Shaquille O'Neal vs. Mel Payton Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Mel Payton and Shaquille O'Neal 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

Shaquille O'Neal

vs.

Mel Payton

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Shaquille O'Neal: 1992-93 to 2010-11
Mel Payton: 1951-52 to 1952-53

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Shaquille O'Neal 4 Mel Payton 0

NBA Seasons Shaquille O'Neal 19 Mel Payton 2

Playoffs Played Shaquille O'Neal 17 Mel Payton 2

All-Star Games Shaquille O'Neal 15 Mel Payton 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Shaquille O'Neal 1 Mel Payton 0 *

Finals MVP Shaquille O'Neal 3 Mel Payton 0 *

All-NBA First Team Shaquille O'Neal 8 Mel Payton 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Shaquille O'Neal 14 Mel Payton 0

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Shaquille O'Neal 3 Mel Payton 0

Scoring Leader Shaquille O'Neal 2 Mel Payton 0

Rookie of The Year Shaquille O'Neal 1 Mel Payton 0 *

* Notes: Season MVP is awarded since 1955-56. Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69. Rookie of The Year is awarded since 1952-53.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 23.7 Mel Payton 5.4

Rebounds Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 10.9 Mel Payton 3.6

Assists Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 2.5 Mel Payton 1.1

Steals Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 0.6 Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 2.3 Mel Payton - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Shaquille O'Neal 28,596 Mel Payton 595

Total Rebounds Shaquille O'Neal 13,099 Mel Payton 396

Total Assists Shaquille O'Neal 3,026 Mel Payton 126

Total Steals Shaquille O'Neal 739 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Blocks Shaquille O'Neal 2,732 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Games Shaquille O'Neal 1,207 Mel Payton 111

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Shaquille O'Neal .582 Mel Payton .363

3-Point Percentage Shaquille O'Neal .045 Mel Payton - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Shaquille O'Neal .527 Mel Payton .746

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 29.7 (2000) Mel Payton 7.1 (1953)

Rebounds Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 13.9 (1993) Mel Payton 4.7 (1953)

Assists Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 3.8 (2000) Mel Payton 1.2 (1953)

Steals Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 0.9 (1994) Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 3.5 (1993) Mel Payton - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 24.3 Mel Payton 5.0

Rebounds Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 11.6 Mel Payton 1.8

Assists Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 2.7 Mel Payton 0.2

Steals Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 0.5 Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 2.1 Mel Payton - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Shaquille O'Neal 5,250 Mel Payton 25

Total Rebounds Shaquille O'Neal 2,508 Mel Payton 9

Total Assists Shaquille O'Neal 582 Mel Payton 1

Total Steals Shaquille O'Neal 117 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Blocks Shaquille O'Neal 459 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Games Shaquille O'Neal 216 Mel Payton 5

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Shaquille O'Neal .563 Mel Payton .421

3-Point Percentage Shaquille O'Neal - Mel Payton - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Shaquille O'Neal .504 Mel Payton .900

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 30.7 (2000) Mel Payton 10.5 (1953)

Rebounds Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 15.4 (2001) Mel Payton 3.0 (1953)

Assists Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 4.6 (1996) Mel Payton 0.3 (1952)

Steals Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 1.0 (2008) Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 3.0 (1994) 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.