Christian Laettner vs. Arvydas Sabonis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Arvydas Sabonis and Christian Laettner, 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.

Christian Laettner played 13 years in the NBA, 6 more than Arvydas Sabonis, who played 7. Christian Laettner had the first of his seasons in 1992-93, while Arvydas Sabonis had his rookie season in 1995-96. 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
Christian Laettner 13 6 1992-93 to 2004-05
Arvydas Sabonis 7 7 1995-96 to 2002-03

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Christian Laettner Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1992-931995-96
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
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 %
Christian Laettner 81 34.9 18.2 2.1 6.6 8.7 2.8 1.3 1.0 3.4 3.6 6.2 13.1 .474 0.0 0.5 .100 5.7 6.8 .835
Arvydas Sabonis 73 23.8 14.5 2.0 6.0 8.1 1.8 0.9 1.1 2.1 2.9 5.4 9.9 .545 0.5 1.4 .375 3.2 4.2 .757
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Christian Laettner ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis 5 35.4 23.6 2.4 7.8 10.2 1.8 0.8 0.6 2.0 3.4 7.0 16.2 .432 1.0 1.8 .556 8.6 12.0 .717

Season 2
Christian Laettner Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1993-941996-97
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Christian Laettner 70 34.7 16.8 2.3 6.3 8.6 4.4 1.2 1.2 3.7 3.8 5.7 12.6 .448 0.1 0.4 .240 5.4 6.8 .783
Arvydas Sabonis 69 25.5 13.4 1.7 6.3 7.9 2.1 0.9 1.2 2.2 2.9 4.8 9.5 .498 0.7 1.9 .371 3.2 4.2 .777
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Christian Laettner ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis 4 26.8 11.3 2.0 4.5 6.5 2.3 0.8 0.8 2.3 4.8 4.5 10.5 .429 0.5 2.0 .250 1.8 2.0 .875

Season 3
Christian Laettner Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1994-951997-98
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Christian Laettner 81 34.2 16.3 2.0 5.5 7.6 2.9 1.2 1.1 2.8 3.7 5.6 11.4 .489 0.2 0.5 .325 5.0 6.2 .818
Arvydas Sabonis 73 32.0 16.0 2.0 7.9 10.0 3.0 0.9 1.1 2.6 3.7 5.6 11.3 .493 0.4 1.6 .261 4.4 5.5 .798
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Christian Laettner ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis 4 26.8 12.3 1.8 6.0 7.8 1.5 1.8 0.8 2.5 4.8 4.5 10.0 .450 0.3 0.5 .500 3.0 3.5 .857

Season 4
Christian Laettner Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1995-961998-99
Team Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta HawksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisTrail Blazers 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 %
Christian Laettner 74 33.7 16.4 2.5 4.8 7.3 2.7 1.0 1.0 2.5 3.7 6.0 12.3 .487 0.1 0.5 .231 4.4 5.4 .818
Arvydas Sabonis 50 27.0 12.1 1.8 6.1 7.9 2.4 0.7 1.3 1.7 2.9 4.6 9.6 .485 0.1 0.5 .292 2.7 3.5 .771
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Christian Laettner 10 33.4 15.7 2.7 4.2 6.9 1.5 1.2 1.0 2.1 4.1 5.9 12.2 .484 0.1 0.3 .333 3.8 5.4 .704
Arvydas Sabonis 13 30.1 10.0 0.9 7.8 8.8 2.2 1.2 1.2 1.5 2.7 3.5 8.7 .398 0.1 0.4 .200 3.0 3.3 .907

Season 5
Christian Laettner Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1996-971999-00
Team Atlanta HawksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisTrail Blazers 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 %
Christian Laettner 82 38.3 18.1 2.6 6.2 8.8 2.7 1.2 0.8 2.7 3.4 6.7 13.8 .486 0.4 1.1 .352 4.4 5.4 .816
Arvydas Sabonis 66 25.6 11.8 1.5 6.3 7.8 1.8 0.7 1.2 1.5 2.8 4.6 9.1 .505 0.1 0.3 .368 2.5 3.0 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Christian Laettner 10 40.2 17.6 1.9 5.3 7.2 2.6 1.0 0.8 3.1 3.2 6.2 15.3 .405 0.4 2.1 .190 4.8 5.6 .857
Arvydas Sabonis 16 30.8 11.3 1.2 5.5 6.7 1.9 0.9 0.8 1.6 3.7 4.3 9.4 .453 0.4 1.3 .286 2.4 3.1 .796

