Bernard King vs. Shaquille O'Neal Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Shaquille O'Neal and Bernard King, 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 / 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.

Bernard King played 14 years in the NBA, 5 less than Shaquille O'Neal, who played 19. Bernard King had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, 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
Bernard King 14 5 1977-78 to 1992-93
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

Bernard King Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1977-781992-93
Team New Jersey NetsOrlando 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%
Bernard King 79 39.1 24.2 3.4 6.2 9.5 2.4 1.5 0.5 3.9 3.8 10.1 21.1 .479 - - - 4.0 5.8 .677
difference:+2+1.2+0.8+0.8+3.4+4.4+0.5+0.8+3.0-0.1-0.2+1.1+5.0+.083+1.3+3.1+.085
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 Bernard King nor Shaquille O'Neal played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Bernard King Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1978-791993-94
Team New Jersey NetsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdMagic 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%
Bernard King 82 34.9 21.6 3.1 5.1 8.2 3.6 1.4 0.5 3.9 4.0 8.7 16.6 .522 - - - 4.3 7.5 .564
difference:+1+4.9+7.7+1.6+3.4+5.0+1.2+0.5+2.4-1.2-0.5+3.1+3.0+.077+1.5+3.0+.010
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%
Bernard King 2 40.5 26.0 2.5 3.0 5.5 3.5 2.0 0.0 3.0 5.0 10.5 21.0 .500 - - - 5.0 12.0 .417
difference:+1+1.5+5.3+3.2+4.7+7.8+1.2+1.3+3.0-0.3-0.7+2.8+6.0+.011+0.3+0.7+.054
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

Bernard King Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1979-801994-95
Team Utah JazzOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did not playMagic 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%
Bernard King 19 22.1 9.3 1.3 3.4 4.6 2.7 0.4 0.2 2.6 3.5 3.7 7.2 .518 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.3 .540
difference:+60+14.9+20.0+2.9+3.9+6.8+0.5+2.2-0.2+8.1+13.0+.065+0.1+4.0+7.5+.007
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%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
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

Bernard King Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1980-811995-96
Team Golden State WarriorsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement 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%
Bernard King 81 36.0 21.9 2.2 4.6 6.8 3.5 0.9 0.4 3.3 3.8 9.0 15.4 .588 0.0 0.1 .333 3.8 5.4 .703
difference:+27+4.7+1.2+3.1+4.2+0.6+0.3+1.7-0.4-0.2+2.0+3.7+.015+0.1+0.8+4.1+.216
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%
Bernard King 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

Bernard King Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1981-821996-97
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
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%
Bernard King 79 36.2 23.2 1.8 4.2 5.9 3.6 1.0 0.3 3.4 3.6 9.4 16.5 .566 0.0 0.1 .200 4.5 6.3 .705
difference:+28+1.9+3.0+2.0+4.5+6.6+0.5+0.1+2.6-0.5-0.1+1.4+2.9+.009+.200+3.1+.221
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%
Bernard King 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

Bernard King Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1982-831997-98
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East 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%
Bernard King 68 32.5 21.9 1.5 3.3 4.8 2.9 1.3 0.2 2.9 3.4 8.9 16.8 .528 0.0 0.1 .000 4.1 5.7 .722
difference:+8+3.8+6.4+2.0+4.6+6.6+0.5+0.6+2.2-0.2+2.3+2.3+.056+0.1+1.9+5.7+.195
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%
Bernard King 6 30.7 23.5 1.3 2.7 4.0 2.2 0.3 0.0 1.7 2.7 9.3 16.2 .577 0.2 0.5 .333 4.7 5.8 .800
difference:+7+7.8+7.0+2.4+3.8+6.2+0.7+0.2+2.6-1.6-0.5+2.9+3.6+.035+0.2+0.5+1.5+6.4+.297
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

Bernard King Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1983-841998-99
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisLakers 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%
Bernard King 77 34.6 26.3 1.6 3.5 5.1 2.1 1.0 0.2 2.6 3.5 10.3 18.1 .572 0.0 0.1 .000 5.7 7.3 .779
difference:+28+0.2+2.2+3.4+5.6+0.2+0.3+1.5-0.1-0.3+0.1+.004+0.1+0.2+2.9+.239
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%
Bernard King 12 39.8 34.8 2.3 3.8 6.2 3.0 1.2 0.5 2.6 4.0 13.5 23.5 .574 0.0 0.1 .000 7.8 10.3 .756
difference:+4+0.4+8.2+3.2+2.3+5.4+0.7+0.3+2.4-0.3-0.4+3.6+4.1+.064+0.1+0.9+4.5+.290
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

