Paul Arizin vs. Gary Payton Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gary Payton and Paul Arizin, 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.

Paul Arizin played 10 years in the NBA, 7 less than Gary Payton, who played 17. Paul Arizin had the first of his seasons in 1950-51, while Gary Payton had his rookie season in 1990-91. 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
Paul Arizin 10 8 1950-51 to 1961-62
Gary Payton 17 15 1990-91 to 2006-07

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10

Rookie Season

Paul Arizin Gary Payton
Season 1950-511990-91
Team Philadelphia WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisSupersonics 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%
Paul Arizin 65 - 17.2 - - 9.8 2.1 - - - 4.4 5.4 13.3 .407 - - - 6.4 8.1 .793
difference:+17+10.0+6.8+4.3-1.4+2.2+6.3+.043+5.6+6.9+.082
Gary Payton 82 27.4 7.2 1.3 1.6 3.0 6.4 2.0 0.2 2.2 3.0 3.2 7.0 .450 0.0 0.2 .077 0.8 1.2 .711
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 2 - 20.5 - - 10.0 1.5 - - - 5.0 7.0 13.5 .519 - - - 6.5 8.0 .813
difference:+3+15.7+7.4+4.9-1.8+4.8+8.1+.112+6.1+7.6+.187
Gary Payton 5 27.0 4.8 1.0 1.6 2.6 6.4 1.6 0.2 1.8 3.2 2.2 5.4 .407 0.0 0.2 .000 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 2

Paul Arizin Gary Payton
Season 1951-521991-92
Team Philadelphia WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisSupersonics Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 66 44.5 25.4 - - 11.3 2.6 - - - 3.8 8.3 18.5 .448 - - - 8.8 10.7 .818
difference:+15+13.0+16.0+7.7+3.6-0.7+4.2+9.4+.003+7.6+8.9+.149
Gary Payton 81 31.5 9.4 1.5 2.1 3.6 6.2 1.8 0.3 2.1 3.1 4.1 9.1 .451 0.0 0.3 .130 1.2 1.8 .669
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 3 40.0 25.7 - - 12.7 2.7 - - - 5.7 8.0 17.7 .453 - - - 9.7 11.0 .879
difference:+5+12.4+18.1+10.1+2.1-2.4+4.6+10.4+.013+8.8+9.5+.296
Gary Payton 8 27.6 7.6 0.8 1.9 2.6 4.8 1.0 0.3 1.3 3.3 3.4 7.3 .466 0.0 0.3 .000 0.9 1.5 .583

Note: Paul Arizin didn't play in 1952-53 and 1953-54.

Season 3

Paul Arizin Gary Payton
Season 1954-551992-93
Team Philadelphia WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 72 41.0 21.0 - - 9.4 2.9 - - - 3.8 7.3 18.4 .399 - - - 6.3 8.1 .776
difference:+10+9.9+7.5+6.0+2.0-0.8+1.5+6.7+.095+4.5+5.7+.006
Gary Payton 82 31.1 13.5 1.2 2.3 3.4 4.9 2.2 0.3 1.8 3.0 5.8 11.7 .494 0.1 0.4 .206 1.8 2.4 .770
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin DNP------ --- ----------
Gary Payton 19 31.8 12.3 1.2 2.2 3.3 3.7 1.8 0.2 1.8 3.4 5.5 12.4 .443 0.1 0.3 .167 1.3 1.9 .676

Season 4

Paul Arizin Gary Payton
Season 1955-561993-94
Team Philadelphia WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 72 37.8 24.2 - - 7.5 2.6 - - - 3.9 8.6 19.1 .448 - - - 7.0 8.7 .810
difference:+10+2.7+7.7+4.2+3.4-1.1+1.5+5.0+.056+5.0+5.3+.215
Gary Payton 82 35.1 16.5 1.3 2.0 3.3 6.0 2.3 0.2 2.1 2.8 7.1 14.1 .504 0.2 0.7 .278 2.0 3.4 .595
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 10 40.9 28.9 - - 8.4 2.9 - - - 3.1 10.3 22.9 .450 - - - 8.3 9.9 .838
difference:+5+4.7+13.1+5.0+2.7-0.1+3.5+9.1+.043+6.7+6.1+.417
Gary Payton 5 36.2 15.8 1.2 2.2 3.4 5.6 1.6 0.4 1.6 3.0 6.8 13.8 .493 0.6 1.8 .333 1.6 3.8 .421

Season 5

Paul Arizin Gary Payton
Season 1956-571994-95
Team Philadelphia WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisSupersonics Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 71 39.0 25.6 - - 7.9 2.1 - - - 3.9 8.6 20.4 .422 - - - 8.3 10.0 .829
difference:+11+2.2+5.0+4.5+5.0-1.4+0.2+4.0+.087+5.3+5.8+.113
Gary Payton 82 36.8 20.6 1.3 2.1 3.4 7.1 2.5 0.2 2.5 2.5 8.4 16.4 .509 0.9 2.8 .302 3.0 4.2 .716
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 2 11.0 4.5 - - 4.0 0.5 - - - 1.5 1.5 4.0 .375 - - - 1.5 2.5 .600
difference:+2+32.0+13.3+1.5+4.8-1.8+6.5+12.8+.103+0.2+0.5+.183
Gary Payton 4 43.0 17.8 1.5 1.0 2.5 5.3 1.3 0.0 2.0 3.3 8.0 16.8 .478 0.5 2.5 .200 1.3 3.0 .417

