Wes Unseld vs. Norm Van Lier Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Norm Van Lier and Wes Unseld, 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.

Wes Unseld played 13 years in the NBA, 3 more than Norm Van Lier, who played 10. Wes Unseld had the first of his seasons in 1968-69, while Norm Van Lier had his rookie season in 1969-70. 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
Wes Unseld 13 12 1968-69 to 1980-81
Norm Van Lier 10 5 1969-70 to 1978-79

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Wes Unseld Norm Van Lier
Season 1968-691969-70
Team Baltimore BulletsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wes Unseld 82 36.2 13.8 - - 18.2 2.6 - - - 3.4 5.2 10.9 .476 - - - 3.4 5.6 .605
Norm Van Lier 81 35.7 9.5 - - 5.0 6.2 - - - 4.1 3.7 9.2 .403 - - - 2.0 2.8 .741
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wes Unseld 4 41.3 18.8 - - 18.5 1.3 - - - 3.5 7.5 14.3 .526 - - - 3.8 4.8 .789
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Wes Unseld Norm Van Lier
Season 1969-701970-71
Team Baltimore BulletsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wes Unseld 82 39.4 16.2 - - 16.7 3.5 - - - 3.0 6.4 12.4 .518 - - - 3.3 5.2 .638
Norm Van Lier 82 40.5 16.0 - - 7.1 10.1 - - - 4.2 5.8 13.9 .420 - - - 4.4 5.4 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wes Unseld 7 41.3 10.4 - - 23.6 3.4 - - - 3.6 4.1 10.0 .414 - - - 2.1 2.7 .789
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Wes Unseld Norm Van Lier
Season 1970-711971-72
Team Baltimore BulletsCincinnati Royals, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost NBA FinalsBulls 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 %
Wes Unseld 74 39.2 14.1 - - 16.9 4.0 - - - 3.2 5.7 11.4 .501 - - - 2.7 4.1 .657
Norm Van Lier 79 30.6 11.5 - - 4.5 6.9 - - - 3.0 4.2 9.6 .439 - - - 3.0 3.8 .790
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wes Unseld 18 42.2 13.2 - - 18.8 3.8 - - - 3.3 5.3 11.6 .462 - - - 2.6 4.5 .568
Norm Van Lier 4 36.0 14.0 - - 6.3 8.3 - - - 3.8 5.5 13.3 .415 - - - 3.0 3.5 .857

Season 4

Wes Unseld Norm Van Lier
Season 1971-721972-73
Team Baltimore BulletsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf SemisBulls 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 %
Wes Unseld 76 41.7 13.0 - - 17.6 3.7 - - - 2.9 5.4 10.8 .498 - - - 2.3 3.6 .629
Norm Van Lier 80 36.0 13.9 - - 5.5 7.1 - - - 3.4 5.9 13.3 .445 - - - 2.1 2.6 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wes Unseld 6 44.3 12.3 - - 12.5 4.2 - - - 3.7 5.3 10.8 .492 - - - 1.7 3.2 .526
Norm Van Lier 7 36.9 14.4 - - 5.3 5.1 - - - 4.6 6.4 18.4 .349 - - - 1.6 2.1 .733

Season 5

Wes Unseld Norm Van Lier
Season 1972-731973-74
Team Baltimore BulletsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf SemisBulls 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 %
Wes Unseld 79 39.1 12.5 - - 15.9 4.4 - - - 2.1 5.3 10.8 .493 - - - 1.9 2.7 .703
Norm Van Lier 80 35.8 14.3 1.4 3.3 4.7 6.9 2.0 0.1 - 3.5 5.3 13.1 .406 - - - 3.6 4.6 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wes Unseld 5 40.2 9.8 - - 15.2 3.4 - - - 2.4 4.0 9.6 .417 - - - 1.8 3.8 .474
Norm Van Lier 11 42.4 14.6 1.0 3.3 4.3 6.8 1.5 0.3 - 3.7 5.5 13.1 .424 - - - 3.5 4.3 .830

Season 6

Wes Unseld Norm Van Lier
Season 1973-741974-75
Team Capital BulletsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf SemisBulls 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 %
Wes Unseld 56 30.8 5.9 2.7 6.5 9.2 2.8 1.0 0.3 - 2.2 2.6 5.9 .438 - - - 0.6 1.0 .655
Norm Van Lier 70 37.0 15.0 1.2 3.5 4.7 5.8 2.0 0.2 - 3.5 5.8 13.9 .420 - - - 3.4 4.3 .792
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wes Unseld 7 42.4 10.1 3.1 9.0 12.1 3.9 0.6 0.1 - 2.1 4.4 9.0 .492 - - - 1.3 2.1 .600
Norm Van Lier 13 42.1 15.1 1.4 3.8 5.2 4.7 1.5 0.4 - 4.0 5.2 12.6 .409 - - - 4.8 6.4 .747

