Luol Deng vs. Yao Ming Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Yao Ming and Luol Deng, 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.

Luol Deng played 15 years in the NBA, 7 more than Yao Ming, who played 8. Luol Deng had the first of his seasons in 2004-05, 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
Luol Deng 15 7 2004-05 to 2018-19
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

Rookie Season

Luol Deng Yao Ming
Season 2004-052002-03
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards 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 %
Luol Deng 61 27.3 11.7 1.5 3.8 5.3 2.2 0.8 0.4 1.9 1.6 4.6 10.6 .434 0.5 1.9 .265 2.0 2.7 .741
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 %
Luol Deng ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Luol Deng Yao Ming
Season 2005-062003-04
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Luol Deng 78 33.4 14.3 1.6 5.0 6.6 1.9 0.9 0.6 1.3 1.6 5.7 12.2 .463 0.3 1.0 .269 2.7 3.5 .750
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 %
Luol Deng 6 30.0 10.2 1.3 3.5 4.8 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.8 2.2 4.0 9.3 .429 0.2 0.8 .200 2.0 3.5 .571
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

Luol Deng Yao Ming
Season 2006-072004-05
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Luol Deng 82 37.5 18.8 1.8 5.3 7.1 2.5 1.2 0.6 1.9 2.0 7.7 14.9 .517 0.0 0.1 .143 3.4 4.4 .777
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 %
Luol Deng 10 41.0 22.2 3.0 5.7 8.7 2.4 1.0 0.7 2.3 2.2 8.8 16.8 .524 0.0 0.1 .000 4.6 5.7 .807
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

Luol Deng Yao Ming
Season 2007-082005-06
Team Chicago BullsHouston 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 %
Luol Deng 63 33.8 17.0 2.2 4.1 6.3 2.5 0.9 0.5 1.9 1.9 6.8 14.2 .479 0.1 0.3 .364 3.2 4.2 .770
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 %
Luol Deng ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Luol Deng Yao Ming
Season 2008-092006-07
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second 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 %
Luol Deng 49 34.0 14.1 1.6 4.4 6.0 1.9 1.2 0.5 1.5 1.7 5.4 12.1 .448 0.2 0.4 .400 3.1 3.9 .796
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 %
Luol Deng ------- --- ----------
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

Luol Deng Yao Ming
Season 2009-102007-08
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Luol Deng 70 37.9 17.6 1.9 5.4 7.3 2.0 0.9 0.9 1.9 1.8 6.8 14.5 .466 0.5 1.2 .386 3.6 4.7 .764
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 %
Luol Deng 5 40.6 18.8 1.6 3.4 5.0 1.4 1.2 0.8 0.6 3.0 7.4 16.0 .463 0.2 2.4 .083 3.8 5.2 .731
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Luol Deng Yao Ming
Season 2010-112008-09
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East 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 %
Luol Deng 82 39.1 17.4 1.4 4.4 5.8 2.8 1.0 0.6 1.9 2.0 6.5 14.1 .460 1.4 4.1 .345 3.1 4.1 .753
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 %
Luol Deng 16 42.9 16.9 1.7 4.9 6.6 2.7 1.5 0.6 1.6 2.5 6.1 14.4 .426 1.4 4.3 .324 3.3 3.9 .839
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

Luol Deng Yao Ming
Season 2011-122010-11
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Luol Deng 54 39.4 15.3 1.4 5.1 6.5 2.9 1.0 0.7 1.8 1.5 5.8 14.0 .412 1.5 4.0 .367 2.4 3.1 .770
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 %
Luol Deng 6 38.0 14.0 1.3 7.0 8.3 1.5 0.8 1.5 1.7 1.7 6.0 13.2 .456 1.3 3.7 .364 0.7 1.2 .571
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Luol Deng Yao Ming
Season 2012-13-
Team Chicago Bulls-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Luol Deng 75 38.7 16.5 2.2 4.2 6.3 3.0 1.1 0.4 1.9 1.4 6.2 14.6 .426 1.0 3.1 .322 3.1 3.8 .816
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Luol Deng 5 44.8 13.8 1.0 6.6 7.6 3.8 1.0 0.6 2.4 2.4 6.4 16.8 .381 0.2 3.6 .056 0.8 2.0 .400
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Luol Deng Yao Ming
Season 2013-14-
Team Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers-
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 %
Luol Deng 63 35.1 16.0 1.6 4.2 5.7 2.9 1.0 0.1 1.8 1.8 5.9 13.7 .431 0.9 3.0 .302 3.4 4.3 .791
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Luol Deng ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Luol Deng Yao Ming
Season 2014-15-
Team Miami Heat-
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 %
Luol Deng 72 33.6 14.0 1.4 3.8 5.2 1.9 0.9 0.3 1.5 1.5 5.1 10.9 .469 1.1 3.1 .355 2.7 3.5 .761
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Luol Deng ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Luol Deng Yao Ming
Season 2015-16-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Luol Deng 74 32.4 12.3 1.5 4.5 6.0 1.9 1.0 0.4 1.1 1.6 4.6 10.1 .455 1.2 3.5 .344 2.0 2.6 .755
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Luol Deng 14 35.4 13.3 1.4 4.6 5.9 1.6 0.9 0.6 1.6 1.7 4.6 9.9 .471 1.7 4.1 .421 2.3 2.7 .842
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Luol Deng Yao Ming
Season 2016-17-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
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 %
Luol Deng 56 26.5 7.6 1.1 4.1 5.3 1.3 0.9 0.4 0.8 1.1 2.9 7.6 .387 0.9 2.9 .309 0.8 1.1 .730
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Luol Deng ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Luol Deng Yao Ming
Season 2017-18-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
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 %
Luol Deng 1 13.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0 1.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 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 %
Luol Deng ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Luol Deng Yao Ming
Season 2018-19-
Team Minnesota Timberwolves-
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 %
Luol Deng 22 17.8 7.1 0.9 2.4 3.3 0.8 0.7 0.4 0.6 1.1 2.7 5.4 .500 0.6 2.0 .318 1.1 1.6 .714
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Luol Deng ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------