James Harden vs. Herb Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Herb Williams and James Harden, 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

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.

James Harden played 15 years in the NBA, 3 less than Herb Williams, who played 18. James Harden had the first of his seasons in 2009-10, while Herb Williams had his rookie season in 1981-82. 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
James Harden 15 15 2009-10 to 2023-24
Herb Williams 18 8 1981-82 to 1998-99

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

James Harden Herb Williams
Season 2009-101981-82
Team Oklahoma City ThunderIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
James Harden 76 22.9 9.9 0.6 2.6 3.2 1.8 1.1 0.3 1.4 2.6 3.1 7.6 .403 1.2 3.3 .375 2.6 3.2 .808
Herb Williams 82 27.8 11.5 2.1 5.2 7.4 1.7 0.6 2.2 1.7 2.4 5.0 10.4 .477 0.0 0.1 .286 1.5 2.3 .670
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 6 20.0 7.7 0.2 2.3 2.5 1.8 1.0 0.2 0.5 2.3 2.0 5.2 .387 1.0 2.7 .375 2.7 3.2 .842
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 2

James Harden Herb Williams
Season 2010-111982-83
Team Oklahoma City ThunderIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 82 26.7 12.2 0.5 2.6 3.1 2.1 1.1 0.3 1.3 2.5 3.6 8.3 .436 1.4 4.0 .349 3.5 4.2 .843
Herb Williams 78 32.2 16.9 1.9 5.5 7.5 3.4 0.7 2.2 2.9 2.9 7.4 14.9 .499 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 2.8 .705
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 17 31.6 13.0 0.6 4.8 5.4 3.6 1.2 0.8 1.6 2.8 3.9 8.2 .475 1.4 4.5 .303 3.9 4.7 .825
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 3

James Harden Herb Williams
Season 2011-121983-84
Team Oklahoma City ThunderIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Thunder Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 62 31.4 16.8 0.5 3.6 4.1 3.7 1.0 0.2 2.2 2.4 5.0 10.1 .491 1.8 4.7 .390 5.0 6.0 .846
Herb Williams 69 33.0 14.9 2.2 5.8 8.0 3.1 0.9 1.6 3.0 2.8 6.0 12.5 .478 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.3 .702
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 20 31.5 16.3 0.7 4.5 5.1 3.4 1.6 0.1 2.1 3.4 4.7 10.7 .435 1.6 3.9 .410 5.4 6.3 .857
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 4

James Harden Herb Williams
Season 2012-131984-85
Team Houston RocketsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
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 %
James Harden 78 38.3 25.9 0.8 4.1 4.9 5.8 1.8 0.5 3.8 2.3 7.5 17.1 .438 2.3 6.2 .368 8.6 10.2 .851
Herb Williams 75 34.1 18.3 2.1 6.4 8.5 3.4 0.7 1.8 3.5 2.9 7.7 16.1 .475 0.0 0.1 .111 3.0 4.5 .657
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 6 40.5 26.3 0.8 5.8 6.7 4.5 2.0 1.0 4.5 3.0 7.5 19.2 .391 2.5 7.3 .341 8.8 11.0 .803
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 5

James Harden Herb Williams
Season 2013-141985-86
Team Houston RocketsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
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 %
James Harden 73 38.0 25.4 0.8 3.9 4.7 6.1 1.6 0.4 3.6 2.4 7.5 16.5 .456 2.4 6.6 .366 7.9 9.1 .866
Herb Williams 78 35.5 19.9 2.2 6.9 9.1 2.2 0.6 2.4 2.7 3.1 8.0 16.3 .492 0.0 0.2 .083 3.8 5.2 .730
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 6 43.8 26.8 0.8 3.8 4.7 5.8 2.0 0.2 3.5 3.5 8.3 22.2 .376 2.7 9.0 .296 7.5 8.3 .900
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 6

