Bob Lanier vs. Sam Mitchell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Sam Mitchell 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, 1 more than Sam Mitchell, who played 13. Bob Lanier had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Sam Mitchell had his rookie season in 1989-90. 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
Sam Mitchell 13 9 1989-90 to 2001-02

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 Sam Mitchell
Season 1970-711989-90
Team Detroit PistonsMinnesota Timberwolves
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
Sam Mitchell 80 30.2 12.7 2.3 3.5 5.8 1.1 0.8 0.7 1.2 3.8 4.7 10.4 .446 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.4 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Bob Lanier Sam Mitchell
Season 1971-721990-91
Team Detroit PistonsMinnesota Timberwolves
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
Sam Mitchell 82 38.1 14.6 2.3 4.0 6.3 1.6 0.8 0.7 1.3 4.1 5.4 12.3 .441 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 4.8 .775
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Bob Lanier Sam Mitchell
Season 1972-731991-92
Team Detroit PistonsMinnesota Timberwolves
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
Sam Mitchell 82 26.2 10.1 1.9 3.8 5.8 1.1 0.6 0.5 1.2 2.8 3.7 8.8 .423 0.0 0.1 .182 2.5 3.2 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Bob Lanier Sam Mitchell
Season 1973-741992-93
Team Detroit PistonsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf SemisPacers 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 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
Sam Mitchell 81 17.3 7.2 1.1 1.9 3.1 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.6 2.6 2.7 6.0 .445 0.0 0.3 .174 1.9 2.3 .811
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
Sam Mitchell 4 6.3 3.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.3 2.0 .625 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 5

Bob Lanier Sam Mitchell
Season 1974-751993-94
Team Detroit PistonsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdPacers 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 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
Sam Mitchell 75 14.5 4.8 0.9 1.6 2.5 0.9 0.4 0.1 0.7 2.0 1.9 4.1 .458 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.5 .745
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
Sam Mitchell 15 6.6 1.4 0.3 0.8 1.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.3 1.5 0.6 1.7 .346 0.0 0.1 .000 0.2 0.3 .750

Season 6

Bob Lanier Sam Mitchell
Season 1975-761994-95
Team Detroit PistonsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf SemisPacers 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 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
Sam Mitchell 81 17.0 6.5 1.2 1.8 3.0 0.8 0.5 0.2 0.7 2.5 2.5 5.1 .487 0.0 0.1 .100 1.6 2.1 .724
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
Sam Mitchell 17 13.1 4.0 1.0 1.8 2.8 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.8 2.4 1.4 3.8 .359 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 1.6 .786

Season 7

Bob Lanier Sam Mitchell
Season 1976-771995-96
Team Detroit PistonsMinnesota Timberwolves
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
Sam Mitchell 78 27.5 10.8 1.4 3.0 4.3 0.9 0.6 0.3 1.1 2.8 3.9 7.9 .490 0.0 0.2 .056 3.0 3.7 .814
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
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Bob Lanier Sam Mitchell
Season 1977-781996-97
Team Detroit PistonsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves 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 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
Sam Mitchell 82 24.9 9.3 1.4 2.6 4.0 1.0 0.6 0.2 1.1 2.8 3.3 7.4 .446 0.0 0.3 .160 2.7 3.6 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Sam Mitchell 3 15.7 5.7 0.7 1.7 2.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 3.0 2.0 4.3 .462 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.7 .625

Season 9

Bob Lanier Sam Mitchell
Season 1978-791997-98
Team Detroit PistonsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves 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
Sam Mitchell 81 27.6 12.3 1.5 3.3 4.8 1.3 0.8 0.3 0.8 2.5 4.6 9.9 .464 0.2 0.5 .349 3.0 3.6 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Sam Mitchell 5 35.8 14.4 1.4 4.0 5.4 1.6 0.2 0.2 1.0 3.6 5.2 11.6 .448 0.6 2.8 .214 3.4 3.8 .895

Season 10

Bob Lanier Sam Mitchell
Season 1979-801998-99
Team Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee BucksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf SemisTimberwolves 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 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
Sam Mitchell 50 26.9 11.2 1.1 2.5 3.6 2.0 0.7 0.3 0.7 2.2 4.3 10.4 .408 0.2 0.8 .237 2.5 3.3 .764
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
Sam Mitchell 4 32.8 10.0 1.3 2.3 3.5 1.5 0.3 0.5 2.0 3.3 3.8 10.0 .375 0.3 1.5 .167 2.3 3.0 .750

Season 11

Bob Lanier Sam Mitchell
Season 1980-811999-00
Team Milwaukee BucksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisTimberwolves 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 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
Sam Mitchell 66 18.6 6.5 0.4 1.7 2.1 1.7 0.4 0.2 0.7 1.8 2.5 5.7 .447 0.2 0.3 .435 1.2 1.4 .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
Sam Mitchell 4 17.0 5.8 0.5 1.3 1.8 0.5 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.3 2.3 4.5 .500 0.5 1.3 .400 0.8 0.8 1.000

Season 12

Bob Lanier Sam Mitchell
Season 1981-822000-01
Team Milwaukee BucksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisTimberwolves 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 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
Sam Mitchell 82 12.0 3.5 0.3 1.2 1.5 0.7 0.3 0.1 0.4 1.4 1.4 3.5 .408 0.1 0.5 .209 0.5 0.7 .727
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
Sam Mitchell 4 12.5 1.5 0.3 1.5 1.8 0.8 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.3 0.5 2.5 .200 0.0 0.3 .000 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 13

Bob Lanier Sam Mitchell
Season 1982-832001-02
Team Milwaukee BucksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsTimberwolves 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 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
Sam Mitchell 74 9.8 3.3 0.2 0.9 1.1 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.4 1.1 1.3 3.1 .432 0.1 0.5 .286 0.5 0.7 .776
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
Sam Mitchell 3 11.3 2.7 0.0 0.7 0.7 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 1.7 1.0 3.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000

Season 14

Bob Lanier Sam Mitchell
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
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------
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
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------