Bob Lanier vs. Hot Rod Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Hot Rod Williams and Bob Lanier, 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.

Bob Lanier played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than Hot Rod Williams, who played 13. Bob Lanier had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Hot Rod Williams had his rookie season in 1986-87. 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
Bob Lanier 14 9 1970-71 to 1983-84
Hot Rod Williams 13 9 1986-87 to 1998-99

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Bob Lanier Hot Rod Williams
Season 1970-711986-87
Team Detroit PistonsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie 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 %
Bob Lanier 82 24.6 15.6 - - 8.1 1.8 - - - 3.3 6.1 13.5 .455 - - - 3.3 4.6 .726
Hot Rod Williams 80 33.9 14.6 2.8 5.1 7.9 1.9 0.7 2.1 1.7 2.5 5.4 11.2 .485 0.0 0.0 .000 3.7 5.0 .745
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Hot Rod Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Bob Lanier Hot Rod Williams
Season 1971-721987-88
Team Detroit PistonsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers 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 %
Bob Lanier 80 38.7 25.7 - - 14.2 3.1 - - - 3.7 10.4 21.1 .493 - - - 4.9 6.3 .768
Hot Rod Williams 77 27.4 10.9 2.1 4.5 6.6 1.3 0.8 1.9 1.4 2.6 4.1 8.6 .477 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.6 .756
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Hot Rod Williams 5 26.6 9.2 2.6 3.2 5.8 0.8 0.6 1.4 0.8 2.6 4.0 8.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 2.6 .462

Season 3

Bob Lanier Hot Rod Williams
Season 1972-731988-89
Team Detroit PistonsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers 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 %
Bob Lanier 81 38.9 23.8 - - 14.9 3.2 - - - 3.4 10.0 20.4 .490 - - - 3.8 4.9 .773
Hot Rod Williams 82 25.9 11.6 2.1 3.7 5.8 1.3 0.9 1.6 1.2 2.3 4.3 8.5 .509 0.0 0.0 .250 2.9 3.8 .748
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Hot Rod Williams 5 32.2 11.0 1.4 5.4 6.8 2.0 0.4 1.4 2.2 2.4 4.2 9.0 .467 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.6 .722

Season 4

Bob Lanier Hot Rod Williams
Season 1973-741989-90
Team Detroit PistonsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf SemisCavaliers 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 %
Bob Lanier 81 37.6 22.5 3.3 9.9 13.3 4.2 1.4 3.0 - 3.4 9.2 18.3 .504 - - - 4.0 5.0 .797
Hot Rod Williams 82 33.9 16.8 2.7 5.4 8.1 2.0 1.0 2.0 1.7 2.6 6.4 13.0 .493 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 5.4 .739
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 7 43.3 26.3 3.7 11.6 15.3 3.0 0.6 2.0 - 4.0 11.0 21.7 .507 - - - 4.3 5.4 .789
Hot Rod Williams 5 34.8 19.0 2.8 6.4 9.2 2.2 0.4 1.0 1.4 4.6 7.8 14.0 .557 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 4.4 .773

Season 5

Bob Lanier Hot Rod Williams
Season 1974-751990-91
Team Detroit PistonsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 76 39.3 24.0 3.0 9.1 12.0 4.6 1.0 2.3 - 3.1 9.6 18.9 .510 - - - 4.8 5.9 .802
Hot Rod Williams 43 30.1 11.7 2.6 4.2 6.7 2.3 0.8 1.6 1.5 2.9 4.6 10.0 .463 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.8 .652
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 3 42.7 20.3 1.7 9.0 10.7 6.3 1.3 4.0 - 3.3 8.7 17.0 .510 - - - 3.0 4.0 .750
Hot Rod Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Bob Lanier Hot Rod Williams
Season 1975-761991-92
Team Detroit PistonsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf SemisCavaliers 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 %
Bob Lanier 64 36.9 21.3 3.4 8.3 11.7 3.4 1.2 1.3 - 3.2 8.5 15.9 .532 - - - 4.4 5.8 .768
Hot Rod Williams 80 30.4 11.9 2.9 4.7 7.6 2.5 0.8 2.3 1.0 2.4 4.3 8.5 .503 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.5 .752
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 9 39.9 26.1 4.3 8.3 12.7 3.3 0.9 2.3 - 3.8 10.6 19.1 .552 - - - 5.0 5.6 .900
Hot Rod Williams 17 33.4 15.0 2.9 4.7 7.6 2.5 1.4 1.0 1.8 3.4 4.9 9.1 .545 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 6.4 .798

Season 7

Bob Lanier Hot Rod Williams
Season 1976-771992-93
Team Detroit PistonsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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 %
Bob Lanier 64 38.2 25.3 3.1 8.5 11.6 3.3 1.1 2.0 - 2.7 10.6 19.8 .534 - - - 4.1 5.0 .818
Hot Rod Williams 67 30.7 11.0 1.9 4.3 6.2 2.3 0.7 1.6 1.7 2.6 3.9 8.4 .470 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 4.4 .716
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 3 39.3 28.0 4.3 12.3 16.7 2.0 1.0 2.3 - 3.3 11.3 18.0 .630 - - - 5.3 6.3 .842
Hot Rod Williams 9 26.3 9.0 1.3 3.2 4.6 1.9 0.6 1.6 1.2 2.9 3.3 8.3 .400 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.1 .750

