David Robinson vs. Norm Van Lier Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Norm Van Lier and David Robinson, 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.

David Robinson played 14 years in the NBA, 4 more than Norm Van Lier, who played 10. David Robinson had the first of his seasons in 1989-90, while Norm Van Lier had his rookie season in 1969-70. 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
David Robinson 14 12 1989-90 to 2002-03
Norm Van Lier 10 5 1969-70 to 1978-79

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

David Robinson Norm Van Lier
Season 1989-901969-70
Team San Antonio SpursCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
David Robinson 82 36.6 24.3 3.7 8.3 12.0 2.0 1.7 3.9 3.1 3.2 8.4 15.9 .531 0.0 0.0 .000 7.5 10.2 .732
Norm Van Lier 81 35.7 9.5 - - 5.0 6.2 - - - 4.1 3.7 9.2 .403 - - - 2.0 2.8 .741
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 10 37.5 24.3 3.6 8.4 12.0 2.3 1.1 4.0 2.4 3.5 8.9 16.7 .533 0.0 0.0 - 6.5 9.6 .677
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------

Season 2

David Robinson Norm Van Lier
Season 1990-911970-71
Team San Antonio SpursCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
David Robinson 82 37.7 25.6 4.1 8.9 13.0 2.5 1.5 3.9 3.3 3.2 9.2 16.7 .552 0.0 0.1 .143 7.2 9.5 .762
Norm Van Lier 82 40.5 16.0 - - 7.1 10.1 - - - 4.2 5.8 13.9 .420 - - - 4.4 5.4 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 4 41.5 25.8 2.8 10.8 13.5 2.0 1.5 3.8 3.8 2.8 8.8 12.8 .686 0.0 0.3 .000 8.3 9.5 .868
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------

Season 3

David Robinson Norm Van Lier
Season 1991-921971-72
Team San Antonio SpursCincinnati Royals, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls 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 %
David Robinson 68 37.7 23.2 3.8 8.4 12.2 2.7 2.3 4.5 2.7 3.2 8.7 15.8 .551 0.0 0.1 .125 5.8 8.3 .701
Norm Van Lier 79 30.6 11.5 - - 4.5 6.9 - - - 3.0 4.2 9.6 .439 - - - 3.0 3.8 .790
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson ------- --- ----------
Norm Van Lier 4 36.0 14.0 - - 6.3 8.3 - - - 3.8 5.5 13.3 .415 - - - 3.0 3.5 .857

Season 4

David Robinson Norm Van Lier
Season 1992-931972-73
Team San Antonio SpursChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisBulls 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 %
David Robinson 82 39.2 23.4 2.8 8.9 11.7 3.7 1.5 3.2 2.9 2.9 8.2 16.4 .501 0.0 0.2 .176 6.8 9.3 .732
Norm Van Lier 80 36.0 13.9 - - 5.5 7.1 - - - 3.4 5.9 13.3 .445 - - - 2.1 2.6 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 10 42.1 23.1 2.9 9.7 12.6 4.0 1.0 3.6 2.5 3.9 7.9 17.0 .465 0.0 0.1 .000 7.3 11.0 .664
Norm Van Lier 7 36.9 14.4 - - 5.3 5.1 - - - 4.6 6.4 18.4 .349 - - - 1.6 2.1 .733

Season 5

David Robinson Norm Van Lier
Season 1993-941973-74
Team San Antonio SpursChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls 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 %
David Robinson 80 40.5 29.8 3.0 7.7 10.7 4.8 1.7 3.3 3.2 2.9 10.5 20.7 .507 0.1 0.4 .345 8.7 11.6 .749
Norm Van Lier 80 35.8 14.3 1.4 3.3 4.7 6.9 2.0 0.1 - 3.5 5.3 13.1 .406 - - - 3.6 4.6 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 4 36.5 20.0 3.3 6.8 10.0 3.5 0.8 2.5 2.3 3.5 7.5 18.3 .411 0.0 0.3 .000 5.0 6.8 .741
Norm Van Lier 11 42.4 14.6 1.0 3.3 4.3 6.8 1.5 0.3 - 3.7 5.5 13.1 .424 - - - 3.5 4.3 .830

Season 6

David Robinson Norm Van Lier
Season 1994-951974-75
Team San Antonio SpursChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsBulls 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 %
David Robinson 81 38.0 27.6 2.9 7.9 10.8 2.9 1.7 3.2 2.9 2.8 9.7 18.4 .530 0.1 0.2 .300 8.1 10.5 .774
Norm Van Lier 70 37.0 15.0 1.2 3.5 4.7 5.8 2.0 0.2 - 3.5 5.8 13.9 .420 - - - 3.4 4.3 .792
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 15 41.5 25.3 3.8 8.3 12.1 3.1 1.5 2.6 3.7 4.2 8.6 19.3 .446 0.1 0.3 .200 8.1 9.9 .812
Norm Van Lier 13 42.1 15.1 1.4 3.8 5.2 4.7 1.5 0.4 - 4.0 5.2 12.6 .409 - - - 4.8 6.4 .747

