Elgin Baylor vs. Bonzi Wells Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bonzi Wells and Elgin Baylor, 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.

Elgin Baylor played 14 years in the NBA, 4 more than Bonzi Wells, who played 10. Elgin Baylor had the first of his seasons in 1958-59, while Bonzi Wells had his rookie season in 1998-99. 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
Elgin Baylor 14 12 1958-59 to 1971-72
Bonzi Wells 10 7 1998-99 to 2007-08

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Elgin Baylor Bonzi Wells
Season 1958-591998-99
Team Minneapolis LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 70 40.8 24.9 - - 15.0 4.1 - - - 3.9 8.6 21.2 .408 - - - 7.6 9.8 .777
Bonzi Wells 7 5.0 4.4 0.6 0.7 1.3 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.9 0.7 1.6 2.9 .550 0.1 0.4 .333 1.1 2.6 .444
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 13 42.8 25.5 - - 12.0 3.3 - - - 4.0 9.4 23.3 .403 - - - 6.7 8.7 .770
Bonzi Wells ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Elgin Baylor Bonzi Wells
Season 1959-601999-00
Team Minneapolis LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsTrail Blazers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 70 41.0 29.6 - - 16.4 3.5 - - - 3.3 10.8 25.4 .424 - - - 8.1 11.0 .732
Bonzi Wells 66 17.6 8.8 1.2 1.6 2.8 1.5 1.0 0.2 1.5 2.3 3.6 7.3 .492 0.3 0.8 .377 1.3 2.0 .682
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 9 45.3 33.4 - - 14.1 3.4 - - - 4.2 12.3 26.0 .474 - - - 8.8 10.4 .840
Bonzi Wells 14 13.3 7.5 0.9 1.6 2.5 0.9 0.5 0.0 1.1 2.4 2.6 5.9 .446 0.1 0.7 .200 2.1 2.9 .707

Season 3

Elgin Baylor Bonzi Wells
Season 1960-612000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 73 42.9 34.8 - - 19.8 5.1 - - - 3.8 12.8 29.7 .430 - - - 9.3 11.8 .783
Bonzi Wells 75 26.6 12.7 1.6 3.3 4.9 2.8 1.3 0.3 2.3 2.7 5.2 9.7 .533 0.2 0.7 .340 2.1 3.2 .663
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 12 45.0 38.1 - - 15.3 4.6 - - - 3.7 14.2 30.2 .470 - - - 9.8 11.8 .824
Bonzi Wells ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Elgin Baylor Bonzi Wells
Season 1961-622001-02
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsTrail 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 %
Elgin Baylor 48 44.4 38.3 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.2 14.2 33.1 .428 - - - 9.9 13.1 .754
Bonzi Wells 74 31.7 17.0 1.6 4.4 6.0 2.8 1.5 0.3 2.6 2.8 6.6 14.0 .469 0.9 2.3 .384 2.9 3.9 .741
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 13 43.9 38.6 - - 17.7 3.6 - - - 3.5 14.3 32.7 .438 - - - 10.0 12.9 .774
Bonzi Wells 3 35.3 12.3 1.3 2.7 4.0 4.3 2.0 0.3 3.7 3.7 4.7 12.7 .368 0.0 2.3 .000 3.0 4.3 .692

Season 5

Elgin Baylor Bonzi Wells
Season 1962-632002-03
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsTrail 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 %
Elgin Baylor 80 42.1 34.0 - - 14.3 4.8 - - - 2.8 12.9 28.4 .453 - - - 8.3 9.9 .837
Bonzi Wells 75 31.9 15.2 1.3 3.9 5.3 3.3 1.6 0.2 2.9 2.9 5.8 13.2 .441 0.5 1.7 .292 3.0 4.2 .722
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 13 43.2 32.6 - - 13.6 4.5 - - - 3.7 12.3 27.8 .442 - - - 8.0 9.7 .825
Bonzi Wells 7 38.3 19.0 2.0 4.9 6.9 3.7 2.1 0.4 3.0 4.3 7.0 17.7 .395 1.3 4.3 .300 3.7 5.6 .667

Season 6

Elgin Baylor Bonzi Wells
Season 1963-642003-04
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisGrizzlies 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 %
Elgin Baylor 78 40.6 25.4 - - 12.0 4.4 - - - 3.0 9.7 22.8 .425 - - - 6.0 7.5 .804
Bonzi Wells 72 26.0 12.3 1.1 2.5 3.6 1.9 1.3 0.3 2.2 2.7 5.0 11.8 .427 0.3 1.0 .319 1.9 2.5 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 5 44.2 24.2 - - 11.6 5.6 - - - 3.4 9.0 23.8 .378 - - - 6.2 8.0 .775
Bonzi Wells 4 23.5 11.8 0.5 2.5 3.0 1.0 1.0 0.3 2.3 2.0 4.8 9.3 .514 0.0 0.3 .000 2.3 3.5 .643

