Anthony Davis vs. Shaquille O'Neal Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Shaquille O'Neal 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

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 14 years in the NBA, 5 less than Shaquille O'Neal, who played 19. Anthony Davis had the first of his seasons in 2012-13, while Shaquille O'Neal had his rookie season in 1992-93. 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 14 6 2012-13 to 2025-26
Shaquille O'Neal 19 17 1992-93 to 2010-11

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Anthony Davis Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2012-131992-93
Team New Orleans HornetsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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:+17+9.1+9.9+1.6+4.0+5.7+0.9+0.5+1.7-2.4-1.5+3.5+5.5+.046+0.1+2.7+5.4+.159
Shaquille O'Neal 81 37.9 23.4 4.2 9.6 13.9 1.9 0.7 3.5 3.8 4.0 9.0 16.1 .562 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 8.9 .592
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Anthony Davis nor Shaquille O'Neal played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Anthony Davis Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2013-141993-94
Team New Orleans PelicansOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMagic Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+14+4.6+8.5+1.6+1.5+3.2+0.8+0.4+0.1-1.1-0.5+4.0+4.6+.080+0.1+0.6+3.9+.237
Shaquille O'Neal 81 39.8 29.3 4.7 8.5 13.2 2.4 0.9 2.9 2.7 3.5 11.8 19.6 .599 0.0 0.0 - 5.8 10.5 .554
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 3 42.0 20.7 5.7 7.7 13.3 2.3 0.7 3.0 3.3 4.3 7.7 15.0 .511 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 11.3 .471

Season 3

Anthony Davis Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2014-151994-95
Team New Orleans PelicansOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pelicans Lost West Conf 1st RdMagic Lost NBA Finals
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:+11+0.9+4.9+1.7+0.4+1.2+0.5+0.6+0.5-1.2-1.2+2.4+2.6+.048+0.1+.083+0.3+4.0+.272
Shaquille O'Neal 79 37.0 29.3 4.2 7.3 11.4 2.7 0.9 2.4 2.6 3.3 11.8 20.2 .583 0.0 0.1 .000 5.8 10.8 .533
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:+17+4.7+5.8+2.2+1.4+0.9+1.3+0.4+1.1-0.2-1.0+2.5+5.7+.037+0.5+0.9+3.4+.318
Shaquille O'Neal 21 38.3 25.7 4.5 7.4 11.9 3.3 0.9 1.9 3.5 4.0 9.3 16.1 .577 0.0 0.0 - 7.1 12.4 .571

Season 4

Anthony Davis Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2015-161995-96
Team New Orleans PelicansOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMagic Lost East Conf Finals
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:+7+0.5+2.3+1.3+0.4+0.7+1.0+0.7+0.1-0.9-1.2+1.8+0.5+.080+0.6+1.8+0.7+2.5+.271
Shaquille O'Neal 54 36.0 26.6 3.4 7.7 11.0 2.9 0.6 2.1 2.9 3.6 11.0 19.1 .573 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 9.5 .487
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 12 38.3 25.8 4.1 5.9 10.0 4.6 0.8 1.3 3.7 3.3 10.9 18.0 .606 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 10.2 .393

Season 5

Anthony Davis Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2016-171996-97
Team New Orleans PelicansLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf Semis
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:+24+2.0+1.8+1.5+0.8+0.7+1.0+0.4+0.7-0.5-1.3+0.5+0.9+.052+0.5+1.7+.299+2.4+0.8+.318
Shaquille O'Neal 51 38.1 26.2 3.8 8.7 12.5 3.1 0.9 2.9 2.9 3.5 10.8 19.4 .557 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 9.4 .484
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 9 36.2 26.9 4.2 6.3 10.6 3.2 0.6 1.9 2.4 4.1 9.9 19.2 .514 0.0 0.0 - 7.1 11.7 .610

Season 6

Anthony Davis Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2017-181997-98
Team New Orleans PelicansLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pelicans Lost West Conf SemisLakers Lost West 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:+15+0.1+0.2+1.0+0.7+0.3+0.1+0.8+0.2-0.7-1.1+0.8+0.4+.050+0.7+2.2+0.6+3.4+.301
Shaquille O'Neal 60 36.3 28.3 3.5 7.9 11.4 2.4 0.7 2.4 2.9 3.2 11.2 19.1 .584 0.0 0.0 - 6.0 11.4 .527
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:+4+1.3+0.4+1.0+4.3+3.2+1.2+1.5+0.3-0.7-0.1+0.4+2.9+.092+0.7+2.4+0.3+5.1+.325
Shaquille O'Neal 13 38.5 30.5 3.7 6.5 10.2 2.9 0.5 2.6 3.3 3.2 12.2 19.8 .612 0.0 0.0 - 6.2 12.2 .503

Season 7

Anthony Davis Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2018-191998-99
Team New Orleans PelicansLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf Semis
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:+7+1.8+0.4+0.7+2.0+1.3+1.6+0.9+0.7-0.5-0.8+0.9+0.2+.059+0.9+2.6+0.6+2.5+.254
Shaquille O'Neal 49 34.8 26.3 3.8 6.9 10.7 2.3 0.7 1.7 2.5 3.2 10.4 18.1 .576 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 10.2 .540
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 8 39.4 26.6 5.5 6.1 11.6 2.3 0.9 2.9 2.3 3.6 9.9 19.4 .510 0.0 0.0 - 6.9 14.8 .466

