Elgin Baylor vs. John Salmons Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of John Salmons and Elgin Baylor, 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.

Elgin Baylor played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than John Salmons, who played 13. Elgin Baylor had the first of his seasons in 1958-59, while John Salmons had his rookie season in 2002-03. 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
Elgin Baylor 14 12 1958-59 to 1971-72
John Salmons 13 5 2002-03 to 2014-15

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Elgin Baylor John Salmons
Season 1958-592002-03
Team Minneapolis LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA Finals76ers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 70 40.8 24.9 - - 15.0 4.1 - - - 3.9 8.6 21.2 .408 - - - 7.6 9.8 .777
John Salmons 64 7.9 2.1 0.3 0.7 0.9 0.7 0.3 0.1 0.5 0.8 0.8 1.8 .414 0.2 0.5 .323 0.4 0.5 .743
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 13 42.8 25.5 - - 12.0 3.3 - - - 4.0 9.4 23.3 .403 - - - 6.7 8.7 .770
John Salmons 6 2.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.2 .000 0.0 0.2 .000 0.0 0.3 .000

Season 2

Elgin Baylor John Salmons
Season 1959-602003-04
Team Minneapolis LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 70 41.0 29.6 - - 16.4 3.5 - - - 3.3 10.8 25.4 .424 - - - 8.1 11.0 .732
John Salmons 77 20.8 5.8 0.5 2.1 2.5 1.7 0.8 0.2 1.0 1.6 2.1 5.4 .387 0.6 1.9 .340 0.9 1.2 .772
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 9 45.3 33.4 - - 14.1 3.4 - - - 4.2 12.3 26.0 .474 - - - 8.8 10.4 .840
John Salmons ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Elgin Baylor John Salmons
Season 1960-612004-05
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div Finals76ers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 73 42.9 34.8 - - 19.8 5.1 - - - 3.8 12.8 29.7 .430 - - - 9.3 11.8 .783
John Salmons 58 17.1 4.1 0.2 1.9 2.1 2.0 0.7 0.2 0.9 1.6 1.5 3.6 .405 0.5 1.6 .341 0.6 0.8 .729
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 12 45.0 38.1 - - 15.3 4.6 - - - 3.7 14.2 30.2 .470 - - - 9.8 11.8 .824
John Salmons 2 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 4

Elgin Baylor John Salmons
Season 1961-622005-06
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 48 44.4 38.3 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.2 14.2 33.1 .428 - - - 9.9 13.1 .754
John Salmons 82 25.1 7.5 0.6 2.1 2.7 2.7 0.9 0.2 1.5 2.2 2.7 6.4 .420 0.3 1.1 .299 1.9 2.4 .775
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 13 43.9 38.6 - - 17.7 3.6 - - - 3.5 14.3 32.7 .438 - - - 10.0 12.9 .774
John Salmons ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Elgin Baylor John Salmons
Season 1962-632006-07
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 80 42.1 34.0 - - 14.3 4.8 - - - 2.8 12.9 28.4 .453 - - - 8.3 9.9 .837
John Salmons 79 27.0 8.5 0.6 2.7 3.3 3.2 0.9 0.3 1.5 2.2 3.0 6.5 .456 0.5 1.4 .357 2.0 2.6 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 13 43.2 32.6 - - 13.6 4.5 - - - 3.7 12.3 27.8 .442 - - - 8.0 9.7 .825
John Salmons ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Elgin Baylor John Salmons
Season 1963-642007-08
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West 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 %
Elgin Baylor 78 40.6 25.4 - - 12.0 4.4 - - - 3.0 9.7 22.8 .425 - - - 6.0 7.5 .804
John Salmons 81 31.1 12.5 0.9 3.4 4.3 2.6 1.1 0.4 2.1 2.1 4.7 9.9 .477 0.5 1.5 .325 2.6 3.2 .823
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 5 44.2 24.2 - - 11.6 5.6 - - - 3.4 9.0 23.8 .378 - - - 6.2 8.0 .775
John Salmons ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Elgin Baylor John Salmons
Season 1964-652008-09
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsBulls 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 %
Elgin Baylor 74 41.3 27.1 - - 12.8 3.8 - - - 3.2 10.3 25.7 .401 - - - 6.5 8.2 .792
John Salmons 79 37.5 18.3 0.7 3.5 4.2 3.2 1.1 0.3 2.1 2.3 6.5 13.8 .472 1.6 3.8 .417 3.6 4.4 .830
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 1 5.0 0.0 - - 0 1.0 - - - 0.0 0.0 2.0 .000 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
John Salmons 7 44.7 18.1 0.9 3.6 4.4 2.3 1.3 1.0 1.7 2.9 6.1 15.3 .402 1.7 5.4 .316 4.1 4.9 .853

