James Harden vs. Mel Payton Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Mel Payton and James Harden that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

James Harden

vs.

Mel Payton

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
James Harden: 2009-10 to 2023-24
Mel Payton: 1951-52 to 1952-53

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships James Harden 0 Mel Payton 0

NBA Seasons James Harden 15 Mel Payton 2

Playoffs Played James Harden 15 Mel Payton 2

All-Star Games James Harden 10 Mel Payton 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP James Harden 1 Mel Payton 0 *

All-NBA First Team James Harden 6 Mel Payton 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) James Harden 7 Mel Payton 0

Scoring Leader James Harden 3 Mel Payton 0

Assists Leader James Harden 2 Mel Payton 0

* Notes: Season MVP is awarded since 1955-56.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game James Harden 24.1 Mel Payton 5.4

Rebounds Per Game James Harden 5.6 Mel Payton 3.6

Assists Per Game James Harden 7.1 Mel Payton 1.1

Steals Per Game James Harden 1.5 Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game James Harden 0.6 Mel Payton - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points James Harden 25,885 Mel Payton 595

Total Rebounds James Harden 6,017 Mel Payton 396

Total Assists James Harden 7,629 Mel Payton 126

Total Steals James Harden 1,597 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Blocks James Harden 600 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Games James Harden 1,072 Mel Payton 111

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage James Harden .441 Mel Payton .363

3-Point Percentage James Harden .364 Mel Payton - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage James Harden .861 Mel Payton .746

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game James Harden 36.1 (2019) Mel Payton 7.1 (1953)

Rebounds Per Game James Harden 8.1 (2017) Mel Payton 4.7 (1953)

Assists Per Game James Harden 11.2 (2017) Mel Payton 1.2 (1953)

Steals Per Game James Harden 2.0 (2019) Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game James Harden 0.9 (2020) Mel Payton - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game James Harden 22.7 Mel Payton 5.0

Rebounds Per Game James Harden 5.5 Mel Payton 1.8

Assists Per Game James Harden 6.4 Mel Payton 0.2

Steals Per Game James Harden 1.6 Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game James Harden 0.5 Mel Payton - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points James Harden 3,764 Mel Payton 25

Total Rebounds James Harden 910 Mel Payton 9

Total Assists James Harden 1,061 Mel Payton 1

Total Steals James Harden 273 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Blocks James Harden 91 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Games James Harden 166 Mel Payton 5

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage James Harden .425 Mel Payton .421

3-Point Percentage James Harden .340 Mel Payton - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage James Harden .870 Mel Payton .900

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game James Harden 31.6 (2019) Mel Payton 10.5 (1953)

Rebounds Per Game James Harden 6.8 (2019) Mel Payton 3.0 (1953)

Assists Per Game James Harden 8.6 (2022) Mel Payton 0.3 (1952)

Steals Per Game James Harden 2.4 (2016) Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game James Harden 1.0 (2024) Mel Payton - n/a **

Notes: ** Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74, this player has no data for the stat. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat.