Larry Nance vs. Arvydas Sabonis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Arvydas Sabonis and Larry Nance, 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.

Larry Nance played 13 years in the NBA, 6 more than Arvydas Sabonis, who played 7. Larry Nance had the first of his seasons in 1981-82, while Arvydas Sabonis had his rookie season in 1995-96. 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
Larry Nance 13 8 1981-82 to 1993-94
Arvydas Sabonis 7 7 1995-96 to 2002-03

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Larry Nance Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1981-821995-96
Team Phoenix SunsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisTrail 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 %
Larry Nance 80 14.8 6.6 1.2 2.0 3.2 1.0 0.5 0.9 1.3 2.1 2.8 5.5 .521 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.5 .641
Arvydas Sabonis 73 23.8 14.5 2.0 6.0 8.1 1.8 0.9 1.1 2.1 2.9 5.4 9.9 .545 0.5 1.4 .375 3.2 4.2 .757
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 7 18.3 7.7 1.9 2.7 4.6 1.0 1.4 1.6 1.7 2.1 3.6 5.9 .610 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.1 .500
Arvydas Sabonis 5 35.4 23.6 2.4 7.8 10.2 1.8 0.8 0.6 2.0 3.4 7.0 16.2 .432 1.0 1.8 .556 8.6 12.0 .717

Season 2

Larry Nance Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1982-831996-97
Team Phoenix SunsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdTrail 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 %
Larry Nance 82 35.5 16.7 2.9 5.7 8.7 2.4 1.2 2.6 2.3 3.1 7.2 13.0 .550 0.0 0.0 .333 2.4 3.5 .672
Arvydas Sabonis 69 25.5 13.4 1.7 6.3 7.9 2.1 0.9 1.2 2.2 2.9 4.8 9.5 .498 0.7 1.9 .371 3.2 4.2 .777
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 3 34.3 12.0 3.3 5.0 8.3 1.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 4.7 11.7 .400 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.3 .800
Arvydas Sabonis 4 26.8 11.3 2.0 4.5 6.5 2.3 0.8 0.8 2.3 4.8 4.5 10.5 .429 0.5 2.0 .250 1.8 2.0 .875

Season 3

Larry Nance Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1983-841997-98
Team Phoenix SunsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 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 %
Larry Nance 82 35.4 17.7 2.8 5.5 8.3 2.6 1.0 2.1 2.2 3.3 7.3 12.7 .576 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.3 .707
Arvydas Sabonis 73 32.0 16.0 2.0 7.9 10.0 3.0 0.9 1.1 2.6 3.7 5.6 11.3 .493 0.4 1.6 .261 4.4 5.5 .798
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 17 37.2 16.9 3.0 5.7 8.7 2.4 0.9 2.0 1.8 3.5 6.9 11.8 .590 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.5 .671
Arvydas Sabonis 4 26.8 12.3 1.8 6.0 7.8 1.5 1.8 0.8 2.5 4.8 4.5 10.0 .450 0.3 0.5 .500 3.0 3.5 .857

Season 4

Larry Nance Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1984-851998-99
Team Phoenix SunsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail 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 %
Larry Nance 61 36.1 19.9 3.2 5.6 8.8 2.6 1.4 1.7 2.2 3.0 8.4 14.4 .587 0.0 0.0 .500 3.0 4.2 .709
Arvydas Sabonis 50 27.0 12.1 1.8 6.1 7.9 2.4 0.7 1.3 1.7 2.9 4.6 9.6 .485 0.1 0.5 .292 2.7 3.5 .771
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis 13 30.1 10.0 0.9 7.8 8.8 2.2 1.2 1.2 1.5 2.7 3.5 8.7 .398 0.1 0.4 .200 3.0 3.3 .907

