Gary Payton vs. Wally Szczerbiak Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Wally Szczerbiak 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 / 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.

Gary Payton played 17 years in the NBA, 7 more than Wally Szczerbiak, who played 10. Gary Payton had the first of his seasons in 1990-91, while Wally Szczerbiak had his rookie season in 1999-00. 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
Wally Szczerbiak 10 7 1999-00 to 2008-09

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 Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1990-911999-00
Team Seattle SupersonicsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdTimberwolves 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 %
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
Wally Szczerbiak 73 29.7 11.6 1.2 2.5 3.7 2.8 0.8 0.3 1.1 2.4 4.7 9.2 .511 0.4 1.1 .359 1.8 2.2 .826
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
Wally Szczerbiak 4 23.5 6.0 0.5 1.5 2.0 0.5 0.8 0.3 0.3 1.8 3.0 7.5 .400 0.0 0.8 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2
Gary Payton Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1991-922000-01
Team Seattle SupersonicsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisTimberwolves 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 %
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
Wally Szczerbiak 82 34.8 14.0 1.6 3.8 5.5 3.2 0.7 0.4 1.7 2.8 5.7 11.2 .510 0.3 0.9 .338 2.2 2.5 .870
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
Wally Szczerbiak 4 35.8 14.0 1.0 3.5 4.5 2.5 1.3 0.8 3.0 1.5 4.5 9.3 .486 0.0 0.3 .000 5.0 6.3 .800

Season 3
Gary Payton Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1992-932001-02
Team Seattle SupersonicsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsTimberwolves 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 %
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
Wally Szczerbiak 82 38.0 18.7 1.5 3.3 4.8 3.1 0.8 0.3 2.2 2.3 7.4 14.6 .508 1.1 2.3 .455 2.8 3.3 .831
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
Wally Szczerbiak 3 43.3 20.0 3.0 4.0 7.0 2.0 0.7 0.0 2.7 2.7 7.0 14.7 .477 0.7 3.0 .222 5.3 6.0 .889

Season 4
Gary Payton Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1993-942002-03
Team Seattle SupersonicsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdTimberwolves 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 %
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
Wally Szczerbiak 52 35.3 17.6 1.0 3.6 4.6 2.6 0.8 0.4 1.7 2.4 6.8 14.0 .481 1.2 2.8 .421 2.9 3.3 .867
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
Wally Szczerbiak 6 42.0 14.5 1.0 4.0 5.0 2.2 1.0 0.2 3.0 3.2 4.8 10.2 .475 0.5 2.3 .214 4.3 5.0 .867

Season 5
Gary Payton Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1994-952003-04
Team Seattle SupersonicsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdTimberwolves 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 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
Wally Szczerbiak 28 22.2 10.2 0.9 2.3 3.1 1.2 0.4 0.0 1.0 1.5 3.8 8.4 .449 0.7 1.6 .435 1.9 2.3 .828
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
Wally Szczerbiak 12 24.8 11.8 0.8 2.5 3.3 1.7 0.5 0.2 2.0 2.6 3.9 9.3 .420 0.8 2.4 .345 3.2 3.4 .927

Season 6
Gary Payton Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1995-962004-05
Team Seattle SupersonicsMinnesota Timberwolves
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 FinalsDid 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 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
Wally Szczerbiak 81 31.6 15.5 1.0 2.7 3.7 2.4 0.5 0.2 1.6 2.2 5.7 11.3 .506 0.8 2.1 .373 3.2 3.8 .855
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
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Gary Payton Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1996-972005-06
Team Seattle SupersonicsMinnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First 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
Wally Szczerbiak 72 37.9 19.0 1.1 3.3 4.3 3.0 0.6 0.3 1.9 2.1 6.8 14.1 .487 1.4 3.5 .400 3.9 4.3 .897
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
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 8
Gary Payton Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1997-982006-07
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 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
Wally Szczerbiak 32 28.1 15.0 0.5 2.6 3.1 1.7 0.6 0.1 1.7 2.0 5.0 12.1 .415 1.4 3.3 .415 3.5 3.9 .897
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
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Gary Payton Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1998-992007-08
Team Seattle SupersonicsSeattle Supersonics, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers 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 %
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
Wally Szczerbiak 75 23.1 11.5 0.5 2.4 2.9 1.4 0.3 0.2 1.0 1.4 4.1 9.6 .431 1.2 2.9 .413 2.0 2.3 .851
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------
Wally Szczerbiak 13 28.8 10.8 0.3 1.5 1.8 1.5 0.2 0.1 0.8 2.5 3.6 9.6 .376 1.5 4.8 .323 2.0 2.2 .929

Season 10
Gary Payton Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1999-002008-09
Team Seattle SupersonicsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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 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
Wally Szczerbiak 74 20.6 7.0 0.6 2.6 3.1 1.1 0.4 0.1 0.7 1.8 2.4 5.4 .450 0.9 2.3 .411 1.2 1.4 .849
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
Wally Szczerbiak 12 12.8 3.6 0.7 1.7 2.3 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.8 1.6 1.3 3.0 .444 0.2 1.0 .167 0.8 0.9 .818

Season 11
Gary Payton Wally Szczerbiak
Season 2000-01-
Team Seattle Supersonics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
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
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Gary Payton Wally Szczerbiak
Season 2001-02-
Team Seattle Supersonics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
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
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
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
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Gary Payton Wally Szczerbiak
Season 2002-03-
Team Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks 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 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
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
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
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Gary Payton Wally Szczerbiak
Season 2003-04-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
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
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 15
Gary Payton Wally Szczerbiak
Season 2004-05-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 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
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
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
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 16
Gary Payton Wally Szczerbiak
Season 2005-06-
Team Miami Heat-
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 %
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
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
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
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 17
Gary Payton Wally Szczerbiak
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
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
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 -
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
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