James Harden Herb Williams
Season 2014-151986-87
Team Houston RocketsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsPacers 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 %
James Harden 81 36.8 27.4 0.9 4.7 5.7 7.0 1.9 0.7 4.0 2.6 8.0 18.1 .440 2.6 6.9 .375 8.8 10.2 .868
Herb Williams 74 34.1 14.9 1.9 5.4 7.3 2.4 0.8 1.3 2.0 3.4 6.1 12.7 .480 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 3.6 .740
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 17 37.4 27.2 0.7 5.0 5.7 7.5 1.6 0.4 4.5 2.9 7.6 17.3 .439 2.4 6.3 .383 9.6 10.5 .916
Herb Williams 4 33.5 11.8 0.8 4.3 5.0 1.8 0.0 0.3 2.8 3.0 5.0 8.5 .588 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.3 .538

Season 7

James Harden Herb Williams
Season 2015-161987-88
Team Houston RocketsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards 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 %
James Harden 82 38.1 29.0 0.8 5.3 6.1 7.5 1.7 0.6 4.6 2.8 8.7 19.7 .439 2.9 8.0 .359 8.8 10.2 .860
Herb Williams 75 26.2 10.0 1.5 4.7 6.3 1.3 0.5 1.9 1.6 3.3 4.1 9.8 .425 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 2.3 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 5 38.6 26.6 1.4 3.8 5.2 7.6 2.4 0.2 5.2 2.6 8.2 20.0 .410 2.6 8.4 .310 7.6 9.0 .844
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 8

James Harden Herb Williams
Season 2016-171988-89
Team Houston RocketsIndiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West 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 %
James Harden 81 36.4 29.1 1.2 7.0 8.1 11.2 1.5 0.5 5.7 2.7 8.3 18.9 .440 3.2 9.3 .347 9.2 10.9 .847
Herb Williams 76 32.5 10.2 1.8 6.0 7.8 1.6 0.6 1.8 2.0 3.1 4.2 9.7 .436 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.6 .686
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 11 37.0 28.5 0.6 4.8 5.5 8.5 1.9 0.5 5.4 3.9 8.2 19.8 .413 2.9 10.5 .278 9.2 10.5 .878
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 9

James Harden Herb Williams
Season 2017-181989-90
Team Houston RocketsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsMavericks 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 %
James Harden 72 35.4 30.4 0.6 4.8 5.4 8.8 1.8 0.7 4.4 2.3 9.0 20.1 .449 3.7 10.0 .367 8.7 10.1 .858
Herb Williams 81 27.1 8.6 0.9 3.9 4.8 1.5 0.6 1.3 1.3 3.0 3.6 8.2 .444 0.0 0.1 .222 1.3 2.0 .679
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 17 36.5 28.6 0.8 4.4 5.2 6.8 2.2 0.6 3.8 2.7 9.3 22.6 .410 3.1 10.2 .299 6.9 7.8 .887
Herb Williams 3 27.0 13.7 1.3 3.0 4.3 1.7 0.3 0.7 1.0 5.3 4.7 7.7 .609 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 5.3 .813

Season 10

James Harden Herb Williams
Season 2018-191990-91
Team Houston RocketsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West 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 %
James Harden 78 36.8 36.1 0.8 5.8 6.6 7.5 2.0 0.7 5.0 3.1 10.8 24.5 .442 4.8 13.2 .368 9.7 11.0 .879
Herb Williams 60 30.5 12.5 1.4 4.5 6.0 1.6 0.5 1.5 1.9 3.3 5.5 10.9 .507 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.2 .638
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 11 38.5 31.6 0.8 6.0 6.8 6.6 2.2 0.9 4.6 3.7 9.9 24.0 .413 4.4 12.5 .350 7.5 8.9 .837
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 11

James Harden Herb Williams
Season 2019-201991-92
Team Houston RocketsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West 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 %
James Harden 68 36.5 34.3 1.0 5.5 6.6 7.5 1.8 0.9 4.5 3.3 9.9 22.3 .444 4.4 12.4 .355 10.2 11.8 .865
Herb Williams 75 27.2 11.5 1.4 4.6 6.1 1.3 0.5 1.3 1.5 2.5 4.9 11.3 .431 0.0 0.1 .167 1.7 2.3 .725
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 12 37.3 29.6 1.0 4.6 5.6 7.7 1.5 0.8 3.8 3.6 9.1 19.0 .478 3.3 9.8 .333 8.2 9.7 .845
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 12

