John Havlicek vs. Sam Lacey Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Sam Lacey and John Havlicek, 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.

John Havlicek played 16 years in the NBA, 3 more than Sam Lacey, who played 13. John Havlicek had the first of his seasons in 1962-63, while Sam Lacey 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
John Havlicek 16 13 1962-63 to 1977-78
Sam Lacey 13 4 1970-71 to 1982-83

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

John Havlicek Sam Lacey
Season 1962-631970-71
Team Boston CelticsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 80 27.5 14.3 - - 6.7 2.2 - - - 2.4 6.0 13.6 .445 - - - 2.2 3.0 .728
Sam Lacey 81 32.7 13.5 - - 11.3 1.4 - - - 3.3 5.8 13.8 .418 - - - 1.9 2.8 .687
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 11 23.1 11.8 - - 4.8 1.5 - - - 2.5 5.1 11.4 .448 - - - 1.6 2.5 .667
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 2

John Havlicek Sam Lacey
Season 1963-641971-72
Team Boston CelticsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 80 32.3 19.9 - - 5.4 3.0 - - - 2.8 8.0 19.2 .417 - - - 3.9 5.3 .746
Sam Lacey 81 35.0 11.6 - - 12.0 2.1 - - - 3.5 5.1 12.0 .422 - - - 1.5 2.1 .704
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 10 28.9 15.7 - - 4.3 3.2 - - - 2.6 6.1 15.9 .384 - - - 3.5 4.4 .795
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 3

John Havlicek Sam Lacey
Season 1964-651972-73
Team Boston CelticsKansas City-Omaha Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 75 28.9 18.3 - - 4.9 2.7 - - - 2.7 7.6 18.9 .401 - - - 3.1 4.2 .744
Sam Lacey 79 37.1 13.5 - - 11.8 2.4 - - - 3.6 6.0 12.6 .474 - - - 1.6 2.3 .708
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 12 33.8 18.5 - - 7.3 2.4 - - - 3.7 7.3 20.8 .352 - - - 3.8 4.6 .836
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 4

John Havlicek Sam Lacey
Season 1965-661973-74
Team Boston CelticsKansas City-Omaha Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 71 30.6 18.8 - - 6.0 3.0 - - - 2.2 7.5 18.7 .399 - - - 3.9 4.9 .785
Sam Lacey 79 39.3 14.2 3.7 9.6 13.4 3.8 1.6 2.3 - 3.2 5.9 12.4 .476 - - - 2.3 3.1 .749
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 17 42.3 23.6 - - 9.1 4.1 - - - 4.1 9.0 22.0 .409 - - - 5.6 6.6 .841
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 5

John Havlicek Sam Lacey
Season 1966-671974-75
Team Boston CelticsKansas City-Omaha Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Div FinalsKings 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 %
John Havlicek 81 32.1 21.4 - - 6.6 3.4 - - - 2.6 8.4 19.0 .444 - - - 4.5 5.4 .828
Sam Lacey 81 41.7 11.5 2.8 11.4 14.2 5.3 1.7 2.1 - 3.4 4.8 11.3 .427 - - - 1.8 2.4 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 9 36.7 27.4 - - 8.1 3.1 - - - 3.3 10.6 23.6 .448 - - - 6.3 7.9 .803
Sam Lacey 6 44.0 9.5 2.5 13.2 15.7 5.0 2.0 1.5 - 3.2 3.8 10.2 .377 - - - 1.8 3.0 .611

Season 6

John Havlicek Sam Lacey
Season 1967-681975-76
Team Boston CelticsKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 82 35.6 20.7 - - 6.7 4.7 - - - 2.9 8.1 18.9 .429 - - - 4.5 5.5 .812
Sam Lacey 81 38.1 12.8 2.7 10.0 12.6 4.7 1.6 1.7 - 3.5 5.0 12.6 .401 - - - 2.7 3.5 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 19 45.4 25.9 - - 8.6 7.5 - - - 3.5 9.7 21.4 .452 - - - 6.6 7.9 .828
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 7

John Havlicek Sam Lacey
Season 1968-691976-77
Team Boston CelticsKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 82 38.7 21.6 - - 7.0 5.4 - - - 3.0 8.4 20.8 .405 - - - 4.7 6.0 .780
Sam Lacey 82 31.6 10.6 2.3 6.6 9.0 4.7 1.5 1.6 - 3.6 4.0 9.4 .422 - - - 2.6 3.4 .762
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 18 47.2 25.4 - - 9.9 5.6 - - - 3.2 9.4 21.2 .445 - - - 6.6 7.7 .855
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 8

John Havlicek Sam Lacey
Season 1969-701977-78
Team Boston CelticsKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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 %
John Havlicek 81 41.6 24.2 - - 7.8 6.8 - - - 2.6 9.1 19.6 .464 - - - 6.0 7.1 .844
Sam Lacey 77 27.7 8.6 2.0 6.3 8.3 3.9 1.6 1.4 2.4 3.4 3.4 7.7 .449 - - - 1.7 2.4 .717
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek ------- --- ----------
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 9

