Bob Lanier vs. Slater Martin Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Slater Martin 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, 3 more than Slater Martin, who played 11. Bob Lanier had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Slater Martin had his rookie season in 1949-50. 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
Slater Martin 11 11 1949-50 to 1959-60

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 Slater Martin
Season 1970-711949-50
Team Detroit PistonsMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
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 82 24.6 15.6 - - 8.1 1.8 - - - 3.3 6.1 13.5 .455 - - - 3.3 4.6 .726
Slater Martin 67 - 4.0 - - - 2.2 - - - 2.4 1.6 4.5 .351 - - - 0.9 1.4 .634
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Slater Martin 12 - 4.7 - - - 2.1 - - - 2.9 1.8 4.2 .420 - - - 1.2 2.0 .583

Season 2

Bob Lanier Slater Martin
Season 1971-721950-51
Team Detroit PistonsMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 80 38.7 25.7 - - 14.2 3.1 - - - 3.7 10.4 21.1 .493 - - - 4.9 6.3 .768
Slater Martin 68 - 8.5 - - 3.6 3.5 - - - 2.9 3.3 9.2 .362 - - - 1.8 2.6 .684
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Slater Martin 7 - 7.1 - - 6.0 3.6 - - - 2.9 2.6 7.3 .353 - - - 2.0 3.9 .519

Season 3

Bob Lanier Slater Martin
Season 1972-731951-52
Team Detroit PistonsMinneapolis Lakers
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
Slater Martin 66 37.6 9.3 - - 3.5 3.8 - - - 3.4 3.6 9.6 .375 - - - 2.2 2.9 .747
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Slater Martin 13 40.2 9.0 - - 2.8 4.3 - - - 4.9 2.9 8.5 .345 - - - 3.2 4.3 .732

Season 4

Bob Lanier Slater Martin
Season 1973-741952-53
Team Detroit PistonsMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Pistons 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 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
Slater Martin 70 36.5 10.6 - - 2.7 3.6 - - - 3.5 3.7 9.1 .410 - - - 3.2 4.1 .780
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
Slater Martin 12 37.8 10.1 - - 2.6 3.6 - - - 4.1 3.4 8.6 .398 - - - 3.3 4.3 .765

Season 5

Bob Lanier Slater Martin
Season 1974-751953-54
Team Detroit PistonsMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA 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 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
Slater Martin 69 35.8 9.9 - - 2.4 3.7 - - - 2.9 3.7 9.5 .388 - - - 2.6 3.5 .724
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
Slater Martin 13 41.0 9.7 - - 2.2 4.6 - - - 4.0 2.8 8.6 .330 - - - 4.0 5.4 .743

Season 6

Bob Lanier Slater Martin
Season 1975-761954-55
Team Detroit PistonsMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf SemisLakers 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
Slater Martin 72 38.7 13.6 - - 3.6 5.9 - - - 3.1 4.9 12.8 .381 - - - 3.8 5.0 .769
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
Slater Martin 7 45.0 13.7 - - 4.0 4.4 - - - 3.3 4.0 13.4 .298 - - - 5.7 7.0 .816

Season 7

Bob Lanier Slater Martin
Season 1976-771955-56
Team Detroit PistonsMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers 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
Slater Martin 72 39.4 13.2 - - 3.6 6.2 - - - 2.8 4.3 12.0 .358 - - - 4.6 5.5 .833
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
Slater Martin 3 40.3 18.0 - - 2.3 5.0 - - - 3.0 5.7 12.3 .459 - - - 6.7 8.0 .833

Season 8

Bob Lanier Slater Martin
Season 1977-781956-57
Team Detroit PistonsNew York Knicks, St. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks 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 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
Slater Martin 66 36.4 10.9 - - 4.4 4.1 - - - 2.9 3.7 11.2 .332 - - - 3.5 4.4 .790
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Slater Martin 10 43.9 16.6 - - 4.2 4.9 - - - 3.9 5.5 15.5 .355 - - - 5.6 7.4 .757

Season 9

Bob Lanier Slater Martin
Season 1978-791957-58
Team Detroit PistonsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 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
Slater Martin 60 35.0 12.0 - - 3.8 3.6 - - - 3.1 4.3 12.8 .336 - - - 3.4 4.6 .746
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Slater Martin 11 37.8 11.5 - - 4.4 3.6 - - - 3.6 4.0 12.5 .321 - - - 3.5 5.7 .619

Season 10

Bob Lanier Slater Martin
Season 1979-801958-59
Team Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee BucksSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf SemisHawks 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 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
Slater Martin 71 35.3 9.7 - - 3.6 4.7 - - - 3.2 3.5 9.9 .347 - - - 2.8 3.6 .776
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
Slater Martin 1 18.0 8.0 - - 3.0 2.0 - - - 2.0 4.0 5.0 .800 - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 11

Bob Lanier Slater Martin
Season 1980-811959-60
Team Milwaukee BucksSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisHawks 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 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
Slater Martin 64 27.4 6.2 - - 2.9 5.2 - - - 2.7 2.2 6.0 .371 - - - 1.8 2.4 .729
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
Slater Martin 3 19.3 1.0 - - 1.0 2.7 - - - 3.0 0.3 4.3 .077 - - - 0.3 1.3 .250

Season 12

Bob Lanier Slater Martin
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
Slater Martin ------- --- ----------
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
Slater Martin ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Bob Lanier Slater Martin
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
Slater Martin ------- --- ----------
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
Slater Martin ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Bob Lanier Slater Martin
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
Slater Martin ------- --- ----------
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
Slater Martin ------- --- ----------