David Robinson vs. Mike Sanders Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Mike Sanders and David Robinson, 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.

David Robinson played 14 years in the NBA, 3 more than Mike Sanders, who played 11. David Robinson had the first of his seasons in 1989-90, while Mike Sanders had his rookie season in 1982-83. 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
David Robinson 14 12 1989-90 to 2002-03
Mike Sanders 11 9 1982-83 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

David Robinson Mike Sanders
Season 1989-901982-83
Team San Antonio SpursSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisSpurs 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 %
David Robinson 82 36.6 24.3 3.7 8.3 12.0 2.0 1.7 3.9 3.1 3.2 8.4 15.9 .531 0.0 0.0 .000 7.5 10.2 .732
Mike Sanders 26 15.1 7.0 1.2 2.4 3.6 0.7 0.7 0.2 1.1 2.2 2.9 6.0 .484 0.0 0.1 .000 1.2 1.7 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 10 37.5 24.3 3.6 8.4 12.0 2.3 1.1 4.0 2.4 3.5 8.9 16.7 .533 0.0 0.0 - 6.5 9.6 .677
Mike Sanders 6 4.2 2.3 0.3 1.2 1.5 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.2 2.2 .538 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

David Robinson Mike Sanders
Season 1990-911983-84
Team San Antonio SpursPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdSuns 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 %
David Robinson 82 37.7 25.6 4.1 8.9 13.0 2.5 1.5 3.9 3.3 3.2 9.2 16.7 .552 0.0 0.1 .143 7.2 9.5 .762
Mike Sanders 50 11.7 4.5 0.8 1.3 2.1 0.9 0.5 0.2 0.9 2.0 1.9 4.1 .478 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .690
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 4 41.5 25.8 2.8 10.8 13.5 2.0 1.5 3.8 3.8 2.8 8.8 12.8 .686 0.0 0.3 .000 8.3 9.5 .868
Mike Sanders 15 10.1 4.0 0.7 0.7 1.3 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.9 2.1 1.5 3.1 .478 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.1 .941

Season 3

David Robinson Mike Sanders
Season 1991-921984-85
Team San Antonio SpursPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
David Robinson 68 37.7 23.2 3.8 8.4 12.2 2.7 2.3 4.5 2.7 3.2 8.7 15.8 .551 0.0 0.1 .125 5.8 8.3 .701
Mike Sanders 21 19.9 10.2 1.8 2.4 4.2 1.4 1.1 0.2 1.6 2.8 4.0 8.3 .486 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.8 .763
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson ------- --- ----------
Mike Sanders 3 30.3 17.3 2.7 2.3 5.0 3.3 1.7 0.0 3.0 2.7 7.3 12.3 .595 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.3 .800

Season 4

David Robinson Mike Sanders
Season 1992-931985-86
Team San Antonio SpursPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
David Robinson 82 39.2 23.4 2.8 8.9 11.7 3.7 1.5 3.2 2.9 2.9 8.2 16.4 .501 0.0 0.2 .176 6.8 9.3 .732
Mike Sanders 82 20.0 11.0 1.3 2.1 3.3 1.8 0.9 0.4 1.7 2.9 4.2 8.2 .513 0.0 0.2 .200 2.5 3.1 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 10 42.1 23.1 2.9 9.7 12.6 4.0 1.0 3.6 2.5 3.9 7.9 17.0 .465 0.0 0.1 .000 7.3 11.0 .664
Mike Sanders ------- --- ----------

Season 5

David Robinson Mike Sanders
Season 1993-941986-87
Team San Antonio SpursPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
David Robinson 80 40.5 29.8 3.0 7.7 10.7 4.8 1.7 3.3 3.2 2.9 10.5 20.7 .507 0.1 0.4 .345 8.7 11.6 .749
Mike Sanders 82 20.2 10.5 1.2 2.1 3.3 1.5 0.7 0.3 1.3 2.6 4.4 8.8 .494 0.0 0.2 .118 1.7 2.2 .781
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 4 36.5 20.0 3.3 6.8 10.0 3.5 0.8 2.5 2.3 3.5 7.5 18.3 .411 0.0 0.3 .000 5.0 6.8 .741
Mike Sanders ------- --- ----------

Season 6

David Robinson Mike Sanders
Season 1994-951987-88
Team San Antonio SpursPhoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsCavaliers 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 %
David Robinson 81 38.0 27.6 2.9 7.9 10.8 2.9 1.7 3.2 2.9 2.8 9.7 18.4 .530 0.1 0.2 .300 8.1 10.5 .774
Mike Sanders 59 15.0 6.2 0.6 1.2 1.8 0.9 0.5 0.2 0.8 2.2 2.6 5.1 .505 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.3 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 15 41.5 25.3 3.8 8.3 12.1 3.1 1.5 2.6 3.7 4.2 8.6 19.3 .446 0.1 0.3 .200 8.1 9.9 .812
Mike Sanders 5 26.8 12.8 2.2 2.8 5.0 1.4 0.6 0.4 2.2 4.2 5.6 10.4 .538 0.0 0.2 .000 1.6 2.0 .800

