Anthony Davis vs. Dwight Howard Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dwight Howard and Anthony Davis, 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 / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings / 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.

Anthony Davis played 13 years in the NBA, 5 less than Dwight Howard, who played 18. Anthony Davis had the first of his seasons in 2012-13, while Dwight Howard had his rookie season in 2004-05. 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 achievements, 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
Anthony Davis 13 6 2012-13 to 2024-25
Dwight Howard 18 12 2004-05 to 2021-22

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season

Anthony Davis Dwight Howard
Season 2012-132004-05
Team New Orleans HornetsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 64 28.8 13.5 2.6 5.6 8.2 1.0 1.2 1.8 1.4 2.5 5.5 10.6 .516 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 3.5 .751
difference:+18+3.8+1.5+0.9+0.9+1.8+0.1+0.3+0.1-0.6-0.3+1.2+2.3+.004+0.1+0.8+1.5+.080
Dwight Howard 82 32.6 12.0 3.5 6.5 10.0 0.9 0.9 1.7 2.0 2.8 4.3 8.3 .520 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.0 .671
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Anthony Davis nor Dwight Howard played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Anthony Davis Dwight Howard
Season 2013-142005-06
Team New Orleans PelicansOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 67 35.2 20.8 3.1 7.0 10.0 1.6 1.3 2.8 1.6 3.0 7.8 15.0 .519 0.0 0.1 .222 5.2 6.6 .791
difference:+15+1.6+5.0+0.4+2.0+2.5+0.1+0.5+1.4-1.0-0.4+2.1+4.3+.012+0.1+0.9+0.7+.196
Dwight Howard 82 36.8 15.8 3.5 9.0 12.5 1.5 0.8 1.4 2.6 3.4 5.7 10.7 .531 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 7.3 .595
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Anthony Davis nor Dwight Howard played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3

Anthony Davis Dwight Howard
Season 2014-152006-07
Team New Orleans PelicansOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pelicans Lost West Conf 1st RdMagic Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 68 36.1 24.4 2.5 7.7 10.2 2.2 1.5 2.9 1.4 2.1 9.4 17.6 .535 0.0 0.2 .083 5.5 6.8 .805
difference:+14+0.8+6.8+1.0+1.1+2.1+0.3+0.6+1.0-2.5-0.9+3.0+7.0+.068+0.2+0.7+1.3+.219
Dwight Howard 82 36.9 17.6 3.5 8.8 12.3 1.9 0.9 1.9 3.9 3.0 6.4 10.6 .603 0.0 0.0 - 4.8 8.1 .586
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 4 43.0 31.5 2.3 8.8 11.0 2.0 1.3 3.0 3.3 3.0 11.8 21.8 .540 0.0 0.5 .000 8.0 9.0 .889
difference:+1.2+16.2+1.7+2.0+3.8+0.2+0.8+2.0-1.0-0.3+6.0+11.3+.008+0.5+4.2+0.7+.434
Dwight Howard 4 41.8 15.3 4.0 10.8 14.8 1.8 0.5 1.0 4.3 3.3 5.8 10.5 .548 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 8.3 .455

Season 4

Anthony Davis Dwight Howard
Season 2015-162007-08
Team New Orleans PelicansOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMagic Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 61 35.5 24.3 2.1 8.1 10.3 1.9 1.3 2.0 2.0 2.4 9.2 18.6 .493 0.6 1.8 .324 5.3 7.0 .758
difference:+21+2.2+3.6+1.3+2.7+3.9+0.6+0.4+0.1-1.2-0.9+2.1+6.7+.106+0.6+1.8+1.2+3.9+.168
Dwight Howard 82 37.7 20.7 3.4 10.8 14.2 1.3 0.9 2.1 3.2 3.3 7.1 11.9 .599 0.0 0.0 - 6.5 10.9 .590
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
Dwight Howard 10 42.1 18.9 6.0 9.8 15.8 0.9 0.8 3.4 3.2 3.8 7.2 12.4 .581 0.0 0.0 - 4.5 8.3 .542

Season 5

Anthony Davis Dwight Howard
Season 2016-172008-09
Team New Orleans PelicansOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement Blocks Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Did Not PlayMagic Lost NBA Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 75 36.1 28.0 2.3 9.5 11.8 2.1 1.3 2.2 2.4 2.2 10.3 20.3 .505 0.5 1.8 .299 6.9 8.6 .802
difference:+4+0.4+7.4+2.0+0.1+2.0+0.7+0.3+0.7-0.6-1.2+3.2+7.9+.067+0.5+1.8+0.5+2.1+.208
Dwight Howard 79 35.7 20.6 4.3 9.6 13.8 1.4 1.0 2.9 3.0 3.4 7.1 12.4 .572 0.0 0.0 - 6.4 10.7 .594
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
Dwight Howard 23 39.3 20.3 4.3 11.0 15.3 1.9 0.9 2.6 2.9 4.4 7.0 11.7 .601 0.0 0.1 .000 6.3 9.9 .636