Season 7

Wes Unseld Norm Van Lier
Season 1974-751975-76
Team Washington BulletsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wes Unseld 73 39.8 9.2 4.4 10.4 14.8 4.1 1.6 0.9 - 2.5 3.7 7.5 .502 - - - 1.7 2.5 .685
Norm Van Lier 76 39.8 12.6 1.8 3.6 5.4 6.6 2.0 0.3 - 3.9 4.8 13.0 .366 - - - 3.1 4.2 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wes Unseld 17 43.2 10.7 3.8 12.4 16.2 3.8 0.9 1.2 - 2.3 4.2 7.6 .546 - - - 2.4 3.6 .656
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Wes Unseld Norm Van Lier
Season 1975-761976-77
Team Washington BulletsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf SemisBulls 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 %
Wes Unseld 78 37.5 9.6 3.5 9.8 13.3 5.2 1.1 0.8 - 2.6 4.1 7.3 .561 - - - 1.5 2.5 .585
Norm Van Lier 82 37.8 10.2 1.3 3.2 4.5 7.8 1.6 0.2 - 3.3 3.7 8.9 .412 - - - 2.9 3.7 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wes Unseld 7 44.3 7.0 3.7 8.4 12.1 4.0 0.9 0.6 - 2.7 2.6 5.6 .462 - - - 1.9 3.4 .542
Norm Van Lier 3 44.7 5.3 1.7 3.3 5.0 9.7 3.3 0.3 - 4.7 1.0 6.3 .158 - - - 3.3 4.0 .833

Season 9

Wes Unseld Norm Van Lier
Season 1976-771977-78
Team Washington BulletsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Bullets Lost East 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 %
Wes Unseld 82 34.9 7.8 3.0 7.7 10.7 4.4 1.1 0.5 - 3.1 3.3 6.7 .490 - - - 1.2 2.0 .602
Norm Van Lier 78 32.4 7.3 1.1 2.5 3.6 6.8 1.8 0.1 2.6 3.6 2.6 6.1 .419 - - - 2.2 2.9 .751
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wes Unseld 9 40.9 7.4 2.7 9.0 11.7 4.9 0.9 0.7 - 3.6 3.3 6.0 .556 - - - 0.8 1.3 .583
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Wes Unseld Norm Van Lier
Season 1977-781978-79
Team Washington BulletsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
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 %
Wes Unseld 80 33.1 7.6 3.6 8.4 11.9 4.1 1.2 0.6 2.2 2.9 3.2 6.1 .523 - - - 1.2 2.2 .538
Norm Van Lier 38 14.6 2.8 0.2 0.8 1.1 4.2 1.1 0.1 1.3 2.8 0.8 2.0 .390 - - - 1.2 1.4 .904
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wes Unseld 18 37.6 9.4 4.0 8.0 12.0 4.4 0.9 0.4 2.0 3.4 3.9 7.4 .530 - - - 1.5 2.6 .587
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Wes Unseld Norm Van Lier
Season 1978-79-
Team Washington Bullets-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Wes Unseld 77 31.2 10.9 3.6 7.2 10.8 4.1 0.9 0.5 2.0 2.6 4.5 7.8 .577 - - - 2.0 3.1 .643
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wes Unseld 19 38.7 10.3 4.7 8.6 13.3 3.4 0.9 0.7 1.6 3.5 4.1 8.3 .494 - - - 2.1 3.4 .609
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Wes Unseld Norm Van Lier
Season 1979-80-
Team Washington Bullets-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Wes Unseld 82 36.3 9.7 4.1 9.3 13.3 4.5 0.8 0.7 1.9 3.0 4.0 7.8 .513 0.0 0.0 .500 1.7 2.5 .665
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wes Unseld 2 43.5 9.0 3.5 10.5 14.0 3.5 0.0 1.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 7.0 .500 0.0 0.5 .000 2.0 3.0 .667
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Wes Unseld Norm Van Lier
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 %
Wes Unseld 63 32.3 8.0 3.3 7.4 10.7 2.7 0.8 0.6 1.5 2.7 3.6 6.8 .524 0.0 0.1 .500 0.9 1.4 .640
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wes Unseld ------- --- ----------
Norm Van Lier ------- --- ----------