Spencer Haywood vs. Sam Mitchell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Sam Mitchell and Spencer Haywood, 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.

Spencer Haywood played 12 years in the NBA, 1 less than Sam Mitchell, who played 13. Spencer Haywood had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Sam Mitchell had his rookie season in 1989-90. 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
Spencer Haywood 12 4 1970-71 to 1982-83
Sam Mitchell 13 9 1989-90 to 2001-02

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Spencer Haywood Sam Mitchell
Season 1970-711989-90
Team Seattle SupersonicsMinnesota Timberwolves
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 %
Spencer Haywood 33 35.2 20.6 - - 12.0 1.5 - - - 2.5 7.9 17.5 .449 - - - 4.8 6.6 .734
Sam Mitchell 80 30.2 12.7 2.3 3.5 5.8 1.1 0.8 0.7 1.2 3.8 4.7 10.4 .446 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.4 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Spencer Haywood ------- --- ----------
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Spencer Haywood Sam Mitchell
Season 1971-721990-91
Team Seattle SupersonicsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
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 %
Spencer Haywood 73 43.4 26.2 - - 12.7 2.0 - - - 2.8 9.8 21.3 .461 - - - 6.6 8.0 .819
Sam Mitchell 82 38.1 14.6 2.3 4.0 6.3 1.6 0.8 0.7 1.3 4.1 5.4 12.3 .441 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 4.8 .775
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Spencer Haywood ------- --- ----------
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Spencer Haywood Sam Mitchell
Season 1972-731991-92
Team Seattle SupersonicsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
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 %
Spencer Haywood 77 42.3 29.2 - - 12.9 2.5 - - - 2.8 11.5 24.3 .476 - - - 6.1 7.3 .839
Sam Mitchell 82 26.2 10.1 1.9 3.8 5.8 1.1 0.6 0.5 1.2 2.8 3.7 8.8 .423 0.0 0.1 .182 2.5 3.2 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Spencer Haywood ------- --- ----------
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Spencer Haywood Sam Mitchell
Season 1973-741992-93
Team Seattle SupersonicsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayPacers 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 %
Spencer Haywood 75 40.5 23.5 4.2 9.2 13.4 3.2 0.9 1.4 - 2.6 9.3 20.3 .457 - - - 5.0 6.1 .814
Sam Mitchell 81 17.3 7.2 1.1 1.9 3.1 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.6 2.6 2.7 6.0 .445 0.0 0.3 .174 1.9 2.3 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Spencer Haywood ------- --- ----------
Sam Mitchell 4 6.3 3.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.3 2.0 .625 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 5

Spencer Haywood Sam Mitchell
Season 1974-751993-94
Team Seattle SupersonicsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisPacers 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 %
Spencer Haywood 68 37.2 22.4 2.9 6.4 9.3 2.0 0.8 1.6 - 2.5 8.9 19.5 .459 - - - 4.5 5.6 .811
Sam Mitchell 75 14.5 4.8 0.9 1.6 2.5 0.9 0.4 0.1 0.7 2.0 1.9 4.1 .458 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.5 .745
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Spencer Haywood 9 37.4 15.7 2.2 6.8 9.0 2.0 0.8 1.2 - 3.2 5.2 14.6 .359 - - - 5.2 6.8 .770
Sam Mitchell 15 6.6 1.4 0.3 0.8 1.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.3 1.5 0.6 1.7 .346 0.0 0.1 .000 0.2 0.3 .750

Season 6

Spencer Haywood Sam Mitchell
Season 1975-761994-95
Team New York KnicksIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPacers 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 %
Spencer Haywood 78 37.1 19.9 3.0 8.3 11.3 1.2 0.7 1.0 - 3.3 7.8 17.4 .445 - - - 4.3 5.7 .757
Sam Mitchell 81 17.0 6.5 1.2 1.8 3.0 0.8 0.5 0.2 0.7 2.5 2.5 5.1 .487 0.0 0.1 .100 1.6 2.1 .724
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Spencer Haywood ------- --- ----------
Sam Mitchell 17 13.1 4.0 1.0 1.8 2.8 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.8 2.4 1.4 3.8 .359 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 1.6 .786

