Dwight Howard vs. Jeremy Lin Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jeremy Lin 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 / 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 Jeremy Lin, who played 9. Dwight Howard had the first of his seasons in 2004-05, while Jeremy Lin had his rookie season in 2010-11. 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
Jeremy Lin 9 4 2010-11 to 2018-19

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season
Dwight Howard Jeremy Lin
Season 2004-052010-11
Team Orlando MagicGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
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%
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:+53+22.8+9.4+3.1+5.7+8.8+0.5+0.2+1.4-1.4-1.7+3.3+5.8+.131+0.2+2.7+4.1+.089
Jeremy Lin 29 9.8 2.6 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.4 1.1 0.3 0.6 1.1 1.0 2.5 .389 0.0 0.2 .200 0.7 0.9 .760
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Dwight Howard nor Jeremy Lin played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2
Dwight Howard Jeremy Lin
Season 2005-062011-12
Team Orlando MagicNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
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:+47+9.9+1.2+3.0+6.5+9.4+4.7+0.8+1.1-1.0-1.2+0.8+0.2+.085+0.7+2.1+0.1+2.1+.203
Jeremy Lin 35 26.9 14.6 0.5 2.5 3.1 6.2 1.6 0.3 3.6 2.2 4.9 10.9 .446 0.7 2.1 .320 4.2 5.2 .798
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Dwight Howard nor Jeremy Lin played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3
Dwight Howard Jeremy Lin
Season 2006-072012-13
Team Orlando MagicHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+4.7+4.2+3.1+6.2+9.3+4.2+0.7+1.5-1.0-0.5+1.6+0.3+.162+1.1+3.1+2.2+4.7+.199
Jeremy Lin 82 32.2 13.4 0.4 2.6 3.0 6.1 1.6 0.4 2.9 2.5 4.8 10.9 .441 1.1 3.1 .339 2.6 3.4 .785
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:+20.8+11.3+4.0+8.8+12.8+0.2+0.7-2.3-1.0+4.3+4.5+.298+0.5+3.0+3.3+7.8+.545
Jeremy Lin 4 21.0 4.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 0.5 0.3 2.0 2.3 1.5 6.0 .250 0.5 3.0 .167 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 4
Dwight Howard Jeremy Lin
Season 2007-082013-14
Team Orlando MagicHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf SemisRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+11+8.8+8.2+2.9+8.6+11.6+2.8+0.1+1.7-0.7-1.0+2.9+2.6+.153+1.2+3.2+3.4+7.2+.233
Jeremy Lin 71 28.9 12.5 0.5 2.2 2.6 4.1 1.0 0.4 2.5 2.3 4.2 9.3 .446 1.2 3.2 .358 3.1 3.7 .823
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+12.6+7.6+4.8+7.3+12.1+3.4+0.3+3.2-1.0-1.3+3.0+2.2+.171+0.8+3.8+2.3+5.6+.271
Jeremy Lin 6 29.5 11.3 1.2 2.5 3.7 4.3 0.5 0.2 2.2 2.5 4.2 10.2 .410 0.8 3.8 .217 2.2 2.7 .813

Season 5
Dwight Howard Jeremy Lin
Season 2008-092014-15
Team Orlando MagicLos Angeles Lakers
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:+5+9.9+9.4+3.9+7.3+11.2+3.2+0.1+2.5-0.8-0.8+3.4+3.6+.148+0.9+2.4+3.5+7.1+.201
Jeremy Lin 74 25.8 11.2 0.4 2.3 2.6 4.6 1.1 0.4 2.2 2.6 3.7 8.8 .424 0.9 2.4 .369 2.9 3.6 .795
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
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6
Dwight Howard Jeremy Lin
Season 2009-102015-16
Team Orlando MagicCharlotte Hornets
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 East Conf FinalsHornets 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:+4+8.4+6.6+3.0+7.0+10.0+1.2+0.2+2.3-1.4-1.4+2.4+0.9+.200+1.0+2.8+.336+2.8+6.3+.223
Jeremy Lin 78 26.3 11.7 0.5 2.7 3.2 3.0 0.7 0.5 1.9 2.1 3.8 9.3 .412 1.0 2.9 .336 3.1 3.7 .815
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:+7+8.5+5.7+2.3+6.5+8.8+1.2+0.1+3.5-2.0-1.2+2.4+1.0+.201+0.4+2.0+1.3+5.7+.302
Jeremy Lin 7 27.0 12.4 0.4 1.9 2.3 2.6 0.7 0.0 1.6 3.0 3.7 9.0 .413 0.4 2.0 .214 4.6 5.6 .821

Season 7
Dwight Howard Jeremy Lin
Season 2010-112016-17
Team Orlando MagicBrooklyn Nets
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:+42+13.1+8.4+3.7+6.7+10.3+3.7+0.2+2.0-1.2-1.1+3.0+2.3+.155+1.6+4.2+.372+3.8+7.8+.220
Jeremy Lin 36 24.5 14.5 0.3 3.4 3.8 5.1 1.2 0.4 2.4 2.2 4.9 11.1 .438 1.6 4.3 .372 3.2 3.9 .816
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
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8
Dwight Howard Jeremy Lin
Season 2011-122017-18
Team Orlando MagicBrooklyn Nets
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:+53+13.3+2.6+3.7+10.8+14.5+2.1+1.5+2.1-0.2-0.1+2.7+1.4+.156+1.0+1.9+.500+1.8+3.6+.509
Jeremy Lin 1 25.0 18.0 0.0 0.0 0 4.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 3.0 5.0 12.0 .417 1.0 2.0 .500 7.0 7.0 1.000
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Dwight Howard nor Jeremy Lin played in the postseason in their season 8

Season 9
Dwight Howard Jeremy Lin
Season 2012-132018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA 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%
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:+2+16.4+7.5+3.0+7.0+10.0+1.7+0.5+2.2-1.3-1.9+3.0+3.4+.138+0.7+2.4+.127+2.3+6.7+.346
Jeremy Lin 74 19.4 9.6 0.3 2.1 2.4 3.1 0.6 0.2 1.7 1.9 3.2 7.3 .440 0.7 2.5 .294 2.4 2.8 .838
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:+4+28.1+15.9+2.5+7.9+10.4+0.5+0.4+2.0-3.4-4.0+6.2+9.4+.397+0.1+0.3+3.5+8.5+.556
Jeremy Lin 8 3.4 1.1 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.6 0.3 0.3 1.1 .222 0.1 0.3 .500 0.5 0.5 1.000

Additional Years

* Dwight Howard played 9 seasons more than Jeremy Lin 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 Jeremy Lin, Dwight Howard got these achievements:

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