Gary Payton vs. Paul Silas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul Silas and Gary 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.

Gary Payton played 17 years in the NBA, 1 more than Paul Silas, who played 16. Gary Payton had the first of his seasons in 1990-91, 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
Gary Payton 17 15 1990-91 to 2006-07
Paul Silas 16 14 1964-65 to 1979-80

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Gary Payton Paul Silas
Season 1990-911964-65
Team Seattle SupersonicsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdHawks 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 %
Gary Payton 82 27.4 7.2 1.3 1.6 3.0 6.4 2.0 0.2 2.2 3.0 3.2 7.0 .450 0.0 0.2 .077 0.8 1.2 .711
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 %
Gary Payton 5 27.0 4.8 1.0 1.6 2.6 6.4 1.6 0.2 1.8 3.2 2.2 5.4 .407 0.0 0.2 .000 0.4 0.4 1.000
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

Gary Payton Paul Silas
Season 1991-921965-66
Team Seattle SupersonicsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisHawks 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 %
Gary Payton 81 31.5 9.4 1.5 2.1 3.6 6.2 1.8 0.3 2.1 3.1 4.1 9.1 .451 0.0 0.3 .130 1.2 1.8 .669
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 %
Gary Payton 8 27.6 7.6 0.8 1.9 2.6 4.8 1.0 0.3 1.3 3.3 3.4 7.3 .466 0.0 0.3 .000 0.9 1.5 .583
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

Gary Payton Paul Silas
Season 1992-931966-67
Team Seattle SupersonicsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 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 %
Gary Payton 82 31.1 13.5 1.2 2.3 3.4 4.9 2.2 0.3 1.8 3.0 5.8 11.7 .494 0.1 0.4 .206 1.8 2.4 .770
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 %
Gary Payton 19 31.8 12.3 1.2 2.2 3.3 3.7 1.8 0.2 1.8 3.4 5.5 12.4 .443 0.1 0.3 .167 1.3 1.9 .676
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

Gary Payton Paul Silas
Season 1993-941967-68
Team Seattle SupersonicsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdHawks 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 %
Gary Payton 82 35.1 16.5 1.3 2.0 3.3 6.0 2.3 0.2 2.1 2.8 7.1 14.1 .504 0.2 0.7 .278 2.0 3.4 .595
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 %
Gary Payton 5 36.2 15.8 1.2 2.2 3.4 5.6 1.6 0.4 1.6 3.0 6.8 13.8 .493 0.6 1.8 .333 1.6 3.8 .421
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

Gary Payton Paul Silas
Season 1994-951968-69
Team Seattle SupersonicsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West 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 %
Gary Payton 82 36.8 20.6 1.3 2.1 3.4 7.1 2.5 0.2 2.5 2.5 8.4 16.4 .509 0.9 2.8 .302 3.0 4.2 .716
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 %
Gary Payton 4 43.0 17.8 1.5 1.0 2.5 5.3 1.3 0.0 2.0 3.3 8.0 16.8 .478 0.5 2.5 .200 1.3 3.0 .417
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

Gary Payton Paul Silas
Season 1995-961969-70
Team Seattle SupersonicsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost NBA FinalsSuns 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 %
Gary Payton 81 39.0 19.3 1.3 2.9 4.2 7.5 2.9 0.2 3.2 2.7 7.6 15.8 .484 1.2 3.7 .328 2.8 3.8 .748
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 %
Gary Payton 21 43.4 20.7 0.9 4.2 5.1 6.8 1.8 0.3 3.0 3.3 7.7 15.9 .485 2.0 4.8 .410 3.3 5.2 .633
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

