Sam Cassell vs. Gary Payton Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gary Payton and Sam Cassell, 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 / Games against each other

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 Cassell played 15 years in the NBA, 2 less than Gary Payton, who played 17. Sam Cassell had the first of his seasons in 1993-94, while Gary Payton had his rookie season in 1990-91. 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 Cassell 15 11 1993-94 to 2007-08
Gary Payton 17 15 1990-91 to 2006-07

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Sam Cassell Gary Payton
Season 1993-941990-91
Team Houston RocketsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics 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 Cassell 66 17.0 6.7 0.4 1.7 2.0 2.9 0.9 0.1 1.4 2.1 2.5 5.9 .418 0.4 1.3 .295 1.4 1.6 .841
Gary Payton 82 27.4 7.2 1.3 1.6 3.0 6.4 2.0 0.2 2.2 3.0 3.2 7.0 .450 0.0 0.2 .077 0.8 1.2 .711
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 22 21.7 9.4 0.9 1.8 2.7 4.2 1.0 0.2 2.1 2.8 2.9 7.3 .394 0.8 2.0 .378 2.9 3.4 .865
Gary Payton 5 27.0 4.8 1.0 1.6 2.6 6.4 1.6 0.2 1.8 3.2 2.2 5.4 .407 0.0 0.2 .000 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 2

Sam Cassell Gary Payton
Season 1994-951991-92
Team Houston RocketsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics 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 %
Sam Cassell 82 23.0 9.5 0.5 2.1 2.6 4.9 1.1 0.2 2.0 2.5 3.1 7.2 .427 0.8 2.3 .330 2.6 3.1 .843
Gary Payton 81 31.5 9.4 1.5 2.1 3.6 6.2 1.8 0.3 2.1 3.1 4.1 9.1 .451 0.0 0.3 .130 1.2 1.8 .669
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 22 22.0 11.0 0.4 1.5 1.9 4.0 1.0 0.1 1.5 3.0 3.4 7.7 .438 1.1 2.7 .400 3.2 3.9 .835
Gary Payton 8 27.6 7.6 0.8 1.9 2.6 4.8 1.0 0.3 1.3 3.3 3.4 7.3 .466 0.0 0.3 .000 0.9 1.5 .583

Season 3

Sam Cassell Gary Payton
Season 1995-961992-93
Team Houston RocketsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisSupersonics 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 %
Sam Cassell 61 27.6 14.5 0.8 2.2 3.1 4.6 0.9 0.1 2.6 2.7 4.7 10.8 .439 1.2 3.4 .348 3.9 4.7 .825
Gary Payton 82 31.1 13.5 1.2 2.3 3.4 4.9 2.2 0.3 1.8 3.0 5.8 11.7 .494 0.1 0.4 .206 1.8 2.4 .770
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 8 25.8 10.4 0.1 2.0 2.1 4.3 0.8 0.1 2.3 2.5 3.3 10.1 .321 1.0 3.6 .276 2.9 3.6 .793
Gary Payton 19 31.8 12.3 1.2 2.2 3.3 3.7 1.8 0.2 1.8 3.4 5.5 12.4 .443 0.1 0.3 .167 1.3 1.9 .676

Season 4

Sam Cassell Gary Payton
Season 1996-971993-94
Team Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey NetsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 Cassell 61 28.1 15.9 0.8 2.2 3.0 5.0 1.3 0.3 2.8 3.3 5.5 12.8 .430 1.3 3.8 .351 3.5 4.1 .845
Gary Payton 82 35.1 16.5 1.3 2.0 3.3 6.0 2.3 0.2 2.1 2.8 7.1 14.1 .504 0.2 0.7 .278 2.0 3.4 .595
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 5 36.2 15.8 1.2 2.2 3.4 5.6 1.6 0.4 1.6 3.0 6.8 13.8 .493 0.6 1.8 .333 1.6 3.8 .421

Season 5

Sam Cassell Gary Payton
Season 1997-981994-95
Team New Jersey NetsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 Cassell 75 34.7 19.6 1.0 2.1 3.0 8.0 1.6 0.3 3.6 3.5 6.8 15.4 .441 0.2 1.1 .188 5.8 6.8 .860
Gary Payton 82 36.8 20.6 1.3 2.1 3.4 7.1 2.5 0.2 2.5 2.5 8.4 16.4 .509 0.9 2.8 .302 3.0 4.2 .716
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 3 9.0 2.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.0 0.3 0.7 2.3 1.0 3.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Gary Payton 4 43.0 17.8 1.5 1.0 2.5 5.3 1.3 0.0 2.0 3.3 8.0 16.8 .478 0.5 2.5 .200 1.3 3.0 .417

