LaMelo Ball vs. Billy Ray Bates Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Billy Ray Bates and LaMelo Ball that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2025-26
LaMelo Ball: 2020-21 to 2024-25
Billy Ray Bates: 1979-80 to 1982-83

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships LaMelo Ball 0 Billy Ray Bates 0

NBA Seasons LaMelo Ball 5 Billy Ray Bates 4

Playoffs Played LaMelo Ball 0 Billy Ray Bates 2

All-Star Games LaMelo Ball 1 Billy Ray Bates 0

Honors and Awards

Rookie of The Year LaMelo Ball 1 Billy Ray Bates 0

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game LaMelo Ball 21.0 Billy Ray Bates 11.7

Rebounds Per Game LaMelo Ball 6.0 Billy Ray Bates 1.7

Assists Per Game LaMelo Ball 7.4 Billy Ray Bates 1.9

Steals Per Game LaMelo Ball 1.5 Billy Ray Bates 0.8

Blocks Per Game LaMelo Ball 0.3 Billy Ray Bates 0.1

Totals Stats

Total Points LaMelo Ball 4,859 Billy Ray Bates 2,197

Total Rebounds LaMelo Ball 1,379 Billy Ray Bates 313

Total Assists LaMelo Ball 1,710 Billy Ray Bates 352

Total Steals LaMelo Ball 340 Billy Ray Bates 151

Total Blocks LaMelo Ball 76 Billy Ray Bates 16

Total Games LaMelo Ball 231 Billy Ray Bates 187

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage LaMelo Ball .421 Billy Ray Bates .474

3-Point Percentage LaMelo Ball .365 Billy Ray Bates .303

Free Throw Percentage LaMelo Ball .837 Billy Ray Bates .796

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game LaMelo Ball 25.2 (2025) Billy Ray Bates 13.8 (1981)

Rebounds Per Game LaMelo Ball 6.7 (2022) Billy Ray Bates 2.0 (1981)

Assists Per Game LaMelo Ball 8.4 (2023) Billy Ray Bates 2.5 (1981)

Steals Per Game LaMelo Ball 1.8 (2024) Billy Ray Bates 1.1 (1981)

Blocks Per Game LaMelo Ball 0.4 (2022) Billy Ray Bates 0.2 (1983)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game LaMelo Ball - Billy Ray Bates 26.7

Rebounds Per Game LaMelo Ball - Billy Ray Bates 2.8

Assists Per Game LaMelo Ball - Billy Ray Bates 4.2

Steals Per Game LaMelo Ball - Billy Ray Bates 1.7

Blocks Per Game LaMelo Ball - Billy Ray Bates 0.3

Totals Stats

Total Points LaMelo Ball - Billy Ray Bates 160

Total Rebounds LaMelo Ball - Billy Ray Bates 17

Total Assists LaMelo Ball - Billy Ray Bates 25

Total Steals LaMelo Ball - Billy Ray Bates 10

Total Blocks LaMelo Ball - Billy Ray Bates 2

Total Games LaMelo Ball 0 Billy Ray Bates 6

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage LaMelo Ball - Billy Ray Bates .545

3-Point Percentage LaMelo Ball - Billy Ray Bates .375

Free Throw Percentage LaMelo Ball - Billy Ray Bates .806

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game LaMelo Ball - Billy Ray Bates 28.3 (1981)

Rebounds Per Game LaMelo Ball - Billy Ray Bates 3.3 (1980)

Assists Per Game LaMelo Ball - Billy Ray Bates 4.3 (1981)

Steals Per Game LaMelo Ball - Billy Ray Bates 1.7 (1981)

Blocks Per Game LaMelo Ball - Billy Ray Bates 0.3 (1981)