Sam Bowie vs. David Robinson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of David Robinson and Sam Bowie, 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 / Games against each other

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.

Sam Bowie played 10 years in the NBA, 4 less than David Robinson, who played 14. Sam Bowie had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, while David Robinson had his rookie season in 1989-90. 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
Sam Bowie 10 5 1984-85 to 1994-95
David Robinson 14 12 1989-90 to 2002-03

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Sam Bowie David Robinson
Season 1984-851989-90
Team Portland Trail BlazersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf SemisSpurs 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 %
Sam Bowie 76 29.2 10.0 2.7 5.9 8.6 2.8 0.7 2.7 2.3 3.7 3.9 7.3 .537 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.0 .711
David Robinson 82 36.6 24.3 3.7 8.3 12.0 2.0 1.7 3.9 3.1 3.2 8.4 15.9 .531 0.0 0.0 .000 7.5 10.2 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie 9 28.8 7.3 1.8 6.7 8.4 2.3 0.4 2.3 1.3 4.0 2.9 6.6 .441 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.8 .560
David Robinson 10 37.5 24.3 3.6 8.4 12.0 2.3 1.1 4.0 2.4 3.5 8.9 16.7 .533 0.0 0.0 - 6.5 9.6 .677

Season 2

Sam Bowie David Robinson
Season 1985-861990-91
Team Portland Trail BlazersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs 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 %
Sam Bowie 38 29.8 11.8 2.4 6.2 8.6 2.6 0.6 2.5 2.3 3.7 4.4 9.1 .484 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.2 .708
David Robinson 82 37.7 25.6 4.1 8.9 13.0 2.5 1.5 3.9 3.3 3.2 9.2 16.7 .552 0.0 0.1 .143 7.2 9.5 .762
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
David Robinson 4 41.5 25.8 2.8 10.8 13.5 2.0 1.5 3.8 3.8 2.8 8.8 12.8 .686 0.0 0.3 .000 8.3 9.5 .868

Season 3

Sam Bowie David Robinson
Season 1986-871991-92
Team Portland Trail BlazersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Blocks 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 %
Sam Bowie 5 32.6 16.0 2.8 3.8 6.6 1.8 0.2 2.0 3.0 3.8 6.0 13.2 .455 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 6.0 .667
David Robinson 68 37.7 23.2 3.8 8.4 12.2 2.7 2.3 4.5 2.7 3.2 8.7 15.8 .551 0.0 0.1 .125 5.8 8.3 .701
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
David Robinson ------- --- ----------

Note: Sam Bowie didn't play in 1987-88.

Season 4

Sam Bowie David Robinson
Season 1988-891992-93
Team Portland Trail BlazersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdSpurs 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 %
Sam Bowie 20 20.6 8.6 1.8 3.5 5.3 1.8 0.4 1.7 1.7 2.2 3.5 7.7 .451 0.3 0.4 .714 1.4 2.5 .571
David Robinson 82 39.2 23.4 2.8 8.9 11.7 3.7 1.5 3.2 2.9 2.9 8.2 16.4 .501 0.0 0.2 .176 6.8 9.3 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie 3 22.3 10.3 3.3 3.3 6.7 1.0 0.0 2.3 1.0 2.7 4.0 9.3 .429 0.3 0.7 .500 2.0 2.7 .750
David Robinson 10 42.1 23.1 2.9 9.7 12.6 4.0 1.0 3.6 2.5 3.9 7.9 17.0 .465 0.0 0.1 .000 7.3 11.0 .664

Season 5

Sam Bowie David Robinson
Season 1989-901993-94
Team New Jersey NetsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs 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 %
Sam Bowie 68 32.5 14.7 3.0 7.1 10.1 1.3 0.6 1.8 1.8 3.1 5.1 12.3 .416 0.1 0.5 .323 4.3 5.6 .776
David Robinson 80 40.5 29.8 3.0 7.7 10.7 4.8 1.7 3.3 3.2 2.9 10.5 20.7 .507 0.1 0.4 .345 8.7 11.6 .749
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
David Robinson 4 36.5 20.0 3.3 6.8 10.0 3.5 0.8 2.5 2.3 3.5 7.5 18.3 .411 0.0 0.3 .000 5.0 6.8 .741

Season 6

Sam Bowie David Robinson
Season 1990-911994-95
Team New Jersey NetsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie 62 30.9 12.9 2.8 4.9 7.7 2.4 0.7 1.5 2.3 2.8 5.1 11.7 .434 0.1 0.4 .182 2.7 3.7 .732
David Robinson 81 38.0 27.6 2.9 7.9 10.8 2.9 1.7 3.2 2.9 2.8 9.7 18.4 .530 0.1 0.2 .300 8.1 10.5 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
David Robinson 15 41.5 25.3 3.8 8.3 12.1 3.1 1.5 2.6 3.7 4.2 8.6 19.3 .446 0.1 0.3 .200 8.1 9.9 .812

