Elfrid Payton vs. Lenny Wilkens Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Lenny Wilkens and Elfrid Payton, 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.

Elfrid Payton played 8 years in the NBA, 7 less than Lenny Wilkens, who played 15. Elfrid Payton had the first of his seasons in 2014-15, while Lenny Wilkens 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
Elfrid Payton 8 2 2014-15 to 2021-22
Lenny Wilkens 15 7 1960-61 to 1974-75

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Elfrid Payton Lenny Wilkens
Season 2014-151960-61
Team Orlando MagicSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton 82 30.4 8.9 1.3 3.0 4.3 6.5 1.7 0.2 2.5 2.4 3.7 8.6 .425 0.1 0.5 .262 1.4 2.6 .551
Lenny Wilkens 75 25.3 11.7 - - 4.5 2.8 - - - 2.9 4.4 10.4 .425 - - - 2.9 4.0 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 12 36.4 14.2 - - 6.0 3.5 - - - 4.3 5.3 13.8 .380 - - - 3.7 4.8 .759

Season 2

Elfrid Payton Lenny Wilkens
Season 2015-161961-62
Team Orlando MagicSt. Louis Hawks
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 %
Elfrid Payton 73 29.4 10.7 1.1 2.5 3.6 6.4 1.2 0.3 2.4 2.2 4.4 10.0 .436 0.4 1.3 .326 1.5 2.6 .589
Lenny Wilkens 20 43.5 18.2 - - 6.6 5.8 - - - 3.2 7.0 18.2 .385 - - - 4.2 5.5 .764
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Elfrid Payton Lenny Wilkens
Season 2016-171962-63
Team Orlando MagicSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton 82 29.4 12.8 1.1 3.6 4.7 6.5 1.1 0.5 2.2 2.2 5.2 11.1 .471 0.5 1.8 .274 1.8 2.6 .692
Lenny Wilkens 75 34.3 11.8 - - 5.4 5.1 - - - 3.4 4.4 11.1 .399 - - - 3.0 4.3 .696
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 11 36.4 13.7 - - 6.3 6.3 - - - 4.6 5.2 14.0 .370 - - - 3.4 4.5 .755

Season 4

Elfrid Payton Lenny Wilkens
Season 2017-181963-64
Team Orlando Magic, Phoenix SunsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton 63 28.7 12.7 1.0 3.3 4.3 6.2 1.3 0.3 2.7 2.3 5.2 10.6 .493 0.5 1.5 .326 1.7 2.7 .649
Lenny Wilkens 78 32.4 12.0 - - 4.3 4.6 - - - 3.7 4.3 10.4 .413 - - - 3.5 4.7 .740
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 12 34.4 14.3 - - 5.0 5.3 - - - 3.5 5.3 11.9 .448 - - - 3.7 4.8 .759

Season 5

Elfrid Payton Lenny Wilkens
Season 2018-191964-65
Team New Orleans PelicansSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks 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 %
Elfrid Payton 42 29.8 10.6 1.2 4.1 5.2 7.6 1.0 0.4 2.7 1.9 4.3 9.8 .434 0.8 2.5 .314 1.3 1.8 .743
Lenny Wilkens 78 36.6 16.5 - - 4.7 5.5 - - - 3.6 5.6 13.4 .414 - - - 5.3 7.2 .746
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 4 36.8 16.0 - - 3.0 3.8 - - - 3.5 5.0 14.3 .351 - - - 6.0 7.3 .828

Season 6

Elfrid Payton Lenny Wilkens
Season 2019-201965-66
Team New York KnicksSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton 45 27.7 10.0 1.2 3.6 4.7 7.2 1.6 0.4 2.1 2.0 4.3 9.8 .439 0.3 1.5 .203 1.1 1.9 .570
Lenny Wilkens 69 39.0 18.0 - - 4.7 6.2 - - - 3.6 6.0 13.8 .431 - - - 6.1 7.7 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 10 39.1 17.1 - - 5.4 7.0 - - - 4.3 5.7 14.3 .399 - - - 5.7 8.3 .687

Season 7

Elfrid Payton Lenny Wilkens
Season 2020-211966-67
Team New York KnicksSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdHawks Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton 63 23.6 10.1 1.0 2.4 3.4 3.2 0.7 0.1 1.6 1.8 4.3 9.9 .432 0.4 1.6 .286 1.2 1.7 .682
Lenny Wilkens 78 38.1 17.4 - - 5.3 5.7 - - - 3.6 5.7 13.3 .432 - - - 5.9 7.5 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton 2 6.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 2.5 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.0 .500
Lenny Wilkens 9 42.0 21.4 - - 7.6 7.2 - - - 3.8 6.4 16.1 .400 - - - 8.6 10.0 .856

Season 8

Elfrid Payton Lenny Wilkens
Season 2021-221967-68
Team Phoenix SunsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisHawks 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 %
Elfrid Payton 50 11.0 3.0 0.4 1.3 1.8 2.0 0.5 0.1 0.9 0.8 1.3 3.5 .383 0.1 0.4 .222 0.2 0.6 .375
Lenny Wilkens 82 38.6 20.0 - - 5.3 8.3 - - - 3.1 6.7 15.2 .438 - - - 6.7 8.7 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton 2 4.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.5 .667 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Lenny Wilkens 6 39.5 18.3 - - 6.3 7.8 - - - 3.8 6.7 15.2 .440 - - - 5.0 6.7 .750

Season 9

Elfrid Payton Lenny Wilkens
Season -1968-69
Team -Seattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 82 42.2 22.4 - - 6.2 8.2 - - - 3.6 7.9 17.8 .440 - - - 6.7 8.7 .770
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Elfrid Payton Lenny Wilkens
Season -1969-70
Team -Seattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 75 37.4 17.8 - - 5.0 9.1 - - - 2.8 6.0 14.2 .420 - - - 5.8 7.4 .788
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Elfrid Payton Lenny Wilkens
Season -1970-71
Team -Seattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
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 %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 71 37.2 19.8 - - 4.5 9.2 - - - 2.8 6.6 15.8 .419 - - - 6.5 8.1 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Elfrid Payton Lenny Wilkens
Season -1971-72
Team -Seattle Supersonics
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 %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 80 37.4 18.0 - - 4.2 9.6 - - - 2.6 6.0 12.8 .466 - - - 6.0 7.8 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Elfrid Payton Lenny Wilkens
Season -1972-73
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 75 39.6 20.5 - - 4.6 8.4 - - - 2.9 7.6 17.0 .449 - - - 5.3 6.3 .828
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Elfrid Payton Lenny Wilkens
Season -1973-74
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
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 %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 74 33.6 16.4 1.1 2.7 3.7 7.1 1.3 0.2 - 2.2 6.2 13.4 .465 - - - 3.9 4.9 .801
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Elfrid Payton Lenny Wilkens
Season -1974-75
Team -Portland Trail Blazers
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 %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 65 17.9 6.5 0.6 1.3 1.8 3.6 1.2 0.1 - 1.5 2.1 4.7 .439 - - - 2.3 3.0 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elfrid Payton ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------