Purvis Short vs. Lenny Wilkens Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Lenny Wilkens and Purvis Short, 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.

Purvis Short played 12 years in the NBA, 3 less than Lenny Wilkens, who played 15. Purvis Short had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Lenny Wilkens had his rookie season in 1960-61. 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
Purvis Short 12 3 1978-79 to 1989-90
Lenny Wilkens 15 7 1960-61 to 1974-75

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15

Rookie Season

Purvis Short Lenny Wilkens
Season 1978-791960-61
Team Golden State WarriorsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short 75 22.7 10.6 1.7 2.9 4.6 1.3 0.7 0.2 1.5 3.1 4.9 10.3 .479 - - - 0.8 1.1 .671
Lenny Wilkens 75 25.3 11.7 - - 4.5 2.8 - - - 2.9 4.4 10.4 .425 - - - 2.9 4.0 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 12 36.4 14.2 - - 6.0 3.5 - - - 4.3 5.3 13.8 .380 - - - 3.7 4.8 .759

Season 2

Purvis Short Lenny Wilkens
Season 1979-801961-62
Team Golden State WarriorsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards
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 %
Purvis Short 62 26.4 17.0 1.9 3.2 5.1 2.0 1.0 0.1 2.0 3.0 7.4 14.8 .503 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 2.7 .812
Lenny Wilkens 20 43.5 18.2 - - 6.6 5.8 - - - 3.2 7.0 18.2 .385 - - - 4.2 5.5 .764
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Purvis Short Lenny Wilkens
Season 1980-811962-63
Team Golden State WarriorsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short 79 29.2 16.1 1.9 3.0 4.9 3.2 1.0 0.2 1.8 3.1 6.9 14.6 .475 0.0 0.2 .176 2.1 2.6 .820
Lenny Wilkens 75 34.3 11.8 - - 5.4 5.1 - - - 3.4 4.4 11.1 .399 - - - 3.0 4.3 .696
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 11 36.4 13.7 - - 6.3 6.3 - - - 4.6 5.2 14.0 .370 - - - 3.4 4.5 .755

Season 4

Purvis Short Lenny Wilkens
Season 1981-821963-64
Team Golden State WarriorsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short 76 23.4 14.4 1.6 1.9 3.5 2.8 0.9 0.1 1.6 2.9 6.0 12.3 .488 0.1 0.4 .214 2.3 2.9 .801
Lenny Wilkens 78 32.4 12.0 - - 4.3 4.6 - - - 3.7 4.3 10.4 .413 - - - 3.5 4.7 .740
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 12 34.4 14.3 - - 5.0 5.3 - - - 3.5 5.3 11.9 .448 - - - 3.7 4.8 .759

Season 5

Purvis Short Lenny Wilkens
Season 1982-831964-65
Team Golden State WarriorsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost West Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short 67 35.8 21.4 2.2 3.1 5.3 3.4 1.4 0.2 2.9 3.6 8.8 18.0 .487 0.1 0.2 .267 3.8 4.6 .828
Lenny Wilkens 78 36.6 16.5 - - 4.7 5.5 - - - 3.6 5.6 13.4 .414 - - - 5.3 7.2 .746
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 4 36.8 16.0 - - 3.0 3.8 - - - 3.5 5.0 14.3 .351 - - - 6.0 7.3 .828

Season 6

Purvis Short Lenny Wilkens
Season 1983-841965-66
Team Golden State WarriorsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short 79 37.3 22.8 2.3 3.2 5.5 3.1 1.3 0.1 2.9 3.2 9.0 19.1 .473 0.3 0.9 .306 4.5 5.6 .793
Lenny Wilkens 69 39.0 18.0 - - 4.7 6.2 - - - 3.6 6.0 13.8 .431 - - - 6.1 7.7 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 10 39.1 17.1 - - 5.4 7.0 - - - 4.3 5.7 14.3 .399 - - - 5.7 8.3 .687

