Bob Lanier vs. Earl Monroe Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Earl Monroe and Bob Lanier, 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.

Bob Lanier played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than Earl Monroe, who played 13. Bob Lanier had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Earl Monroe had his rookie season in 1967-68. 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
Bob Lanier 14 9 1970-71 to 1983-84
Earl Monroe 13 8 1967-68 to 1979-80

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Bob Lanier Earl Monroe
Season 1970-711967-68
Team Detroit PistonsBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
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 %
Bob Lanier 82 24.6 15.6 - - 8.1 1.8 - - - 3.3 6.1 13.5 .455 - - - 3.3 4.6 .726
Earl Monroe 82 36.7 24.3 - - 5.7 4.3 - - - 3.4 9.0 20.0 .453 - - - 6.2 7.9 .781
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Earl Monroe ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Bob Lanier Earl Monroe
Season 1971-721968-69
Team Detroit PistonsBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBullets Lost East Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 80 38.7 25.7 - - 14.2 3.1 - - - 3.7 10.4 21.1 .493 - - - 4.9 6.3 .768
Earl Monroe 80 38.4 25.8 - - 3.5 4.9 - - - 3.3 10.1 23.0 .440 - - - 5.6 7.3 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Earl Monroe 4 42.8 28.3 - - 5.3 4.0 - - - 2.5 11.0 28.5 .386 - - - 6.3 7.8 .806

Season 3

Bob Lanier Earl Monroe
Season 1972-731969-70
Team Detroit PistonsBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayBullets Lost East Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 81 38.9 23.8 - - 14.9 3.2 - - - 3.4 10.0 20.4 .490 - - - 3.8 4.9 .773
Earl Monroe 82 37.2 23.4 - - 3.1 4.9 - - - 3.1 8.5 19.0 .446 - - - 6.5 7.8 .830
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Earl Monroe 7 42.7 28.0 - - 3.3 4.0 - - - 3.3 10.6 22.0 .481 - - - 6.9 8.6 .800

Season 4

Bob Lanier Earl Monroe
Season 1973-741970-71
Team Detroit PistonsBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf SemisBullets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 81 37.6 22.5 3.3 9.9 13.3 4.2 1.4 3.0 - 3.4 9.2 18.3 .504 - - - 4.0 5.0 .797
Earl Monroe 81 35.1 21.4 - - 2.6 4.4 - - - 2.7 8.2 18.5 .442 - - - 5.0 6.2 .802
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 7 43.3 26.3 3.7 11.6 15.3 3.0 0.6 2.0 - 4.0 11.0 21.7 .507 - - - 4.3 5.4 .789
Earl Monroe 18 37.3 22.1 - - 3.6 4.1 - - - 3.1 8.1 19.8 .407 - - - 5.9 7.5 .793

Season 5

Bob Lanier Earl Monroe
Season 1974-751971-72
Team Detroit PistonsBaltimore Bullets, New York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdKnicks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 76 39.3 24.0 3.0 9.1 12.0 4.6 1.0 2.3 - 3.1 9.6 18.9 .510 - - - 4.8 5.9 .802
Earl Monroe 63 21.2 11.9 - - 1.6 2.3 - - - 2.2 4.6 10.5 .434 - - - 2.8 3.6 .781
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 3 42.7 20.3 1.7 9.0 10.7 6.3 1.3 4.0 - 3.3 8.7 17.0 .510 - - - 3.0 4.0 .750
Earl Monroe 16 26.8 12.3 - - 2.8 2.9 - - - 2.6 4.8 11.6 .411 - - - 2.8 3.6 .789

Season 6

Bob Lanier Earl Monroe
Season 1975-761972-73
Team Detroit PistonsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 64 36.9 21.3 3.4 8.3 11.7 3.4 1.2 1.3 - 3.2 8.5 15.9 .532 - - - 4.4 5.8 .768
Earl Monroe 75 31.6 15.5 - - 3.3 3.8 - - - 2.6 6.6 13.5 .488 - - - 2.3 2.8 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 9 39.9 26.1 4.3 8.3 12.7 3.3 0.9 2.3 - 3.8 10.6 19.1 .552 - - - 5.0 5.6 .900
Earl Monroe 16 31.5 16.1 - - 3.2 3.2 - - - 2.4 6.9 13.2 .526 - - - 2.3 3.0 .750

Season 7

Bob Lanier Earl Monroe
Season 1976-771973-74
Team Detroit PistonsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdKnicks 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 %
Bob Lanier 64 38.2 25.3 3.1 8.5 11.6 3.3 1.1 2.0 - 2.7 10.6 19.8 .534 - - - 4.1 5.0 .818
Earl Monroe 41 29.1 14.0 0.5 2.4 3.0 2.7 0.8 0.5 - 2.4 5.9 12.5 .468 - - - 2.3 2.8 .823
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 3 39.3 28.0 4.3 12.3 16.7 2.0 1.0 2.3 - 3.3 11.3 18.0 .630 - - - 5.3 6.3 .842
Earl Monroe 12 33.9 17.4 0.7 3.3 4.0 2.1 0.7 0.8 - 2.2 6.8 13.8 .491 - - - 3.9 4.6 .855