Season 6

Sam Cassell Gary Payton
Season 1998-991995-96
Team New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee BucksSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 Cassell 8 24.9 15.9 0.6 1.3 1.9 4.5 1.1 0.0 2.5 2.8 4.9 11.6 .419 0.3 1.3 .200 5.9 6.3 .940
Gary Payton 81 39.0 19.3 1.3 2.9 4.2 7.5 2.9 0.2 3.2 2.7 7.6 15.8 .484 1.2 3.7 .328 2.8 3.8 .748
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 3 34.3 15.3 0.0 2.0 2.0 8.7 1.0 0.0 2.3 4.7 5.3 10.7 .500 0.0 0.3 .000 4.7 5.3 .875
Gary Payton 21 43.4 20.7 0.9 4.2 5.1 6.8 1.8 0.3 3.0 3.3 7.7 15.9 .485 2.0 4.8 .410 3.3 5.2 .633

Season 7

Sam Cassell Gary Payton
Season 1999-001996-97
Team Milwaukee BucksSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 %
Sam Cassell 81 35.8 18.6 0.9 2.9 3.7 9.0 1.3 0.1 3.3 3.1 6.7 14.4 .466 0.3 1.1 .289 4.8 5.5 .876
Gary Payton 82 39.2 21.8 1.3 3.3 4.6 7.1 2.4 0.2 2.6 2.5 8.6 18.1 .476 1.5 4.6 .313 3.1 4.3 .715
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 5 35.6 15.8 0.0 3.4 3.4 9.0 0.8 0.0 1.8 3.8 6.0 14.4 .417 0.2 1.0 .200 3.6 4.2 .857
Gary Payton 12 45.6 23.8 1.7 3.8 5.4 8.7 2.2 0.3 2.9 2.2 8.8 21.3 .412 2.1 6.3 .333 4.2 5.1 .820

Season 8

Sam Cassell Gary Payton
Season 2000-011997-98
Team Milwaukee BucksSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsSupersonics 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 %
Sam Cassell 76 35.6 18.2 0.6 3.2 3.8 7.6 1.2 0.1 2.9 2.8 7.1 14.9 .474 0.4 1.3 .306 3.6 4.3 .858
Gary Payton 82 38.4 19.2 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.3 2.3 0.2 2.8 2.4 7.1 15.6 .453 1.6 4.8 .338 3.4 4.6 .744
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 18 37.9 17.4 0.7 3.9 4.6 6.7 1.1 0.2 2.9 4.2 6.1 15.4 .396 0.6 1.7 .333 4.7 5.4 .866
Gary Payton 10 42.7 24.0 0.9 2.5 3.4 7.0 1.8 0.1 2.6 3.1 8.7 18.3 .475 1.9 5.0 .380 4.7 5.0 .940

Season 9

Sam Cassell Gary Payton
Season 2001-021998-99
Team Milwaukee BucksSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
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 Cassell 74 35.2 19.7 0.7 3.5 4.2 6.7 1.2 0.2 2.4 2.8 7.5 16.2 .463 1.0 2.8 .348 3.8 4.4 .860
Gary Payton 50 40.2 21.7 1.2 3.6 4.9 8.7 2.2 0.2 3.1 2.3 8.0 18.5 .434 1.7 5.6 .295 4.0 5.5 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Sam Cassell Gary Payton
Season 2002-031999-00
Team Milwaukee BucksSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 Cassell 78 34.6 19.7 0.7 3.7 4.4 5.8 1.1 0.2 2.3 2.8 7.0 14.9 .470 0.8 2.1 .362 4.9 5.7 .861
Gary Payton 82 41.8 24.2 1.2 5.2 6.5 8.9 1.9 0.2 2.7 2.2 9.1 20.3 .448 2.2 6.3 .340 3.8 5.2 .735
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 6 36.2 17.2 0.5 2.7 3.2 2.7 0.5 0.2 2.8 3.3 6.5 13.8 .470 1.8 3.5 .524 2.3 2.5 .933
Gary Payton 5 44.2 25.8 1.6 6.0 7.6 7.4 1.8 0.2 3.6 3.2 10.0 22.6 .442 1.8 4.6 .391 4.0 5.2 .769