Bernard King Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1984-851999-00
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Scoring LeaderAchievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Did not playNBA 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%
Bernard King 55 37.5 32.9 2.1 3.7 5.8 3.7 1.3 0.3 3.7 3.5 12.6 23.7 .530 0.0 0.2 .100 7.7 10.0 .772
difference:+24+2.5+3.2+2.2+5.7+7.8+0.1+0.8+2.7-0.9-0.3+0.5+2.6+.044+0.2+2.2+0.4+.248
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%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
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

Note: Bernard King didn't play in 1985-86.

Season 9

Bernard King Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1986-872000-01
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did not playNBA 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%
Bernard King 6 35.7 22.7 2.2 3.2 5.3 3.2 0.3 0.0 2.5 2.3 8.7 17.5 .495 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 7.2 .744
difference:+68+3.8+6.0+1.7+5.6+7.4+0.5+0.3+2.8-0.4-1.2+2.3+1.7+.077+1.4+5.9+.231
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%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
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

Bernard King Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1987-882001-02
Team Washington BulletsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA 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%
Bernard King 69 29.6 17.2 1.2 2.8 4.1 2.8 0.7 0.1 3.1 2.9 6.8 13.6 .501 0.0 0.1 .167 3.6 4.7 .762
difference:+2+6.5+10.0+2.3+4.4+6.6+0.2+0.1+1.9-0.5-0.1+3.8+4.7+.078+0.1+2.3+6.0+.207
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%
Bernard King 5 33.6 13.8 0.6 1.6 2.2 1.8 0.6 0.0 2.8 3.4 5.2 10.6 .491 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 4.2 .810
difference:+14+7.2+14.7+2.9+7.5+10.4+1.0+0.1+2.5-0.5-0.1+5.5+9.6+.038+3.7+6.7+.161
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

Bernard King Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1988-892002-03
Team Washington BulletsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did not playLakers 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%
Bernard King 81 31.6 20.7 1.6 3.1 4.7 3.6 0.8 0.2 2.8 2.7 8.1 16.9 .477 0.1 0.4 .167 4.5 5.4 .819
difference:+14+6.2+6.8+2.3+4.1+6.4+0.5+0.2+2.2-0.1-0.7+2.3+1.2+.097+0.1+0.4+2.2+5.4+.197
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%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
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

Bernard King Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1989-902003-04
Team Washington BulletsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Did not playLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 82 32.8 22.4 1.6 3.4 4.9 4.6 0.6 0.1 3.0 2.8 8.7 17.8 .487 0.0 0.3 .130 5.0 6.3 .803
difference:+15+4.0+0.9+2.1+4.4+6.6+1.7+0.1+2.4-0.1-0.6+0.4+3.7+.097+0.3+0.1+3.8+.313
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%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
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

Bernard King Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1990-912004-05
Team Washington BulletsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third 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%
Bernard King 64 37.5 28.4 1.8 3.2 5.0 4.6 0.9 0.3 4.0 2.9 11.1 23.6 .472 0.1 0.6 .216 6.0 7.6 .790
difference:+9+3.4+5.5+1.7+3.7+5.4+1.9+0.4+2.0-1.2-0.7+2.1+8.6+.129+0.1+0.6+1.2+2.9+.329
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%
Bernard King 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

Note: Bernard King didn't play in 1991-92.

Season 14

Bernard King Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1992-932005-06
Team New Jersey NetsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA 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%
Bernard King 32 13.4 7.0 1.1 1.3 2.4 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.7 1.7 2.8 5.5 .514 0.1 0.2 .286 1.2 1.8 .684
difference:+27+17.2+13.0+1.8+5.0+6.8+1.3+0.1+1.7-2.1-2.2+5.3+8.1+.086+0.1+0.2+2.5+6.2+.215
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%
Bernard King 3 8.0 2.7 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.3 2.3 .571 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
difference:+20+25.0+15.7+3.0+6.5+9.5+1.7+0.2+1.5-3.4-2.7+6.4+10.4+.041+3.0+7.9
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 Bernard King 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 Bernard King, Shaquille O'Neal got these achievements:

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