Phil Jackson vs. Bob Lanier Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bob Lanier 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, 2 less than Bob Lanier, who played 14. Phil Jackson had the first of his seasons in 1967-68, while Bob Lanier had his rookie season in 1970-71. 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
Bob Lanier 14 9 1970-71 to 1983-84

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Phil Jackson Bob Lanier
Season 1967-681970-71
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Div SemisDid 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 75 14.6 6.2 - - 4.5 0.7 - - - 2.8 2.4 6.1 .400 - - - 1.3 2.2 .589
Bob Lanier 82 24.6 15.6 - - 8.1 1.8 - - - 3.3 6.1 13.5 .455 - - - 3.3 4.6 .726
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
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Phil Jackson Bob Lanier
Season 1968-691971-72
Team New York KnicksDetroit 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 %
Phil Jackson 47 19.7 7.1 - - 5.2 0.9 - - - 3.6 2.7 6.3 .429 - - - 1.7 2.5 .672
Bob Lanier 80 38.7 25.7 - - 14.2 3.1 - - - 3.7 10.4 21.1 .493 - - - 4.9 6.3 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Phil Jackson ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------

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

Season 3

Phil Jackson Bob Lanier
Season 1970-711972-73
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsDid 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 71 10.9 4.7 - - 3.4 0.4 - - - 2.4 1.7 3.7 .449 - - - 1.3 1.9 .714
Bob Lanier 81 38.9 23.8 - - 14.9 3.2 - - - 3.4 10.0 20.4 .490 - - - 3.8 4.9 .773
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
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Phil Jackson Bob Lanier
Season 1971-721973-74
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsPistons 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 %
Phil Jackson 80 15.9 7.2 - - 4.1 0.9 - - - 2.8 2.6 5.8 .440 - - - 2.1 2.9 .732
Bob Lanier 81 37.6 22.5 3.3 9.9 13.3 4.2 1.4 3.0 - 3.4 9.2 18.3 .504 - - - 4.0 5.0 .797
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
Bob Lanier 7 43.3 26.3 3.7 11.6 15.3 3.0 0.6 2.0 - 4.0 11.0 21.7 .507 - - - 4.3 5.4 .789

Season 5

Phil Jackson Bob Lanier
Season 1972-731974-75
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 80 17.4 8.1 - - 4.3 1.2 - - - 2.7 3.1 6.9 .443 - - - 1.9 2.4 .790
Bob Lanier 76 39.3 24.0 3.0 9.1 12.0 4.6 1.0 2.3 - 3.1 9.6 18.9 .510 - - - 4.8 5.9 .802
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
Bob Lanier 3 42.7 20.3 1.7 9.0 10.7 6.3 1.3 4.0 - 3.3 8.7 17.0 .510 - - - 3.0 4.0 .750

Season 6

Phil Jackson Bob Lanier
Season 1973-741975-76
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsPistons 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 %
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
Bob Lanier 64 36.9 21.3 3.4 8.3 11.7 3.4 1.2 1.3 - 3.2 8.5 15.9 .532 - - - 4.4 5.8 .768
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
Bob Lanier 9 39.9 26.1 4.3 8.3 12.7 3.3 0.9 2.3 - 3.8 10.6 19.1 .552 - - - 5.0 5.6 .900

Season 7

Phil Jackson Bob Lanier
Season 1974-751976-77
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdPistons 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
Bob Lanier 64 38.2 25.3 3.1 8.5 11.6 3.3 1.1 2.0 - 2.7 10.6 19.8 .534 - - - 4.1 5.0 .818
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
Bob Lanier 3 39.3 28.0 4.3 12.3 16.7 2.0 1.0 2.3 - 3.3 11.3 18.0 .630 - - - 5.3 6.3 .842

Season 8

Phil Jackson Bob Lanier
Season 1975-761977-78
Team New York KnicksDetroit 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 %
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
Bob Lanier 63 36.7 24.5 3.1 8.2 11.3 3.4 1.3 1.5 3.6 2.9 9.9 18.4 .537 - - - 4.7 6.1 .772
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Phil Jackson ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Phil Jackson Bob Lanier
Season 1976-771978-79
Team New York KnicksDetroit 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 %
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
Bob Lanier 53 34.6 23.6 3.1 6.2 9.3 2.6 0.9 1.4 3.3 3.4 9.2 17.9 .515 - - - 5.2 6.9 .749
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Phil Jackson ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Phil Jackson Bob Lanier
Season 1977-781979-80
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisBucks 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 %
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
Bob Lanier 63 33.8 19.2 2.4 6.3 8.8 2.9 1.2 1.4 2.6 3.2 7.4 13.8 .537 0.0 0.1 .167 4.4 5.6 .782
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
Bob Lanier 7 36.6 19.3 2.4 6.9 9.3 4.4 1.0 1.1 2.4 3.3 7.4 14.4 .515 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 6.0 .738

Season 11

Phil Jackson Bob Lanier
Season 1978-791980-81
Team New Jersey NetsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdBucks 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 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
Bob Lanier 67 26.2 14.3 1.9 4.3 6.2 2.7 1.1 1.2 2.1 2.7 5.6 10.7 .525 0.0 0.0 1.000 3.1 4.1 .751
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
Bob Lanier 7 33.7 17.6 1.7 5.7 7.4 4.0 1.7 1.1 2.1 2.6 7.1 12.1 .588 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.6 .719

Season 12

Phil Jackson Bob Lanier
Season 1979-801981-82
Team New Jersey NetsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBucks 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 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
Bob Lanier 74 26.8 13.5 1.2 4.0 5.2 3.0 1.0 0.8 2.2 2.9 5.5 9.9 .558 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.3 .752
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Phil Jackson ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 6 35.3 16.0 3.0 4.5 7.5 3.7 1.3 0.8 2.3 3.5 6.8 13.3 .513 0.0 0.2 .000 2.3 4.2 .560

Season 13

Phil Jackson Bob Lanier
Season -1982-83
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bucks 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 %
Phil Jackson ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 39 25.1 10.7 1.5 3.6 5.1 2.7 0.9 0.6 2.1 3.2 4.2 8.5 .491 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.4 .684
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Phil Jackson ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 9 27.8 13.7 1.9 5.1 7.0 2.6 0.6 1.6 2.3 3.6 5.7 9.9 .573 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.9 .600

Season 14

Phil Jackson Bob Lanier
Season -1983-84
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bucks 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 %
Phil Jackson ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 72 27.9 13.6 2.0 4.4 6.3 2.6 0.8 0.7 2.3 3.2 5.4 9.5 .572 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.8 .708
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Phil Jackson ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 16 31.2 12.7 2.0 5.3 7.3 3.4 0.7 0.6 2.4 3.6 5.1 10.7 .480 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 2.8 .886