Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Domantas Sabonis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Domantas Sabonis and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 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 / Scoring / 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.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played 20 years in the NBA, 11 more than Domantas Sabonis, who played 9. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had the first of his seasons in 1969-70, while Domantas Sabonis had his rookie season in 2016-17. 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
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 20 18 1969-70 to 1988-89
Domantas Sabonis 9 4 2016-17 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Domantas Sabonis
Season 1969-702016-17
Team Milwaukee BucksOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Div FinalsThunder Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 43.1 28.8 - - 14.5 4.1 - - - 3.5 11.4 22.1 .518 - - - 5.9 9.1 .653
difference:+1+23.0+22.9+10.9+3.1-1.0+9.0+16.2+.119+5.4+8.3+.004
Domantas Sabonis 81 20.1 5.9 0.6 3.0 3.6 1.0 0.5 0.4 1.0 2.5 2.4 5.9 .399 0.6 2.0 .321 0.5 0.8 .657
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 10 43.5 35.2 - - 16.8 4.1 - - - 2.5 13.9 24.5 .567 - - - 7.4 10.1 .733
difference:+8+40.5+33.2+15.8+4.1-0.5+13.9+23.0+.567+5.4+8.1+.267
Domantas Sabonis 2 3.0 2.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 2.0 0.0 1.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 2.0 2.0 1.000

Season 2
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Domantas Sabonis
Season 1970-712017-18
Team Milwaukee BucksIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 40.1 31.7 - - 16.0 3.3 - - - 3.2 13.0 22.5 .577 - - - 5.7 8.3 .690
difference:+8+15.6+20.1+8.3+1.3-0.2+8.4+13.6+.063+3.4+5.3+.060
Domantas Sabonis 74 24.5 11.6 2.2 5.5 7.7 2.0 0.5 0.4 1.9 3.0 4.6 8.9 .514 0.2 0.5 .351 2.3 3.0 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 14 41.2 26.6 - - 17.0 2.5 - - - 3.2 10.9 21.1 .515 - - - 4.9 7.2 .673
difference:+7+17.5+14.2+12.4+1.8-0.1+5.8+12.2+.066+2.9+4.6+.105
Domantas Sabonis 7 23.7 12.4 2.0 2.6 4.6 0.7 0.1 0.3 1.0 3.1 5.1 8.9 .581 0.1 1.0 .143 2.0 2.6 .778

Season 3
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Domantas Sabonis
Season 1971-722018-19
Team Milwaukee BucksIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf FinalsPacers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 81 44.2 34.8 - - 16.6 4.6 - - - 2.9 14.3 24.9 .574 - - - 6.2 9.0 .689
difference:+7+19.4+20.7+7.3+1.7-0.3+8.7+15.4+.016+3.4+5.1+.026
Domantas Sabonis 74 24.8 14.1 2.5 6.8 9.3 2.9 0.6 0.4 2.2 3.2 5.6 9.5 .590 0.1 0.2 .529 2.8 3.9 .715
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 11 46.4 28.7 - - 18.2 5.1 - - - 3.2 12.6 28.9 .437 - - - 3.5 4.9 .704
difference:+7+22.4+20.2+10.9+1.1-0.2+9.6+21.6+.023+1.2+1.4+.061
Domantas Sabonis 4 24.0 8.5 1.8 5.5 7.3 4.0 0.8 0.3 1.3 3.0 3.0 7.3 .414 0.3 1.0 .250 2.3 3.5 .643

