Kevin Durant vs. Yao Ming Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Yao Ming and Kevin Durant, 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.

Kevin Durant played 16 years in the NBA, 8 more than Yao Ming, who played 8. Kevin Durant had the first of his seasons in 2007-08, 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
Kevin Durant 16 13 2007-08 to 2023-24
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

Rookie Season

Kevin Durant Yao Ming
Season 2007-082002-03
Team Seattle SupersonicsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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 %
Kevin Durant 80 34.6 20.3 0.9 3.5 4.4 2.4 1.0 0.9 2.9 1.5 7.3 17.1 .430 0.7 2.6 .288 4.9 5.6 .873
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 %
Kevin Durant ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Kevin Durant Yao Ming
Season 2008-092003-04
Team Oklahoma City ThunderHouston 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 %
Kevin Durant 74 39.0 25.3 1.0 5.5 6.5 2.8 1.3 0.7 3.0 1.8 8.9 18.8 .476 1.3 3.1 .422 6.1 7.1 .863
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 %
Kevin Durant ------- --- ----------
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

Kevin Durant Yao Ming
Season 2009-102004-05
Team Oklahoma City ThunderHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
Kevin Durant 82 39.5 30.1 1.3 6.3 7.6 2.8 1.4 1.0 3.3 2.1 9.7 20.3 .476 1.6 4.3 .365 9.2 10.2 .900
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 %
Kevin Durant 6 38.5 25.0 1.3 6.3 7.7 2.3 0.5 1.3 3.7 2.8 7.2 20.5 .350 1.7 5.8 .286 9.0 10.3 .871
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

Kevin Durant Yao Ming
Season 2010-112005-06
Team Oklahoma City ThunderHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
Kevin Durant 78 38.9 27.7 0.7 6.1 6.8 2.7 1.1 1.0 2.8 2.0 9.1 19.7 .462 1.9 5.3 .350 7.6 8.7 .880
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 %
Kevin Durant 17 42.5 28.6 1.1 7.1 8.2 2.8 0.9 1.1 2.5 3.1 9.1 20.3 .449 2.2 6.4 .339 8.2 9.8 .838
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Kevin Durant Yao Ming
Season 2011-122006-07
Team Oklahoma City ThunderHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Thunder Lost NBA FinalsRockets 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 %
Kevin Durant 66 38.6 28.0 0.6 7.4 8.0 3.5 1.3 1.2 3.8 2.0 9.7 19.7 .496 2.0 5.2 .387 6.5 7.6 .860
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 %
Kevin Durant 20 41.9 28.5 0.7 6.8 7.4 3.7 1.5 1.2 3.2 2.6 9.9 19.2 .517 2.1 5.5 .373 6.7 7.7 .864
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

Kevin Durant Yao Ming
Season 2012-132007-08
Team Oklahoma City ThunderHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
Kevin Durant 81 38.5 28.1 0.6 7.3 7.9 4.6 1.4 1.3 3.5 1.8 9.0 17.7 .510 1.7 4.1 .416 8.4 9.3 .905
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 %
Kevin Durant 11 44.1 30.8 0.6 8.4 9.0 6.3 1.3 1.1 3.9 2.4 10.2 22.4 .455 2.0 6.4 .314 8.5 10.2 .830
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Kevin Durant Yao Ming
Season 2013-142008-09
Team Oklahoma City ThunderHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf FinalsRockets 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 %
Kevin Durant 81 38.5 32.0 0.7 6.7 7.4 5.5 1.3 0.7 3.5 2.1 10.5 20.8 .503 2.4 6.1 .391 8.7 9.9 .873
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 %
Kevin Durant 19 42.9 29.6 1.3 7.6 8.9 3.9 1.0 1.3 3.8 2.2 10.2 22.2 .460 2.3 6.6 .344 6.9 8.6 .810
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

