Derek Fisher vs. John Salley Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of John Salley and Derek Fisher, 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.

Derek Fisher played 18 years in the NBA, 7 more than John Salley, who played 11. Derek Fisher had the first of his seasons in 1996-97, while John Salley had his rookie season in 1986-87. 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
Derek Fisher 18 16 1996-97 to 2013-14
John Salley 11 9 1986-87 to 1999-00

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18

Rookie Season

Derek Fisher John Salley
Season 1996-971986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisPistons 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 %
Derek Fisher 80 11.5 3.9 0.3 0.9 1.2 1.5 0.5 0.1 0.9 1.1 1.3 3.3 .397 0.3 0.9 .301 1.0 1.5 .658
John Salley 82 17.8 5.3 1.3 2.3 3.6 0.7 0.5 1.5 0.9 3.1 2.0 3.5 .562 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 2.1 .614
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 6 5.7 1.3 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.2 0.0 1.0 0.7 0.5 1.8 .273 0.0 0.8 .000 0.3 0.5 .667
John Salley 15 20.7 6.2 2.0 2.8 4.8 0.7 0.2 1.1 0.9 4.0 2.2 4.4 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.8 .643

Season 2

Derek Fisher John Salley
Season 1997-981987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 82 21.5 5.8 0.5 1.9 2.4 4.1 0.9 0.1 1.5 1.5 2.0 4.6 .434 0.4 1.0 .383 1.4 1.9 .757
John Salley 82 24.4 8.5 2.0 2.9 4.9 1.4 0.6 1.7 1.5 3.6 3.1 5.6 .566 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.2 .709
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 13 21.5 6.0 0.2 1.8 1.9 3.8 1.3 0.0 1.2 2.5 2.1 5.2 .397 0.5 1.5 .300 1.4 2.2 .621
John Salley 23 27.1 7.0 2.8 4.0 6.7 0.9 0.7 1.6 1.0 3.8 2.4 4.5 .538 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.0 .710

Season 3

Derek Fisher John Salley
Season 1998-991988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Derek Fisher 50 22.6 5.9 0.4 1.4 1.8 3.9 1.2 0.0 1.5 1.9 2.0 5.3 .376 0.8 1.9 .392 1.2 1.6 .759
John Salley 67 21.8 7.0 2.0 3.0 5.0 1.1 0.6 1.1 1.5 2.9 2.5 5.0 .498 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.9 .692
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 8 29.8 9.8 0.8 2.9 3.6 4.9 1.0 0.0 1.4 2.5 3.5 8.4 .418 1.3 3.6 .345 1.5 1.9 .800
John Salley 17 23.1 8.9 2.0 2.6 4.6 0.5 0.5 1.5 0.7 3.4 3.4 5.8 .586 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.2 .667

Season 4

Derek Fisher John Salley
Season 1999-001989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 78 23.1 6.3 0.3 1.6 1.8 2.8 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.9 2.1 6.2 .346 0.7 2.1 .313 1.3 1.9 .724
John Salley 82 23.3 7.2 1.9 3.5 5.4 0.8 0.6 1.9 1.2 3.4 2.5 5.0 .512 0.0 0.0 .250 2.1 3.0 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 21 15.3 4.7 0.2 0.9 1.0 2.0 0.5 0.0 0.4 1.4 1.6 3.8 .430 0.6 1.4 .414 0.9 1.2 .760
John Salley 20 27.4 9.5 2.9 3.0 5.9 1.0 0.5 1.7 1.1 3.8 2.9 6.1 .475 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 4.9 .755

Season 5

Derek Fisher John Salley
Season 2000-011990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 %
Derek Fisher 20 35.5 11.5 0.3 2.7 3.0 4.4 2.0 0.1 1.5 2.5 3.9 9.4 .412 1.3 3.2 .397 2.5 3.1 .806
John Salley 74 22.3 7.4 1.9 2.6 4.4 0.9 0.7 1.5 1.2 3.2 2.4 5.1 .475 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.5 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 16 35.8 13.4 0.3 3.5 3.8 3.0 1.3 0.1 0.8 2.8 4.8 9.9 .484 2.2 4.3 .515 1.6 2.1 .765
John Salley 15 20.5 7.5 1.3 2.8 4.1 0.7 0.4 1.3 0.9 3.9 2.5 4.7 .543 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 4.0 .600