Season 6

Anthony Davis Dwight Howard
Season 2017-182009-10
Team New Orleans PelicansOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement Blocks LeaderAchievement Blocks Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pelicans Lost West Conf SemisMagic Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 75 36.4 28.1 2.5 8.6 11.1 2.3 1.5 2.6 2.2 2.1 10.4 19.5 .534 0.7 2.2 .340 6.6 8.0 .828
difference:+7+1.7+9.8+1.0+1.1+2.1+0.5+0.6+0.2-1.1-1.4+4.2+9.3+.078+0.7+2.1+.340+0.7+2.0+.236
Dwight Howard 82 34.7 18.3 3.5 9.7 13.2 1.8 0.9 2.8 3.3 3.5 6.2 10.2 .612 0.0 0.1 .000 5.9 10.0 .592
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 9 39.8 30.1 2.7 10.8 13.4 1.7 2.0 2.3 2.6 3.3 11.8 22.7 .520 0.7 2.4 .273 5.9 7.1 .828
difference:+5+4.3+12.0+2.4+2.3+0.3+1.2+1.2-1.0-0.9+5.7+12.7+.094+0.7+2.4+4.2+.309
Dwight Howard 14 35.5 18.1 2.7 8.4 11.1 1.4 0.8 3.5 3.6 4.2 6.1 10.0 .614 0.0 0.0 - 5.9 11.3 .519

Season 7

Anthony Davis Dwight Howard
Season 2018-192010-11
Team New Orleans PelicansOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMagic Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 56 33.0 25.9 3.1 8.9 12.0 3.9 1.6 2.4 2.0 2.4 9.5 18.3 .517 0.9 2.6 .331 6.1 7.7 .794
difference:+22+4.6+3.0+0.9+1.2+2.1+2.5+0.2-1.6-0.9+1.6+4.9+.076+0.9+2.5+.331+0.9+4.0+.198
Dwight Howard 78 37.6 22.9 4.0 10.1 14.1 1.4 1.4 2.4 3.6 3.3 7.9 13.4 .593 0.0 0.1 .000 7.0 11.7 .596
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
Dwight Howard 6 43.0 27.0 4.5 11.0 15.5 0.5 0.7 1.8 5.5 4.2 8.5 13.5 .630 0.0 0.2 .000 10.0 14.7 .682

Season 8

Anthony Davis Dwight Howard
Season 2019-202011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 62 34.4 26.1 2.3 7.0 9.3 3.2 1.5 2.3 2.5 2.5 8.9 17.7 .503 1.2 3.5 .330 7.2 8.5 .846
difference:+8+3.9+5.5+1.4+3.8+5.2+1.3+0.2-0.7-0.4+1.2+4.3+.070+1.2+3.4+.330+2.0+2.1+.355
Dwight Howard 54 38.3 20.6 3.7 10.8 14.5 1.9 1.5 2.1 3.2 2.9 7.7 13.4 .573 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 10.6 .491
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 21 36.6 27.7 2.6 7.1 9.7 3.5 1.2 1.4 2.5 2.7 9.8 17.1 .571 1.1 2.9 .383 7.1 8.5 .832
Dwight Howard DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

Anthony Davis Dwight Howard
Season 2020-212012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 36 32.3 21.8 1.7 6.2 7.9 3.1 1.3 1.6 2.1 1.7 8.4 17.0 .491 0.7 2.8 .260 4.4 5.9 .738
difference:+40+3.5+4.7+1.6+2.9+4.5+1.7+0.2+0.8-0.9-2.1+2.2+6.3+.087+0.7+2.7+.093+0.3+3.6+.246
Dwight Howard 76 35.8 17.1 3.3 9.1 12.4 1.4 1.1 2.4 3.0 3.8 6.2 10.7 .578 0.0 0.1 .167 4.7 9.5 .492
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 5 28.8 17.4 1.4 5.2 6.6 2.6 0.6 1.6 1.2 1.8 5.0 12.4 .403 0.4 2.2 .182 7.0 8.4 .833
difference:+1+2.7+0.4+1.1+3.1+4.2+1.6+0.1+0.4-2.8-2.5+1.5+1.9+.216+0.4+2.2+3.0+0.6+.389
Dwight Howard 4 31.5 17.0 2.5 8.3 10.8 1.0 0.5 2.0 4.0 4.3 6.5 10.5 .619 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 9.0 .444

