Vinnie Johnson vs. David Robinson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of David Robinson and Vinnie Johnson, 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.

Vinnie Johnson played 13 years in the NBA, 1 less than David Robinson, who played 14. Vinnie Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, 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
Vinnie Johnson 13 10 1979-80 to 1991-92
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

Vinnie Johnson David Robinson
Season 1979-801989-90
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsSpurs 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 38 8.6 3.2 0.5 0.9 1.4 1.4 0.5 0.1 1.1 1.1 1.2 3.0 .391 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.0 .795
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 %
Vinnie Johnson 5 2.4 0.4 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.6 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Vinnie Johnson David Robinson
Season 1980-811990-91
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 81 28.5 13.0 2.4 2.1 4.5 4.2 1.0 0.2 2.7 2.4 5.2 9.7 .534 0.0 0.1 .200 2.6 3.3 .793
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 %
Vinnie Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

Vinnie Johnson David Robinson
Season 1981-821991-92
Team Seattle Supersonics, Detroit PistonsSan 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 74 17.5 7.4 1.1 1.0 2.1 2.3 0.8 0.3 1.3 1.4 2.9 6.0 .489 0.0 0.2 .250 1.4 1.9 .754
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 %
Vinnie Johnson ------- --- ----------
David Robinson ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Vinnie Johnson David Robinson
Season 1982-831992-93
Team Detroit PistonsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 82 30.6 15.8 2.0 2.3 4.3 3.7 1.1 0.6 1.9 3.2 6.3 12.4 .513 0.1 0.5 .275 3.0 3.8 .778
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 %
Vinnie Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

Vinnie Johnson David Robinson
Season 1983-841993-94
Team Detroit PistonsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdSpurs 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 82 23.3 13.0 1.6 1.3 2.9 3.3 0.5 0.2 1.6 2.4 5.2 11.0 .473 0.0 0.2 .211 2.5 3.4 .753
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 %
Vinnie Johnson 5 26.4 10.2 1.0 1.8 2.8 2.4 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.8 3.4 9.2 .370 0.0 0.2 .000 3.4 3.8 .895
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

Vinnie Johnson David Robinson
Season 1984-851994-95
Team Detroit PistonsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf SemisSpurs 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 82 25.5 12.8 1.6 1.4 3.1 4.0 0.9 0.2 1.6 2.5 5.2 11.5 .454 0.1 0.3 .185 2.3 3.0 .769
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 %
Vinnie Johnson 9 26.1 14.2 1.7 1.3 3.0 3.2 0.7 0.1 1.7 2.7 5.9 11.4 .515 0.0 0.3 .000 2.4 3.1 .786
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

Vinnie Johnson David Robinson
Season 1985-861995-96
Team Detroit PistonsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 79 25.0 13.9 1.5 1.4 2.9 3.4 1.0 0.3 1.1 2.3 5.9 12.6 .467 0.0 0.2 .154 2.1 2.7 .771
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 %
Vinnie Johnson 4 21.3 12.8 2.0 2.3 4.3 2.8 0.8 0.0 1.3 2.3 5.5 12.3 .449 0.0 0.3 .000 1.8 3.3 .538
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

Vinnie Johnson David Robinson
Season 1986-871996-97
Team Detroit PistonsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 78 27.8 15.7 1.6 1.7 3.3 3.8 1.2 0.2 1.7 2.0 6.8 14.8 .462 0.1 0.2 .286 2.0 2.6 .786
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 %
Vinnie Johnson 15 25.9 14.7 1.3 1.6 2.9 4.1 0.6 0.3 1.5 2.2 6.3 13.8 .459 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 2.4 .861
David Robinson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Vinnie Johnson David Robinson
Season 1987-881997-98
Team Detroit PistonsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost NBA FinalsSpurs 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 82 23.6 12.2 1.1 1.7 2.8 3.3 0.7 0.2 1.9 2.0 5.2 11.7 .443 0.1 0.3 .208 1.8 2.6 .677
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 %
Vinnie Johnson 23 20.7 10.3 1.5 1.7 3.3 1.9 0.7 0.2 0.9 2.1 4.4 10.4 .423 0.0 0.3 .143 1.4 2.2 .660
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

Vinnie Johnson David Robinson
Season 1988-891998-99
Team Detroit PistonsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vinnie Johnson 82 25.3 13.8 1.3 1.8 3.1 3.0 0.9 0.2 1.3 1.9 5.6 12.1 .464 0.2 0.5 .295 2.4 3.2 .734
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 %
Vinnie Johnson 17 21.9 14.1 0.9 1.7 2.6 2.5 0.2 0.2 1.2 1.9 5.4 11.8 .455 0.6 1.4 .417 2.8 3.6 .758
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

Vinnie Johnson David Robinson
Season 1989-901999-00
Team Detroit PistonsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 82 24.0 9.8 1.3 1.8 3.1 3.1 0.9 0.2 1.5 1.7 4.1 9.5 .431 0.1 0.4 .147 1.6 2.4 .668
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 %
Vinnie Johnson 20 23.2 10.3 1.4 1.4 2.8 2.7 0.4 0.2 1.6 1.9 4.3 9.2 .462 0.1 0.4 .286 1.7 2.2 .791
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

Vinnie Johnson David Robinson
Season 1990-912000-01
Team Detroit PistonsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsSpurs 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 82 29.1 11.7 1.3 2.1 3.4 3.3 0.9 0.2 1.4 2.0 5.0 11.4 .434 0.1 0.4 .324 1.6 2.5 .646
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 %
Vinnie Johnson 15 29.2 15.2 2.5 2.6 5.1 2.9 0.7 0.3 1.1 2.2 6.8 14.7 .464 0.1 0.9 .154 1.5 2.1 .710
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

Vinnie Johnson David Robinson
Season 1991-922001-02
Team San Antonio SpursSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Vinnie Johnson 60 22.5 8.0 1.1 1.9 3.0 2.4 0.7 0.2 1.2 1.6 3.4 8.3 .405 0.3 1.0 .317 0.9 1.4 .647
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 %
Vinnie Johnson 3 23.0 8.3 1.0 1.7 2.7 2.3 1.7 0.3 1.7 2.3 3.7 8.0 .458 0.7 1.3 .500 0.3 0.7 .500
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

Vinnie Johnson 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 %
Vinnie Johnson ------- --- ----------
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 %
Vinnie Johnson ------- --- ----------
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