Charles Barkley vs. Sam Bowie Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Sam Bowie and Charles Barkley, 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.

Charles Barkley played 16 years in the NBA, 6 more than Sam Bowie, who played 10. Charles Barkley had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, while Sam Bowie had his rookie season in 1984-85. 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
Charles Barkley 16 13 1984-85 to 1999-00
Sam Bowie 10 5 1984-85 to 1994-95

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Charles Barkley Sam Bowie
Season 1984-851984-85
Team Philadelphia 76ersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsTrail Blazers 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 %
Charles Barkley 82 28.6 14.0 3.2 5.3 8.6 1.9 1.2 1.0 2.5 3.7 5.2 9.5 .545 0.0 0.1 .167 3.6 4.9 .733
Sam Bowie 76 29.2 10.0 2.7 5.9 8.6 2.8 0.7 2.7 2.3 3.7 3.9 7.3 .537 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.0 .711
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Barkley 13 31.4 14.9 4.0 7.1 11.1 2.0 1.8 1.2 2.7 3.8 5.8 10.7 .540 0.3 0.5 .667 3.1 4.8 .635
Sam Bowie 9 28.8 7.3 1.8 6.7 8.4 2.3 0.4 2.3 1.3 4.0 2.9 6.6 .441 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.8 .560

Season 2

Charles Barkley Sam Bowie
Season 1985-861985-86
Team Philadelphia 76ersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Charles Barkley 80 36.9 20.0 4.4 8.4 12.8 3.9 2.2 1.6 4.4 4.2 7.4 13.0 .572 0.2 0.9 .227 5.0 7.2 .685
Sam Bowie 38 29.8 11.8 2.4 6.2 8.6 2.6 0.6 2.5 2.3 3.7 4.4 9.1 .484 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.2 .708
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Barkley 12 41.4 25.0 5.0 10.8 15.8 5.6 2.3 1.3 5.4 4.3 8.7 15.0 .578 0.1 1.3 .067 7.6 10.9 .695
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Charles Barkley Sam Bowie
Season 1986-871986-87
Team Philadelphia 76ersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East 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 %
Charles Barkley 68 40.3 23.0 5.7 8.9 14.6 4.9 1.8 1.5 4.7 3.7 8.2 13.8 .594 0.3 1.5 .202 6.3 8.3 .761
Sam Bowie 5 32.6 16.0 2.8 3.8 6.6 1.8 0.2 2.0 3.0 3.8 6.0 13.2 .455 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 6.0 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Barkley 5 42.0 24.6 5.4 7.2 12.6 2.4 0.8 1.6 4.4 4.2 8.6 15.0 .573 0.2 1.6 .125 7.2 9.0 .800
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------

Note: Sam Bowie didn't play in 1987-88.

Season 4

Charles Barkley Sam Bowie
Season 1987-881988-89
Team Philadelphia 76ersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers 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 %
Charles Barkley 80 39.6 28.3 4.8 7.1 11.9 3.2 1.3 1.3 3.8 3.5 9.4 16.0 .587 0.6 2.0 .280 8.9 11.9 .751
Sam Bowie 20 20.6 8.6 1.8 3.5 5.3 1.8 0.4 1.7 1.7 2.2 3.5 7.7 .451 0.3 0.4 .714 1.4 2.5 .571
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Barkley ------- --- ----------
Sam Bowie 3 22.3 10.3 3.3 3.3 6.7 1.0 0.0 2.3 1.0 2.7 4.0 9.3 .429 0.3 0.7 .500 2.0 2.7 .750

Season 5

Charles Barkley Sam Bowie
Season 1988-891989-90
Team Philadelphia 76ersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East 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 %
Charles Barkley 79 39.1 25.8 5.1 7.4 12.5 4.1 1.6 0.8 3.2 3.3 8.9 15.3 .579 0.4 2.1 .216 7.6 10.1 .753
Sam Bowie 68 32.5 14.7 3.0 7.1 10.1 1.3 0.6 1.8 1.8 3.1 5.1 12.3 .416 0.1 0.5 .323 4.3 5.6 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Barkley 3 45.0 27.0 2.7 9.0 11.7 5.3 1.7 0.7 3.7 3.0 9.7 15.0 .644 0.3 1.7 .200 7.3 10.3 .710
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Charles Barkley Sam Bowie
Season 1989-901990-91
Team Philadelphia 76ersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Charles Barkley 79 39.1 25.2 4.6 6.9 11.5 3.9 1.9 0.6 3.1 3.2 8.9 14.9 .600 0.3 1.2 .217 7.1 9.4 .749
Sam Bowie 62 30.9 12.9 2.8 4.9 7.7 2.4 0.7 1.5 2.3 2.8 5.1 11.7 .434 0.1 0.4 .182 2.7 3.7 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Barkley 10 41.9 24.7 6.6 8.9 15.5 4.3 0.8 0.7 3.0 3.6 8.8 16.2 .543 0.6 1.8 .333 6.5 10.8 .602
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Charles Barkley Sam Bowie
Season 1990-911991-92
Team Philadelphia 76ersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisNets 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 %
Charles Barkley 67 37.3 27.6 3.9 6.3 10.1 4.2 1.6 0.5 3.1 2.6 9.9 17.4 .570 0.7 2.3 .284 7.1 9.8 .722
Sam Bowie 71 30.7 15.0 2.9 5.3 8.1 2.6 0.6 1.7 2.1 3.0 5.9 13.3 .445 0.1 0.4 .320 3.0 3.9 .757
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Barkley 8 40.8 24.9 3.9 6.6 10.5 6.0 1.9 0.4 3.1 2.9 9.3 15.6 .592 0.3 2.5 .100 6.1 9.4 .653
Sam Bowie 4 28.0 9.3 2.0 2.8 4.8 2.3 0.8 0.8 1.3 4.8 3.5 8.3 .424 0.3 0.5 .500 2.0 3.0 .667