Season 4
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Domantas Sabonis
Season 1972-732019-20
Team Milwaukee BucksIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost West 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%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 76 42.8 30.2 - - 16.1 5.0 - - - 2.7 12.9 23.3 .554 - - - 4.3 6.1 .713
difference:+14+8.0+11.7+3.7-0.4+5.5+9.6+.014+0.8+1.3+.010
Domantas Sabonis 62 34.8 18.5 3.0 9.4 12.4 5.0 0.8 0.5 2.7 3.1 7.4 13.7 .540 0.3 1.1 .254 3.5 4.8 .723
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 6 46.0 22.8 - - 16.2 2.8 - - - 4.3 9.8 23.0 .428 - - - 3.2 5.8 .543
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Domantas Sabonis
Season 1973-742020-21
Team Milwaukee BucksIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 81 43.8 27.0 3.5 11.0 14.5 4.8 1.4 3.5 - 2.9 11.7 21.7 .539 - - - 3.6 5.2 .702
difference:+19+7.8+6.7+1.1+1.5+2.5+1.9+0.2+3.0-0.4+3.9+7.1+.004+0.3+0.1+.030
Domantas Sabonis 62 36.0 20.3 2.4 9.5 12.0 6.7 1.2 0.5 3.4 3.3 7.8 14.6 .535 0.8 2.6 .321 3.9 5.3 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 16 47.4 32.2 4.2 11.6 15.8 4.9 1.3 2.4 - 2.6 14.0 25.1 .557 - - - 4.2 5.7 .736
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Domantas Sabonis
Season 1974-752021-22
Team Milwaukee BucksIndiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 65 42.3 30.0 3.0 11.0 14.0 4.1 1.0 3.3 - 3.2 12.5 24.4 .513 - - - 5.0 6.6 .763
difference:+3+7.8+11.1+0.2+2.1+1.9+1.1+2.9-0.1+5.4+11.9+.060+1.0+1.2+.022
Domantas Sabonis 62 34.5 18.9 3.2 8.9 12.1 5.2 1.0 0.4 3.1 3.3 7.1 12.5 .573 0.6 2.0 .312 4.0 5.4 .741
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Kareem Abdul-Jabbar nor Domantas Sabonis played in the postseason in their season 6

Season 7
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Domantas Sabonis
Season 1975-762022-23
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds LeaderAchievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayKings Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 41.2 27.7 3.3 13.5 16.9 5.0 1.5 4.1 - 3.6 11.1 21.1 .529 - - - 5.5 7.8 .703
difference:+3+6.6+8.6+0.1+4.4+4.6+2.3+0.7+3.6-0.1+3.8+9.2+.086+1.4+2.3+.039
Domantas Sabonis 79 34.6 19.1 3.2 9.1 12.3 7.3 0.8 0.5 2.9 3.5 7.3 11.9 .615 0.4 1.1 .373 4.1 5.5 .742
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar DNP------ --- ----------
Domantas Sabonis 7 34.7 16.4 4.4 6.6 11.0 4.7 1.4 0.9 3.7 4.0 7.0 14.1 .495 0.1 0.7 .200 2.3 4.0 .571

Season 8
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Domantas Sabonis
Season 1976-772023-24
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 36.8 26.2 3.2 10.0 13.3 3.9 1.2 3.2 - 3.2 10.8 18.7 .579 - - - 4.6 6.5 .701
difference:+1.1+6.8+0.4+0.1+0.4+4.3+0.3+2.6-0.2+3.1+5.7+.015+1.0+1.4+.003
Domantas Sabonis 82 35.7 19.4 3.6 10.1 13.7 8.2 0.9 0.6 3.3 3.0 7.7 13.0 .594 0.4 1.1 .379 3.6 5.1 .704
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 11 42.5 34.6 4.6 13.1 17.7 4.1 1.7 3.5 - 3.8 13.4 22.0 .607 - - - 7.9 10.9 .725
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Domantas Sabonis
Season 1977-782024-25
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 62 36.5 25.8 3.0 9.9 12.9 4.3 1.7 3.0 3.4 2.9 10.7 19.4 .550 - - - 4.4 5.6 .783
difference:+8+1.8+6.7+0.8+0.2+1.0+1.7+1.0+2.6-0.5-0.4+3.2+6.6+.040+1.3+1.5+.029
Domantas Sabonis 70 34.7 19.1 3.8 10.1 13.9 6.0 0.7 0.4 2.9 3.3 7.5 12.8 .590 0.9 2.2 .417 3.1 4.1 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3 44.7 27.0 4.7 9.0 13.7 3.7 0.7 4.0 4.7 4.7 12.7 24.3 .521 - - - 1.7 3.0 .556
Domantas Sabonis DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played 11 seasons more than Domantas Sabonis in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 10 to 20, from 1979 to 1989—Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in 11 Playoffs and won 5 NBA Championships.

In those 11 extra years over Domantas Sabonis, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Finals MVP
Achievement 1 Season MVP
Achievement 4 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 3 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 3 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 1 All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement 2 Blocks Leader
Achievement 11 All-Star Game
Share: