Al Horford vs. Yao Ming Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Yao Ming and Al Horford, 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.

Al Horford played 17 years in the NBA, 9 more than Yao Ming, who played 8. Al Horford 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
Al Horford 17 15 2007-08 to 2023-24
Yao Ming 8 4 2002-03 to 2010-11

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season
Al Horford Yao Ming
Season 2007-082002-03
Team Atlanta HawksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Al Horford 81 31.4 10.1 3.1 6.6 9.7 1.5 0.7 0.9 1.7 3.3 4.1 8.2 .499 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.6 .731
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 %
Al Horford 7 39.6 12.6 3.1 7.3 10.4 3.6 0.4 1.0 2.1 3.7 4.9 10.3 .472 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 3.9 .741
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Al Horford Yao Ming
Season 2008-092003-04
Team Atlanta HawksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Al Horford 67 33.5 11.5 2.2 7.1 9.3 2.4 0.8 1.4 1.5 2.8 4.7 8.9 .525 0.0 0.0 .000 2.2 3.1 .727
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 %
Al Horford 9 28.0 6.9 1.3 4.4 5.8 2.0 0.7 0.7 0.4 2.9 2.8 6.6 .424 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 2.0 .667
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
Al Horford Yao Ming
Season 2009-102004-05
Team Atlanta HawksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Al Horford 81 35.1 14.2 2.9 7.0 9.9 2.3 0.7 1.1 1.5 2.8 5.8 10.5 .551 0.0 0.0 1.000 2.6 3.3 .789
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 %
Al Horford 11 35.3 14.6 2.5 6.5 9.0 1.8 0.7 1.7 1.4 3.2 6.1 11.6 .523 0.1 0.1 1.000 2.4 2.8 .839
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
Al Horford Yao Ming
Season 2010-112005-06
Team Atlanta HawksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third TeamAchievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East 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 %
Al Horford 77 35.1 15.3 2.4 7.0 9.3 3.5 0.8 1.0 1.5 2.5 6.7 12.0 .557 0.0 0.1 .500 1.9 2.4 .798
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 %
Al Horford 12 39.0 11.3 2.1 7.5 9.6 3.5 0.4 1.0 1.4 2.8 4.8 11.4 .423 0.0 0.2 .000 1.7 2.2 .769
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Al Horford Yao Ming
Season 2011-122006-07
Team Atlanta HawksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Al Horford 11 31.6 12.4 2.4 4.6 7.0 2.2 0.9 1.3 1.5 1.9 5.2 9.4 .553 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 2.7 .733
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 %
Al Horford 3 36.0 15.3 1.7 6.7 8.3 2.7 1.3 1.3 4.0 3.7 6.7 11.3 .588 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.7 .750
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
Al Horford Yao Ming
Season 2012-132007-08
Team Atlanta HawksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Al Horford 74 37.2 17.4 2.6 7.6 10.2 3.2 1.1 1.1 2.0 2.2 7.8 14.3 .543 0.0 0.1 .500 1.8 2.8 .644
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 %
Al Horford 6 36.3 16.7 2.0 6.8 8.8 3.0 1.0 0.8 1.5 2.8 6.8 13.8 .494 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.5 .667
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Al Horford Yao Ming
Season 2013-142008-09
Team Atlanta HawksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Al Horford 29 33.0 18.6 2.3 6.1 8.4 2.6 0.9 1.5 2.2 1.9 8.2 14.5 .567 0.1 0.4 .364 2.0 2.9 .682
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 %
Al Horford ------- --- ----------
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
Al Horford Yao Ming
Season 2014-152010-11
Team Atlanta HawksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East 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 %
