Derek Harper vs. JaVale McGee Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of JaVale McGee and Derek Harper, 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

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.

Derek Harper and JaVale McGee both played 16 years in the NBA. Derek Harper had the first of his seasons in 1983-84, while JaVale McGee had his rookie season in 2008-09. 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
Derek Harper 16 10 1983-84 to 1998-99
JaVale McGee 16 8 2008-09 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Derek Harper JaVale McGee
Season 1983-842008-09
Team Dallas MavericksWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 82 20.9 5.7 0.6 1.5 2.1 2.9 1.2 0.3 1.4 1.7 2.4 5.5 .443 0.0 0.3 .115 0.8 1.2 .673
JaVale McGee 75 15.2 6.5 1.6 2.3 3.9 0.3 0.4 1.0 0.8 2.1 2.5 5.2 .494 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.2 .660
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 10 22.6 5.0 0.8 1.2 2.0 2.8 1.1 0.2 0.6 1.6 2.1 5.4 .389 0.3 0.8 .375 0.5 0.7 .714
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Derek Harper JaVale McGee
Season 1984-852009-10
Team Dallas MavericksWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
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 %
Derek Harper 82 27.0 9.6 0.6 1.9 2.4 4.4 1.8 0.5 1.5 2.4 4.0 7.7 .520 0.3 0.7 .344 1.4 1.9 .721
JaVale McGee 60 16.1 6.4 1.5 2.6 4.1 0.2 0.3 1.7 0.9 2.0 2.6 5.1 .508 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 1.9 .638
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 4 33.0 6.5 0.3 2.8 3.0 5.0 1.5 0.3 1.0 3.0 2.5 5.3 .476 0.3 0.8 .333 1.3 1.8 .714
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Derek Harper JaVale McGee
Season 1985-862010-11
Team Dallas MavericksWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 79 27.2 12.2 0.9 1.9 2.9 5.3 1.9 0.3 1.8 2.1 4.9 9.2 .534 0.2 0.6 .235 2.2 2.9 .747
JaVale McGee 79 27.8 10.1 2.8 5.2 8.0 0.5 0.5 2.4 1.3 2.9 4.2 7.6 .550 0.0 0.0 .000 1.7 2.9 .583
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 10 34.8 13.4 1.3 0.6 1.9 7.6 2.3 0.0 2.3 2.7 5.7 10.7 .533 0.8 1.4 .571 1.2 1.6 .750
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Derek Harper JaVale McGee
Season 1986-872011-12
Team Dallas MavericksWashington Wizards, Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdNuggets 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 %
Derek Harper 77 33.2 16.0 0.7 1.9 2.6 7.9 2.2 0.3 1.8 2.5 6.5 12.9 .501 1.0 2.8 .358 2.1 3.0 .684
JaVale McGee 61 25.2 11.3 2.7 5.1 7.8 0.5 0.6 2.2 1.4 2.7 5.0 9.0 .556 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 2.7 .461
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 4 30.8 16.5 0.5 2.5 3.0 6.8 1.8 0.0 1.3 1.8 5.0 10.0 .500 0.5 2.3 .222 6.0 7.5 .800
JaVale McGee 7 25.9 8.6 3.3 6.3 9.6 0.7 0.7 3.1 0.6 3.0 3.3 7.6 .434 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.7 .538

Season 5

Derek Harper JaVale McGee
Season 1987-882012-13
Team Dallas MavericksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf FinalsNuggets 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 %
Derek Harper 82 37.0 17.0 0.9 2.1 3.0 7.7 2.0 0.4 2.3 2.0 6.5 14.2 .459 0.7 2.3 .313 3.2 4.2 .759
JaVale McGee 79 18.1 9.1 2.0 2.8 4.8 0.3 0.4 2.0 1.1 2.3 3.8 6.7 .575 0.0 0.0 1.000 1.4 2.4 .591
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 17 35.4 13.5 0.6 1.9 2.5 7.1 1.9 0.3 1.9 2.6 5.2 11.9 .441 0.5 2.1 .250 2.5 3.5 .729
JaVale McGee 6 18.7 7.2 2.8 2.3 5.2 0.0 0.7 1.0 1.8 2.8 3.0 5.2 .581 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 3.0 .389

Season 6

Derek Harper JaVale McGee
Season 1988-892013-14
Team Dallas MavericksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
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 %
Derek Harper 81 36.6 17.3 0.6 2.2 2.8 7.0 2.1 0.5 2.5 2.7 6.6 13.9 .477 1.2 3.4 .356 2.8 3.5 .806
JaVale McGee 5 15.8 7.0 2.0 1.4 3.4 0.4 0.2 1.4 1.6 3.2 3.4 7.6 .447 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Derek Harper JaVale McGee
Season 1989-902014-15
Team Dallas MavericksDenver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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 %
Derek Harper 82 36.7 18.0 0.7 2.3 3.0 7.4 2.3 0.3 2.5 2.7 6.9 14.2 .488 1.1 2.9 .371 3.0 3.8 .794
JaVale McGee 23 11.1 4.6 0.8 1.9 2.7 0.1 0.1 0.9 0.8 1.3 1.8 3.4 .532 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.4 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 3 39.7 19.3 0.7 2.0 2.7 7.7 1.3 0.0 4.0 4.3 7.0 16.0 .438 1.7 5.3 .313 3.7 5.3 .688
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Derek Harper JaVale McGee
Season 1990-912015-16
Team Dallas MavericksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks 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 %
Derek Harper 77 37.4 19.7 0.8 2.3 3.0 7.1 1.9 0.2 2.3 2.9 7.4 15.9 .467 1.2 3.2 .362 3.7 5.1 .731
JaVale McGee 34 10.9 5.1 1.6 2.4 3.9 0.1 0.1 0.8 0.6 1.4 2.3 3.9 .575 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 1.1 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee 2 7.0 2.0 1.0 0.5 1.5 0.0 0.5 0.0 1.5 1.5 0.5 1.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 3.0 .333

Season 9

Derek Harper JaVale McGee
Season 1991-922016-17
Team Dallas MavericksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 65 34.6 17.7 0.8 1.9 2.6 5.7 1.6 0.3 2.4 2.3 6.9 15.6 .443 0.9 2.9 .312 3.0 4.0 .759
JaVale McGee 77 9.6 6.1 1.3 1.9 3.2 0.2 0.2 0.9 0.5 1.4 2.7 4.1 .652 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 1.4 .505
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee 16 9.3 5.9 1.4 1.6 3.0 0.3 0.1 0.9 0.5 1.9 2.6 3.5 .732 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.1 .722

Season 10

Derek Harper JaVale McGee
Season 1992-932017-18
Team Dallas MavericksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 62 34.0 18.2 0.7 1.3 2.0 5.4 1.3 0.3 2.2 2.3 6.3 15.1 .419 1.6 4.1 .393 3.9 5.1 .756
JaVale McGee 65 9.5 4.8 0.9 1.7 2.6 0.5 0.3 0.9 0.4 1.4 2.1 3.4 .621 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 0.8 .731
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee 13 12.2 6.5 1.2 2.0 3.2 0.3 0.2 0.8 0.4 1.5 3.0 4.5 .672 0.0 0.1 .000 0.5 0.7 .667

Season 11

Derek Harper JaVale McGee
Season 1993-942018-19
Team Dallas Mavericks, New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 82 26.9 9.6 0.2 1.5 1.7 4.1 1.5 0.1 1.6 2.0 3.7 9.1 .407 0.9 2.5 .360 1.4 2.0 .687
JaVale McGee 75 22.3 12.0 2.6 4.9 7.5 0.7 0.6 2.0 1.4 2.8 5.3 8.5 .624 0.0 0.2 .083 1.3 2.0 .632
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 23 32.6 11.4 0.6 1.8 2.3 4.5 1.8 0.0 1.8 2.7 4.3 10.0 .429 1.3 3.7 .341 1.6 2.4 .643
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Derek Harper JaVale McGee
Season 1994-952019-20
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 80 34.0 11.5 0.4 2.0 2.4 5.7 1.0 0.1 1.9 2.7 4.2 9.5 .446 1.3 3.7 .363 1.7 2.4 .724
JaVale McGee 68 16.6 6.6 1.8 3.9 5.7 0.5 0.5 1.4 0.8 2.3 2.9 4.5 .637 0.0 0.1 .500 0.8 1.2 .646
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 11 35.3 14.3 0.5 3.0 3.5 5.6 1.0 0.1 2.4 2.6 5.1 9.9 .514 2.5 4.3 .574 1.6 2.2 .750
JaVale McGee 14 9.6 2.9 1.1 2.0 3.1 0.5 0.1 0.7 0.6 1.6 1.4 2.3 .625 0.0 0.1 .000 0.1 0.1 .500

Season 13

Derek Harper JaVale McGee
Season 1995-962020-21
Team New York KnicksCleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisNuggets 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 %
Derek Harper 82 35.3 14.0 0.4 2.1 2.5 4.3 1.6 0.1 2.2 2.5 5.3 11.5 .464 1.5 4.0 .372 1.9 2.5 .757
JaVale McGee 46 14.7 7.3 1.7 3.5 5.2 0.8 0.4 1.2 1.3 2.6 3.1 6.1 .511 0.1 0.5 .208 1.0 1.5 .657
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 8 36.6 10.0 0.0 2.1 2.1 4.8 1.3 0.1 1.8 3.0 3.6 10.3 .354 1.4 4.4 .314 1.4 1.9 .733
JaVale McGee 4 8.5 2.0 0.8 2.3 3.0 0.8 0.3 1.3 0.3 1.0 0.8 2.5 .300 0.0 0.5 .000 0.5 1.5 .333

Season 14

Derek Harper JaVale McGee
Season 1996-972021-22
Team Dallas MavericksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
Derek Harper 75 29.5 10.0 0.4 1.4 1.8 4.3 1.2 0.2 1.8 1.9 4.0 9.0 .444 0.8 2.3 .341 1.3 1.7 .742
JaVale McGee 74 15.8 9.2 2.2 4.5 6.7 0.6 0.3 1.1 1.3 2.4 3.9 6.2 .629 0.0 0.1 .222 1.4 2.0 .699
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee 12 11.1 6.8 1.3 2.7 4.0 0.6 0.3 0.4 0.8 2.3 2.9 4.2 .700 0.0 0.1 .000 0.9 1.1 .846

Season 15

Derek Harper JaVale McGee
Season 1997-982022-23
Team Orlando MagicDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
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 %
Derek Harper 66 26.7 8.6 0.3 1.2 1.6 3.5 1.1 0.2 1.5 2.1 3.4 8.2 .417 0.9 2.5 .360 0.8 1.2 .696
JaVale McGee 42 8.5 4.4 0.7 1.8 2.5 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.9 1.3 1.9 3.0 .640 0.0 0.1 .400 0.6 1.0 .585
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Derek Harper JaVale McGee
Season 1998-992023-24
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 45 24.9 6.9 0.3 1.2 1.5 4.2 1.0 0.1 1.2 1.5 2.7 6.5 .412 1.0 2.6 .368 0.6 0.7 .813
JaVale McGee 46 7.4 4.0 0.9 1.8 2.7 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.7 1.0 1.7 2.9 .598 0.0 0.2 .143 0.6 1.0 .578
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 7 16.0 4.3 0.1 1.3 1.4 2.1 0.3 0.0 0.6 0.3 1.9 4.4 .419 0.1 1.4 .100 0.4 0.9 .500
JaVale McGee ------- --- ----------