Norm Nixon vs. Dennis Rodman Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dennis Rodman and Norm Nixon, 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.

Norm Nixon played 10 years in the NBA, 4 less than Dennis Rodman, who played 14. Norm Nixon had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Dennis Rodman had his rookie season in 1986-87. 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
Norm Nixon 10 6 1977-78 to 1988-89
Dennis Rodman 14 11 1986-87 to 1999-00

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Norm Nixon Dennis Rodman
Season 1977-781986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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 %
Norm Nixon 81 34.3 13.7 0.5 2.4 3.0 6.8 1.7 0.1 3.1 3.2 6.1 12.3 .497 - - - 1.4 2.0 .714
Dennis Rodman 77 15.0 6.5 2.1 2.2 4.3 0.7 0.5 0.6 1.2 2.2 2.8 5.1 .545 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.6 .587
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 3 30.7 8.0 1.3 1.7 3.0 5.3 1.3 0.3 1.7 4.3 3.7 8.0 .458 - - - 0.7 1.0 .667
Dennis Rodman 15 16.3 6.5 2.1 2.6 4.7 0.2 0.4 1.1 1.1 3.2 2.7 4.9 .541 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 2.1 .563

Season 2

Norm Nixon Dennis Rodman
Season 1978-791987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 82 38.4 17.1 0.6 2.2 2.8 9.0 2.5 0.2 2.8 3.0 7.6 14.0 .542 - - - 1.9 2.5 .775
Dennis Rodman 82 26.2 11.6 3.9 4.8 8.7 1.3 0.9 0.5 1.9 3.3 4.9 8.6 .561 0.1 0.2 .294 1.9 3.5 .535
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 8 40.9 15.4 0.8 2.8 3.5 11.8 1.4 0.0 3.0 4.6 7.0 14.9 .471 - - - 1.4 1.9 .733
Dennis Rodman 23 20.6 7.1 2.2 3.7 5.9 0.9 0.6 0.6 1.3 3.8 3.1 5.9 .522 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 2.3 .407

Season 3

Norm Nixon Dennis Rodman
Season 1979-801988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
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 %
Norm Nixon 82 39.3 17.6 0.6 2.2 2.8 7.8 1.8 0.2 3.5 2.9 7.6 14.7 .516 0.0 0.1 .125 2.4 3.1 .779
Dennis Rodman 82 26.9 9.0 4.0 5.4 9.4 1.2 0.7 0.9 1.5 3.6 3.9 6.5 .595 0.1 0.3 .231 1.2 1.9 .626
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 16 40.5 16.9 0.8 2.7 3.5 7.8 2.0 0.2 3.1 3.7 7.1 14.9 .477 0.1 0.3 .200 2.6 3.2 .804
Dennis Rodman 17 24.1 5.8 3.3 6.7 10.0 0.9 0.4 0.7 1.4 3.4 2.2 4.1 .529 0.0 0.2 .000 1.4 2.1 .686

Season 4

Norm Nixon Dennis Rodman
Season 1980-811989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 79 37.5 17.1 0.8 2.1 2.9 8.8 1.8 0.1 3.6 2.9 7.3 15.3 .476 0.0 0.2 .167 2.5 3.2 .778
Dennis Rodman 82 29.0 8.8 4.1 5.6 9.7 0.9 0.6 0.7 1.1 3.4 3.5 6.0 .581 0.0 0.1 .111 1.7 2.6 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 3 44.3 19.3 0.3 3.3 3.7 8.7 0.3 0.3 1.7 3.0 8.3 16.3 .510 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.3 .800
Dennis Rodman 19 29.5 6.6 2.9 5.6 8.5 0.9 0.5 0.7 1.6 3.3 2.8 5.0 .568 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.8 .514

Season 5

Norm Nixon Dennis Rodman
Season 1981-821990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement 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 %
Norm Nixon 82 36.9 17.6 0.5 1.7 2.1 8.0 1.6 0.1 2.9 3.2 7.7 15.5 .493 0.0 0.1 .250 2.2 2.7 .808
Dennis Rodman 82 33.5 8.2 4.4 8.1 12.5 1.0 0.8 0.7 1.1 3.4 3.4 6.8 .493 0.1 0.4 .200 1.4 2.1 .631
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 14 39.2 20.4 0.9 2.1 3.1 8.1 1.6 0.1 2.4 3.1 8.6 18.1 .478 0.1 0.2 .333 3.1 4.1 .754
Dennis Rodman 15 33.0 6.3 4.5 7.3 11.8 0.9 0.7 0.7 0.9 3.7 2.7 6.1 .451 0.1 0.6 .222 0.7 1.6 .417

