M.L. Carr vs. Bob Lanier Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bob Lanier and M.L. Carr, 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.

M.L. Carr played 9 years in the NBA, 5 less than Bob Lanier, who played 14. M.L. Carr had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Bob Lanier 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
M.L. Carr 9 7 1976-77 to 1984-85
Bob Lanier 14 9 1970-71 to 1983-84

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

M.L. Carr Bob Lanier
Season 1976-771970-71
Team Detroit PistonsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Pistons Lost West 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 %
M.L. Carr 82 32.2 13.3 2.6 5.1 7.7 2.2 2.0 0.7 - 3.5 5.4 11.4 .476 - - - 2.5 3.4 .735
Bob Lanier 82 24.6 15.6 - - 8.1 1.8 - - - 3.3 6.1 13.5 .455 - - - 3.3 4.6 .726
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
M.L. Carr 3 37.3 9.3 3.0 2.7 5.7 2.0 0.3 1.0 - 3.0 4.0 10.3 .387 - - - 1.3 2.3 .571
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------

Season 2

M.L. Carr Bob Lanier
Season 1977-781971-72
Team Detroit PistonsDetroit Pistons
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 %
M.L. Carr 79 32.4 12.4 2.6 4.5 7.1 2.3 1.9 0.3 2.7 3.1 4.9 10.8 .455 - - - 2.5 3.4 .738
Bob Lanier 80 38.7 25.7 - - 14.2 3.1 - - - 3.7 10.4 21.1 .493 - - - 4.9 6.3 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
M.L. Carr ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------

Season 3

M.L. Carr Bob Lanier
Season 1978-791972-73
Team Detroit PistonsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
-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 %
M.L. Carr 80 40.1 18.7 2.7 4.6 7.4 3.3 2.5 0.6 3.2 3.5 7.3 14.3 .514 - - - 4.0 5.4 .743
Bob Lanier 81 38.9 23.8 - - 14.9 3.2 - - - 3.4 10.0 20.4 .490 - - - 3.8 4.9 .773
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
M.L. Carr ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------

Season 4

M.L. Carr Bob Lanier
Season 1979-801973-74
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsPistons 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 %
M.L. Carr 82 24.3 11.1 1.3 2.7 4.0 1.9 1.5 0.4 1.7 2.6 4.4 9.3 .474 0.1 0.5 .293 2.2 2.9 .739
Bob Lanier 81 37.6 22.5 3.3 9.9 13.3 4.2 1.4 3.0 - 3.4 9.2 18.3 .504 - - - 4.0 5.0 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
M.L. Carr 9 19.1 9.1 1.6 2.1 3.7 1.2 0.7 0.1 0.8 2.2 3.6 8.9 .400 0.2 0.6 .400 1.8 2.7 .667
Bob Lanier 7 43.3 26.3 3.7 11.6 15.3 3.0 0.6 2.0 - 4.0 11.0 21.7 .507 - - - 4.3 5.4 .789

Season 5

M.L. Carr Bob Lanier
Season 1980-811974-75
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 %
M.L. Carr 41 16.0 6.0 0.6 1.4 2.0 1.4 0.7 0.4 1.1 1.8 2.4 5.3 .449 0.0 0.3 .071 1.3 1.6 .791
Bob Lanier 76 39.3 24.0 3.0 9.1 12.0 4.6 1.0 2.3 - 3.1 9.6 18.9 .510 - - - 4.8 5.9 .802
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
M.L. Carr 17 16.9 6.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.5 1.9 2.5 5.9 .416 0.0 0.2 .000 1.1 1.4 .750
Bob Lanier 3 42.7 20.3 1.7 9.0 10.7 6.3 1.3 4.0 - 3.3 8.7 17.0 .510 - - - 3.0 4.0 .750

Season 6

M.L. Carr Bob Lanier
Season 1981-821975-76
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsPistons 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 %
M.L. Carr 56 23.1 8.1 1.0 1.7 2.7 2.3 1.2 0.4 1.1 2.4 3.3 7.3 .450 0.1 0.3 .294 1.5 2.1 .707
Bob Lanier 64 36.9 21.3 3.4 8.3 11.7 3.4 1.2 1.3 - 3.2 8.5 15.9 .532 - - - 4.4 5.8 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
M.L. Carr 12 25.4 7.4 1.8 1.8 3.6 2.3 0.9 0.0 1.8 2.5 3.1 8.8 .352 0.0 0.3 .000 1.3 1.9 .652
Bob Lanier 9 39.9 26.1 4.3 8.3 12.7 3.3 0.9 2.3 - 3.8 10.6 19.1 .552 - - - 5.0 5.6 .900

