Elgin Baylor vs. Otis Thorpe Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Otis Thorpe 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

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, 3 less than Otis Thorpe, who played 17. Elgin Baylor had the first of his seasons in 1958-59, while Otis Thorpe had his rookie season in 1984-85. 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
Elgin Baylor 14 12 1958-59 to 1971-72
Otis Thorpe 17 11 1984-85 to 2000-01

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Elgin Baylor Otis Thorpe
Season 1958-591984-85
Team Minneapolis LakersKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Otis Thorpe 82 23.4 12.8 2.3 4.5 6.8 1.4 0.4 0.5 2.3 3.1 5.0 8.4 .600 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 4.5 .620
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Otis Thorpe ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Elgin Baylor Otis Thorpe
Season 1959-601985-86
Team Minneapolis LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsKings 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 %
Elgin Baylor 70 41.0 29.6 - - 16.4 3.5 - - - 3.3 10.8 25.4 .424 - - - 8.1 11.0 .732
Otis Thorpe 75 22.3 9.9 1.8 3.8 5.6 1.1 0.5 0.5 1.6 3.1 3.9 6.6 .587 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.3 .661
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Otis Thorpe 3 11.7 4.0 2.7 1.3 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.3 1.0 4.3 .231 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 4.3 .462

Season 3

Elgin Baylor Otis Thorpe
Season 1960-611986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Otis Thorpe 82 36.0 18.9 3.2 6.8 10.0 2.5 0.6 0.7 2.3 3.6 6.9 12.8 .540 0.0 0.0 .000 5.0 6.6 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Otis Thorpe ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Elgin Baylor Otis Thorpe
Season 1961-621987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Otis Thorpe 82 37.5 20.8 3.4 6.8 10.2 3.2 0.8 0.7 2.8 3.2 7.6 15.0 .507 0.0 0.1 .000 5.6 7.4 .755
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Otis Thorpe ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Elgin Baylor Otis Thorpe
Season 1962-631988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsRockets 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 %
Elgin Baylor 80 42.1 34.0 - - 14.3 4.8 - - - 2.8 12.9 28.4 .453 - - - 8.3 9.9 .837
Otis Thorpe 82 38.2 16.7 3.3 6.3 9.6 2.5 1.0 0.5 2.7 3.2 6.4 11.7 .542 0.0 0.0 .000 4.0 5.5 .729
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Otis Thorpe 4 38.0 16.0 1.5 3.5 5.0 3.0 1.3 0.3 3.8 4.3 6.0 9.3 .649 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 5.3 .762

Season 6

Elgin Baylor Otis Thorpe
Season 1963-641989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisRockets 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 %
Elgin Baylor 78 40.6 25.4 - - 12.0 4.4 - - - 3.0 9.7 22.8 .425 - - - 6.0 7.5 .804
Otis Thorpe 82 35.9 17.1 3.1 5.8 9.0 3.2 0.8 0.3 2.8 3.3 6.7 12.2 .548 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 5.4 .688
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Otis Thorpe 4 41.0 20.0 3.5 4.8 8.3 1.8 1.3 0.0 2.3 3.0 6.8 11.3 .600 0.0 0.0 - 6.5 9.5 .684

Season 7

Elgin Baylor Otis Thorpe
Season 1964-651990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsRockets 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 %
Elgin Baylor 74 41.3 27.1 - - 12.8 3.8 - - - 3.2 10.3 25.7 .401 - - - 6.5 8.2 .792
Otis Thorpe 82 37.1 17.5 3.5 6.8 10.3 2.4 0.9 0.2 2.6 3.4 6.7 12.0 .556 0.0 0.1 .429 4.1 5.9 .696
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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 -
Otis Thorpe 3 38.7 15.7 2.3 6.0 8.3 2.7 0.7 0.0 2.0 2.7 7.3 12.7 .579 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.0 .500

