Grant Long vs. Yao Ming Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Yao Ming and Grant Long, 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 / 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.

Grant Long played 15 years in the NBA, 7 more than Yao Ming, who played 8. Grant Long had the first of his seasons in 1988-89, while Yao Ming had his rookie season in 2002-03. 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
Grant Long 15 7 1988-89 to 2002-03
Yao Ming 8 4 2002-03 to 2010-11

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Grant Long Yao Ming
Season 1988-892002-03
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Grant Long 82 29.7 11.9 2.9 3.7 6.7 1.8 1.5 0.6 2.5 4.1 4.1 8.4 .486 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 5.0 .749
Yao Ming 82 29.0 13.5 2.4 5.8 8.2 1.7 0.4 1.8 2.1 2.8 4.9 9.8 .498 0.0 0.0 .500 3.7 4.5 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Grant Long Yao Ming
Season 1989-902003-04
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Grant Long 81 22.9 8.5 1.9 3.0 5.0 1.2 1.1 0.5 1.7 3.7 3.2 6.6 .483 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.0 .714
Yao Ming 82 32.8 17.5 2.4 6.6 9.0 1.5 0.3 1.9 2.5 3.3 6.5 12.5 .522 0.0 0.0 .000 4.4 5.4 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming 5 37.6 15.0 2.2 5.2 7.4 1.8 0.4 1.4 2.6 4.0 6.2 13.6 .456 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.4 .765

Season 3

Grant Long Yao Ming
Season 1990-912004-05
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Grant Long 80 31.4 9.2 2.8 4.3 7.1 2.2 1.5 0.5 2.0 3.7 3.5 7.0 .492 0.0 0.1 .167 2.3 2.9 .787
Yao Ming 80 30.6 18.3 2.6 5.8 8.4 0.8 0.4 2.0 2.5 3.7 6.7 12.2 .552 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 6.2 .783
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming 7 31.9 21.4 3.3 4.4 7.7 0.7 0.3 2.7 2.7 4.4 7.9 12.0 .655 0.0 0.0 - 5.7 7.9 .727

Season 4

Grant Long Yao Ming
Season 1991-922005-06
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East 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 %
Grant Long 82 37.4 14.8 3.2 5.3 8.4 2.7 1.7 0.5 2.3 3.0 5.4 10.9 .494 0.1 0.3 .273 4.0 4.9 .807
Yao Ming 57 34.2 22.3 2.6 7.6 10.2 1.5 0.5 1.6 2.6 3.4 8.2 15.8 .519 0.0 0.0 .000 5.9 6.9 .853
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 3 40.0 12.3 2.3 2.7 5.0 2.7 1.7 0.0 1.7 3.7 5.0 12.0 .417 0.0 1.3 .000 2.3 3.3 .700
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Grant Long Yao Ming
Season 1992-932006-07
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Grant Long 76 35.9 14.0 2.6 4.9 7.5 2.4 1.4 0.4 1.8 3.5 5.2 11.1 .469 0.1 0.3 .231 3.4 4.5 .765
Yao Ming 48 33.8 25.0 2.1 7.3 9.4 2.0 0.4 2.0 3.5 3.3 8.8 17.1 .516 0.0 0.0 .000 7.4 8.6 .862
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming 7 37.1 25.1 3.3 7.0 10.3 0.9 0.1 0.7 4.7 3.9 7.9 17.9 .440 0.0 0.0 - 9.4 10.7 .880

