Hakeem Olajuwon vs. Wally Szczerbiak Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Wally Szczerbiak and Hakeem Olajuwon, 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.

Hakeem Olajuwon played 18 years in the NBA, 8 more than Wally Szczerbiak, who played 10. Hakeem Olajuwon had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, while Wally Szczerbiak had his rookie season in 1999-00. 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
Hakeem Olajuwon 18 15 1984-85 to 2001-02
Wally Szczerbiak 10 7 1999-00 to 2008-09

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18

Rookie Season

Hakeem Olajuwon Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1984-851999-00
Team Houston RocketsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdTimberwolves 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 35.5 20.6 5.4 6.5 11.9 1.4 1.2 2.7 2.9 4.2 8.3 15.3 .538 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 6.7 .613
Wally Szczerbiak 73 29.7 11.6 1.2 2.5 3.7 2.8 0.8 0.3 1.1 2.4 4.7 9.2 .511 0.4 1.1 .359 1.8 2.2 .826
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 5 37.4 21.2 6.6 6.4 13.0 1.4 1.4 2.6 2.2 4.4 8.4 17.6 .477 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 9.2 .478
Wally Szczerbiak 4 23.5 6.0 0.5 1.5 2.0 0.5 0.8 0.3 0.3 1.8 3.0 7.5 .400 0.0 0.8 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Hakeem Olajuwon Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1985-862000-01
Team Houston RocketsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost NBA FinalsTimberwolves 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 68 36.3 23.5 4.9 6.6 11.5 2.0 2.0 3.4 2.9 4.0 9.2 17.5 .526 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 7.9 .645
Wally Szczerbiak 82 34.8 14.0 1.6 3.8 5.5 3.2 0.7 0.4 1.7 2.8 5.7 11.2 .510 0.3 0.9 .338 2.2 2.5 .870
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 20 38.3 26.9 5.1 6.8 11.8 2.0 2.0 3.5 2.2 4.4 10.3 19.4 .530 0.0 0.1 .000 6.4 10.0 .638
Wally Szczerbiak 4 35.8 14.0 1.0 3.5 4.5 2.5 1.3 0.8 3.0 1.5 4.5 9.3 .486 0.0 0.3 .000 5.0 6.3 .800

Season 3

Hakeem Olajuwon Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1986-872001-02
Team Houston RocketsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisTimberwolves 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 75 36.8 23.4 4.2 7.2 11.4 2.9 1.9 3.4 3.0 3.9 9.0 17.8 .508 0.0 0.1 .200 5.3 7.6 .702
Wally Szczerbiak 82 38.0 18.7 1.5 3.3 4.8 3.1 0.8 0.3 2.2 2.3 7.4 14.6 .508 1.1 2.3 .455 2.8 3.3 .831
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 10 38.9 29.2 3.9 7.4 11.3 2.5 1.3 4.3 3.6 4.4 11.0 17.9 .615 0.0 0.1 .000 7.2 9.7 .742
Wally Szczerbiak 3 43.3 20.0 3.0 4.0 7.0 2.0 0.7 0.0 2.7 2.7 7.0 14.7 .477 0.7 3.0 .222 5.3 6.0 .889

Season 4

Hakeem Olajuwon Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1987-882002-03
Team Houston RocketsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdTimberwolves 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 79 35.8 22.8 3.8 8.3 12.1 2.1 2.1 2.7 3.1 4.1 9.0 17.5 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 4.8 6.9 .695
Wally Szczerbiak 52 35.3 17.6 1.0 3.6 4.6 2.6 0.8 0.4 1.7 2.4 6.8 14.0 .481 1.2 2.8 .421 2.9 3.3 .867
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.5 37.5 5.0 11.8 16.8 1.8 2.3 2.8 2.3 3.5 14.0 24.5 .571 0.0 0.3 .000 9.5 10.8 .884
Wally Szczerbiak 6 42.0 14.5 1.0 4.0 5.0 2.2 1.0 0.2 3.0 3.2 4.8 10.2 .475 0.5 2.3 .214 4.3 5.0 .867