Season 7

Spencer Haywood Sam Mitchell
Season 1976-771995-96
Team New York KnicksMinnesota Timberwolves
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 %
Spencer Haywood 31 32.9 16.5 2.5 6.5 9.0 1.6 0.5 0.9 - 2.3 6.5 14.5 .450 - - - 3.5 4.2 .832
Sam Mitchell 78 27.5 10.8 1.4 3.0 4.3 0.9 0.6 0.3 1.1 2.8 3.9 7.9 .490 0.0 0.2 .056 3.0 3.7 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Spencer Haywood ------- --- ----------
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Spencer Haywood Sam Mitchell
Season 1977-781996-97
Team New York KnicksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisTimberwolves 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 %
Spencer Haywood 67 26.3 13.7 2.1 4.5 6.6 1.9 0.6 1.1 2.1 2.8 6.1 12.7 .484 - - - 1.4 2.0 .711
Sam Mitchell 82 24.9 9.3 1.4 2.6 4.0 1.0 0.6 0.2 1.1 2.8 3.3 7.4 .446 0.0 0.3 .160 2.7 3.6 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Spencer Haywood 6 29.5 16.2 3.2 3.8 7.0 2.0 0.3 0.8 1.7 4.0 7.2 14.2 .506 - - - 1.8 1.8 1.000
Sam Mitchell 3 15.7 5.7 0.7 1.7 2.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 3.0 2.0 4.3 .462 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.7 .625

Season 9

Spencer Haywood Sam Mitchell
Season 1978-791997-98
Team New York Knicks, New Orleans JazzMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves 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 %
Spencer Haywood 68 34.7 20.9 2.5 5.3 7.8 1.9 0.6 1.2 2.9 3.5 8.8 17.7 .494 - - - 3.4 4.3 .791
Sam Mitchell 81 27.6 12.3 1.5 3.3 4.8 1.3 0.8 0.3 0.8 2.5 4.6 9.9 .464 0.2 0.5 .349 3.0 3.6 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Spencer Haywood ------- --- ----------
Sam Mitchell 5 35.8 14.4 1.4 4.0 5.4 1.6 0.2 0.2 1.0 3.6 5.2 11.6 .448 0.6 2.8 .214 3.4 3.8 .895

Season 10

Spencer Haywood Sam Mitchell
Season 1979-801998-99
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTimberwolves 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 %
Spencer Haywood 76 20.3 9.7 1.7 2.8 4.6 1.2 0.5 0.8 1.8 2.6 3.8 7.8 .487 0.0 0.1 .250 2.1 2.7 .772
Sam Mitchell 50 26.9 11.2 1.1 2.5 3.6 2.0 0.7 0.3 0.7 2.2 4.3 10.4 .408 0.2 0.8 .237 2.5 3.3 .764
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Spencer Haywood 11 13.2 5.7 1.3 1.1 2.4 0.4 0.0 0.5 1.8 1.5 2.3 4.8 .472 0.0 0.1 .000 1.2 1.5 .813
Sam Mitchell 4 32.8 10.0 1.3 2.3 3.5 1.5 0.3 0.5 2.0 3.3 3.8 10.0 .375 0.3 1.5 .167 2.3 3.0 .750

Note: Spencer Haywood didn't play in 1980-81.

Season 11

Spencer Haywood Sam Mitchell
Season 1981-821999-00
Team Washington BulletsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf SemisTimberwolves 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 %
Spencer Haywood 76 27.4 13.3 1.9 3.7 5.6 0.8 0.6 0.9 2.3 3.3 5.2 10.9 .476 0.0 0.0 .000 2.9 3.4 .842
Sam Mitchell 66 18.6 6.5 0.4 1.7 2.1 1.7 0.4 0.2 0.7 1.8 2.5 5.7 .447 0.2 0.3 .435 1.2 1.4 .880
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Spencer Haywood 7 33.0 20.0 2.3 3.3 5.6 1.0 0.6 2.0 2.1 4.0 8.1 16.4 .496 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.0 .743
Sam Mitchell 4 17.0 5.8 0.5 1.3 1.8 0.5 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.3 2.3 4.5 .500 0.5 1.3 .400 0.8 0.8 1.000

Season 12

Spencer Haywood Sam Mitchell
Season 1982-832000-01
Team Washington BulletsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves 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 %
Spencer Haywood 38 20.4 8.2 2.0 2.8 4.8 0.8 0.3 0.7 1.8 2.5 3.3 8.2 .401 0.0 0.0 .000 1.7 2.3 .724
Sam Mitchell 82 12.0 3.5 0.3 1.2 1.5 0.7 0.3 0.1 0.4 1.4 1.4 3.5 .408 0.1 0.5 .209 0.5 0.7 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Spencer Haywood ------- --- ----------
Sam Mitchell 4 12.5 1.5 0.3 1.5 1.8 0.8 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.3 0.5 2.5 .200 0.0 0.3 .000 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 13

Spencer Haywood Sam Mitchell
Season -2001-02
Team -Minnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Timberwolves 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 %
Spencer Haywood ------- --- ----------
Sam Mitchell 74 9.8 3.3 0.2 0.9 1.1 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.4 1.1 1.3 3.1 .432 0.1 0.5 .286 0.5 0.7 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Spencer Haywood ------- --- ----------
Sam Mitchell 3 11.3 2.7 0.0 0.7 0.7 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 1.7 1.0 3.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000