Bob Lanier vs. Paul Westphal Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul Westphal 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, 2 more than Paul Westphal, who played 12. Bob Lanier had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Paul Westphal had his rookie season in 1972-73. 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
Paul Westphal 12 9 1972-73 to 1983-84

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 Paul Westphal
Season 1970-711972-73
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 82 24.6 15.6 - - 8.1 1.8 - - - 3.3 6.1 13.5 .455 - - - 3.3 4.6 .726
Paul Westphal 60 8.0 4.1 - - 1.1 1.2 - - - 1.5 1.5 3.5 .420 - - - 1.1 1.4 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal 11 9.9 3.9 - - 0.6 0.8 - - - 2.2 1.7 3.5 .487 - - - 0.5 0.6 .714

Season 2

Bob Lanier Paul Westphal
Season 1971-721973-74
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
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 80 38.7 25.7 - - 14.2 3.1 - - - 3.7 10.4 21.1 .493 - - - 4.9 6.3 .768
Paul Westphal 82 14.2 7.2 0.6 1.1 1.7 2.1 0.5 0.4 - 2.1 2.9 5.8 .501 - - - 1.4 1.9 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal 18 13.4 5.7 0.3 0.8 1.2 1.7 0.4 0.1 - 2.1 2.6 5.6 .460 - - - 0.6 0.8 .733

Season 3

Bob Lanier Paul Westphal
Season 1972-731974-75
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 81 38.9 23.8 - - 14.9 3.2 - - - 3.4 10.0 20.4 .490 - - - 3.8 4.9 .773
Paul Westphal 82 19.3 9.8 0.5 1.5 2.0 2.9 1.0 0.4 - 2.3 4.2 8.2 .510 - - - 1.5 1.9 .763
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal 11 16.6 8.0 0.5 0.7 1.2 2.9 0.5 0.2 - 1.9 3.5 7.4 .469 - - - 1.1 1.6 .667

Season 4

Bob Lanier Paul Westphal
Season 1973-741975-76
Team Detroit PistonsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf SemisSuns 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
Paul Westphal 82 36.1 20.5 0.9 2.3 3.2 5.4 2.6 0.5 - 2.7 8.0 16.2 .494 - - - 4.5 5.4 .830
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
Paul Westphal 19 36.1 21.1 0.7 1.7 2.5 5.1 1.8 0.5 - 3.2 8.7 17.0 .511 - - - 3.7 4.9 .763

Season 5

Bob Lanier Paul Westphal
Season 1974-751976-77
Team Detroit PistonsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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
Paul Westphal 81 32.1 21.3 0.7 1.6 2.3 5.7 1.7 0.3 - 2.1 8.4 16.3 .518 - - - 4.5 5.4 .825
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Bob Lanier Paul Westphal
Season 1975-761977-78
Team Detroit PistonsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf SemisSuns 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 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
Paul Westphal 80 31.0 25.2 0.5 1.5 2.1 5.5 1.7 0.4 3.5 2.0 10.1 19.6 .516 - - - 5.0 6.1 .813
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
Paul Westphal 2 33.0 26.0 1.5 1.5 3.0 9.5 0.5 0.0 2.5 2.0 11.0 23.5 .468 - - - 4.0 4.5 .889

Season 7

Bob Lanier Paul Westphal
Season 1976-771978-79
Team Detroit PistonsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdSuns Lost West 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
Paul Westphal 81 32.6 24.0 0.4 1.5 2.0 6.5 1.4 0.3 2.9 2.0 9.9 18.5 .535 - - - 4.2 5.0 .837
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
Paul Westphal 15 35.6 22.4 0.5 1.7 2.2 4.3 1.0 0.3 2.5 2.5 9.5 19.1 .495 - - - 3.5 4.4 .788

Season 8

Bob Lanier Paul Westphal
Season 1977-781979-80
Team Detroit PistonsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 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
Paul Westphal 82 32.5 21.9 0.6 1.7 2.3 5.1 1.5 0.4 2.5 2.0 8.4 16.1 .525 0.3 1.1 .280 4.7 5.4 .862
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal 8 31.6 20.9 0.3 1.0 1.3 3.9 1.4 0.4 1.6 2.5 8.6 17.8 .486 0.1 1.5 .083 3.5 4.0 .875

Season 9

Bob Lanier Paul Westphal
Season 1978-791980-81
Team Detroit PistonsSeattle Supersonics
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 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
Paul Westphal 36 29.9 16.7 0.3 1.6 1.9 4.1 1.3 0.4 2.2 1.9 6.1 13.9 .442 0.2 0.7 .240 4.3 5.1 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Bob Lanier Paul Westphal
Season 1979-801981-82
Team Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee BucksNew York Knicks
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
Paul Westphal 18 25.1 11.7 0.5 0.7 1.2 5.6 1.1 0.4 2.6 3.4 4.8 10.8 .443 0.1 0.4 .250 2.0 2.6 .766
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Bob Lanier Paul Westphal
Season 1980-811982-83
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
Paul Westphal 80 24.7 10.0 0.2 1.2 1.4 5.5 1.1 0.2 2.5 2.3 4.0 8.7 .459 0.2 0.6 .292 1.9 2.3 .804
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
Paul Westphal 6 26.0 9.5 0.0 1.3 1.3 5.7 0.3 0.3 1.5 2.2 3.7 8.3 .440 0.5 1.3 .375 1.7 2.2 .769

Season 12

Bob Lanier Paul Westphal
Season 1981-821983-84
Team Milwaukee BucksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisSuns Lost West 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
Paul Westphal 59 14.7 7.0 0.1 0.6 0.7 2.5 0.7 0.1 1.3 1.2 2.4 5.3 .460 0.1 0.4 .269 2.0 2.4 .824
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
Paul Westphal 17 13.1 5.3 0.2 0.3 0.5 2.2 0.7 0.0 1.4 1.4 1.8 4.7 .375 0.1 0.5 .222 1.6 1.9 .875

Season 13

Bob Lanier Paul Westphal
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Bob Lanier Paul Westphal
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------