Yao Ming vs. Dennis Rodman Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dennis Rodman and Yao Ming, 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.

Yao Ming played 8 years in the NBA, 6 less than Dennis Rodman, who played 14. Yao Ming had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, while Dennis Rodman had his rookie season in 1986-87. 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
Yao Ming 8 4 2002-03 to 2010-11
Dennis Rodman 14 11 1986-87 to 1999-00

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Yao Ming Dennis Rodman
Season 2002-031986-87
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 %
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
Dennis Rodman 77 15.0 6.5 2.1 2.2 4.3 0.7 0.5 0.6 1.2 2.2 2.8 5.1 .545 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.6 .587
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 15 16.3 6.5 2.1 2.6 4.7 0.2 0.4 1.1 1.1 3.2 2.7 4.9 .541 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 2.1 .563

Season 2

Yao Ming Dennis Rodman
Season 2003-041987-88
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dennis Rodman 82 26.2 11.6 3.9 4.8 8.7 1.3 0.9 0.5 1.9 3.3 4.9 8.6 .561 0.1 0.2 .294 1.9 3.5 .535
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dennis Rodman 23 20.6 7.1 2.2 3.7 5.9 0.9 0.6 0.6 1.3 3.8 3.1 5.9 .522 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 2.3 .407

Season 3

Yao Ming Dennis Rodman
Season 2004-051988-89
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dennis Rodman 82 26.9 9.0 4.0 5.4 9.4 1.2 0.7 0.9 1.5 3.6 3.9 6.5 .595 0.1 0.3 .231 1.2 1.9 .626
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dennis Rodman 17 24.1 5.8 3.3 6.7 10.0 0.9 0.4 0.7 1.4 3.4 2.2 4.1 .529 0.0 0.2 .000 1.4 2.1 .686

Season 4

Yao Ming Dennis Rodman
Season 2005-061989-90
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dennis Rodman 82 29.0 8.8 4.1 5.6 9.7 0.9 0.6 0.7 1.1 3.4 3.5 6.0 .581 0.0 0.1 .111 1.7 2.6 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 19 29.5 6.6 2.9 5.6 8.5 0.9 0.5 0.7 1.6 3.3 2.8 5.0 .568 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.8 .514

Season 5

Yao Ming Dennis Rodman
Season 2006-071990-91
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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 %
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
Dennis Rodman 82 33.5 8.2 4.4 8.1 12.5 1.0 0.8 0.7 1.1 3.4 3.4 6.8 .493 0.1 0.4 .200 1.4 2.1 .631
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dennis Rodman 15 33.0 6.3 4.5 7.3 11.8 0.9 0.7 0.7 0.9 3.7 2.7 6.1 .451 0.1 0.6 .222 0.7 1.6 .417

Season 6

Yao Ming Dennis Rodman
Season 2007-081991-92
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third TeamAchievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 %
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
Dennis Rodman 82 40.3 9.8 6.4 12.3 18.7 2.3 0.8 0.9 1.7 3.0 4.2 7.7 .539 0.4 1.2 .317 1.0 1.7 .600
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 5 31.2 7.2 3.2 7.0 10.2 1.8 0.8 0.4 1.4 3.4 3.2 5.4 .593 0.0 0.4 .000 0.8 1.6 .500

Season 7

Yao Ming Dennis Rodman
Season 2008-091992-93
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement 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 %
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
Dennis Rodman 62 38.9 7.5 5.9 12.3 18.3 1.6 0.8 0.7 1.7 3.2 3.0 6.9 .427 0.2 1.2 .205 1.4 2.6 .534
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dennis Rodman ------- --- ----------

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

Season 8

Yao Ming Dennis Rodman
Season 2010-111993-94
Team Houston RocketsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySpurs 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 %
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
Dennis Rodman 79 37.8 4.7 5.7 11.6 17.3 2.3 0.7 0.4 1.7 2.9 2.0 3.7 .534 0.1 0.3 .208 0.7 1.3 .520
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 3 38.0 8.3 8.0 8.0 16.0 0.7 2.0 1.3 2.0 4.7 4.0 8.0 .500 0.0 1.7 .000 0.3 2.0 .167

Season 9

Yao Ming Dennis Rodman
Season -1994-95
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Playoffs -Spurs 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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 49 32.0 7.1 5.6 11.2 16.8 2.0 0.6 0.5 2.0 3.2 2.8 4.9 .571 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.3 .676
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 14 32.8 8.9 4.9 9.9 14.8 1.3 0.9 0.0 1.8 3.6 3.7 6.9 .542 0.0 0.4 .000 1.4 2.5 .571

Season 10

Yao Ming Dennis Rodman
Season -1995-96
Team -Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 64 32.6 5.5 5.6 9.3 14.9 2.5 0.6 0.4 2.2 3.1 2.3 4.8 .480 0.0 0.4 .111 0.9 1.7 .528
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 18 34.4 7.5 5.4 8.3 13.7 2.1 0.8 0.4 2.3 4.2 2.8 5.7 .485 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.3 .593

Season 11

Yao Ming Dennis Rodman
Season -1996-97
Team -Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rebounds Leader
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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 55 35.4 5.7 5.8 10.2 16.1 3.1 0.6 0.3 2.0 3.1 2.3 5.2 .448 0.1 0.3 .263 0.9 1.6 .568
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 19 28.1 4.2 3.1 5.3 8.4 1.4 0.5 0.2 1.5 3.9 1.6 4.3 .370 0.2 0.8 .250 0.8 1.4 .577

Season 12

Yao Ming Dennis Rodman
Season -1997-98
Team -Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rebounds Leader
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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 80 35.7 4.7 5.3 9.8 15.0 2.9 0.6 0.2 1.8 3.0 1.9 4.5 .431 0.1 0.3 .174 0.8 1.4 .550
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 21 34.4 4.9 4.7 7.1 11.8 2.0 0.7 0.6 1.7 4.2 1.9 5.0 .371 0.0 0.2 .250 1.1 1.8 .605

Season 13

Yao Ming Dennis Rodman
Season -1998-99
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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 23 28.6 2.1 2.7 8.5 11.2 1.3 0.4 0.5 1.3 3.1 0.7 2.0 .348 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 1.7 .436
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Yao Ming Dennis Rodman
Season -1999-00
Team -Dallas Mavericks
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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 12 32.4 2.8 4.0 10.3 14.3 1.2 0.2 0.1 1.6 3.4 1.0 2.6 .387 0.0 0.1 .000 0.8 1.2 .714
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Dennis Rodman ------- --- ----------