Manu Ginobili vs. Arvydas Sabonis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Arvydas Sabonis and Manu Ginobili, 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 / Games against each other

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.

Manu Ginobili played 16 years in the NBA, 9 more than Arvydas Sabonis, who played 7. Manu Ginobili had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, 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
Manu Ginobili 16 15 2002-03 to 2017-18
Arvydas Sabonis 7 7 1995-96 to 2002-03

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season
Manu Ginobili Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2002-031995-96
Team San Antonio SpursPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail 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 %
Manu Ginobili 69 20.7 7.6 0.7 1.7 2.3 2.0 1.4 0.2 1.4 2.5 2.5 5.8 .438 0.7 2.1 .345 1.8 2.5 .737
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 %
Manu Ginobili 24 27.5 9.4 1.2 2.6 3.8 2.9 1.7 0.4 1.5 2.6 3.0 7.7 .386 1.2 3.0 .384 2.3 3.1 .757
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
Manu Ginobili Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2003-041996-97
Team San Antonio SpursPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Manu Ginobili 77 29.4 12.8 1.1 3.4 4.5 3.8 1.8 0.2 2.1 2.4 4.3 10.2 .418 1.1 3.2 .359 3.1 3.9 .802
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 %
Manu Ginobili 10 27.9 13.0 1.5 3.8 5.3 3.1 1.7 0.1 2.1 3.0 4.2 9.4 .447 1.0 3.5 .286 3.6 4.4 .818
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
Manu Ginobili Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2004-051997-98
Team San Antonio SpursPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail 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 %
Manu Ginobili 74 29.6 16.0 1.0 3.4 4.4 3.9 1.6 0.4 2.3 2.6 5.0 10.5 .471 1.3 3.5 .376 4.8 6.0 .803
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 %
Manu Ginobili 23 33.7 20.8 0.8 5.0 5.8 4.2 1.2 0.3 2.9 3.0 6.3 12.4 .507 1.8 4.2 .438 6.4 8.0 .795
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
Manu Ginobili Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2005-061998-99
Team San Antonio SpursPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisTrail 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 %
Manu Ginobili 65 27.9 15.1 0.6 2.9 3.5 3.6 1.6 0.4 1.9 2.4 4.8 10.3 .462 1.3 3.3 .382 4.3 5.5 .778
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 %
Manu Ginobili 13 32.8 18.4 0.7 3.8 4.5 3.0 1.5 0.5 2.5 3.3 5.8 12.1 .484 1.1 3.2 .333 5.6 6.7 .839
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
Manu Ginobili Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2006-071999-00
Team San Antonio SpursPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail 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 %
Manu Ginobili 75 27.5 16.5 0.8 3.6 4.4 3.5 1.5 0.4 2.1 2.1 5.3 11.4 .464 1.7 4.3 .396 4.3 5.0 .860
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 %
Manu Ginobili 20 30.1 16.7 0.8 4.7 5.5 3.7 1.7 0.2 2.1 3.1 5.0 12.4 .401 1.9 5.0 .384 4.9 5.8 .836
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
Manu Ginobili Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2007-082000-01
Team San Antonio SpursPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Manu Ginobili 74 31.1 19.5 0.9 3.9 4.8 4.5 1.5 0.4 2.7 2.3 6.1 13.3 .460 2.1 5.3 .401 5.1 6.0 .860
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 %
Manu Ginobili 17 32.9 17.8 0.8 2.9 3.8 3.9 0.6 0.3 2.8 2.8 5.8 13.6 .422 2.2 6.0 .373 4.1 4.5 .896
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
Manu Ginobili Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2008-092002-03
Team San Antonio SpursPortland 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 %
Manu Ginobili 44 26.8 15.5 0.5 4.0 4.5 3.6 1.5 0.4 2.0 2.0 5.1 11.2 .454 1.6 4.8 .330 3.8 4.3 .884
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 %
Manu Ginobili ------- --- ----------
