Carmelo Anthony vs. James Harden Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Harden and Carmelo Anthony, 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.

Carmelo Anthony played 19 years in the NBA, 4 more than James Harden, who played 15. Carmelo Anthony had the first of his seasons in 2003-04, while James Harden had his rookie season in 2009-10. 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
Carmelo Anthony 19 13 2003-04 to 2021-22
James Harden 15 15 2009-10 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19

Rookie Season

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2003-042009-10
Team Denver NuggetsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdThunder 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 %
Carmelo Anthony 82 36.5 21.0 2.2 3.8 6.1 2.8 1.2 0.5 3.0 2.7 7.6 17.9 .426 0.8 2.6 .322 5.0 6.4 .777
James Harden 76 22.9 9.9 0.6 2.6 3.2 1.8 1.1 0.3 1.4 2.6 3.1 7.6 .403 1.2 3.3 .375 2.6 3.2 .808
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony 4 36.3 15.0 1.8 6.5 8.3 2.8 1.3 0.0 4.3 2.8 5.3 16.0 .328 0.5 2.8 .182 4.0 5.0 .800
James Harden 6 20.0 7.7 0.2 2.3 2.5 1.8 1.0 0.2 0.5 2.3 2.0 5.2 .387 1.0 2.7 .375 2.7 3.2 .842

Season 2

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2004-052010-11
Team Denver NuggetsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdThunder 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 %
Carmelo Anthony 75 34.8 20.8 1.9 3.8 5.7 2.6 0.9 0.4 3.0 3.1 7.1 16.4 .431 0.6 2.1 .266 6.1 7.6 .796
James Harden 82 26.7 12.2 0.5 2.6 3.1 2.1 1.1 0.3 1.3 2.5 3.6 8.3 .436 1.4 4.0 .349 3.5 4.2 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony 5 36.2 19.2 2.8 2.6 5.4 2.0 0.6 0.2 2.6 4.0 7.0 16.6 .422 0.0 0.2 .000 5.2 6.4 .813
James Harden 17 31.6 13.0 0.6 4.8 5.4 3.6 1.2 0.8 1.6 2.8 3.9 8.2 .475 1.4 4.5 .303 3.9 4.7 .825

Season 3

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2005-062011-12
Team Denver NuggetsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdThunder Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony 80 36.8 26.5 1.5 3.4 4.9 2.7 1.1 0.5 2.7 2.9 9.5 19.7 .481 0.5 1.9 .243 7.2 8.9 .808
James Harden 62 31.4 16.8 0.5 3.6 4.1 3.7 1.0 0.2 2.2 2.4 5.0 10.1 .491 1.8 4.7 .390 5.0 6.0 .846
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony 5 38.6 21.0 2.4 4.2 6.6 2.8 0.8 0.2 3.0 4.0 6.6 19.8 .333 0.0 0.8 .000 7.8 10.4 .750
James Harden 20 31.5 16.3 0.7 4.5 5.1 3.4 1.6 0.1 2.1 3.4 4.7 10.7 .435 1.6 3.9 .410 5.4 6.3 .857

Season 4

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2006-072012-13
Team Denver NuggetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third TeamAchievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets 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 %
Carmelo Anthony 65 38.2 28.9 2.2 3.8 6.0 3.8 1.2 0.4 3.6 3.1 10.6 22.4 .476 0.6 2.3 .268 7.1 8.7 .808
James Harden 78 38.3 25.9 0.8 4.1 4.9 5.8 1.8 0.5 3.8 2.3 7.5 17.1 .438 2.3 6.2 .368 8.6 10.2 .851
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony 5 42.0 26.8 3.6 5.0 8.6 1.2 1.0 0.0 3.8 2.4 9.4 19.6 .480 1.8 3.6 .500 6.2 7.8 .795
James Harden 6 40.5 26.3 0.8 5.8 6.7 4.5 2.0 1.0 4.5 3.0 7.5 19.2 .391 2.5 7.3 .341 8.8 11.0 .803

Season 5

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2007-082013-14
Team Denver NuggetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets 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 %
Carmelo Anthony 77 36.4 25.7 2.3 5.1 7.4 3.4 1.3 0.5 3.3 3.3 9.5 19.2 .492 0.8 2.1 .354 6.0 7.7 .786
James Harden 73 38.0 25.4 0.8 3.9 4.7 6.1 1.6 0.4 3.6 2.4 7.5 16.5 .456 2.4 6.6 .366 7.9 9.1 .866
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony 4 36.5 22.5 4.8 4.8 9.5 2.0 0.5 0.3 3.0 4.3 8.0 22.0 .364 0.5 2.0 .250 6.0 7.3 .828
James Harden 6 43.8 26.8 0.8 3.8 4.7 5.8 2.0 0.2 3.5 3.5 8.3 22.2 .376 2.7 9.0 .296 7.5 8.3 .900

