Jim Paxson vs. Arvydas Sabonis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Arvydas Sabonis and Jim Paxson, 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.

Jim Paxson played 11 years in the NBA, 4 more than Arvydas Sabonis, who played 7. Jim Paxson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Arvydas Sabonis had his rookie season in 1995-96. 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
Jim Paxson 11 9 1979-80 to 1989-90
Arvydas Sabonis 7 7 1995-96 to 2002-03

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Jim Paxson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1979-801995-96
Team Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers 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 %
Jim Paxson 72 17.6 6.2 0.3 1.2 1.5 2.0 0.7 0.1 1.3 1.3 2.6 6.4 .411 0.0 0.3 .045 0.9 1.3 .711
Arvydas Sabonis 73 23.8 14.5 2.0 6.0 8.1 1.8 0.9 1.1 2.1 2.9 5.4 9.9 .545 0.5 1.4 .375 3.2 4.2 .757
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 3 14.7 5.3 0.0 1.3 1.3 1.0 0.7 0.3 0.7 0.7 1.7 5.3 .313 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.0 1.000
Arvydas Sabonis 5 35.4 23.6 2.4 7.8 10.2 1.8 0.8 0.6 2.0 3.4 7.0 16.2 .432 1.0 1.8 .556 8.6 12.0 .717

Season 2

Jim Paxson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1980-811996-97
Team Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers 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 %
Jim Paxson 79 34.2 17.1 0.9 1.7 2.7 3.8 1.8 0.1 1.7 2.2 7.4 13.8 .536 0.0 0.4 .067 2.3 3.1 .734
Arvydas Sabonis 69 25.5 13.4 1.7 6.3 7.9 2.1 0.9 1.2 2.2 2.9 4.8 9.5 .498 0.7 1.9 .371 3.2 4.2 .777
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 1 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Arvydas Sabonis 4 26.8 11.3 2.0 4.5 6.5 2.3 0.8 0.8 2.3 4.8 4.5 10.5 .429 0.5 2.0 .250 1.8 2.0 .875

Season 3

Jim Paxson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1981-821997-98
Team Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers 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 %
Jim Paxson 82 33.6 18.9 0.9 1.8 2.7 3.4 1.6 0.1 1.8 1.9 8.1 15.3 .526 0.1 0.4 .229 2.7 3.5 .767
Arvydas Sabonis 73 32.0 16.0 2.0 7.9 10.0 3.0 0.9 1.1 2.6 3.7 5.6 11.3 .493 0.4 1.6 .261 4.4 5.5 .798
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis 4 26.8 12.3 1.8 6.0 7.8 1.5 1.8 0.8 2.5 4.8 4.5 10.0 .450 0.3 0.5 .500 3.0 3.5 .857

Season 4

Jim Paxson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1982-831998-99
Team Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf SemisTrail Blazers 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 %
Jim Paxson 81 33.8 21.7 0.8 1.3 2.1 2.9 1.7 0.2 1.9 2.0 8.4 16.3 .515 0.0 0.3 .160 4.8 5.9 .812
Arvydas Sabonis 50 27.0 12.1 1.8 6.1 7.9 2.4 0.7 1.3 1.7 2.9 4.6 9.6 .485 0.1 0.5 .292 2.7 3.5 .771
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 7 37.1 23.3 0.6 1.6 2.1 2.6 1.3 0.1 2.1 1.6 9.7 16.6 .586 0.3 0.6 .500 3.6 4.7 .758
Arvydas Sabonis 13 30.1 10.0 0.9 7.8 8.8 2.2 1.2 1.2 1.5 2.7 3.5 8.7 .398 0.1 0.4 .200 3.0 3.3 .907

