Michael Jordan vs. Bill Laimbeer Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Laimbeer and Michael Jordan, 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.

Michael Jordan played 15 years in the NBA, 1 more than Bill Laimbeer, who played 14. Michael Jordan had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, while Bill Laimbeer had his rookie season in 1980-81. 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
Michael Jordan 15 13 1984-85 to 2002-03
Bill Laimbeer 14 9 1980-81 to 1993-94

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Michael Jordan Bill Laimbeer
Season 1984-851980-81
Team Chicago BullsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Michael Jordan 82 38.3 28.2 2.0 4.5 6.5 5.9 2.4 0.8 3.5 3.5 10.2 19.8 .515 0.1 0.6 .173 7.7 9.1 .845
Bill Laimbeer 81 30.4 9.8 3.3 5.3 8.6 2.7 0.7 1.0 1.6 4.1 4.2 8.3 .503 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.9 .765
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 4 42.8 29.3 1.8 4.0 5.8 8.5 2.8 1.0 3.8 3.8 8.5 19.5 .436 0.3 2.0 .125 12.0 14.5 .828
Bill Laimbeer ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Michael Jordan Bill Laimbeer
Season 1985-861981-82
Team Chicago BullsCleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Michael Jordan 18 25.1 22.7 1.3 2.3 3.6 2.9 2.1 1.2 2.5 2.6 8.3 18.2 .457 0.2 1.0 .167 5.8 6.9 .840
Bill Laimbeer 80 22.9 9.0 2.9 4.8 7.7 1.3 0.5 0.8 1.5 3.7 3.3 6.7 .494 0.1 0.2 .308 2.3 2.9 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 3 45.0 43.7 1.7 4.7 6.3 5.7 2.3 1.3 4.7 4.3 16.0 31.7 .505 0.3 0.3 1.000 11.3 13.0 .872
Bill Laimbeer ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Michael Jordan Bill Laimbeer
Season 1986-871982-83
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Michael Jordan 82 40.0 37.1 2.0 3.2 5.2 4.6 2.9 1.5 3.3 2.9 13.4 27.8 .482 0.1 0.8 .182 10.2 11.9 .857
Bill Laimbeer 82 35.0 13.6 3.4 8.7 12.1 3.2 0.6 1.4 2.1 3.9 5.3 10.7 .497 0.0 0.2 .154 3.0 3.8 .790
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 3 42.7 35.7 2.3 4.7 7.0 6.0 2.0 2.3 2.7 3.7 11.7 28.0 .417 0.7 1.7 .400 11.7 13.0 .897
Bill Laimbeer ------- --- ----------

Season 4
Michael Jordan Bill Laimbeer
Season 1987-881983-84
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisPistons 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 %
Michael Jordan 82 40.4 35.0 1.7 3.8 5.5 5.9 3.2 1.6 3.1 3.3 13.0 24.4 .535 0.1 0.6 .132 8.8 10.5 .841
Bill Laimbeer 82 34.9 17.3 4.0 8.2 12.2 1.8 0.6 1.0 1.8 3.3 6.7 12.7 .530 0.0 0.1 .000 3.9 4.5 .866
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 10 42.7 36.3 2.3 4.8 7.1 4.7 2.4 1.1 3.9 3.8 13.8 26.0 .531 0.1 0.3 .333 8.6 9.9 .869
Bill Laimbeer 5 33.0 15.2 2.8 9.6 12.4 2.4 0.8 0.6 2.4 4.6 5.8 10.2 .569 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 4.0 .900

Season 5
Michael Jordan Bill Laimbeer
Season 1988-891984-85
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf FinalsPistons 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 %
Michael Jordan 81 40.2 32.5 1.8 6.2 8.0 8.0 2.9 0.8 3.6 3.0 11.9 22.2 .538 0.3 1.2 .276 8.3 9.8 .850
Bill Laimbeer 82 35.3 17.5 3.6 8.8 12.4 1.9 0.8 0.9 1.6 3.8 7.3 14.4 .506 0.0 0.2 .222 3.0 3.7 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 17 42.2 34.8 1.5 5.5 7.0 7.6 2.5 0.8 4.0 3.8 11.7 22.9 .510 0.6 2.1 .286 10.8 13.5 .799
Bill Laimbeer 9 36.1 14.7 4.0 6.7 10.7 1.7 0.8 0.8 1.8 3.6 5.3 11.9 .449 0.0 0.2 .000 4.0 5.7 .706