Season 6

Norm Nixon Dennis Rodman
Season 1982-831991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA 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 %
Norm Nixon 79 34.3 15.1 0.8 1.8 2.6 7.2 1.3 0.1 3.0 2.2 6.7 14.2 .475 0.0 0.2 .000 1.6 2.1 .744
Dennis Rodman 82 40.3 9.8 6.4 12.3 18.7 2.3 0.8 0.9 1.7 3.0 4.2 7.7 .539 0.4 1.2 .317 1.0 1.7 .600
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 14 38.4 19.0 0.9 2.5 3.4 6.4 1.3 0.1 2.4 2.9 8.1 16.9 .477 0.2 0.5 .429 2.6 3.6 .740
Dennis Rodman 5 31.2 7.2 3.2 7.0 10.2 1.8 0.8 0.4 1.4 3.4 3.2 5.4 .593 0.0 0.4 .000 0.8 1.6 .500

Season 7

Norm Nixon Dennis Rodman
Season 1983-841992-93
Team San Diego ClippersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
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 %
Norm Nixon 82 37.2 17.0 0.7 1.8 2.5 11.1 1.1 0.0 3.1 2.2 7.2 15.5 .462 0.1 0.6 .239 2.5 3.3 .760
Dennis Rodman 62 38.9 7.5 5.9 12.3 18.3 1.6 0.8 0.7 1.7 3.2 3.0 6.9 .427 0.2 1.2 .205 1.4 2.6 .534
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Norm Nixon Dennis Rodman
Season 1984-851993-94
Team Los Angeles ClippersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs 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 %
Norm Nixon 81 35.7 17.2 0.7 2.0 2.7 8.8 1.2 0.0 3.4 2.2 7.4 15.8 .465 0.4 1.2 .333 2.1 2.7 .780
Dennis Rodman 79 37.8 4.7 5.7 11.6 17.3 2.3 0.7 0.4 1.7 2.9 2.0 3.7 .534 0.1 0.3 .208 0.7 1.3 .520
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 3 38.0 8.3 8.0 8.0 16.0 0.7 2.0 1.3 2.0 4.7 4.0 8.0 .500 0.0 1.7 .000 0.3 2.0 .167

Season 9

Norm Nixon Dennis Rodman
Season 1985-861994-95
Team Los Angeles ClippersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs 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 %
Norm Nixon 67 31.9 14.6 0.7 2.0 2.7 8.6 1.3 0.0 2.8 2.1 6.0 13.7 .438 0.6 1.8 .347 2.0 2.4 .809
Dennis Rodman 49 32.0 7.1 5.6 11.2 16.8 2.0 0.6 0.5 2.0 3.2 2.8 4.9 .571 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.3 .676
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 14 32.8 8.9 4.9 9.9 14.8 1.3 0.9 0.0 1.8 3.6 3.7 6.9 .542 0.0 0.4 .000 1.4 2.5 .571

Note: Norm Nixon didn't play in 1986-87 and 1987-88.

Season 10

Norm Nixon Dennis Rodman
Season 1988-891995-96
Team Los Angeles ClippersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 53 24.9 6.8 0.2 1.2 1.5 6.4 0.9 0.0 2.2 1.3 2.9 7.0 .414 0.2 0.5 .276 0.9 1.2 .738
Dennis Rodman 64 32.6 5.5 5.6 9.3 14.9 2.5 0.6 0.4 2.2 3.1 2.3 4.8 .480 0.0 0.4 .111 0.9 1.7 .528
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 18 34.4 7.5 5.4 8.3 13.7 2.1 0.8 0.4 2.3 4.2 2.8 5.7 .485 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.3 .593

Season 11

Norm Nixon Dennis Rodman
Season -1996-97
Team -Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rebounds Leader
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 %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 55 35.4 5.7 5.8 10.2 16.1 3.1 0.6 0.3 2.0 3.1 2.3 5.2 .448 0.1 0.3 .263 0.9 1.6 .568
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 19 28.1 4.2 3.1 5.3 8.4 1.4 0.5 0.2 1.5 3.9 1.6 4.3 .370 0.2 0.8 .250 0.8 1.4 .577

Season 12

Norm Nixon Dennis Rodman
Season -1997-98
Team -Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rebounds Leader
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 %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 80 35.7 4.7 5.3 9.8 15.0 2.9 0.6 0.2 1.8 3.0 1.9 4.5 .431 0.1 0.3 .174 0.8 1.4 .550
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 21 34.4 4.9 4.7 7.1 11.8 2.0 0.7 0.6 1.7 4.2 1.9 5.0 .371 0.0 0.2 .250 1.1 1.8 .605

Season 13

Norm Nixon Dennis Rodman
Season -1998-99
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
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 %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 23 28.6 2.1 2.7 8.5 11.2 1.3 0.4 0.5 1.3 3.1 0.7 2.0 .348 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 1.7 .436
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Norm Nixon Dennis Rodman
Season -1999-00
Team -Dallas Mavericks
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 %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 12 32.4 2.8 4.0 10.3 14.3 1.2 0.2 0.1 1.6 3.4 1.0 2.6 .387 0.0 0.1 .000 0.8 1.2 .714
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman ------- --- ----------