Season 6

Paul Arizin Gary Payton
Season 1957-581995-96
Team Philadelphia WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div FinalsSupersonics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 68 35.0 20.7 - - 7.4 2.0 - - - 3.5 7.1 18.1 .393 - - - 6.5 8.0 .809
difference:+13+4.0+1.4+3.2+5.5-0.8+0.5+2.3+.091+3.7+4.2+.061
Gary Payton 81 39.0 19.3 1.3 2.9 4.2 7.5 2.9 0.2 3.2 2.7 7.6 15.8 .484 1.2 3.7 .328 2.8 3.8 .748
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 8 38.6 23.5 - - 7.8 2.0 - - - 3.3 8.3 21.1 .391 - - - 7.0 9.0 .778
difference:+13+4.8+2.8+2.7+4.8+0.6+5.2+.094+3.7+3.8+.145
Gary Payton 21 43.4 20.7 0.9 4.2 5.1 6.8 1.8 0.3 3.0 3.3 7.7 15.9 .485 2.0 4.8 .410 3.3 5.2 .633

Season 7

Paul Arizin Gary Payton
Season 1958-591996-97
Team Philadelphia WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 70 40.0 26.4 - - 9.1 1.7 - - - 3.8 9.0 20.9 .431 - - - 8.4 10.3 .813
difference:+12+0.8+4.6+4.5+5.4-1.3+0.4+2.8+.045+5.3+6.0+.098
Gary Payton 82 39.2 21.8 1.3 3.3 4.6 7.1 2.4 0.2 2.6 2.5 8.6 18.1 .476 1.5 4.6 .313 3.1 4.3 .715
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin DNP------ --- ----------
Gary Payton 12 45.6 23.8 1.7 3.8 5.4 8.7 2.2 0.3 2.9 2.2 8.8 21.3 .412 2.1 6.3 .333 4.2 5.1 .820

Season 8

Paul Arizin Gary Payton
Season 1959-601997-98
Team Philadelphia WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div FinalsSupersonics Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 72 36.4 22.3 - - 8.6 2.3 - - - 3.7 8.2 19.4 .424 - - - 5.8 7.3 .798
difference:+10+2.0+3.1+4.0+6.0-1.3+1.1+3.8+.029+2.4+2.7+.054
Gary Payton 82 38.4 19.2 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.3 2.3 0.2 2.8 2.4 7.1 15.6 .453 1.6 4.8 .338 3.4 4.6 .744
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 9 41.2 26.3 - - 9.6 3.7 - - - 3.2 9.3 21.7 .431 - - - 7.7 8.8 .873
difference:+1+1.5+2.3+6.2+3.3-0.1+0.6+3.4+.044+3.0+3.8+.067
Gary Payton 10 42.7 24.0 0.9 2.5 3.4 7.0 1.8 0.1 2.6 3.1 8.7 18.3 .475 1.9 5.0 .380 4.7 5.0 .940

Season 9

Paul Arizin Gary Payton
Season 1960-611998-99
Team Philadelphia WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisDid 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%
Paul Arizin 79 37.2 23.2 - - 8.6 2.4 - - - 4.2 8.2 19.4 .425 - - - 6.7 8.1 .833
difference:+29+3.0+1.5+3.7+6.3-1.9+0.2+0.9+.009+2.7+2.6+.112
Gary Payton 50 40.2 21.7 1.2 3.6 4.9 8.7 2.2 0.2 3.1 2.3 8.0 18.5 .434 1.7 5.6 .295 4.0 5.5 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 3 41.7 22.3 - - 8.7 4.0 - - - 5.7 7.3 22.3 .328 - - - 7.7 11.0 .697
Gary Payton DNP------ --- ----------

Season 10

Paul Arizin Gary Payton
Season 1961-621999-00
Team Philadelphia WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div FinalsSupersonics Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 78 35.7 21.9 - - 6.8 2.6 - - - 3.9 7.8 19.1 .410 - - - 6.2 7.7 .805
difference:+4+6.1+2.3+0.3+6.3-1.7+1.3+1.2+.038+2.4+2.5+.070
Gary Payton 82 41.8 24.2 1.2 5.2 6.5 8.9 1.9 0.2 2.7 2.2 9.1 20.3 .448 2.2 6.3 .340 3.8 5.2 .735
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Paul Arizin 12 38.3 23.2 - - 6.7 2.2 - - - 3.7 7.9 21.1 .375 - - - 7.3 8.5 .863
difference:+7+5.9+2.6+0.9+5.2-0.5+2.1+1.5+.067+3.3+3.3+.094
Gary Payton 5 44.2 25.8 1.6 6.0 7.6 7.4 1.8 0.2 3.6 3.2 10.0 22.6 .442 1.8 4.6 .391 4.0 5.2 .769

Additional Years

* Gary Payton played 7 seasons more than Paul Arizin in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 11 to 17, from 2001 to 2007—Gary Payton played in 6 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.

In those 7 extra years over Paul Arizin, Gary Payton got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 2 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 3 All-Star Game