Season 7

Elgin Baylor Bonzi Wells
Season 1964-652004-05
Team Los Angeles LakersMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsGrizzlies 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 %
Elgin Baylor 74 41.3 27.1 - - 12.8 3.8 - - - 3.2 10.3 25.7 .401 - - - 6.5 8.2 .792
Bonzi Wells 69 21.6 10.4 0.7 2.6 3.3 1.2 1.2 0.4 1.3 2.4 3.9 8.9 .441 0.5 1.5 .346 2.0 2.7 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 1 5.0 0.0 - - 0 1.0 - - - 0.0 0.0 2.0 .000 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
Bonzi Wells 2 13.0 7.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 2.0 4.5 .444 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.0 1.000

Season 8

Elgin Baylor Bonzi Wells
Season 1965-662005-06
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsKings 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 %
Elgin Baylor 65 30.4 16.6 - - 9.6 3.4 - - - 2.4 6.4 15.9 .401 - - - 3.8 5.2 .739
Bonzi Wells 52 32.4 13.6 2.7 5.0 7.7 2.8 1.8 0.5 2.4 3.0 5.5 11.8 .463 0.2 0.9 .222 2.5 3.7 .679
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 14 41.9 26.8 - - 14.1 3.7 - - - 2.7 10.4 23.4 .442 - - - 6.1 7.5 .810
Bonzi Wells 6 41.5 23.2 4.2 7.8 12.0 1.3 0.8 0.3 3.0 4.2 8.8 14.5 .609 0.8 1.3 .625 4.7 7.2 .651

Season 9

Elgin Baylor Bonzi Wells
Season 1966-672006-07
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 70 38.7 26.6 - - 12.8 3.1 - - - 3.0 10.2 23.7 .429 - - - 6.3 7.7 .813
Bonzi Wells 28 21.1 7.8 0.9 3.4 4.3 1.1 0.9 0.5 2.0 2.2 3.0 7.4 .411 0.0 0.3 .143 1.6 2.9 .561
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 3 40.3 23.7 - - 13.0 3.0 - - - 2.0 9.3 25.3 .368 - - - 5.0 6.7 .750
Bonzi Wells ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Elgin Baylor Bonzi Wells
Season 1967-682007-08
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets, New Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHornets 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 %
Elgin Baylor 77 39.3 26.0 - - 12.2 4.6 - - - 3.0 9.8 22.2 .443 - - - 6.3 8.1 .786
Bonzi Wells 73 21.4 9.1 1.2 3.4 4.5 1.3 1.0 0.4 1.4 2.2 3.5 7.8 .443 0.2 0.7 .240 2.0 3.1 .643
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 15 42.2 28.5 - - 14.5 4.0 - - - 2.7 11.7 25.1 .468 - - - 5.1 7.5 .679
Bonzi Wells 12 14.2 3.7 0.3 2.3 2.6 0.7 0.3 0.3 0.5 2.2 1.8 4.8 .386 0.0 0.2 .000 0.0 0.5 .000

Season 11

Elgin Baylor Bonzi Wells
Season 1968-69-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 76 40.3 24.8 - - 10.6 5.4 - - - 2.7 9.6 21.5 .447 - - - 5.5 7.5 .743
Bonzi Wells ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 18 35.6 15.4 - - 9.2 4.1 - - - 3.1 5.9 15.4 .385 - - - 3.5 5.6 .630
Bonzi Wells ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Elgin Baylor Bonzi Wells
Season 1969-70-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 54 41.0 24.0 - - 10.4 5.4 - - - 2.4 9.5 19.5 .486 - - - 5.1 6.6 .773
Bonzi Wells ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 18 37.1 18.7 - - 9.6 4.6 - - - 2.8 7.7 16.4 .466 - - - 3.3 4.5 .741
Bonzi Wells ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Elgin Baylor Bonzi Wells
Season 1970-71-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 2 28.5 10.0 - - 5.5 1.0 - - - 3.0 4.0 9.5 .421 - - - 2.0 3.0 .667
Bonzi Wells ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Bonzi Wells ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Elgin Baylor Bonzi Wells
Season 1971-72-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 9 26.6 11.8 - - 6.3 2.0 - - - 2.2 4.7 10.8 .433 - - - 2.4 3.0 .815
Bonzi Wells ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Bonzi Wells ------- --- ----------