Dwight Howard vs. David Robinson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of David Robinson and Dwight Howard, 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.

Dwight Howard played 18 years in the NBA, 4 more than David Robinson, who played 14. Dwight Howard had the first of his seasons in 2004-05, while David Robinson had his rookie season in 1989-90. 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
Dwight Howard 18 12 2004-05 to 2021-22
David Robinson 14 12 1989-90 to 2002-03

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Dwight Howard David Robinson
Season 2004-051989-90
Team Orlando MagicSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did not playSpurs Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard 82 32.6 12.0 3.5 6.5 10.0 0.9 0.9 1.7 2.0 2.8 4.3 8.3 .520 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.0 .671
difference:+4.0+12.3+0.2+1.8+2.0+1.1+0.8+2.2-1.1-0.4+4.1+7.6+.011+4.1+5.2+.061
David Robinson 82 36.6 24.3 3.7 8.3 12.0 2.0 1.7 3.9 3.1 3.2 8.4 15.9 .531 0.0 0.0 - 7.5 10.2 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard DNP------ --- ----------
David Robinson 10 37.5 24.3 3.6 8.4 12.0 2.3 1.1 4.0 2.4 3.5 8.9 16.7 .533 0.0 0.0 - 6.5 9.6 .677

Season 2

Dwight Howard David Robinson
Season 2005-061990-91
Team Orlando MagicSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did not playSpurs Lost West 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%
Dwight Howard 82 36.8 15.8 3.5 9.0 12.5 1.5 0.8 1.4 2.6 3.4 5.7 10.7 .531 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 7.3 .595
difference:+0.9+9.8+0.6+0.1+0.5+1.0+0.7+2.5-0.7-0.2+3.5+6.0+.021+0.1+2.9+2.2+.167
David Robinson 82 37.7 25.6 4.1 8.9 13.0 2.5 1.5 3.9 3.3 3.2 9.2 16.7 .552 0.0 0.1 .143 7.2 9.5 .762
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard DNP------ --- ----------
David Robinson 4 41.5 25.8 2.8 10.8 13.5 2.0 1.5 3.8 3.8 2.8 8.8 12.8 .686 0.0 0.3 .000 8.3 9.5 .868

Season 3

Dwight Howard David Robinson
Season 2006-071991-92
Team Orlando MagicSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Blocks Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdDid not play
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard 82 36.9 17.6 3.5 8.8 12.3 1.9 0.9 1.9 3.9 3.0 6.4 10.6 .603 0.0 0.0 - 4.8 8.1 .586
difference:+14+0.8+5.6+0.3+0.4+0.1+0.8+1.4+2.6-1.2-0.2+2.3+5.2+.052+0.1+1.0+0.2+.115
David Robinson 68 37.7 23.2 3.8 8.4 12.2 2.7 2.3 4.5 2.7 3.2 8.7 15.8 .551 0.0 0.1 .125 5.8 8.3 .701
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard 4 41.8 15.3 4.0 10.8 14.8 1.8 0.5 1.0 4.3 3.3 5.8 10.5 .548 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 8.3 .455
David Robinson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Dwight Howard David Robinson
Season 2007-081992-93
Team Orlando MagicSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf SemisSpurs Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard 82 37.7 20.7 3.4 10.8 14.2 1.3 0.9 2.1 3.2 3.3 7.1 11.9 .599 0.0 0.0 - 6.5 10.9 .590
difference:+1.5+2.7+0.6+1.9+2.5+2.4+0.6+1.1-0.3-0.4+1.1+4.5+.098+0.2+0.3+1.6+.142
David Robinson 82 39.2 23.4 2.8 8.9 11.7 3.7 1.5 3.2 2.9 2.9 8.2 16.4 .501 0.0 0.2 .176 6.8 9.3 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard 10 42.1 18.9 6.0 9.8 15.8 0.9 0.8 3.4 3.2 3.8 7.2 12.4 .581 0.0 0.0 - 4.5 8.3 .542
difference:+4.2+3.1+0.1+3.2+3.1+0.2+0.2-0.7-0.1+0.7+4.6+.116+0.1+2.8+2.7+.122
David Robinson 10 42.1 23.1 2.9 9.7 12.6 4.0 1.0 3.6 2.5 3.9 7.9 17.0 .465 0.0 0.1 .000 7.3 11.0 .664

