Frank Johnson vs. Bob Lanier Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bob Lanier and Frank Johnson, 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 / Games against each other

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.

Frank Johnson played 10 years in the NBA, 4 less than Bob Lanier, who played 14. Frank Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1981-82, while Bob Lanier had his rookie season in 1970-71. 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
Frank Johnson 10 8 1981-82 to 1993-94
Bob Lanier 14 9 1970-71 to 1983-84

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Frank Johnson Bob Lanier
Season 1981-821970-71
Team Washington BulletsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Frank Johnson 79 25.7 10.7 0.4 1.4 1.9 4.8 1.0 0.1 2.0 2.5 4.3 10.3 .414 0.2 1.0 .215 1.9 2.6 .750
Bob Lanier 82 24.6 15.6 - - 8.1 1.8 - - - 3.3 6.1 13.5 .455 - - - 3.3 4.6 .726
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Frank Johnson 7 40.0 15.6 1.0 2.1 3.1 8.4 1.4 0.0 4.1 3.4 5.7 14.9 .385 0.7 1.7 .417 3.4 4.0 .857
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Frank Johnson Bob Lanier
Season 1982-831971-72
Team Washington BulletsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Frank Johnson 68 34.2 12.5 0.7 1.9 2.6 8.1 1.6 0.1 3.5 2.5 4.7 11.6 .408 0.2 0.9 .230 2.9 3.8 .751
Bob Lanier 80 38.7 25.7 - - 14.2 3.1 - - - 3.7 10.4 21.1 .493 - - - 4.9 6.3 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Frank Johnson ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Frank Johnson Bob Lanier
Season 1983-841972-73
Team Washington BulletsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Frank Johnson 82 32.8 12.0 0.7 1.5 2.2 6.9 1.2 0.1 2.3 2.1 4.8 10.2 .467 0.1 0.5 .256 2.3 3.1 .742
Bob Lanier 81 38.9 23.8 - - 14.9 3.2 - - - 3.4 10.0 20.4 .490 - - - 3.8 4.9 .773
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Frank Johnson 4 39.0 14.3 1.0 2.3 3.3 6.3 1.3 0.0 2.3 4.0 6.0 10.5 .571 0.3 0.8 .333 2.0 2.0 1.000
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Frank Johnson Bob Lanier
Season 1984-851973-74
Team Washington BulletsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf 1st RdPistons 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 %
Frank Johnson 46 20.1 9.3 0.5 0.9 1.4 3.1 0.9 0.1 1.3 1.6 3.8 7.8 .489 0.1 0.4 .353 1.6 2.1 .750
Bob Lanier 81 37.6 22.5 3.3 9.9 13.3 4.2 1.4 3.0 - 3.4 9.2 18.3 .504 - - - 4.0 5.0 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Frank Johnson 2 19.5 7.5 0.5 1.5 2.0 3.5 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.5 2.0 7.0 .286 0.5 3.0 .167 3.0 3.0 1.000
Bob Lanier 7 43.3 26.3 3.7 11.6 15.3 3.0 0.6 2.0 - 4.0 11.0 21.7 .507 - - - 4.3 5.4 .789

Season 5

Frank Johnson Bob Lanier
Season 1985-861974-75
Team Washington BulletsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 %
Frank Johnson 14 28.7 12.6 0.5 1.5 2.0 5.4 0.8 0.1 2.1 2.1 4.9 11.0 .448 0.0 0.2 .000 2.7 3.9 .704
Bob Lanier 76 39.3 24.0 3.0 9.1 12.0 4.6 1.0 2.3 - 3.1 9.6 18.9 .510 - - - 4.8 5.9 .802
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Frank Johnson ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 3 42.7 20.3 1.7 9.0 10.7 6.3 1.3 4.0 - 3.3 8.7 17.0 .510 - - - 3.0 4.0 .750

Season 6

Frank Johnson Bob Lanier
Season 1986-871975-76
Team Washington BulletsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf 1st RdPistons 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 %
Frank Johnson 18 22.2 8.5 0.6 1.1 1.7 3.2 1.2 0.0 1.7 1.7 3.3 7.1 .461 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.7 .714
Bob Lanier 64 36.9 21.3 3.4 8.3 11.7 3.4 1.2 1.3 - 3.2 8.5 15.9 .532 - - - 4.4 5.8 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Frank Johnson 3 9.3 2.7 0.7 0.0 0.7 1.7 0.3 0.0 1.3 1.0 0.7 2.3 .286 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.3 1.000
Bob Lanier 9 39.9 26.1 4.3 8.3 12.7 3.3 0.9 2.3 - 3.8 10.6 19.1 .552 - - - 5.0 5.6 .900