Season 6
Michael Jordan Bill Laimbeer
Season 1989-901985-86
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf FinalsPistons 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 %
Michael Jordan 82 39.0 33.6 1.7 5.1 6.9 6.3 2.8 0.7 3.0 2.9 12.6 24.0 .526 1.1 3.0 .376 7.2 8.5 .848
Bill Laimbeer 82 35.3 16.6 3.7 9.4 13.1 1.8 0.7 0.8 1.6 3.5 6.6 13.5 .492 0.0 0.2 .286 3.2 3.9 .834
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 16 42.1 36.7 1.5 5.7 7.2 6.8 2.8 0.9 3.5 3.4 13.7 26.6 .514 1.0 3.1 .320 8.3 9.9 .836
Bill Laimbeer 4 42.0 22.5 5.0 9.0 14.0 0.3 0.5 0.8 2.0 4.8 8.5 17.0 .500 0.3 0.3 1.000 5.3 5.8 .913

Season 7
Michael Jordan Bill Laimbeer
Season 1990-911986-87
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 %
Michael Jordan 82 37.0 31.5 1.4 4.6 6.0 5.5 2.7 1.0 2.5 2.8 12.1 22.4 .539 0.4 1.1 .312 7.0 8.2 .851
Bill Laimbeer 82 34.8 15.4 3.0 8.7 11.6 1.8 0.9 0.8 1.5 3.5 6.2 12.3 .501 0.1 0.3 .286 3.0 3.3 .894
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 17 40.5 31.1 1.1 5.3 6.4 8.4 2.4 1.4 2.5 3.1 11.6 22.1 .524 0.6 1.5 .385 7.4 8.7 .845
Bill Laimbeer 15 36.2 12.3 2.0 8.4 10.4 2.5 1.0 0.8 1.3 3.5 5.6 10.9 .515 0.1 0.3 .200 1.0 1.6 .625

Season 8
Michael Jordan Bill Laimbeer
Season 1991-921987-88
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 80 38.8 30.1 1.1 5.3 6.4 6.1 2.3 0.9 2.5 2.5 11.8 22.7 .519 0.3 1.3 .270 6.1 7.4 .832
Bill Laimbeer 82 35.3 13.5 2.0 8.1 10.1 2.4 0.8 1.0 1.7 3.5 5.5 11.3 .493 0.2 0.5 .333 2.3 2.6 .874
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 22 41.8 34.5 1.7 4.5 6.2 5.8 2.0 0.7 3.7 2.8 13.2 26.4 .499 0.8 2.0 .386 7.4 8.6 .857
Bill Laimbeer 23 33.9 11.9 1.9 7.7 9.6 1.9 0.8 0.8 1.3 3.3 5.0 10.9 .456 0.2 0.7 .294 1.7 2.0 .889

Season 9
Michael Jordan Bill Laimbeer
Season 1992-931988-89
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 78 39.3 32.6 1.7 5.0 6.7 5.5 2.8 0.8 2.7 2.4 12.7 25.7 .495 1.0 2.9 .352 6.1 7.3 .837
Bill Laimbeer 81 32.6 13.7 1.7 7.9 9.6 2.2 0.6 1.2 1.6 3.2 5.5 11.1 .499 0.4 1.1 .349 2.2 2.6 .840
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 19 41.2 35.1 1.7 5.1 6.7 6.0 2.1 0.9 2.4 3.1 13.2 27.8 .475 1.5 3.8 .389 7.2 8.9 .805
Bill Laimbeer 17 29.2 10.1 1.5 6.7 8.2 1.8 0.4 0.5 1.1 3.2 3.9 8.4 .465 0.9 2.5 .357 1.5 1.8 .806

Note: Michael Jordan didn't play in 1993-94.