Season 5

Dwight Howard David Robinson
Season 2008-091993-94
Team Orlando MagicSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost NBA FinalsSpurs 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%
Dwight Howard 79 35.7 20.6 4.3 9.6 13.8 1.4 1.0 2.9 3.0 3.4 7.1 12.4 .572 0.0 0.0 - 6.4 10.7 .594
difference:+1+4.8+9.2+1.3+1.9+3.1+3.4+0.7+0.4-0.2-0.5+3.4+8.3+.065+0.1+0.4+2.3+0.9+.155
David Robinson 80 40.5 29.8 3.0 7.7 10.7 4.8 1.7 3.3 3.2 2.9 10.5 20.7 .507 0.1 0.4 .345 8.7 11.6 .749
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard 23 39.3 20.3 4.3 11.0 15.3 1.9 0.9 2.6 2.9 4.4 7.0 11.7 .601 0.0 0.1 .000 6.3 9.9 .636
difference:+19+2.8+0.3+1.0+4.2+5.3+1.6+0.1+0.1-0.6-0.9+0.5+6.6+.190+0.2+1.3+3.1+.105
David Robinson 4 36.5 20.0 3.3 6.8 10.0 3.5 0.8 2.5 2.3 3.5 7.5 18.3 .411 0.0 0.3 .000 5.0 6.8 .741

Season 6

Dwight Howard David Robinson
Season 2009-101994-95
Team Orlando MagicSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf FinalsSpurs 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%
Dwight Howard 82 34.7 18.3 3.5 9.7 13.2 1.8 0.9 2.8 3.3 3.5 6.2 10.2 .612 0.0 0.1 .000 5.9 10.0 .592
difference:+1+3.3+9.3+0.6+1.8+2.4+1.1+0.8+0.4-0.4-0.7+3.5+8.2+.082+0.1+0.1+.300+2.2+0.5+.182
David Robinson 81 38.0 27.6 2.9 7.9 10.8 2.9 1.7 3.2 2.9 2.8 9.7 18.4 .530 0.1 0.2 .300 8.1 10.5 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard 14 35.5 18.1 2.7 8.4 11.1 1.4 0.8 3.5 3.6 4.2 6.1 10.0 .614 0.0 0.0 - 5.9 11.3 .519
difference:+1+6.0+7.2+1.1+0.1+1.0+1.7+0.7+0.9-0.1+2.5+9.3+.168+0.1+0.3+2.2+1.4+.293
David Robinson 15 41.5 25.3 3.8 8.3 12.1 3.1 1.5 2.6 3.7 4.2 8.6 19.3 .446 0.1 0.3 .200 8.1 9.9 .812

Season 7

Dwight Howard David Robinson
Season 2010-111995-96
Team Orlando MagicSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdSpurs 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%
Dwight Howard 78 37.6 22.9 4.0 10.1 14.1 1.4 1.4 2.4 3.6 3.3 7.9 13.4 .593 0.0 0.1 .000 7.0 11.7 .596
difference:+4+0.8+2.1+0.1+1.8+1.9+1.6+0.9-1.3-0.1+0.8+3.4+.077+.333+0.6+1.7+.165
David Robinson 82 36.8 25.0 3.9 8.3 12.2 3.0 1.4 3.3 2.3 3.2 8.7 16.8 .516 0.0 0.1 .333 7.6 10.0 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard 6 43.0 27.0 4.5 11.0 15.5 0.5 0.7 1.8 5.5 4.2 8.5 13.5 .630 0.0 0.2 .000 10.0 14.7 .682
difference:+4+7.7+3.4+0.8+4.6+5.4+1.9+0.8+0.7-3.1-0.4+0.2+2.6+.114+0.2+3.0+4.2+.015
David Robinson 10 35.3 23.6 3.7 6.4 10.1 2.4 1.5 2.5 2.4 3.8 8.3 16.1 .516 0.0 0.0 - 7.0 10.5 .667

