - 4.9 6.3 .768
Michael Ruffin 45 19.5 2.6 2.2 3.6 5.8 0.9 0.7 0.8 1.0 2.9 0.9 2.0 .444 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.7 .506
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Michael Ruffin ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Bob Lanier Michael Ruffin
Season 1972-732001-02
Team Detroit PistonsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Bob Lanier 81 38.9 23.8 - - 14.9 3.2 - - - 3.4 10.0 20.4 .490 - - - 3.8 4.9 .773
Michael Ruffin 15 11.3 1.1 1.5 1.9 3.4 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.7 1.5 0.5 1.7 .269 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.5 .250
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Michael Ruffin ------- --- ----------

Note: Michael Ruffin didn't play in 2002-03.

Season 4

Bob Lanier Michael Ruffin
Season 1973-742003-04
Team Detroit PistonsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Bob Lanier 81 37.6 22.5 3.3 9.9 13.3 4.2 1.4 3.0 - 3.4 9.2 18.3 .504 - - - 4.0 5.0 .797
Michael Ruffin 41 17.9 2.2 1.9 3.1 5.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 2.5 0.9 2.9 .325 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.9 .421
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 7 43.3 26.3 3.7 11.6 15.3 3.0 0.6 2.0 - 4.0 11.0 21.7 .507 - - - 4.3 5.4 .789
Michael Ruffin ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Bob Lanier Michael Ruffin
Season 1974-752004-05
Team Detroit PistonsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdWizards 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 %
Bob Lanier 76 39.3 24.0 3.0 9.1 12.0 4.6 1.0 2.3 - 3.1 9.6 18.9 .510 - - - 4.8 5.9 .802
Michael Ruffin 79 16.0 1.4 2.0 2.2 4.2 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.6 2.4 0.5 1.3 .414 0.0 0.0 .000 0.4 0.8 .433
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 3 42.7 20.3 1.7 9.0 10.7 6.3 1.3 4.0 - 3.3 8.7 17.0 .510 - - - 3.0 4.0 .750
Michael Ruffin 9 17.3 2.6 1.7 2.4 4.1 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.4 3.7 0.8 1.1 .700 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.8 .563

Season 6

Bob Lanier Michael Ruffin
Season 1975-762005-06
Team Detroit PistonsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf SemisWizards 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 %
Bob Lanier 64 36.9 21.3 3.4 8.3 11.7 3.4 1.2 1.3 - 3.2 8.5 15.9 .532 - - - 4.4 5.8 .768
Michael Ruffin 76 13.3 1.4 1.6 2.0 3.6 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 2.4 0.4 1.0 .442 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 1.0 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 9 39.9 26.1 4.3 8.3 12.7 3.3 0.9 2.3 - 3.8 10.6 19.1 .552 - - - 5.0 5.6 .900
Michael Ruffin 6 11.7 0.3 1.0 1.7 2.7 0.7 0.2 0.3 0.3 1.7 0.2 0.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.3 .000

Season 7

Bob Lanier Michael Ruffin
Season 1976-772006-07
Team Detroit PistonsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdWizards 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 %
Bob Lanier 64 38.2 25.3 3.1 8.5 11.6 3.3 1.1 2.0 - 2.7 10.6 19.8 .534 - - - 4.1 5.0 .818
Michael Ruffin 30 9.0 0.6 1.2 0.9 2.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 1.4 0.2 0.6 .278 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.6 .368
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 3 39.3 28.0 4.3 12.3 16.7 2.0 1.0 2.3 - 3.3 11.3 18.0 .630 - - - 5.3 6.3 .842
Michael Ruffin 4 7.0 0.5 1.3 1.0 2.3 0.0 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.3 0.8 .333 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 8

Bob Lanier Michael Ruffin
Season 1977-782007-08
Team Detroit PistonsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Bob Lanier 63 36.7 24.5 3.1 8.2 11.3 3.4 1.3 1.5 3.6 2.9 9.9 18.4 .537 - - - 4.7 6.1 .772
Michael Ruffin 46 13.7 2.0 2.0 2.1 4.0 0.5 0.7 0.4 0.4 2.0 0.7 1.3 .532 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.4 .397
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Michael Ruffin ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Bob Lanier Michael Ruffin
Season 1978-792008-09
Team Detroit PistonsPortland 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 %
Bob Lanier 53 34.6 23.6 3.1 6.2 9.3 2.6 0.9 1.4 3.3 3.4 9.2 17.9 .515 - - - 5.2 6.9 .749
Michael Ruffin 11 3.2 0.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.2 0.6 .286 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Michael Ruffin 1 5.0 1.0 3.0 2.0 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.0 .500

Season 10

Bob Lanier Michael Ruffin
Season 1979-80-
Team Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Bob Lanier 63 33.8 19.2 2.4 6.3 8.8 2.9 1.2 1.4 2.6 3.2 7.4 13.8 .537 0.0 0.1 .167 4.4 5.6 .782
Michael Ruffin ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 7 36.6 19.3 2.4 6.9 9.3 4.4 1.0 1.1 2.4 3.3 7.4 14.4 .515 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 6.0 .738
Michael Ruffin ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Bob Lanier Michael Ruffin
Season 1980-81-
Team Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Bob Lanier 67 26.2 14.3 1.9 4.3 6.2 2.7 1.1 1.2 2.1 2.7 5.6 10.7 .525 0.0 0.0 1.000 3.1 4.1 .751
Michael Ruffin ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 7 33.7 17.6 1.7 5.7 7.4 4.0 1.7 1.1 2.1 2.6 7.1 12.1 .588 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.6 .719
Michael Ruffin ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Bob Lanier Michael Ruffin
Season 1981-82-
Team Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Bob Lanier 74 26.8 13.5 1.2 4.0 5.2 3.0 1.0 0.8 2.2 2.9 5.5 9.9 .558 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.3 .752
Michael Ruffin ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 6 35.3 16.0 3.0 4.5 7.5 3.7 1.3 0.8 2.3 3.5 6.8 13.3 .513 0.0 0.2 .000 2.3 4.2 .560
Michael Ruffin ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Bob Lanier Michael Ruffin
Season 1982-83-
Team Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Bob Lanier 39 25.1 10.7 1.5 3.6 5.1 2.7 0.9 0.6 2.1 3.2 4.2 8.5 .491 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.4 .684
Michael Ruffin ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 9 27.8 13.7 1.9 5.1 7.0 2.6 0.6 1.6 2.3 3.6 5.7 9.9 .573 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.9 .600
Michael Ruffin ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Bob Lanier Michael Ruffin
Season 1983-84-
Team Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Bob Lanier 72 27.9 13.6 2.0 4.4 6.3 2.6 0.8 0.7 2.3 3.2 5.4 9.5 .572 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.8 .708
Michael Ruffin ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 16 31.2 12.7 2.0 5.3 7.3 3.4 0.7 0.6 2.4 3.6 5.1 10.7 .480 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 2.8 .886
Michael Ruffin ------- --- ----------