Sam Bowie vs. Elvin Hayes Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Elvin Hayes and Sam Bowie, 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.

Sam Bowie played 10 years in the NBA, 6 less than Elvin Hayes, who played 16. Sam Bowie had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, while Elvin Hayes had his rookie season in 1968-69. 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
Sam Bowie 10 5 1984-85 to 1994-95
Elvin Hayes 16 10 1968-69 to 1983-84

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Sam Bowie Elvin Hayes
Season 1984-851968-69
Team Portland Trail BlazersSan Diego Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf SemisRockets Lost West Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie 76 29.2 10.0 2.7 5.9 8.6 2.8 0.7 2.7 2.3 3.7 3.9 7.3 .537 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.0 .711
Elvin Hayes 82 45.1 28.4 - - 17.1 1.4 - - - 3.2 11.3 25.4 .447 - - - 5.7 9.1 .626
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie 9 28.8 7.3 1.8 6.7 8.4 2.3 0.4 2.3 1.3 4.0 2.9 6.6 .441 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.8 .560
Elvin Hayes 6 46.3 25.8 - - 13.8 0.8 - - - 3.5 10.0 19.0 .526 - - - 5.8 8.8 .660

Season 2

Sam Bowie Elvin Hayes
Season 1985-861969-70
Team Portland Trail BlazersSan Diego Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rebounds Leader
-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 %
Sam Bowie 38 29.8 11.8 2.4 6.2 8.6 2.6 0.6 2.5 2.3 3.7 4.4 9.1 .484 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.2 .708
Elvin Hayes 82 44.7 27.5 - - 16.9 2.0 - - - 3.3 11.1 24.6 .452 - - - 5.2 7.6 .688
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Sam Bowie Elvin Hayes
Season 1986-871970-71
Team Portland Trail BlazersSan Diego Rockets
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 %
Sam Bowie 5 32.6 16.0 2.8 3.8 6.6 1.8 0.2 2.0 3.0 3.8 6.0 13.2 .455 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 6.0 .667
Elvin Hayes 82 44.3 28.7 - - 16.6 2.3 - - - 2.7 11.6 27.0 .428 - - - 5.5 8.2 .672
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Note: Sam Bowie didn't play in 1987-88.

Season 4

Sam Bowie Elvin Hayes
Season 1988-891971-72
Team Portland Trail BlazersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie 20 20.6 8.6 1.8 3.5 5.3 1.8 0.4 1.7 1.7 2.2 3.5 7.7 .451 0.3 0.4 .714 1.4 2.5 .571
Elvin Hayes 82 42.2 25.2 - - 14.6 3.3 - - - 2.8 10.1 23.4 .434 - - - 4.9 7.5 .649
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie 3 22.3 10.3 3.3 3.3 6.7 1.0 0.0 2.3 1.0 2.7 4.0 9.3 .429 0.3 0.7 .500 2.0 2.7 .750
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Sam Bowie Elvin Hayes
Season 1989-901972-73
Team New Jersey NetsBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBullets 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 %
Sam Bowie 68 32.5 14.7 3.0 7.1 10.1 1.3 0.6 1.8 1.8 3.1 5.1 12.3 .416 0.1 0.5 .323 4.3 5.6 .776
Elvin Hayes 81 41.3 21.2 - - 14.5 1.6 - - - 2.9 8.8 19.8 .444 - - - 3.6 5.4 .671
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes 5 45.6 25.8 - - 11.4 1.0 - - - 3.2 10.6 21.0 .505 - - - 4.6 6.6 .697

Season 6

Sam Bowie Elvin Hayes
Season 1990-911973-74
Team New Jersey NetsCapital Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBullets 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 %
Sam Bowie 62 30.9 12.9 2.8 4.9 7.7 2.4 0.7 1.5 2.3 2.8 5.1 11.7 .434 0.1 0.4 .182 2.7 3.7 .732
Elvin Hayes 81 44.5 21.4 4.4 13.7 18.1 2.0 1.1 3.0 - 3.1 8.5 20.1 .423 - - - 4.4 6.1 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes 7 46.1 25.9 4.4 11.4 15.9 3.0 0.7 2.1 - 3.3 10.9 20.4 .531 - - - 4.1 5.9 .707

Season 7

Sam Bowie Elvin Hayes
Season 1991-921974-75
Team New Jersey NetsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdBullets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie 71 30.7 15.0 2.9 5.3 8.1 2.6 0.6 1.7 2.1 3.0 5.9 13.3 .445 0.1 0.4 .320 3.0 3.9 .757
Elvin Hayes 82 42.3 23.0 2.7 9.5 12.2 2.5 1.9 2.3 - 2.9 9.0 20.3 .443 - - - 5.0 6.5 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie 4 28.0 9.3 2.0 2.8 4.8 2.3 0.8 0.8 1.3 4.8 3.5 8.3 .424 0.3 0.5 .500 2.0 3.0 .667
Elvin Hayes 17 44.2 25.5 2.7 8.2 10.9 2.2 1.5 2.3 - 4.1 10.2 21.9 .468 - - - 5.1 7.5 .677

