Bob Lanier vs. Bobby Wanzer Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bobby Wanzer 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, 5 more than Bobby Wanzer, who played 9. Bob Lanier had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Bobby Wanzer had his rookie season in 1948-49. 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
Bobby Wanzer 9 7 1948-49 to 1956-57

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 Bobby Wanzer
Season 1970-711948-49
Team Detroit PistonsRochester Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayRoyals Lost West Div Finals
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
Bobby Wanzer 60 - 10.2 - - - 3.1 - - - 2.2 3.4 8.9 .379 - - - 3.5 4.2 .823
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Bobby Wanzer 4 - 9.5 - - - 2.3 - - - 2.3 3.3 10.3 .317 - - - 3.0 4.3 .706

Season 2

Bob Lanier Bobby Wanzer
Season 1971-721949-50
Team Detroit PistonsRochester Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayRoyals Lost Cent 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
Bobby Wanzer 67 - 11.8 - - - 3.2 - - - 1.5 3.8 9.2 .414 - - - 4.2 5.2 .806
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Bobby Wanzer 2 - 13.5 - - - 2.0 - - - 3.5 4.0 8.5 .471 - - - 5.5 6.5 .846

Season 3

Bob Lanier Bobby Wanzer
Season 1972-731950-51
Team Detroit PistonsRochester Royals
Honors & Awards 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 %
Bob Lanier 81 38.9 23.8 - - 14.9 3.2 - - - 3.4 10.0 20.4 .490 - - - 3.8 4.9 .773
Bobby Wanzer 68 - 10.8 - - 3.4 2.7 - - - 1.9 3.7 9.2 .401 - - - 3.4 4.0 .850
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Bobby Wanzer 14 - 12.5 - - 5.1 4.2 - - - 3.2 4.1 8.6 .471 - - - 4.4 4.8 .910

Season 4

Bob Lanier Bobby Wanzer
Season 1973-741951-52
Team Detroit PistonsRochester Royals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf SemisRoyals Lost West Div 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
Bobby Wanzer 66 37.8 15.7 - - 5.0 4.0 - - - 3.0 5.0 11.7 .425 - - - 5.7 6.3 .904
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
Bobby Wanzer 6 41.5 18.8 - - 6.3 3.2 - - - 3.8 5.5 12.8 .429 - - - 7.8 8.2 .959

Season 5

Bob Lanier Bobby Wanzer
Season 1974-751952-53
Team Detroit PistonsRochester Royals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdRoyals Lost West 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 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
Bobby Wanzer 70 36.8 14.6 - - 5.0 3.6 - - - 2.9 4.5 12.4 .367 - - - 5.5 6.8 .812
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
Bobby Wanzer 3 38.7 17.0 - - 7.0 3.0 - - - 4.3 4.7 12.3 .378 - - - 7.7 9.0 .852

Season 6

Bob Lanier Bobby Wanzer
Season 1975-761953-54
Team Detroit PistonsRochester Royals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf SemisRoyals Lost West Div 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 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
Bobby Wanzer 72 35.3 13.3 - - 5.4 3.5 - - - 2.4 4.5 11.6 .386 - - - 4.4 5.9 .734
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
Bobby Wanzer 6 40.8 16.0 - - 5.8 4.3 - - - 3.0 5.0 12.3 .405 - - - 6.0 7.3 .818

Season 7

Bob Lanier Bobby Wanzer
Season 1976-771954-55
Team Detroit PistonsRochester Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdRoyals Lost West 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 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
Bobby Wanzer 72 33.0 13.1 - - 5.2 3.4 - - - 2.3 4.5 11.4 .395 - - - 4.1 5.2 .786
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
Bobby Wanzer 3 33.3 18.0 - - 7.0 2.7 - - - 2.7 5.3 11.7 .457 - - - 7.3 8.0 .917

Season 8

Bob Lanier Bobby Wanzer
Season 1977-781955-56
Team Detroit PistonsRochester Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 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
Bobby Wanzer 72 27.5 10.4 - - 3.8 3.1 - - - 2.1 3.4 9.0 .376 - - - 3.6 5.0 .719
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Bobby Wanzer ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Bob Lanier Bobby Wanzer
Season 1978-791956-57
Team Detroit PistonsRochester Royals
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
Bobby Wanzer 21 7.6 3.9 - - 1.2 0.4 - - - 1.0 1.1 2.3 .469 - - - 1.7 2.2 .783
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Bobby Wanzer ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Bob Lanier Bobby Wanzer
Season 1979-80-
Team Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
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
Bobby Wanzer ------- --- ----------
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
Bobby Wanzer ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Bob Lanier Bobby Wanzer
Season 1980-81-
Team Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks 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
Bobby Wanzer ------- --- ----------
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
Bobby Wanzer ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Bob Lanier Bobby Wanzer
Season 1981-82-
Team Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks 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 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
Bobby Wanzer ------- --- ----------
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
Bobby Wanzer ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Bob Lanier Bobby Wanzer
Season 1982-83-
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 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
Bobby Wanzer ------- --- ----------
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
Bobby Wanzer ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Bob Lanier Bobby Wanzer
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
Bobby Wanzer ------- --- ----------
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
Bobby Wanzer ------- --- ----------