Season 8

Dwight Howard David Robinson
Season 2011-121996-97
Team Orlando MagicSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did not playDid 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%
Dwight Howard 54 38.3 20.6 3.7 10.8 14.5 1.9 1.5 2.1 3.2 2.9 7.7 13.4 .573 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 10.6 .491
difference:+48+13.8+2.9+0.5+5.5+6.0+0.6+0.5+1.1-1.9-1.4+1.7+1.4+.073+0.1+0.5+1.9+.163
David Robinson 6 24.5 17.7 3.2 5.3 8.5 1.3 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.5 6.0 12.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 5.7 8.7 .654
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Dwight Howard nor David Robinson played in the postseason in their season 8

Season 9

Dwight Howard David Robinson
Season 2012-131997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdSpurs Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard 76 35.8 17.1 3.3 9.1 12.4 1.4 1.1 2.4 3.0 3.8 6.2 10.7 .578 0.0 0.1 .167 4.7 9.5 .492
difference:+3+2.1+4.5+1.8+1.8+1.3+0.2+0.2-0.2-1.0+1.3+3.9+.067+.083+1.9+0.5+.243
David Robinson 73 33.7 21.6 3.3 7.3 10.6 2.7 0.9 2.6 2.8 2.8 7.5 14.6 .511 0.0 0.1 .250 6.6 9.0 .735
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard 4 31.5 17.0 2.5 8.3 10.8 1.0 0.5 2.0 4.0 4.3 6.5 10.5 .619 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 9.0 .444
difference:+5+7.7+2.4+2.1+1.3+3.3+1.6+0.7+1.3-1.2-1.2+0.2+4.4+.194+2.8+1.7+.191
David Robinson 9 39.2 19.4 4.6 9.6 14.1 2.6 1.2 3.3 2.8 3.1 6.3 14.9 .425 0.0 0.0 - 6.8 10.7 .635

Season 10

Dwight Howard David Robinson
Season 2013-141998-99
Team Houston RocketsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West 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%
Dwight Howard 71 33.7 18.3 3.3 8.9 12.2 1.8 0.8 1.8 3.2 3.4 6.7 11.3 .591 0.0 0.1 .286 4.9 9.0 .547
difference:+22+2.0+2.5+0.3+1.9+2.2+0.3+0.6+0.6-1.0-0.5+1.2+0.5+.082+0.1+1.6+.111
David Robinson 49 31.7 15.8 3.0 7.0 10.0 2.1 1.4 2.4 2.2 2.9 5.5 10.8 .509 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 7.4 .658
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard 6 38.5 26.0 4.5 9.2 13.7 1.8 0.7 2.8 3.2 4.2 9.7 17.7 .547 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 10.7 .625
difference:+11+3.1+10.4+2.4+1.4+3.8+0.7+0.9+0.4-0.8-0.6+4.6+7.1+.064+1.3+3.3+.097
David Robinson 17 35.4 15.6 2.1 7.8 9.9 2.5 1.6 2.4 2.4 3.6 5.1 10.6 .483 0.0 0.0 - 5.4 7.4 .722

