Bob Lanier vs. Rodney McCray Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rodney McCray 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 more than Rodney McCray, who played 10. Bob Lanier had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Rodney McCray had his rookie season in 1983-84. 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
Rodney McCray 10 5 1983-84 to 1992-93

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 Rodney McCray
Season 1970-711983-84
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
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
Rodney McCray 79 26.3 10.8 2.2 3.5 5.7 2.2 0.7 0.7 1.5 2.6 4.2 8.5 .499 0.0 0.1 .250 2.3 3.2 .731
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Rodney McCray ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Bob Lanier Rodney McCray
Season 1971-721984-85
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 80 38.7 25.7 - - 14.2 3.1 - - - 3.7 10.4 21.1 .493 - - - 4.9 6.3 .768
Rodney McCray 82 36.6 14.4 2.5 4.1 6.6 4.3 1.1 0.9 2.2 2.6 5.8 10.9 .535 0.0 0.1 .000 2.8 3.8 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Rodney McCray 5 36.2 10.6 1.8 4.2 6.0 2.2 1.2 0.2 2.6 3.4 3.8 6.8 .559 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.6 .652

Season 3

Bob Lanier Rodney McCray
Season 1972-731985-86
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 38.9 23.8 - - 14.9 3.2 - - - 3.4 10.0 20.4 .490 - - - 3.8 4.9 .773
Rodney McCray 82 31.8 10.3 1.9 4.4 6.3 3.6 0.6 0.7 1.6 2.4 4.1 7.7 .537 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 2.7 .770
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Rodney McCray 20 41.8 13.0 1.2 4.8 5.9 6.3 0.9 1.0 1.9 2.3 5.4 10.1 .535 0.0 0.2 .000 2.2 2.9 .741

Season 4

Bob Lanier Rodney McCray
Season 1973-741986-87
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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 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
Rodney McCray 81 38.7 14.4 2.3 4.8 7.1 5.4 1.1 0.7 2.6 2.1 5.3 9.7 .552 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 4.9 .779
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
Rodney McCray 10 43.6 15.7 3.2 5.1 8.3 5.6 0.5 0.9 2.6 2.1 5.7 10.1 .564 0.0 0.2 .000 4.3 5.4 .796

Season 5

Bob Lanier Rodney McCray
Season 1974-751987-88
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets 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 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
Rodney McCray 81 33.2 12.4 2.9 4.9 7.8 3.3 0.7 0.6 1.8 2.0 4.4 9.2 .481 0.0 0.0 .000 3.6 4.5 .785
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
Rodney McCray 4 39.8 8.0 3.8 3.0 6.8 2.3 1.0 0.8 1.8 3.0 3.0 7.8 .387 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 3.0 .667

Season 6

Bob Lanier Rodney McCray
Season 1975-761988-89
Team Detroit PistonsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
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 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
Rodney McCray 68 35.8 12.6 2.1 5.5 7.6 4.3 0.8 0.5 2.5 1.8 5.0 10.7 .466 0.1 0.3 .227 2.5 3.4 .722
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
Rodney McCray ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Bob Lanier Rodney McCray
Season 1976-771989-90
Team Detroit PistonsSacramento Kings
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
Rodney McCray 82 39.5 16.6 2.3 5.8 8.2 4.6 0.7 0.9 2.1 2.1 6.5 12.7 .515 0.1 0.5 .262 3.3 4.2 .784
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
Rodney McCray ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Bob Lanier Rodney McCray
Season 1977-781990-91
Team Detroit PistonsDallas 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
Rodney McCray 74 34.6 11.4 2.1 5.5 7.6 3.5 0.9 0.7 1.7 2.7 4.5 9.2 .495 0.2 0.5 .333 2.1 2.7 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Rodney McCray ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Bob Lanier Rodney McCray
Season 1978-791991-92
Team Detroit PistonsDallas 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 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
Rodney McCray 75 28.1 9.0 2.0 4.3 6.2 2.9 0.6 0.4 1.5 2.4 3.6 8.3 .436 0.3 1.1 .294 1.5 2.0 .719
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Rodney McCray ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Bob Lanier Rodney McCray
Season 1979-801992-93
Team Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee BucksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf SemisNBA 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 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
Rodney McCray 64 15.9 3.5 0.8 1.6 2.5 1.3 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.5 1.4 3.2 .451 0.0 0.1 .400 0.6 0.8 .692
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
Rodney McCray 7 5.6 0.3 0.3 1.6 1.9 0.7 0.0 0.1 0.6 0.6 0.1 0.9 .167 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 11

Bob Lanier Rodney McCray
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
Rodney McCray ------- --- ----------
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
Rodney McCray ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Bob Lanier Rodney McCray
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
Rodney McCray ------- --- ----------
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
Rodney McCray ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Bob Lanier Rodney McCray
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
Rodney McCray ------- --- ----------
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
Rodney McCray ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Bob Lanier Rodney McCray
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
Rodney McCray ------- --- ----------
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
Rodney McCray ------- --- ----------