Season 7

David Robinson Norm Van Lier
Season 1995-961975-76
Team San Antonio SpursChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
David Robinson 82 36.8 25.0 3.9 8.3 12.2 3.0 1.4 3.3 2.3 3.2 8.7 16.8 .516 0.0 0.1 .333 7.6 10.0 .761
Norm Van Lier 76 39.8 12.6 1.8 3.6 5.4 6.6 2.0 0.3 - 3.9 4.8 13.0 .366 - - - 3.1 4.2 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 10 35.3 23.6 3.7 6.4 10.1 2.4 1.5 2.5 2.4 3.8 8.3 16.1 .516 0.0 0.0 - 7.0 10.5 .667
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------

Season 8

David Robinson Norm Van Lier
Season 1996-971976-77
Team San Antonio SpursChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls 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 %
David Robinson 6 24.5 17.7 3.2 5.3 8.5 1.3 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.5 6.0 12.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 5.7 8.7 .654
Norm Van Lier 82 37.8 10.2 1.3 3.2 4.5 7.8 1.6 0.2 - 3.3 3.7 8.9 .412 - - - 2.9 3.7 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson ------- --- ----------
Norm Van Lier 3 44.7 5.3 1.7 3.3 5.0 9.7 3.3 0.3 - 4.7 1.0 6.3 .158 - - - 3.3 4.0 .833

Season 9

David Robinson Norm Van Lier
Season 1997-981977-78
Team San Antonio SpursChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
David Robinson 73 33.7 21.6 3.3 7.3 10.6 2.7 0.9 2.6 2.8 2.8 7.5 14.6 .511 0.0 0.1 .250 6.6 9.0 .735
Norm Van Lier 78 32.4 7.3 1.1 2.5 3.6 6.8 1.8 0.1 2.6 3.6 2.6 6.1 .419 - - - 2.2 2.9 .751
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 9 39.2 19.4 4.6 9.6 14.1 2.6 1.2 3.3 2.8 3.1 6.3 14.9 .425 0.0 0.0 - 6.8 10.7 .635
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------

Season 10

David Robinson Norm Van Lier
Season 1998-991978-79
Team San Antonio SpursMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
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 %
David Robinson 49 31.7 15.8 3.0 7.0 10.0 2.1 1.4 2.4 2.2 2.9 5.5 10.8 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 4.9 7.4 .658
Norm Van Lier 38 14.6 2.8 0.2 0.8 1.1 4.2 1.1 0.1 1.3 2.8 0.8 2.0 .390 - - - 1.2 1.4 .904
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 17 35.4 15.6 2.1 7.8 9.9 2.5 1.6 2.4 2.4 3.6 5.1 10.6 .483 0.0 0.0 - 5.4 7.4 .722
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------

Season 11

David Robinson Norm Van Lier
Season 1999-00-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
David Robinson 80 32.0 17.8 2.4 7.2 9.6 1.8 1.2 2.3 2.1 3.1 6.6 12.9 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 4.6 6.4 .726
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 4 38.8 23.5 4.3 9.5 13.8 2.5 1.8 3.0 2.0 3.8 7.8 20.8 .373 0.0 0.3 .000 8.0 10.5 .762
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------

Season 12

David Robinson Norm Van Lier
Season 2000-01-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
David Robinson 80 29.6 14.4 2.6 6.0 8.6 1.5 1.0 2.5 1.5 2.7 5.0 10.3 .486 0.0 0.0 .000 4.4 5.9 .747
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 13 31.4 16.6 3.0 8.8 11.8 1.7 1.3 2.4 2.2 3.2 5.8 12.2 .472 0.0 0.1 .000 5.1 7.3 .695
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------

Season 13

David Robinson Norm Van Lier
Season 2001-02-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
David Robinson 78 29.5 12.2 2.4 5.8 8.3 1.2 1.1 1.8 1.3 2.5 4.4 8.6 .507 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.1 .681
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 4 20.5 4.5 1.5 4.3 5.8 1.3 0.8 0.8 0.5 3.5 2.3 4.8 .474 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 1.0 .000
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------

Season 14

David Robinson Norm Van Lier
Season 2002-03-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
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 %
David Robinson 64 26.2 8.5 2.5 5.4 7.9 1.0 0.8 1.7 1.3 2.0 3.1 6.6 .469 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.3 .710
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 23 23.5 7.8 2.0 4.7 6.6 0.9 0.8 1.3 1.0 2.7 2.8 5.1 .542 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.4 .667
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------