Season 5

Larry Nance Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1985-861999-00
Team Phoenix SunsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail 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 %
Larry Nance 73 34.0 20.2 2.3 6.2 8.5 3.3 1.0 1.8 2.9 3.4 8.0 13.7 .581 0.0 0.1 .000 4.2 6.1 .698
Arvydas Sabonis 66 25.6 11.8 1.5 6.3 7.8 1.8 0.7 1.2 1.5 2.8 4.6 9.1 .505 0.1 0.3 .368 2.5 3.0 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis 16 30.8 11.3 1.2 5.5 6.7 1.9 0.9 0.8 1.6 3.7 4.3 9.4 .453 0.4 1.3 .286 2.4 3.1 .796

Season 6

Larry Nance Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1986-872000-01
Team Phoenix SunsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail 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 %
Larry Nance 69 37.2 22.5 2.7 6.0 8.7 3.4 1.2 2.1 2.2 3.2 8.5 15.4 .551 0.0 0.1 .200 5.5 7.1 .773
Arvydas Sabonis 61 21.3 10.1 0.8 4.6 5.4 1.5 0.7 1.0 1.4 2.2 4.0 8.5 .479 0.0 0.2 .067 2.0 2.6 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis 3 35.0 11.3 2.7 5.7 8.3 2.7 0.3 2.3 0.7 4.0 4.7 9.7 .483 0.0 0.7 .000 2.0 2.7 .750

Note: Arvydas Sabonis didn't play in 2001-02.

Season 7

Larry Nance Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1987-882002-03
Team Phoenix Suns, Cleveland CavaliersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st RdTrail 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 %
Larry Nance 67 35.6 19.1 2.9 6.2 9.1 3.1 0.9 2.4 2.3 3.6 7.3 13.7 .529 0.0 0.1 .333 4.5 5.8 .779
Arvydas Sabonis 78 15.5 6.1 1.1 3.2 4.3 1.8 0.8 0.6 1.0 1.8 2.2 4.6 .476 0.0 0.1 .500 1.7 2.1 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 5 40.0 16.8 2.0 5.2 7.2 3.6 0.4 2.2 2.8 2.6 6.8 12.8 .531 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 3.6 .889
Arvydas Sabonis 6 14.5 10.0 1.0 3.0 4.0 0.8 0.7 0.7 1.0 2.3 4.0 6.0 .667 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.5 .800

Season 8

Larry Nance Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1988-89-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Larry Nance 73 34.6 17.2 2.1 5.8 8.0 2.2 0.8 2.8 1.6 2.5 6.8 12.6 .539 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 4.6 .799
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 5 39.0 19.4 3.2 4.6 7.8 3.2 0.6 2.4 1.8 2.4 7.6 13.8 .551 0.0 0.0 - 4.2 6.4 .656
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Larry Nance Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1989-90-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Larry Nance 62 33.3 16.3 2.6 5.7 8.3 2.6 0.9 2.0 1.8 3.0 6.6 13.0 .511 0.0 0.0 1.000 3.0 3.9 .778
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 5 31.8 12.2 0.8 4.0 4.8 2.4 0.6 2.0 0.8 4.0 5.2 9.0 .578 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.4 .750
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Larry Nance Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1990-91-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
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 %
Larry Nance 80 36.6 19.2 2.5 6.1 8.6 3.0 0.8 2.5 1.6 2.7 7.9 15.1 .524 0.0 0.1 .250 3.3 4.1 .803
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Larry Nance Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1991-92-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Larry Nance 81 35.6 17.0 2.6 5.6 8.3 2.9 1.0 3.0 1.1 2.5 6.9 12.7 .539 0.0 0.1 .000 3.2 4.0 .822
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 17 40.1 18.0 2.6 6.6 9.2 2.5 0.8 2.7 1.5 3.3 7.3 14.8 .494 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.1 .829
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Larry Nance Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1992-93-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Larry Nance 77 35.8 16.5 2.4 6.3 8.7 2.9 0.7 2.6 1.4 2.9 6.9 12.6 .549 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 3.2 .818
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 9 36.6 16.1 3.9 4.3 8.2 2.3 0.9 1.6 0.7 3.7 6.8 12.0 .565 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.3 .767
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Larry Nance Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1993-94-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
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 %
Larry Nance 33 27.5 11.2 2.3 4.5 6.9 1.5 0.8 1.7 1.2 2.9 4.6 9.5 .487 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.6 .753
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------