Mike Sanders vs. Jonas Valanciunas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jonas Valanciunas and Mike Sanders, 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.

Mike Sanders played 11 years in the NBA, 1 less than Jonas Valanciunas, who played 12. Mike Sanders had the first of his seasons in 1982-83, while Jonas Valanciunas had his rookie season in 2012-13. 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
Mike Sanders 11 9 1982-83 to 1992-93
Jonas Valanciunas 12 8 2012-13 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Mike Sanders Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1982-832012-13
Team San Antonio SpursToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Spurs Lost West 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 %
Mike Sanders 26 15.1 7.0 1.2 2.4 3.6 0.7 0.7 0.2 1.1 2.2 2.9 6.0 .484 0.0 0.1 .000 1.2 1.7 .721
Jonas Valanciunas 62 23.9 8.9 2.0 4.0 6.0 0.7 0.3 1.3 1.5 3.0 3.3 5.9 .557 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.0 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mike Sanders 6 4.2 2.3 0.3 1.2 1.5 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.2 2.2 .538 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Jonas Valanciunas ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Mike Sanders Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1983-842013-14
Team Phoenix SunsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsRaptors 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 %
Mike Sanders 50 11.7 4.5 0.8 1.3 2.1 0.9 0.5 0.2 0.9 2.0 1.9 4.1 .478 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .690
Jonas Valanciunas 81 28.2 11.3 2.8 6.0 8.8 0.7 0.3 0.9 1.7 3.1 4.4 8.3 .531 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.2 .762
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mike Sanders 15 10.1 4.0 0.7 0.7 1.3 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.9 2.1 1.5 3.1 .478 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.1 .941
Jonas Valanciunas 7 28.6 10.9 2.7 7.0 9.7 0.3 0.0 1.0 2.7 3.1 4.4 7.0 .633 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.1 .636

Season 3

Mike Sanders Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1984-852014-15
Team Phoenix SunsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdRaptors 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 %
Mike Sanders 21 19.9 10.2 1.8 2.4 4.2 1.4 1.1 0.2 1.6 2.8 4.0 8.3 .486 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.8 .763
Jonas Valanciunas 80 26.2 12.0 2.7 6.0 8.7 0.5 0.4 1.2 1.4 2.8 4.7 8.2 .572 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.5 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mike Sanders 3 30.3 17.3 2.7 2.3 5.0 3.3 1.7 0.0 3.0 2.7 7.3 12.3 .595 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.3 .800
Jonas Valanciunas 4 26.5 11.3 2.3 7.0 9.3 0.5 0.5 0.3 1.0 1.8 4.8 9.5 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.0 .875

Season 4

Mike Sanders Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1985-862015-16
Team Phoenix SunsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayRaptors 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 %
Mike Sanders 82 20.0 11.0 1.3 2.1 3.3 1.8 0.9 0.4 1.7 2.9 4.2 8.2 .513 0.0 0.2 .200 2.5 3.1 .809
Jonas Valanciunas 60 26.0 12.8 3.1 6.1 9.1 0.7 0.4 1.3 1.4 2.6 5.1 8.9 .565 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.6 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mike Sanders ------- --- ----------
Jonas Valanciunas 12 26.8 13.8 4.0 6.8 10.8 0.9 0.8 1.2 1.5 2.7 5.7 10.0 .567 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.3 .744

Season 5

Mike Sanders Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1986-872016-17
Team Phoenix SunsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayRaptors 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 %
Mike Sanders 82 20.2 10.5 1.2 2.1 3.3 1.5 0.7 0.3 1.3 2.6 4.4 8.8 .494 0.0 0.2 .118 1.7 2.2 .781
Jonas Valanciunas 80 25.8 12.0 2.8 6.7 9.5 0.7 0.5 0.8 1.3 2.7 4.9 8.8 .557 0.0 0.0 .500 2.2 2.7 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mike Sanders ------- --- ----------
Jonas Valanciunas 10 22.6 11.2 0.9 5.8 6.7 0.2 0.2 0.6 1.3 2.2 4.4 8.1 .543 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.3 .727

Season 6

Mike Sanders Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1987-882017-18
Team Phoenix Suns, Cleveland CavaliersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st RdRaptors 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 %
Mike Sanders 59 15.0 6.2 0.6 1.2 1.8 0.9 0.5 0.2 0.8 2.2 2.6 5.1 .505 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.3 .776
Jonas Valanciunas 77 22.4 12.7 2.4 6.2 8.6 1.1 0.4 0.9 1.5 2.5 5.1 8.9 .568 0.4 1.0 .405 2.2 2.7 .806
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mike Sanders 5 26.8 12.8 2.2 2.8 5.0 1.4 0.6 0.4 2.2 4.2 5.6 10.4 .538 0.0 0.2 .000 1.6 2.0 .800
Jonas Valanciunas 10 24.4 14.6 3.0 7.5 10.5 1.2 0.4 1.5 1.9 2.2 5.8 10.7 .542 0.2 0.5 .400 2.8 3.4 .824

