Bernard King vs. Bill Walton Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Walton and Bernard King, 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 / Stats / Stats Rankings

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.

Bernard King played 14 years in the NBA, 4 more than Bill Walton, who played 10. Bernard King had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, 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 achievements, 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
Bernard King 14 5 1977-78 to 1992-93
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

Bernard King Bill Walton
Season 1977-781974-75
Team New Jersey NetsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 79 39.1 24.2 3.4 6.2 9.5 2.4 1.5 0.5 3.9 3.8 10.1 21.1 .479 - - - 4.0 5.8 .677
difference:+44+6.2+11.4+0.8+3.8+3.1+2.4+0.7+2.2-0.5+5.0+11.2+.034+1.3+1.9+.009
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
* Neiher Bernard King nor Bill Walton played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Bernard King Bill Walton
Season 1978-791975-76
Team New Jersey NetsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 82 34.9 21.6 3.1 5.1 8.2 3.6 1.4 0.5 3.9 4.0 8.7 16.6 .522 - - - 4.3 7.5 .564
difference:+31+1.8+5.5+0.5+5.7+5.2+0.7+0.4+1.1-1.2+1.9+2.2+.051+1.7+3.0+.019
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 2 40.5 26.0 2.5 3.0 5.5 3.5 2.0 0.0 3.0 5.0 10.5 21.0 .500 - - - 5.0 12.0 .417
Bill Walton DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Bernard King Bill Walton
Season 1979-801976-77
Team Utah JazzPortland 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 >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 19 22.1 9.3 1.3 3.4 4.6 2.7 0.4 0.2 2.6 3.5 3.7 7.2 .518 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.3 .540
difference:+46+12.7+9.3+1.9+7.7+9.8+1.1+0.6+3.0-0.8+3.9+7.1+.010+1.7+1.7+.157
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
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

Bernard King Bill Walton
Season 1980-811977-78
Team Golden State WarriorsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 81 36.0 21.9 2.2 4.6 6.8 3.5 0.9 0.4 3.3 3.8 9.0 15.4 .588 0.0 0.1 .333 3.8 5.4 .703
difference:+23+2.7+3.0+0.2+6.6+6.4+1.5+0.1+2.1-0.3-1.3+1.1+0.2+.066+0.7+1.2+.017
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
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

Bernard King Bill Walton
Season 1981-821979-80
Team Golden State WarriorsSan Diego Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 79 36.2 23.2 1.8 4.2 5.9 3.6 1.0 0.3 3.4 3.6 9.4 16.5 .566 0.0 0.1 .200 4.5 6.3 .705
difference:+65+12.1+9.3+0.2+2.8+3.1+1.2+0.4+2.4-0.8-1.0+3.6+5.0+.063+0.1+2.2+2.4+.112
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
* Neiher Bernard King nor Bill Walton played in the postseason in their season 5

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

Season 6

Bernard King Bill Walton
Season 1982-831982-83
Team New York KnicksSan Diego Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 68 32.5 21.9 1.5 3.3 4.8 2.9 1.3 0.2 2.9 3.4 8.9 16.8 .528 0.0 0.1 .000 4.1 5.7 .722
difference:+35+0.8+7.8+0.8+4.2+5.0+0.7+0.3+3.4-0.3+2.8+5.3+0.1+2.1+2.2+.166
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 6 30.7 23.5 1.3 2.7 4.0 2.2 0.3 0.0 1.7 2.7 9.3 16.2 .577 0.2 0.5 .333 4.7 5.8 .800
Bill Walton DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7

Bernard King Bill Walton
Season 1983-841983-84
Team New York KnicksSan Diego Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 77 34.6 26.3 1.6 3.5 5.1 2.1 1.0 0.2 2.6 3.5 10.3 18.1 .572 0.0 0.1 .000 5.7 7.3 .779
difference:+22+7.8+14.2+0.8+2.8+3.6+1.2+0.2+1.4-0.6-0.7+5.1+8.7+.016+0.1+4.0+4.5+.182
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 - 1.7 2.8 .597
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 12 39.8 34.8 2.3 3.8 6.2 3.0 1.2 0.5 2.6 4.0 13.5 23.5 .574 0.0 0.1 .000 7.8 10.3 .756
Bill Walton DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Bernard King Bill Walton
Season 1984-851984-85
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 55 37.5 32.9 2.1 3.7 5.8 3.7 1.3 0.3 3.7 3.5 12.6 23.7 .530 0.0 0.2 .100 7.7 10.0 .772
difference:+12+12.9+22.8+0.4+2.7+3.2+1.4+0.6+1.8-1.1-0.8+8.6+16.0+.009+0.2+5.6+7.0+.092
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 - 2.1 3.0 .680
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Bernard King nor Bill Walton played in the postseason in their season 8

Note: Bernard King didn't play in 1985-86.

Season 9

Bernard King Bill Walton
Season 1986-871985-86
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 6 35.7 22.7 2.2 3.2 5.3 3.2 0.3 0.0 2.5 2.3 8.7 17.5 .495 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 7.2 .744
difference:+74+16.4+15.1+0.5+1.9+1.5+1.1+0.2+1.3-0.6-0.3+5.8+12.4+.067+3.5+4.7+.031
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
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

Bernard King Bill Walton
Season 1987-881986-87
Team Washington BulletsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 69 29.6 17.2 1.2 2.8 4.1 2.8 0.7 0.1 3.1 2.9 6.8 13.6 .501 0.0 0.1 .167 3.6 4.7 .762
difference:+59+18.4+14.4+0.1+0.8+1.0+1.9+0.6+0.9-1.6-0.6+5.8+11.0+.116+0.1+2.8+3.2+.229
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 5 33.6 13.8 0.6 1.6 2.2 1.8 0.6 0.0 2.8 3.4 5.2 10.6 .491 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 4.2 .810
difference:+7+25.1+11.4+0.2+0.2+0.4+1.0+0.3+0.3-2.1-1.5+4.2+8.5+.011+3.0+3.0+.453
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

Additional Years

* Bernard King played 4 seasons more than Bill Walton in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 11 to 14, from 1989 to 1993—Bernard King played in one postseason.

In those 4 extra years over Bill Walton, Bernard King got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 1 All-Star Game