Charles Barkley vs. James Harden Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Harden and Charles Barkley, 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.

Charles Barkley played 16 years in the NBA, 1 more than James Harden, who played 15. Charles Barkley had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, 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
Charles Barkley 16 13 1984-85 to 1999-00
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

Rookie Season
Charles Barkley James Harden
Season 1984-852009-10
Team Philadelphia 76ersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsThunder 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 %
Charles Barkley 82 28.6 14.0 3.2 5.3 8.6 1.9 1.2 1.0 2.5 3.7 5.2 9.5 .545 0.0 0.1 .167 3.6 4.9 .733
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 %
Charles Barkley 13 31.4 14.9 4.0 7.1 11.1 2.0 1.8 1.2 2.7 3.8 5.8 10.7 .540 0.3 0.5 .667 3.1 4.8 .635
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
Charles Barkley James Harden
Season 1985-862010-11
Team Philadelphia 76ersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisThunder 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 %
Charles Barkley 80 36.9 20.0 4.4 8.4 12.8 3.9 2.2 1.6 4.4 4.2 7.4 13.0 .572 0.2 0.9 .227 5.0 7.2 .685
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 %
Charles Barkley 12 41.4 25.0 5.0 10.8 15.8 5.6 2.3 1.3 5.4 4.3 8.7 15.0 .578 0.1 1.3 .067 7.6 10.9 .695
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
Charles Barkley James Harden
Season 1986-872011-12
Team Philadelphia 76ersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East 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 %
Charles Barkley 68 40.3 23.0 5.7 8.9 14.6 4.9 1.8 1.5 4.7 3.7 8.2 13.8 .594 0.3 1.5 .202 6.3 8.3 .761
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 %
Charles Barkley 5 42.0 24.6 5.4 7.2 12.6 2.4 0.8 1.6 4.4 4.2 8.6 15.0 .573 0.2 1.6 .125 7.2 9.0 .800
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
Charles Barkley James Harden
Season 1987-882012-13
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Charles Barkley 80 39.6 28.3 4.8 7.1 11.9 3.2 1.3 1.3 3.8 3.5 9.4 16.0 .587 0.6 2.0 .280 8.9 11.9 .751
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 %
Charles Barkley ------- --- ----------
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
Charles Barkley James Harden
Season 1988-892013-14
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East 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 %
Charles Barkley 79 39.1 25.8 5.1 7.4 12.5 4.1 1.6 0.8 3.2 3.3 8.9 15.3 .579 0.4 2.1 .216 7.6 10.1 .753
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 %
Charles Barkley 3 45.0 27.0 2.7 9.0 11.7 5.3 1.7 0.7 3.7 3.0 9.7 15.0 .644 0.3 1.7 .200 7.3 10.3 .710
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
Charles Barkley James Harden
Season 1989-902014-15
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisRockets 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 %
Charles Barkley 79 39.1 25.2 4.6 6.9 11.5 3.9 1.9 0.6 3.1 3.2 8.9 14.9 .600 0.3 1.2 .217 7.1 9.4 .749
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 %
Charles Barkley 10 41.9 24.7 6.6 8.9 15.5 4.3 0.8 0.7 3.0 3.6 8.8 16.2 .543 0.6 1.8 .333 6.5 10.8 .602
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
Charles Barkley James Harden
Season 1990-912015-16
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisRockets 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 %
Charles Barkley 67 37.3 27.6 3.9 6.3 10.1 4.2 1.6 0.5 3.1 2.6 9.9 17.4 .570 0.7 2.3 .284 7.1 9.8 .722
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 %
Charles Barkley 8 40.8 24.9 3.9 6.6 10.5 6.0 1.9 0.4 3.1 2.9 9.3 15.6 .592 0.3 2.5 .100 6.1 9.4 .653
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
Charles Barkley James Harden
Season 1991-922016-17
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Assists 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 %