Season 7

Mike Sanders Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1988-892018-19
Team Cleveland CavaliersToronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Mike Sanders 82 25.6 9.3 1.2 2.5 3.7 1.6 1.1 0.4 1.3 2.8 4.0 8.9 .453 0.0 0.1 .300 1.2 1.6 .719
Jonas Valanciunas 49 22.3 15.6 2.2 6.4 8.6 1.4 0.4 1.1 1.8 3.0 6.1 11.0 .559 0.3 1.0 .292 3.0 3.8 .795
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mike Sanders 5 17.4 6.6 1.2 2.0 3.2 0.8 0.4 0.2 2.0 2.2 3.0 6.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.0 .600
Jonas Valanciunas ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Mike Sanders Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1989-902019-20
Team Indiana PacersMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers 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 %
Mike Sanders 82 18.7 6.2 1.0 1.9 2.8 1.1 0.5 0.3 1.0 2.7 2.7 5.8 .470 0.1 0.2 .357 0.7 0.9 .733
Jonas Valanciunas 70 26.4 14.9 3.0 8.2 11.3 1.9 0.4 1.1 1.8 2.6 6.2 10.6 .585 0.5 1.3 .352 2.1 2.9 .740
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mike Sanders 3 8.0 3.7 1.7 0.3 2.0 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.7 1.3 1.7 3.7 .455 0.3 0.3 1.000 0.0 0.0 -
Jonas Valanciunas ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Mike Sanders Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1990-912020-21
Team Indiana PacersMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdGrizzlies 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 %
Mike Sanders 80 17.0 5.8 0.9 1.4 2.3 1.3 0.5 0.3 0.8 2.5 2.6 6.2 .417 0.1 0.3 .200 0.6 0.7 .825
Jonas Valanciunas 62 28.3 17.1 4.1 8.4 12.5 1.8 0.6 0.9 1.6 2.9 7.1 12.0 .592 0.3 0.9 .368 2.5 3.3 .773
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mike Sanders 5 8.2 3.0 0.0 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.4 0.2 1.8 1.2 2.0 .600 0.2 0.4 .500 0.4 0.8 .500
Jonas Valanciunas 5 33.2 15.0 4.0 5.8 9.8 2.6 0.6 0.6 2.0 3.6 6.6 11.6 .569 0.4 1.6 .250 1.4 1.6 .875

Season 10

Mike Sanders Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1991-922021-22
Team Indiana Pacers, Cleveland CavaliersNew Orleans Pelicans
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf FinalsPelicans 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 %
Mike Sanders 31 20.4 7.1 0.9 2.2 3.1 1.7 0.8 0.3 0.7 2.7 3.0 5.2 .571 0.0 0.1 .333 1.2 1.5 .766
Jonas Valanciunas 74 30.3 17.8 3.1 8.3 11.4 2.6 0.6 0.8 2.4 3.3 6.9 12.7 .544 0.8 2.1 .361 3.2 3.9 .820
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mike Sanders 17 24.6 7.6 1.2 2.1 3.2 2.2 0.9 0.7 1.4 3.6 3.3 6.8 .487 0.1 0.2 .333 1.0 1.2 .810
Jonas Valanciunas 6 29.2 14.5 5.5 8.8 14.3 3.0 0.7 0.2 2.0 2.8 5.5 11.3 .485 0.2 1.0 .167 3.3 4.3 .769

Season 11

Mike Sanders Jonas Valanciunas
Season 1992-932022-23
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew Orleans Pelicans
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Mike Sanders 53 22.4 8.6 1.0 2.2 3.2 1.4 0.7 0.6 1.1 2.8 3.7 7.5 .497 0.0 0.1 .250 1.1 1.5 .756
Jonas Valanciunas 79 24.9 14.1 2.8 7.3 10.2 1.8 0.3 0.7 2.0 3.1 5.6 10.3 .547 0.5 1.4 .349 2.3 2.8 .826
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mike Sanders 8 18.1 5.8 1.0 1.3 2.3 1.3 1.0 0.1 0.4 2.1 2.5 6.0 .417 0.0 0.3 .000 0.8 1.3 .600
Jonas Valanciunas ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Mike Sanders Jonas Valanciunas
Season -2023-24
Team -New Orleans Pelicans
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pelicans 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 %
Mike Sanders ------- --- ----------
Jonas Valanciunas 82 23.5 12.2 2.3 6.5 8.8 2.1 0.4 0.8 1.4 2.7 4.9 8.8 .559 0.5 1.5 .308 2.0 2.5 .785
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mike Sanders ------- --- ----------
Jonas Valanciunas 4 22.5 14.5 4.5 6.5 11.0 1.3 0.5 0.0 2.5 2.3 5.5 10.5 .524 0.0 0.3 .000 3.5 4.3 .824