James Harden vs. Jermaine O'Neal Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jermaine O'Neal and James Harden, 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.

James Harden played 15 years in the NBA, 3 less than Jermaine O'Neal, who played 18. James Harden had the first of his seasons in 2009-10, while Jermaine O'Neal had his rookie season in 1996-97. 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
James Harden 15 15 2009-10 to 2023-24
Jermaine O'Neal 18 14 1996-97 to 2013-14

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

Rookie Season
James Harden Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2009-101996-97
Team Oklahoma City ThunderPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf 1st RdTrail 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 %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 45 10.2 4.1 0.9 1.9 2.8 0.2 0.0 0.6 0.6 1.0 1.5 3.4 .451 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.7 .603
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 2 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 1.0 .000

Season 2
James Harden Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2010-111997-98
Team Oklahoma City ThunderPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf FinalsTrail 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 %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 60 13.5 4.5 1.3 2.0 3.4 0.3 0.3 1.0 0.9 1.7 1.9 3.9 .485 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.5 .506
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 1 3.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 3.0 .000 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 3
James Harden Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2011-121998-99
Team Oklahoma City ThunderPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Thunder Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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 %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 36 8.6 2.5 1.2 1.5 2.7 0.4 0.1 0.4 0.4 1.1 1.0 2.3 .434 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 1.0 .514
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 9 6.0 1.6 0.9 1.0 1.9 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.2 1.2 0.4 1.1 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.3 .500

Season 4
James Harden Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2012-131999-00
Team Houston RocketsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers 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 %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 70 12.3 3.9 1.4 1.9 3.3 0.3 0.2 0.8 0.7 1.8 1.5 3.2 .486 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.4 .582
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 8 4.9 1.5 0.3 0.6 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.4 0.0 1.1 0.4 1.4 .273 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.1 .667

Season 5
James Harden Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2013-142000-01
Team Houston RocketsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdPacers 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 %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 81 32.6 12.9 3.1 6.7 9.8 1.2 0.6 2.8 2.0 3.5 5.0 10.7 .465 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 4.8 .601
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 4 39.3 9.8 3.0 9.5 12.5 1.8 0.0 2.5 1.8 3.3 4.3 9.8 .436 0.0 0.3 .000 1.3 2.5 .500

Season 6
James Harden Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2014-152001-02
Team Houston RocketsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement Most Improved Player
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsPacers 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 %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 72 37.6 19.0 2.6 7.9 10.5 1.6 0.6 2.3 2.4 3.7 7.5 15.7 .479 0.0 0.2 .071 3.9 5.7 .688
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 5 38.0 17.2 1.2 6.4 7.6 1.0 0.8 1.6 2.8 4.8 6.8 15.2 .447 0.0 0.2 .000 3.6 4.8 .750

Season 7
James Harden Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2015-162002-03
Team Houston RocketsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdPacers 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 %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 77 37.2 20.8 2.6 7.7 10.3 2.0 0.9 2.3 2.3 3.6 7.9 16.4 .484 0.1 0.3 .333 4.8 6.6 .731
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 6 45.5 22.8 4.0 13.5 17.5 0.7 0.5 3.0 3.0 3.7 7.2 15.3 .467 0.0 0.5 .000 8.5 10.8 .785

Season 8
James Harden Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2016-172003-04
Team Houston RocketsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisPacers 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 %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 78 35.7 20.1 2.5 7.5 10.0 2.1 0.8 2.6 2.3 3.2 7.8 17.9 .434 0.0 0.2 .111 4.5 5.9 .757
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 16 37.6 19.2 1.8 7.3 9.1 1.2 0.5 2.3 1.8 3.3 7.2 17.0 .423 0.0 0.3 .000 4.8 6.9 .700

Season 9
James Harden Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2017-182004-05
Team Houston RocketsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsPacers 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 %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 44 34.8 24.3 1.9 6.9 8.8 1.9 0.6 2.0 3.0 3.9 8.8 19.4 .452 0.0 0.1 .167 6.7 8.9 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 13 36.8 16.0 1.6 6.4 8.0 2.2 0.5 2.6 2.8 3.7 5.9 16.2 .365 0.0 0.2 .000 4.2 5.5 .750

Season 10
James Harden Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2018-192005-06
Team Houston RocketsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisPacers 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 %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 51 35.3 20.1 2.0 7.3 9.3 2.6 0.5 2.3 3.0 3.5 7.5 15.8 .472 0.1 0.2 .300 5.1 7.2 .709
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 6 36.0 21.0 1.5 6.0 7.5 1.7 0.5 2.3 4.3 4.7 7.3 14.0 .524 0.0 0.3 .000 6.3 8.8 .717

Season 11
James Harden Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2019-202006-07
Team Houston RocketsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 69 35.6 19.4 2.2 7.4 9.6 2.4 0.7 2.6 2.9 3.4 7.2 16.5 .436 0.0 0.1 .000 5.0 6.5 .767
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Jermaine O'Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 12
James Harden Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2020-212007-08
Team Houston Rockets, Brooklyn NetsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 42 28.7 13.6 2.0 4.8 6.7 2.2 0.5 2.1 2.5 3.1 5.4 12.2 .439 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 3.9 .742
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Jermaine O'Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 13
James Harden Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2021-222008-09
Team Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ersToronto Raptors, Miami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisHeat 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 %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 68 29.8 13.3 1.9 4.5 6.4 1.8 0.4 2.0 2.1 3.1 5.4 11.3 .474 0.0 0.0 .000 2.6 3.3 .788
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 6 27.0 13.3 1.2 3.3 4.5 1.5 0.5 1.5 1.7 3.0 4.7 8.5 .549 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 5.3 .750

Season 14
James Harden Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2022-232009-10
Team Philadelphia 76ersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement Assists Leader-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisHeat 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 %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 70 28.4 13.6 1.8 5.2 6.9 1.3 0.4 1.4 1.8 3.0 5.6 10.6 .529 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.2 .720
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 5 23.4 4.2 2.0 3.6 5.6 1.0 0.8 2.0 1.4 2.6 1.8 8.8 .205 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.4 .429

Season 15
James Harden Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2023-242010-11
Team Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 24 18.0 5.4 1.0 2.6 3.7 0.5 0.1 1.3 1.1 2.7 2.1 4.5 .459 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 1.8 .674
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Jermaine O'Neal 9 21.9 5.8 1.7 2.6 4.2 0.9 0.2 1.8 0.9 3.8 2.3 4.8 .488 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.2 .909

Season 16
James Harden Jermaine O'Neal
Season -2011-12
Team -Boston Celtics
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 %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Jermaine O'Neal 25 22.8 5.0 1.5 3.9 5.4 0.4 0.3 1.7 0.8 3.2 2.1 4.8 .433 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .677
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Jermaine O'Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 17
James Harden Jermaine O'Neal
Season -2012-13
Team -Phoenix Suns
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 %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Jermaine O'Neal 55 18.7 8.3 1.5 3.8 5.3 0.8 0.3 1.4 1.3 2.3 3.3 6.7 .482 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.1 .835
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Jermaine O'Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 18
James Harden Jermaine O'Neal
Season -2013-14
Team -Golden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Warriors 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 %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Jermaine O'Neal 44 20.1 7.9 1.9 3.6 5.5 0.6 0.3 0.9 1.2 2.3 2.8 5.6 .504 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.0 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Jermaine O'Neal 7 12.0 6.0 1.7 1.7 3.4 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.6 1.7 2.6 4.6 .563 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.1 .750
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