John Havlicek Sam Lacey
Season 1970-711978-79
Team Boston CelticsKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayKings 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 %
John Havlicek 81 45.4 28.9 - - 9.0 7.5 - - - 2.5 11.0 24.5 .450 - - - 6.8 8.4 .818
Sam Lacey 82 32.0 10.6 2.2 6.4 8.6 5.2 1.3 1.7 3.0 3.8 4.3 8.5 .502 - - - 2.0 2.8 .739
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek ------- --- ----------
Sam Lacey 5 35.2 9.4 3.4 6.8 10.2 4.2 1.8 2.0 3.8 4.0 3.2 8.4 .381 - - - 3.0 3.8 .789

Season 10

John Havlicek Sam Lacey
Season 1971-721979-80
Team Boston CelticsKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsKings 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 %
John Havlicek 82 45.1 27.5 - - 8.2 7.5 - - - 2.2 10.9 23.9 .458 - - - 5.6 6.7 .834
Sam Lacey 81 29.8 9.2 2.1 5.8 8.0 5.7 1.4 1.3 2.6 3.8 3.7 8.4 .448 0.0 0.0 .000 1.7 2.3 .741
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 11 47.0 27.4 - - 8.4 6.4 - - - 3.2 9.8 21.4 .460 - - - 7.7 9.0 .859
Sam Lacey 3 33.7 6.7 2.0 5.3 7.3 4.3 2.3 0.7 2.7 3.7 2.7 7.0 .381 0.3 0.3 1.000 1.0 1.3 .750

Season 11

John Havlicek Sam Lacey
Season 1972-731980-81
Team Boston CelticsKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsKings 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 %
John Havlicek 80 42.1 23.8 - - 7.1 6.6 - - - 2.4 9.6 21.3 .450 - - - 4.6 5.4 .858
Sam Lacey 82 27.2 6.9 1.6 5.5 7.1 4.9 1.2 1.5 2.2 3.7 2.9 6.5 .442 0.0 0.1 .200 1.1 1.4 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 12 39.9 23.8 - - 5.2 5.4 - - - 2.0 9.3 19.6 .477 - - - 5.1 6.2 .824
Sam Lacey 15 35.5 10.0 2.0 6.0 8.0 5.3 1.9 1.5 2.6 4.2 4.0 9.5 .420 0.0 0.2 .000 2.0 2.3 .857

Season 12

John Havlicek Sam Lacey
Season 1973-741981-82
Team Boston CelticsKansas City Kings, New Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 76 40.7 22.6 1.8 4.6 6.4 5.9 1.3 0.4 - 2.6 9.0 19.8 .456 - - - 4.6 5.5 .832
Sam Lacey 56 12.0 2.9 0.4 1.6 1.9 1.4 0.4 0.7 1.0 2.5 1.2 2.8 .435 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.7 .730
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 18 45.1 27.1 1.6 4.9 6.4 6.0 1.3 0.3 - 2.4 11.1 22.8 .484 - - - 4.9 5.6 .881
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 13

John Havlicek Sam Lacey
Season 1974-751982-83
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 82 38.2 19.2 1.9 4.0 5.9 5.3 1.3 0.2 - 2.8 7.8 17.2 .455 - - - 3.5 4.0 .870
Sam Lacey 60 20.5 4.2 1.0 2.8 3.9 2.0 0.5 0.4 1.6 3.5 1.9 4.4 .420 0.0 0.2 .222 0.5 0.6 .784
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 11 42.2 21.1 1.6 3.5 5.2 4.6 1.5 0.1 - 3.5 7.5 17.5 .432 - - - 6.0 6.9 .868
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 14

John Havlicek Sam Lacey
Season 1975-76-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
John Havlicek 76 34.2 17.0 1.5 2.6 4.1 3.7 1.3 0.4 - 2.7 6.6 14.8 .450 - - - 3.7 4.4 .844
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 15 33.7 13.2 1.2 2.5 3.7 3.4 0.8 0.3 - 2.1 5.3 12.0 .444 - - - 2.5 3.1 .809
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 15

John Havlicek Sam Lacey
Season 1976-77-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
John Havlicek 79 36.9 17.7 1.4 3.5 4.8 5.1 1.1 0.2 - 2.6 7.3 16.2 .452 - - - 3.0 3.6 .816
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek 9 41.7 18.3 1.7 3.8 5.4 6.9 0.9 0.4 - 3.7 6.9 18.6 .371 - - - 4.6 5.6 .820
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 16

John Havlicek Sam Lacey
Season 1977-78-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards 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 %
John Havlicek 82 34.1 16.1 1.1 2.9 4.0 4.0 1.1 0.3 2.5 2.3 6.7 14.8 .449 - - - 2.8 3.3 .855
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Havlicek ------- --- ----------
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------