Rasho Nesterovic vs. Arvydas Sabonis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Arvydas Sabonis and Rasho Nesterovic, 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.

Rasho Nesterovic played 12 years in the NBA, 5 more than Arvydas Sabonis, who played 7. Rasho Nesterovic had the first of his seasons in 1998-99, 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
Rasho Nesterovic 12 10 1998-99 to 2009-10
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
Rasho Nesterovic Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1998-991995-96
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 2 15.0 4.0 1.5 2.5 4.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 2.5 1.5 6.0 .250 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 3 9.7 2.7 1.3 1.0 2.3 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.3 1.3 2.7 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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
Rasho Nesterovic Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1999-001996-97
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 82 21.0 5.7 1.6 3.0 4.6 1.1 0.3 1.0 0.9 3.2 2.5 5.3 .476 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 1.3 .573
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 4 31.3 6.3 1.3 2.0 3.3 1.5 0.8 1.8 1.0 5.0 2.8 6.3 .440 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .500
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
Rasho Nesterovic Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2000-011997-98
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 73 16.9 4.5 1.4 2.6 3.9 0.6 0.3 0.9 0.8 2.6 2.0 4.4 .461 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.9 .523
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 4 12.3 2.5 1.3 1.8 3.0 0.8 0.3 0.8 0.8 2.3 1.3 3.3 .385 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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
Rasho Nesterovic Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2001-021998-99
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdTrail 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 82 27.0 8.4 2.4 4.1 6.5 0.9 0.5 1.3 1.1 3.2 4.0 8.0 .493 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.9 .549
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 3 31.0 11.3 2.0 4.7 6.7 1.0 0.3 0.0 1.3 3.3 5.0 10.3 .484 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 3.0 .444
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
Rasho Nesterovic Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2002-031999-00
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdTrail 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 77 30.4 11.2 1.9 4.6 6.5 1.5 0.5 1.5 1.3 3.3 5.2 9.9 .525 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.2 .642
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 6 28.3 7.0 1.5 3.5 5.0 0.7 0.2 0.7 0.8 4.7 3.2 6.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.0 .667
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
Rasho Nesterovic Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2003-042000-01
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 82 28.7 8.7 3.1 4.6 7.7 1.4 0.6 2.0 1.3 3.0 4.0 8.5 .469 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.4 .474
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 10 26.3 5.9 2.1 3.4 5.5 1.0 0.3 1.1 0.8 3.8 2.9 6.7 .433 0.0 0.1 .000 0.1 0.6 .167
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
Rasho Nesterovic Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2004-052002-03
Team San Antonio SpursPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 70 25.5 5.9 2.6 3.9 6.6 1.0 0.4 1.7 1.0 3.0 2.8 6.1 .460 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.4 .467
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 15 7.6 0.7 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.3 1.1 0.3 0.8 .417 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.1 .000
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
Rasho Nesterovic Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2005-06-
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 80 18.9 4.5 1.4 2.4 3.9 0.4 0.3 1.1 0.7 2.6 2.2 4.2 .515 0.0 0.0 .000 0.2 0.4 .600
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rasho Nesterovic 9 12.7 2.8 0.8 2.6 3.3 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.2 1.9 1.2 2.1 .579 0.1 0.1 1.000 0.2 0.2 1.000
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Rasho Nesterovic Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2006-07-
Team Toronto Raptors-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Raptors 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 80 21.0 6.2 1.4 3.1 4.5 0.9 0.5 1.1 0.7 2.4 2.9 5.3 .546 0.0 0.0 .000 0.4 0.6 .680
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rasho Nesterovic 5 14.2 3.4 2.0 2.6 4.6 0.6 0.0 0.4 0.8 0.8 1.4 3.0 .467 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.6 1.000
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Rasho Nesterovic Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2007-08-
Team Toronto Raptors-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Raptors 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 71 20.9 7.8 1.8 3.0 4.8 1.2 0.3 0.7 0.8 1.9 3.6 6.6 .550 0.0 0.0 .333 0.5 0.7 .755
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rasho Nesterovic 5 15.4 4.6 0.6 2.0 2.6 0.6 0.2 0.4 1.0 2.8 2.2 4.4 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.4 .500
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Rasho Nesterovic Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2008-09-
Team Indiana Pacers-
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 70 17.3 6.8 1.3 2.1 3.4 1.6 0.4 0.5 0.9 2.4 3.2 6.2 .513 0.0 0.0 .000 0.4 0.5 .781
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rasho Nesterovic ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Rasho Nesterovic Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2009-10-
Team Toronto Raptors-
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 42 9.8 3.9 0.9 1.2 2.1 0.6 0.2 0.4 0.4 1.3 1.9 3.5 .544 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.1 .200
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rasho Nesterovic ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
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