Gilbert Arenas vs. Wilt Chamberlain Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Wilt Chamberlain and Gilbert Arenas, 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 / Stats / Stats Rankings

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.

Gilbert Arenas played 11 years in the NBA, 3 less than Wilt Chamberlain, who played 14. Gilbert Arenas had the first of his seasons in 2001-02, while Wilt Chamberlain had his rookie season in 1959-60. 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 achievements, 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
Gilbert Arenas 11 5 2001-02 to 2011-12
Wilt Chamberlain 14 13 1959-60 to 1972-73

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11

Rookie Season

Gilbert Arenas Wilt Chamberlain
Season 2001-021959-60
Team Golden State WarriorsPhiladelphia Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost East Div Finals
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 47 24.6 10.9 0.9 1.9 2.8 3.7 1.5 0.2 2.1 2.4 3.7 8.2 .453 0.8 2.4 .345 2.6 3.4 .775
difference:+25+21.8+26.7+24.2+1.4-0.3+11.1+23.9+.008+5.4+10.4+.193
Wilt Chamberlain 72 46.4 37.6 - - 27.0 2.3 - - - 2.1 14.8 32.1 .461 - - - 8.0 13.8 .582
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas DNP------ --- ----------
Wilt Chamberlain 9 46.1 33.2 - - 25.8 2.1 - - - 1.9 13.9 28.0 .496 - - - 5.4 12.2 .445

Season 2

Gilbert Arenas Wilt Chamberlain
Season 2002-031960-61
Team Golden State WarriorsPhiladelphia Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Most Improved Player-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost East Div Semis
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 82 35.0 18.3 1.2 3.5 4.7 6.3 1.5 0.2 3.5 3.2 6.2 14.4 .431 1.3 3.8 .348 4.5 5.7 .791
difference:+3+12.8+20.1+22.5+4.4-1.6+9.6+16.7+.078+2.2+7.6+.287
Wilt Chamberlain 79 47.8 38.4 - - 27.2 1.9 - - - 1.6 15.8 31.1 .509 - - - 6.7 13.3 .504
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas DNP------ --- ----------
Wilt Chamberlain 3 48.0 37.0 - - 23.0 2.0 - - - 3.3 15.0 32.0 .469 - - - 7.0 12.7 .553

Season 3

Gilbert Arenas Wilt Chamberlain
Season 2003-041961-62
Team Washington WizardsPhiladelphia Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost East Div Finals
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 55 37.6 19.6 1.0 3.6 4.6 5.0 1.9 0.2 4.1 3.2 6.5 16.6 .392 2.3 6.1 .375 4.3 5.8 .748
difference:+25+10.9+30.8+21.1+2.6-1.7+13.5+22.9+.114+6.1+11.2+.135
Wilt Chamberlain 80 48.5 50.4 - - 25.7 2.4 - - - 1.5 20.0 39.5 .506 - - - 10.4 17.0 .613
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas DNP------ --- ----------
Wilt Chamberlain 12 48.0 35.0 - - 26.6 3.1 - - - 2.3 13.5 28.9 .467 - - - 8.0 12.6 .636

Season 4

Gilbert Arenas Wilt Chamberlain
Season 2004-051962-63
Team Washington WizardsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Wizards Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 80 40.9 25.5 1.0 3.7 4.7 5.1 1.7 0.3 3.0 3.1 8.2 19.0 .431 2.6 7.0 .365 6.5 8.0 .814
difference:+6.7+19.3+19.6+1.7-1.4+10.1+15.6+.097+1.8+5.9+.221
Wilt Chamberlain 80 47.6 44.8 - - 24.3 3.4 - - - 1.7 18.3 34.6 .528 - - - 8.3 13.9 .593
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 10 45.1 23.6 0.8 4.4 5.2 6.2 2.1 0.6 3.9 3.4 7.3 19.4 .376 1.8 7.7 .234 7.2 9.4 .766
Wilt Chamberlain DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

Gilbert Arenas Wilt Chamberlain
Season 2005-061963-64
Team Washington WizardsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Wizards Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 80 42.3 29.3 0.7 2.8 3.5 6.1 2.0 0.3 3.7 3.6 9.3 20.9 .447 2.5 6.8 .369 8.2 10.0 .820
difference:+3.8+7.6+18.8+1.1-1.3+5.8+7.8+.077+1.4+2.7+.289
Wilt Chamberlain 80 46.1 36.9 - - 22.3 5.0 - - - 2.3 15.1 28.7 .524 - - - 6.8 12.7 .531
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 6 47.3 34.0 1.2 4.3 5.5 5.3 2.2 0.7 3.3 3.5 10.8 23.3 .464 3.3 7.7 .435 9.0 11.7 .771
difference:+6+0.8+0.7+19.7+2.0-1.2+3.8+3.5+.079+3.5+0.1+.296
Wilt Chamberlain 12 46.5 34.7 - - 25.2 3.3 - - - 2.3 14.6 26.8 .543 - - - 5.5 11.6 .475

Season 6

Gilbert Arenas Wilt Chamberlain
Season 2006-071964-65
Team Washington WizardsSan Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers Lost East Div Finals
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 74 39.8 28.4 0.8 3.7 4.6 6.0 1.9 0.2 3.2 3.4 8.7 20.9 .418 2.8 7.9 .351 8.2 9.7 .844
difference:+1+5.4+6.3+18.3+2.6-1.4+5.9+7.6+.092+2.6+2.4+.380
Wilt Chamberlain 73 45.2 34.7 - - 22.9 3.4 - - - 2.0 14.6 28.5 .510 - - - 5.6 12.1 .464
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas DNP------ --- ----------
Wilt Chamberlain 11 48.7 29.3 - - 27.2 4.4 - - - 2.6 11.2 21.1 .530 - - - 6.9 12.4 .559

Season 7

Gilbert Arenas Wilt Chamberlain
Season 2007-081965-66
Team Washington WizardsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Wizards Lost East Conf 1st Rd76ers Lost East Div Finals
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 13 32.7 19.4 0.5 3.5 3.9 5.1 1.8 0.1 3.8 2.3 6.0 15.1 .398 1.7 6.0 .282 5.7 7.4 .771
difference:+66+14.6+14.1+20.7+0.1-0.1+7.6+10.1+.142+0.6+5.0+.258
Wilt Chamberlain 79 47.3 33.5 - - 24.6 5.2 - - - 2.2 13.6 25.2 .540 - - - 6.3 12.4 .513
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 4 23.5 10.8 0.0 1.8 1.8 2.8 0.5 0.0 2.0 3.3 3.5 9.0 .389 1.3 3.0 .417 2.5 3.0 .833
difference:+1+24.5+17.2+28.4+0.2-1.3+7.7+13.0+.120+3.1+10.6+.421
Wilt Chamberlain 5 48.0 28.0 - - 30.2 3.0 - - - 2.0 11.2 22.0 .509 - - - 5.6 13.6 .412

Season 8

Gilbert Arenas Wilt Chamberlain
Season 2008-091966-67
Team Washington WizardsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 2 31.5 13.0 0.5 4.0 4.5 10.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 2.0 3.0 11.5 .261 1.0 3.5 .286 6.0 8.0 .750
difference:+79+14.0+11.1+19.7+2.2-0.2+6.7+2.7+.422+1.2+2.8+.309
Wilt Chamberlain 81 45.5 24.1 - - 24.2 7.8 - - - 1.8 9.7 14.2 .683 - - - 4.8 10.8 .441
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas DNP------ --- ----------
Wilt Chamberlain 15 47.9 21.7 - - 29.1 9.0 - - - 2.5 8.8 15.2 .579 - - - 4.1 10.7 .388

Season 9

Gilbert Arenas Wilt Chamberlain
Season 2009-101967-68
Team Washington WizardsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers Lost East Div Finals
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 32 36.5 22.6 0.5 3.6 4.2 7.2 1.3 0.3 3.7 3.0 7.9 19.3 .411 2.0 5.7 .348 4.8 6.5 .739
difference:+50+10.3+1.7+19.6+1.4-1.0+2.1+2.5+.184+0.5+4.9+.359
Wilt Chamberlain 82 46.8 24.3 - - 23.8 8.6 - - - 2.0 10.0 16.8 .595 - - - 4.3 11.4 .380
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas DNP------ --- ----------
Wilt Chamberlain 13 48.5 23.7 - - 24.7 6.5 - - - 2.2 9.5 17.8 .534 - - - 4.6 12.2 .380

Season 10

Gilbert Arenas Wilt Chamberlain
Season 2010-111968-69
Team Washington Wizards, Orlando MagicLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 70 25.7 10.8 0.3 2.4 2.7 3.9 1.1 0.3 2.5 2.7 3.8 10.5 .366 1.4 4.7 .297 1.7 2.2 .784
difference:+11+19.6+9.7+18.4+0.6-0.9+4.1+3.1+.217+3.0+8.4+.338
Wilt Chamberlain 81 45.3 20.5 - - 21.1 4.5 - - - 1.8 7.9 13.6 .583 - - - 4.7 10.6 .446
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 5 16.2 8.6 0.8 2.0 2.8 2.4 0.2 0.2 1.2 2.8 3.6 8.4 .429 0.6 2.4 .250 0.8 1.2 .667
difference:+13+30.0+5.3+21.9+0.2-0.3+1.7+1.4+.116+2.4+7.0+.275
Wilt Chamberlain 18 46.2 13.9 - - 24.7 2.6 - - - 3.1 5.3 9.8 .545 - - - 3.2 8.2 .392

Season 11

Gilbert Arenas Wilt Chamberlain
Season 2011-121969-70
Team Memphis GrizzliesLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 17 12.4 4.2 0.1 0.9 1.1 1.1 0.6 0.1 0.7 2.1 1.5 3.8 .406 0.8 2.3 .333 0.4 0.6 .700
difference:+5+29.7+23.1+17.3+3.0-0.5+9.3+15.1+.162+5.4+12.5+.254
Wilt Chamberlain 12 42.1 27.3 - - 18.4 4.1 - - - 2.6 10.8 18.9 .568 - - - 5.8 13.1 .446
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Gilbert Arenas 6 3.8 0.7 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.0 0.3 1.3 .250 0.0 0.7 .000 0.0 0.0 -
difference:+12+43.5+21.4+22.0+4.3-1.3+8.5+14.7+.299+4.6+11.2
Wilt Chamberlain 18 47.3 22.1 - - 22.2 4.5 - - - 2.3 8.8 16.0 .549 - - - 4.6 11.2 .406

Additional Years

* Wilt Chamberlain played 3 seasons more than Gilbert Arenas in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 12 to 14, from 1971 to 1973—Wilt Chamberlain played in 3 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.

In those 3 extra years over Gilbert Arenas, Wilt Chamberlain got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Finals MVP
Achievement 1 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 2 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 3 Rebounds Leader
Achievement 3 All-Star Game