Elgin Baylor vs. LaSalle Thompson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of LaSalle Thompson 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, 1 less than LaSalle Thompson, who played 15. Elgin Baylor had the first of his seasons in 1958-59, while LaSalle Thompson had his rookie season in 1982-83. 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
LaSalle Thompson 15 7 1982-83 to 1996-97

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15

Rookie Season

Elgin Baylor LaSalle Thompson
Season 1958-591982-83
Team Minneapolis LakersKansas City Kings
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
LaSalle Thompson 71 13.9 5.4 1.9 3.4 5.3 0.5 0.6 0.9 1.4 2.6 2.1 4.0 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 1.9 .650
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
LaSalle Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Elgin Baylor LaSalle Thompson
Season 1959-601983-84
Team Minneapolis LakersKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div 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 70 41.0 29.6 - - 16.4 3.5 - - - 3.3 10.8 25.4 .424 - - - 8.1 11.0 .732
LaSalle Thompson 80 23.9 10.3 3.3 5.6 8.9 1.1 0.9 1.8 2.1 4.1 4.2 8.0 .523 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.8 .717
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
LaSalle Thompson 3 31.0 15.0 3.7 6.3 10.0 1.3 1.0 1.3 1.7 4.7 6.0 13.3 .450 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.7 .818

Season 3

Elgin Baylor LaSalle Thompson
Season 1960-611984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersKansas City Kings
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
LaSalle Thompson 82 30.0 11.8 3.3 7.1 10.4 1.6 1.2 1.6 2.5 4.0 4.5 8.5 .531 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.8 .721
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
LaSalle Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Elgin Baylor LaSalle Thompson
Season 1961-621985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 48 44.4 38.3 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.2 14.2 33.1 .428 - - - 9.9 13.1 .754
LaSalle Thompson 80 29.7 12.8 3.2 6.5 9.6 2.1 0.9 1.4 2.3 3.7 5.1 9.9 .518 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.5 .732
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
LaSalle Thompson 3 33.0 9.7 4.7 7.0 11.7 0.7 0.7 2.0 1.3 2.7 3.7 10.7 .344 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 4.0 .583

Season 5

Elgin Baylor LaSalle Thompson
Season 1962-631986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 80 42.1 34.0 - - 14.3 4.8 - - - 2.8 12.9 28.4 .453 - - - 8.3 9.9 .837
LaSalle Thompson 82 26.4 11.1 2.9 5.5 8.4 1.5 0.8 1.5 1.7 3.5 4.4 9.2 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 2.3 3.1 .737
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
LaSalle Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Elgin Baylor LaSalle Thompson
Season 1963-641987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
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 78 40.6 25.4 - - 12.0 4.4 - - - 3.0 9.7 22.8 .425 - - - 6.0 7.5 .804
LaSalle Thompson 69 18.2 8.0 2.0 4.2 6.2 1.0 0.8 1.1 1.6 3.1 3.1 6.6 .471 0.0 0.1 .400 1.7 2.4 .720
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
LaSalle Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Elgin Baylor LaSalle Thompson
Season 1964-651988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 74 41.3 27.1 - - 12.8 3.8 - - - 3.2 10.3 25.7 .401 - - - 6.5 8.2 .792
LaSalle Thompson 76 30.6 13.9 2.9 6.5 9.4 1.1 1.0 1.2 2.4 3.8 5.5 11.2 .489 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 3.7 .808
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 -
LaSalle Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Elgin Baylor LaSalle Thompson
Season 1965-661989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPacers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 65 30.4 16.6 - - 9.6 3.4 - - - 2.4 6.4 15.9 .401 - - - 3.8 5.2 .739
LaSalle Thompson 82 25.9 6.8 2.1 5.5 7.7 1.3 0.8 0.9 1.8 3.8 2.7 5.7 .473 0.0 0.1 .200 1.3 1.6 .799
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
LaSalle Thompson 3 18.0 6.0 2.0 3.0 5.0 0.7 0.0 0.3 2.3 4.3 2.3 5.0 .467 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.3 1.000

Season 9

Elgin Baylor LaSalle Thompson
Season 1966-671990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div 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 %
Elgin Baylor 70 38.7 26.6 - - 12.8 3.1 - - - 3.0 10.2 23.7 .429 - - - 6.3 7.7 .813
LaSalle Thompson 82 23.7 7.6 1.9 5.0 6.9 1.8 0.8 0.8 2.0 3.2 3.4 6.9 .488 0.0 0.1 .200 0.9 1.3 .692
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
LaSalle Thompson 5 25.2 9.0 1.2 5.0 6.2 1.6 0.8 1.4 2.0 3.0 3.8 7.8 .487 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.4 1.000

Season 10

Elgin Baylor LaSalle Thompson
Season 1967-681991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPacers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 77 39.3 26.0 - - 12.2 4.6 - - - 3.0 9.8 22.2 .443 - - - 6.3 8.1 .786
LaSalle Thompson 80 16.2 4.9 1.2 3.5 4.8 1.3 0.7 0.4 1.2 2.6 2.1 4.5 .468 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 0.9 .817
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
LaSalle Thompson 3 21.0 5.3 0.7 3.7 4.3 1.3 0.3 1.3 1.0 3.7 2.3 3.7 .636 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000

Season 11

Elgin Baylor LaSalle Thompson
Season 1968-691992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPacers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 76 40.3 24.8 - - 10.6 5.4 - - - 2.7 9.6 21.5 .447 - - - 5.5 7.5 .743
LaSalle Thompson 63 11.6 3.8 0.9 2.0 2.8 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.7 2.2 1.7 3.4 .488 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.6 .744
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
LaSalle Thompson 4 18.3 3.8 1.8 1.8 3.5 0.8 0.8 0.5 1.0 2.3 1.3 3.8 .333 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.5 .833

Season 12

Elgin Baylor LaSalle Thompson
Season 1969-701993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPacers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 54 41.0 24.0 - - 10.4 5.4 - - - 2.4 9.5 19.5 .486 - - - 5.1 6.6 .773
LaSalle Thompson 30 9.4 2.3 0.9 1.6 2.5 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.8 2.0 0.9 2.6 .351 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.0 .533
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
LaSalle Thompson 7 5.6 1.4 0.4 1.0 1.4 0.7 0.4 0.1 0.6 1.3 0.6 1.6 .364 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .667

Season 13

Elgin Baylor LaSalle Thompson
Season 1970-711994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Elgin Baylor 2 28.5 10.0 - - 5.5 1.0 - - - 3.0 4.0 9.5 .421 - - - 2.0 3.0 .667
LaSalle Thompson 38 11.9 2.9 0.7 1.6 2.3 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.9 2.0 1.3 3.1 .415 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.4 .875
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
LaSalle Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Elgin Baylor LaSalle Thompson
Season 1971-721995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Elgin Baylor 9 26.6 11.8 - - 6.3 2.0 - - - 2.2 4.7 10.8 .433 - - - 2.4 3.0 .815
LaSalle Thompson 44 17.6 1.9 1.4 3.1 4.5 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.8 2.8 0.8 1.9 .398 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.5 .792
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
LaSalle Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Elgin Baylor LaSalle Thompson
Season -1996-97
Team -Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers
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 ------- --- ----------
LaSalle Thompson 26 5.4 0.4 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 1.3 0.1 0.7 .158 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
LaSalle Thompson ------- --- ----------