Wilt Chamberlain vs. Tom Sanders Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Tom Sanders and Wilt Chamberlain, 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.

Wilt Chamberlain played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than Tom Sanders, who played 13. Wilt Chamberlain had the first of his seasons in 1959-60, while Tom Sanders 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
Wilt Chamberlain 14 13 1959-60 to 1972-73
Tom Sanders 13 11 1960-61 to 1972-73

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Wilt Chamberlain Tom Sanders
Season 1959-601960-61
Team Philadelphia WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 72 46.4 37.6 - - 27.0 2.3 - - - 2.1 14.8 32.1 .461 - - - 8.0 13.8 .582
Tom Sanders 68 15.9 5.3 - - 5.7 0.6 - - - 1.9 2.2 5.2 .420 - - - 1.0 1.5 .670
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 9 46.1 33.2 - - 25.8 2.1 - - - 1.9 13.9 28.0 .496 - - - 5.4 12.2 .445
Tom Sanders 10 21.6 8.9 - - 8.4 0.7 - - - 4.2 3.7 7.5 .493 - - - 1.5 2.4 .625

Season 2

Wilt Chamberlain Tom Sanders
Season 1960-611961-62
Team Philadelphia WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div 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 %
Wilt Chamberlain 79 47.8 38.4 - - 27.2 1.9 - - - 1.6 15.8 31.1 .509 - - - 6.7 13.3 .504
Tom Sanders 80 29.1 11.2 - - 9.5 0.9 - - - 3.5 4.4 10.1 .435 - - - 2.5 3.3 .749
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 3 48.0 37.0 - - 23.0 2.0 - - - 3.3 15.0 32.0 .469 - - - 7.0 12.7 .553
Tom Sanders 14 31.4 10.1 - - 8.2 1.0 - - - 4.6 4.0 9.3 .431 - - - 2.1 2.6 .806

Season 3

Wilt Chamberlain Tom Sanders
Season 1961-621962-63
Team Philadelphia WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 80 48.5 50.4 - - 25.7 2.4 - - - 1.5 20.0 39.5 .506 - - - 10.4 17.0 .613
Tom Sanders 80 26.9 10.8 - - 7.2 1.2 - - - 3.3 4.2 9.3 .456 - - - 2.3 3.2 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 12 48.0 35.0 - - 26.6 3.1 - - - 2.3 13.5 28.9 .467 - - - 8.0 12.6 .636
Tom Sanders 13 29.8 9.8 - - 7.4 1.5 - - - 4.7 4.0 9.2 .437 - - - 1.8 2.4 .774

Season 4

Wilt Chamberlain Tom Sanders
Season 1962-631963-64
Team San Francisco WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 80 47.6 44.8 - - 24.3 3.4 - - - 1.7 18.3 34.6 .528 - - - 8.3 13.9 .593
Tom Sanders 80 29.6 11.4 - - 8.3 1.3 - - - 3.5 4.4 10.5 .417 - - - 2.7 3.5 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain ------- --- ----------
Tom Sanders 10 30.2 9.1 - - 6.8 0.6 - - - 4.5 3.4 9.4 .362 - - - 2.3 3.4 .676

Season 5

Wilt Chamberlain Tom Sanders
Season 1963-641964-65
Team San Francisco WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 80 46.1 36.9 - - 22.3 5.0 - - - 2.3 15.1 28.7 .524 - - - 6.8 12.7 .531
Tom Sanders 80 30.7 11.8 - - 8.3 1.2 - - - 4.0 4.7 10.9 .429 - - - 2.4 3.2 .745
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 12 46.5 34.7 - - 25.2 3.3 - - - 2.3 14.6 26.8 .543 - - - 5.5 11.6 .475
Tom Sanders 12 30.4 13.3 - - 8.5 1.6 - - - 4.8 5.3 12.7 .421 - - - 2.6 3.6 .721

Season 6

Wilt Chamberlain Tom Sanders
Season 1964-651965-66
Team San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 73 45.2 34.7 - - 22.9 3.4 - - - 2.0 14.6 28.5 .510 - - - 5.6 12.1 .464
Tom Sanders 72 26.3 12.6 - - 7.1 1.3 - - - 4.4 4.8 11.3 .428 - - - 2.9 3.8 .764
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 11 48.7 29.3 - - 27.2 4.4 - - - 2.6 11.2 21.1 .530 - - - 6.9 12.4 .559
Tom Sanders 17 29.4 13.5 - - 6.5 1.6 - - - 4.1 5.7 11.8 .483 - - - 2.1 2.8 .750

