Julius Erving vs. Sam Lacey Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Sam Lacey and Julius Erving, 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.

Julius Erving played 11 years in the NBA, 2 less than Sam Lacey, who played 13. Julius Erving had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, 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
Julius Erving 11 11 1976-77 to 1986-87
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

Rookie Season
Julius Erving Sam Lacey
Season 1976-771970-71
Team Philadelphia 76ersCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Julius Erving 82 35.9 21.6 2.3 6.1 8.5 3.7 1.9 1.4 - 3.1 8.4 16.7 .499 - - - 4.9 6.3 .777
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 %
Julius Erving 19 39.9 27.3 2.2 4.3 6.4 4.5 2.2 1.2 - 2.4 10.7 20.5 .523 - - - 5.8 7.1 .821
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Julius Erving Sam Lacey
Season 1977-781971-72
Team Philadelphia 76ersCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Julius Erving 74 32.8 20.6 2.4 4.1 6.5 3.8 1.8 1.3 3.2 2.8 8.3 16.4 .502 - - - 4.1 4.9 .845
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 %
Julius Erving 10 35.8 21.8 4.0 5.7 9.7 4.0 1.5 1.8 3.5 3.0 8.8 18.0 .489 - - - 4.2 5.6 .750
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Julius Erving Sam Lacey
Season 1978-791972-73
Team Philadelphia 76ersKansas City-Omaha Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East 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 %
Julius Erving 78 35.9 23.1 2.5 4.7 7.2 4.6 1.7 1.3 4.0 2.7 9.2 18.7 .491 - - - 4.8 6.4 .745
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 %
Julius Erving 9 41.3 25.4 3.2 4.6 7.8 5.9 2.0 1.9 4.2 2.4 9.9 19.1 .517 - - - 5.7 7.4 .761
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 4
Julius Erving Sam Lacey
Season 1979-801973-74
Team Philadelphia 76ersKansas City-Omaha Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Julius Erving 78 36.1 26.9 2.8 4.6 7.4 4.6 2.2 1.8 3.6 2.7 10.7 20.7 .519 0.1 0.3 .200 5.4 6.8 .787
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 %
Julius Erving 18 38.6 24.4 1.7 5.8 7.6 4.4 2.0 2.1 3.1 3.1 9.2 18.8 .488 0.1 0.5 .222 6.0 7.6 .794
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Julius Erving Sam Lacey
Season 1980-811974-75
Team Philadelphia 76ersKansas City-Omaha Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf 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 %
Julius Erving 82 35.0 24.6 3.0 5.0 8.0 4.4 2.1 1.8 3.2 2.8 9.7 18.6 .521 0.0 0.2 .222 5.1 6.5 .787
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 %
Julius Erving 16 37.0 22.9 3.3 3.9 7.1 3.4 1.4 2.6 3.4 3.4 8.9 18.8 .475 0.0 0.1 .000 5.1 6.7 .757
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
Julius Erving Sam Lacey
Season 1981-821975-76
Team Philadelphia 76ersKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Julius Erving 81 34.4 24.4 2.7 4.2 6.9 3.9 2.0 1.7 2.6 2.8 9.6 17.6 .546 0.0 0.1 .273 5.1 6.7 .763
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 %
Julius Erving 21 37.1 22.0 2.7 4.7 7.4 4.7 1.8 1.8 3.2 2.6 8.0 15.4 .519 0.0 0.3 .167 5.9 7.9 .752
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Julius Erving Sam Lacey
Season 1982-831976-77
Team Philadelphia 76ersKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
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 %
Julius Erving 72 33.6 21.4 2.4 4.4 6.8 3.7 1.6 1.8 2.7 2.8 8.4 16.3 .517 0.0 0.1 .286 4.6 6.0 .759
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 %
Julius Erving 13 37.9 18.4 2.5 5.2 7.6 3.4 1.2 2.1 3.0 3.2 7.3 16.2 .450 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 5.2 .721
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 8
Julius Erving Sam Lacey
Season 1983-841977-78
Team Philadelphia 76ersKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 77 34.8 22.4 2.5 4.4 6.9 4.0 1.8 1.8 3.0 2.8 8.8 17.2 .512 0.1 0.3 .333 4.7 6.3 .754
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 %
Julius Erving 5 38.8 18.2 1.8 4.6 6.4 5.0 1.6 1.2 4.2 2.8 7.2 15.2 .474 0.0 0.2 .000 3.8 4.4 .864
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Julius Erving Sam Lacey
Season 1984-851978-79
Team Philadelphia 76ersKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf 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 %
Julius Erving 78 32.5 20.0 2.2 3.1 5.3 3.0 1.7 1.4 2.7 2.6 7.8 15.8 .494 0.0 0.2 .214 4.3 5.7 .765
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 %
Julius Erving 13 33.4 17.1 2.2 3.4 5.6 3.7 1.9 0.8 2.8 2.6 6.5 14.4 .449 0.0 0.1 .000 4.2 4.8 .857
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
Julius Erving Sam Lacey
Season 1985-861979-80
Team Philadelphia 76ersKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisKings 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 %
Julius Erving 74 33.4 18.1 2.3 2.7 5.0 3.4 1.5 1.1 2.9 2.6 7.0 14.7 .480 0.1 0.4 .281 3.9 5.0 .785
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 %
Julius Erving 12 36.1 17.7 2.2 3.7 5.8 4.2 0.9 1.3 3.3 2.7 6.8 15.0 .450 0.2 0.9 .182 4.0 5.4 .738
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
Julius Erving Sam Lacey
Season 1986-871980-81
Team Philadelphia 76ersKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf 1st RdKings 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 %
Julius Erving 60 32.0 16.8 1.9 2.5 4.4 3.2 1.3 1.6 2.6 2.3 6.7 14.2 .471 0.2 0.9 .264 3.2 3.9 .813
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 %
Julius Erving 5 36.0 18.2 2.8 2.2 5.0 3.4 1.4 1.2 1.8 3.8 6.8 16.4 .415 0.4 1.2 .333 4.2 5.0 .840
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
Julius Erving Sam Lacey
Season -1981-82
Team -Kansas City Kings, New Jersey Nets
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 %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
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 %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Julius Erving Sam Lacey
Season -1982-83
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
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 %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
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 %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------
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