Season 8

Elgin Baylor Otis Thorpe
Season 1965-661991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Otis Thorpe 82 37.3 17.3 3.5 7.0 10.5 3.0 0.6 0.5 2.9 3.7 6.8 11.5 .592 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 5.6 .657
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Otis Thorpe ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Elgin Baylor Otis Thorpe
Season 1966-671992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisRockets 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 %
Elgin Baylor 70 38.7 26.6 - - 12.8 3.1 - - - 3.0 10.2 23.7 .429 - - - 6.3 7.7 .813
Otis Thorpe 72 32.7 12.8 3.0 5.1 8.2 2.5 0.6 0.3 2.1 3.3 5.3 9.6 .558 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.6 .598
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Otis Thorpe 12 34.9 14.5 3.0 5.6 8.6 2.6 0.5 0.1 1.4 2.9 6.1 9.6 .635 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.6 .651

Season 10

Elgin Baylor Otis Thorpe
Season 1967-681993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 77 39.3 26.0 - - 12.2 4.6 - - - 3.0 9.8 22.2 .443 - - - 6.3 8.1 .786
Otis Thorpe 82 35.5 14.0 3.3 7.3 10.6 2.3 0.8 0.3 2.3 3.1 5.5 9.8 .561 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 4.7 .657
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Otis Thorpe 23 37.1 11.3 3.0 7.0 9.9 2.3 0.6 0.4 1.6 3.7 4.8 8.4 .572 0.0 0.1 .500 1.7 2.9 .567

Season 11

Elgin Baylor Otis Thorpe
Season 1968-691994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 76 40.3 24.8 - - 10.6 5.4 - - - 2.7 9.6 21.5 .447 - - - 5.5 7.5 .743
Otis Thorpe 70 29.9 13.4 2.9 5.1 8.0 1.6 0.6 0.4 1.9 3.2 5.5 9.7 .565 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 4.0 .594
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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 5.6 .630
Otis Thorpe 3 22.0 10.3 1.7 2.7 4.3 0.7 0.0 0.0 1.0 4.0 4.0 7.0 .571 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.3 .700

Season 12

Elgin Baylor Otis Thorpe
Season 1969-701995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPistons 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 %
Elgin Baylor 54 41.0 24.0 - - 10.4 5.4 - - - 2.4 9.5 19.5 .486 - - - 5.1 6.6 .773
Otis Thorpe 82 34.6 14.2 2.6 5.8 8.4 1.9 0.6 0.5 2.4 3.7 5.5 10.4 .530 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 4.4 .710
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Otis Thorpe 3 33.7 11.7 4.7 7.0 11.7 2.3 0.0 0.0 2.3 3.0 4.3 8.0 .542 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.0 .750

Season 13

Elgin Baylor Otis Thorpe
Season 1970-711996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 %
Elgin Baylor 2 28.5 10.0 - - 5.5 1.0 - - - 3.0 4.0 9.5 .421 - - - 2.0 3.0 .667
Otis Thorpe 79 33.7 13.1 2.9 5.0 7.9 1.7 0.7 0.2 1.8 3.8 5.3 10.0 .532 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.8 .653
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 5 30.2 9.8 2.4 4.0 6.4 0.8 0.4 0.0 1.8 4.2 4.2 8.2 .512 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.8 .778

Season 14

Elgin Baylor Otis Thorpe
Season 1971-721997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersVancouver Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings
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 %
Elgin Baylor 9 26.6 11.8 - - 6.3 2.0 - - - 2.2 4.7 10.8 .433 - - - 2.4 3.0 .815
Otis Thorpe 74 29.7 10.2 2.0 5.2 7.3 3.0 0.6 0.4 2.1 3.2 4.0 8.4 .471 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 3.2 .683
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Elgin Baylor Otis Thorpe
Season -1998-99
Team -Washington Wizards
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 %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 49 31.4 11.3 2.0 4.9 6.8 2.1 0.9 0.4 1.8 4.0 4.9 9.0 .545 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.2 .698
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Elgin Baylor Otis Thorpe
Season -1999-00
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Heat Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 51 15.2 5.5 1.1 2.2 3.3 0.6 0.5 0.2 1.2 2.7 2.5 4.8 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 0.9 .604
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 10 13.6 3.3 0.6 2.3 2.9 0.3 0.0 0.2 1.1 2.9 1.3 2.7 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 1.4 .500

Season 17

Elgin Baylor Otis Thorpe
Season -2000-01
Team -Charlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Hornets Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 49 13.2 2.8 1.0 1.9 3.0 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.7 2.2 1.2 2.7 .450 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.5 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 8 7.3 0.5 0.8 1.4 2.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.0 0.3 1.1 .222 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -