Sam Lacey vs. John Starks Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of John Starks and Sam Lacey, 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.

Sam Lacey and John Starks both played 13 years in the NBA. Sam Lacey had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while John Starks had his rookie season in 1988-89. 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 Lacey 13 4 1970-71 to 1982-83
John Starks 13 9 1988-89 to 2001-02

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Sam Lacey John Starks
Season 1970-711988-89
Team Cincinnati RoyalsGolden State Warriors
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 %
Sam Lacey 81 32.7 13.5 - - 11.3 1.4 - - - 3.3 5.8 13.8 .418 - - - 1.9 2.8 .687
John Starks 36 8.8 4.1 0.4 0.7 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.0 1.4 3.5 .408 0.3 0.7 .385 0.9 1.4 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------
John Starks ------- --- ----------

Note: John Starks didn't play in 1989-90.

Season 2

Sam Lacey John Starks
Season 1971-721990-91
Team Cincinnati RoyalsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks 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 %
Sam Lacey 81 35.0 11.6 - - 12.0 2.1 - - - 3.5 5.1 12.0 .422 - - - 1.5 2.1 .704
John Starks 61 19.2 7.6 0.5 1.7 2.1 3.3 1.0 0.3 1.2 2.2 3.0 6.7 .439 0.4 1.5 .290 1.3 1.7 .752
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------
John Starks 3 9.3 2.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.3 0.7 1.7 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000

Season 3

Sam Lacey John Starks
Season 1972-731991-92
Team Kansas City-Omaha KingsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks 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 %
Sam Lacey 79 37.1 13.5 - - 11.8 2.4 - - - 3.6 6.0 12.6 .474 - - - 1.6 2.3 .708
John Starks 82 25.8 13.9 0.5 1.8 2.3 3.4 1.3 0.2 1.8 2.8 4.9 11.0 .449 1.1 3.3 .348 2.9 3.7 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------
John Starks 12 24.6 12.1 0.6 1.9 2.5 3.2 1.4 0.0 1.8 3.8 3.8 10.3 .374 0.9 3.8 .239 3.5 4.3 .808

Season 4

Sam Lacey John Starks
Season 1973-741992-93
Team Kansas City-Omaha KingsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks 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 %
Sam Lacey 79 39.3 14.2 3.7 9.6 13.4 3.8 1.6 2.3 - 3.2 5.9 12.4 .476 - - - 2.3 3.1 .749
John Starks 80 31.0 17.5 0.7 1.9 2.6 5.1 1.1 0.2 2.2 2.9 6.4 15.0 .428 1.4 4.2 .321 3.3 4.1 .795
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------
John Starks 15 38.3 16.5 0.3 3.2 3.5 6.4 1.0 0.2 3.7 3.8 5.9 13.3 .440 1.9 5.0 .373 2.9 4.0 .717

Season 5

Sam Lacey John Starks
Season 1974-751993-94
Team Kansas City-Omaha KingsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf SemisKnicks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Lacey 81 41.7 11.5 2.8 11.4 14.2 5.3 1.7 2.1 - 3.4 4.8 11.3 .427 - - - 1.8 2.4 .754
John Starks 59 34.9 19.0 0.6 2.5 3.1 5.9 1.6 0.1 3.1 3.2 6.9 16.6 .420 1.9 5.7 .335 3.2 4.2 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Lacey 6 44.0 9.5 2.5 13.2 15.7 5.0 2.0 1.5 - 3.2 3.8 10.2 .377 - - - 1.8 3.0 .611
John Starks 25 33.6 14.6 0.4 2.0 2.3 4.6 1.4 0.1 2.3 3.4 4.4 11.6 .381 1.9 5.3 .356 3.9 5.0 .770

Season 6

Sam Lacey John Starks
Season 1975-761994-95
Team Kansas City KingsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks 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 %
Sam Lacey 81 38.1 12.8 2.7 10.0 12.6 4.7 1.6 1.7 - 3.5 5.0 12.6 .401 - - - 2.7 3.5 .759
John Starks 80 34.1 15.3 0.4 2.3 2.7 5.1 1.2 0.1 2.0 3.2 5.2 13.3 .395 2.7 7.6 .355 2.1 2.9 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------
John Starks 11 34.5 15.6 0.2 2.1 2.3 5.2 1.2 0.1 2.4 3.6 5.3 11.7 .450 2.7 6.6 .411 2.4 3.8 .619