Season 6

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2008-092014-15
Team Denver NuggetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf FinalsRockets 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 %
Carmelo Anthony 66 34.5 22.8 1.6 5.2 6.8 3.4 1.1 0.4 3.0 3.0 8.1 18.3 .443 1.0 2.6 .371 5.6 7.1 .793
James Harden 81 36.8 27.4 0.9 4.7 5.7 7.0 1.9 0.7 4.0 2.6 8.0 18.1 .440 2.6 6.9 .375 8.8 10.2 .868
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony 16 38.3 27.2 1.6 4.2 5.8 4.1 1.8 0.6 2.3 3.8 9.1 20.1 .453 1.5 4.1 .364 7.4 9.0 .826
James Harden 17 37.4 27.2 0.7 5.0 5.7 7.5 1.6 0.4 4.5 2.9 7.6 17.3 .439 2.4 6.3 .383 9.6 10.5 .916

Season 7

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2009-102015-16
Team Denver NuggetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets 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 %
Carmelo Anthony 69 38.2 28.2 2.2 4.4 6.6 3.2 1.3 0.4 3.0 3.3 10.0 21.8 .458 0.9 2.7 .316 7.4 8.9 .830
James Harden 82 38.1 29.0 0.8 5.3 6.1 7.5 1.7 0.6 4.6 2.8 8.7 19.7 .439 2.9 8.0 .359 8.8 10.2 .860
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony 6 42.3 30.7 2.3 6.2 8.5 3.3 2.0 0.5 3.5 4.3 10.7 23.0 .464 1.0 3.2 .316 8.3 9.5 .877
James Harden 5 38.6 26.6 1.4 3.8 5.2 7.6 2.4 0.2 5.2 2.6 8.2 20.0 .410 2.6 8.4 .310 7.6 9.0 .844

Season 8

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2010-112016-17
Team Denver Nuggets, New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets 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 %
Carmelo Anthony 77 35.7 25.6 1.5 5.8 7.3 2.9 0.9 0.6 2.7 2.9 8.9 19.5 .455 1.2 3.3 .378 6.6 7.9 .838
James Harden 81 36.4 29.1 1.2 7.0 8.1 11.2 1.5 0.5 5.7 2.7 8.3 18.9 .440 3.2 9.3 .347 9.2 10.9 .847
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony 4 39.0 26.0 3.3 7.0 10.3 4.8 1.3 0.8 3.3 4.0 8.3 22.0 .375 2.3 6.5 .346 7.3 8.5 .853
James Harden 11 37.0 28.5 0.6 4.8 5.5 8.5 1.9 0.5 5.4 3.9 8.2 19.8 .413 2.9 10.5 .278 9.2 10.5 .878

Season 9

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2011-122017-18
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets 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 %
Carmelo Anthony 55 34.1 22.6 1.6 4.7 6.3 3.6 1.1 0.4 2.6 2.8 8.0 18.6 .430 1.2 3.7 .335 5.4 6.7 .804
James Harden 72 35.4 30.4 0.6 4.8 5.4 8.8 1.8 0.7 4.4 2.3 9.0 20.1 .449 3.7 10.0 .367 8.7 10.1 .858
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony 5 40.8 27.8 2.6 5.6 8.2 2.2 1.2 0.2 2.8 4.2 10.4 24.8 .419 0.8 3.6 .222 6.2 8.2 .756
James Harden 17 36.5 28.6 0.8 4.4 5.2 6.8 2.2 0.6 3.8 2.7 9.3 22.6 .410 3.1 10.2 .299 6.9 7.8 .887

Season 10

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2012-132018-19
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Scoring LeaderAchievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisRockets 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 %
Carmelo Anthony 67 37.0 28.7 2.0 4.9 6.9 2.6 0.8 0.5 2.6 3.1 10.0 22.2 .449 2.3 6.2 .379 6.3 7.6 .830
James Harden 78 36.8 36.1 0.8 5.8 6.6 7.5 2.0 0.7 5.0 3.1 10.8 24.5 .442 4.8 13.2 .368 9.7 11.0 .879
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony 12 40.1 28.8 0.9 5.7 6.6 1.6 1.1 0.2 2.6 3.8 10.5 25.8 .406 1.4 4.8 .298 6.4 7.3 .885
James Harden 11 38.5 31.6 0.8 6.0 6.8 6.6 2.2 0.9 4.6 3.7 9.9 24.0 .413 4.4 12.5 .350 7.5 8.9 .837

Season 11

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2013-142019-20
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Carmelo Anthony 77 38.7 27.4 1.9 6.2 8.1 3.1 1.2 0.7 2.6 2.9 9.6 21.3 .452 2.2 5.4 .402 6.0 7.0 .848
James Harden 68 36.5 34.3 1.0 5.5 6.6 7.5 1.8 0.9 4.5 3.3 9.9 22.3 .444 4.4 12.4 .355 10.2 11.8 .865
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony ------- --- ----------
James Harden 12 37.3 29.6 1.0 4.6 5.6 7.7 1.5 0.8 3.8 3.6 9.1 19.0 .478 3.3 9.8 .333 8.2 9.7 .845

