Elgin Baylor vs. Kevin Garnett Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kevin Garnett and Elgin Baylor, 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 / 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.

Elgin Baylor played 14 years in the NBA, 7 less than Kevin Garnett, who played 21. Elgin Baylor had the first of his seasons in 1958-59, while Kevin Garnett had his rookie season in 1995-96. 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
Elgin Baylor 14 12 1958-59 to 1971-72
Kevin Garnett 21 14 1995-96 to 2015-16

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Elgin Baylor Kevin Garnett
Season 1958-591995-96
Team Minneapolis LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid 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%
Elgin Baylor 70 40.8 24.9 - - 15.0 4.1 - - - 3.9 8.6 21.2 .408 - - - 7.6 9.8 .777
difference:+10+12.1+14.5+8.7+2.3-1.5+4.1+12.0+.083+6.3+7.9+.072
Kevin Garnett 80 28.7 10.4 2.2 4.1 6.3 1.8 1.1 1.6 1.4 2.4 4.5 9.2 .491 0.1 0.4 .286 1.3 1.9 .705
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 13 42.8 25.5 - - 12.0 3.3 - - - 4.0 9.4 23.3 .403 - - - 6.7 8.7 .770
Kevin Garnett DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Elgin Baylor Kevin Garnett
Season 1959-601996-97
Team Minneapolis LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsTimberwolves Lost West 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%
Elgin Baylor 70 41.0 29.6 - - 16.4 3.5 - - - 3.3 10.8 25.4 .424 - - - 8.1 11.0 .732
difference:+7+2.1+12.6+8.4+0.4-0.7+3.7+11.1+.075+5.4+7.5+.022
Kevin Garnett 77 38.9 17.0 2.5 5.6 8.0 3.1 1.4 2.1 2.3 2.6 7.1 14.3 .499 0.1 0.3 .286 2.7 3.5 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 9 45.3 33.4 - - 14.1 3.4 - - - 4.2 12.3 26.0 .474 - - - 8.8 10.4 .840
difference:+6+3.6+16.1+4.8+0.3-2.2+4.3+9.0+.003+7.8+9.4+.160
Kevin Garnett 3 41.7 17.3 4.7 4.7 9.3 3.7 1.3 1.0 1.3 2.0 8.0 17.0 .471 0.3 0.3 1.000 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 3

Elgin Baylor Kevin Garnett
Season 1960-611997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 73 42.9 34.8 - - 19.8 5.1 - - - 3.8 12.8 29.7 .430 - - - 9.3 11.8 .783
difference:+9+3.6+16.3+10.2+0.9-1.1+5.1+13.9+.061+6.3+7.8+.045
Kevin Garnett 82 39.3 18.5 2.7 6.9 9.6 4.2 1.7 1.8 2.3 2.7 7.7 15.8 .491 0.0 0.2 .188 3.0 4.0 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 12 45.0 38.1 - - 15.3 4.6 - - - 3.7 14.2 30.2 .470 - - - 9.8 11.8 .824
difference:+7+6.4+22.3+5.7+0.6-0.3+7.0+15.2+.010+8.4+10.0+.046
Kevin Garnett 5 38.6 15.8 3.4 6.2 9.6 4.0 0.8 2.4 4.4 3.4 7.2 15.0 .480 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.8 .778

Season 4

Elgin Baylor Kevin Garnett
Season 1961-621998-99
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 48 44.4 38.3 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.2 14.2 33.1 .428 - - - 9.9 13.1 .754
difference:+1+6.5+17.5+8.2+0.3+5.4+14.0+.032+6.8+8.7+.050
Kevin Garnett 47 37.9 20.8 3.5 6.9 10.4 4.3 1.7 1.8 2.9 3.2 8.8 19.1 .460 0.1 0.3 .286 3.1 4.4 .704
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 13 43.9 38.6 - - 17.7 3.6 - - - 3.5 14.3 32.7 .438 - - - 10.0 12.9 .774
difference:+9+1.4+16.8+5.7+0.2-1.0+5.5+12.9+.005+5.7+7.1+.035
Kevin Garnett 4 42.5 21.8 4.0 8.0 12.0 3.8 1.8 2.0 3.3 2.5 8.8 19.8 .443 0.0 0.5 .000 4.3 5.8 .739

Season 5

Elgin Baylor Kevin Garnett
Season 1962-631999-00
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 80 42.1 34.0 - - 14.3 4.8 - - - 2.8 12.9 28.4 .453 - - - 8.3 9.9 .837
difference:+1+2.1+11.1+2.5+0.2-0.3+3.5+9.6+.044+4.5+4.9+.072
Kevin Garnett 81 40.0 22.9 2.8 9.0 11.8 5.0 1.5 1.6 3.3 2.5 9.4 18.8 .497 0.4 1.0 .370 3.8 5.0 .765
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 13 43.2 32.6 - - 13.6 4.5 - - - 3.7 12.3 27.8 .442 - - - 8.0 9.7 .825
difference:+9+0.7+13.8+2.8+4.3-0.7+4.8+8.3+.057+4.7+5.7+.012
Kevin Garnett 4 42.5 18.8 3.3 7.5 10.8 8.8 1.3 0.8 2.8 3.0 7.5 19.5 .385 0.5 0.8 .667 3.3 4.0 .813

Season 6

Elgin Baylor Kevin Garnett
Season 1963-642000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 78 40.6 25.4 - - 12.0 4.4 - - - 3.0 9.7 22.8 .425 - - - 6.0 7.5 .804
difference:+3+1.1+3.4+0.6+0.6-0.5+1.0+4.6+.052+1.6+1.7+.040
Kevin Garnett 81 39.5 22.0 2.7 8.7 11.4 5.0 1.4 1.8 2.8 2.5 8.7 18.2 .477 0.2 0.8 .288 4.4 5.8 .764
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 5 44.2 24.2 - - 11.6 5.6 - - - 3.4 9.0 23.8 .378 - - - 6.2 8.0 .775
difference:+1+2.9+3.2+0.4+1.3-0.1+2.2+9.3+.088+1.3+1.0+.058
Kevin Garnett 4 41.3 21.0 2.5 9.5 12.0 4.3 1.0 1.5 1.5 3.3 6.8 14.5 .466 0.0 0.8 .000 7.5 9.0 .833

Season 7

Elgin Baylor Kevin Garnett
Season 1964-652001-02
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 74 41.3 27.1 - - 12.8 3.8 - - - 3.2 10.3 25.7 .401 - - - 6.5 8.2 .792
difference:+7+2.1+5.9+0.7+1.4-0.9+2.2+8.4+.069+2.1+2.7+.009
Kevin Garnett 81 39.2 21.2 3.0 9.1 12.1 5.2 1.2 1.6 2.8 2.3 8.1 17.3 .470 0.5 1.4 .319 4.4 5.5 .801
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 1 5.0 0.0 - - 0 1.0 - - - 0.0 0.0 2.0 .000 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
difference:+2+38.3+24.0+18.7+4.0-3.7+8.0+16.7+.429+7.7+10.7
Kevin Garnett 3 43.3 24.0 5.3 13.3 18.7 5.0 1.7 1.7 4.0 3.7 8.0 18.7 .429 0.3 0.7 .500 7.7 10.7 .719

Season 8

Elgin Baylor Kevin Garnett
Season 1965-662002-03
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 65 30.4 16.6 - - 9.6 3.4 - - - 2.4 6.4 15.9 .401 - - - 3.8 5.2 .739
difference:+17+10.1+6.4+3.8+2.6+2.7+2.2+.101+0.8+0.9+.012
Kevin Garnett 82 40.5 23.0 3.0 10.5 13.4 6.0 1.4 1.6 2.8 2.4 9.1 18.1 .502 0.2 0.9 .282 4.6 6.1 .751
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 14 41.9 26.8 - - 14.1 3.7 - - - 2.7 10.4 23.4 .442 - - - 6.1 7.5 .810
difference:+8+2.1+0.2+1.6+1.5-1.1+1.4+0.4+.072+3.3+2.8+.203
Kevin Garnett 6 44.0 27.0 1.8 13.8 15.7 5.2 1.7 1.7 3.0 3.8 11.8 23.0 .514 0.5 1.5 .333 2.8 4.7 .607

Season 9

Elgin Baylor Kevin Garnett
Season 1966-672003-04
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisTimberwolves Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 70 38.7 26.6 - - 12.8 3.1 - - - 3.0 10.2 23.7 .429 - - - 6.3 7.7 .813
difference:+12+0.7+2.4+1.1+1.9-0.5+0.4+4.1+.070+1.8+2.0+.022
Kevin Garnett 82 39.4 24.2 3.0 10.9 13.9 5.0 1.5 2.2 2.6 2.5 9.8 19.6 .499 0.1 0.5 .256 4.5 5.7 .791
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 3 40.3 23.7 - - 13.0 3.0 - - - 2.0 9.3 25.3 .368 - - - 5.0 6.7 .750
difference:+15+3.2+0.6+1.6+2.1-1.2+4.6+.084+0.4+0.2+.026
Kevin Garnett 18 43.5 24.3 2.2 12.4 14.6 5.1 1.3 2.3 4.2 3.2 9.3 20.7 .452 0.3 0.9 .313 5.4 6.9 .776

Season 10

Elgin Baylor Kevin Garnett
Season 1967-682004-05
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 77 39.3 26.0 - - 12.2 4.6 - - - 3.0 9.8 22.2 .443 - - - 6.3 8.1 .786
difference:+5+1.2+3.8+1.3+1.1-0.5+1.5+5.6+.059+0.9+1.4+.025
Kevin Garnett 82 38.1 22.2 3.0 10.5 13.5 5.7 1.5 1.4 2.7 2.5 8.3 16.6 .502 0.1 0.3 .240 5.4 6.7 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 15 42.2 28.5 - - 14.5 4.0 - - - 2.7 11.7 25.1 .468 - - - 5.1 7.5 .679
Kevin Garnett DNP------ --- ----------

Season 11

Elgin Baylor Kevin Garnett
Season 1968-692005-06
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 76 40.3 24.8 - - 10.6 5.4 - - - 2.7 9.6 21.5 .447 - - - 5.5 7.5 .743
difference:+1.4+3.0+2.1+1.3+1.4+5.8+.079+0.3+1.1+.067
Kevin Garnett 76 38.9 21.8 2.8 9.9 12.7 4.1 1.4 1.4 2.4 2.7 8.2 15.7 .526 0.1 0.4 .267 5.2 6.4 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 18 35.6 15.4 - - 9.2 4.1 - - - 3.1 5.9 15.4 .385 - - - 3.5 5.4 .649
Kevin Garnett DNP------ --- ----------

Season 12

Elgin Baylor Kevin Garnett
Season 1969-702006-07
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 54 41.0 24.0 - - 10.4 5.4 - - - 2.4 9.5 19.5 .486 - - - 5.1 6.6 .773
difference:+22+1.6+1.6+2.4+1.3+1.1+1.9+.010+0.4+.062
Kevin Garnett 76 39.4 22.4 2.4 10.4 12.8 4.1 1.2 1.7 2.7 2.4 8.4 17.6 .476 0.2 0.7 .214 5.5 6.6 .835
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 18 37.1 18.7 - - 9.6 4.6 - - - 2.8 7.7 16.4 .466 - - - 3.3 4.5 .741
Kevin Garnett DNP------ --- ----------

Season 13

Elgin Baylor Kevin Garnett
Season 1970-712007-08
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 2 28.5 10.0 - - 5.5 1.0 - - - 3.0 4.0 9.5 .421 - - - 2.0 3.0 .667
difference:+69+4.3+8.8+3.7+2.4-0.7+3.5+4.4+.118+1.8+1.7+.134
Kevin Garnett 71 32.8 18.8 1.9 7.3 9.2 3.4 1.4 1.3 1.9 2.3 7.5 13.9 .539 0.0 0.2 .000 3.8 4.7 .801
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor DNP------ --- ----------
Kevin Garnett 26 38.0 20.4 2.8 7.8 10.5 3.3 1.3 1.1 2.1 2.8 8.3 16.8 .495 0.1 0.3 .250 3.6 4.5 .810

Season 14

Elgin Baylor Kevin Garnett
Season 1971-722008-09
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Elgin Baylor 9 26.6 11.8 - - 6.3 2.0 - - - 2.2 4.7 10.8 .433 - - - 2.4 3.0 .815
difference:+48+4.5+4.0+2.2+0.5+2.2+2.2+.098+0.5+0.7+.026
Kevin Garnett 57 31.1 15.8 1.4 7.1 8.5 2.5 1.1 1.2 1.6 2.2 6.9 13.0 .531 0.0 0.1 .250 1.9 2.3 .841
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Elgin Baylor nor Kevin Garnett played in the postseason in their season 14

Additional Years

* Kevin Garnett played 7 seasons more than Elgin Baylor in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 21, from 2010 to 2016—Kevin Garnett played in 5 Playoffs.

In those 7 extra years over Elgin Baylor, Kevin Garnett got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 1 All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement 3 All-Star Game