Gilbert Arenas vs. James Harden Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Harden and Gilbert Arenas, 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.

Gilbert Arenas played 11 years in the NBA, 4 less than James Harden, who played 15. Gilbert Arenas had the first of his seasons in 2001-02, 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
Gilbert Arenas 11 5 2001-02 to 2011-12
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

Rookie Season

Gilbert Arenas James Harden
Season 2001-022009-10
Team Golden State WarriorsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 %
Gilbert Arenas 47 24.6 10.9 0.9 1.9 2.8 3.7 1.5 0.2 2.1 2.4 3.7 8.2 .453 0.8 2.4 .345 2.6 3.4 .775
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 %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
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

Gilbert Arenas James Harden
Season 2002-032010-11
Team Golden State WarriorsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement Most Improved Player-
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 %
Gilbert Arenas 82 35.0 18.3 1.2 3.5 4.7 6.3 1.5 0.2 3.5 3.2 6.2 14.4 .431 1.3 3.8 .348 4.5 5.7 .791
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 %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
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

Gilbert Arenas James Harden
Season 2003-042011-12
Team Washington WizardsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas 55 37.6 19.6 1.0 3.6 4.6 5.0 1.9 0.2 4.1 3.2 6.5 16.6 .392 2.3 6.1 .375 4.3 5.8 .748
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 %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
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

Gilbert Arenas James Harden
Season 2004-052012-13
Team Washington WizardsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third TeamAchievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Wizards 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 %
Gilbert Arenas 80 40.9 25.5 1.0 3.7 4.7 5.1 1.7 0.3 3.0 3.1 8.2 19.0 .431 2.6 7.0 .365 6.5 8.0 .814
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 %
Gilbert Arenas 10 45.1 23.6 0.8 4.4 5.2 6.2 2.1 0.6 3.9 3.4 7.3 19.4 .376 1.8 7.7 .234 7.2 9.4 .766
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

Gilbert Arenas James Harden
Season 2005-062013-14
Team Washington WizardsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Wizards 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 %
Gilbert Arenas 80 42.3 29.3 0.7 2.8 3.5 6.1 2.0 0.3 3.7 3.6 9.3 20.9 .447 2.5 6.8 .369 8.2 10.0 .820
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 %
Gilbert Arenas 6 47.3 34.0 1.2 4.3 5.5 5.3 2.2 0.7 3.3 3.5 10.8 23.3 .464 3.3 7.7 .435 9.0 11.7 .771
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

Gilbert Arenas James Harden
Season 2006-072014-15
Team Washington WizardsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Gilbert Arenas 74 39.8 28.4 0.8 3.7 4.6 6.0 1.9 0.2 3.2 3.4 8.7 20.9 .418 2.8 7.9 .351 8.2 9.7 .844
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 %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
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

Gilbert Arenas James Harden
Season 2007-082015-16
Team Washington WizardsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Wizards 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 %
Gilbert Arenas 13 32.7 19.4 0.5 3.5 3.9 5.1 1.8 0.1 3.8 2.3 6.0 15.1 .398 1.7 6.0 .282 5.7 7.4 .771
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 %
Gilbert Arenas 4 23.5 10.8 0.0 1.8 1.8 2.8 0.5 0.0 2.0 3.3 3.5 9.0 .389 1.3 3.0 .417 2.5 3.0 .833
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

Gilbert Arenas James Harden
Season 2008-092016-17
Team Washington WizardsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-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 %
Gilbert Arenas 2 31.5 13.0 0.5 4.0 4.5 10.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 2.0 3.0 11.5 .261 1.0 3.5 .286 6.0 8.0 .750
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 %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
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

Gilbert Arenas James Harden
Season 2009-102017-18
Team Washington WizardsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Gilbert Arenas 32 36.5 22.6 0.5 3.6 4.2 7.2 1.3 0.3 3.7 3.0 7.9 19.3 .411 2.0 5.7 .348 4.8 6.5 .739
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 %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
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

Gilbert Arenas James Harden
Season 2010-112018-19
Team Washington Wizards, Orlando MagicHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic 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 %
Gilbert Arenas 70 25.7 10.8 0.3 2.4 2.7 3.9 1.1 0.3 2.5 2.7 3.8 10.5 .366 1.4 4.7 .297 1.7 2.2 .784
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 %
Gilbert Arenas 5 16.2 8.6 0.8 2.0 2.8 2.4 0.2 0.2 1.2 2.8 3.6 8.4 .429 0.6 2.4 .250 0.8 1.2 .667
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

Gilbert Arenas James Harden
Season 2011-122019-20
Team Memphis GrizzliesHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West 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 %
Gilbert Arenas 17 12.4 4.2 0.1 0.9 1.1 1.1 0.6 0.1 0.7 2.1 1.5 3.8 .406 0.8 2.3 .333 0.4 0.6 .700
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 %
Gilbert Arenas 6 3.8 0.7 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.0 0.3 1.3 .250 0.0 0.7 .000 0.0 0.0 -
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

Gilbert Arenas James Harden
Season -2020-21
Team -Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Nets 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 %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
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 %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
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

Gilbert Arenas James Harden
Season -2021-22
Team -Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -76ers 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 %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
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 %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
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

Gilbert Arenas James Harden
Season -2022-23
Team -Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
Playoffs -76ers 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 %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
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 %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
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

Gilbert Arenas James Harden
Season -2023-24
Team -Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Clippers 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 %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
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 %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
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