Elgin Baylor vs. Matt Bonner Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Matt Bonner 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, 2 more than Matt Bonner, who played 12. Elgin Baylor had the first of his seasons in 1958-59, while Matt Bonner had his rookie season in 2004-05. 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
Matt Bonner 12 9 2004-05 to 2015-16

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 Matt Bonner
Season 1958-592004-05
Team Minneapolis LakersToronto Raptors
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 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 40.8 24.9 - - 15.0 4.1 - - - 3.9 8.6 21.2 .408 - - - 7.6 9.8 .777
Matt Bonner 82 18.9 7.2 1.3 2.2 3.5 0.6 0.5 0.2 0.5 2.7 3.0 5.6 .533 0.5 1.1 .424 0.7 0.9 .789
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
Matt Bonner ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Elgin Baylor Matt Bonner
Season 1959-602005-06
Team Minneapolis LakersToronto Raptors
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
Matt Bonner 78 21.9 7.5 1.1 2.5 3.6 0.7 0.6 0.4 0.4 2.8 2.7 6.0 .448 1.3 3.1 .420 0.8 1.0 .829
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
Matt Bonner ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Elgin Baylor Matt Bonner
Season 1960-612006-07
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
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
Matt Bonner 56 11.7 4.9 1.1 1.6 2.8 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.4 1.2 1.9 4.2 .447 0.6 1.7 .383 0.5 0.7 .711
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
Matt Bonner 9 2.8 0.8 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.3 0.7 0.2 0.8 .286 0.1 0.4 .250 0.2 0.2 1.000

Season 4

Elgin Baylor Matt Bonner
Season 1961-622007-08
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSpurs 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 %
Elgin Baylor 48 44.4 38.3 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.2 14.2 33.1 .428 - - - 9.9 13.1 .754
Matt Bonner 68 12.5 4.8 0.8 2.0 2.8 0.5 0.2 0.3 0.6 1.6 1.8 4.3 .416 0.7 2.0 .336 0.6 0.6 .864
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
Matt Bonner 2 4.5 2.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.5 .667 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 5

Elgin Baylor Matt Bonner
Season 1962-632008-09
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSpurs 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 %
Elgin Baylor 80 42.1 34.0 - - 14.3 4.8 - - - 2.8 12.9 28.4 .453 - - - 8.3 9.9 .837
Matt Bonner 81 23.8 8.2 1.2 3.6 4.8 1.0 0.6 0.3 0.5 2.3 3.3 6.6 .496 1.5 3.3 .440 0.2 0.3 .739
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
Matt Bonner 5 20.0 3.0 1.2 2.0 3.2 0.0 0.6 0.4 0.4 2.0 1.0 4.6 .217 0.6 2.6 .231 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 6

Elgin Baylor Matt Bonner
Season 1963-642009-10
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisSpurs 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 %
Elgin Baylor 78 40.6 25.4 - - 12.0 4.4 - - - 3.0 9.7 22.8 .425 - - - 6.0 7.5 .804
Matt Bonner 65 17.9 7.0 0.8 2.5 3.3 1.0 0.5 0.4 0.6 1.7 2.6 5.7 .446 1.4 3.6 .390 0.5 0.7 .729
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
Matt Bonner 10 17.3 5.0 0.7 2.5 3.2 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.7 2.2 1.9 4.4 .432 1.0 2.7 .370 0.2 0.2 1.000

Season 7

Elgin Baylor Matt Bonner
Season 1964-652010-11
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSpurs 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 %
Elgin Baylor 74 41.3 27.1 - - 12.8 3.8 - - - 3.2 10.3 25.7 .401 - - - 6.5 8.2 .792
Matt Bonner 66 21.7 7.3 0.9 2.7 3.6 0.9 0.4 0.3 0.4 1.7 2.6 5.6 .464 1.6 3.5 .457 0.5 0.7 .744
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 -
Matt Bonner 6 20.5 6.3 1.2 2.0 3.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 3.0 2.0 4.2 .480 1.0 3.0 .333 1.3 1.7 .800

Season 8

Elgin Baylor Matt Bonner
Season 1965-662011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSpurs 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 %
Elgin Baylor 65 30.4 16.6 - - 9.6 3.4 - - - 2.4 6.4 15.9 .401 - - - 3.8 5.2 .739
Matt Bonner 65 20.4 6.6 0.4 2.8 3.3 0.9 0.2 0.3 0.2 1.0 2.4 5.4 .440 1.6 3.8 .420 0.2 0.3 .762
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
Matt Bonner 13 12.7 2.4 0.2 1.8 1.9 0.7 0.2 0.3 0.2 1.8 0.8 2.5 .313 0.6 1.8 .348 0.2 0.4 .600

Season 9

Elgin Baylor Matt Bonner
Season 1966-672012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisSpurs Lost NBA Finals
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
Matt Bonner 68 13.4 4.2 0.4 1.5 1.9 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.2 1.3 1.6 3.4 .487 0.8 1.8 .442 0.2 0.2 .733
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
Matt Bonner 20 13.4 4.1 0.5 1.5 2.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.1 1.8 1.4 3.0 .475 0.8 1.6 .469 0.5 0.6 .833

Season 10

Elgin Baylor Matt Bonner
Season 1967-682013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
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
Matt Bonner 61 11.3 3.2 0.3 1.9 2.1 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.8 1.2 2.7 .445 0.7 1.6 .429 0.1 0.2 .750
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
Matt Bonner 22 6.2 1.2 0.1 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.5 0.5 1.0 .476 0.2 0.5 .333 0.1 0.2 .750

Season 11

Elgin Baylor Matt Bonner
Season 1968-692014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSpurs 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 %
Elgin Baylor 76 40.3 24.8 - - 10.6 5.4 - - - 2.7 9.6 21.5 .447 - - - 5.5 7.5 .743
Matt Bonner 72 13.0 3.7 0.4 1.2 1.6 0.7 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.9 1.3 3.2 .409 0.6 1.8 .365 0.4 0.5 .811
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
Matt Bonner 7 5.1 0.9 0.0 0.9 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 1.1 0.3 1.4 .200 0.3 1.3 .222 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

Elgin Baylor Matt Bonner
Season 1969-702015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards 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 54 41.0 24.0 - - 10.4 5.4 - - - 2.4 9.5 19.5 .486 - - - 5.1 6.6 .773
Matt Bonner 30 6.9 2.5 0.1 0.8 0.9 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.5 1.0 1.9 .509 0.5 1.1 .441 0.1 0.1 .750
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
Matt Bonner ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Elgin Baylor Matt Bonner
Season 1970-71-
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 2 28.5 10.0 - - 5.5 1.0 - - - 3.0 4.0 9.5 .421 - - - 2.0 3.0 .667
Matt Bonner ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Matt Bonner ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Elgin Baylor Matt Bonner
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
Matt Bonner ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Matt Bonner ------- --- ----------