Season 7

Wilt Chamberlain Tom Sanders
Season 1965-661966-67
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div FinalsCeltics Lost East Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 79 47.3 33.5 - - 24.6 5.2 - - - 2.2 13.6 25.2 .540 - - - 6.3 12.4 .513
Tom Sanders 81 23.8 10.2 - - 5.4 1.1 - - - 3.8 4.0 9.3 .428 - - - 2.2 2.7 .817
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 5 48.0 28.0 - - 30.2 3.0 - - - 2.0 11.2 22.0 .509 - - - 5.6 13.6 .412
Tom Sanders 9 16.0 4.9 - - 4.8 0.6 - - - 3.4 2.3 6.8 .344 - - - 0.2 0.6 .400

Season 8

Wilt Chamberlain Tom Sanders
Season 1966-671967-68
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Wilt Chamberlain 81 45.5 24.1 - - 24.2 7.8 - - - 1.8 9.7 14.2 .683 - - - 4.8 10.8 .441
Tom Sanders 78 25.4 10.2 - - 5.8 1.3 - - - 3.8 3.8 8.9 .428 - - - 2.6 3.3 .784
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 15 47.9 21.7 - - 29.1 9.0 - - - 2.5 8.8 15.2 .579 - - - 4.1 10.7 .388
Tom Sanders 14 20.6 8.3 - - 4.5 0.9 - - - 3.8 3.6 7.1 .505 - - - 1.1 1.5 .762

Season 9

Wilt Chamberlain Tom Sanders
Season 1967-681968-69
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 82 46.8 24.3 - - 23.8 8.6 - - - 2.0 10.0 16.8 .595 - - - 4.3 11.4 .380
Tom Sanders 82 26.6 11.2 - - 7.0 1.3 - - - 3.6 4.4 10.3 .430 - - - 2.3 3.1 .733
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 13 48.5 23.7 - - 24.7 6.5 - - - 2.2 9.5 17.8 .534 - - - 4.6 12.2 .380
Tom Sanders 15 13.1 5.8 - - 3.2 0.5 - - - 2.7 2.1 4.9 .438 - - - 1.5 2.1 .742

Season 10

Wilt Chamberlain Tom Sanders
Season 1968-691969-70
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 81 45.3 20.5 - - 21.1 4.5 - - - 1.8 7.9 13.6 .583 - - - 4.7 10.6 .446
Tom Sanders 57 28.4 11.5 - - 5.5 1.6 - - - 3.5 4.3 9.7 .443 - - - 2.8 3.2 .880
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 18 46.2 13.9 - - 24.7 2.6 - - - 3.1 5.3 9.8 .545 - - - 3.2 8.2 .392
Tom Sanders ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Wilt Chamberlain Tom Sanders
Season 1969-701970-71
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 12 42.1 27.3 - - 18.4 4.1 - - - 2.6 10.8 18.9 .568 - - - 5.8 13.1 .446
Tom Sanders 17 7.1 2.3 - - 1.0 0.6 - - - 1.5 0.9 2.6 .364 - - - 0.4 0.5 .875
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 18 47.3 22.1 - - 22.2 4.5 - - - 2.3 8.8 16.0 .549 - - - 4.6 11.2 .406
Tom Sanders ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Wilt Chamberlain Tom Sanders
Season 1970-711971-72
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics 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 %
Wilt Chamberlain 82 44.3 20.7 - - 18.2 4.3 - - - 2.1 8.1 15.0 .545 - - - 4.4 8.2 .538
Tom Sanders 82 19.9 6.6 - - 4.3 1.2 - - - 3.1 2.6 6.4 .410 - - - 1.4 1.7 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 12 46.2 18.3 - - 20.2 4.4 - - - 2.8 7.1 15.6 .455 - - - 4.2 8.1 .515
Tom Sanders 11 16.9 4.3 - - 2.4 0.9 - - - 3.3 1.5 4.8 .321 - - - 1.2 1.9 .619

Season 13

Wilt Chamberlain Tom Sanders
Season 1971-721972-73
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 %
Wilt Chamberlain 82 42.3 14.8 - - 19.2 4.0 - - - 2.4 6.0 9.3 .649 - - - 2.7 6.4 .422
Tom Sanders 59 7.2 2.0 - - 1.5 0.5 - - - 1.4 0.8 2.5 .315 - - - 0.4 0.6 .657
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 15 46.9 14.7 - - 21.0 3.3 - - - 3.1 5.3 9.5 .563 - - - 4.0 8.1 .492
Tom Sanders 5 4.8 2.0 - - 1.0 0.2 - - - 1.4 1.0 1.8 .556 - - - 0.0 0.4 .000

Season 14

Wilt Chamberlain Tom Sanders
Season 1972-73-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Wilt Chamberlain 82 43.2 13.2 - - 18.6 4.5 - - - 2.3 5.2 7.1 .727 - - - 2.8 5.5 .510
Tom Sanders ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wilt Chamberlain 17 47.1 10.4 - - 22.5 3.5 - - - 2.8 3.8 6.8 .552 - - - 2.9 5.8 .500
Tom Sanders ------- --- ----------