Derek Fisher vs. Mel Payton Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Mel Payton 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

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, 16 more than Mel Payton, who played 2. Derek Fisher had the first of his seasons in 1996-97, while Mel Payton had his rookie season in 1951-52. 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
Mel Payton 2 2 1951-52 to 1952-53

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 Mel Payton
Season 1996-971951-52
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisWarriors Lost East Div Semis
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
Mel Payton 45 10.5 2.9 - - 1.8 1.0 - - - 1.5 1.2 3.1 .386 - - - 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 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
Mel Payton 3 6.0 1.3 - - 1.0 0.3 - - - 2.0 0.3 0.7 .500 - - - 0.7 0.7 1.000

Season 2

Derek Fisher Mel Payton
Season 1997-981952-53
Team Los Angeles LakersIndianapolis Olympians
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsOlympians Lost West Div 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 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
Mel Payton 66 21.6 7.1 - - 4.7 1.2 - - - 1.8 2.6 7.3 .357 - - - 1.8 2.4 .745
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
Mel Payton 2 18.0 10.5 - - 3.0 0.0 - - - 3.5 3.5 8.5 .412 - - - 3.5 4.0 .875

Season 3

Derek Fisher Mel Payton
Season 1998-99-
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 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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Derek Fisher Mel Payton
Season 1999-00-
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 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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Derek Fisher Mel Payton
Season 2000-01-
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 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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Derek Fisher Mel Payton
Season 2001-02-
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 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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Derek Fisher Mel Payton
Season 2002-03-
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 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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Derek Fisher Mel Payton
Season 2003-04-
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 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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Derek Fisher Mel Payton
Season 2004-05-
Team Golden State Warriors-
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 %
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher ------- --- ----------
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Derek Fisher Mel Payton
Season 2005-06-
Team Golden State Warriors-
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 %
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher ------- --- ----------
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Derek Fisher Mel Payton
Season 2006-07-
Team Utah Jazz-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Derek Fisher Mel Payton
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Derek Fisher Mel Payton
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Derek Fisher Mel Payton
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Derek Fisher Mel Payton
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Derek Fisher Mel Payton
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Derek Fisher Mel Payton
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Derek Fisher Mel Payton
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------
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
Mel Payton ------- --- ----------