Season 5

Hakeem Olajuwon Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1988-892003-04
Team Houston RocketsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdTimberwolves Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 36.9 24.8 4.1 9.4 13.5 1.8 2.6 3.4 3.4 4.0 9.6 19.0 .508 0.0 0.1 .000 5.5 8.0 .696
Wally Szczerbiak 28 22.2 10.2 0.9 2.3 3.1 1.2 0.4 0.0 1.0 1.5 3.8 8.4 .449 0.7 1.6 .435 1.9 2.3 .828
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.5 25.3 3.5 9.5 13.0 3.0 2.5 2.8 2.5 4.3 10.5 20.3 .519 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.3 .680
Wally Szczerbiak 12 24.8 11.8 0.8 2.5 3.3 1.7 0.5 0.2 2.0 2.6 3.9 9.3 .420 0.8 2.4 .345 3.2 3.4 .927

Season 6

Hakeem Olajuwon Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1989-902004-05
Team Houston RocketsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 38.1 24.3 3.6 10.4 14.0 2.9 2.1 4.6 3.9 3.8 9.8 19.6 .501 0.0 0.1 .167 4.7 6.5 .713
Wally Szczerbiak 81 31.6 15.5 1.0 2.7 3.7 2.4 0.5 0.2 1.6 2.2 5.7 11.3 .506 0.8 2.1 .373 3.2 3.8 .855
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.3 18.5 3.8 7.8 11.5 2.0 2.5 5.8 2.8 4.8 7.8 17.5 .443 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.3 .706
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Hakeem Olajuwon Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1990-912005-06
Team Houston RocketsMinnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 56 36.8 21.2 3.9 9.8 13.8 2.3 2.2 3.9 3.1 3.9 8.7 17.1 .508 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 4.9 .769
Wally Szczerbiak 72 37.9 19.0 1.1 3.3 4.3 3.0 0.6 0.3 1.9 2.1 6.8 14.1 .487 1.4 3.5 .400 3.9 4.3 .897
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 3 43.0 22.0 4.0 10.7 14.7 2.0 1.3 2.7 2.7 3.7 8.7 15.0 .578 0.0 0.3 .000 4.7 5.7 .824
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Hakeem Olajuwon Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1991-922006-07
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 70 37.7 21.6 3.5 8.6 12.1 2.2 1.8 4.3 2.7 3.8 8.4 16.8 .502 0.0 0.0 .000 4.7 6.1 .766
Wally Szczerbiak 32 28.1 15.0 0.5 2.6 3.1 1.7 0.6 0.1 1.7 2.0 5.0 12.1 .415 1.4 3.3 .415 3.5 3.9 .897
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon ------- --- ----------
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Hakeem Olajuwon Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1992-932007-08
Team Houston RocketsSeattle Supersonics, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisCavaliers 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 39.5 26.1 3.5 9.6 13.0 3.5 1.8 4.2 3.2 3.7 10.3 19.5 .529 0.0 0.1 .000 5.4 7.0 .779
Wally Szczerbiak 75 23.1 11.5 0.5 2.4 2.9 1.4 0.3 0.2 1.0 1.4 4.1 9.6 .431 1.2 2.9 .413 2.0 2.3 .851
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 12 43.2 25.7 4.3 9.7 14.0 4.8 1.8 4.9 3.8 3.1 10.3 19.8 .517 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 6.3 .827
Wally Szczerbiak 13 28.8 10.8 0.3 1.5 1.8 1.5 0.2 0.1 0.8 2.5 3.6 9.6 .376 1.5 4.8 .323 2.0 2.2 .929