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
Manu Ginobili Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2009-10-
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 %
Manu Ginobili 75 28.7 16.5 0.9 2.9 3.8 4.9 1.4 0.3 2.1 2.1 5.3 12.0 .441 1.8 4.7 .377 4.1 4.7 .870
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manu Ginobili 10 35.2 19.4 0.4 3.3 3.7 6.0 2.6 0.2 3.0 3.0 5.8 14.0 .414 2.0 6.0 .333 5.8 6.7 .866
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Manu Ginobili Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2010-11-
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 %
Manu Ginobili 80 30.3 17.4 0.5 3.2 3.7 4.9 1.5 0.4 2.2 2.0 5.5 12.7 .433 1.9 5.5 .349 4.5 5.1 .871
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manu Ginobili 5 34.8 20.6 0.4 3.6 4.0 4.2 2.6 0.6 3.4 2.6 6.2 14.0 .443 1.8 5.6 .321 6.4 8.2 .780
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Manu Ginobili Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2011-12-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Manu Ginobili 34 23.3 12.9 0.5 2.9 3.4 4.4 0.7 0.4 1.9 1.6 4.4 8.4 .526 1.5 3.7 .413 2.6 3.0 .871
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manu Ginobili 14 27.9 14.4 0.6 2.9 3.5 4.0 0.7 0.3 3.0 2.6 4.6 10.4 .448 1.6 4.9 .338 3.4 4.0 .857
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Manu Ginobili Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2012-13-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manu Ginobili 60 23.2 11.8 0.5 2.9 3.4 4.6 1.3 0.2 2.2 1.9 3.8 9.0 .425 1.4 3.9 .353 2.7 3.4 .796
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manu Ginobili 21 26.7 11.5 0.4 3.3 3.7 5.0 1.1 0.3 2.6 2.5 3.7 9.2 .399 1.4 4.6 .302 2.8 3.8 .738
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Manu Ginobili Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2013-14-
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 %
Manu Ginobili 68 22.8 12.3 0.4 2.5 3.0 4.3 1.0 0.3 2.0 1.9 4.3 9.2 .469 1.3 3.8 .349 2.4 2.8 .851
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manu Ginobili 23 25.5 14.3 0.4 2.9 3.3 4.1 1.6 0.1 2.3 2.6 4.5 10.3 .439 1.8 4.6 .390 3.5 4.1 .862
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Manu Ginobili Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2014-15-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Manu Ginobili 70 22.7 10.5 0.4 2.6 3.0 4.2 1.0 0.3 2.2 2.0 3.6 8.4 .426 1.3 3.7 .345 2.1 2.9 .721
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manu Ginobili 7 18.7 8.0 0.6 2.9 3.4 4.6 0.6 0.9 2.0 2.7 2.1 6.1 .349 1.1 3.1 .364 2.6 3.3 .783
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Manu Ginobili Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2015-16-
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 %
Manu Ginobili 58 19.6 9.6 0.4 2.1 2.5 3.1 1.1 0.2 1.7 1.7 3.4 7.5 .453 1.2 3.1 .391 1.6 1.9 .813
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manu Ginobili 10 19.2 6.7 0.6 2.1 2.7 2.5 0.8 0.3 0.7 2.5 2.0 4.7 .426 0.9 2.1 .429 1.8 2.3 .783
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 15
Manu Ginobili Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2016-17-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Manu Ginobili 69 18.7 7.5 0.4 1.9 2.3 2.7 1.2 0.2 1.4 1.7 2.5 6.4 .390 1.3 3.3 .392 1.2 1.6 .804
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manu Ginobili 16 17.8 6.6 0.6 1.8 2.4 2.4 1.0 0.1 0.8 1.8 2.5 6.1 .412 0.6 2.5 .225 1.1 1.4 .739
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 16
Manu Ginobili Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2017-18-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Manu Ginobili 65 20.0 8.9 0.3 1.9 2.2 2.5 0.7 0.2 1.6 1.9 3.1 7.1 .434 1.0 3.0 .333 1.7 2.0 .840
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manu Ginobili 5 21.4 9.0 0.2 2.8 3.0 3.2 1.4 0.2 1.4 2.6 3.0 7.4 .405 1.2 3.6 .333 1.8 2.2 .818
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
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