Bob Lanier vs. Ricky Sobers Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ricky Sobers 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, 3 more than Ricky Sobers, who played 11. Bob Lanier had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Ricky Sobers had his rookie season in 1975-76. 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
Ricky Sobers 11 3 1975-76 to 1985-86

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 Ricky Sobers
Season 1970-711975-76
Team Detroit PistonsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns Lost NBA Finals
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
Ricky Sobers 78 24.3 9.2 1.0 2.3 3.3 2.8 1.4 0.1 - 3.2 3.6 8.0 .449 - - - 2.0 2.5 .823
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Ricky Sobers 19 29.6 13.0 1.1 2.3 3.3 4.2 0.9 0.3 - 4.1 5.1 10.8 .468 - - - 2.9 3.5 .833

Season 2
Bob Lanier Ricky Sobers
Season 1971-721976-77
Team Detroit PistonsPhoenix Suns
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
Ricky Sobers 79 25.4 13.6 1.0 1.9 3.0 3.0 1.2 0.2 - 3.3 5.2 10.6 .496 - - - 3.1 3.7 .841
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Bob Lanier Ricky Sobers
Season 1972-731977-78
Team Detroit PistonsIndiana Pacers
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
Ricky Sobers 79 38.2 18.2 1.2 3.0 4.1 7.4 2.2 0.3 4.5 3.9 7.0 15.5 .453 - - - 4.2 5.1 .825
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 4
Bob Lanier Ricky Sobers
Season 1973-741978-79
Team Detroit PistonsIndiana Pacers
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
Ricky Sobers 81 34.9 17.3 1.5 2.3 3.7 5.6 1.7 0.3 3.8 3.9 6.8 14.7 .463 - - - 3.7 4.2 .882
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
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Bob Lanier Ricky Sobers
Season 1974-751979-80
Team Detroit PistonsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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 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
Ricky Sobers 82 32.6 14.2 0.9 2.0 3.0 5.2 1.7 0.2 3.4 3.6 5.7 12.2 .469 0.3 0.8 .309 2.4 2.9 .837
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
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 6
Bob Lanier Ricky Sobers
Season 1975-761980-81
Team Detroit PistonsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
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
Ricky Sobers 71 25.4 13.5 0.6 1.4 2.0 4.0 1.4 0.2 2.9 3.2 5.0 10.8 .462 0.2 0.9 .258 3.3 3.5 .935
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
Ricky Sobers 6 27.0 13.2 0.5 1.3 1.8 3.7 0.7 0.0 2.5 4.3 5.8 13.5 .432 0.2 1.0 .167 1.3 1.5 .889

Season 7
Bob Lanier Ricky Sobers
Season 1976-771981-82
Team Detroit PistonsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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 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
Ricky Sobers 80 24.2 11.8 0.5 1.3 1.8 3.8 0.9 0.2 2.7 3.0 4.5 10.0 .453 0.2 1.0 .250 2.4 3.2 .768
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
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 8
Bob Lanier Ricky Sobers
Season 1977-781982-83
Team Detroit PistonsWashington Bullets
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
Ricky Sobers 41 35.1 15.7 0.9 1.6 2.5 5.3 1.5 0.3 3.6 3.9 5.7 13.0 .438 0.6 1.3 .418 3.8 4.5 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Bob Lanier Ricky Sobers
Season 1978-791983-84
Team Detroit PistonsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayBullets 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 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
Ricky Sobers 81 32.4 15.6 0.6 1.6 2.2 4.7 1.4 0.2 2.7 3.4 6.3 13.8 .456 0.4 1.4 .261 2.7 3.3 .837
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Ricky Sobers 4 37.5 15.3 0.5 0.8 1.3 4.0 1.3 0.5 2.3 4.8 6.3 14.3 .439 0.8 2.5 .300 2.0 2.5 .800

Season 10
Bob Lanier Ricky Sobers
Season 1979-801984-85
Team Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee BucksSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks 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 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
Ricky Sobers 71 21.0 9.9 0.4 1.1 1.5 3.5 0.7 0.1 2.2 2.2 3.9 8.8 .446 0.1 0.4 .286 1.9 2.3 .815
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
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Bob Lanier Ricky Sobers
Season 1980-811985-86
Team Milwaukee BucksSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East 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 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
Ricky Sobers 78 16.4 7.7 0.4 0.9 1.3 2.3 0.6 0.0 1.1 1.8 3.1 6.9 .444 0.2 0.6 .302 1.4 1.6 .880
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
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Bob Lanier Ricky Sobers
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
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------
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
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Bob Lanier Ricky Sobers
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
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------
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
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Bob Lanier Ricky Sobers
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
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------
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
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------
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