Dikembe Mutombo vs. John Salley Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of John Salley and Dikembe Mutombo, 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.

Dikembe Mutombo played 18 years in the NBA, 7 more than John Salley, who played 11. Dikembe Mutombo had the first of his seasons in 1991-92, 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
Dikembe Mutombo 18 13 1991-92 to 2008-09
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

Dikembe Mutombo John Salley
Season 1991-921986-87
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 71 38.3 16.6 4.5 7.8 12.3 2.2 0.6 3.0 3.5 3.8 6.0 12.2 .493 0.0 0.0 - 4.5 7.0 .642
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 %
Dikembe Mutombo ------- --- ----------
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

Dikembe Mutombo John Salley
Season 1992-931987-88
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dikembe Mutombo 82 36.9 13.8 4.2 8.9 13.0 1.8 0.5 3.5 2.6 3.5 4.9 9.5 .510 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 6.0 .681
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 %
Dikembe Mutombo ------- --- ----------
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

Dikembe Mutombo John Salley
Season 1993-941988-89
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Blocks Leader-
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 82 34.8 12.0 3.5 8.4 11.8 1.5 0.7 4.1 2.5 3.2 4.5 7.8 .569 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 5.4 .583
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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 12 42.6 13.3 3.3 8.7 12.0 1.8 0.7 5.8 2.5 3.5 4.2 9.0 .463 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 8.2 .602
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

Dikembe Mutombo John Salley
Season 1994-951989-90
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 82 37.8 11.5 3.9 8.7 12.5 1.4 0.5 3.9 2.3 3.5 4.3 7.7 .556 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.6 .654
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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 3 28.0 6.0 1.3 5.0 6.3 0.3 0.0 2.3 2.3 5.0 2.0 3.3 .600 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.0 .667
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

Dikembe Mutombo John Salley
Season 1995-961990-91
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 74 36.7 11.0 3.4 8.4 11.8 1.5 0.5 4.5 2.0 3.5 3.8 7.7 .499 0.0 0.0 .000 3.3 4.8 .695
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 %
Dikembe Mutombo ------- --- ----------
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

Dikembe Mutombo John Salley
Season 1996-971991-92
Team Atlanta HawksDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisPistons 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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 80 37.2 13.3 3.4 8.3 11.6 1.4 0.6 3.3 2.3 3.1 4.8 9.0 .527 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 5.4 .705
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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 10 41.5 15.4 3.7 8.6 12.3 1.3 0.1 2.6 2.0 3.0 5.4 8.6 .628 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 6.4 .719
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

Dikembe Mutombo John Salley
Season 1997-981992-93
Team Atlanta HawksMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Hawks Lost East 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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 82 35.6 13.4 3.4 8.0 11.4 1.0 0.4 3.4 2.0 3.1 4.9 9.1 .537 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.5 .670
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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 4 34.0 8.0 3.3 9.5 12.8 0.3 0.3 2.3 2.0 2.5 2.8 6.0 .458 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 4.0 .625
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Dikembe Mutombo John Salley
Season 1998-991993-94
Team Atlanta HawksMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisHeat 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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 50 36.6 10.8 3.8 8.4 12.2 1.1 0.3 2.9 1.9 2.9 3.5 6.8 .512 0.0 0.0 - 3.9 5.7 .684
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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 9 42.2 12.6 4.0 9.9 13.9 1.2 0.6 2.6 2.0 3.1 4.4 7.9 .563 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.2 .702
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

Dikembe Mutombo John Salley
Season 1999-001994-95
Team Atlanta HawksMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 82 36.4 11.5 3.7 10.4 14.1 1.3 0.3 3.3 2.1 3.0 3.9 7.0 .562 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 5.1 .708
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 %
Dikembe Mutombo ------- --- ----------
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Dikembe Mutombo John Salley
Season 2000-011995-96
Team Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ersToronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA 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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 75 34.5 10.0 4.1 9.4 13.5 1.0 0.4 2.7 1.9 2.7 3.6 7.4 .484 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.9 .725
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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 23 42.7 13.9 4.9 8.8 13.7 0.7 0.7 3.1 1.6 2.4 4.4 9.0 .490 0.0 0.0 .000 5.0 6.4 .777
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

Dikembe Mutombo John Salley
Season 2001-021999-00
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East 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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 80 36.3 11.5 3.2 7.6 10.8 1.0 0.4 2.4 2.0 3.0 4.0 8.0 .501 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 4.6 .764
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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 5 34.6 8.8 2.8 7.8 10.6 0.6 0.4 1.8 2.2 3.2 2.8 6.2 .452 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 5.2 .615
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

Dikembe Mutombo John Salley
Season 2002-03-
Team New Jersey Nets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dikembe Mutombo 24 21.4 5.8 2.3 4.1 6.4 0.8 0.2 1.5 1.4 2.3 2.0 5.5 .374 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.3 .727
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dikembe Mutombo 10 11.5 1.8 0.8 1.9 2.7 0.6 0.3 0.9 0.8 2.1 0.7 1.5 .467 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.4 1.000
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Dikembe Mutombo John Salley
Season 2003-04-
Team New York Knicks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 65 23.0 5.6 2.2 4.5 6.7 0.4 0.3 1.9 0.8 2.2 2.2 4.5 .478 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.8 .681
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dikembe Mutombo 3 12.3 2.3 1.3 2.0 3.3 0.0 0.3 1.3 1.0 2.0 0.7 2.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Dikembe Mutombo John Salley
Season 2004-05-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 80 15.2 4.0 1.9 3.5 5.3 0.1 0.2 1.3 0.6 1.7 1.4 2.7 .498 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.8 .741
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dikembe Mutombo 7 14.4 3.1 1.6 3.4 5.0 0.3 0.3 1.0 1.0 2.1 0.9 1.6 .545 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.9 .769
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Dikembe Mutombo John Salley
Season 2005-06-
Team Houston Rockets-
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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 64 14.9 2.6 1.6 3.2 4.8 0.1 0.3 0.9 0.5 2.0 0.8 1.5 .526 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.4 .758
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dikembe Mutombo ------- --- ----------
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Dikembe Mutombo John Salley
Season 2006-07-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 75 17.2 3.1 2.2 4.3 6.5 0.2 0.3 1.0 0.5 2.1 1.1 2.0 .556 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .690
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dikembe Mutombo 7 5.7 1.3 0.7 0.9 1.6 0.1 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.7 0.4 0.4 1.000 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.4 1.000
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Dikembe Mutombo John Salley
Season 2007-08-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 39 15.9 3.0 1.7 3.4 5.1 0.1 0.3 1.2 0.4 1.4 1.1 2.1 .538 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .711
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dikembe Mutombo 6 20.5 3.8 1.7 4.8 6.5 0.3 0.2 1.8 0.2 1.7 1.3 2.2 .615 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.8 .636
John Salley ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Dikembe Mutombo John Salley
Season 2008-09-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Dikembe Mutombo 9 10.7 1.8 1.3 2.3 3.7 0.0 0.0 1.2 0.7 1.2 0.6 1.4 .385 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.0 .667
John Salley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dikembe Mutombo 2 10.0 0.0 0.5 4.0 4.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 0.0 2.5 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 1.0 .000
John Salley ------- --- ----------