Melvin Ely vs. Domantas Sabonis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Domantas Sabonis and Melvin Ely, 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.

Melvin Ely played 9 years in the NBA, 1 more than Domantas Sabonis, who played 8. Melvin Ely had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, 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 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
Melvin Ely 9 1 2002-03 to 2013-14
Domantas Sabonis 8 4 2016-17 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Melvin Ely Domantas Sabonis
Season 2002-032016-17
Team Los Angeles ClippersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 %
Melvin Ely 52 15.4 4.5 1.2 2.1 3.3 0.3 0.2 0.6 1.0 1.8 1.8 3.6 .495 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.4 .703
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Melvin Ely ------- --- ----------
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

Melvin Ely Domantas Sabonis
Season 2003-042017-18
Team Los Angeles ClippersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPacers 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 %
Melvin Ely 42 12.1 3.7 1.1 1.3 2.4 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.5 1.6 1.6 3.6 .431 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.0 .595
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Melvin Ely ------- --- ----------
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

Melvin Ely Domantas Sabonis
Season 2004-052018-19
Team Charlotte BobcatsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPacers 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 %
Melvin Ely 79 20.9 7.3 1.8 2.3 4.1 1.0 0.4 0.9 1.5 2.5 2.9 6.7 .432 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.7 .575
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Melvin Ely ------- --- ----------
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

Melvin Ely Domantas Sabonis
Season 2005-062019-20
Team Charlotte BobcatsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards -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 %
Melvin Ely 57 23.6 9.8 1.6 3.2 4.9 1.3 0.5 0.8 1.8 2.8 3.8 7.5 .508 0.0 0.0 .000 2.2 3.4 .667
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Melvin Ely ------- --- ----------
Domantas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Melvin Ely Domantas Sabonis
Season 2006-072020-21
Team Charlotte Bobcats, San Antonio SpursIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards -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 %
Melvin Ely 30 10.3 3.0 0.5 1.3 1.8 0.6 0.2 0.3 0.9 1.7 1.0 2.7 .363 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.6 .660
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Melvin Ely ------- --- ----------
Domantas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Melvin Ely Domantas Sabonis
Season 2007-082021-22
Team New Orleans HornetsIndiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Hornets Lost West 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 %
Melvin Ely 52 11.9 3.9 0.5 2.3 2.8 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.8 1.5 1.6 3.5 .472 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.1 .552
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Melvin Ely 7 8.4 2.1 0.7 0.9 1.6 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.6 1.9 0.6 2.1 .267 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.4 .700
Domantas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Melvin Ely Domantas Sabonis
Season 2008-092022-23
Team New Orleans HornetsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayKings 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 %
Melvin Ely 31 12.0 3.1 1.0 1.1 2.1 0.6 0.1 0.3 0.7 1.9 1.2 3.1 .389 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.2 .639
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Melvin Ely ------- --- ----------
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

Note: Melvin Ely didn't play in 2009-10.

Season 8

Melvin Ely Domantas Sabonis
Season 2010-112023-24
Team Denver NuggetsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rebounds Leader
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 %
Melvin Ely 30 12.2 2.3 0.9 1.6 2.5 0.5 0.1 0.4 0.5 1.7 0.9 1.7 .549 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.7 .619
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Melvin Ely ------- --- ----------
Domantas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Note: Melvin Ely didn't play in 2011-12 and 2012-13.

Season 9

Melvin Ely Domantas Sabonis
Season 2013-14-
Team New Orleans Pelicans-
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 %
Melvin Ely 2 13.5 3.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 2.5 1.5 3.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Domantas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Melvin Ely ------- --- ----------
Domantas Sabonis ------- --- ----------