Ron Harper vs. Tom Sanders Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Tom Sanders and Ron Harper, 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.

Ron Harper played 15 years in the NBA, 2 more than Tom Sanders, who played 13. Ron Harper had the first of his seasons in 1986-87, while Tom Sanders had his rookie season in 1960-61. 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
Ron Harper 15 10 1986-87 to 2000-01
Tom Sanders 13 11 1960-61 to 1972-73

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season
Ron Harper Tom Sanders
Season 1986-871960-61
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
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 %
Ron Harper 82 37.4 22.9 2.1 2.7 4.8 4.8 2.5 1.0 4.2 3.0 9.0 19.7 .455 0.2 1.1 .213 4.7 6.9 .684
Tom Sanders 68 15.9 5.3 - - 5.7 0.6 - - - 1.9 2.2 5.2 .420 - - - 1.0 1.5 .670
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ron Harper ------- --- ----------
Tom Sanders 10 21.6 8.9 - - 8.4 0.7 - - - 4.2 3.7 7.5 .493 - - - 1.5 2.4 .625

Season 2
Ron Harper Tom Sanders
Season 1987-881961-62
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East 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 %
Ron Harper 57 32.1 15.4 1.1 2.8 3.9 4.9 2.1 0.9 2.8 2.8 6.0 12.8 .464 0.1 0.4 .150 3.4 4.9 .705
Tom Sanders 80 29.1 11.2 - - 9.5 0.9 - - - 3.5 4.4 10.1 .435 - - - 2.5 3.3 .749
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ron Harper 4 33.5 17.8 1.0 4.0 5.0 3.8 2.8 1.0 2.8 2.3 7.5 15.8 .476 0.0 0.5 .000 2.8 4.0 .688
Tom Sanders 14 31.4 10.1 - - 8.2 1.0 - - - 4.6 4.0 9.3 .431 - - - 2.1 2.6 .806

Season 3
Ron Harper Tom Sanders
Season 1988-891962-63
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East 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 %
Ron Harper 82 34.8 18.6 1.5 3.5 5.0 5.3 2.3 0.9 2.8 2.7 7.2 14.0 .511 0.4 1.4 .250 3.9 5.2 .751
Tom Sanders 80 26.9 10.8 - - 7.2 1.2 - - - 3.3 4.2 9.3 .456 - - - 2.3 3.2 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ron Harper 5 37.8 19.6 1.4 2.8 4.2 4.0 2.2 0.8 1.4 4.0 7.8 13.8 .565 0.0 0.4 .000 4.0 5.2 .769
Tom Sanders 13 29.8 9.8 - - 7.4 1.5 - - - 4.7 4.0 9.2 .437 - - - 1.8 2.4 .774

Season 4
Ron Harper Tom Sanders
Season 1989-901963-64
Team Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 %
Ron Harper 35 39.1 22.8 2.1 3.8 5.9 5.2 2.3 1.2 2.9 3.0 8.6 18.2 .473 0.4 1.5 .275 5.2 6.6 .788
Tom Sanders 80 29.6 11.4 - - 8.3 1.3 - - - 3.5 4.4 10.5 .417 - - - 2.7 3.5 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ron Harper ------- --- ----------
Tom Sanders 10 30.2 9.1 - - 6.8 0.6 - - - 4.5 3.4 9.4 .362 - - - 2.3 3.4 .676

Season 5
Ron Harper Tom Sanders
Season 1990-911964-65
Team Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 %
Ron Harper 39 35.5 19.6 1.5 3.3 4.8 5.4 1.7 0.9 3.3 2.8 7.3 18.7 .391 1.2 3.8 .324 3.7 5.6 .668
Tom Sanders 80 30.7 11.8 - - 8.3 1.2 - - - 4.0 4.7 10.9 .429 - - - 2.4 3.2 .745
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ron Harper ------- --- ----------
Tom Sanders 12 30.4 13.3 - - 8.5 1.6 - - - 4.8 5.3 12.7 .421 - - - 2.6 3.6 .721

Season 6
Ron Harper Tom Sanders
Season 1991-921965-66
Team Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
Ron Harper 82 38.3 18.2 1.5 4.0 5.5 5.1 1.9 0.9 3.1 2.4 6.9 15.8 .440 0.8 2.6 .303 3.6 4.9 .736
Tom Sanders 72 26.3 12.6 - - 7.1 1.3 - - - 4.4 4.8 11.3 .428 - - - 2.9 3.8 .764
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ron Harper 5 41.2 18.0 2.0 4.4 6.4 4.6 1.0 0.8 3.0 2.6 7.8 17.4 .448 0.2 1.8 .111 2.2 2.8 .786
Tom Sanders 17 29.4 13.5 - - 6.5 1.6 - - - 4.1 5.7 11.8 .483 - - - 2.1 2.8 .750

Season 7
Ron Harper Tom Sanders
Season 1992-931966-67
Team Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ron Harper 80 37.1 18.0 1.5 3.9 5.3 4.5 2.2 0.9 2.8 2.7 6.8 15.0 .451 0.7 2.3 .280 3.8 5.0 .769
Tom Sanders 81 23.8 10.2 - - 5.4 1.1 - - - 3.8 4.0 9.3 .428 - - - 2.2 2.7 .817
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ron Harper 5 34.8 18.0 0.8 3.2 4.0 3.2 3.0 2.0 2.2 1.4 7.4 15.6 .474 1.0 2.0 .500 2.2 3.4 .647
Tom Sanders 9 16.0 4.9 - - 4.8 0.6 - - - 3.4 2.3 6.8 .344 - - - 0.2 0.6 .400