Season 7

Sam Bowie David Robinson
Season 1991-921995-96
Team New Jersey NetsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdSpurs 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 %
Sam Bowie 71 30.7 15.0 2.9 5.3 8.1 2.6 0.6 1.7 2.1 3.0 5.9 13.3 .445 0.1 0.4 .320 3.0 3.9 .757
David Robinson 82 36.8 25.0 3.9 8.3 12.2 3.0 1.4 3.3 2.3 3.2 8.7 16.8 .516 0.0 0.1 .333 7.6 10.0 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie 4 28.0 9.3 2.0 2.8 4.8 2.3 0.8 0.8 1.3 4.8 3.5 8.3 .424 0.3 0.5 .500 2.0 3.0 .667
David Robinson 10 35.3 23.6 3.7 6.4 10.1 2.4 1.5 2.5 2.4 3.8 8.3 16.1 .516 0.0 0.0 - 7.0 10.5 .667

Season 8

Sam Bowie David Robinson
Season 1992-931996-97
Team New Jersey NetsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets 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 %
Sam Bowie 79 26.5 9.1 2.0 5.0 7.0 1.6 0.4 1.6 1.5 2.9 3.6 8.1 .450 0.0 0.1 .333 1.8 2.3 .779
David Robinson 6 24.5 17.7 3.2 5.3 8.5 1.3 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.5 6.0 12.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 5.7 8.7 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie 3 23.7 3.3 0.7 3.3 4.0 0.7 2.0 0.3 1.3 3.0 1.3 3.0 .444 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000
David Robinson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Sam Bowie David Robinson
Season 1993-941997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs 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 %
Sam Bowie 25 22.2 8.9 1.1 4.2 5.2 1.9 0.2 1.1 1.7 2.6 3.0 6.9 .436 0.0 0.2 .250 2.9 3.3 .867
David Robinson 73 33.7 21.6 3.3 7.3 10.6 2.7 0.9 2.6 2.8 2.8 7.5 14.6 .511 0.0 0.1 .250 6.6 9.0 .735
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
David Robinson 9 39.2 19.4 4.6 9.6 14.1 2.6 1.2 3.3 2.8 3.1 6.3 14.9 .425 0.0 0.0 - 6.8 10.7 .635

Season 10

Sam Bowie David Robinson
Season 1994-951998-99
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie 67 18.3 4.6 1.1 3.2 4.3 1.8 0.3 1.2 1.4 2.7 1.8 4.0 .442 0.0 0.2 .182 1.0 1.3 .764
David Robinson 49 31.7 15.8 3.0 7.0 10.0 2.1 1.4 2.4 2.2 2.9 5.5 10.8 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 4.9 7.4 .658
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie 10 13.5 2.1 1.3 2.0 3.3 0.3 0.1 0.9 0.6 2.5 0.8 3.0 .267 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.5 1.000
David Robinson 17 35.4 15.6 2.1 7.8 9.9 2.5 1.6 2.4 2.4 3.6 5.1 10.6 .483 0.0 0.0 - 5.4 7.4 .722

Season 11

Sam Bowie David Robinson
Season -1999-00
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Spurs 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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
David Robinson 80 32.0 17.8 2.4 7.2 9.6 1.8 1.2 2.3 2.1 3.1 6.6 12.9 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 4.6 6.4 .726
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
David Robinson 4 38.8 23.5 4.3 9.5 13.8 2.5 1.8 3.0 2.0 3.8 7.8 20.8 .373 0.0 0.3 .000 8.0 10.5 .762

Season 12

Sam Bowie David Robinson
Season -2000-01
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Spurs Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
David Robinson 80 29.6 14.4 2.6 6.0 8.6 1.5 1.0 2.5 1.5 2.7 5.0 10.3 .486 0.0 0.0 .000 4.4 5.9 .747
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
David Robinson 13 31.4 16.6 3.0 8.8 11.8 1.7 1.3 2.4 2.2 3.2 5.8 12.2 .472 0.0 0.1 .000 5.1 7.3 .695

Season 13

Sam Bowie David Robinson
Season -2001-02
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
David Robinson 78 29.5 12.2 2.4 5.8 8.3 1.2 1.1 1.8 1.3 2.5 4.4 8.6 .507 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.1 .681
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
David Robinson 4 20.5 4.5 1.5 4.3 5.8 1.3 0.8 0.8 0.5 3.5 2.3 4.8 .474 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 1.0 .000

Season 14

Sam Bowie David Robinson
Season -2002-03
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -NBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
David Robinson 64 26.2 8.5 2.5 5.4 7.9 1.0 0.8 1.7 1.3 2.0 3.1 6.6 .469 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.3 .710
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
David Robinson 23 23.5 7.8 2.0 4.7 6.6 0.9 0.8 1.3 1.0 2.7 2.8 5.1 .542 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.4 .667