Season 5

Jim Paxson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1983-841999-00
Team Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers 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 %
Jim Paxson 81 33.2 21.3 0.8 1.3 2.1 3.1 1.5 0.1 1.8 2.0 8.4 16.3 .514 0.2 0.7 .288 4.3 5.1 .841
Arvydas Sabonis 66 25.6 11.8 1.5 6.3 7.8 1.8 0.7 1.2 1.5 2.8 4.6 9.1 .505 0.1 0.3 .368 2.5 3.0 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 5 34.4 22.8 2.2 1.6 3.8 2.4 0.4 0.0 1.8 2.6 8.0 15.6 .513 0.2 1.0 .200 6.6 8.0 .825
Arvydas Sabonis 16 30.8 11.3 1.2 5.5 6.7 1.9 0.9 0.8 1.6 3.7 4.3 9.4 .453 0.4 1.3 .286 2.4 3.1 .796

Season 6

Jim Paxson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1984-852000-01
Team Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf SemisTrail Blazers 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 %
Jim Paxson 68 33.1 17.9 1.0 2.3 3.3 3.9 1.5 0.1 1.6 1.7 7.5 14.5 .514 0.1 0.6 .154 2.9 3.6 .790
Arvydas Sabonis 61 21.3 10.1 0.8 4.6 5.4 1.5 0.7 1.0 1.4 2.2 4.0 8.5 .479 0.0 0.2 .067 2.0 2.6 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 9 23.6 12.9 0.7 1.6 2.2 2.3 0.7 0.0 0.6 1.8 5.2 11.2 .465 0.3 1.1 .300 2.1 2.7 .792
Arvydas Sabonis 3 35.0 11.3 2.7 5.7 8.3 2.7 0.3 2.3 0.7 4.0 4.7 9.7 .483 0.0 0.7 .000 2.0 2.7 .750

Note: Arvydas Sabonis didn't play in 2001-02.

Season 7

Jim Paxson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1985-862002-03
Team Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers 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 %
Jim Paxson 75 25.7 13.1 0.6 1.4 2.0 3.7 1.3 0.1 1.5 2.1 5.0 10.6 .470 0.3 0.8 .323 2.9 3.3 .889
Arvydas Sabonis 78 15.5 6.1 1.1 3.2 4.3 1.8 0.8 0.6 1.0 1.8 2.2 4.6 .476 0.0 0.1 .500 1.7 2.1 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 4 17.8 10.5 0.3 0.8 1.0 3.8 0.8 0.0 1.5 3.0 3.5 9.3 .378 0.5 1.5 .333 3.0 3.8 .800
Arvydas Sabonis 6 14.5 10.0 1.0 3.0 4.0 0.8 0.7 0.7 1.0 2.3 4.0 6.0 .667 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.5 .800

Season 8

Jim Paxson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1986-87-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Jim Paxson 72 25.0 12.1 0.6 1.4 1.9 3.3 1.1 0.2 1.5 1.9 4.7 10.2 .460 0.4 1.4 .265 2.4 3.0 .806
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 4 23.5 8.5 1.0 1.3 2.3 3.3 1.3 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.3 8.0 .406 0.0 0.5 .000 2.0 2.3 .889
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Jim Paxson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1987-88-
Team Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Jim Paxson 45 17.8 7.7 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.7 0.1 0.9 1.6 3.0 6.6 .460 0.1 0.5 .238 1.5 1.8 .861
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 15 12.5 3.3 0.1 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.1 0.8 1.2 1.1 3.9 .288 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.3 .800
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Jim Paxson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1988-89-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Jim Paxson 57 20.0 8.6 0.3 1.0 1.3 1.9 0.7 0.1 1.0 1.7 3.5 7.8 .454 0.1 0.4 .167 1.5 1.8 .816
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson ------- --- ----------
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Jim Paxson Arvydas Sabonis
Season 1989-90-
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 %
Jim Paxson 72 17.8 6.4 0.3 0.7 1.1 1.9 0.5 0.1 0.8 1.6 2.7 5.9 .453 0.1 0.3 .250 1.0 1.3 .811
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 5 12.4 3.8 0.0 0.0 0 1.4 1.0 0.0 0.6 0.2 1.6 3.2 .500 0.0 0.2 .000 0.6 0.8 .750
Arvydas Sabonis ------- --- ----------