Season 8

Sam Bowie Elvin Hayes
Season 1992-931975-76
Team New Jersey NetsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdBullets 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 %
Sam Bowie 79 26.5 9.1 2.0 5.0 7.0 1.6 0.4 1.6 1.5 2.9 3.6 8.1 .450 0.0 0.1 .333 1.8 2.3 .779
Elvin Hayes 80 37.2 19.8 2.6 8.4 11.0 1.5 1.3 2.5 - 3.7 8.1 17.3 .470 - - - 3.6 5.7 .628
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie 3 23.7 3.3 0.7 3.3 4.0 0.7 2.0 0.3 1.3 3.0 1.3 3.0 .444 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000
Elvin Hayes 7 43.6 20.0 2.3 10.3 12.6 1.4 0.7 4.0 - 3.4 7.7 17.4 .443 - - - 4.6 7.9 .582

Season 9

Sam Bowie Elvin Hayes
Season 1993-941976-77
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBullets 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 %
Sam Bowie 25 22.2 8.9 1.1 4.2 5.2 1.9 0.2 1.1 1.7 2.6 3.0 6.9 .436 0.0 0.2 .250 2.9 3.3 .867
Elvin Hayes 82 41.0 23.7 3.5 9.0 12.5 1.9 1.1 2.7 - 3.8 9.3 18.5 .501 - - - 5.1 7.5 .687
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes 9 45.0 21.0 3.2 10.3 13.6 1.9 1.1 2.4 - 4.3 8.2 19.2 .428 - - - 4.6 6.6 .695

Season 10

Sam Bowie Elvin Hayes
Season 1994-951977-78
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West 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 %
Sam Bowie 67 18.3 4.6 1.1 3.2 4.3 1.8 0.3 1.2 1.4 2.7 1.8 4.0 .442 0.0 0.2 .182 1.0 1.3 .764
Elvin Hayes 81 40.1 19.7 4.1 9.1 13.3 1.8 1.2 2.0 2.8 3.9 7.9 17.4 .451 - - - 4.0 6.3 .634
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie 10 13.5 2.1 1.3 2.0 3.3 0.3 0.1 0.9 0.6 2.5 0.8 3.0 .267 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.5 1.000
Elvin Hayes 21 41.3 21.8 4.9 8.4 13.3 2.0 1.5 2.5 2.8 4.1 9.0 18.3 .491 - - - 3.8 6.3 .594

Season 11

Sam Bowie Elvin Hayes
Season -1978-79
Team -Washington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Bullets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes 82 37.9 21.8 3.8 8.3 12.1 1.7 0.9 2.3 2.9 3.8 8.8 18.0 .487 - - - 4.3 6.5 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes 19 41.4 22.5 4.9 9.1 14.0 2.0 0.9 2.7 2.9 4.2 8.9 20.8 .429 - - - 4.6 6.8 .669

Season 12

Sam Bowie Elvin Hayes
Season -1979-80
Team -Washington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Bullets 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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes 81 39.3 23.0 3.3 7.7 11.1 1.6 0.8 2.3 2.7 3.8 9.4 20.7 .454 0.0 0.2 .231 4.1 5.9 .699
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes 2 46.0 20.0 5.0 6.0 11.0 3.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 8.0 20.5 .390 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 5.0 .800

Season 13

Sam Bowie Elvin Hayes
Season -1980-81
Team -Washington Bullets
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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes 81 36.2 17.8 2.9 6.8 9.7 1.2 0.8 2.1 2.3 3.7 7.2 16.0 .451 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 5.4 .617
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Sam Bowie Elvin Hayes
Season -1981-82
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Rockets 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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes 82 37.0 16.1 3.3 5.9 9.1 1.8 0.8 1.3 2.5 3.5 6.3 13.4 .472 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 5.1 .664
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes 3 41.3 14.0 2.3 7.7 10.0 1.0 0.7 3.3 2.0 4.0 5.7 16.7 .340 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 5.0 .533

Season 15

Sam Bowie Elvin Hayes
Season -1982-83
Team -Houston Rockets
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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes 81 28.4 12.9 2.5 5.1 7.6 2.0 0.6 1.0 2.5 2.9 5.2 11.0 .476 0.0 0.0 .500 2.4 3.5 .683
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Sam Bowie Elvin Hayes
Season -1983-84
Team -Houston Rockets
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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes 81 12.3 5.0 1.1 2.1 3.2 0.9 0.2 0.3 1.0 1.5 2.0 4.8 .406 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.6 .652
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Elvin Hayes ------- --- ----------