Season 7

Sam Lacey John Starks
Season 1976-771995-96
Team Kansas City KingsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks 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 %
Sam Lacey 82 31.6 10.6 2.3 6.6 9.0 4.7 1.5 1.6 - 3.6 4.0 9.4 .422 - - - 2.6 3.4 .762
John Starks 81 30.8 12.6 0.4 2.5 2.9 3.9 1.3 0.1 1.9 2.8 4.6 10.4 .443 1.8 4.9 .361 1.6 2.1 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------
John Starks 8 39.3 16.0 0.4 3.3 3.6 4.1 1.6 0.1 3.1 3.3 4.9 10.9 .448 2.6 5.6 .467 3.6 4.9 .744

Season 8

Sam Lacey John Starks
Season 1977-781996-97
Team Kansas City KingsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks 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 %
Sam Lacey 77 27.7 8.6 2.0 6.3 8.3 3.9 1.6 1.4 2.4 3.4 3.4 7.7 .449 - - - 1.7 2.4 .717
John Starks 77 26.5 13.8 0.5 2.2 2.7 2.8 1.2 0.1 2.1 2.5 4.8 11.1 .431 1.9 5.3 .369 2.2 2.9 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------
John Starks 9 28.3 14.0 0.8 2.7 3.4 2.8 1.1 0.0 2.2 2.8 4.9 11.0 .444 1.4 4.6 .317 2.8 3.4 .806

Season 9

Sam Lacey John Starks
Season 1978-791997-98
Team Kansas City KingsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf SemisKnicks 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 %
Sam Lacey 82 32.0 10.6 2.2 6.4 8.6 5.2 1.3 1.7 3.0 3.8 4.3 8.5 .502 - - - 2.0 2.8 .739
John Starks 82 26.7 12.9 0.6 2.2 2.8 2.7 1.0 0.1 1.7 2.5 4.5 11.5 .393 1.6 4.9 .327 2.3 2.9 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Lacey 5 35.2 9.4 3.4 6.8 10.2 4.2 1.8 2.0 3.8 4.0 3.2 8.4 .381 - - - 3.0 3.8 .789
John Starks 10 31.4 16.4 0.4 3.6 4.0 2.3 1.6 0.1 1.1 3.5 5.9 12.5 .472 2.5 5.9 .424 2.1 2.4 .875

Season 10

Sam Lacey John Starks
Season 1979-801998-99
Team Kansas City KingsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Kings 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 %
Sam Lacey 81 29.8 9.2 2.1 5.8 8.0 5.7 1.4 1.3 2.6 3.8 3.7 8.4 .448 0.0 0.0 .000 1.7 2.3 .741
John Starks 50 33.7 13.8 0.7 2.6 3.3 4.7 1.4 0.1 1.7 2.7 5.4 14.6 .370 1.6 5.4 .290 1.5 2.0 .740
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Lacey 3 33.7 6.7 2.0 5.3 7.3 4.3 2.3 0.7 2.7 3.7 2.7 7.0 .381 0.3 0.3 1.000 1.0 1.3 .750
John Starks ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Sam Lacey John Starks
Season 1980-811999-00
Team Kansas City KingsGolden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Kings 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 %
Sam Lacey 82 27.2 6.9 1.6 5.5 7.1 4.9 1.2 1.5 2.2 3.7 2.9 6.5 .442 0.0 0.1 .200 1.1 1.4 .786
John Starks 37 32.2 13.9 0.3 2.5 2.7 4.9 1.1 0.1 1.8 2.8 5.5 14.6 .375 1.6 4.6 .345 1.4 1.6 .847
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Lacey 15 35.5 10.0 2.0 6.0 8.0 5.3 1.9 1.5 2.6 4.2 4.0 9.5 .420 0.0 0.2 .000 2.0 2.3 .857
John Starks ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Sam Lacey John Starks
Season 1981-822000-01
Team Kansas City Kings, New Jersey NetsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz 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 Lacey 56 12.0 2.9 0.4 1.6 1.9 1.4 0.4 0.7 1.0 2.5 1.2 2.8 .435 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.7 .730
John Starks 75 28.3 9.3 0.4 1.7 2.1 2.4 1.0 0.1 1.3 2.9 3.6 9.1 .398 0.9 2.4 .352 1.2 1.5 .802
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------
John Starks 3 12.0 3.7 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.7 1.3 4.0 .333 0.3 1.3 .250 0.7 0.7 1.000

Season 13

Sam Lacey John Starks
Season 1982-832001-02
Team Cleveland CavaliersUtah Jazz
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 %
Sam Lacey 60 20.5 4.2 1.0 2.8 3.9 2.0 0.5 0.4 1.6 3.5 1.9 4.4 .420 0.0 0.2 .222 0.5 0.6 .784
John Starks 66 14.1 4.4 0.2 0.8 1.0 1.1 0.5 0.0 0.8 1.9 1.7 4.7 .368 0.4 1.4 .305 0.5 0.6 .805
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Lacey ------- --- ----------
John Starks ------- --- ----------