John Salley vs. Jonas Valanciunas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jonas Valanciunas and John Salley, 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.

John Salley played 11 years in the NBA, 1 less than Jonas Valanciunas, who played 12. John Salley had the first of his seasons in 1986-87, while Jonas Valanciunas had his rookie season in 2012-13. 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
John Salley 11 9 1986-87 to 1999-00
Jonas Valanciunas 12 8 2012-13 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
John Salley Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1986-872012-13
Team Detroit PistonsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Salley 82 17.8 5.3 1.3 2.3 3.6 0.7 0.5 1.5 0.9 3.1 2.0 3.5 .562 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 2.1 .614
Jonas Valanciunas 62 23.9 8.9 2.0 4.0 6.0 0.7 0.3 1.3 1.5 3.0 3.3 5.9 .557 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.0 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Salley 15 20.7 6.2 2.0 2.8 4.8 0.7 0.2 1.1 0.9 4.0 2.2 4.4 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.8 .643
Jonas Valanciunas ------- --- ----------

Season 2
John Salley Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1987-882013-14
Team Detroit PistonsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost NBA FinalsRaptors 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 %
John Salley 82 24.4 8.5 2.0 2.9 4.9 1.4 0.6 1.7 1.5 3.6 3.1 5.6 .566 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.2 .709
Jonas Valanciunas 81 28.2 11.3 2.8 6.0 8.8 0.7 0.3 0.9 1.7 3.1 4.4 8.3 .531 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.2 .762
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Salley 23 27.1 7.0 2.8 4.0 6.7 0.9 0.7 1.6 1.0 3.8 2.4 4.5 .538 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.0 .710
Jonas Valanciunas 7 28.6 10.9 2.7 7.0 9.7 0.3 0.0 1.0 2.7 3.1 4.4 7.0 .633 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.1 .636

Season 3
John Salley Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1988-892014-15
Team Detroit PistonsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRaptors 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 %
John Salley 67 21.8 7.0 2.0 3.0 5.0 1.1 0.6 1.1 1.5 2.9 2.5 5.0 .498 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.9 .692
Jonas Valanciunas 80 26.2 12.0 2.7 6.0 8.7 0.5 0.4 1.2 1.4 2.8 4.7 8.2 .572 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.5 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Salley 17 23.1 8.9 2.0 2.6 4.6 0.5 0.5 1.5 0.7 3.4 3.4 5.8 .586 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.2 .667
Jonas Valanciunas 4 26.5 11.3 2.3 7.0 9.3 0.5 0.5 0.3 1.0 1.8 4.8 9.5 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.0 .875

Season 4
John Salley Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1989-902015-16
Team Detroit PistonsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRaptors 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 %
John Salley 82 23.3 7.2 1.9 3.5 5.4 0.8 0.6 1.9 1.2 3.4 2.5 5.0 .512 0.0 0.0 .250 2.1 3.0 .713
Jonas Valanciunas 60 26.0 12.8 3.1 6.1 9.1 0.7 0.4 1.3 1.4 2.6 5.1 8.9 .565 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.6 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Salley 20 27.4 9.5 2.9 3.0 5.9 1.0 0.5 1.7 1.1 3.8 2.9 6.1 .475 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 4.9 .755
Jonas Valanciunas 12 26.8 13.8 4.0 6.8 10.8 0.9 0.8 1.2 1.5 2.7 5.7 10.0 .567 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.3 .744

Season 5
John Salley Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1990-912016-17
Team Detroit PistonsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsRaptors 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 %
John Salley 74 22.3 7.4 1.9 2.6 4.4 0.9 0.7 1.5 1.2 3.2 2.4 5.1 .475 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.5 .727
Jonas Valanciunas 80 25.8 12.0 2.8 6.7 9.5 0.7 0.5 0.8 1.3 2.7 4.9 8.8 .557 0.0 0.0 .500 2.2 2.7 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Salley 15 20.5 7.5 1.3 2.8 4.1 0.7 0.4 1.3 0.9 3.9 2.5 4.7 .543 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 4.0 .600
Jonas Valanciunas 10 22.6 11.2 0.9 5.8 6.7 0.2 0.2 0.6 1.3 2.2 4.4 8.1 .543 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.3 .727