Season 8
Ron Harper Tom Sanders
Season 1993-941967-68
Team Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 %
Ron Harper 75 38.1 20.1 1.7 4.4 6.1 4.6 1.9 0.7 3.2 2.2 7.6 17.8 .426 0.9 3.1 .301 4.0 5.6 .715
Tom Sanders 78 25.4 10.2 - - 5.8 1.3 - - - 3.8 3.8 8.9 .428 - - - 2.6 3.3 .784
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ron Harper ------- --- ----------
Tom Sanders 14 20.6 8.3 - - 4.5 0.9 - - - 3.8 3.6 7.1 .505 - - - 1.1 1.5 .762

Season 9
Ron Harper Tom Sanders
Season 1994-951968-69
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
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 %
Ron Harper 77 19.9 6.9 0.7 1.7 2.3 2.0 1.3 0.4 1.3 1.7 2.7 6.4 .426 0.4 1.4 .282 1.1 1.7 .618
Tom Sanders 82 26.6 11.2 - - 7.0 1.3 - - - 3.6 4.4 10.3 .430 - - - 2.3 3.1 .733
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ron Harper 6 6.7 2.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 0.7 0.5 0.2 0.2 1.0 1.0 2.3 .429 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Tom Sanders 15 13.1 5.8 - - 3.2 0.5 - - - 2.7 2.1 4.9 .438 - - - 1.5 2.1 .742

Season 10
Ron Harper Tom Sanders
Season 1995-961969-70
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 %
Ron Harper 80 23.6 7.4 0.9 1.7 2.7 2.6 1.3 0.4 0.9 1.7 2.9 6.3 .467 0.4 1.3 .269 1.2 1.7 .705
Tom Sanders 57 28.4 11.5 - - 5.5 1.6 - - - 3.5 4.3 9.7 .443 - - - 2.8 3.2 .880
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ron Harper 18 27.4 8.8 1.4 2.3 3.7 2.5 1.4 0.4 1.0 2.1 3.2 7.4 .425 0.8 2.6 .319 1.6 2.3 .690
Tom Sanders ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Ron Harper Tom Sanders
Season 1996-971970-71
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 %
Ron Harper 76 22.9 6.3 0.6 1.9 2.5 2.5 1.1 0.5 0.7 1.8 2.3 5.3 .436 0.9 2.5 .362 0.8 1.1 .707
Tom Sanders 17 7.1 2.3 - - 1.0 0.6 - - - 1.5 0.9 2.6 .364 - - - 0.4 0.5 .875
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ron Harper 19 27.1 7.5 1.1 3.2 4.3 3.0 1.3 0.7 0.6 2.3 2.6 6.6 .400 1.1 3.2 .344 1.1 1.5 .750
Tom Sanders ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Ron Harper Tom Sanders
Season 1997-981971-72
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 %
Ron Harper 82 27.9 9.3 1.3 2.2 3.5 2.9 1.3 0.6 1.1 2.2 3.6 8.1 .441 0.2 1.0 .190 2.0 2.6 .750
Tom Sanders 82 19.9 6.6 - - 4.3 1.2 - - - 3.1 2.6 6.4 .410 - - - 1.4 1.7 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ron Harper 21 26.9 6.7 1.0 2.6 3.7 2.3 1.0 0.9 0.9 2.0 2.7 5.8 .459 0.2 0.9 .263 1.1 1.9 .615
Tom Sanders 11 16.9 4.3 - - 2.4 0.9 - - - 3.3 1.5 4.8 .321 - - - 1.2 1.9 .619

Season 13
Ron Harper Tom Sanders
Season 1998-991972-73
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Ron Harper 35 31.6 11.2 1.4 3.7 5.1 3.3 1.7 1.0 1.9 2.3 4.2 11.1 .377 0.8 2.4 .318 2.0 2.9 .703
Tom Sanders 59 7.2 2.0 - - 1.5 0.5 - - - 1.4 0.8 2.5 .315 - - - 0.4 0.6 .657
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ron Harper ------- --- ----------
Tom Sanders 5 4.8 2.0 - - 1.0 0.2 - - - 1.4 1.0 1.8 .556 - - - 0.0 0.4 .000

Season 14
Ron Harper Tom Sanders
Season 1999-00-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Ron Harper 80 25.5 7.0 1.2 3.0 4.2 3.4 1.1 0.5 1.7 2.1 2.7 6.6 .399 0.4 1.3 .311 1.3 1.8 .680
Tom Sanders ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ron Harper 23 28.0 8.6 1.3 2.4 3.7 3.2 1.0 0.6 1.2 2.7 3.4 7.9 .431 0.4 1.7 .231 1.4 2.0 .702
Tom Sanders ------- --- ----------

Season 15
Ron Harper Tom Sanders
Season 2000-01-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Ron Harper 47 24.2 6.5 1.0 2.6 3.5 2.4 0.8 0.5 1.3 1.5 2.7 5.8 .469 0.4 1.5 .264 0.7 1.0 .708
Tom Sanders ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ron Harper 6 7.3 2.2 0.2 1.2 1.3 0.7 0.7 0.2 0.2 0.7 0.8 1.7 .500 0.2 0.7 .250 0.3 0.5 .667
Tom Sanders ------- --- ----------
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