Bam Adebayo vs. Hakeem Olajuwon Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Hakeem Olajuwon and Bam Adebayo, 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 / 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.

Bam Adebayo played 8 years in the NBA, 10 less than Hakeem Olajuwon, who played 18. Bam Adebayo had the first of his seasons in 2017-18, while Hakeem Olajuwon had his rookie season in 1984-85. 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
Bam Adebayo 8 7 2017-18 to 2024-25
Hakeem Olajuwon 18 15 1984-85 to 2001-02

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8

Rookie Season
Bam Adebayo Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2017-181984-85
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bam Adebayo 69 19.8 6.9 1.7 3.8 5.5 1.5 0.5 0.6 1.0 2.0 2.5 4.9 .512 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.6 .721
difference:+13+15.7+13.7+3.7+2.7+6.4+0.1+0.7+2.1-1.9-2.2+5.8+10.4+.026+0.1+2.2+4.1+.108
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 35.5 20.6 5.4 6.5 11.9 1.4 1.2 2.7 2.9 4.2 8.3 15.3 .538 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 6.7 .613
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bam Adebayo 5 15.4 3.4 1.8 2.2 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.4 1.6 1.4 3.0 .467 0.0 0.2 .000 0.6 2.8 .214
difference:+22.0+17.8+4.8+4.2+9.0+1.4+1.4+2.2-1.8-2.8+7.0+14.6+.010+0.2+3.8+6.4+.264
Hakeem Olajuwon 5 37.4 21.2 6.6 6.4 13.0 1.4 1.4 2.6 2.2 4.4 8.4 17.6 .477 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 9.2 .478

Season 2
Bam Adebayo Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2018-191985-86
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bam Adebayo 82 23.3 8.9 2.0 5.3 7.3 2.2 0.9 0.8 1.5 2.5 3.4 5.9 .576 0.0 0.2 .200 2.0 2.8 .735
difference:+14+13.0+14.6+2.9+1.3+4.2+0.2+1.1+2.6-1.4-1.5+5.8+11.6+.050+0.2+3.1+5.1+.090
Hakeem Olajuwon 68 36.3 23.5 4.9 6.6 11.5 2.0 2.0 3.4 2.9 4.0 9.2 17.5 .526 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 7.9 .645
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bam Adebayo DNP------ --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 20 38.3 26.9 5.1 6.8 11.8 2.0 2.0 3.5 2.2 4.4 10.3 19.4 .530 0.0 0.1 .000 6.4 10.0 .638

Season 3
Bam Adebayo Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2019-201986-87
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost NBA FinalsRockets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bam Adebayo 72 33.6 15.9 2.4 7.8 10.2 5.1 1.1 1.3 2.8 2.5 6.1 11.0 .557 0.0 0.2 .143 3.7 5.3 .691
difference:+3+3.2+7.5+1.8+0.6+1.2+2.2+0.8+2.1-0.2-1.4+2.9+6.8+.049+0.1+.057+1.6+2.3+.011
Hakeem Olajuwon 75 36.8 23.4 4.2 7.2 11.4 2.9 1.9 3.4 3.0 3.9 9.0 17.8 .508 0.0 0.1 .200 5.3 7.6 .702
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bam Adebayo 19 36.2 17.8 2.5 7.8 10.3 4.4 1.0 0.8 2.5 3.1 6.5 11.6 .564 0.0 0.1 .000 4.7 6.1 .783
difference:+9+2.7+11.4+1.4+0.4+1.0+1.9+0.3+3.5-1.1-1.3+4.5+6.3+.051+2.5+3.6+.041
Hakeem Olajuwon 10 38.9 29.2 3.9 7.4 11.3 2.5 1.3 4.3 3.6 4.4 11.0 17.9 .615 0.0 0.1 .000 7.2 9.7 .742

Season 4
Bam Adebayo Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2020-211987-88
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bam Adebayo 64 33.5 18.7 2.2 6.7 9.0 5.4 1.2 1.0 2.6 2.3 7.1 12.5 .570 0.0 0.1 .250 4.4 5.5 .799
difference:+15+2.3+4.1+1.6+1.6+3.1+3.3+0.9+1.7-0.5-1.8+1.9+5.0+.056+.250+0.4+1.4+.104
Hakeem Olajuwon 79 35.8 22.8 3.8 8.3 12.1 2.1 2.1 2.7 3.1 4.1 9.0 17.5 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 4.8 6.9 .695
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bam Adebayo 4 34.0 15.5 3.5 5.8 9.3 4.3 1.3 0.5 2.8 2.8 6.5 14.3 .456 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.3 .769
difference:+6.5+22.0+1.5+6.0+7.5+2.5+1.0+2.3-0.5-0.7+7.5+10.2+.115+0.3+7.0+7.5+.115
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.5 37.5 5.0 11.8 16.8 1.8 2.3 2.8 2.3 3.5 14.0 24.5 .571 0.0 0.3 .000 9.5 10.8 .884

Season 5
Bam Adebayo Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2021-221988-89
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf FinalsRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bam Adebayo 56 32.6 19.1 2.4 7.6 10.1 3.4 1.4 0.8 2.6 3.1 7.3 13.0 .557 0.0 0.1 .000 4.6 6.1 .753
difference:+26+4.3+5.7+1.7+1.8+3.4+1.6+1.2+2.6-0.8-0.9+2.3+6.0+.049+0.9+1.9+.057
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 36.9 24.8 4.1 9.4 13.5 1.8 2.6 3.4 3.4 4.0 9.6 19.0 .508 0.0 0.1 .000 5.5 8.0 .696
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bam Adebayo 18 34.1 14.8 2.1 5.9 8.0 2.7 1.0 0.7 2.1 3.1 5.8 9.7 .594 0.0 0.1 .000 3.2 4.2 .763
difference:+14+6.4+10.5+1.4+3.6+5.0+0.3+1.5+2.1-0.4-1.2+4.7+10.6+.075+0.1+1.1+2.1+.083
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.5 25.3 3.5 9.5 13.0 3.0 2.5 2.8 2.5 4.3 10.5 20.3 .519 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.3 .680

Season 6
Bam Adebayo Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2022-231989-90
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement Blocks Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost NBA FinalsRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bam Adebayo 75 34.6 20.4 2.5 6.7 9.2 3.2 1.2 0.8 2.5 2.8 8.0 14.9 .540 0.0 0.2 .083 4.3 5.4 .806
difference:+7+3.5+3.9+1.1+3.7+4.8+0.3+0.9+3.8-1.4-1.0+1.8+4.7+.039+0.1+.084+0.4+1.1+.093
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 38.1 24.3 3.6 10.4 14.0 2.9 2.1 4.6 3.9 3.8 9.8 19.6 .501 0.0 0.1 .167 4.7 6.5 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bam Adebayo 23 37.0 17.9 2.7 7.1 9.9 3.7 0.8 0.7 2.7 3.1 7.3 15.1 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.1 .821
difference:+19+3.3+0.6+1.1+0.7+1.6+1.7+1.7+5.1-0.1-1.7+0.5+2.4+.038+0.1+0.4+0.2+.115
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.3 18.5 3.8 7.8 11.5 2.0 2.5 5.8 2.8 4.8 7.8 17.5 .443 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.3 .706

Season 7
Bam Adebayo Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2023-241990-91
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Blocks Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West 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%
Bam Adebayo 71 34.0 19.3 2.2 8.1 10.4 3.9 1.1 0.9 2.3 2.2 7.5 14.3 .521 0.2 0.6 .357 4.1 5.5 .755
difference:+15+2.8+1.9+1.7+1.7+3.4+1.6+1.1+3.0-0.8-1.7+1.2+2.8+.013+0.2+0.5+.357+0.3+0.6+.014
Hakeem Olajuwon 56 36.8 21.2 3.9 9.8 13.8 2.3 2.2 3.9 3.1 3.9 8.7 17.1 .508 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 4.9 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bam Adebayo 5 38.4 22.6 2.2 7.2 9.4 3.8 0.4 0.0 1.6 3.0 9.6 19.4 .495 0.4 2.0 .200 3.0 4.2 .714
difference:+2+4.6+0.6+1.8+3.5+5.3+1.8+0.9+2.7-1.1-0.7+0.9+4.4+.083+0.4+1.7+.200+1.7+1.5+.110
Hakeem Olajuwon 3 43.0 22.0 4.0 10.7 14.7 2.0 1.3 2.7 2.7 3.7 8.7 15.0 .578 0.0 0.3 .000 4.7 5.7 .824

Season 8
Bam Adebayo Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2024-251991-92
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdDid 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%
Bam Adebayo 78 34.3 18.1 2.4 7.2 9.6 4.3 1.3 0.7 2.1 2.1 6.9 14.3 .485 1.0 2.8 .357 3.2 4.2 .765
difference:+8+3.4+3.5+1.1+1.4+2.5+2.1+0.5+3.6-0.6-1.7+1.5+2.5+.017+1.0+2.8+1.5+1.9+.001
Hakeem Olajuwon 70 37.7 21.6 3.5 8.6 12.1 2.2 1.8 4.3 2.7 3.8 8.4 16.8 .502 0.0 0.0 - 4.7 6.1 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bam Adebayo 4 38.3 17.5 4.0 7.0 11.0 4.3 1.0 0.3 3.0 2.3 7.0 16.0 .438 1.8 5.3 .333 1.8 2.8 .636
Hakeem Olajuwon DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Hakeem Olajuwon played 10 seasons more than Bam Adebayo in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 9 to 18, from 1993 to 2002—Hakeem Olajuwon played in 8 Playoffs and won two NBA Championships.

In those 10 extra years over Bam Adebayo, Hakeem Olajuwon got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 2 Finals MVP
Achievement 1 Season MVP
Achievement 3 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 2 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 2 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 2 All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement 2 Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement 1 Blocks Leader
Achievement 5 All-Star Game
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