Season 8

Elgin Baylor John Salmons
Season 1965-662009-10
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsBucks 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 %
Elgin Baylor 65 30.4 16.6 - - 9.6 3.4 - - - 2.4 6.4 15.9 .401 - - - 3.8 5.2 .739
John Salmons 81 34.9 15.4 0.4 2.9 3.3 2.8 1.2 0.3 1.5 2.0 5.4 12.2 .441 1.5 3.8 .382 3.1 3.8 .830
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 14 41.9 26.8 - - 14.1 3.7 - - - 2.7 10.4 23.4 .442 - - - 6.1 7.5 .810
John Salmons 7 40.7 17.0 1.0 2.7 3.7 4.0 1.4 0.6 1.7 2.7 6.3 15.6 .404 0.6 3.3 .174 3.9 4.0 .964

Season 9

Elgin Baylor John Salmons
Season 1966-672010-11
Team Los Angeles LakersMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West 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 %
Elgin Baylor 70 38.7 26.6 - - 12.8 3.1 - - - 3.0 10.2 23.7 .429 - - - 6.3 7.7 .813
John Salmons 73 35.0 14.0 0.4 3.3 3.6 3.5 1.0 0.4 1.9 2.2 5.1 12.3 .415 1.1 3.0 .379 2.7 3.3 .813
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 3 40.3 23.7 - - 13.0 3.0 - - - 2.0 9.3 25.3 .368 - - - 5.0 6.7 .750
John Salmons ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Elgin Baylor John Salmons
Season 1967-682011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 77 39.3 26.0 - - 12.2 4.6 - - - 3.0 9.8 22.2 .443 - - - 6.3 8.1 .786
John Salmons 46 27.2 7.5 0.4 2.5 2.9 2.0 0.8 0.2 1.0 1.7 3.1 7.5 .409 0.7 2.4 .295 0.6 1.0 .644
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 15 42.2 28.5 - - 14.5 4.0 - - - 2.7 11.7 25.1 .468 - - - 5.1 7.5 .679
John Salmons ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Elgin Baylor John Salmons
Season 1968-692012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 76 40.3 24.8 - - 10.6 5.4 - - - 2.7 9.6 21.5 .447 - - - 5.5 7.5 .743
John Salmons 76 30.0 8.8 0.4 2.3 2.7 3.0 0.7 0.3 1.1 1.9 3.2 8.1 .399 1.3 3.5 .371 1.1 1.4 .773
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 18 35.6 15.4 - - 9.2 4.1 - - - 3.1 5.9 15.4 .385 - - - 3.5 5.6 .630
John Salmons ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Elgin Baylor John Salmons
Season 1969-702013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsRaptors 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 %
Elgin Baylor 54 41.0 24.0 - - 10.4 5.4 - - - 2.4 9.5 19.5 .486 - - - 5.1 6.6 .773
John Salmons 78 22.1 5.2 0.3 1.8 2.1 1.9 0.6 0.2 0.7 1.6 1.9 5.3 .363 0.8 2.1 .387 0.5 0.7 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 18 37.1 18.7 - - 9.6 4.6 - - - 2.8 7.7 16.4 .466 - - - 3.3 4.5 .741
John Salmons 6 12.8 2.2 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.3 0.0 0.2 1.5 0.8 2.8 .294 0.3 2.0 .167 0.2 0.2 1.000

Season 13

Elgin Baylor John Salmons
Season 1970-712014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Orleans Pelicans
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 %
Elgin Baylor 2 28.5 10.0 - - 5.5 1.0 - - - 3.0 4.0 9.5 .421 - - - 2.0 3.0 .667
John Salmons 21 12.9 2.0 0.2 0.8 1.0 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.2 1.2 0.8 2.3 .333 0.4 1.2 .308 0.1 0.2 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
John Salmons ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Elgin Baylor John Salmons
Season 1971-72-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
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 %
Elgin Baylor 9 26.6 11.8 - - 6.3 2.0 - - - 2.2 4.7 10.8 .433 - - - 2.4 3.0 .815
John Salmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
John Salmons ------- --- ----------