Season 7

David Robinson Mike Sanders
Season 1995-961988-89
Team San Antonio SpursCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisCavaliers 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 %
David Robinson 82 36.8 25.0 3.9 8.3 12.2 3.0 1.4 3.3 2.3 3.2 8.7 16.8 .516 0.0 0.1 .333 7.6 10.0 .761
Mike Sanders 82 25.6 9.3 1.2 2.5 3.7 1.6 1.1 0.4 1.3 2.8 4.0 8.9 .453 0.0 0.1 .300 1.2 1.6 .719
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 10 35.3 23.6 3.7 6.4 10.1 2.4 1.5 2.5 2.4 3.8 8.3 16.1 .516 0.0 0.0 - 7.0 10.5 .667
Mike Sanders 5 17.4 6.6 1.2 2.0 3.2 0.8 0.4 0.2 2.0 2.2 3.0 6.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.0 .600

Season 8

David Robinson Mike Sanders
Season 1996-971989-90
Team San Antonio SpursIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPacers 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 %
David Robinson 6 24.5 17.7 3.2 5.3 8.5 1.3 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.5 6.0 12.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 5.7 8.7 .654
Mike Sanders 82 18.7 6.2 1.0 1.9 2.8 1.1 0.5 0.3 1.0 2.7 2.7 5.8 .470 0.1 0.2 .357 0.7 0.9 .733
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson ------- --- ----------
Mike Sanders 3 8.0 3.7 1.7 0.3 2.0 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.7 1.3 1.7 3.7 .455 0.3 0.3 1.000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 9

David Robinson Mike Sanders
Season 1997-981990-91
Team San Antonio SpursIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisPacers 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 %
David Robinson 73 33.7 21.6 3.3 7.3 10.6 2.7 0.9 2.6 2.8 2.8 7.5 14.6 .511 0.0 0.1 .250 6.6 9.0 .735
Mike Sanders 80 17.0 5.8 0.9 1.4 2.3 1.3 0.5 0.3 0.8 2.5 2.6 6.2 .417 0.1 0.3 .200 0.6 0.7 .825
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 9 39.2 19.4 4.6 9.6 14.1 2.6 1.2 3.3 2.8 3.1 6.3 14.9 .425 0.0 0.0 - 6.8 10.7 .635
Mike Sanders 5 8.2 3.0 0.0 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.4 0.2 1.8 1.2 2.0 .600 0.2 0.4 .500 0.4 0.8 .500

Season 10

David Robinson Mike Sanders
Season 1998-991991-92
Team San Antonio SpursIndiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers 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 %
David Robinson 49 31.7 15.8 3.0 7.0 10.0 2.1 1.4 2.4 2.2 2.9 5.5 10.8 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 4.9 7.4 .658
Mike Sanders 31 20.4 7.1 0.9 2.2 3.1 1.7 0.8 0.3 0.7 2.7 3.0 5.2 .571 0.0 0.1 .333 1.2 1.5 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 17 35.4 15.6 2.1 7.8 9.9 2.5 1.6 2.4 2.4 3.6 5.1 10.6 .483 0.0 0.0 - 5.4 7.4 .722
Mike Sanders 17 24.6 7.6 1.2 2.1 3.2 2.2 0.9 0.7 1.4 3.6 3.3 6.8 .487 0.1 0.2 .333 1.0 1.2 .810

Season 11

David Robinson Mike Sanders
Season 1999-001992-93
Team San Antonio SpursCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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 %
David Robinson 80 32.0 17.8 2.4 7.2 9.6 1.8 1.2 2.3 2.1 3.1 6.6 12.9 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 4.6 6.4 .726
Mike Sanders 53 22.4 8.6 1.0 2.2 3.2 1.4 0.7 0.6 1.1 2.8 3.7 7.5 .497 0.0 0.1 .250 1.1 1.5 .756
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 4 38.8 23.5 4.3 9.5 13.8 2.5 1.8 3.0 2.0 3.8 7.8 20.8 .373 0.0 0.3 .000 8.0 10.5 .762
Mike Sanders 8 18.1 5.8 1.0 1.3 2.3 1.3 1.0 0.1 0.4 2.1 2.5 6.0 .417 0.0 0.3 .000 0.8 1.3 .600

Season 12

David Robinson Mike Sanders
Season 2000-01-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
David Robinson 80 29.6 14.4 2.6 6.0 8.6 1.5 1.0 2.5 1.5 2.7 5.0 10.3 .486 0.0 0.0 .000 4.4 5.9 .747
Mike Sanders ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 13 31.4 16.6 3.0 8.8 11.8 1.7 1.3 2.4 2.2 3.2 5.8 12.2 .472 0.0 0.1 .000 5.1 7.3 .695
Mike Sanders ------- --- ----------

Season 13

David Robinson Mike Sanders
Season 2001-02-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
David Robinson 78 29.5 12.2 2.4 5.8 8.3 1.2 1.1 1.8 1.3 2.5 4.4 8.6 .507 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.1 .681
Mike Sanders ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 4 20.5 4.5 1.5 4.3 5.8 1.3 0.8 0.8 0.5 3.5 2.3 4.8 .474 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 1.0 .000
Mike Sanders ------- --- ----------

Season 14

David Robinson Mike Sanders
Season 2002-03-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 64 26.2 8.5 2.5 5.4 7.9 1.0 0.8 1.7 1.3 2.0 3.1 6.6 .469 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.3 .710
Mike Sanders ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson 23 23.5 7.8 2.0 4.7 6.6 0.9 0.8 1.3 1.0 2.7 2.8 5.1 .542 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.4 .667
Mike Sanders ------- --- ----------