Al Horford 76 30.5 15.2 1.7 5.4 7.2 3.2 0.9 1.3 1.3 1.6 6.8 12.7 .538 0.1 0.5 .306 1.4 1.9 .759
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 %
Al Horford 16 32.6 14.4 2.5 6.1 8.6 3.7 0.8 1.4 1.6 2.1 6.7 13.2 .507 0.1 0.6 .222 0.9 1.3 .750
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Al Horford Yao Ming
Season 2015-16-
Team Atlanta Hawks-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Al Horford 82 32.1 15.2 1.8 5.5 7.3 3.2 0.8 1.5 1.3 2.0 6.5 12.8 .505 1.1 3.1 .344 1.3 1.6 .798
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Horford 10 32.7 13.4 1.3 5.2 6.5 3.1 1.2 2.4 1.7 2.5 5.4 11.6 .466 1.1 2.8 .393 1.5 1.6 .938
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Al Horford Yao Ming
Season 2016-17-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Al Horford 68 32.3 14.0 1.4 5.4 6.8 5.0 0.8 1.3 1.7 2.0 5.6 11.8 .473 1.3 3.6 .355 1.6 2.0 .800
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Horford 18 33.9 15.1 1.7 4.8 6.6 5.4 0.8 0.8 1.8 1.8 6.2 10.6 .584 1.5 2.9 .519 1.2 1.6 .759
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Al Horford Yao Ming
Season 2017-18-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Al Horford 72 31.6 12.9 1.4 5.9 7.4 4.7 0.6 1.1 1.8 1.9 5.1 10.5 .489 1.3 3.1 .429 1.3 1.7 .783
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Horford 19 35.7 15.7 1.7 6.6 8.3 3.3 1.0 1.2 1.7 2.1 5.8 10.7 .544 0.8 2.3 .349 3.3 3.9 .827
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Al Horford Yao Ming
Season 2018-19-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Al Horford 68 29.0 13.6 1.8 5.0 6.7 4.2 0.9 1.3 1.5 1.9 5.7 10.6 .535 1.1 3.0 .360 1.1 1.4 .821
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Horford 9 34.4 13.9 1.4 7.6 9.0 4.4 0.4 0.8 2.1 2.3 5.1 12.2 .418 2.0 4.9 .409 1.7 2.0 .833
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Al Horford Yao Ming
Season 2019-20-
Team Philadelphia 76ers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Al Horford 67 30.2 11.9 1.5 5.3 6.8 4.0 0.8 0.9 1.2 2.1 4.8 10.6 .450 1.5 4.2 .350 0.9 1.2 .763
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Horford 4 32.3 7.0 2.3 5.0 7.3 2.3 0.3 1.3 0.8 3.5 3.0 6.3 .480 0.0 1.0 .000 1.0 1.8 .571
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Al Horford Yao Ming
Season 2020-21-
Team Oklahoma City Thunder-
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 %
Al Horford 28 27.9 14.2 1.0 5.7 6.7 3.4 0.9 0.9 1.0 1.7 5.8 12.9 .450 2.0 5.4 .368 0.6 0.8 .818
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Horford ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 15
Al Horford Yao Ming
Season 2021-22-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Horford 69 29.1 10.2 1.6 6.1 7.7 3.4 0.7 1.3 0.9 1.9 3.9 8.2 .467 1.3 3.8 .336 1.2 1.4 .842
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Horford 23 35.4 12.0 1.5 7.8 9.3 3.3 0.8 1.3 1.3 2.8 4.4 8.4 .523 2.0 4.3 .480 1.2 1.6 .778
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 16
Al Horford Yao Ming
Season 2022-23-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Al Horford 63 30.5 9.8 1.2 5.0 6.2 3.0 0.5 1.0 0.6 1.9 3.6 7.6 .476 2.3 5.2 .446 0.2 0.3 .714
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Horford 20 30.9 6.7 1.5 5.7 7.2 3.0 1.1 1.7 0.6 2.4 2.6 6.6 .386 1.4 4.7 .298 0.2 0.2 .750
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 17
Al Horford Yao Ming
Season 2023-24-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics TBD-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Horford 65 26.8 8.6 1.3 5.1 6.4 2.6 0.6 1.0 0.7 1.4 3.3 6.4 .511 1.7 4.0 .419 0.4 0.5 .867
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Al Horford 5 25.6 8.0 1.4 5.6 7.0 1.8 0.6 0.2 0.4 1.0 3.2 5.4 .593 1.2 3.0 .400 0.4 0.8 .500
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
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