Season 12

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2014-152020-21
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets 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 %
Carmelo Anthony 40 35.7 24.2 1.8 4.8 6.6 3.1 1.0 0.4 2.2 2.2 9.0 20.2 .444 1.5 4.5 .341 4.7 5.9 .797
James Harden 44 36.6 24.6 0.8 7.1 7.9 10.8 1.2 0.8 4.0 2.3 7.8 16.7 .466 2.8 7.6 .362 6.3 7.3 .861
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony ------- --- ----------
James Harden 9 35.8 20.2 0.8 5.6 6.3 8.6 1.7 0.7 2.9 2.6 5.7 12.0 .472 2.7 7.3 .364 6.2 6.9 .903

Season 13

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2015-162021-22
Team New York KnicksBrooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers 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 %
Carmelo Anthony 72 35.1 21.8 1.4 6.4 7.7 4.2 0.9 0.5 2.4 2.5 7.9 18.2 .434 1.5 4.3 .339 4.6 5.6 .829
James Harden 65 37.2 22.0 0.8 6.8 7.7 10.3 1.3 0.6 4.4 2.4 6.3 15.3 .410 2.3 6.9 .330 7.2 8.2 .877
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony ------- --- ----------
James Harden 12 39.9 18.6 0.9 4.8 5.7 8.6 0.8 0.7 4.2 2.4 5.3 13.2 .405 2.3 6.3 .368 5.6 6.3 .893

Season 14

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2016-172022-23
Team New York KnicksPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers 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 %
Carmelo Anthony 74 34.3 22.4 0.8 5.1 5.9 2.9 0.8 0.5 2.1 2.7 8.1 18.8 .433 2.0 5.7 .359 4.1 4.9 .833
James Harden 58 36.8 21.0 0.7 5.4 6.1 10.7 1.2 0.5 3.4 1.9 6.4 14.5 .441 2.8 7.2 .385 5.4 6.2 .867
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony ------- --- ----------
James Harden 11 38.8 20.3 0.5 5.6 6.2 8.3 1.8 0.4 3.2 2.5 6.5 16.6 .393 2.8 7.5 .378 4.4 5.0 .873

Season 15

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2017-182023-24
Team Oklahoma City ThunderLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf 1st RdClippers 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 %
Carmelo Anthony 78 32.1 16.2 0.9 4.9 5.8 1.3 0.6 0.6 1.3 2.5 6.1 15.0 .404 2.2 6.1 .357 1.9 2.5 .767
James Harden 72 34.3 16.6 0.5 4.7 5.1 8.5 1.1 0.8 2.6 1.8 4.9 11.4 .428 2.6 6.8 .381 4.2 4.8 .878
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony 6 32.3 11.8 0.5 5.2 5.7 0.3 1.7 0.7 1.0 2.3 4.5 12.0 .375 1.0 4.7 .214 1.8 2.5 .733
James Harden 6 40.3 21.2 0.5 4.0 4.5 8.0 1.0 1.0 2.3 2.2 6.7 14.8 .449 3.0 7.8 .383 4.8 5.3 .906

Season 16

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2018-19-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony 10 29.4 13.4 0.9 4.5 5.4 0.5 0.4 0.7 0.8 3.2 4.9 12.1 .405 2.1 6.4 .328 1.5 2.2 .682
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony ------- --- ----------
James Harden ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2019-20-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Carmelo Anthony 58 32.8 15.4 1.2 5.1 6.3 1.5 0.8 0.5 1.7 2.9 5.8 13.5 .430 1.5 3.9 .385 2.3 2.8 .845
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony 5 35.2 15.2 0.2 4.8 5.0 2.0 1.0 0.4 2.6 4.0 5.6 13.6 .412 1.6 3.8 .421 2.4 2.8 .857
James Harden ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2020-21-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Carmelo Anthony 69 24.5 13.4 0.5 2.6 3.1 1.5 0.7 0.6 0.9 2.1 4.7 11.3 .421 1.9 4.7 .409 2.0 2.2 .890
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony 6 23.8 12.3 0.3 2.8 3.2 1.5 0.3 0.2 1.2 2.5 4.2 10.0 .417 2.3 6.2 .378 1.7 1.8 .909
James Harden ------- --- ----------

Season 19

Carmelo Anthony James Harden
Season 2021-22-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony 69 26.0 13.3 0.9 3.3 4.2 1.0 0.7 0.8 0.9 2.4 4.6 10.5 .441 2.2 5.8 .375 1.9 2.3 .830
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Carmelo Anthony ------- --- ----------
James Harden ------- --- ----------