Caron Butler vs. Yao Ming Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Yao Ming and Caron Butler, 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.

Caron Butler played 14 years in the NBA, 6 more than Yao Ming, who played 8. Caron Butler had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, 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
Caron Butler 14 7 2002-03 to 2015-16
Yao Ming 8 4 2002-03 to 2010-11

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season
Caron Butler Yao Ming
Season 2002-032002-03
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler 78 36.6 15.4 1.7 3.4 5.1 2.7 1.8 0.4 2.5 2.9 5.5 13.2 .416 0.4 1.4 .318 4.0 4.8 .824
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 %
Caron Butler ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Caron Butler Yao Ming
Season 2003-042003-04
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Caron Butler 68 29.9 9.2 1.4 3.4 4.8 1.9 1.1 0.2 1.3 2.4 3.5 9.3 .380 0.1 0.6 .238 2.0 2.6 .756
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 %
Caron Butler 13 39.2 12.8 1.4 7.1 8.5 2.4 2.2 0.5 1.8 3.5 4.5 11.8 .386 0.2 0.8 .182 3.6 4.4 .825
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
Caron Butler Yao Ming
Season 2004-052004-05
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Caron Butler 77 35.7 15.5 1.9 3.9 5.8 1.9 1.4 0.3 1.6 2.8 5.7 12.9 .445 0.5 1.6 .304 3.6 4.1 .862
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 %
Caron Butler ------- --- ----------
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
Caron Butler Yao Ming
Season 2005-062005-06
Team Washington WizardsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Wizards 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 %
Caron Butler 75 36.1 17.6 1.5 4.7 6.2 2.5 1.7 0.2 2.3 3.2 6.6 14.5 .455 0.5 1.6 .342 3.9 4.4 .870
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 %
Caron Butler 6 43.7 18.5 2.7 7.8 10.5 2.7 2.0 0.7 2.3 5.2 7.0 16.8 .416 0.5 2.3 .214 4.0 4.8 .828
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Caron Butler Yao Ming
Season 2006-072006-07
Team Washington WizardsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Caron Butler 63 39.3 19.1 2.3 5.1 7.4 3.7 2.1 0.3 2.9 3.0 7.2 15.5 .463 0.3 1.1 .250 4.5 5.2 .863
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 %
Caron Butler ------- --- ----------
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
Caron Butler Yao Ming
Season 2007-082007-08
Team Washington WizardsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Wizards 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 %
Caron Butler 58 39.9 20.3 1.6 5.1 6.7 4.9 2.2 0.3 2.6 2.8 7.6 16.3 .466 1.1 3.2 .357 4.1 4.5 .901
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 %
Caron Butler 6 41.0 18.7 1.7 4.0 5.7 3.8 1.8 0.2 2.7 3.2 6.7 14.5 .460 0.8 3.5 .238 4.5 5.2 .871
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Caron Butler Yao Ming
Season 2008-092008-09
Team Washington WizardsHouston 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 %
Caron Butler 67 38.6 20.8 1.8 4.4 6.2 4.3 1.6 0.3 3.1 2.5 7.3 16.2 .453 1.0 3.1 .310 5.1 6.0 .858
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 %
Caron Butler ------- --- ----------
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
Caron Butler Yao Ming
Season 2009-102010-11
Team Washington Wizards, Dallas MavericksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West 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 %
Caron Butler 74 37.6 16.3 1.4 4.8 6.2 2.1 1.6 0.3 2.2 2.6 6.1 14.2 .428 0.6 2.0 .290 3.6 4.3 .838
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 %
Caron Butler 6 33.7 19.7 0.5 5.3 5.8 1.3 1.5 0.8 2.5 2.7 7.2 16.5 .434 1.2 3.8 .304 4.2 4.5 .926
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Caron Butler Yao Ming
Season 2010-11-
Team Dallas Mavericks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler 29 29.9 15.0 0.8 3.3 4.1 1.6 1.0 0.3 1.7 2.0 5.9 13.0 .450 1.0 2.2 .431 2.3 3.0 .773
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Caron Butler Yao Ming
Season 2011-12-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
Caron Butler 63 29.7 12.0 0.7 3.0 3.7 1.2 0.8 0.1 1.2 2.0 4.6 11.2 .407 1.5 4.1 .358 1.4 1.7 .813
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler 10 26.8 8.6 0.4 2.6 3.0 1.0 0.6 0.2 1.6 2.2 3.3 9.2 .359 0.8 3.1 .258 1.2 1.6 .750
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Caron Butler Yao Ming
Season 2012-13-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
Caron Butler 78 24.1 10.4 0.5 2.3 2.9 1.0 0.7 0.1 0.9 1.8 3.9 9.2 .424 1.6 4.2 .388 1.0 1.2 .833
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler 6 22.7 8.5 0.2 2.5 2.7 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.0 1.8 3.7 7.7 .478 0.7 2.7 .250 0.5 0.5 1.000
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Caron Butler Yao Ming
Season 2013-14-
Team Milwaukee Bucks, Oklahoma City Thunder-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler 56 25.3 10.5 0.4 3.7 4.1 1.5 0.8 0.3 1.1 2.1 3.8 9.6 .394 1.8 4.4 .394 1.1 1.3 .840
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler 18 23.3 6.3 0.6 2.6 3.2 0.8 0.3 0.1 0.6 1.8 1.9 6.0 .324 1.2 3.3 .356 1.2 1.6 .786
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Caron Butler Yao Ming
Season 2014-15-
Team Detroit Pistons-
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 %
Caron Butler 78 20.8 5.9 0.3 2.2 2.5 1.0 0.6 0.1 0.6 1.5 2.1 5.1 .407 1.1 2.8 .379 0.7 0.8 .902
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Caron Butler Yao Ming
Season 2015-16-
Team Sacramento Kings-
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 %
Caron Butler 17 10.4 3.7 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.6 0.5 0.1 0.2 1.1 1.5 3.5 .424 0.2 1.1 .167 0.6 0.7 .833
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Caron Butler ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Share: