Domantas Sabonis vs. John Starks Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of John Starks and Domantas Sabonis, 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 / Stats Rankings

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.

Domantas Sabonis played 9 years in the NBA, 4 less than John Starks, who played 13. Domantas Sabonis had the first of his seasons in 2016-17, while John Starks had his rookie season in 1988-89. 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 achievements, 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
Domantas Sabonis 9 4 2016-17 to 2024-25
John Starks 13 9 1988-89 to 2001-02

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9

Rookie Season

Domantas Sabonis John Starks
Season 2016-171988-89
Team Oklahoma City ThunderGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Domantas Sabonis 81 20.1 5.9 0.6 3.0 3.6 1.0 0.5 0.4 1.0 2.5 2.4 5.9 .399 0.6 2.0 .321 0.5 0.8 .657
difference:+45+11.3+1.8+0.2+2.3+2.5+0.2+0.1+0.3-0.1-1.5+1.0+2.4+.009+0.3+1.3+.064+0.4+0.6+.003
John Starks 36 8.8 4.1 0.4 0.7 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.0 1.4 3.5 .408 0.3 0.7 .385 0.9 1.4 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Domantas Sabonis 2 3.0 2.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 2.0 0.0 1.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 2.0 2.0 1.000
John Starks DNP------ --- ----------

Note: John Starks didn't play in 1989-90.

Season 2

Domantas Sabonis John Starks
Season 2017-181990-91
Team Indiana PacersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdKnicks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Domantas Sabonis 74 24.5 11.6 2.2 5.5 7.7 2.0 0.5 0.4 1.9 3.0 4.6 8.9 .514 0.2 0.5 .351 2.3 3.0 .750
difference:+13+5.3+4.0+1.7+3.8+5.6+1.3+0.5+0.1-0.7-0.8+1.6+2.2+.075+0.2+1.0+.061+1.0+1.3+.002
John Starks 61 19.2 7.6 0.5 1.7 2.1 3.3 1.0 0.3 1.2 2.2 3.0 6.7 .439 0.4 1.5 .290 1.3 1.7 .752
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Domantas Sabonis 7 23.7 12.4 2.0 2.6 4.6 0.7 0.1 0.3 1.0 3.1 5.1 8.9 .581 0.1 1.0 .143 2.0 2.6 .778
difference:+4+14.4+10.4+1.7+1.9+3.6+1.3+0.1+0.3-1.0-1.8+4.4+7.2+.181+0.1+1.0+1.3+1.9+.222
John Starks 3 9.3 2.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.3 0.7 1.7 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000

Season 3

Domantas Sabonis John Starks
Season 2018-191991-92
Team Indiana PacersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdKnicks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Domantas Sabonis 74 24.8 14.1 2.5 6.8 9.3 2.9 0.6 0.4 2.2 3.2 5.6 9.5 .590 0.1 0.2 .529 2.8 3.9 .715
difference:+8+1.0+0.2+2.0+5.0+7.0+0.5+0.7+0.2-0.4-0.4+0.7+1.5+.141+1.0+3.1+.181+0.1+0.2+.063
John Starks 82 25.8 13.9 0.5 1.8 2.3 3.4 1.3 0.2 1.8 2.8 4.9 11.0 .449 1.1 3.3 .348 2.9 3.7 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Domantas Sabonis 4 24.0 8.5 1.8 5.5 7.3 4.0 0.8 0.3 1.3 3.0 3.0 7.3 .414 0.3 1.0 .250 2.3 3.5 .643
difference:+8+0.6+3.6+1.2+3.6+4.8+0.8+0.6+0.3-0.5-0.8+0.8+3.0+.040+0.6+2.8+.011+1.2+0.8+.165
John Starks 12 24.6 12.1 0.6 1.9 2.5 3.2 1.4 0.0 1.8 3.8 3.8 10.3 .374 0.9 3.8 .239 3.5 4.3 .808

Season 4

Domantas Sabonis John Starks
Season 2019-201992-93
Team Indiana PacersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Domantas Sabonis 62 34.8 18.5 3.0 9.4 12.4 5.0 0.8 0.5 2.7 3.1 7.4 13.7 .540 0.3 1.1 .254 3.5 4.8 .723
difference:+18+3.8+1.0+2.3+7.5+9.8+0.1+0.3+0.3-0.5-0.2+1.0+1.3+.112+1.1+3.1+.067+0.2+0.7+.072
John Starks 80 31.0 17.5 0.7 1.9 2.6 5.1 1.1 0.2 2.2 2.9 6.4 15.0 .428 1.4 4.2 .321 3.3 4.1 .795
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------
John Starks 15 38.3 16.5 0.3 3.2 3.5 6.4 1.0 0.2 3.7 3.8 5.9 13.3 .440 1.9 5.0 .373 2.9 4.0 .717

Season 5

Domantas Sabonis John Starks
Season 2020-211993-94
Team Indiana PacersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Domantas Sabonis 62 36.0 20.3 2.4 9.5 12.0 6.7 1.2 0.5 3.4 3.3 7.8 14.6 .535 0.8 2.6 .321 3.9 5.3 .732
difference:+3+1.1+1.3+1.8+7.0+8.9+0.8+0.4+0.4-0.3-0.1+0.9+2.0+.115+1.1+3.1+.014+0.7+1.1+.022
John Starks 59 34.9 19.0 0.6 2.5 3.1 5.9 1.6 0.1 3.1 3.2 6.9 16.6 .420 1.9 5.7 .335 3.2 4.2 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------
John Starks 25 33.6 14.6 0.4 2.0 2.3 4.6 1.4 0.1 2.3 3.4 4.4 11.6 .381 1.9 5.3 .356 3.9 5.0 .770

Season 6

Domantas Sabonis John Starks
Season 2021-221994-95
Team Indiana Pacers, Sacramento KingsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Domantas Sabonis 62 34.5 18.9 3.2 8.9 12.1 5.2 1.0 0.4 3.1 3.3 7.1 12.5 .573 0.6 2.0 .312 4.0 5.4 .741
difference:+18+0.4+3.6+2.8+6.6+9.4+0.1+0.2+0.3-1.1-0.1+1.9+0.8+.178+2.1+5.6+.043+1.9+2.5+.004
John Starks 80 34.1 15.3 0.4 2.3 2.7 5.1 1.2 0.1 2.0 3.2 5.2 13.3 .395 2.7 7.6 .355 2.1 2.9 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------
John Starks 11 34.5 15.6 0.2 2.1 2.3 5.2 1.2 0.1 2.4 3.6 5.3 11.7 .450 2.7 6.6 .411 2.4 3.8 .619

Season 7

Domantas Sabonis John Starks
Season 2022-231995-96
Team Sacramento KingsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf 1st RdKnicks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Domantas Sabonis 79 34.6 19.1 3.2 9.1 12.3 7.3 0.8 0.5 2.9 3.5 7.3 11.9 .615 0.4 1.1 .373 4.1 5.5 .742
difference:+2+3.8+6.5+2.8+6.6+9.4+3.4+0.5+0.4-1.0-0.7+2.7+1.5+.172+1.4+3.8+.012+2.5+3.4+.011
John Starks 81 30.8 12.6 0.4 2.5 2.9 3.9 1.3 0.1 1.9 2.8 4.6 10.4 .443 1.8 4.9 .361 1.6 2.1 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Domantas Sabonis 7 34.7 16.4 4.4 6.6 11.0 4.7 1.4 0.9 3.7 4.0 7.0 14.1 .495 0.1 0.7 .200 2.3 4.0 .571
difference:+1+4.6+0.4+4.0+3.3+7.4+0.6+0.2+0.8-0.6-0.7+2.1+3.2+.047+2.5+4.9+.267+1.3+0.9+.173
John Starks 8 39.3 16.0 0.4 3.3 3.6 4.1 1.6 0.1 3.1 3.3 4.9 10.9 .448 2.6 5.6 .467 3.6 4.9 .744

Season 8

Domantas Sabonis John Starks
Season 2023-241996-97
Team Sacramento KingsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Domantas Sabonis 82 35.7 19.4 3.6 10.1 13.7 8.2 0.9 0.6 3.3 3.0 7.7 13.0 .594 0.4 1.1 .379 3.6 5.1 .704
difference:+5+9.2+5.6+3.1+7.9+11.0+5.4+0.3+0.5-1.2-0.5+2.9+1.9+.163+1.5+4.2+.010+1.4+2.2+.065
John Starks 77 26.5 13.8 0.5 2.2 2.7 2.8 1.2 0.1 2.1 2.5 4.8 11.1 .431 1.9 5.3 .369 2.2 2.9 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------
John Starks 9 28.3 14.0 0.8 2.7 3.4 2.8 1.1 0.0 2.2 2.8 4.9 11.0 .444 1.4 4.6 .317 2.8 3.4 .806

Season 9

Domantas Sabonis John Starks
Season 2024-251997-98
Team Sacramento KingsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Domantas Sabonis 70 34.7 19.1 3.8 10.1 13.9 6.0 0.7 0.4 2.9 3.3 7.5 12.8 .590 0.9 2.2 .417 3.1 4.1 .754
difference:+12+8.0+6.2+3.2+7.9+11.1+3.3+0.3+0.3-1.2-0.8+3.0+1.3+.197+0.7+2.7+.090+0.8+1.2+.033
John Starks 82 26.7 12.9 0.6 2.2 2.8 2.7 1.0 0.1 1.7 2.5 4.5 11.5 .393 1.6 4.9 .327 2.3 2.9 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------
John Starks 10 31.4 16.4 0.4 3.6 4.0 2.3 1.6 0.1 1.1 3.5 5.9 12.5 .472 2.5 5.9 .424 2.1 2.4 .875

Additional Years

* John Starks played 4 seasons more than Domantas Sabonis in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 10 to 13, from 1999 to 2002—John Starks played in one postseason.