Bob Lanier vs. Rudy Tomjanovich Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rudy Tomjanovich 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 Rudy Tomjanovich, who played 11. Bob Lanier had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Rudy Tomjanovich had his rookie season in 1970-71. 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
Rudy Tomjanovich 11 5 1970-71 to 1980-81

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 Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1970-711970-71
Team Detroit PistonsSan Diego Rockets
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 77 13.8 5.3 - - 4.9 0.9 - - - 1.6 2.2 5.7 .383 - - - 0.9 1.5 .652
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Bob Lanier Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1971-721971-72
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 78 34.5 15.0 - - 11.8 1.5 - - - 2.5 6.4 12.9 .495 - - - 2.2 3.1 .723
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Bob Lanier Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1972-731972-73
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 81 36.7 19.3 - - 11.6 2.2 - - - 2.8 8.1 16.9 .478 - - - 3.1 4.1 .746
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Bob Lanier Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1973-741973-74
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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
Rudy Tomjanovich 80 40.3 24.5 2.9 6.1 9.0 3.1 1.1 0.8 - 2.9 9.9 18.4 .536 - - - 4.8 5.7 .848
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Bob Lanier Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1974-751974-75
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets 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
Rudy Tomjanovich 81 38.7 20.7 2.3 5.3 7.6 2.9 0.9 0.3 - 2.8 8.6 16.3 .525 - - - 3.6 4.5 .790
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 8 38.0 23.0 2.8 5.3 8.0 2.9 0.1 0.5 - 2.1 9.0 16.0 .563 - - - 5.0 6.0 .833

Season 6

Bob Lanier Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1975-761975-76
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 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
Rudy Tomjanovich 79 36.9 18.5 2.1 6.3 8.4 2.4 0.5 0.2 - 2.6 7.9 15.2 .517 - - - 2.8 3.6 .767
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Bob Lanier Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1976-771976-77
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets 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 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
Rudy Tomjanovich 81 38.6 21.6 2.1 6.3 8.4 2.1 0.7 0.3 - 2.4 9.0 17.7 .510 - - - 3.5 4.2 .839
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 12 38.1 20.3 2.0 3.4 5.4 2.0 0.6 0.3 - 3.0 8.9 17.7 .505 - - - 2.4 3.1 .784

Season 8

Bob Lanier Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1977-781977-78
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 23 36.9 21.5 1.7 4.3 6.0 1.4 0.7 0.2 1.7 2.7 9.4 19.4 .485 - - - 2.7 3.5 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Bob Lanier Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1978-791978-79
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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
Rudy Tomjanovich 74 35.7 19.0 2.3 5.4 7.7 1.9 0.6 0.2 1.9 2.5 8.4 16.2 .517 - - - 2.3 3.0 .760
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Rudy Tomjanovich 2 32.0 10.0 3.5 3.5 7.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 4.5 11.5 .391 - - - 1.0 2.5 .400

Season 10

Bob Lanier Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1979-801979-80
Team Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee BucksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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 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
Rudy Tomjanovich 62 29.6 14.2 2.1 3.6 5.8 1.8 0.5 0.2 1.6 2.6 6.0 12.5 .476 0.4 1.3 .278 1.9 2.4 .803
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 7 26.4 8.3 1.7 4.0 5.7 1.4 0.3 0.0 2.0 3.0 3.4 9.1 .375 0.1 1.0 .143 1.3 1.9 .692

Season 11

Bob Lanier Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1980-811980-81
Team Milwaukee BucksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisRockets 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 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
Rudy Tomjanovich 52 24.3 11.6 1.5 2.5 4.0 1.6 0.4 0.1 1.1 2.3 5.1 10.8 .467 0.2 1.0 .235 1.3 1.6 .793
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 8 3.9 0.8 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.4 0.1 1.1 .111 0.0 0.4 .000 0.5 0.8 .667

Season 12

Bob Lanier Rudy Tomjanovich
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Bob Lanier Rudy Tomjanovich
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Bob Lanier Rudy Tomjanovich
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------