Clyde Drexler vs. John Salley Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of John Salley and Clyde Drexler, 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.

Clyde Drexler played 15 years in the NBA, 4 more than John Salley, who played 11. Clyde Drexler had the first of his seasons in 1983-84, while John Salley 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
Clyde Drexler 15 15 1983-84 to 1997-98
John Salley 11 9 1986-87 to 1999-00

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Clyde Drexler John Salley
Season 1983-841986-87
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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 %
Clyde Drexler 82 17.2 7.7 1.4 1.5 2.9 1.9 1.3 0.4 1.5 2.5 3.1 6.8 .451 0.0 0.0 .250 1.5 2.1 .728
John Salley 82 17.8 5.3 1.3 2.3 3.6 0.7 0.5 1.5 0.9 3.1 2.0 3.5 .562 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 2.1 .614
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Clyde Drexler 5 17.0 7.2 1.4 2.0 3.4 1.6 1.0 0.2 1.4 2.2 3.0 7.0 .429 0.0 0.2 .000 1.2 1.4 .857
John Salley 15 20.7 6.2 2.0 2.8 4.8 0.7 0.2 1.1 0.9 4.0 2.2 4.4 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.8 .643

Season 2

Clyde Drexler John Salley
Season 1984-851987-88
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf SemisPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Clyde Drexler 80 31.9 17.2 2.7 3.2 6.0 5.5 2.2 0.9 2.8 3.3 7.2 14.5 .494 0.1 0.5 .216 2.8 3.7 .759
John Salley 82 24.4 8.5 2.0 2.9 4.9 1.4 0.6 1.7 1.5 3.6 3.1 5.6 .566 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.2 .709
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Clyde Drexler 9 37.7 16.7 3.0 3.1 6.1 9.2 2.6 1.0 3.2 4.1 6.1 14.9 .410 0.2 0.8 .286 4.2 5.0 .844
John Salley 23 27.1 7.0 2.8 4.0 6.7 0.9 0.7 1.6 1.0 3.8 2.4 4.5 .538 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.0 .710

Season 3

Clyde Drexler John Salley
Season 1985-861988-89
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Clyde Drexler 75 34.3 18.5 2.3 3.3 5.6 8.0 2.6 0.6 3.8 3.6 7.2 15.2 .475 0.2 0.8 .200 3.9 5.1 .769
John Salley 67 21.8 7.0 2.0 3.0 5.0 1.1 0.6 1.1 1.5 2.9 2.5 5.0 .498 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.9 .692
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Clyde Drexler 4 36.3 18.0 2.3 4.0 6.3 6.5 1.5 0.8 4.8 4.8 6.5 14.3 .456 0.5 1.3 .400 4.5 5.8 .783
John Salley 17 23.1 8.9 2.0 2.6 4.6 0.5 0.5 1.5 0.7 3.4 3.4 5.8 .586 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.2 .667

Season 4

Clyde Drexler John Salley
Season 1986-871989-90
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Clyde Drexler 82 38.0 21.7 2.8 3.5 6.3 6.9 2.5 0.9 3.1 3.4 8.6 17.2 .502 0.1 0.6 .234 4.4 5.7 .760
John Salley 82 23.3 7.2 1.9 3.5 5.4 0.8 0.6 1.9 1.2 3.4 2.5 5.0 .512 0.0 0.0 .250 2.1 3.0 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Clyde Drexler 4 38.3 24.0 4.0 3.5 7.5 3.8 1.8 0.8 1.5 4.0 9.0 19.8 .456 0.3 1.0 .250 5.8 7.3 .793
John Salley 20 27.4 9.5 2.9 3.0 5.9 1.0 0.5 1.7 1.1 3.8 2.9 6.1 .475 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 4.9 .755

Season 5

Clyde Drexler John Salley
Season 1987-881990-91
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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 %
Clyde Drexler 81 37.8 27.0 3.2 3.4 6.6 5.8 2.5 0.6 2.9 3.1 10.5 20.7 .506 0.1 0.6 .212 5.9 7.2 .811
John Salley 74 22.3 7.4 1.9 2.6 4.4 0.9 0.7 1.5 1.2 3.2 2.4 5.1 .475 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.5 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Clyde Drexler 4 42.5 22.0 3.0 4.0 7.0 5.3 3.0 0.5 3.0 3.5 8.0 20.8 .386 0.8 1.5 .500 5.3 7.3 .724
John Salley 15 20.5 7.5 1.3 2.8 4.1 0.7 0.4 1.3 0.9 3.9 2.5 4.7 .543 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 4.0 .600

Season 6

Clyde Drexler John Salley
Season 1988-891991-92
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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 %
Clyde Drexler 78 39.3 27.2 3.7 4.2 7.9 5.8 2.7 0.7 3.2 3.4 10.6 21.4 .496 0.3 1.3 .260 5.6 7.0 .799
John Salley 72 24.6 9.5 1.5 2.6 4.1 1.6 0.7 1.5 1.4 3.1 3.5 6.8 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 2.6 3.6 .715
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Clyde Drexler 3 42.7 27.7 4.3 2.3 6.7 8.3 2.0 0.7 4.0 3.7 11.7 23.7 .493 0.0 0.7 .000 4.3 5.7 .765
John Salley 5 29.8 12.6 2.0 4.0 6.0 2.8 0.6 2.8 1.8 3.6 4.0 8.8 .455 0.0 0.2 .000 4.6 5.6 .821