Season 10

Anthony Davis Dwight Howard
Season 2021-222013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 40 35.1 23.2 2.7 7.2 9.9 3.1 1.2 2.3 2.1 2.4 9.3 17.4 .532 0.3 1.8 .186 4.4 6.1 .713
difference:+31+1.4+4.9+0.6+1.7+2.3+1.3+0.4+0.5-1.1-1.0+2.6+6.1+.059+0.3+1.7+.100+0.5+2.9+.166
Dwight Howard 71 33.7 18.3 3.3 8.9 12.2 1.8 0.8 1.8 3.2 3.4 6.7 11.3 .591 0.0 0.1 .286 4.9 9.0 .547
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
Dwight Howard 6 38.5 26.0 4.5 9.2 13.7 1.8 0.7 2.8 3.2 4.2 9.7 17.7 .547 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 10.7 .625

Season 11

Anthony Davis Dwight Howard
Season 2022-232014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsRockets Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 56 34.0 25.9 3.5 9.1 12.5 2.6 1.1 2.0 2.2 2.6 9.7 17.2 .563 0.3 1.3 .257 6.2 7.9 .784
difference:+15+4.2+10.1+0.8+1.3+2.0+1.4+0.4+0.7-0.6-0.7+3.6+6.9+.030+0.3+1.3+2.7+1.3+.256
Dwight Howard 41 29.8 15.8 2.7 7.8 10.5 1.2 0.7 1.3 2.8 3.3 6.1 10.3 .593 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 6.6 .528
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 16 38.0 22.6 2.4 11.7 14.1 2.6 1.4 3.1 2.1 2.9 8.3 15.9 .520 0.3 0.9 .333 5.8 6.8 .852
difference:+1+4.2+6.2+1.2+1.3+0.1+1.4+0.8-0.1-0.6+2.1+5.2+.057+0.3+0.9+1.8+2.9+.440
Dwight Howard 17 33.8 16.4 3.6 10.4 14.0 1.2 1.4 2.3 2.2 3.5 6.2 10.7 .577 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 9.7 .412

Season 12

Anthony Davis Dwight Howard
Season 2023-242015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Cup All-Tournament Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
Others NBA Cup NBA Cup Champion-
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 76 35.5 24.7 3.1 9.5 12.6 3.5 1.2 2.3 2.1 2.3 9.4 16.9 .556 0.4 1.4 .271 5.5 6.8 .816
difference:+5+3.4+11.0+0.3+1.1+0.8+2.1+0.2+0.7-0.2-0.8+4.2+8.4+.064+0.4+1.3+.271+2.2+0.1+.327
Dwight Howard 71 32.1 13.7 3.4 8.4 11.8 1.4 1.0 1.6 2.3 3.1 5.2 8.5 .620 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 6.7 .489
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 5 41.6 27.8 3.0 12.6 15.6 4.0 0.4 1.6 2.2 3.8 11.8 18.6 .634 0.0 1.0 .000 4.2 5.2 .808
difference:+5.6+14.6+2.2+3.8+1.6+2.4+0.4+0.2-0.2-0.4+6.6+9.0+.092+0.8+1.4+2.4+.440
Dwight Howard 5 36.0 13.2 5.2 8.8 14.0 1.6 0.8 1.4 2.4 4.2 5.2 9.6 .542 0.0 0.2 .000 2.8 7.6 .368

Season 13

Anthony Davis Dwight Howard
Season 2024-252016-17
Team Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas MavericksAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 51 33.5 24.7 2.6 8.9 11.6 3.5 1.2 2.2 2.2 1.9 9.2 17.8 .516 0.7 2.4 .282 5.6 7.2 .775
difference:+23+3.8+11.2+1.4+0.2+1.1+2.1+0.3+1.0-0.1-0.8+4.0+9.5+.117+0.7+2.4+2.5+1.5+.242
Dwight Howard 74 29.7 13.5 4.0 8.7 12.7 1.4 0.9 1.2 2.3 2.7 5.2 8.3 .633 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 5.7 .533
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
Dwight Howard 6 26.2 8.0 3.0 7.7 10.7 1.3 1.0 0.8 1.8 3.5 3.0 6.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.2 .632

Additional Years

* Dwight Howard played 5 seasons more than Anthony Davis in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 18, from 2018 to 2022—Dwight Howard played in two Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.