Season 7

M.L. Carr Bob Lanier
Season 1982-831976-77
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisPistons 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 %
M.L. Carr 77 11.5 4.3 0.7 1.1 1.8 0.9 0.6 0.1 1.0 1.8 1.8 4.1 .429 0.0 0.2 .158 0.8 1.1 .741
Bob Lanier 64 38.2 25.3 3.1 8.5 11.6 3.3 1.1 2.0 - 2.7 10.6 19.8 .534 - - - 4.1 5.0 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
M.L. Carr 3 7.3 2.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.7 2.7 .250 0.0 0.3 .000 0.7 0.7 1.000
Bob Lanier 3 39.3 28.0 4.3 12.3 16.7 2.0 1.0 2.3 - 3.3 11.3 18.0 .630 - - - 5.3 6.3 .842

Season 8

M.L. Carr Bob Lanier
Season 1983-841977-78
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
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 %
M.L. Carr 60 9.8 3.1 0.4 0.8 1.3 0.8 0.3 0.1 0.8 1.1 1.2 2.9 .409 0.1 0.3 .200 0.7 0.8 .875
Bob Lanier 63 36.7 24.5 3.1 8.2 11.3 3.4 1.3 1.5 3.6 2.9 9.9 18.4 .537 - - - 4.7 6.1 .772
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
M.L. Carr 16 5.1 2.4 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.2 0.8 0.8 2.0 .406 0.1 0.4 .333 0.6 0.7 .909
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------

Season 9

M.L. Carr Bob Lanier
Season 1984-851978-79
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
M.L. Carr 47 8.4 3.2 0.4 0.5 0.9 0.5 0.4 0.1 0.5 0.9 1.3 3.2 .416 0.2 0.5 .391 0.4 0.4 1.000
Bob Lanier 53 34.6 23.6 3.1 6.2 9.3 2.6 0.9 1.4 3.3 3.4 9.2 17.9 .515 - - - 5.2 6.9 .749
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
M.L. Carr 7 3.4 1.3 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.6 0.6 2.1 .267 0.1 0.3 .500 0.0 0.0 -
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------

Season 10

M.L. Carr Bob Lanier
Season -1979-80
Team -Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bucks 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 %
M.L. Carr ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 63 33.8 19.2 2.4 6.3 8.8 2.9 1.2 1.4 2.6 3.2 7.4 13.8 .537 0.0 0.1 .167 4.4 5.6 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
M.L. Carr ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 7 36.6 19.3 2.4 6.9 9.3 4.4 1.0 1.1 2.4 3.3 7.4 14.4 .515 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 6.0 .738

Season 11

M.L. Carr Bob Lanier
Season -1980-81
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bucks 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 %
M.L. Carr ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 67 26.2 14.3 1.9 4.3 6.2 2.7 1.1 1.2 2.1 2.7 5.6 10.7 .525 0.0 0.0 1.000 3.1 4.1 .751
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
M.L. Carr ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 7 33.7 17.6 1.7 5.7 7.4 4.0 1.7 1.1 2.1 2.6 7.1 12.1 .588 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.6 .719

Season 12

M.L. Carr Bob Lanier
Season -1981-82
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Bucks 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 %
M.L. Carr ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 74 26.8 13.5 1.2 4.0 5.2 3.0 1.0 0.8 2.2 2.9 5.5 9.9 .558 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.3 .752
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
M.L. Carr ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 6 35.3 16.0 3.0 4.5 7.5 3.7 1.3 0.8 2.3 3.5 6.8 13.3 .513 0.0 0.2 .000 2.3 4.2 .560

Season 13

M.L. Carr Bob Lanier
Season -1982-83
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bucks 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 %
M.L. Carr ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 39 25.1 10.7 1.5 3.6 5.1 2.7 0.9 0.6 2.1 3.2 4.2 8.5 .491 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.4 .684
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
M.L. Carr ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 9 27.8 13.7 1.9 5.1 7.0 2.6 0.6 1.6 2.3 3.6 5.7 9.9 .573 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.9 .600

Season 14

M.L. Carr Bob Lanier
Season -1983-84
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bucks 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 %
M.L. Carr ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 72 27.9 13.6 2.0 4.4 6.3 2.6 0.8 0.7 2.3 3.2 5.4 9.5 .572 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.8 .708
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
M.L. Carr ------- --- ----------
Bob Lanier 16 31.2 12.7 2.0 5.3 7.3 3.4 0.7 0.6 2.4 3.6 5.1 10.7 .480 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 2.8 .886