Elgin Baylor vs. Paul Silas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul Silas 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, 2 less than Paul Silas, who played 16. Elgin Baylor had the first of his seasons in 1958-59, while Paul Silas had his rookie season in 1964-65. 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
Paul Silas 16 14 1964-65 to 1979-80

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Elgin Baylor Paul Silas
Season 1958-591964-65
Team Minneapolis LakersSt. Louis Hawks
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 FinalsHawks 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 %
Elgin Baylor 70 40.8 24.9 - - 15.0 4.1 - - - 3.9 8.6 21.2 .408 - - - 7.6 9.8 .777
Paul Silas 79 15.7 4.6 - - 7.3 0.6 - - - 2.0 1.8 4.7 .373 - - - 1.1 2.1 .506
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
Paul Silas 4 10.5 2.8 - - 4.5 0.3 - - - 1.5 1.0 2.5 .400 - - - 0.8 1.0 .750

Season 2

Elgin Baylor Paul Silas
Season 1959-601965-66
Team Minneapolis LakersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsHawks 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 %
Elgin Baylor 70 41.0 29.6 - - 16.4 3.5 - - - 3.3 10.8 25.4 .424 - - - 8.1 11.0 .732
Paul Silas 46 12.7 3.8 - - 5.1 0.5 - - - 1.6 1.5 3.8 .405 - - - 0.8 1.3 .574
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
Paul Silas 7 11.4 2.6 - - 4.9 0.3 - - - 1.6 0.7 2.6 .278 - - - 1.1 1.6 .727

Season 3

Elgin Baylor Paul Silas
Season 1960-611966-67
Team Los Angeles LakersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsHawks 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 %
Elgin Baylor 73 42.9 34.8 - - 19.8 5.1 - - - 3.8 12.8 29.7 .430 - - - 9.3 11.8 .783
Paul Silas 77 20.4 6.8 - - 8.7 1.0 - - - 2.7 2.7 6.3 .429 - - - 1.5 2.8 .531
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
Paul Silas 8 15.3 3.6 - - 6.5 0.8 - - - 2.1 1.1 4.5 .250 - - - 1.4 2.3 .611

Season 4

Elgin Baylor Paul Silas
Season 1961-621967-68
Team Los Angeles LakersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHawks 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 %
Elgin Baylor 48 44.4 38.3 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.2 14.2 33.1 .428 - - - 9.9 13.1 .754
Paul Silas 82 32.3 13.4 - - 11.7 2.0 - - - 3.0 4.9 10.6 .458 - - - 3.6 5.2 .705
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
Paul Silas 6 29.7 11.8 - - 9.5 3.5 - - - 2.8 3.7 8.5 .431 - - - 4.5 6.3 .711

Season 5

Elgin Baylor Paul Silas
Season 1962-631968-69
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHawks 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 %
Elgin Baylor 80 42.1 34.0 - - 14.3 4.8 - - - 2.8 12.9 28.4 .453 - - - 8.3 9.9 .837
Paul Silas 79 23.5 8.7 - - 9.4 1.8 - - - 2.1 3.1 7.3 .419 - - - 2.6 4.2 .613
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
Paul Silas 11 23.5 5.5 - - 8.4 1.9 - - - 2.9 1.9 5.3 .362 - - - 1.7 3.4 .514

Season 6

Elgin Baylor Paul Silas
Season 1963-641969-70
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisSuns 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 %
Elgin Baylor 78 40.6 25.4 - - 12.0 4.4 - - - 3.0 9.7 22.8 .425 - - - 6.0 7.5 .804
Paul Silas 78 36.4 12.8 - - 11.7 2.7 - - - 3.4 4.8 10.3 .464 - - - 3.2 5.3 .607
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
Paul Silas 7 40.9 16.1 - - 15.9 4.3 - - - 4.1 6.6 15.6 .422 - - - 3.0 4.6 .656

