Phil Jackson vs. Arvydas Sabonis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Arvydas Sabonis and Phil Jackson, 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.

Phil Jackson played 12 years in the NBA, 5 more than Arvydas Sabonis, who played 7. Phil Jackson had the first of his seasons in 1967-68, 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
Phil Jackson 12 8 1967-68 to 1979-80
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

Rookie Season

Phil Jackson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1967-681995-96
Team New York KnicksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Div 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 %
Phil Jackson 75 14.6 6.2 - - 4.5 0.7 - - - 2.8 2.4 6.1 .400 - - - 1.3 2.2 .589
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 %
Phil Jackson 6 15.0 4.0 - - 4.2 0.3 - - - 3.8 1.7 5.8 .286 - - - 0.7 0.8 .800
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

Phil Jackson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1968-691996-97
Team New York KnicksPortland 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 %
Phil Jackson 47 19.7 7.1 - - 5.2 0.9 - - - 3.6 2.7 6.3 .429 - - - 1.7 2.5 .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 %
Phil Jackson ------- --- ----------
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

Note: Phil Jackson didn't play in 1969-70 (NBA ChampionNBA Champion).

Season 3

Phil Jackson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1970-711997-98
Team New York KnicksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East 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 %
Phil Jackson 71 10.9 4.7 - - 3.4 0.4 - - - 2.4 1.7 3.7 .449 - - - 1.3 1.9 .714
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 %
Phil Jackson 5 6.0 1.8 - - 2.0 0.4 - - - 1.6 0.8 2.8 .286 - - - 0.2 0.2 1.000
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

Phil Jackson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1971-721998-99
Team New York KnicksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsTrail 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 %
Phil Jackson 80 15.9 7.2 - - 4.1 0.9 - - - 2.8 2.6 5.8 .440 - - - 2.1 2.9 .732
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 %
Phil Jackson 16 20.0 9.8 - - 5.1 0.9 - - - 3.2 3.6 7.5 .475 - - - 2.6 3.6 .737
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

Phil Jackson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1972-731999-00
Team New York KnicksPortland 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 %
Phil Jackson 80 17.4 8.1 - - 4.3 1.2 - - - 2.7 3.1 6.9 .443 - - - 1.9 2.4 .790
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 %
Phil Jackson 17 19.9 8.7 - - 4.2 1.4 - - - 3.5 3.5 7.1 .500 - - - 1.6 2.2 .737
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

Phil Jackson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1973-742000-01
Team New York KnicksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East 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 %
Phil Jackson 82 25.0 11.1 1.5 4.3 5.8 1.6 0.5 0.8 - 3.4 4.4 9.2 .477 - - - 2.3 3.0 .776
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 %
Phil Jackson 12 24.8 11.3 1.3 3.5 4.8 1.3 0.8 0.4 - 3.3 4.5 9.7 .466 - - - 2.3 2.5 .900
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

Phil Jackson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1974-752002-03
Team New York KnicksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Phil Jackson 78 29.3 10.8 1.8 5.9 7.7 1.7 1.1 0.7 - 4.2 4.2 9.1 .455 - - - 2.5 3.2 .763
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 %
Phil Jackson 3 26.0 9.0 1.7 6.7 8.3 0.7 1.3 1.0 - 5.0 3.3 7.0 .476 - - - 2.3 2.7 .875
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

Phil Jackson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1975-76-
Team New York Knicks-
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 %
Phil Jackson 80 18.3 6.0 1.0 3.3 4.3 1.3 0.5 0.3 - 3.4 2.3 4.8 .478 - - - 1.4 1.9 .733
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Phil Jackson ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Phil Jackson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1976-77-
Team New York Knicks-
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 %
Phil Jackson 76 13.6 3.4 1.0 2.0 3.0 1.1 0.4 0.2 - 2.4 1.3 3.1 .440 - - - 0.7 0.9 .718
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Phil Jackson ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Phil Jackson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1977-78-
Team New York Knicks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Phil Jackson 63 10.4 2.4 0.5 1.3 1.7 0.7 0.5 0.2 0.7 1.7 0.9 1.8 .478 - - - 0.7 0.9 .768
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Phil Jackson 6 8.3 2.0 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.7 1.8 0.7 1.3 .500 - - - 0.7 1.0 .667
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Phil Jackson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1978-79-
Team New Jersey Nets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets 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 %
Phil Jackson 59 18.1 6.3 1.0 2.0 3.0 1.4 0.8 0.4 1.3 2.8 2.4 5.1 .475 - - - 1.5 1.8 .819
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Phil Jackson 2 10.0 2.0 1.0 0.5 1.5 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.5 .333 - - - 1.0 1.0 1.000
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Phil Jackson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1979-80-
Team New Jersey Nets-
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 %
Phil Jackson 16 12.1 4.1 0.8 0.8 1.5 0.8 0.3 0.3 0.6 2.2 1.8 2.9 .630 0.0 0.1 .000 0.4 0.6 .700
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Phil Jackson ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------