Gary Payton Paul Silas
Season 1996-971970-71
Team Seattle SupersonicsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West 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 %
Gary Payton 82 39.2 21.8 1.3 3.3 4.6 7.1 2.4 0.2 2.6 2.5 8.6 18.1 .476 1.5 4.6 .313 3.1 4.3 .715
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 %
Gary Payton 12 45.6 23.8 1.7 3.8 5.4 8.7 2.2 0.3 2.9 2.2 8.8 21.3 .412 2.1 6.3 .333 4.2 5.1 .820
Paul Silas ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Gary Payton Paul Silas
Season 1997-981971-72
Team Seattle SupersonicsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West 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 %
Gary Payton 82 38.4 19.2 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.3 2.3 0.2 2.8 2.4 7.1 15.6 .453 1.6 4.8 .338 3.4 4.6 .744
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 %
Gary Payton 10 42.7 24.0 0.9 2.5 3.4 7.0 1.8 0.1 2.6 3.1 8.7 18.3 .475 1.9 5.0 .380 4.7 5.0 .940
Paul Silas ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Gary Payton Paul Silas
Season 1998-991972-73
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Gary Payton 50 40.2 21.7 1.2 3.6 4.9 8.7 2.2 0.2 3.1 2.3 8.0 18.5 .434 1.7 5.6 .295 4.0 5.5 .721
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 %
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------
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

Gary Payton Paul Silas
Season 1999-001973-74
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 82 41.8 24.2 1.2 5.2 6.5 8.9 1.9 0.2 2.7 2.2 9.1 20.3 .448 2.2 6.3 .340 3.8 5.2 .735
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 %
Gary Payton 5 44.2 25.8 1.6 6.0 7.6 7.4 1.8 0.2 3.6 3.2 10.0 22.6 .442 1.8 4.6 .391 4.0 5.2 .769
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

Gary Payton Paul Silas
Season 2000-011974-75
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Gary Payton 79 41.1 23.1 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.1 1.6 0.3 2.6 2.3 9.2 20.1 .456 1.3 3.4 .375 3.4 4.5 .766
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 %
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------
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

Gary Payton Paul Silas
Season 2001-021975-76
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 82 40.3 22.1 1.0 3.9 4.8 9.0 1.6 0.3 2.5 2.2 9.0 19.2 .467 0.9 2.9 .314 3.3 4.1 .797
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 %
Gary Payton 5 41.2 22.2 2.0 6.6 8.6 5.8 0.6 0.4 2.6 2.4 9.0 21.2 .425 0.8 3.0 .267 3.4 5.8 .586
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

Gary Payton Paul Silas
Season 2002-031976-77
Team Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee BucksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdNuggets 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 %
Gary Payton 80 40.1 20.4 1.0 3.2 4.2 8.3 1.7 0.3 2.3 2.3 8.3 18.3 .454 0.7 2.3 .297 3.1 4.4 .710
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 %
Gary Payton 6 41.8 18.5 0.7 2.3 3.0 8.7 1.3 0.2 2.2 3.0 8.0 18.7 .429 0.2 2.5 .067 2.3 3.3 .700
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

Gary Payton Paul Silas
Season 2003-041977-78
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSupersonics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 82 34.5 14.6 0.9 3.3 4.2 5.5 1.2 0.2 1.8 2.1 5.9 12.5 .471 0.7 2.0 .333 2.2 3.1 .714
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 %
Gary Payton 22 35.0 7.8 0.9 2.4 3.3 5.3 1.0 0.2 1.3 2.7 3.1 8.5 .366 0.6 2.5 .250 1.0 1.3 .750
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

Gary Payton Paul Silas
Season 2004-051978-79
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 77 33.0 11.3 0.6 2.4 3.1 6.1 1.1 0.2 1.9 1.6 4.4 9.4 .468 0.5 1.7 .326 2.0 2.6 .761
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 %
Gary Payton 7 34.1 10.3 1.1 3.0 4.1 4.6 0.9 0.1 1.6 1.4 4.7 10.6 .446 0.1 2.0 .071 0.7 0.9 .833
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

Gary Payton Paul Silas
Season 2005-061979-80
Team Miami HeatSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics 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 %
Gary Payton 81 28.5 7.7 0.4 2.5 2.9 3.2 0.9 0.1 1.3 2.1 2.8 6.8 .420 0.8 2.8 .287 1.2 1.6 .794
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 %
Gary Payton 23 24.3 5.8 0.3 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.0 0.1 0.8 2.4 2.1 5.0 .422 0.7 2.5 .293 0.8 1.1 .720
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

Season 17

Gary Payton Paul Silas
Season 2006-07-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Gary Payton 68 22.1 5.3 0.3 1.7 1.9 3.0 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.7 2.1 5.4 .393 0.5 1.8 .260 0.6 0.8 .667
Paul Silas ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 2 16.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 1.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Paul Silas ------- --- ----------