James Harden Herb Williams
Season 2020-211992-93
Team Houston Rockets, Brooklyn NetsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisKnicks 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 %
James Harden 44 36.6 24.6 0.8 7.1 7.9 10.8 1.2 0.8 4.0 2.3 7.8 16.7 .466 2.8 7.6 .362 6.3 7.3 .861
Herb Williams 55 10.4 2.9 0.8 1.9 2.7 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.4 1.4 1.3 3.2 .411 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 9 35.8 20.2 0.8 5.6 6.3 8.6 1.7 0.7 2.9 2.6 5.7 12.0 .472 2.7 7.3 .364 6.2 6.9 .903
Herb Williams 7 9.9 2.0 0.7 1.3 2.0 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.3 1.9 0.7 2.0 .357 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.6 1.000

Season 13

James Harden Herb Williams
Season 2021-221993-94
Team Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisKnicks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 65 37.2 22.0 0.8 6.8 7.7 10.3 1.3 0.6 4.4 2.4 6.3 15.3 .410 2.3 6.9 .330 7.2 8.2 .877
Herb Williams 70 11.1 3.3 0.8 1.8 2.6 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.6 1.5 1.5 3.3 .442 0.0 0.0 .000 0.4 0.6 .643
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 12 39.9 18.6 0.9 4.8 5.7 8.6 0.8 0.7 4.2 2.4 5.3 13.2 .405 2.3 6.3 .368 5.6 6.3 .893
Herb Williams 19 6.7 1.5 0.5 0.5 1.1 0.2 0.2 0.6 0.4 1.0 0.7 1.6 .419 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.2 .667

Season 14

James Harden Herb Williams
Season 2022-231994-95
Team Philadelphia 76ersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Assists Leader-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisKnicks 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 %
James Harden 58 36.8 21.0 0.7 5.4 6.1 10.7 1.2 0.5 3.4 1.9 6.4 14.5 .441 2.8 7.2 .385 5.4 6.2 .867
Herb Williams 56 13.3 3.3 0.4 1.9 2.4 0.5 0.2 0.8 0.7 1.9 1.5 3.2 .456 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.7 .622
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 11 38.8 20.3 0.5 5.6 6.2 8.3 1.8 0.4 3.2 2.5 6.5 16.6 .393 2.8 7.5 .378 4.4 5.0 .873
Herb Williams 8 6.9 1.0 0.4 0.5 0.9 0.0 0.6 0.6 0.1 1.6 0.4 1.6 .231 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 1.000

Season 15

James Harden Herb Williams
Season 2023-241995-96
Team Los Angeles ClippersNew York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdKnicks 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 %
James Harden 72 34.3 16.6 0.5 4.7 5.1 8.5 1.1 0.8 2.6 1.8 4.9 11.4 .428 2.6 6.8 .381 4.2 4.8 .878
Herb Williams 44 13.0 3.1 0.3 1.7 2.0 0.6 0.3 0.8 0.5 1.8 1.4 3.5 .408 0.0 0.1 .250 0.3 0.5 .650
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 6 40.3 21.2 0.5 4.0 4.5 8.0 1.0 1.0 2.3 2.2 6.7 14.8 .449 3.0 7.8 .383 4.8 5.3 .906
Herb Williams 5 6.6 1.8 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.6 1.0 .600 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .750

Season 16

James Harden Herb Williams
Season -1996-97
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 21 8.8 1.9 0.4 1.0 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.9 0.9 2.2 .391 0.0 0.0 .000 0.1 0.2 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 3 7.3 1.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.3 0.7 1.7 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 17

James Harden Herb Williams
Season -1997-98
Team -New York Knicks
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 %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 27 6.6 1.4 0.2 0.9 1.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.2 1.3 0.7 1.6 .419 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.3 .125
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 18

James Harden Herb Williams
Season -1998-99
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 6 5.7 1.7 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 8 1.9 0.3 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.1 0.6 .200 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -