Sam Mitchell vs. Gary Payton Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gary Payton and Sam Mitchell, 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 Mitchell played 13 years in the NBA, 4 less than Gary Payton, who played 17. Sam Mitchell had the first of his seasons in 1989-90, 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 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 Mitchell 13 9 1989-90 to 2001-02
Gary Payton 17 15 1990-91 to 2006-07

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Sam Mitchell Gary Payton
Season 1989-901990-91
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 Mitchell 80 30.2 12.7 2.3 3.5 5.8 1.1 0.8 0.7 1.2 3.8 4.7 10.4 .446 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.4 .768
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------
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

Sam Mitchell Gary Payton
Season 1990-911991-92
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 Mitchell 82 38.1 14.6 2.3 4.0 6.3 1.6 0.8 0.7 1.3 4.1 5.4 12.3 .441 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 4.8 .775
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------
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

Season 3

Sam Mitchell Gary Payton
Season 1991-921992-93
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 Mitchell 82 26.2 10.1 1.9 3.8 5.8 1.1 0.6 0.5 1.2 2.8 3.7 8.8 .423 0.0 0.1 .182 2.5 3.2 .786
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------
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

Sam Mitchell Gary Payton
Season 1992-931993-94
Team Indiana PacersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 Mitchell 81 17.3 7.2 1.1 1.9 3.1 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.6 2.6 2.7 6.0 .445 0.0 0.3 .174 1.9 2.3 .811
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Mitchell 4 6.3 3.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.3 2.0 .625 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.5 1.000
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

Sam Mitchell Gary Payton
Season 1993-941994-95
Team Indiana PacersSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf FinalsSupersonics 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 Mitchell 75 14.5 4.8 0.9 1.6 2.5 0.9 0.4 0.1 0.7 2.0 1.9 4.1 .458 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.5 .745
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Mitchell 15 6.6 1.4 0.3 0.8 1.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.3 1.5 0.6 1.7 .346 0.0 0.1 .000 0.2 0.3 .750
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

Sam Mitchell Gary Payton
Season 1994-951995-96
Team Indiana PacersSeattle 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 Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf FinalsSupersonics 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 Mitchell 81 17.0 6.5 1.2 1.8 3.0 0.8 0.5 0.2 0.7 2.5 2.5 5.1 .487 0.0 0.1 .100 1.6 2.1 .724
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Mitchell 17 13.1 4.0 1.0 1.8 2.8 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.8 2.4 1.4 3.8 .359 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 1.6 .786
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

Sam Mitchell Gary Payton
Season 1995-961996-97
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 Mitchell 78 27.5 10.8 1.4 3.0 4.3 0.9 0.6 0.3 1.1 2.8 3.9 7.9 .490 0.0 0.2 .056 3.0 3.7 .814
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------
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

Sam Mitchell Gary Payton
Season 1996-971997-98
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 Mitchell 82 24.9 9.3 1.4 2.6 4.0 1.0 0.6 0.2 1.1 2.8 3.3 7.4 .446 0.0 0.3 .160 2.7 3.6 .759
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Mitchell 3 15.7 5.7 0.7 1.7 2.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 3.0 2.0 4.3 .462 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.7 .625
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

Sam Mitchell Gary Payton
Season 1997-981998-99
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Timberwolves 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 Mitchell 81 27.6 12.3 1.5 3.3 4.8 1.3 0.8 0.3 0.8 2.5 4.6 9.9 .464 0.2 0.5 .349 3.0 3.6 .832
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Mitchell 5 35.8 14.4 1.4 4.0 5.4 1.6 0.2 0.2 1.0 3.6 5.2 11.6 .448 0.6 2.8 .214 3.4 3.8 .895
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Sam Mitchell Gary Payton
Season 1998-991999-00
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 Mitchell 50 26.9 11.2 1.1 2.5 3.6 2.0 0.7 0.3 0.7 2.2 4.3 10.4 .408 0.2 0.8 .237 2.5 3.3 .764
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Mitchell 4 32.8 10.0 1.3 2.3 3.5 1.5 0.3 0.5 2.0 3.3 3.8 10.0 .375 0.3 1.5 .167 2.3 3.0 .750
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