Season 8

Bob Lanier Earl Monroe
Season 1977-781974-75
Team Detroit PistonsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks 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 %
Bob Lanier 63 36.7 24.5 3.1 8.2 11.3 3.4 1.3 1.5 3.6 2.9 9.9 18.4 .537 - - - 4.7 6.1 .772
Earl Monroe 78 36.1 20.9 0.7 3.5 4.2 3.5 1.4 0.4 - 2.6 8.6 18.7 .457 - - - 3.8 4.6 .827
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Earl Monroe 3 29.7 14.0 0.3 2.7 3.0 2.0 1.3 0.7 - 2.0 4.0 15.0 .267 - - - 6.0 7.3 .818

Season 9

Bob Lanier Earl Monroe
Season 1978-791975-76
Team Detroit PistonsNew York Knicks
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 %
Bob Lanier 53 34.6 23.6 3.1 6.2 9.3 2.6 0.9 1.4 3.3 3.4 9.2 17.9 .515 - - - 5.2 6.9 .749
Earl Monroe 76 38.0 20.7 0.6 3.0 3.6 4.0 1.5 0.3 - 2.8 8.5 17.8 .478 - - - 3.7 4.7 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Earl Monroe ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Bob Lanier Earl Monroe
Season 1979-801976-77
Team Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee BucksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Bob Lanier 63 33.8 19.2 2.4 6.3 8.8 2.9 1.2 1.4 2.6 3.2 7.4 13.8 .537 0.0 0.1 .167 4.4 5.6 .782
Earl Monroe 77 34.5 19.9 0.6 2.3 2.9 4.8 1.2 0.3 - 2.6 8.0 15.4 .517 - - - 4.0 4.8 .839
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 7 36.6 19.3 2.4 6.9 9.3 4.4 1.0 1.1 2.4 3.3 7.4 14.4 .515 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 6.0 .738
Earl Monroe ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Bob Lanier Earl Monroe
Season 1980-811977-78
Team Milwaukee BucksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisKnicks 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 %
Bob Lanier 67 26.2 14.3 1.9 4.3 6.2 2.7 1.1 1.2 2.1 2.7 5.6 10.7 .525 0.0 0.0 1.000 3.1 4.1 .751
Earl Monroe 76 31.2 17.8 0.6 1.8 2.4 4.8 0.8 0.3 2.4 2.5 7.3 14.8 .495 - - - 3.2 3.8 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 7 33.7 17.6 1.7 5.7 7.4 4.0 1.7 1.1 2.1 2.6 7.1 12.1 .588 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.6 .719
Earl Monroe 6 24.2 9.8 0.2 0.7 0.8 2.8 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.5 4.0 10.3 .387 - - - 1.8 3.0 .611

Season 12

Bob Lanier Earl Monroe
Season 1981-821978-79
Team Milwaukee BucksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks Lost East 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 %
Bob Lanier 74 26.8 13.5 1.2 4.0 5.2 3.0 1.0 0.8 2.2 2.9 5.5 9.9 .558 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.3 .752
Earl Monroe 64 21.8 12.3 0.4 0.8 1.2 3.0 0.8 0.1 1.5 1.9 5.1 10.9 .471 - - - 2.0 2.4 .838
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 6 35.3 16.0 3.0 4.5 7.5 3.7 1.3 0.8 2.3 3.5 6.8 13.3 .513 0.0 0.2 .000 2.3 4.2 .560
Earl Monroe ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Bob Lanier Earl Monroe
Season 1982-831979-80
Team Milwaukee BucksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Bob Lanier 39 25.1 10.7 1.5 3.6 5.1 2.7 0.9 0.6 2.1 3.2 4.2 8.5 .491 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.4 .684
Earl Monroe 51 12.4 7.4 0.3 0.4 0.7 1.3 0.4 0.1 0.5 0.9 3.2 6.9 .457 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.3 .875
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 9 27.8 13.7 1.9 5.1 7.0 2.6 0.6 1.6 2.3 3.6 5.7 9.9 .573 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.9 .600
Earl Monroe ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Bob Lanier Earl Monroe
Season 1983-84-
Team Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Bob Lanier 72 27.9 13.6 2.0 4.4 6.3 2.6 0.8 0.7 2.3 3.2 5.4 9.5 .572 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.8 .708
Earl Monroe ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 16 31.2 12.7 2.0 5.3 7.3 3.4 0.7 0.6 2.4 3.6 5.1 10.7 .480 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 2.8 .886
Earl Monroe ------- --- ----------