Bob Lanier vs. Tim Thomas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Tim Thomas 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, 1 more than Tim Thomas, who played 13. Bob Lanier had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Tim Thomas had his rookie season in 1997-98. 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
Tim Thomas 13 7 1997-98 to 2009-10

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 Tim Thomas
Season 1970-711997-98
Team Detroit PistonsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second 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
Tim Thomas 77 23.1 11.0 1.4 2.4 3.7 1.2 0.7 0.2 1.5 2.4 4.0 8.9 .447 0.8 2.2 .363 2.2 3.0 .740
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Tim Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Bob Lanier Tim Thomas
Season 1971-721998-99
Team Detroit PistonsPhiladelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayBucks 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 80 38.7 25.7 - - 14.2 3.1 - - - 3.7 10.4 21.1 .493 - - - 4.9 6.3 .768
Tim Thomas 50 16.2 7.2 1.0 1.5 2.5 0.9 0.5 0.2 0.9 2.1 2.6 5.6 .473 0.4 1.4 .309 1.5 2.2 .652
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Tim Thomas 3 19.7 7.7 1.3 2.7 4.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 1.7 3.7 2.7 6.0 .444 0.0 0.7 .000 2.3 4.0 .583

Season 3

Bob Lanier Tim Thomas
Season 1972-731999-00
Team Detroit PistonsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayBucks 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 81 38.9 23.8 - - 14.9 3.2 - - - 3.4 10.0 20.4 .490 - - - 3.8 4.9 .773
Tim Thomas 80 26.2 11.8 1.3 2.9 4.2 1.4 0.7 0.4 1.6 2.8 4.3 9.4 .461 0.8 2.3 .346 2.4 3.0 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Tim Thomas 5 28.4 15.4 1.2 3.6 4.8 2.0 0.2 0.8 0.2 2.8 5.8 11.8 .492 1.0 3.0 .333 2.8 3.4 .824

Season 4

Bob Lanier Tim Thomas
Season 1973-742000-01
Team Detroit PistonsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf SemisBucks 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 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
Tim Thomas 76 27.4 12.6 1.0 3.1 4.1 1.8 1.0 0.6 1.5 2.6 4.3 10.0 .430 1.4 3.4 .412 2.6 3.3 .771
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
Tim Thomas 18 26.5 11.3 1.2 3.3 4.5 1.6 0.5 0.6 1.2 2.9 3.6 7.9 .448 1.2 2.8 .431 2.9 3.6 .815

Season 5

Bob Lanier Tim Thomas
Season 1974-752001-02
Team Detroit PistonsMilwaukee Bucks
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
Tim Thomas 74 26.9 11.7 0.9 3.2 4.1 1.4 0.9 0.4 1.7 2.7 4.3 10.2 .420 1.3 3.9 .326 1.9 2.4 .793
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
Tim Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Bob Lanier Tim Thomas
Season 1975-762002-03
Team Detroit PistonsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf SemisBucks 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
Tim Thomas 80 29.5 13.3 1.2 3.7 4.9 1.3 0.9 0.6 1.7 3.2 5.2 11.6 .443 1.2 3.3 .366 1.8 2.3 .780
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
Tim Thomas 6 31.8 17.8 1.3 3.5 4.8 1.3 0.5 1.0 1.3 4.5 6.0 13.0 .462 2.0 3.5 .571 3.8 5.3 .719

Season 7

Bob Lanier Tim Thomas
Season 1976-772003-04
Team Detroit PistonsMilwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdKnicks 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 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
Tim Thomas 66 31.7 14.7 1.0 3.9 4.8 1.9 1.0 0.3 1.8 3.0 5.5 12.3 .446 1.1 2.9 .376 2.6 3.3 .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
Tim Thomas 1 23.0 12.0 1.0 4.0 5.0 3.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 5.0 4.0 10.0 .400 0.0 1.0 .000 4.0 5.0 .800

Season 8

Bob Lanier Tim Thomas
Season 1977-782004-05
Team Detroit PistonsNew York Knicks
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
Tim Thomas 71 27.3 12.0 0.6 2.7 3.3 1.5 0.6 0.2 1.6 3.1 4.4 10.1 .439 1.2 2.9 .409 1.9 2.4 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Tim Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Bob Lanier Tim Thomas
Season 1978-792005-06
Team Detroit PistonsChicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 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
Tim Thomas 29 23.0 10.3 0.8 3.8 4.5 0.7 0.6 0.2 1.1 2.7 3.9 9.0 .431 1.6 3.8 .414 1.0 1.4 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Tim Thomas 20 31.8 15.1 0.8 5.5 6.3 1.3 0.9 0.4 1.1 4.5 5.4 11.0 .491 2.4 5.4 .444 1.9 2.5 .776

Season 10

Bob Lanier Tim Thomas
Season 1979-802006-07
Team Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Clippers
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
Tim Thomas 76 27.0 11.0 0.8 4.1 5.0 2.3 0.7 0.4 1.4 3.0 3.9 9.5 .414 1.8 4.7 .382 1.3 1.9 .708
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
Tim Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Bob Lanier Tim Thomas
Season 1980-812007-08
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Clippers
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
Tim Thomas 63 30.8 12.4 1.0 4.1 5.1 2.7 0.6 0.5 1.6 3.0 4.6 11.2 .413 1.3 4.3 .306 1.8 2.4 .752
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
Tim Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Bob Lanier Tim Thomas
Season 1981-822008-09
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisBulls 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 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
Tim Thomas 64 19.5 8.5 0.7 2.5 3.1 1.1 0.5 0.2 1.1 2.3 3.0 6.8 .432 1.2 3.0 .413 1.4 1.9 .736
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
Tim Thomas 2 7.5 3.5 0.0 1.5 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 2.0 1.5 5.0 .300 0.5 2.0 .250 0.0 0.0 -

Season 13

Bob Lanier Tim Thomas
Season 1982-832009-10
Team Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsDid 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 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
Tim Thomas 18 15.8 7.5 0.7 1.6 2.3 0.8 0.6 0.1 0.8 1.7 2.7 5.9 .462 0.9 2.4 .372 1.2 1.3 .875
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
Tim Thomas ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Bob Lanier Tim Thomas
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
Tim Thomas ------- --- ----------
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
Tim Thomas ------- --- ----------