Season 8

Charles Barkley Sam Bowie
Season 1991-921992-93
Team Philadelphia 76ersNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets 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 %
Charles Barkley 75 38.4 23.1 3.6 7.5 11.1 4.1 1.8 0.6 3.1 2.6 8.3 15.0 .552 0.4 1.8 .234 6.1 8.7 .695
Sam Bowie 79 26.5 9.1 2.0 5.0 7.0 1.6 0.4 1.6 1.5 2.9 3.6 8.1 .450 0.0 0.1 .333 1.8 2.3 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Barkley ------- --- ----------
Sam Bowie 3 23.7 3.3 0.7 3.3 4.0 0.7 2.0 0.3 1.3 3.0 1.3 3.0 .444 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000

Season 9

Charles Barkley Sam Bowie
Season 1992-931993-94
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Barkley 76 37.6 25.6 3.1 9.1 12.2 5.1 1.6 1.0 3.1 2.6 9.4 18.1 .520 0.9 2.9 .305 5.9 7.7 .765
Sam Bowie 25 22.2 8.9 1.1 4.2 5.2 1.9 0.2 1.1 1.7 2.6 3.0 6.9 .436 0.0 0.2 .250 2.9 3.3 .867
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Barkley 24 42.8 26.6 3.9 9.7 13.6 4.3 1.6 1.0 2.1 3.0 9.6 20.1 .477 0.4 1.9 .222 7.0 9.1 .771
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Charles Barkley Sam Bowie
Season 1993-941994-95
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisLakers 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 %
Charles Barkley 65 35.4 21.6 3.0 8.1 11.2 4.6 1.6 0.6 3.2 2.5 8.0 16.1 .495 0.7 2.7 .270 4.9 7.0 .704
Sam Bowie 67 18.3 4.6 1.1 3.2 4.3 1.8 0.3 1.2 1.4 2.7 1.8 4.0 .442 0.0 0.2 .182 1.0 1.3 .764
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Barkley 10 42.5 27.6 3.4 9.6 13.0 4.8 2.5 0.9 2.7 2.6 11.0 21.6 .509 1.4 4.0 .350 4.2 5.5 .764
Sam Bowie 10 13.5 2.1 1.3 2.0 3.3 0.3 0.1 0.9 0.6 2.5 0.8 3.0 .267 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 11

Charles Barkley Sam Bowie
Season 1994-95-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Charles Barkley 68 35.0 23.0 3.0 8.1 11.1 4.1 1.6 0.7 2.2 3.0 8.1 16.8 .486 1.1 3.2 .338 5.6 7.5 .748
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Barkley 10 39.0 25.7 3.9 9.5 13.4 3.2 1.3 1.1 2.5 2.8 9.1 18.2 .500 0.9 3.5 .257 6.6 9.0 .733
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Charles Barkley Sam Bowie
Season 1995-96-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Charles Barkley 71 37.1 23.2 3.4 8.1 11.6 3.7 1.6 0.8 3.1 2.9 8.2 16.3 .500 0.7 2.5 .280 6.2 8.0 .777
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Barkley 4 41.0 25.5 4.5 9.0 13.5 3.8 1.0 1.0 1.5 3.8 7.8 17.5 .443 0.8 3.0 .250 9.3 11.8 .787
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Charles Barkley Sam Bowie
Season 1996-97-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Charles Barkley 53 37.9 19.2 4.0 9.5 13.5 4.7 1.3 0.5 2.8 2.9 6.3 13.1 .484 1.1 3.9 .283 5.4 7.8 .694
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Barkley 16 37.9 17.9 4.0 8.0 12.0 3.4 1.2 0.4 2.7 3.3 5.4 12.4 .434 0.7 2.4 .289 6.4 8.4 .769
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Charles Barkley Sam Bowie
Season 1997-98-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Charles Barkley 68 33.0 15.2 3.5 8.1 11.7 3.2 1.0 0.4 2.2 2.8 5.3 10.9 .485 0.3 1.2 .214 4.4 5.8 .746
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Barkley 4 22.0 9.0 1.3 4.0 5.3 1.0 1.3 0.0 1.5 3.0 3.0 5.8 .522 0.0 0.5 .000 3.0 5.3 .571
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Charles Barkley Sam Bowie
Season 1998-99-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Charles Barkley 42 36.3 16.1 4.0 8.3 12.3 4.6 1.0 0.3 2.4 2.1 5.7 12.0 .478 0.1 0.6 .160 4.6 6.4 .719
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Barkley 4 39.3 23.5 3.3 10.5 13.8 3.8 1.5 0.5 2.0 3.0 9.0 17.0 .529 0.5 1.8 .286 5.0 7.5 .667
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Charles Barkley Sam Bowie
Season 1999-00-
Team Houston Rockets-
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 %
Charles Barkley 20 31.0 14.5 3.6 6.9 10.5 3.2 0.7 0.2 2.2 2.4 5.3 11.1 .477 0.3 1.3 .231 3.6 5.5 .645
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Barkley ------- --- ----------
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------