Season 6

Derek Fisher John Salley
Season 2001-021991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 %
Derek Fisher 70 28.2 11.2 0.2 1.9 2.1 2.6 0.9 0.1 0.9 1.7 3.9 9.5 .411 2.1 5.0 .413 1.3 1.6 .847
John Salley 72 24.6 9.5 1.5 2.6 4.1 1.6 0.7 1.5 1.4 3.1 3.5 6.8 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 2.6 3.6 .715
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 19 34.2 10.2 0.5 2.7 3.3 2.7 1.0 0.1 1.1 2.6 3.2 8.8 .357 1.5 4.3 .358 2.3 2.9 .786
John Salley 5 29.8 12.6 2.0 4.0 6.0 2.8 0.6 2.8 1.8 3.6 4.0 8.8 .455 0.0 0.2 .000 4.6 5.6 .821

Season 7

Derek Fisher John Salley
Season 2002-031992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Derek Fisher 82 34.5 10.5 0.5 2.4 2.9 3.6 1.1 0.2 1.1 2.4 4.1 9.5 .437 1.0 2.6 .401 1.2 1.5 .800
John Salley 51 27.9 8.3 2.2 3.9 6.1 1.6 0.6 1.4 2.0 3.8 3.0 6.0 .502 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 2.8 .799
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 12 35.4 12.8 0.4 2.6 3.0 1.8 1.5 0.1 1.5 3.3 4.4 8.5 .520 2.4 3.9 .617 1.5 1.8 .818
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Derek Fisher John Salley
Season 2003-041993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHeat 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 %
Derek Fisher 82 21.6 7.1 0.4 1.5 1.9 2.3 1.3 0.0 1.0 1.4 2.5 7.0 .352 0.6 2.2 .291 1.5 1.9 .797
John Salley 76 25.1 7.7 1.7 3.6 5.4 1.8 0.7 1.0 1.2 3.4 2.7 5.7 .477 0.0 0.0 .667 2.2 3.0 .729
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 22 23.1 7.5 0.5 2.1 2.5 2.2 0.8 0.0 0.9 2.1 2.7 6.7 .405 1.0 2.5 .418 1.0 1.6 .657
John Salley 5 40.2 11.0 3.2 4.8 8.0 1.6 0.4 1.0 1.2 4.2 4.4 11.4 .386 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.2 .688

Season 9

Derek Fisher John Salley
Season 2004-051994-95
Team Golden State WarriorsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards
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 %
Derek Fisher 74 30.0 11.9 0.5 2.4 2.9 4.1 1.0 0.1 1.7 2.4 4.0 10.2 .393 1.5 3.9 .371 2.4 2.7 .862
John Salley 75 26.1 7.3 1.5 3.0 4.5 1.6 0.6 1.1 1.3 3.7 2.6 5.3 .499 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.8 .739
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher ------- --- ----------
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Derek Fisher John Salley
Season 2005-061995-96
Team Golden State WarriorsToronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls
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 %
Derek Fisher 82 31.6 13.3 0.4 2.1 2.6 4.3 1.5 0.1 1.9 2.9 4.4 10.8 .410 1.4 3.6 .397 3.0 3.6 .833
John Salley 42 16.0 4.4 1.1 2.2 3.3 1.3 0.5 0.6 1.3 2.6 1.5 3.3 .450 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.0 .694
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher ------- --- ----------
John Salley 16 5.3 0.9 0.3 0.4 0.7 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.3 1.6 0.4 0.7 .545 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.4 .286

Note: John Salley didn't play in 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.

