Dwight Howard vs. Fred VanVleet Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Fred VanVleet 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 / 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.

Dwight Howard played 18 years in the NBA, 9 more than Fred VanVleet, who played 9. Dwight Howard had the first of his seasons in 2004-05, while Fred VanVleet had his rookie season in 2016-17. 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
Fred VanVleet 9 6 2016-17 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9

Rookie Season

Dwight Howard Fred VanVleet
Season 2004-052016-17
Team Orlando MagicToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayRaptors Lost East 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:+45+24.7+9.1+3.4+5.5+8.9+0.5+1.6-1.6-1.8+3.2+5.3+.169+0.3+0.8+2.9+4.4+.147
Fred VanVleet 37 7.9 2.9 0.1 1.0 1.1 0.9 0.4 0.1 0.4 1.0 1.1 3.0 .351 0.3 0.8 .379 0.5 0.6 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard DNP------ --- ----------
Fred VanVleet 7 4.1 2.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.4 0.9 1.3 .667 0.3 0.7 .400 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Dwight Howard Fred VanVleet
Season 2005-062017-18
Team Orlando MagicToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayRaptors Lost East Conf Semis
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:+6+16.8+7.2+3.2+6.9+10.1+1.7+0.1+1.1-1.6-1.7+2.6+3.5+.105+1.4+3.4+3.2+6.0+.237
Fred VanVleet 76 20.0 8.6 0.3 2.1 2.4 3.2 0.9 0.3 1.0 1.7 3.1 7.2 .426 1.4 3.4 .414 1.1 1.3 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dwight Howard DNP------ --- ----------
Fred VanVleet 6 19.0 6.8 0.0 1.7 1.7 2.2 0.0 0.0 0.7 1.3 2.2 6.5 .333 1.3 4.7 .286 1.2 1.3 .875

Season 3

Dwight Howard Fred VanVleet
Season 2006-072018-19
Team Orlando MagicToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+18+9.4+6.6+3.2+6.5+9.7+2.9+1.6-2.6-1.3+2.6+1.2+.193+1.8+4.6+3.3+6.3+.257
Fred VanVleet 64 27.5 11.0 0.3 2.3 2.6 4.8 0.9 0.3 1.3 1.7 3.8 9.4 .410 1.8 4.6 .378 1.5 1.8 .843
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
difference:+20+17.1+7.3+3.7+9.4+13.1+0.8+0.3+0.7-3.4-1.3+3.1+3.6+.156+1.6+4.1+2.8+7.0+.319
Fred VanVleet 24 24.7 8.0 0.3 1.4 1.7 2.6 0.8 0.3 0.9 2.0 2.7 6.9 .392 1.6 4.1 .388 1.0 1.3 .774

Season 4

Dwight Howard Fred VanVleet
Season 2007-082019-20
Team Orlando MagicToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf SemisRaptors Lost East 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:+28+2.0+3.1+3.1+7.4+10.4+5.3+1.0+1.8-1.0-0.9+1.2+2.4+.186+2.7+6.9+3.4+7.2+.258
Fred VanVleet 54 35.7 17.6 0.3 3.4 3.8 6.6 1.9 0.3 2.2 2.4 5.9 14.3 .413 2.7 6.9 .390 3.1 3.7 .848
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:+1+3.0+0.7+5.5+5.9+11.4+6.0+0.8+2.8-1.2-1.3+0.3+4.9+.181+3.9+10.0+2.6+6.0+.298
Fred VanVleet 11 39.1 19.6 0.5 3.9 4.4 6.9 1.6 0.6 2.0 2.5 6.9 17.3 .400 3.9 10.0 .391 1.9 2.3 .840

Season 5

Dwight Howard Fred VanVleet
Season 2008-092020-21
Team Orlando MagicToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
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:+27+0.8+1.0+3.7+6.0+9.6+4.9+0.7+2.2-1.2-1.1+0.6+4.3+.183+3.3+9.2+3.1+7.0+.291
Fred VanVleet 52 36.5 19.6 0.6 3.6 4.2 6.3 1.7 0.7 1.8 2.3 6.5 16.7 .389 3.3 9.2 .366 3.3 3.7 .885
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
Fred VanVleet DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Dwight Howard Fred VanVleet
Season 2009-102021-22
Team Orlando MagicToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement 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 FinalsRaptors Lost East 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%
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:+17+3.2+2.0+2.8+5.9+8.8+4.9+0.8+2.3-0.7-1.0+0.6+6.7+.209+3.7+9.8+.377+2.9+6.6+.282
Fred VanVleet 65 37.9 20.3 0.7 3.8 4.4 6.7 1.7 0.5 2.6 2.5 6.8 16.9 .403 3.7 9.9 .377 3.0 3.4 .874
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:+10+0.5+4.3+2.2+5.9+8.1+4.9+1.0+2.5-2.6-1.2+1.3+3.5+.262+3.0+9.0+4.6+9.8+.314
Fred VanVleet 4 35.0 13.8 0.5 2.5 3.0 6.3 1.8 1.0 1.0 3.0 4.8 13.5 .352 3.0 9.0 .333 1.3 1.5 .833

Season 7

Dwight Howard Fred VanVleet
Season 2010-112022-23
Team Orlando MagicToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
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:+9+0.9+3.6+3.6+6.5+10.0+5.8+0.4+1.8-1.6-0.5+1.6+2.7+.200+3.0+8.7+.342+3.3+7.6+.302
Fred VanVleet 69 36.7 19.3 0.4 3.6 4.1 7.2 1.8 0.6 2.0 2.8 6.3 16.1 .393 3.0 8.8 .342 3.7 4.1 .898
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
Fred VanVleet DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Dwight Howard Fred VanVleet
Season 2011-122023-24
Team Orlando MagicHouston Rockets
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:+19+1.5+3.2+3.2+7.4+10.7+6.2+0.1+1.3-1.5-0.4+1.9+0.5+.157+3.1+7.9+.387+2.5+7.5+.369
Fred VanVleet 73 36.8 17.4 0.5 3.4 3.8 8.1 1.4 0.8 1.7 2.5 5.8 13.9 .416 3.1 8.0 .387 2.7 3.1 .860
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Dwight Howard nor Fred VanVleet played in the postseason in their season 8

Season 9

Dwight Howard Fred VanVleet
Season 2012-132024-25
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+16+0.6+3.0+2.8+5.9+8.7+4.2+0.5+2.0-1.5-1.5+1.4+2.0+.200+2.7+7.6+.178+2.8+7.2+.318
Fred VanVleet 60 35.2 14.1 0.5 3.2 3.7 5.6 1.6 0.4 1.5 2.3 4.8 12.7 .378 2.7 7.7 .345 1.9 2.3 .810
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:+3+8.5+1.7+2.1+4.6+6.7+3.4+0.5+1.7-2.1-2.0+0.8+2.8+.189+3.9+8.9+0.6+5.6+.556
Fred VanVleet 7 40.0 18.7 0.4 3.7 4.1 4.4 1.0 0.3 1.9 2.3 5.7 13.3 .430 3.9 8.9 .435 3.4 3.4 1.000

Additional Years

* Dwight Howard played 9 seasons more than Fred VanVleet in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 10 to 18, from 2014 to 2022—Dwight Howard played in 6 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.

In those 9 extra years over Fred VanVleet, Dwight Howard got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 1 All-Star Game