Season 7

Purvis Short Lenny Wilkens
Season 1984-851966-67
Team Golden State WarriorsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short 78 39.5 28.0 2.0 3.1 5.1 3.0 1.5 0.3 3.1 3.3 10.5 22.8 .460 0.6 1.9 .313 6.4 7.9 .817
Lenny Wilkens 78 38.1 17.4 - - 5.3 5.7 - - - 3.6 5.7 13.3 .432 - - - 5.9 7.5 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 9 42.0 21.4 - - 7.6 7.2 - - - 3.8 6.4 16.1 .400 - - - 8.6 10.0 .856

Season 8

Purvis Short Lenny Wilkens
Season 1985-861967-68
Team Golden State WarriorsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost West Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short 64 37.9 25.5 2.0 3.2 5.1 3.7 1.4 0.3 2.9 3.6 9.9 20.5 .482 0.2 0.8 .306 5.5 6.3 .865
Lenny Wilkens 82 38.6 20.0 - - 5.3 8.3 - - - 3.1 6.7 15.2 .438 - - - 6.7 8.7 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 6 39.5 18.3 - - 6.3 7.8 - - - 3.8 6.7 15.2 .440 - - - 5.0 6.7 .750

Season 9

Purvis Short Lenny Wilkens
Season 1986-871968-69
Team Golden State WarriorsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors 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 %
Purvis Short 34 27.9 18.3 1.6 2.4 4.0 2.5 1.3 0.2 2.0 3.0 7.1 14.7 .479 0.1 0.5 .235 4.0 4.7 .856
Lenny Wilkens 82 42.2 22.4 - - 6.2 8.2 - - - 3.6 7.9 17.8 .440 - - - 6.7 8.7 .770
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short 10 25.3 14.6 1.2 2.1 3.3 2.7 1.2 0.2 2.1 3.4 5.7 12.3 .463 0.0 0.2 .000 3.2 3.6 .889
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Purvis Short Lenny Wilkens
Season 1987-881969-70
Team Houston RocketsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Purvis Short 81 24.1 14.3 0.9 1.9 2.7 2.0 0.7 0.2 1.5 2.4 5.9 12.2 .481 0.1 0.3 .238 2.5 3.0 .858
Lenny Wilkens 75 37.4 17.8 - - 5.0 9.1 - - - 2.8 6.0 14.2 .420 - - - 5.8 7.4 .788
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short 4 17.8 5.5 1.0 1.3 2.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 1.0 2.0 1.8 6.5 .269 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 2.0 1.000
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Purvis Short Lenny Wilkens
Season 1988-891970-71
Team Houston RocketsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Purvis Short 65 17.8 7.4 1.0 1.8 2.8 1.6 0.7 0.2 1.1 1.8 3.0 7.4 .413 0.1 0.5 .273 1.2 1.4 .865
Lenny Wilkens 71 37.2 19.8 - - 4.5 9.2 - - - 2.8 6.6 15.8 .419 - - - 6.5 8.1 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short 4 9.3 4.8 1.5 0.8 2.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.8 2.0 5.3 .381 0.0 0.5 .000 0.8 1.3 .600
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Purvis Short Lenny Wilkens
Season 1989-901971-72
Team New Jersey NetsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
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 %
Purvis Short 82 27.0 13.1 1.2 1.8 3.0 1.8 0.8 0.2 1.5 2.5 5.3 11.6 .455 0.1 0.4 .286 2.4 2.9 .835
Lenny Wilkens 80 37.4 18.0 - - 4.2 9.6 - - - 2.6 6.0 12.8 .466 - - - 6.0 7.8 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Purvis Short Lenny Wilkens
Season -1972-73
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Purvis Short ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 75 39.6 20.5 - - 4.6 8.4 - - - 2.9 7.6 17.0 .449 - - - 5.3 6.3 .828
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Purvis Short Lenny Wilkens
Season -1973-74
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
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 %
Purvis Short ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 74 33.6 16.4 1.1 2.7 3.7 7.1 1.3 0.2 - 2.2 6.2 13.4 .465 - - - 3.9 4.9 .801
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Purvis Short Lenny Wilkens
Season -1974-75
Team -Portland Trail Blazers
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 %
Purvis Short ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens 65 17.9 6.5 0.6 1.3 1.8 3.6 1.2 0.1 - 1.5 2.1 4.7 .439 - - - 2.3 3.0 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Purvis Short ------- --- ----------
Lenny Wilkens ------- --- ----------