Season 8

Bob Lanier Hot Rod Williams
Season 1977-781993-94
Team Detroit PistonsCleveland Cavaliers
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 %
Bob Lanier 63 36.7 24.5 3.1 8.2 11.3 3.4 1.3 1.5 3.6 2.9 9.9 18.4 .537 - - - 4.7 6.1 .772
Hot Rod Williams 76 35.0 13.7 2.7 4.8 7.6 2.5 1.0 1.7 1.8 2.9 5.2 10.9 .478 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.6 .728
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Hot Rod Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Bob Lanier Hot Rod Williams
Season 1978-791994-95
Team Detroit PistonsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers 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 %
Bob Lanier 53 34.6 23.6 3.1 6.2 9.3 2.6 0.9 1.4 3.3 3.4 9.2 17.9 .515 - - - 5.2 6.9 .749
Hot Rod Williams 74 35.7 12.6 2.3 4.5 6.9 2.6 1.1 1.4 2.0 2.9 4.9 10.9 .452 0.0 0.1 .200 2.6 3.9 .685
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Hot Rod Williams 4 36.0 6.8 0.8 5.5 6.3 2.8 2.3 0.8 2.5 2.8 3.0 10.5 .286 0.0 0.3 .000 0.8 2.0 .375

Season 10

Bob Lanier Hot Rod Williams
Season 1979-801995-96
Team Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee BucksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf SemisSuns 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 %
Bob Lanier 63 33.8 19.2 2.4 6.3 8.8 2.9 1.2 1.4 2.6 3.2 7.4 13.8 .537 0.0 0.1 .167 4.4 5.6 .782
Hot Rod Williams 62 26.6 7.3 2.1 3.9 6.0 1.0 0.7 1.5 1.0 2.7 2.9 6.4 .453 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.1 .731
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 7 36.6 19.3 2.4 6.9 9.3 4.4 1.0 1.1 2.4 3.3 7.4 14.4 .515 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 6.0 .738
Hot Rod Williams 4 28.8 9.0 2.8 3.8 6.5 0.3 0.0 1.8 1.5 4.3 3.5 8.0 .438 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.0 .667

Season 11

Bob Lanier Hot Rod Williams
Season 1980-811996-97
Team Milwaukee BucksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisSuns 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 %
Bob Lanier 67 26.2 14.3 1.9 4.3 6.2 2.7 1.1 1.2 2.1 2.7 5.6 10.7 .525 0.0 0.0 1.000 3.1 4.1 .751
Hot Rod Williams 68 31.4 8.0 2.6 5.6 8.3 1.5 1.0 1.3 1.0 2.6 3.0 6.1 .490 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.9 .672
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 7 33.7 17.6 1.7 5.7 7.4 4.0 1.7 1.1 2.1 2.6 7.1 12.1 .588 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.6 .719
Hot Rod Williams 5 20.6 4.0 2.0 2.6 4.6 0.6 0.4 1.6 1.0 2.4 1.6 3.0 .533 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 2.0 .400

Season 12

Bob Lanier Hot Rod Williams
Season 1981-821997-98
Team Milwaukee BucksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisSuns 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 %
Bob Lanier 74 26.8 13.5 1.2 4.0 5.2 3.0 1.0 0.8 2.2 2.9 5.5 9.9 .558 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.3 .752
Hot Rod Williams 71 18.8 3.6 1.5 2.9 4.4 0.7 0.5 0.8 0.4 1.9 1.3 2.8 .470 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.3 .699
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 6 35.3 16.0 3.0 4.5 7.5 3.7 1.3 0.8 2.3 3.5 6.8 13.3 .513 0.0 0.2 .000 2.3 4.2 .560
Hot Rod Williams 3 11.0 2.0 0.7 0.7 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.7 0.0 2.7 0.7 2.3 .286 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.0 .667

Season 13

Bob Lanier Hot Rod Williams
Season 1982-831998-99
Team Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East 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 %
Bob Lanier 39 25.1 10.7 1.5 3.6 5.1 2.7 0.9 0.6 2.1 3.2 4.2 8.5 .491 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.4 .684
Hot Rod Williams 25 16.1 1.2 1.4 1.9 3.3 0.6 0.5 0.7 0.5 2.0 0.4 1.3 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .700
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 9 27.8 13.7 1.9 5.1 7.0 2.6 0.6 1.6 2.3 3.6 5.7 9.9 .573 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.9 .600
Hot Rod Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Bob Lanier Hot Rod Williams
Season 1983-84-
Team Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Bob Lanier 72 27.9 13.6 2.0 4.4 6.3 2.6 0.8 0.7 2.3 3.2 5.4 9.5 .572 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.8 .708
Hot Rod Williams ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 16 31.2 12.7 2.0 5.3 7.3 3.4 0.7 0.6 2.4 3.6 5.1 10.7 .480 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 2.8 .886
Hot Rod Williams ------- --- ----------