Season 10
Michael Jordan Bill Laimbeer
Season 1994-951989-90
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 17 39.3 26.9 1.5 5.4 6.9 5.3 1.8 0.8 2.1 2.8 9.8 23.8 .411 0.9 1.9 .500 6.4 8.0 .801
Bill Laimbeer 81 33.0 12.1 2.0 7.6 9.6 2.1 0.7 1.0 1.2 3.4 4.7 9.7 .484 0.7 2.0 .361 2.0 2.4 .854
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 10 42.0 31.5 2.0 4.5 6.5 4.5 2.3 1.4 4.1 3.0 12.0 24.8 .484 1.1 3.0 .367 6.4 7.9 .810
Bill Laimbeer 20 33.4 11.1 2.1 8.5 10.6 1.4 1.2 0.9 0.8 3.9 4.6 10.0 .457 0.8 2.2 .349 1.3 1.5 .862

Season 11
Michael Jordan Bill Laimbeer
Season 1995-961990-91
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 %
Michael Jordan 82 37.7 30.4 1.8 4.8 6.6 4.3 2.2 0.5 2.4 2.4 11.2 22.6 .495 1.4 3.2 .427 6.7 8.0 .834
Bill Laimbeer 82 32.5 11.0 2.1 6.9 9.0 1.9 0.5 0.7 1.2 3.0 4.5 9.5 .478 0.5 1.5 .296 1.5 1.8 .837
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 18 40.7 30.7 1.7 3.2 4.9 4.1 1.8 0.3 2.3 2.7 10.4 22.6 .459 1.4 3.4 .403 8.5 10.4 .818
Bill Laimbeer 15 29.7 10.9 2.8 5.3 8.1 1.3 0.3 0.8 1.1 3.6 4.4 9.9 .446 0.3 1.1 .294 1.8 2.1 .871

Season 12
Michael Jordan Bill Laimbeer
Season 1996-971991-92
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 %
Michael Jordan 82 37.9 29.6 1.4 4.5 5.9 4.3 1.7 0.5 2.0 1.9 11.2 23.1 .486 1.4 3.6 .374 5.9 7.0 .833
Bill Laimbeer 81 27.6 9.7 1.3 4.3 5.6 2.0 0.6 0.7 1.3 2.8 4.2 9.0 .470 0.4 1.0 .376 0.8 0.9 .893
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 19 42.3 31.1 2.2 5.7 7.9 4.8 1.6 0.9 2.6 2.4 11.9 26.2 .456 0.7 3.5 .194 6.5 7.8 .831
Bill Laimbeer 5 29.0 8.2 1.0 5.6 6.6 1.6 0.8 0.2 1.0 3.6 3.4 9.2 .370 0.4 2.0 .200 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 13
Michael Jordan Bill Laimbeer
Season 1997-981992-93
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
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 %
Michael Jordan 82 38.8 28.7 1.6 4.2 5.8 3.5 1.7 0.5 2.3 1.8 10.7 23.1 .465 0.4 1.5 .238 6.9 8.8 .784
Bill Laimbeer 79 24.5 8.7 1.4 3.9 5.3 1.6 0.6 0.5 0.7 2.7 3.7 7.3 .509 0.1 0.3 .370 1.2 1.3 .894
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan 21 41.5 32.4 1.6 3.5 5.1 3.5 1.5 0.6 2.1 2.2 11.6 25.0 .462 0.6 2.0 .302 8.6 10.6 .812
Bill Laimbeer ------- --- ----------

Note: Michael Jordan didn't play in 1998-99, 1999-00 and 2000-01.

Season 14
Michael Jordan Bill Laimbeer
Season 2001-021993-94
Team Washington WizardsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Michael Jordan 60 34.9 22.9 0.8 4.8 5.7 5.2 1.4 0.4 2.7 2.0 9.2 22.1 .416 0.2 0.9 .189 4.4 5.6 .790
Bill Laimbeer 11 22.5 9.8 0.8 4.3 5.1 1.3 0.5 0.4 0.9 2.7 4.3 8.2 .522 0.3 0.8 .333 1.0 1.2 .846
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan ------- --- ----------
Bill Laimbeer ------- --- ----------

Season 15
Michael Jordan Bill Laimbeer
Season 2002-03-
Team Washington Wizards-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Michael Jordan 82 37.0 20.0 0.9 5.2 6.1 3.8 1.5 0.5 2.1 2.1 8.3 18.6 .445 0.2 0.7 .291 3.2 4.0 .821
Bill Laimbeer ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Jordan ------- --- ----------
Bill Laimbeer ------- --- ----------
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