Season 11

Dwight Howard David Robinson
Season 2014-151999-00
Team Houston RocketsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsSpurs Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard 41 29.8 15.8 2.7 7.8 10.5 1.2 0.7 1.3 2.8 3.3 6.1 10.3 .593 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 6.6 .528
difference:+39+2.2+2.0+0.3+0.6+0.9+0.6+0.5+1.0-0.7-0.2+0.5+2.6+.081+1.1+0.2+.198
David Robinson 80 32.0 17.8 2.4 7.2 9.6 1.8 1.2 2.3 2.1 3.1 6.6 12.9 .512 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 6.4 .726
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard 17 33.8 16.4 3.6 10.4 14.0 1.2 1.4 2.3 2.2 3.5 6.2 10.7 .577 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 9.7 .412
difference:+13+5.0+7.1+0.7+0.9+0.2+1.3+0.4+0.7-0.2-0.3+1.6+10.1+.204+0.3+4.0+0.8+.350
David Robinson 4 38.8 23.5 4.3 9.5 13.8 2.5 1.8 3.0 2.0 3.8 7.8 20.8 .373 0.0 0.3 .000 8.0 10.5 .762

Season 12

Dwight Howard David Robinson
Season 2015-162000-01
Team Houston RocketsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdSpurs Lost West Conf 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%
Dwight Howard 71 32.1 13.7 3.4 8.4 11.8 1.4 1.0 1.6 2.3 3.1 5.2 8.5 .620 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 6.7 .489
difference:+9+2.5+0.7+0.8+2.4+3.2+0.1+0.9-0.8-0.4+0.2+1.8+.134+0.1+1.1+0.8+.258
David Robinson 80 29.6 14.4 2.6 6.0 8.6 1.5 1.0 2.5 1.5 2.7 5.0 10.3 .486 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 5.9 .747
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard 5 36.0 13.2 5.2 8.8 14.0 1.6 0.8 1.4 2.4 4.2 5.2 9.6 .542 0.0 0.2 .000 2.8 7.6 .368
difference:+8+4.6+3.4+2.2+2.2+0.1+0.5+1.0-0.2-1.0+0.6+2.6+.070+0.1+2.3+0.3+.327
David Robinson 13 31.4 16.6 3.0 8.8 11.8 1.7 1.3 2.4 2.2 3.2 5.8 12.2 .472 0.0 0.1 .000 5.1 7.3 .695

Season 13

Dwight Howard David Robinson
Season 2016-172001-02
Team Atlanta HawksSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf 1st RdSpurs Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard 74 29.7 13.5 4.0 8.7 12.7 1.4 0.9 1.2 2.3 2.7 5.2 8.3 .633 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 5.7 .533
difference:+4+0.2+1.3+1.6+2.9+4.4+0.2+0.2+0.6-1.0-0.2+0.8+0.3+.126+0.3+0.6+.148
David Robinson 78 29.5 12.2 2.4 5.8 8.3 1.2 1.1 1.8 1.3 2.5 4.4 8.6 .507 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.1 .681
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard 6 26.2 8.0 3.0 7.7 10.7 1.3 1.0 0.8 1.8 3.5 3.0 6.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.2 .632
difference:+2+5.7+3.5+1.5+3.4+4.9+0.2-1.3+0.7+1.2+.026+2.0+2.2+.632
David Robinson 4 20.5 4.5 1.5 4.3 5.8 1.3 0.8 0.8 0.5 3.5 2.3 4.8 .474 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 1.0 .000

Season 14

Dwight Howard David Robinson
Season 2017-182002-03
Team Charlotte HornetsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
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%
Dwight Howard 81 30.4 16.6 3.1 9.3 12.5 1.3 0.6 1.6 2.6 3.1 6.2 11.2 .555 0.0 0.1 .143 4.1 7.2 .574
difference:+17+4.2+8.1+0.6+3.9+4.6+0.3+0.2+0.1-1.3-1.1+3.1+4.6+.086+0.1+1.7+3.9+.136
David Robinson 64 26.2 8.5 2.5 5.4 7.9 1.0 0.8 1.7 1.3 2.0 3.1 6.6 .469 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.3 .710
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard DNP------ --- ----------
David Robinson 23 23.5 7.8 2.0 4.7 6.6 0.9 0.8 1.3 1.0 2.7 2.8 5.1 .542 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.4 .667

Additional Years

* Dwight Howard played 4 seasons more than David Robinson in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 18, from 2019 to 2022—Dwight Howard played in two Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.