Dwight Howard vs. Zion Williamson Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Zion Williamson 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
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, 12 more than Zion Williamson, who played 6. Dwight Howard had the first of his seasons in 2004-05, while Zion Williamson had his rookie season in 2019-20. 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 |
| Zion Williamson | 6 | 0 | 2019-20 to 2025-26 |
Rookie Season |
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| Dwight Howard | Zion Williamson | |
| Season | 2004-05 | 2019-20 |
| Team | Orlando Magic | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Honors & Awards |  All-Rookie First Team | All-Rookie First Team |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Did Not Play |
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Rookie Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | 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: | +58 | +4.8 | +10.5 | +0.8 | +2.9 | +3.7 | +1.2 | +0.2 | +1.3 | -0.5 | -1.0 | +4.5 | +6.7 | +.063 | +0.3 | +0.6 | +1.4 | +2.4 | +.031 | |
| Zion Williamson | 24 | 27.8 | 22.5 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 6.3 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 8.8 | 15.0 | .583 | 0.3 | 0.6 | .429 | 4.8 | 7.4 | .640 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| * Neiher Dwight Howard nor Zion Williamson played in the postseason in their season 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Season 2 |
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| Dwight Howard | Zion Williamson | |
| Season | 2005-06 | 2020-21 |
| Team | Orlando Magic | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Honors & Awards | - | All-Star Game |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Did Not Play |
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | 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: | +21 | +3.6 | +11.2 | +0.8 | +4.5 | +5.3 | +2.2 | +0.1 | +0.8 | -0.1 | -1.2 | +4.7 | +6.3 | +.080 | +0.2 | +0.6 | +1.7 | +1.4 | +.103 | |
| Zion Williamson | 61 | 33.2 | 27.0 | 2.7 | 4.5 | 7.2 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 10.4 | 17.0 | .611 | 0.2 | 0.6 | .294 | 6.0 | 8.7 | .698 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| * Neiher Dwight Howard nor Zion Williamson played in the postseason in their season 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Zion Williamson didn't play in 2021-22.
Season 3 |
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| Dwight Howard | Zion Williamson | |
| Season | 2006-07 | 2022-23 |
| Team | Orlando Magic | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Honors & Awards | All-NBA Third Team | - |
| All-Star Game | All-Star Game | |
| Playoffs | Magic Lost East Conf 1st Rd | Did Not Play |
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | 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: | +53 | +3.9 | +8.4 | +1.5 | +3.8 | +5.3 | +2.7 | +0.2 | +1.3 | -0.5 | -0.8 | +3.4 | +5.6 | +.005 | +0.2 | +0.7 | +1.3 | +0.5 | +.128 | |
| Zion Williamson | 29 | 33.0 | 26.0 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 3.4 | 2.2 | 9.8 | 16.2 | .608 | 0.2 | 0.7 | .368 | 6.1 | 8.6 | .714 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | 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 |
| Zion Williamson | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Season 4 |
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| Dwight Howard | Zion Williamson | |
| Season | 2007-08 | 2023-24 |
| Team | Orlando Magic | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Honors & Awards | All-NBA First Team | - |
| All-Defensive Second Team | - | |
| Rebounds Leader | - | |
| All-Star Game | - | |
| Playoffs | Magic Lost East Conf Semis | Did Not Play |
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | 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: | +12 | +6.2 | +2.2 | +1.7 | +6.7 | +8.4 | +3.7 | +0.2 | +1.4 | -0.4 | -1.0 | +1.8 | +3.7 | +.029 | +0.1 | +0.3 | +1.5 | +3.8 | +.112 | |
| Zion Williamson | 70 | 31.5 | 22.9 | 1.7 | 4.1 | 5.8 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 8.9 | 15.6 | .570 | 0.1 | 0.3 | .333 | 5.0 | 7.1 | .702 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | 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 |
| Zion Williamson | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Season 5 |
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| Dwight Howard | Zion Williamson | |
| Season | 2008-09 | 2024-25 |
| Team | Orlando Magic | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Honors & Awards | All-NBA First Team | - |
| All-Defensive First Team | - | |
| Defensive Player of the Year | - | |
| Rebounds Leader | - | |
| Blocks Leader | - | |
| All-Star Game | - | |
| Playoffs | Magic Lost NBA Finals | Did Not Play |
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | 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: | +49 | +7.1 | +4.0 | +1.8 | +4.9 | +6.6 | +3.9 | +0.2 | +2.0 | -0.7 | +2.5 | +4.5 | +.005 | +0.1 | +0.4 | +1.1 | +2.7 | +.062 | ||
| Zion Williamson | 30 | 28.6 | 24.6 | 2.5 | 4.7 | 7.2 | 5.3 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 9.6 | 16.9 | .567 | 0.1 | 0.4 | .231 | 5.3 | 8.0 | .656 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | 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 |
| Zion Williamson | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Season 6 |
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| Dwight Howard | Zion Williamson | |
| Season | 2009-10 | 2025-26 |
| Team | Orlando Magic | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Honors & Awards | All-NBA First Team | - |
| All-Defensive First Team | - | |
| Defensive Player of the Year | - | |
| Rebounds Leader | - | |
| Blocks Leader | - | |
| All-Star Game | - | |
| Playoffs | Magic Lost East Conf Finals | Did Not Play |
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | 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: | +72 | +3.8 | +3.8 | +1.2 | +6.4 | +7.6 | +2.2 | +0.7 | +2.3 | -0.2 | -1.2 | +1.2 | +4.3 | +.102 | +0.2 | +1.4 | +0.1 | +.131 | ||
| Zion Williamson | 10 | 30.9 | 22.1 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 5.6 | 4.0 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 3.1 | 2.3 | 7.4 | 14.5 | .510 | 0.0 | 0.3 | .000 | 7.3 | 10.1 | .723 |
| Playoffs Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | 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 |
| Zion Williamson | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Additional Years |
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* Dwight Howard played 12 seasons more than Zion Williamson in the NBA. In that period—his seasons 7 to 18, from 2011 to 2022—Dwight Howard played in 8 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship. In those 12 extra years over Zion Williamson, Dwight Howard got these achievements: | |
| Honors & Awards | 2 All-NBA First Team 1 All-NBA Second Team 1 All-NBA Third Team 2 All-Defensive First Team 1 Defensive Player of the Year 2 Rebounds Leader 4 All-Star Game |