Season 10

Hakeem Olajuwon Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1993-942008-09
Team Houston RocketsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 80 41.0 27.3 2.9 9.1 11.9 3.6 1.6 3.7 3.4 3.6 11.2 21.2 .528 0.1 0.2 .421 4.9 6.8 .716
Wally Szczerbiak 74 20.6 7.0 0.6 2.6 3.1 1.1 0.4 0.1 0.7 1.8 2.4 5.4 .450 0.9 2.3 .411 1.2 1.4 .849
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 23 43.0 28.9 2.4 8.7 11.0 4.3 1.7 4.0 3.6 3.6 11.6 22.3 .519 0.1 0.2 .500 5.6 7.0 .795
Wally Szczerbiak 12 12.8 3.6 0.7 1.7 2.3 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.8 1.6 1.3 3.0 .444 0.2 1.0 .167 0.8 0.9 .818

Season 11

Hakeem Olajuwon Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1994-95-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 72 39.6 27.8 2.4 8.4 10.8 3.5 1.8 3.4 3.3 3.5 11.1 21.5 .517 0.0 0.2 .188 5.6 7.5 .756
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 22 42.2 33.0 2.0 8.3 10.3 4.5 1.2 2.8 3.1 4.3 13.9 26.2 .531 0.1 0.2 .500 5.0 7.4 .681
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Hakeem Olajuwon Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1995-96-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 72 38.8 26.9 2.4 8.4 10.9 3.6 1.6 2.9 3.4 3.4 10.7 20.8 .514 0.0 0.2 .214 5.5 7.6 .724
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 8 41.1 22.4 2.1 7.0 9.1 3.9 1.9 2.1 3.6 3.5 9.4 18.4 .510 0.0 0.1 .000 3.6 5.0 .725
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Hakeem Olajuwon Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1996-97-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 78 36.6 23.2 2.2 7.0 9.2 3.0 1.5 2.2 3.6 3.2 9.3 18.3 .510 0.1 0.2 .313 4.5 5.7 .787
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 16 39.4 23.1 2.9 8.0 10.9 3.4 2.1 2.6 2.9 3.8 9.2 15.6 .590 0.0 0.2 .000 4.8 6.5 .731
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Hakeem Olajuwon Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1997-98-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 47 34.7 16.4 2.5 7.3 9.8 3.0 1.8 2.0 2.7 3.2 6.5 13.5 .483 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.5 .755
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 5 38.0 20.4 1.8 9.0 10.8 2.4 1.0 3.2 2.6 3.6 7.8 19.8 .394 0.0 0.2 .000 4.8 6.6 .727
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Hakeem Olajuwon Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1998-99-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 50 35.7 18.9 2.1 7.4 9.6 1.8 1.6 2.5 2.8 3.2 7.5 14.5 .514 0.1 0.3 .308 3.9 5.4 .717
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 31.0 13.3 1.3 6.0 7.3 0.5 1.3 0.8 1.3 4.5 5.8 13.5 .426 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.0 .875
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Hakeem Olajuwon Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1999-00-
Team Houston Rockets-
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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 44 23.8 10.3 1.5 4.8 6.2 1.4 0.9 1.6 1.7 2.0 4.4 9.6 .458 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.5 .616
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon ------- --- ----------
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Hakeem Olajuwon Wally Szczerbiak
Season 2000-01-
Team Houston Rockets-
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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 58 26.6 11.9 2.1 5.3 7.4 1.2 1.2 1.5 1.4 2.4 4.9 9.8 .498 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.4 .621
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon ------- --- ----------
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Hakeem Olajuwon Wally Szczerbiak
Season 2001-02-
Team Toronto Raptors-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Raptors 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 61 22.6 7.1 1.6 4.4 6.0 1.1 1.2 1.5 1.6 2.4 3.2 6.9 .464 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.4 .560
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 5 17.2 5.6 1.8 2.0 3.8 0.4 1.4 0.8 1.2 1.8 2.4 4.4 .545 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .667
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------