David Robinson vs. Tom Sanders Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Tom 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

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, 1 more than Tom Sanders, who played 13. David Robinson had the first of his seasons in 1989-90, while Tom Sanders had his rookie season in 1960-61. 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
Tom Sanders 13 11 1960-61 to 1972-73

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 Tom Sanders
Season 1989-901960-61
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
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 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 %
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
Tom Sanders 68 15.9 5.3 - - 5.7 0.6 - - - 1.9 2.2 5.2 .420 - - - 1.0 1.5 .670
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
Tom Sanders 10 21.6 8.9 - - 8.4 0.7 - - - 4.2 3.7 7.5 .493 - - - 1.5 2.4 .625

Season 2

David Robinson Tom Sanders
Season 1990-911961-62
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
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 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 %
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
Tom Sanders 80 29.1 11.2 - - 9.5 0.9 - - - 3.5 4.4 10.1 .435 - - - 2.5 3.3 .749
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
Tom Sanders 14 31.4 10.1 - - 8.2 1.0 - - - 4.6 4.0 9.3 .431 - - - 2.1 2.6 .806

Season 3

David Robinson Tom Sanders
Season 1991-921962-63
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
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 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 %
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
Tom Sanders 80 26.9 10.8 - - 7.2 1.2 - - - 3.3 4.2 9.3 .456 - - - 2.3 3.2 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson ------- --- ----------
Tom Sanders 13 29.8 9.8 - - 7.4 1.5 - - - 4.7 4.0 9.2 .437 - - - 1.8 2.4 .774

Season 4

David Robinson Tom Sanders
Season 1992-931963-64
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
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
Tom Sanders 80 29.6 11.4 - - 8.3 1.3 - - - 3.5 4.4 10.5 .417 - - - 2.7 3.5 .761
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
Tom Sanders 10 30.2 9.1 - - 6.8 0.6 - - - 4.5 3.4 9.4 .362 - - - 2.3 3.4 .676

Season 5

David Robinson Tom Sanders
Season 1993-941964-65
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
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 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 %
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
Tom Sanders 80 30.7 11.8 - - 8.3 1.2 - - - 4.0 4.7 10.9 .429 - - - 2.4 3.2 .745
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
Tom Sanders 12 30.4 13.3 - - 8.5 1.6 - - - 4.8 5.3 12.7 .421 - - - 2.6 3.6 .721

Season 6

David Robinson Tom Sanders
Season 1994-951965-66
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsNBA 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 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
Tom Sanders 72 26.3 12.6 - - 7.1 1.3 - - - 4.4 4.8 11.3 .428 - - - 2.9 3.8 .764
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
Tom Sanders 17 29.4 13.5 - - 6.5 1.6 - - - 4.1 5.7 11.8 .483 - - - 2.1 2.8 .750

Season 7

David Robinson Tom Sanders
Season 1995-961966-67
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Div 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 36.8 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
Tom Sanders 81 23.8 10.2 - - 5.4 1.1 - - - 3.8 4.0 9.3 .428 - - - 2.2 2.7 .817
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
Tom Sanders 9 16.0 4.9 - - 4.8 0.6 - - - 3.4 2.3 6.8 .344 - - - 0.2 0.6 .400

Season 8

David Robinson Tom Sanders
Season 1996-971967-68
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 %
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
Tom Sanders 78 25.4 10.2 - - 5.8 1.3 - - - 3.8 3.8 8.9 .428 - - - 2.6 3.3 .784
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
David Robinson ------- --- ----------
Tom Sanders 14 20.6 8.3 - - 4.5 0.9 - - - 3.8 3.6 7.1 .505 - - - 1.1 1.5 .762

Season 9

David Robinson Tom Sanders
Season 1997-981968-69
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
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
Tom Sanders 82 26.6 11.2 - - 7.0 1.3 - - - 3.6 4.4 10.3 .430 - - - 2.3 3.1 .733
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
Tom Sanders 15 13.1 5.8 - - 3.2 0.5 - - - 2.7 2.1 4.9 .438 - - - 1.5 2.1 .742

Season 10

David Robinson Tom Sanders
Season 1998-991969-70
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid 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 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
Tom Sanders 57 28.4 11.5 - - 5.5 1.6 - - - 3.5 4.3 9.7 .443 - - - 2.8 3.2 .880
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
Tom Sanders ------- --- ----------

Season 11

David Robinson Tom Sanders
Season 1999-001970-71
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
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 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
Tom Sanders 17 7.1 2.3 - - 1.0 0.6 - - - 1.5 0.9 2.6 .364 - - - 0.4 0.5 .875
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
Tom Sanders ------- --- ----------

Season 12

David Robinson Tom Sanders
Season 2000-011971-72
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics 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 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
Tom Sanders 82 19.9 6.6 - - 4.3 1.2 - - - 3.1 2.6 6.4 .410 - - - 1.4 1.7 .816
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
Tom Sanders 11 16.9 4.3 - - 2.4 0.9 - - - 3.3 1.5 4.8 .321 - - - 1.2 1.9 .619

Season 13

David Robinson Tom Sanders
Season 2001-021972-73
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisCeltics 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 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
Tom Sanders 59 7.2 2.0 - - 1.5 0.5 - - - 1.4 0.8 2.5 .315 - - - 0.4 0.6 .657
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
Tom Sanders 5 4.8 2.0 - - 1.0 0.2 - - - 1.4 1.0 1.8 .556 - - - 0.0 0.4 .000

Season 14

David Robinson Tom 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
Tom 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
Tom Sanders ------- --- ----------