Willis Reed vs. Ricky Sobers Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ricky Sobers and Willis Reed, 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.

Willis Reed played 10 years in the NBA, 1 less than Ricky Sobers, who played 11. Willis Reed had the first of his seasons in 1964-65, while Ricky Sobers had his rookie season in 1975-76. 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
Willis Reed 10 7 1964-65 to 1973-74
Ricky Sobers 11 3 1975-76 to 1985-86

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Willis Reed Ricky Sobers
Season 1964-651975-76
Team New York KnicksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willis Reed 80 38.0 19.5 - - 14.7 1.7 - - - 4.2 7.9 18.2 .432 - - - 3.8 5.1 .742
Ricky Sobers 78 24.3 9.2 1.0 2.3 3.3 2.8 1.4 0.1 - 3.2 3.6 8.0 .449 - - - 2.0 2.5 .823
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willis Reed ------- --- ----------
Ricky Sobers 19 29.6 13.0 1.1 2.3 3.3 4.2 0.9 0.3 - 4.1 5.1 10.8 .468 - - - 2.9 3.5 .833

Season 2

Willis Reed Ricky Sobers
Season 1965-661976-77
Team New York KnicksPhoenix Suns
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 %
Willis Reed 76 33.4 15.5 - - 11.6 1.2 - - - 4.3 5.8 13.3 .434 - - - 4.0 5.3 .757
Ricky Sobers 79 25.4 13.6 1.0 1.9 3.0 3.0 1.2 0.2 - 3.3 5.2 10.6 .496 - - - 3.1 3.7 .841
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willis Reed ------- --- ----------
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Willis Reed Ricky Sobers
Season 1966-671977-78
Team New York KnicksIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East 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 %
Willis Reed 78 36.2 20.9 - - 14.6 1.6 - - - 3.8 8.1 16.6 .489 - - - 4.6 6.2 .735
Ricky Sobers 79 38.2 18.2 1.2 3.0 4.1 7.4 2.2 0.3 4.5 3.9 7.0 15.5 .453 - - - 4.2 5.1 .825
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willis Reed 4 37.0 27.5 - - 13.8 1.8 - - - 4.8 10.8 20.0 .538 - - - 6.0 6.3 .960
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Willis Reed Ricky Sobers
Season 1967-681978-79
Team New York KnicksIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East 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 %
Willis Reed 81 35.5 20.8 - - 13.2 2.0 - - - 4.2 8.1 16.6 .490 - - - 4.5 6.3 .721
Ricky Sobers 81 34.9 17.3 1.5 2.3 3.7 5.6 1.7 0.3 3.8 3.9 6.8 14.7 .463 - - - 3.7 4.2 .882
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willis Reed 6 35.0 21.3 - - 10.3 1.8 - - - 4.0 8.8 16.3 .541 - - - 3.7 5.0 .733
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Willis Reed Ricky Sobers
Season 1968-691979-80
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East 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 %
Willis Reed 82 37.9 21.1 - - 14.5 2.3 - - - 3.8 8.6 16.5 .521 - - - 4.0 5.3 .747
Ricky Sobers 82 32.6 14.2 0.9 2.0 3.0 5.2 1.7 0.2 3.4 3.6 5.7 12.2 .469 0.3 0.8 .309 2.4 2.9 .837
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willis Reed 10 42.9 25.7 - - 14.1 1.9 - - - 4.0 10.1 19.8 .510 - - - 5.5 7.0 .786
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Willis Reed Ricky Sobers
Season 1969-701980-81
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBulls 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 %
Willis Reed 81 38.1 21.7 - - 13.9 2.0 - - - 3.5 8.7 17.1 .507 - - - 4.3 5.7 .756
Ricky Sobers 71 25.4 13.5 0.6 1.4 2.0 4.0 1.4 0.2 2.9 3.2 5.0 10.8 .462 0.2 0.9 .258 3.3 3.5 .935
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willis Reed 18 40.7 23.7 - - 13.8 2.8 - - - 3.3 9.9 21.0 .471 - - - 3.9 5.3 .737
Ricky Sobers 6 27.0 13.2 0.5 1.3 1.8 3.7 0.7 0.0 2.5 4.3 5.8 13.5 .432 0.2 1.0 .167 1.3 1.5 .889

Season 7

Willis Reed Ricky Sobers
Season 1970-711981-82
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Willis Reed 73 39.1 20.9 - - 13.7 2.0 - - - 3.1 8.4 18.2 .462 - - - 4.1 5.2 .785
Ricky Sobers 80 24.2 11.8 0.5 1.3 1.8 3.8 0.9 0.2 2.7 3.0 4.5 10.0 .453 0.2 1.0 .250 2.4 3.2 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willis Reed 12 42.0 15.7 - - 12.0 2.3 - - - 3.4 6.8 16.3 .413 - - - 2.2 3.3 .667
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Willis Reed Ricky Sobers
Season 1971-721982-83
Team New York KnicksWashington Bullets
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 %
Willis Reed 11 33.0 13.4 - - 8.7 2.0 - - - 2.7 5.5 12.5 .438 - - - 2.5 3.5 .692
Ricky Sobers 41 35.1 15.7 0.9 1.6 2.5 5.3 1.5 0.3 3.6 3.9 5.7 13.0 .438 0.6 1.3 .418 3.8 4.5 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willis Reed ------- --- ----------
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Willis Reed Ricky Sobers
Season 1972-731983-84
Team New York KnicksWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBullets 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 %
Willis Reed 69 27.2 11.0 - - 8.6 1.8 - - - 3.0 4.8 10.2 .474 - - - 1.3 1.8 .742
Ricky Sobers 81 32.4 15.6 0.6 1.6 2.2 4.7 1.4 0.2 2.7 3.4 6.3 13.8 .456 0.4 1.4 .261 2.7 3.3 .837
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willis Reed 17 28.6 12.5 - - 7.6 1.8 - - - 3.8 5.7 12.2 .466 - - - 1.1 1.2 .857
Ricky Sobers 4 37.5 15.3 0.5 0.8 1.3 4.0 1.3 0.5 2.3 4.8 6.3 14.3 .439 0.8 2.5 .300 2.0 2.5 .800

Season 10

Willis Reed Ricky Sobers
Season 1973-741984-85
Team New York KnicksSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Willis Reed 19 26.3 11.1 2.5 4.9 7.4 1.6 0.6 1.1 - 2.6 4.4 9.7 .457 - - - 2.2 2.8 .792
Ricky Sobers 71 21.0 9.9 0.4 1.1 1.5 3.5 0.7 0.1 2.2 2.2 3.9 8.8 .446 0.1 0.4 .286 1.9 2.3 .815
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willis Reed 11 12.0 3.4 0.4 1.6 2.0 0.4 0.2 0.0 - 2.4 1.5 4.1 .378 - - - 0.3 0.5 .600
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Willis Reed Ricky Sobers
Season -1985-86
Team -Seattle Supersonics
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 %
Willis Reed ------- --- ----------
Ricky Sobers 78 16.4 7.7 0.4 0.9 1.3 2.3 0.6 0.0 1.1 1.8 3.1 6.9 .444 0.2 0.6 .302 1.4 1.6 .880
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willis Reed ------- --- ----------
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------