Season 6
John Salley Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1991-922017-18
Team Detroit PistonsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdRaptors 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 %
John Salley 72 24.6 9.5 1.5 2.6 4.1 1.6 0.7 1.5 1.4 3.1 3.5 6.8 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 2.6 3.6 .715
Jonas Valanciunas 77 22.4 12.7 2.4 6.2 8.6 1.1 0.4 0.9 1.5 2.5 5.1 8.9 .568 0.4 1.0 .405 2.2 2.7 .806
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Salley 5 29.8 12.6 2.0 4.0 6.0 2.8 0.6 2.8 1.8 3.6 4.0 8.8 .455 0.0 0.2 .000 4.6 5.6 .821
Jonas Valanciunas 10 24.4 14.6 3.0 7.5 10.5 1.2 0.4 1.5 1.9 2.2 5.8 10.7 .542 0.2 0.5 .400 2.8 3.4 .824

Season 7
John Salley Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1992-932018-19
Team Miami HeatToronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies
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 %
John Salley 51 27.9 8.3 2.2 3.9 6.1 1.6 0.6 1.4 2.0 3.8 3.0 6.0 .502 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 2.8 .799
Jonas Valanciunas 49 22.3 15.6 2.2 6.4 8.6 1.4 0.4 1.1 1.8 3.0 6.1 11.0 .559 0.3 1.0 .292 3.0 3.8 .795
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Jonas Valanciunas ------- --- ----------

Season 8
John Salley Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1993-942019-20
Team Miami HeatMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat Lost East 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 %
John Salley 76 25.1 7.7 1.7 3.6 5.4 1.8 0.7 1.0 1.2 3.4 2.7 5.7 .477 0.0 0.0 .667 2.2 3.0 .729
Jonas Valanciunas 70 26.4 14.9 3.0 8.2 11.3 1.9 0.4 1.1 1.8 2.6 6.2 10.6 .585 0.5 1.3 .352 2.1 2.9 .740
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Salley 5 40.2 11.0 3.2 4.8 8.0 1.6 0.4 1.0 1.2 4.2 4.4 11.4 .386 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.2 .688
Jonas Valanciunas ------- --- ----------

Season 9
John Salley Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1994-952020-21
Team Miami HeatMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayGrizzlies 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 %
John Salley 75 26.1 7.3 1.5 3.0 4.5 1.6 0.6 1.1 1.3 3.7 2.6 5.3 .499 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.8 .739
Jonas Valanciunas 62 28.3 17.1 4.1 8.4 12.5 1.8 0.6 0.9 1.6 2.9 7.1 12.0 .592 0.3 0.9 .368 2.5 3.3 .773
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Jonas Valanciunas 5 33.2 15.0 4.0 5.8 9.8 2.6 0.6 0.6 2.0 3.6 6.6 11.6 .569 0.4 1.6 .250 1.4 1.6 .875

Season 10
John Salley Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1995-962021-22
Team Toronto Raptors, Chicago BullsNew Orleans Pelicans
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPelicans 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 %
John Salley 42 16.0 4.4 1.1 2.2 3.3 1.3 0.5 0.6 1.3 2.6 1.5 3.3 .450 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.0 .694
Jonas Valanciunas 74 30.3 17.8 3.1 8.3 11.4 2.6 0.6 0.8 2.4 3.3 6.9 12.7 .544 0.8 2.1 .361 3.2 3.9 .820
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Salley 16 5.3 0.9 0.3 0.4 0.7 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.3 1.6 0.4 0.7 .545 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.4 .286
Jonas Valanciunas 6 29.2 14.5 5.5 8.8 14.3 3.0 0.7 0.2 2.0 2.8 5.5 11.3 .485 0.2 1.0 .167 3.3 4.3 .769

Note: John Salley didn't play in 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.

Season 11
John Salley Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1999-002022-23
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Orleans Pelicans
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 %
John Salley 45 6.7 1.6 0.4 1.0 1.4 0.6 0.2 0.3 0.4 1.5 0.6 1.5 .362 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.6 .750
Jonas Valanciunas 79 24.9 14.1 2.8 7.3 10.2 1.8 0.3 0.7 2.0 3.1 5.6 10.3 .547 0.5 1.4 .349 2.3 2.8 .826
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Salley 18 4.2 0.9 0.5 0.7 1.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.9 0.3 0.7 .385 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.6 .700
Jonas Valanciunas ------- --- ----------

Season 12
John Salley Jonas Valanciunas
Season -2023-24
Team -New Orleans Pelicans
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pelicans 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 %
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Jonas Valanciunas 82 23.5 12.2 2.3 6.5 8.8 2.1 0.4 0.8 1.4 2.7 4.9 8.8 .559 0.5 1.5 .308 2.0 2.5 .785
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Jonas Valanciunas 4 22.5 14.5 4.5 6.5 11.0 1.3 0.5 0.0 2.5 2.3 5.5 10.5 .524 0.0 0.3 .000 3.5 4.3 .824
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