Bob Lanier vs. Herb Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Herb Williams 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 / Games against each other

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, 4 less than Herb Williams, who played 18. Bob Lanier had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Herb Williams had his rookie season in 1981-82. 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
Herb Williams 18 8 1981-82 to 1998-99

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18

Rookie Season

Bob Lanier Herb Williams
Season 1970-711981-82
Team Detroit PistonsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement 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
Herb Williams 82 27.8 11.5 2.1 5.2 7.4 1.7 0.6 2.2 1.7 2.4 5.0 10.4 .477 0.0 0.1 .286 1.5 2.3 .670
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Bob Lanier Herb Williams
Season 1971-721982-83
Team Detroit PistonsIndiana Pacers
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 80 38.7 25.7 - - 14.2 3.1 - - - 3.7 10.4 21.1 .493 - - - 4.9 6.3 .768
Herb Williams 78 32.2 16.9 1.9 5.5 7.5 3.4 0.7 2.2 2.9 2.9 7.4 14.9 .499 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 2.8 .705
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Bob Lanier Herb Williams
Season 1972-731983-84
Team Detroit PistonsIndiana Pacers
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 81 38.9 23.8 - - 14.9 3.2 - - - 3.4 10.0 20.4 .490 - - - 3.8 4.9 .773
Herb Williams 69 33.0 14.9 2.2 5.8 8.0 3.1 0.9 1.6 3.0 2.8 6.0 12.5 .478 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.3 .702
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Bob Lanier Herb Williams
Season 1973-741984-85
Team Detroit PistonsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Pistons 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 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
Herb Williams 75 34.1 18.3 2.1 6.4 8.5 3.4 0.7 1.8 3.5 2.9 7.7 16.1 .475 0.0 0.1 .111 3.0 4.5 .657
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Bob Lanier Herb Williams
Season 1974-751985-86
Team Detroit PistonsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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 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
Herb Williams 78 35.5 19.9 2.2 6.9 9.1 2.2 0.6 2.4 2.7 3.1 8.0 16.3 .492 0.0 0.2 .083 3.8 5.2 .730
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Bob Lanier Herb Williams
Season 1975-761986-87
Team Detroit PistonsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf SemisPacers 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 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
Herb Williams 74 34.1 14.9 1.9 5.4 7.3 2.4 0.8 1.3 2.0 3.4 6.1 12.7 .480 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 3.6 .740
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
Herb Williams 4 33.5 11.8 0.8 4.3 5.0 1.8 0.0 0.3 2.8 3.0 5.0 8.5 .588 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.3 .538

Season 7

Bob Lanier Herb Williams
Season 1976-771987-88
Team Detroit PistonsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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 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
Herb Williams 75 26.2 10.0 1.5 4.7 6.3 1.3 0.5 1.9 1.6 3.3 4.1 9.8 .425 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 2.3 .737
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Bob Lanier Herb Williams
Season 1977-781988-89
Team Detroit PistonsIndiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks
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 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
Herb Williams 76 32.5 10.2 1.8 6.0 7.8 1.6 0.6 1.8 2.0 3.1 4.2 9.7 .436 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.6 .686
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Bob Lanier Herb Williams
Season 1978-791989-90
Team Detroit PistonsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks Lost West 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 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
Herb Williams 81 27.1 8.6 0.9 3.9 4.8 1.5 0.6 1.3 1.3 3.0 3.6 8.2 .444 0.0 0.1 .222 1.3 2.0 .679
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 3 27.0 13.7 1.3 3.0 4.3 1.7 0.3 0.7 1.0 5.3 4.7 7.7 .609 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 5.3 .813

Season 10

Bob Lanier Herb Williams
Season 1979-801990-91
Team Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
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
Herb Williams 60 30.5 12.5 1.4 4.5 6.0 1.6 0.5 1.5 1.9 3.3 5.5 10.9 .507 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.2 .638
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Bob Lanier Herb Williams
Season 1980-811991-92
Team Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
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 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
Herb Williams 75 27.2 11.5 1.4 4.6 6.1 1.3 0.5 1.3 1.5 2.5 4.9 11.3 .431 0.0 0.1 .167 1.7 2.3 .725
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Bob Lanier Herb Williams
Season 1981-821992-93
Team Milwaukee BucksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisKnicks 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 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
Herb Williams 55 10.4 2.9 0.8 1.9 2.7 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.4 1.4 1.3 3.2 .411 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .667
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
Herb Williams 7 9.9 2.0 0.7 1.3 2.0 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.3 1.9 0.7 2.0 .357 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.6 1.000

Season 13

Bob Lanier Herb Williams
Season 1982-831993-94
Team Milwaukee BucksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsKnicks 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 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
Herb Williams 70 11.1 3.3 0.8 1.8 2.6 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.6 1.5 1.5 3.3 .442 0.0 0.0 .000 0.4 0.6 .643
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
Herb Williams 19 6.7 1.5 0.5 0.5 1.1 0.2 0.2 0.6 0.4 1.0 0.7 1.6 .419 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.2 .667

Season 14

Bob Lanier Herb Williams
Season 1983-841994-95
Team Milwaukee BucksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsKnicks 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 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
Herb Williams 56 13.3 3.3 0.4 1.9 2.4 0.5 0.2 0.8 0.7 1.9 1.5 3.2 .456 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.7 .622
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
Herb Williams 8 6.9 1.0 0.4 0.5 0.9 0.0 0.6 0.6 0.1 1.6 0.4 1.6 .231 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 1.000

Season 15

Bob Lanier Herb Williams
Season -1995-96
Team -New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 44 13.0 3.1 0.3 1.7 2.0 0.6 0.3 0.8 0.5 1.8 1.4 3.5 .408 0.0 0.1 .250 0.3 0.5 .650
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 5 6.6 1.8 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.6 1.0 .600 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .750

Season 16

Bob Lanier Herb Williams
Season -1996-97
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 21 8.8 1.9 0.4 1.0 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.9 0.9 2.2 .391 0.0 0.0 .000 0.1 0.2 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 3 7.3 1.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.3 0.7 1.7 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 17

Bob Lanier Herb Williams
Season -1997-98
Team -New York Knicks
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 %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 27 6.6 1.4 0.2 0.9 1.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.2 1.3 0.7 1.6 .419 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.3 .125
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Bob Lanier Herb Williams
Season -1998-99
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 6 5.7 1.7 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 8 1.9 0.3 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.1 0.6 .200 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -