Pat Riley vs. Bill Walton Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Walton and Pat Riley, 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.

Pat Riley played 9 years in the NBA, 1 less than Bill Walton, who played 10. Pat Riley had the first of his seasons in 1967-68, while Bill Walton had his rookie season in 1974-75. 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
Pat Riley 9 6 1967-68 to 1975-76
Bill Walton 10 4 1974-75 to 1986-87

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Pat Riley Bill Walton
Season 1967-681974-75
Team San Diego RocketsPortland Trail Blazers
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 %
Pat Riley 80 15.8 7.9 - - 2.2 1.7 - - - 2.6 3.1 8.3 .379 - - - 1.6 2.5 .634
Bill Walton 35 32.9 12.8 2.6 10.0 12.6 4.8 0.8 2.7 - 3.3 5.1 9.9 .513 - - - 2.7 3.9 .686
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
Bill Walton ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Pat Riley Bill Walton
Season 1968-691975-76
Team San Diego RocketsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Pat Riley 56 18.3 8.8 - - 2.0 2.4 - - - 2.6 3.6 8.9 .406 - - - 1.6 2.4 .672
Bill Walton 51 33.1 16.1 2.6 10.8 13.4 4.3 1.0 1.6 - 2.8 6.8 14.4 .471 - - - 2.6 4.5 .583
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 5 15.2 7.4 - - 2.2 0.4 - - - 2.6 3.2 7.4 .432 - - - 1.0 1.2 .833
Bill Walton ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Pat Riley Bill Walton
Season 1969-701976-77
Team San Diego RocketsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement Blocks Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Pat Riley 36 13.2 5.3 - - 1.6 2.4 - - - 1.9 2.1 5.0 .417 - - - 1.1 1.5 .727
Bill Walton 65 34.8 18.6 3.2 11.1 14.4 3.8 1.0 3.2 - 2.7 7.6 14.3 .528 - - - 3.5 5.0 .697
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
Bill Walton 19 39.7 18.2 2.9 12.2 15.2 5.5 1.1 3.4 - 4.2 8.1 15.9 .507 - - - 2.1 3.0 .684

Season 4

Pat Riley Bill Walton
Season 1970-711977-78
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsTrail Blazers 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 %
Pat Riley 54 9.4 4.9 - - 1.0 1.3 - - - 1.6 1.9 4.7 .413 - - - 1.0 1.6 .644
Bill Walton 58 33.3 18.9 2.0 11.2 13.2 5.0 1.0 2.5 3.6 2.5 7.9 15.2 .522 - - - 3.1 4.2 .720
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 7 19.3 9.4 - - 2.1 2.0 - - - 1.7 4.1 9.9 .420 - - - 1.1 1.6 .727
Bill Walton 2 24.5 13.5 2.5 8.5 11.0 2.0 1.5 1.5 3.0 0.5 5.5 9.0 .611 - - - 2.5 3.5 .714

Note: Bill Walton didn't play in 1978-79.

Season 5

Pat Riley Bill Walton
Season 1971-721979-80
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Diego Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 67 13.8 6.7 - - 1.9 1.1 - - - 1.6 2.9 6.6 .447 - - - 0.8 1.1 .743
Bill Walton 14 24.1 13.9 2.0 7.0 9.0 2.4 0.6 2.7 2.6 2.6 5.8 11.5 .503 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.9 .593
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 15 16.3 5.2 - - 1.9 0.9 - - - 2.5 2.2 6.6 .333 - - - 0.8 1.1 .750
Bill Walton ------- --- ----------

Note: Bill Walton didn't play in 1980-81 and 1981-82.

Season 6

Pat Riley Bill Walton
Season 1972-731982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Diego Clippers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Pat Riley 55 14.6 7.3 - - 1.2 1.5 - - - 2.3 3.0 7.1 .428 - - - 1.2 1.5 .793
Bill Walton 33 33.3 14.1 2.3 7.5 9.8 3.6 1.0 3.6 3.2 3.4 6.1 11.5 .528 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.5 .556
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 7 7.6 2.6 - - 0.7 1.0 - - - 1.4 1.3 3.9 .333 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
Bill Walton ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Pat Riley Bill Walton
Season 1973-741983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Diego Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 72 18.9 9.5 0.5 1.3 1.8 2.1 0.8 0.0 - 2.4 4.0 9.3 .430 - - - 1.5 2.0 .764
Bill Walton 55 26.8 12.1 2.4 6.3 8.7 3.3 0.8 1.6 3.2 2.8 5.2 9.4 .556 0.0 0.0 .000 1.7 2.8 .597
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 5 21.2 7.8 0.6 0.6 1.2 2.0 0.8 0.0 - 2.2 3.6 10.0 .360 - - - 0.6 0.8 .750
Bill Walton ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Pat Riley Bill Walton
Season 1974-751984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Clippers
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 %
Pat Riley 46 22.1 11.0 0.5 1.3 1.8 2.6 0.8 0.1 - 2.8 4.8 11.4 .419 - - - 1.5 2.0 .742
Bill Walton 67 24.6 10.1 2.5 6.4 9.0 2.3 0.7 2.1 2.6 2.7 4.0 7.7 .521 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.0 .680
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
Bill Walton ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Pat Riley Bill Walton
Season 1975-761985-86
Team Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Pat Riley 62 13.1 4.7 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.9 0.4 0.1 - 1.8 1.9 4.9 .389 - - - 0.9 1.2 .714
Bill Walton 80 19.3 7.6 1.7 5.1 6.8 2.1 0.5 1.3 1.9 2.6 2.9 5.1 .562 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.5 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley 5 5.4 2.6 0.0 0.0 0 1.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.2 3.0 .400 - - - 0.2 0.2 1.000
Bill Walton 16 18.2 7.9 1.6 4.9 6.4 1.7 0.4 0.8 1.4 2.8 3.4 5.8 .581 0.0 0.1 .000 1.2 1.4 .826

Season 10

Pat Riley Bill Walton
Season -1986-87
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Celtics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
Bill Walton 10 11.2 2.8 1.1 2.0 3.1 0.9 0.1 1.0 1.5 2.3 1.0 2.6 .385 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .533
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Pat Riley ------- --- ----------
Bill Walton 12 8.5 2.4 0.8 1.8 2.6 0.8 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.9 1.0 2.1 .480 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 1.2 .357