Season 7

Frank Johnson Bob Lanier
Season 1987-881976-77
Team Washington BulletsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf 1st RdPistons 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 %
Frank Johnson 75 16.8 7.4 0.5 1.1 1.6 2.5 0.9 0.1 1.3 1.6 2.9 6.6 .434 0.0 0.1 .111 1.6 2.0 .812
Bob Lanier 64 38.2 25.3 3.1 8.5 11.6 3.3 1.1 2.0 - 2.7 10.6 19.8 .534 - - - 4.1 5.0 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Frank Johnson 5 8.8 3.6 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.8 0.0 0.4 0.8 1.4 4.4 .318 0.0 0.4 .000 0.8 0.8 1.000
Bob Lanier 3 39.3 28.0 4.3 12.3 16.7 2.0 1.0 2.3 - 3.3 11.3 18.0 .630 - - - 5.3 6.3 .842

Season 8

Frank Johnson Bob Lanier
Season 1988-891977-78
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Frank Johnson 67 13.1 4.4 0.3 0.9 1.2 2.7 0.6 0.0 1.5 1.4 1.6 3.7 .443 0.0 0.1 .167 1.1 1.4 .806
Bob Lanier 63 36.7 24.5 3.1 8.2 11.3 3.4 1.3 1.5 3.6 2.9 9.9 18.4 .537 - - - 4.7 6.1 .772
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Frank Johnson 4 9.0 2.5 0.3 1.0 1.3 1.8 0.3 0.0 1.0 0.8 0.5 1.5 .333 0.0 0.3 .000 1.5 2.5 .600
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------

Note: Frank Johnson didn't play in 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92.

Season 9

Frank Johnson Bob Lanier
Season 1992-931978-79
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Frank Johnson 77 14.6 4.3 0.5 0.9 1.5 2.4 0.8 0.1 1.0 1.5 1.8 4.1 .436 0.0 0.2 .083 0.8 1.0 .776
Bob Lanier 53 34.6 23.6 3.1 6.2 9.3 2.6 0.9 1.4 3.3 3.4 9.2 17.9 .515 - - - 5.2 6.9 .749
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Frank Johnson 22 7.8 3.2 0.1 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.2 1.0 2.3 .440 0.0 0.1 .333 1.1 1.3 .862
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Frank Johnson Bob Lanier
Season 1993-941979-80
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisBucks 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 %
Frank Johnson 70 12.5 4.6 0.4 0.8 1.2 2.1 0.6 0.0 0.9 1.7 1.9 4.3 .448 0.0 0.2 .167 0.8 1.0 .783
Bob Lanier 63 33.8 19.2 2.4 6.3 8.8 2.9 1.2 1.4 2.6 3.2 7.4 13.8 .537 0.0 0.1 .167 4.4 5.6 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Frank Johnson 7 6.6 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.7 0.3 0.0 0.4 0.9 0.1 1.7 .083 0.0 0.3 .000 0.1 0.3 .500
Bob Lanier 7 36.6 19.3 2.4 6.9 9.3 4.4 1.0 1.1 2.4 3.3 7.4 14.4 .515 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 6.0 .738

Season 11

Frank Johnson Bob Lanier
Season -1980-81
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bucks 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 %
Frank Johnson ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 67 26.2 14.3 1.9 4.3 6.2 2.7 1.1 1.2 2.1 2.7 5.6 10.7 .525 0.0 0.0 1.000 3.1 4.1 .751
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Frank Johnson ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 7 33.7 17.6 1.7 5.7 7.4 4.0 1.7 1.1 2.1 2.6 7.1 12.1 .588 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.6 .719

Season 12

Frank Johnson Bob Lanier
Season -1981-82
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Bucks 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 %
Frank Johnson ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 74 26.8 13.5 1.2 4.0 5.2 3.0 1.0 0.8 2.2 2.9 5.5 9.9 .558 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.3 .752
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Frank Johnson ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 6 35.3 16.0 3.0 4.5 7.5 3.7 1.3 0.8 2.3 3.5 6.8 13.3 .513 0.0 0.2 .000 2.3 4.2 .560

Season 13

Frank Johnson Bob Lanier
Season -1982-83
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bucks 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 %
Frank Johnson ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 39 25.1 10.7 1.5 3.6 5.1 2.7 0.9 0.6 2.1 3.2 4.2 8.5 .491 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.4 .684
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Frank Johnson ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 9 27.8 13.7 1.9 5.1 7.0 2.6 0.6 1.6 2.3 3.6 5.7 9.9 .573 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.9 .600

Season 14

Frank Johnson Bob Lanier
Season -1983-84
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bucks 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 %
Frank Johnson ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 72 27.9 13.6 2.0 4.4 6.3 2.6 0.8 0.7 2.3 3.2 5.4 9.5 .572 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.8 .708
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Frank Johnson ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 16 31.2 12.7 2.0 5.3 7.3 3.4 0.7 0.6 2.4 3.6 5.1 10.7 .480 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 2.8 .886