Season 8

Anthony Davis Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2019-201999-00
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+17+5.6+3.6+2.0+2.4+4.3+0.6+1.0+0.7-0.3-0.7+3.2+3.4+.071+1.2+3.5+1.7+1.9+.322
Shaquille O'Neal 79 40.0 29.7 4.3 9.4 13.6 3.8 0.5 3.0 2.8 3.2 12.1 21.1 .574 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 10.4 .524
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
difference:+2+6.9+3.0+2.6+3.2+5.7+0.4+0.6+1.0-0.1-0.2+2.6+4.9+.005+1.1+2.9+1.2+4.4+.376
Shaquille O'Neal 23 43.5 30.7 5.2 10.3 15.4 3.1 0.6 2.4 2.4 2.9 12.4 22.0 .566 0.0 0.0 - 5.9 12.9 .456

Season 9

Anthony Davis Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2020-212000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+38+7.2+6.9+2.2+2.6+4.8+0.6+0.7+1.2-0.8-1.8+2.6+2.2+.081+0.7+2.8+2.3+7.2+.225
Shaquille O'Neal 74 39.5 28.7 3.9 8.8 12.7 3.7 0.6 2.8 2.9 3.5 11.0 19.2 .572 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 13.1 .513
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:+11+13.5+13.0+4.3+4.6+8.8+0.6+0.2+0.8-2.4-1.6+6.9+9.1+.152+0.4+2.2+0.4+4.1+.308
Shaquille O'Neal 16 42.3 30.4 5.7 9.8 15.4 3.2 0.4 2.4 3.6 3.4 11.9 21.5 .555 0.0 0.0 - 6.6 12.5 .525

Season 10

Anthony Davis Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2021-222001-02
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+27+1.0+4.0+0.8+0.8+0.1+0.6+0.3-0.5-0.6+1.3+0.9+.047+0.3+1.8+1.5+4.6+.158
Shaquille O'Neal 67 36.1 27.2 3.5 7.2 10.7 3.0 0.6 2.0 2.6 3.0 10.6 18.3 .579 0.0 0.0 - 5.9 10.7 .555
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 19 40.8 28.5 3.5 9.1 12.6 2.8 0.5 2.5 3.3 3.3 10.7 20.2 .529 0.0 0.0 - 7.1 10.9 .649

Season 11

Anthony Davis Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2022-232002-03
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsLakers Lost West Conf Semis
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:+11+3.8+1.6+0.4+1.9+1.4+0.5+0.5+0.4-0.7-0.8+0.7+0.9+.011+0.3+1.3+0.5+2.9+.162
Shaquille O'Neal 67 37.8 27.5 3.9 7.2 11.1 3.1 0.6 2.4 2.9 3.4 10.4 18.1 .574 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 10.8 .622
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:+4+2.1+4.4+2.9+2.1+0.7+1.1+0.8+0.3-0.8-0.1+1.8+2.9+.015+0.3+0.9+1.0+4.2+.231
Shaquille O'Neal 12 40.1 27.0 5.3 9.6 14.8 3.7 0.6 2.8 2.9 2.8 10.1 18.8 .535 0.0 0.0 - 6.8 11.0 .621

Season 12

Anthony Davis Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2023-242003-04
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Cup All-Tournament Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
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:+9+1.3+3.2+0.6+1.7+1.1+0.6+0.7+0.2-0.8-1.1+1.1+2.8+.028+0.4+1.4+0.6+3.3+.326
Shaquille O'Neal 67 36.8 21.5 3.7 7.8 11.5 2.9 0.5 2.5 2.9 3.4 8.3 14.1 .584 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 10.1 .490
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:+17+0.3+6.3+1.1+3.5+2.4+1.5+0.1+1.2-0.3-0.3+3.5+4.6+.041+1.0+0.8+6.3+.379
Shaquille O'Neal 22 41.9 21.5 4.1 9.1 13.2 2.5 0.3 2.8 2.5 4.1 8.3 14.0 .593 0.0 0.0 - 5.0 11.5 .429

Season 13

Anthony Davis Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2024-252004-05
Team Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas MavericksMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHeat Lost East Conf Finals
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:+22+0.6+1.8+0.9+2.0+1.2+0.8+0.7+0.1-0.6-1.7+0.2+2.8+.085+0.7+2.4+0.8+3.3+.314
Shaquille O'Neal 73 34.1 22.9 3.5 6.9 10.4 2.7 0.5 2.3 2.8 3.6 9.0 15.0 .601 0.0 0.0 - 4.8 10.5 .461
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 13 33.0 19.4 1.5 6.4 7.8 1.9 0.4 1.5 3.2 4.0 7.8 13.9 .558 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 8.2 .472

Season 14

Anthony Davis Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2025-262005-06
Team Dallas MavericksMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis 5 29.8 20.8 3.4 6.8 10.2 2.2 1.6 1.2 2.2 2.6 7.8 15.0 .520 0.6 2.2 .273 4.6 6.2 .742
difference:+54+0.8+0.8+0.5+0.5+1.0+0.3+1.2+0.6-0.6-1.3+0.3+1.4+.080+0.6+2.2+0.9+1.8+.273
Shaquille O'Neal 59 30.6 20.0 2.9 6.3 9.2 1.9 0.4 1.8 2.8 3.9 8.1 13.6 .600 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 8.0 .469
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Anthony Davis DNP------ --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 23 33.0 18.4 3.3 6.5 9.8 1.7 0.5 1.5 3.7 3.7 7.7 12.7 .612 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 7.9 .374

Additional Years

* Shaquille O'Neal played 5 seasons more than Anthony Davis in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 19, from 2007 to 2011—Shaquille O'Neal played in 4 Playoffs.

In those 5 extra years over Anthony Davis, Shaquille O'Neal got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 2 All-Star Game
Achievement 1 All-Star Game MVP