Season 11

Sam Cassell Gary Payton
Season 2003-042000-01
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 81 35.0 19.8 0.5 2.8 3.3 7.3 1.3 0.2 2.7 3.0 7.7 15.7 .488 0.9 2.3 .398 3.6 4.1 .873
Gary Payton 79 41.1 23.1 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.1 1.6 0.3 2.6 2.3 9.2 20.1 .456 1.3 3.4 .375 3.4 4.5 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 16 31.1 16.6 0.2 2.3 2.5 4.4 0.8 0.2 2.7 3.3 5.9 12.6 .465 1.6 3.8 .417 3.3 3.8 .852
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Sam Cassell Gary Payton
Season 2004-052001-02
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 Cassell 59 25.8 13.5 0.4 2.2 2.7 5.1 0.6 0.2 1.8 2.7 5.4 11.6 .464 0.5 1.7 .262 2.3 2.6 .865
Gary Payton 82 40.3 22.1 1.0 3.9 4.8 9.0 1.6 0.3 2.5 2.2 9.0 19.2 .467 0.9 2.9 .314 3.3 4.1 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 5 41.2 22.2 2.0 6.6 8.6 5.8 0.6 0.4 2.6 2.4 9.0 21.2 .425 0.8 3.0 .267 3.4 5.8 .586

Season 13

Sam Cassell Gary Payton
Season 2005-062002-03
Team Los Angeles ClippersSeattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf SemisBucks 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 Cassell 78 34.0 17.2 0.5 3.2 3.7 6.3 0.9 0.1 2.2 2.9 6.3 14.3 .443 0.9 2.4 .368 3.7 4.3 .863
Gary Payton 80 40.1 20.4 1.0 3.2 4.2 8.3 1.7 0.3 2.3 2.3 8.3 18.3 .454 0.7 2.3 .297 3.1 4.4 .710
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 12 33.7 18.0 0.8 3.3 4.0 5.8 0.7 0.2 2.3 2.9 6.1 13.9 .437 1.3 3.6 .349 4.6 5.7 .809
Gary Payton 6 41.8 18.5 0.7 2.3 3.0 8.7 1.3 0.2 2.2 3.0 8.0 18.7 .429 0.2 2.5 .067 2.3 3.3 .700

Season 14

Sam Cassell Gary Payton
Season 2006-072003-04
Team Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 Cassell 58 24.3 12.3 0.5 2.4 2.9 4.7 0.5 0.1 1.7 2.2 4.5 10.8 .418 0.6 1.9 .294 2.8 3.1 .879
Gary Payton 82 34.5 14.6 0.9 3.3 4.2 5.5 1.2 0.2 1.8 2.1 5.9 12.5 .471 0.7 2.0 .333 2.2 3.1 .714
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 22 35.0 7.8 0.9 2.4 3.3 5.3 1.0 0.2 1.3 2.7 3.1 8.5 .366 0.6 2.5 .250 1.0 1.3 .750

Season 15

Sam Cassell Gary Payton
Season 2007-082004-05
Team Los Angeles Clippers, Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 Cassell 55 23.2 11.2 0.3 2.2 2.5 3.9 0.7 0.1 1.8 1.8 4.2 9.7 .438 0.4 1.4 .303 2.3 2.6 .882
Gary Payton 77 33.0 11.3 0.6 2.4 3.1 6.1 1.1 0.2 1.9 1.6 4.4 9.4 .468 0.5 1.7 .326 2.0 2.6 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell 21 12.6 4.5 0.1 0.6 0.7 1.2 0.4 0.0 0.6 1.4 1.8 5.3 .333 0.3 1.3 .214 0.7 0.8 .824
Gary Payton 7 34.1 10.3 1.1 3.0 4.1 4.6 0.9 0.1 1.6 1.4 4.7 10.6 .446 0.1 2.0 .071 0.7 0.9 .833

Season 16

Sam Cassell Gary Payton
Season -2005-06
Team -Miami Heat
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 %
Sam Cassell ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 81 28.5 7.7 0.4 2.5 2.9 3.2 0.9 0.1 1.3 2.1 2.8 6.8 .420 0.8 2.8 .287 1.2 1.6 .794
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 23 24.3 5.8 0.3 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.0 0.1 0.8 2.4 2.1 5.0 .422 0.7 2.5 .293 0.8 1.1 .720

Season 17

Sam Cassell Gary Payton
Season -2006-07
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Heat 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 Cassell ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 68 22.1 5.3 0.3 1.7 1.9 3.0 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.7 2.1 5.4 .393 0.5 1.8 .260 0.6 0.8 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Cassell ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 2 16.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 1.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -