Artis Gilmore vs. Vinnie Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Vinnie Johnson and Artis Gilmore, 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.

Artis Gilmore played 12 years in the NBA, 1 less than Vinnie Johnson, who played 13. Artis Gilmore had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Vinnie Johnson had his rookie season in 1979-80. 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
Artis Gilmore 12 6 1976-77 to 1987-88
Vinnie Johnson 13 10 1979-80 to 1991-92

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Artis Gilmore Vinnie Johnson
Season 1976-771979-80
Team Chicago BullsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost West Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 %
Artis Gilmore 82 35.1 18.6 3.8 9.2 13.0 2.4 0.5 2.5 - 3.2 7.0 13.3 .522 - - - 4.7 7.1 .660
Vinnie Johnson 38 8.6 3.2 0.5 0.9 1.4 1.4 0.5 0.1 1.1 1.1 1.2 3.0 .391 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.0 .795
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 3 42.0 18.7 5.0 8.0 13.0 2.0 1.0 2.7 - 3.0 6.3 13.3 .475 - - - 6.0 7.7 .783
Vinnie Johnson 5 2.4 0.4 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.6 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Artis Gilmore Vinnie Johnson
Season 1977-781980-81
Team Chicago BullsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 %
Artis Gilmore 82 37.4 22.9 3.9 9.2 13.1 3.2 0.5 2.2 4.5 3.2 8.6 15.4 .559 - - - 5.7 8.2 .704
Vinnie Johnson 81 28.5 13.0 2.4 2.1 4.5 4.2 1.0 0.2 2.7 2.4 5.2 9.7 .534 0.0 0.1 .200 2.6 3.3 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------
Vinnie Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Artis Gilmore Vinnie Johnson
Season 1978-791981-82
Team Chicago BullsSeattle Supersonics, Detroit Pistons
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 %
Artis Gilmore 82 39.8 23.7 3.6 9.1 12.7 3.3 0.6 1.9 3.8 3.4 9.2 16.0 .575 - - - 5.3 7.2 .739
Vinnie Johnson 74 17.5 7.4 1.1 1.0 2.1 2.3 0.8 0.3 1.3 1.4 2.9 6.0 .489 0.0 0.2 .250 1.4 1.9 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------
Vinnie Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Artis Gilmore Vinnie Johnson
Season 1979-801982-83
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
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 %
Artis Gilmore 48 32.7 17.8 2.3 6.8 9.0 2.8 0.6 1.2 2.8 3.5 6.4 10.7 .595 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 7.2 .712
Vinnie Johnson 82 30.6 15.8 2.0 2.3 4.3 3.7 1.1 0.6 1.9 3.2 6.3 12.4 .513 0.1 0.5 .275 3.0 3.8 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------
Vinnie Johnson ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Artis Gilmore Vinnie Johnson
Season 1980-811983-84
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisPistons 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 %
Artis Gilmore 82 34.5 17.9 2.7 7.4 10.1 2.1 0.6 2.4 2.9 3.6 6.7 10.0 .670 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 6.5 .705
Vinnie Johnson 82 23.3 13.0 1.6 1.3 2.9 3.3 0.5 0.2 1.6 2.4 5.2 11.0 .473 0.0 0.2 .211 2.5 3.4 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 6 41.2 18.0 4.0 7.2 11.2 2.0 1.0 2.8 2.8 2.5 5.8 10.0 .583 0.0 0.0 - 6.3 9.2 .691
Vinnie Johnson 5 26.4 10.2 1.0 1.8 2.8 2.4 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.8 3.4 9.2 .370 0.0 0.2 .000 3.4 3.8 .895

Season 6

Artis Gilmore Vinnie Johnson
Season 1981-821984-85
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 %
Artis Gilmore 82 34.1 18.5 2.7 7.5 10.2 1.7 0.6 2.7 2.8 3.5 6.7 10.2 .652 0.0 0.0 1.000 5.2 6.7 .768
Vinnie Johnson 82 25.5 12.8 1.6 1.4 3.1 4.0 0.9 0.2 1.6 2.5 5.2 11.5 .454 0.1 0.3 .185 2.3 3.0 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------
Vinnie Johnson 9 26.1 14.2 1.7 1.3 3.0 3.2 0.7 0.1 1.7 2.7 5.9 11.4 .515 0.0 0.3 .000 2.4 3.1 .786

Season 7

Artis Gilmore Vinnie Johnson
Season 1982-831985-86
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsPistons 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 %
Artis Gilmore 82 34.1 18.0 3.6 8.4 12.0 1.5 0.5 2.3 3.1 3.3 6.8 10.8 .626 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 6.0 .740
Vinnie Johnson 79 25.0 13.9 1.5 1.4 2.9 3.4 1.0 0.3 1.1 2.3 5.9 12.6 .467 0.0 0.2 .154 2.1 2.7 .771
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 11 36.5 16.7 3.4 9.5 12.9 1.6 0.8 3.1 2.5 4.2 6.9 12.0 .576 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.2 .696
Vinnie Johnson 4 21.3 12.8 2.0 2.3 4.3 2.8 0.8 0.0 1.3 2.3 5.5 12.3 .449 0.0 0.3 .000 1.8 3.3 .538

Season 8

Artis Gilmore Vinnie Johnson
Season 1983-841986-87
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 %
Artis Gilmore 64 31.8 15.3 3.3 7.0 10.3 1.1 0.6 2.1 2.3 3.6 5.5 8.7 .631 0.0 0.0 .000 4.4 6.1 .718
Vinnie Johnson 78 27.8 15.7 1.6 1.7 3.3 3.8 1.2 0.2 1.7 2.0 6.8 14.8 .462 0.1 0.2 .286 2.0 2.6 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------
Vinnie Johnson 15 25.9 14.7 1.3 1.6 2.9 4.1 0.6 0.3 1.5 2.2 6.3 13.8 .459 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 2.4 .861

Season 9

Artis Gilmore Vinnie Johnson
Season 1984-851987-88
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 81 34.0 19.1 2.9 7.6 10.4 1.6 0.5 2.1 3.0 3.8 6.6 10.5 .623 0.0 0.0 .000 6.0 8.0 .749
Vinnie Johnson 82 23.6 12.2 1.1 1.7 2.8 3.3 0.7 0.2 1.9 2.0 5.2 11.7 .443 0.1 0.3 .208 1.8 2.6 .677
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 5 37.0 17.8 2.0 8.0 10.0 1.4 0.4 1.4 4.6 3.6 5.8 10.4 .558 0.0 0.0 - 6.2 9.0 .689
Vinnie Johnson 23 20.7 10.3 1.5 1.7 3.3 1.9 0.7 0.2 0.9 2.1 4.4 10.4 .423 0.0 0.3 .143 1.4 2.2 .660

Season 10

Artis Gilmore Vinnie Johnson
Season 1985-861988-89
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 71 33.7 16.7 2.3 6.1 8.5 1.4 0.5 1.5 2.6 3.4 6.0 9.6 .618 0.0 0.0 .000 4.8 6.8 .701
Vinnie Johnson 82 25.3 13.8 1.3 1.8 3.1 3.0 0.9 0.2 1.3 1.9 5.6 12.1 .464 0.2 0.5 .295 2.4 3.2 .734
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 3 35.7 13.3 2.3 3.7 6.0 1.0 2.3 0.3 3.3 3.7 5.3 8.0 .667 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 4.7 .571
Vinnie Johnson 17 21.9 14.1 0.9 1.7 2.6 2.5 0.2 0.2 1.2 1.9 5.4 11.8 .455 0.6 1.4 .417 2.8 3.6 .758

Season 11

Artis Gilmore Vinnie Johnson
Season 1986-871989-90
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 82 29.3 11.4 2.3 4.8 7.1 1.8 0.5 1.2 2.2 2.9 4.2 7.1 .597 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.3 .680
Vinnie Johnson 82 24.0 9.8 1.3 1.8 3.1 3.1 0.9 0.2 1.5 1.7 4.1 9.5 .431 0.1 0.4 .147 1.6 2.4 .668
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------
Vinnie Johnson 20 23.2 10.3 1.4 1.4 2.8 2.7 0.4 0.2 1.6 1.9 4.3 9.2 .462 0.1 0.4 .286 1.7 2.2 .791

Season 12

Artis Gilmore Vinnie Johnson
Season 1987-881990-91
Team Chicago Bulls, Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsPistons 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 %
Artis Gilmore 71 12.6 3.7 1.0 2.0 3.0 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.9 2.1 1.4 2.5 .547 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.8 .523
Vinnie Johnson 82 29.1 11.7 1.3 2.1 3.4 3.3 0.9 0.2 1.4 2.0 5.0 11.4 .434 0.1 0.4 .324 1.6 2.5 .646
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 14 6.1 1.1 0.3 1.1 1.4 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.0 0.3 0.6 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.0 .500
Vinnie Johnson 15 29.2 15.2 2.5 2.6 5.1 2.9 0.7 0.3 1.1 2.2 6.8 14.7 .464 0.1 0.9 .154 1.5 2.1 .710

Season 13

Artis Gilmore Vinnie Johnson
Season -1991-92
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 %
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------
Vinnie Johnson 60 22.5 8.0 1.1 1.9 3.0 2.4 0.7 0.2 1.2 1.6 3.4 8.3 .405 0.3 1.0 .317 0.9 1.4 .647
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------
Vinnie Johnson 3 23.0 8.3 1.0 1.7 2.7 2.3 1.7 0.3 1.7 2.3 3.7 8.0 .458 0.7 1.3 .500 0.3 0.7 .500