Season 7

Elgin Baylor Paul Silas
Season 1964-651970-71
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 74 41.3 27.1 - - 12.8 3.8 - - - 3.2 10.3 25.7 .401 - - - 6.5 8.2 .792
Paul Silas 81 36.3 11.9 - - 12.5 3.0 - - - 2.8 4.2 9.7 .428 - - - 3.5 5.1 .685
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 -
Paul Silas ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Elgin Baylor Paul Silas
Season 1965-661971-72
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 65 30.4 16.6 - - 9.6 3.4 - - - 2.4 6.4 15.9 .401 - - - 3.8 5.2 .739
Paul Silas 80 38.5 17.5 - - 11.9 4.3 - - - 2.5 6.1 12.9 .470 - - - 5.4 7.0 .773
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
Paul Silas ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Elgin Baylor Paul Silas
Season 1966-671972-73
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisCeltics 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 %
Elgin Baylor 70 38.7 26.6 - - 12.8 3.1 - - - 3.0 10.2 23.7 .429 - - - 6.3 7.7 .813
Paul Silas 80 32.7 13.3 - - 13.0 3.1 - - - 2.5 5.0 10.6 .470 - - - 3.3 4.8 .700
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
Paul Silas 13 39.4 9.6 - - 15.1 3.0 - - - 3.0 3.6 9.2 .392 - - - 2.4 3.8 .620

Season 10

Elgin Baylor Paul Silas
Season 1967-681973-74
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
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
Paul Silas 82 31.7 11.5 4.1 7.1 11.2 2.3 0.8 0.2 - 3.0 4.1 9.4 .440 - - - 3.2 4.1 .783
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
Paul Silas 18 31.9 8.0 2.9 7.7 10.6 2.6 0.7 0.5 - 2.8 2.8 7.0 .397 - - - 2.4 2.9 .830

Season 11

Elgin Baylor Paul Silas
Season 1968-691974-75
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsCeltics 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 %
Elgin Baylor 76 40.3 24.8 - - 10.6 5.4 - - - 2.7 9.6 21.5 .447 - - - 5.5 7.5 .743
Paul Silas 82 32.5 10.6 4.2 8.3 12.5 2.7 0.7 0.3 - 2.8 3.8 9.1 .417 - - - 3.0 4.2 .709
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
Paul Silas 11 36.8 9.1 4.2 7.6 11.8 3.6 1.1 0.2 - 4.1 3.8 8.4 .457 - - - 1.5 2.3 .640

Season 12

Elgin Baylor Paul Silas
Season 1969-701975-76
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive 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 54 41.0 24.0 - - 10.4 5.4 - - - 2.4 9.5 19.5 .486 - - - 5.1 6.6 .773
Paul Silas 81 32.9 10.7 4.5 8.1 12.7 2.5 0.7 0.4 - 2.8 3.9 9.1 .426 - - - 2.9 4.1 .709
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
Paul Silas 18 41.2 10.8 4.3 9.3 13.7 2.3 1.3 0.3 - 3.7 3.8 8.6 .448 - - - 3.1 3.8 .812

Season 13

Elgin Baylor Paul Silas
Season 1970-711976-77
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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 2 28.5 10.0 - - 5.5 1.0 - - - 3.0 4.0 9.5 .421 - - - 2.0 3.0 .667
Paul Silas 81 24.2 7.2 2.9 4.6 7.5 1.6 0.7 0.3 - 2.3 2.5 7.1 .360 - - - 2.1 3.1 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 6 23.5 6.8 2.7 4.0 6.7 2.7 0.3 0.7 - 3.8 2.3 5.5 .424 - - - 2.2 4.0 .542

Season 14

Elgin Baylor Paul Silas
Season 1971-721977-78
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics Lost NBA Finals
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
Paul Silas 82 26.5 5.8 3.5 4.6 8.1 1.8 0.8 0.2 1.9 2.2 2.2 5.7 .397 - - - 1.3 2.3 .586
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 22 27.5 4.9 3.3 5.2 8.5 1.6 0.5 0.3 1.4 2.7 1.5 4.3 .351 - - - 1.9 2.7 .683

Season 15

Elgin Baylor Paul Silas
Season -1978-79
Team -Seattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -NBA 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 ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 82 23.9 5.6 3.2 3.9 7.0 1.4 0.4 0.2 1.2 2.2 2.1 4.9 .423 - - - 1.4 2.4 .598
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 17 24.6 4.3 2.4 3.4 5.8 1.1 0.5 0.3 2.0 2.6 1.2 3.2 .389 - - - 1.8 2.7 .674

Season 16

Elgin Baylor Paul Silas
Season -1979-80
Team -Seattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Supersonics Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 82 19.5 3.8 2.5 2.8 5.3 0.8 0.3 0.1 1.0 1.5 1.4 3.6 .378 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.7 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 15 17.1 2.5 2.2 2.8 5.0 1.0 0.6 0.1 0.6 1.9 0.9 2.9 .302 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.9 .846