Kevin Durant Yao Ming
Season 2014-152010-11
Team Oklahoma City ThunderHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Kevin Durant 27 33.8 25.4 0.6 6.0 6.6 4.1 0.9 0.9 2.7 1.5 8.8 17.3 .510 2.4 5.9 .403 5.4 6.3 .854
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 %
Kevin Durant ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Kevin Durant Yao Ming
Season 2015-16-
Team Oklahoma City Thunder-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
Kevin Durant 72 35.8 28.2 0.6 7.6 8.2 5.0 1.0 1.2 3.5 1.9 9.7 19.2 .505 2.6 6.7 .387 6.2 6.9 .898
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 18 40.3 28.4 0.7 6.4 7.1 3.3 1.0 1.0 3.6 2.1 9.7 22.6 .430 1.7 6.1 .282 7.2 8.1 .890
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Kevin Durant Yao Ming
Season 2016-17-
Team Golden State Warriors-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 62 33.4 25.1 0.6 7.6 8.3 4.8 1.1 1.6 2.2 1.9 8.9 16.5 .537 1.9 5.0 .375 5.4 6.2 .875
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 15 35.5 28.5 1.1 6.9 7.9 4.3 0.8 1.3 2.5 2.6 9.9 17.9 .556 2.5 5.7 .442 6.1 6.9 .893
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Kevin Durant Yao Ming
Season 2017-18-
Team Golden State Warriors-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 68 34.2 26.4 0.5 6.4 6.8 5.4 0.7 1.8 3.0 2.0 9.3 18.0 .516 2.5 6.1 .419 5.3 5.9 .889
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 21 38.4 29.0 0.6 7.1 7.8 4.7 0.7 1.2 2.4 2.0 10.1 20.7 .487 2.2 6.6 .341 6.5 7.2 .901
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Kevin Durant Yao Ming
Season 2018-19-
Team Golden State Warriors-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 78 34.6 26.0 0.4 5.9 6.4 5.9 0.7 1.1 2.9 2.0 9.2 17.7 .521 1.8 5.0 .353 5.7 6.5 .885
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 12 36.8 32.3 0.1 4.8 4.9 4.5 1.1 1.0 3.6 3.2 10.4 20.3 .514 2.9 6.7 .438 8.5 9.4 .903
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Note: Kevin Durant didn't play in 2019-20.

Season 13

Kevin Durant Yao Ming
Season 2020-21-
Team 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 %
Kevin Durant 35 33.1 26.9 0.4 6.7 7.1 5.6 0.7 1.3 3.4 2.0 9.3 17.2 .537 2.4 5.4 .450 6.0 6.8 .882
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 12 40.4 34.3 0.4 8.8 9.3 4.4 1.5 1.6 3.5 2.6 12.1 23.5 .514 2.8 6.8 .402 7.3 8.4 .871
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Kevin Durant Yao Ming
Season 2021-22-
Team Brooklyn Nets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nets 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 %
Kevin Durant 55 37.2 29.9 0.5 6.9 7.4 6.4 0.9 0.9 3.5 2.1 10.5 20.3 .518 2.1 5.5 .383 6.8 7.4 .910
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 4 44.0 26.3 0.5 5.3 5.8 6.3 1.0 0.3 5.3 3.8 8.0 20.8 .386 1.8 5.3 .333 8.5 9.5 .895
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Kevin Durant Yao Ming
Season 2022-23-
Team Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Kevin Durant 47 35.6 29.1 0.4 6.3 6.7 5.0 0.7 1.4 3.3 2.1 10.3 18.3 .560 2.0 4.9 .404 6.5 7.1 .919
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 11 42.4 29.0 0.6 8.1 8.7 5.5 0.8 1.4 3.5 2.6 9.7 20.4 .478 1.5 4.6 .333 8.0 8.7 .917
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Kevin Durant Yao Ming
Season 2023-24-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards Achievement Cup All-Tournament Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Kevin Durant 75 37.2 27.1 0.5 6.1 6.6 5.0 0.9 1.2 3.3 1.8 10.0 19.1 .523 2.2 5.4 .413 4.8 5.6 .856
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kevin Durant 4 42.0 26.8 0.3 6.3 6.5 3.3 0.5 1.5 2.5 2.0 9.3 16.8 .552 1.3 3.0 .417 7.0 8.5 .824
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------