Eddie Johnson vs. Yao Ming Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Yao Ming and Eddie 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

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.

Eddie Johnson played 17 years in the NBA, 9 more than Yao Ming, who played 8. Eddie Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1981-82, while Yao Ming had his rookie season in 2002-03. 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
Eddie Johnson 17 10 1981-82 to 1998-99
Yao Ming 8 4 2002-03 to 2010-11

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

Eddie Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1981-822002-03
Team Kansas City KingsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-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 %
Eddie Johnson 74 20.5 9.3 1.7 2.6 4.4 1.5 0.7 0.2 1.3 2.8 4.0 8.7 .459 0.0 0.1 .091 1.3 2.0 .664
Yao Ming 82 29.0 13.5 2.4 5.8 8.2 1.7 0.4 1.8 2.1 2.8 4.9 9.8 .498 0.0 0.0 .500 3.7 4.5 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Eddie Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1982-832003-04
Team Kansas City KingsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement 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 %
Eddie Johnson 82 35.8 19.8 2.3 3.8 6.1 2.6 0.9 0.2 2.2 3.2 8.3 16.7 .494 0.2 0.9 .282 3.0 3.9 .779
Yao Ming 82 32.8 17.5 2.4 6.6 9.0 1.5 0.3 1.9 2.5 3.3 6.5 12.5 .522 0.0 0.0 .000 4.4 5.4 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming 5 37.6 15.0 2.2 5.2 7.4 1.8 0.4 1.4 2.6 4.0 6.2 13.6 .456 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.4 .765

Season 3

Eddie Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1983-842004-05
Team Kansas City KingsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Kings 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 %
Eddie Johnson 82 35.6 21.9 2.0 3.5 5.5 3.6 0.9 0.3 2.6 3.2 9.2 18.9 .485 0.2 0.8 .313 3.3 4.0 .810
Yao Ming 80 30.6 18.3 2.6 5.8 8.4 0.8 0.4 2.0 2.5 3.7 6.7 12.2 .552 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 6.2 .783
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 3 35.7 17.0 1.3 2.0 3.3 4.0 1.0 0.3 0.7 2.7 7.0 16.0 .438 0.7 1.7 .400 2.3 2.3 1.000
Yao Ming 7 31.9 21.4 3.3 4.4 7.7 0.7 0.3 2.7 2.7 4.4 7.9 12.0 .655 0.0 0.0 - 5.7 7.9 .727

Season 4

Eddie Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1984-852005-06
Team Kansas City KingsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-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 %
Eddie Johnson 82 36.9 22.9 1.8 3.1 5.0 3.3 1.0 0.3 2.7 2.9 9.4 19.1 .491 0.2 0.7 .241 4.0 4.5 .871
Yao Ming 57 34.2 22.3 2.6 7.6 10.2 1.5 0.5 1.6 2.6 3.4 8.2 15.8 .519 0.0 0.0 .000 5.9 6.9 .853
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Eddie Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1985-862006-07
Team Sacramento KingsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Kings 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 %
Eddie Johnson 82 30.7 18.7 2.1 3.0 5.1 2.6 0.7 0.2 2.3 2.9 7.6 16.0 .475 0.0 0.2 .200 3.4 4.2 .816
Yao Ming 48 33.8 25.0 2.1 7.3 9.4 2.0 0.4 2.0 3.5 3.3 8.8 17.1 .516 0.0 0.0 .000 7.4 8.6 .862
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 3 32.0 18.7 3.3 3.7 7.0 1.3 1.0 0.3 2.0 2.3 8.0 18.3 .436 0.0 1.0 .000 2.7 3.0 .889
Yao Ming 7 37.1 25.1 3.3 7.0 10.3 0.9 0.1 0.7 4.7 3.9 7.9 17.9 .440 0.0 0.0 - 9.4 10.7 .880

Season 6

Eddie Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1986-872007-08
Team Sacramento KingsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-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 %
Eddie Johnson 81 30.3 18.7 1.8 2.6 4.4 3.1 0.5 0.2 2.0 2.7 7.5 16.2 .463 0.5 1.5 .314 3.3 4.0 .829
Yao Ming 55 37.2 22.0 3.1 7.7 10.8 2.3 0.5 2.0 3.3 3.1 7.9 15.5 .507 0.0 0.0 .000 6.3 7.4 .850
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Eddie Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1987-882008-09
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement 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 %
Eddie Johnson 73 29.8 17.7 1.7 2.7 4.4 2.5 0.5 0.1 1.9 2.6 7.3 15.2 .480 0.3 1.3 .255 2.8 3.3 .850
Yao Ming 77 33.6 19.7 2.6 7.2 9.9 1.8 0.4 1.9 3.0 3.3 7.4 13.4 .548 0.0 0.0 1.000 4.9 5.7 .866
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming 9 35.9 17.1 2.1 8.8 10.9 1.0 0.4 1.2 1.9 3.0 6.0 11.0 .545 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 5.7 .902

Note: Yao Ming didn't play in 2009-10.

Season 8

Eddie Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1988-892010-11
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West 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 %
Eddie Johnson 70 29.2 21.5 1.3 3.1 4.4 2.3 0.7 0.1 1.7 2.8 8.7 17.5 .497 1.0 2.5 .413 3.1 3.6 .868
Yao Ming 5 18.2 10.2 1.4 4.0 5.4 0.8 0.0 1.6 1.4 2.6 3.6 7.4 .486 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.2 .938
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 12 32.7 17.8 2.3 4.9 7.3 2.1 1.0 0.2 1.5 3.4 7.1 17.2 .413 1.1 3.2 .342 2.5 3.3 .769
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Eddie Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1989-90-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Eddie Johnson 64 28.3 16.9 1.1 2.8 3.8 1.7 0.5 0.2 1.7 2.7 6.4 14.2 .453 1.1 2.9 .380 2.9 3.2 .917
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 16 21.1 12.3 0.9 2.6 3.6 1.1 0.6 0.3 1.3 2.5 4.5 10.0 .450 0.9 2.4 .395 2.3 2.9 .787
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Eddie Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1990-91-
Team Phoenix Suns, Seattle Supersonics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Eddie Johnson 81 25.7 16.7 1.3 2.0 3.3 1.4 0.7 0.1 1.5 2.2 6.7 13.9 .484 0.5 1.5 .325 2.8 3.2 .891
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 5 34.2 24.0 2.4 1.8 4.2 1.4 1.4 0.2 1.6 2.6 9.2 17.8 .517 0.8 3.0 .267 4.8 5.8 .828
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Eddie Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1991-92-
Team Seattle Supersonics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Eddie Johnson 81 29.2 17.1 1.5 2.1 3.6 2.0 0.7 0.1 1.6 2.5 6.6 14.4 .459 0.3 1.3 .252 3.6 4.2 .861
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 9 27.4 18.4 0.9 2.1 3.0 0.9 0.3 0.3 1.7 2.1 7.2 15.2 .474 0.4 2.4 .182 3.6 3.8 .941
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Eddie Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1992-93-
Team Seattle Supersonics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Eddie Johnson 82 22.8 14.4 1.5 1.8 3.3 1.6 0.4 0.0 1.6 2.1 5.6 12.1 .467 0.2 0.7 .304 2.9 3.1 .911
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 19 20.1 10.8 0.9 1.5 2.4 0.9 0.2 0.1 1.0 2.3 4.3 11.1 .390 0.6 1.9 .333 1.5 1.6 .935
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Eddie Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1993-94-
Team Charlotte Hornets-
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 %
Eddie Johnson 73 20.0 11.5 1.1 2.0 3.1 1.7 0.5 0.1 1.2 2.0 4.6 10.1 .459 0.8 2.1 .393 1.4 1.7 .780
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Note: Eddie Johnson didn't play in 1994-95.

Season 14

Eddie Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1995-96-
Team Indiana Pacers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers 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 %
Eddie Johnson 62 16.2 7.7 0.7 1.7 2.5 1.1 0.3 0.1 0.9 1.7 2.9 7.0 .413 0.7 2.1 .352 1.1 1.3 .886
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 1 9.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.0 .000 0.0 2.0 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Eddie Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1996-97-
Team Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Eddie Johnson 52 17.6 8.2 0.5 2.1 2.7 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.9 1.6 3.1 7.0 .442 0.9 2.5 .374 1.1 1.3 .809
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 16 17.7 8.3 0.9 1.3 2.3 0.6 0.3 0.0 0.4 1.1 3.0 7.3 .410 0.9 2.9 .298 1.4 1.5 .958
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Eddie Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1997-98-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Eddie Johnson 75 19.9 8.4 0.7 1.4 2.0 1.2 0.4 0.0 0.8 1.2 3.0 7.3 .417 0.9 2.6 .333 1.5 1.8 .831
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 5 17.6 5.6 0.8 0.8 1.6 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.6 2.0 1.8 5.4 .333 0.6 2.0 .300 1.4 1.6 .875
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Eddie Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1998-99-
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 %
Eddie Johnson 3 6.0 4.0 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.7 1.0 2.0 4.3 .462 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------