Charles Barkley 75 38.4 23.1 3.6 7.5 11.1 4.1 1.8 0.6 3.1 2.6 8.3 15.0 .552 0.4 1.8 .234 6.1 8.7 .695
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 %
Charles Barkley ------- --- ----------
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
Charles Barkley James Harden
Season 1992-932017-18
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVPAchievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost NBA 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 %
Charles Barkley 76 37.6 25.6 3.1 9.1 12.2 5.1 1.6 1.0 3.1 2.6 9.4 18.1 .520 0.9 2.9 .305 5.9 7.7 .765
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 %
Charles Barkley 24 42.8 26.6 3.9 9.7 13.6 4.3 1.6 1.0 2.1 3.0 9.6 20.1 .477 0.4 1.9 .222 7.0 9.1 .771
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
Charles Barkley James Harden
Season 1993-942018-19
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West 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 %
Charles Barkley 65 35.4 21.6 3.0 8.1 11.2 4.6 1.6 0.6 3.2 2.5 8.0 16.1 .495 0.7 2.7 .270 4.9 7.0 .704
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 %
Charles Barkley 10 42.5 27.6 3.4 9.6 13.0 4.8 2.5 0.9 2.7 2.6 11.0 21.6 .509 1.4 4.0 .350 4.2 5.5 .764
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
Charles Barkley James Harden
Season 1994-952019-20
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West 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 %
Charles Barkley 68 35.0 23.0 3.0 8.1 11.1 4.1 1.6 0.7 2.2 3.0 8.1 16.8 .486 1.1 3.2 .338 5.6 7.5 .748
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 %
Charles Barkley 10 39.0 25.7 3.9 9.5 13.4 3.2 1.3 1.1 2.5 2.8 9.1 18.2 .500 0.9 3.5 .257 6.6 9.0 .733
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
Charles Barkley James Harden
Season 1995-962020-21
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdNets 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 %
Charles Barkley 71 37.1 23.2 3.4 8.1 11.6 3.7 1.6 0.8 3.1 2.9 8.2 16.3 .500 0.7 2.5 .280 6.2 8.0 .777
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 %
Charles Barkley 4 41.0 25.5 4.5 9.0 13.5 3.8 1.0 1.0 1.5 3.8 7.8 17.5 .443 0.8 3.0 .250 9.3 11.8 .787
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
Charles Barkley James Harden
Season 1996-972021-22
Team Houston RocketsBrooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf Finals76ers 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 %
Charles Barkley 53 37.9 19.2 4.0 9.5 13.5 4.7 1.3 0.5 2.8 2.9 6.3 13.1 .484 1.1 3.9 .283 5.4 7.8 .694
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 %
Charles Barkley 16 37.9 17.9 4.0 8.0 12.0 3.4 1.2 0.4 2.7 3.3 5.4 12.4 .434 0.7 2.4 .289 6.4 8.4 .769
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
Charles Barkley James Harden
Season 1997-982022-23
Team Houston RocketsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd76ers 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 %
Charles Barkley 68 33.0 15.2 3.5 8.1 11.7 3.2 1.0 0.4 2.2 2.8 5.3 10.9 .485 0.3 1.2 .214 4.4 5.8 .746
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 %
Charles Barkley 4 22.0 9.0 1.3 4.0 5.3 1.0 1.3 0.0 1.5 3.0 3.0 5.8 .522 0.0 0.5 .000 3.0 5.3 .571
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
Charles Barkley James Harden
Season 1998-992023-24
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Charles Barkley 42 36.3 16.1 4.0 8.3 12.3 4.6 1.0 0.3 2.4 2.1 5.7 12.0 .478 0.1 0.6 .160 4.6 6.4 .719
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 %
Charles Barkley 4 39.3 23.5 3.3 10.5 13.8 3.8 1.5 0.5 2.0 3.0 9.0 17.0 .529 0.5 1.8 .286 5.0 7.5 .667
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
Charles Barkley James Harden
Season 1999-00-
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 %
Charles Barkley 20 31.0 14.5 3.6 6.9 10.5 3.2 0.7 0.2 2.2 2.4 5.3 11.1 .477 0.3 1.3 .231 3.6 5.5 .645
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Charles Barkley ------- --- ----------
James Harden ------- --- ----------
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