Season 6

Grant Long Yao Ming
Season 1993-942007-08
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East 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 %
Grant Long 69 31.9 11.4 2.8 4.4 7.2 2.5 1.3 0.4 1.8 3.5 4.3 9.7 .446 0.0 0.1 .167 2.7 3.4 .786
Yao Ming 55 37.2 22.0 3.1 7.7 10.8 2.3 0.5 2.0 3.3 3.1 7.9 15.5 .507 0.0 0.0 .000 6.3 7.4 .850
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 4 27.5 12.3 2.5 2.0 4.5 1.8 0.8 0.5 2.5 4.0 3.5 9.0 .389 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 6.8 .778
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Grant Long Yao Ming
Season 1994-952008-09
Team Miami Heat, Atlanta HawksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets 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 %
Grant Long 81 32.6 11.6 2.4 5.1 7.5 1.6 1.3 0.4 1.9 3.0 4.2 8.8 .478 0.1 0.4 .355 3.0 4.0 .751
Yao Ming 77 33.6 19.7 2.6 7.2 9.9 1.8 0.4 1.9 3.0 3.3 7.4 13.4 .548 0.0 0.0 1.000 4.9 5.7 .866
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 3 36.7 13.7 4.3 7.0 11.3 1.3 1.3 0.3 2.7 3.7 4.7 9.3 .500 0.0 0.3 .000 4.3 6.0 .722
Yao Ming 9 35.9 17.1 2.1 8.8 10.9 1.0 0.4 1.2 1.9 3.0 6.0 11.0 .545 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 5.7 .902

Note: Yao Ming didn't play in 2009-10.

Season 8

Grant Long Yao Ming
Season 1995-962010-11
Team Atlanta HawksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East 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 %
Grant Long 82 36.7 13.1 3.0 6.6 9.6 2.2 1.3 0.4 1.9 2.8 4.8 10.2 .471 0.4 1.0 .360 3.1 4.1 .763
Yao Ming 5 18.2 10.2 1.4 4.0 5.4 0.8 0.0 1.6 1.4 2.6 3.6 7.4 .486 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.2 .938
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 10 36.2 11.4 3.0 5.6 8.6 2.8 0.7 0.3 1.9 2.7 4.4 11.1 .396 0.6 2.4 .250 2.0 2.5 .800
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Grant Long Yao Ming
Season 1996-97-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 65 17.9 5.0 1.4 2.1 3.4 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.7 1.6 1.9 4.2 .447 0.3 0.7 .362 1.0 1.3 .750
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 5 17.4 5.0 0.8 1.4 2.2 0.6 0.8 0.0 0.0 2.2 1.6 3.6 .444 0.0 0.4 .000 1.8 2.2 .818
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Grant Long Yao Ming
Season 1997-98-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 40 18.5 3.5 1.4 2.3 3.8 0.6 0.7 0.3 0.6 2.3 1.3 2.9 .427 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 1.4 .719
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Grant Long Yao Ming
Season 1998-99-
Team Atlanta Hawks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 50 27.6 9.8 2.0 3.9 5.9 1.1 1.1 0.3 1.5 2.9 3.0 7.2 .421 0.1 0.4 .167 3.7 4.7 .783
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 9 39.8 11.7 3.1 5.1 8.2 0.9 2.0 0.4 2.6 3.0 4.0 9.8 .409 0.1 0.4 .250 3.6 4.9 .727
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Grant Long Yao Ming
Season 1999-00-
Team Vancouver Grizzlies-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 42 21.9 4.8 2.0 3.5 5.6 1.0 1.1 0.2 1.2 2.6 1.8 4.0 .443 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 1.7 .775
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Grant Long Yao Ming
Season 2000-01-
Team Vancouver Grizzlies-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 66 22.8 6.0 1.2 3.0 4.2 1.3 1.1 0.2 0.9 2.4 2.1 4.8 .439 0.1 0.2 .267 1.7 2.4 .713
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Grant Long Yao Ming
Season 2001-02-
Team Memphis Grizzlies-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 66 28.3 6.3 0.5 3.0 3.5 2.1 1.0 0.2 1.6 1.9 2.5 5.8 .426 0.0 0.3 .176 1.3 1.9 .699
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Grant Long Yao Ming
Season 2002-03-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 41 11.9 1.8 0.6 1.4 2.0 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.5 1.5 0.7 1.7 .386 0.0 0.1 .000 0.4 0.6 .783
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 8 4.4 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.5 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------