Season 11

Derek Fisher John Salley
Season 2006-071999-00
Team Utah JazzLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Derek Fisher 82 27.9 10.1 0.4 1.5 1.8 3.3 1.0 0.1 1.5 2.9 3.1 8.2 .382 0.6 1.9 .308 3.2 3.7 .853
John Salley 45 6.7 1.6 0.4 1.0 1.4 0.6 0.2 0.3 0.4 1.5 0.6 1.5 .362 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.6 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 16 27.8 9.5 0.3 1.3 1.6 2.6 1.0 0.1 1.2 3.2 3.1 7.6 .405 0.8 2.0 .375 2.6 2.8 .933
John Salley 18 4.2 0.9 0.5 0.7 1.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.9 0.3 0.7 .385 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.6 .700

Season 12

Derek Fisher John Salley
Season 2007-08-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 82 27.4 11.7 0.3 1.8 2.1 2.9 1.0 0.0 1.1 2.3 4.1 9.5 .436 1.4 3.4 .406 2.0 2.3 .883
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 21 31.6 10.2 0.1 2.1 2.2 2.5 2.0 0.1 1.0 3.0 3.1 7.0 .452 1.0 2.4 .440 2.9 3.5 .836
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Derek Fisher John Salley
Season 2008-09-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
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 %
Derek Fisher 82 29.8 9.9 0.3 2.0 2.3 3.2 1.2 0.1 0.9 2.3 3.6 8.4 .424 1.5 3.7 .397 1.3 1.6 .846
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 22 28.9 8.0 0.3 1.7 2.0 2.2 1.0 0.0 1.1 2.8 2.9 7.3 .394 0.9 3.0 .284 1.4 1.6 .861
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Derek Fisher John Salley
Season 2009-10-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
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 %
Derek Fisher 82 27.2 7.5 0.3 1.8 2.1 2.5 1.1 0.1 1.0 2.5 2.6 6.8 .380 1.0 2.7 .348 1.4 1.6 .856
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 23 32.8 10.3 0.4 2.1 2.5 2.8 1.2 0.0 1.6 3.6 3.6 8.0 .448 1.2 3.3 .360 2.0 2.4 .821
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Derek Fisher John Salley
Season 2010-11-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Derek Fisher 82 28.0 6.8 0.2 1.7 1.9 2.7 1.2 0.1 0.9 2.3 2.5 6.5 .389 0.8 1.9 .396 1.0 1.3 .806
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 10 32.5 8.2 0.1 2.6 2.7 3.6 1.4 0.2 0.8 2.5 2.9 6.7 .433 0.7 1.7 .412 1.7 2.1 .810
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Derek Fisher John Salley
Season 2011-12-
Team Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 63 23.9 5.6 0.2 1.7 1.9 2.7 0.8 0.1 1.2 1.9 2.0 5.5 .371 0.6 1.7 .321 0.9 1.1 .851
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 20 22.3 6.3 0.1 1.5 1.6 1.3 0.9 0.1 0.3 1.9 2.5 5.9 .415 0.9 2.4 .375 0.5 0.5 1.000
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Derek Fisher John Salley
Season 2012-13-
Team Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
Derek Fisher 33 17.4 5.3 0.1 1.1 1.1 1.4 0.6 0.1 0.9 1.7 1.7 4.9 .342 0.9 2.4 .375 1.1 1.2 .921
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 11 23.7 8.7 0.1 1.5 1.5 0.7 0.6 0.1 0.7 3.0 2.9 6.4 .457 2.2 4.6 .471 0.7 1.1 .667
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Derek Fisher John Salley
Season 2013-14-
Team Oklahoma City Thunder-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
Derek Fisher 81 17.6 5.2 0.1 1.4 1.5 1.4 0.9 0.0 0.6 1.9 1.7 4.5 .391 1.1 2.8 .384 0.7 0.9 .775
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 19 15.7 3.8 0.3 1.4 1.7 0.8 0.7 0.0 0.3 1.4 1.2 3.8 .315 0.6 2.2 .293 0.8 0.8 1.000
John Salley ------- --- ----------