Season 7

Clyde Drexler John Salley
Season 1989-901992-93
Team Portland Trail BlazersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Clyde Drexler 73 36.8 23.3 2.8 4.1 6.9 5.9 2.0 0.7 2.6 3.0 9.2 18.6 .494 0.4 1.5 .283 4.6 5.9 .774
John Salley 51 27.9 8.3 2.2 3.9 6.1 1.6 0.6 1.4 2.0 3.8 3.0 6.0 .502 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 2.8 .799
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Clyde Drexler 21 40.6 21.4 3.0 4.2 7.2 7.1 2.5 0.9 3.2 3.4 8.2 18.6 .441 0.4 2.0 .220 4.6 5.9 .774
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Clyde Drexler John Salley
Season 1990-911993-94
Team Portland Trail BlazersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf FinalsHeat 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 %
Clyde Drexler 82 34.8 21.5 2.6 4.1 6.7 6.0 1.8 0.7 2.8 2.8 7.9 16.3 .482 0.7 2.3 .319 5.1 6.4 .794
John Salley 76 25.1 7.7 1.7 3.6 5.4 1.8 0.7 1.0 1.2 3.4 2.7 5.7 .477 0.0 0.0 .667 2.2 3.0 .729
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Clyde Drexler 16 39.6 21.7 2.5 5.6 8.1 8.1 2.1 1.0 3.8 3.5 8.0 16.8 .476 0.9 3.5 .268 4.8 6.1 .776
John Salley 5 40.2 11.0 3.2 4.8 8.0 1.6 0.4 1.0 1.2 4.2 4.4 11.4 .386 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.2 .688

Season 9

Clyde Drexler John Salley
Season 1991-921994-95
Team Portland Trail BlazersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Clyde Drexler 76 36.2 25.0 2.2 4.4 6.6 6.7 1.8 0.9 3.2 3.0 9.1 19.4 .470 1.5 4.4 .337 5.3 6.6 .794
John Salley 75 26.1 7.3 1.5 3.0 4.5 1.6 0.6 1.1 1.3 3.7 2.6 5.3 .499 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.8 .739
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Clyde Drexler 21 40.3 26.3 2.9 4.5 7.4 7.0 1.5 1.0 2.8 3.7 9.4 20.2 .466 0.9 3.9 .235 6.6 8.1 .807
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Clyde Drexler John Salley
Season 1992-931995-96
Team Portland Trail BlazersToronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Clyde Drexler 49 34.1 19.9 2.6 3.7 6.3 5.7 1.9 0.8 2.3 3.2 7.1 16.7 .429 0.6 2.7 .233 5.0 6.0 .839
John Salley 42 16.0 4.4 1.1 2.2 3.3 1.3 0.5 0.6 1.3 2.6 1.5 3.3 .450 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.0 .694
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Clyde Drexler 3 38.7 19.0 2.7 3.7 6.3 4.7 1.7 1.0 1.0 3.0 6.0 14.3 .419 1.7 4.0 .417 5.3 6.7 .800
John Salley 16 5.3 0.9 0.3 0.4 0.7 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.3 1.6 0.4 0.7 .545 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.4 .286

Note: John Salley didn't play in 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.

Season 11

Clyde Drexler John Salley
Season 1993-941999-00
Team Portland Trail BlazersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Clyde Drexler 68 34.3 19.2 2.3 4.3 6.5 4.9 1.4 0.5 2.5 3.0 7.0 16.3 .428 1.0 3.2 .324 4.2 5.4 .777
John Salley 45 6.7 1.6 0.4 1.0 1.4 0.6 0.2 0.3 0.4 1.5 0.6 1.5 .362 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.6 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Clyde Drexler 4 39.3 21.0 2.5 7.8 10.3 5.5 2.0 0.5 2.3 1.8 7.8 18.3 .425 0.8 3.3 .231 4.8 5.8 .826
John Salley 18 4.2 0.9 0.5 0.7 1.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.9 0.3 0.7 .385 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.6 .700

Season 12

Clyde Drexler John Salley
Season 1994-95-
Team Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
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 %
Clyde Drexler 76 35.9 21.8 2.0 4.3 6.3 4.8 1.8 0.6 2.4 2.7 7.5 16.3 .461 1.9 5.4 .360 4.8 5.8 .824
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Clyde Drexler 22 38.6 20.5 2.0 5.0 7.0 5.0 1.5 0.7 2.0 3.1 7.0 14.6 .481 1.4 4.5 .303 5.0 6.4 .786
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Clyde Drexler John Salley
Season 1995-96-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Clyde Drexler 52 38.4 19.3 1.9 5.3 7.2 5.8 2.0 0.5 2.6 2.9 6.4 14.7 .433 1.5 4.5 .332 5.1 6.5 .784
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Clyde Drexler 8 36.5 16.6 1.9 5.9 7.8 5.0 2.6 0.5 2.5 2.8 6.1 14.8 .415 1.1 4.3 .265 3.3 4.3 .765
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Clyde Drexler John Salley
Season 1996-97-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Clyde Drexler 62 36.6 18.0 1.9 4.1 6.0 5.7 1.9 0.6 2.5 2.4 6.4 14.5 .442 1.9 5.4 .355 3.2 4.3 .750
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Clyde Drexler 16 39.1 18.1 1.6 4.0 5.6 4.8 1.6 0.4 2.3 3.3 6.6 15.1 .436 2.4 6.4 .373 2.6 3.4 .778
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Clyde Drexler John Salley
Season 1997-98-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Clyde Drexler 70 35.3 18.4 1.5 3.4 4.9 5.5 1.8 0.6 2.7 2.8 6.5 15.1 .427 1.5 4.8 .317 4.0 4.9 .801
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Clyde Drexler 5 36.4 15.0 1.8 3.6 5.4 4.6 1.6 0.6 2.6 3.0 4.2 13.6 .309 1.0 5.2 .192 5.6 7.4 .757
John Salley ------- --- ----------