Season 6
Christian Laettner Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1997-982000-01
Team Atlanta HawksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf 1st RdTrail 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 %
Christian Laettner 74 30.8 13.8 1.9 4.7 6.6 2.6 1.0 1.0 2.5 3.3 4.8 9.9 .485 0.1 0.4 .222 4.1 4.8 .864
Arvydas Sabonis 61 21.3 10.1 0.8 4.6 5.4 1.5 0.7 1.0 1.4 2.2 4.0 8.5 .479 0.0 0.2 .067 2.0 2.6 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Christian Laettner 4 22.0 9.8 0.8 3.5 4.3 1.0 1.5 0.3 2.0 4.0 3.0 8.8 .343 0.0 0.8 .000 3.8 4.3 .882
Arvydas Sabonis 3 35.0 11.3 2.7 5.7 8.3 2.7 0.3 2.3 0.7 4.0 4.7 9.7 .483 0.0 0.7 .000 2.0 2.7 .750

Note: Arvydas Sabonis didn't play in 2001-02.

Season 7
Christian Laettner Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1998-992002-03
Team Detroit PistonsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdTrail 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 %
Christian Laettner 16 21.1 7.6 1.3 2.1 3.4 1.5 0.9 0.8 1.2 1.9 2.4 6.6 .358 0.1 0.2 .333 2.8 3.6 .772
Arvydas Sabonis 78 15.5 6.1 1.1 3.2 4.3 1.8 0.8 0.6 1.0 1.8 2.2 4.6 .476 0.0 0.1 .500 1.7 2.1 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Christian Laettner 5 24.6 10.2 1.2 1.6 2.8 2.2 0.8 0.2 0.6 2.8 4.0 9.4 .426 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 2.8 .786
Arvydas Sabonis 6 14.5 10.0 1.0 3.0 4.0 0.8 0.7 0.7 1.0 2.3 4.0 6.0 .667 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.5 .800

Season 8
Christian Laettner Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1999-00-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Christian Laettner 82 29.8 12.2 2.1 4.6 6.7 2.3 1.0 0.5 2.3 4.0 4.6 9.8 .473 0.1 0.3 .292 2.9 3.6 .812
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Christian Laettner 3 25.0 6.7 0.7 4.3 5.0 2.0 0.0 0.3 1.0 4.7 2.3 5.7 .412 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.7 .750
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Christian Laettner Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2000-01-
Team Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards-
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 %
Christian Laettner 78 21.3 9.3 1.5 3.2 4.7 1.6 0.9 0.6 1.8 3.1 3.6 7.1 .503 0.1 0.2 .308 2.2 2.6 .833
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Christian Laettner ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Christian Laettner Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2001-02-
Team Washington Wizards-
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 %
Christian Laettner 57 25.3 7.1 1.3 4.0 5.3 2.6 1.1 0.4 1.5 2.3 2.9 6.4 .464 0.0 0.2 .200 1.2 1.3 .868
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Christian Laettner ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Christian Laettner Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2002-03-
Team Washington Wizards-
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 %
Christian Laettner 76 29.1 8.3 1.5 5.1 6.6 3.1 1.1 0.5 1.1 2.7 3.4 6.8 .494 0.0 0.2 .125 1.6 1.9 .833
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Christian Laettner ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Christian Laettner Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2003-04-
Team Washington Wizards-
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 %
Christian Laettner 48 20.5 5.9 1.0 3.8 4.8 1.9 0.8 0.6 0.9 2.1 2.5 5.3 .465 0.1 0.4 .286 0.8 1.0 .800
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Christian Laettner ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Christian Laettner Arvydas Sabonis
Season 2004-05-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Christian Laettner 49 15.1 5.3 0.7 1.9 2.7 0.8 0.7 0.3 0.6 1.6 2.2 3.8 .582 0.0 0.1 .143 0.9 1.2 .763
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Christian Laettner 13 10.2 2.2 0.2 1.7 1.9 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.5 1.3 0.9 1.8 .500 0.0 0.1 .000 0.4 0.5 .833
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
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