Season 11

Sam Mitchell Gary Payton
Season 1999-002000-01
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves 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 Mitchell 66 18.6 6.5 0.4 1.7 2.1 1.7 0.4 0.2 0.7 1.8 2.5 5.7 .447 0.2 0.3 .435 1.2 1.4 .880
Gary Payton 79 41.1 23.1 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.1 1.6 0.3 2.6 2.3 9.2 20.1 .456 1.3 3.4 .375 3.4 4.5 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Mitchell 4 17.0 5.8 0.5 1.3 1.8 0.5 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.3 2.3 4.5 .500 0.5 1.3 .400 0.8 0.8 1.000
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Sam Mitchell Gary Payton
Season 2000-012001-02
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 Mitchell 82 12.0 3.5 0.3 1.2 1.5 0.7 0.3 0.1 0.4 1.4 1.4 3.5 .408 0.1 0.5 .209 0.5 0.7 .727
Gary Payton 82 40.3 22.1 1.0 3.9 4.8 9.0 1.6 0.3 2.5 2.2 9.0 19.2 .467 0.9 2.9 .314 3.3 4.1 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Mitchell 4 12.5 1.5 0.3 1.5 1.8 0.8 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.3 0.5 2.5 .200 0.0 0.3 .000 0.5 0.5 1.000
Gary Payton 5 41.2 22.2 2.0 6.6 8.6 5.8 0.6 0.4 2.6 2.4 9.0 21.2 .425 0.8 3.0 .267 3.4 5.8 .586

Season 13

Sam Mitchell Gary Payton
Season 2001-022002-03
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSeattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdBucks 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 Mitchell 74 9.8 3.3 0.2 0.9 1.1 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.4 1.1 1.3 3.1 .432 0.1 0.5 .286 0.5 0.7 .776
Gary Payton 80 40.1 20.4 1.0 3.2 4.2 8.3 1.7 0.3 2.3 2.3 8.3 18.3 .454 0.7 2.3 .297 3.1 4.4 .710
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Mitchell 3 11.3 2.7 0.0 0.7 0.7 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 1.7 1.0 3.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000
Gary Payton 6 41.8 18.5 0.7 2.3 3.0 8.7 1.3 0.2 2.2 3.0 8.0 18.7 .429 0.2 2.5 .067 2.3 3.3 .700

Season 14

Sam Mitchell Gary Payton
Season -2003-04
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Lakers 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 Mitchell ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 82 34.5 14.6 0.9 3.3 4.2 5.5 1.2 0.2 1.8 2.1 5.9 12.5 .471 0.7 2.0 .333 2.2 3.1 .714
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 22 35.0 7.8 0.9 2.4 3.3 5.3 1.0 0.2 1.3 2.7 3.1 8.5 .366 0.6 2.5 .250 1.0 1.3 .750

Season 15

Sam Mitchell Gary Payton
Season -2004-05
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Celtics 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 Mitchell ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 77 33.0 11.3 0.6 2.4 3.1 6.1 1.1 0.2 1.9 1.6 4.4 9.4 .468 0.5 1.7 .326 2.0 2.6 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 7 34.1 10.3 1.1 3.0 4.1 4.6 0.9 0.1 1.6 1.4 4.7 10.6 .446 0.1 2.0 .071 0.7 0.9 .833

Season 16

Sam Mitchell Gary Payton
Season -2005-06
Team -Miami Heat
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 Mitchell ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 81 28.5 7.7 0.4 2.5 2.9 3.2 0.9 0.1 1.3 2.1 2.8 6.8 .420 0.8 2.8 .287 1.2 1.6 .794
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 23 24.3 5.8 0.3 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.0 0.1 0.8 2.4 2.1 5.0 .422 0.7 2.5 .293 0.8 1.1 .720

Season 17

Sam Mitchell Gary Payton
Season -2006-07
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Heat 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 Mitchell ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 68 22.1 5.3 0.3 1.7 1.9 3.0 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.7 2.1 5.4 .393 0.5 1.8 .260 0.6 0.8 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Mitchell ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 2 16.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 1.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -