Sam Bowie vs. Lenny Wilkens Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Lenny Wilkens 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, 5 less than Lenny Wilkens, who played 15. Sam Bowie had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, while Lenny Wilkens 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
Sam Bowie 10 5 1984-85 to 1994-95
Lenny Wilkens 15 7 1960-61 to 1974-75

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Sam Bowie Lenny Wilkens
Season 1984-851960-61
Team Portland Trail BlazersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf SemisHawks 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 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
Lenny Wilkens 75 25.3 11.7 - - 4.5 2.8 - - - 2.9 4.4 10.4 .425 - - - 2.9 4.0 .713
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
Lenny Wilkens 12 36.4 14.2 - - 6.0 3.5 - - - 4.3 5.3 13.8 .380 - - - 3.7 4.8 .759

Season 2

Sam Bowie Lenny Wilkens
Season 1985-861961-62
Team Portland Trail BlazersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards
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
Lenny Wilkens 20 43.5 18.2 - - 6.6 5.8 - - - 3.2 7.0 18.2 .385 - - - 4.2 5.5 .764
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Sam Bowie Lenny Wilkens
Season 1986-871962-63
Team Portland Trail BlazersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost West Div Finals
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
Lenny Wilkens 75 34.3 11.8 - - 5.4 5.1 - - - 3.4 4.4 11.1 .399 - - - 3.0 4.3 .696
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 11 36.4 13.7 - - 6.3 6.3 - - - 4.6 5.2 14.0 .370 - - - 3.4 4.5 .755

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

Season 4

Sam Bowie Lenny Wilkens
Season 1988-891963-64
Team Portland Trail BlazersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdHawks Lost West Div Finals
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
Lenny Wilkens 78 32.4 12.0 - - 4.3 4.6 - - - 3.7 4.3 10.4 .413 - - - 3.5 4.7 .740
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
Lenny Wilkens 12 34.4 14.3 - - 5.0 5.3 - - - 3.5 5.3 11.9 .448 - - - 3.7 4.8 .759

Season 5

Sam Bowie Lenny Wilkens
Season 1989-901964-65
Team New Jersey NetsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks 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 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
Lenny Wilkens 78 36.6 16.5 - - 4.7 5.5 - - - 3.6 5.6 13.4 .414 - - - 5.3 7.2 .746
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 4 36.8 16.0 - - 3.0 3.8 - - - 3.5 5.0 14.3 .351 - - - 6.0 7.3 .828

Season 6

Sam Bowie Lenny Wilkens
Season 1990-911965-66
Team New Jersey NetsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost West Div Finals
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
Lenny Wilkens 69 39.0 18.0 - - 4.7 6.2 - - - 3.6 6.0 13.8 .431 - - - 6.1 7.7 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 10 39.1 17.1 - - 5.4 7.0 - - - 4.3 5.7 14.3 .399 - - - 5.7 8.3 .687

Season 7

Sam Bowie Lenny Wilkens
Season 1991-921966-67
Team New Jersey NetsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdHawks Lost West Div 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
Lenny Wilkens 78 38.1 17.4 - - 5.3 5.7 - - - 3.6 5.7 13.3 .432 - - - 5.9 7.5 .787
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
Lenny Wilkens 9 42.0 21.4 - - 7.6 7.2 - - - 3.8 6.4 16.1 .400 - - - 8.6 10.0 .856

Season 8

Sam Bowie Lenny Wilkens
Season 1992-931967-68
Team New Jersey NetsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdHawks 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 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
Lenny Wilkens 82 38.6 20.0 - - 5.3 8.3 - - - 3.1 6.7 15.2 .438 - - - 6.7 8.7 .768
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
Lenny Wilkens 6 39.5 18.3 - - 6.3 7.8 - - - 3.8 6.7 15.2 .440 - - - 5.0 6.7 .750

Season 9

Sam Bowie Lenny Wilkens
Season 1993-941968-69
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
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 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
Lenny Wilkens 82 42.2 22.4 - - 6.2 8.2 - - - 3.6 7.9 17.8 .440 - - - 6.7 8.7 .770
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Sam Bowie Lenny Wilkens
Season 1994-951969-70
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid 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 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
Lenny Wilkens 75 37.4 17.8 - - 5.0 9.1 - - - 2.8 6.0 14.2 .420 - - - 5.8 7.4 .788
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
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Sam Bowie Lenny Wilkens
Season -1970-71
Team -Seattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
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 ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 71 37.2 19.8 - - 4.5 9.2 - - - 2.8 6.6 15.8 .419 - - - 6.5 8.1 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Sam Bowie Lenny Wilkens
Season -1971-72
Team -Seattle Supersonics
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 ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 80 37.4 18.0 - - 4.2 9.6 - - - 2.6 6.0 12.8 .466 - - - 6.0 7.8 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Sam Bowie Lenny Wilkens
Season -1972-73
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 75 39.6 20.5 - - 4.6 8.4 - - - 2.9 7.6 17.0 .449 - - - 5.3 6.3 .828
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Sam Bowie Lenny Wilkens
Season -1973-74
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
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 ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 74 33.6 16.4 1.1 2.7 3.7 7.1 1.3 0.2 - 2.2 6.2 13.4 .465 - - - 3.9 4.9 .801
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Sam Bowie Lenny Wilkens
Season -1974-75
Team -Portland Trail Blazers
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 ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 65 17.9 6.5 0.6 1.3 1.8 3.6 1.2 0.1 - 1.5 2.1 4.7 .439 - - - 2.3 3.0 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------