James Harden vs. Hot Rod Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Hot Rod 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, 2 more than Hot Rod Williams, who played 13. James Harden had the first of his seasons in 2009-10, while Hot Rod Williams had his rookie season in 1986-87. 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
Hot Rod Williams 13 9 1986-87 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

Rookie Season

James Harden Hot Rod Williams
Season 2009-101986-87
Team Oklahoma City ThunderCleveland Cavaliers
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
Hot Rod Williams 80 33.9 14.6 2.8 5.1 7.9 1.9 0.7 2.1 1.7 2.5 5.4 11.2 .485 0.0 0.0 .000 3.7 5.0 .745
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
Hot Rod Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 2

James Harden Hot Rod Williams
Season 2010-111987-88
Team Oklahoma City ThunderCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf FinalsCavaliers 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 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
Hot Rod Williams 77 27.4 10.9 2.1 4.5 6.6 1.3 0.8 1.9 1.4 2.6 4.1 8.6 .477 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.6 .756
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
Hot Rod Williams 5 26.6 9.2 2.6 3.2 5.8 0.8 0.6 1.4 0.8 2.6 4.0 8.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 2.6 .462

Season 3

James Harden Hot Rod Williams
Season 2011-121988-89
Team Oklahoma City ThunderCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Thunder Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers 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 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
Hot Rod Williams 82 25.9 11.6 2.1 3.7 5.8 1.3 0.9 1.6 1.2 2.3 4.3 8.5 .509 0.0 0.0 .250 2.9 3.8 .748
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
Hot Rod Williams 5 32.2 11.0 1.4 5.4 6.8 2.0 0.4 1.4 2.2 2.4 4.2 9.0 .467 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.6 .722

Season 4

James Harden Hot Rod Williams
Season 2012-131989-90
Team Houston RocketsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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 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
Hot Rod Williams 82 33.9 16.8 2.7 5.4 8.1 2.0 1.0 2.0 1.7 2.6 6.4 13.0 .493 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 5.4 .739
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
Hot Rod Williams 5 34.8 19.0 2.8 6.4 9.2 2.2 0.4 1.0 1.4 4.6 7.8 14.0 .557 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 4.4 .773

Season 5

James Harden Hot Rod Williams
Season 2013-141990-91
Team Houston RocketsCleveland Cavaliers
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
Hot Rod Williams 43 30.1 11.7 2.6 4.2 6.7 2.3 0.8 1.6 1.5 2.9 4.6 10.0 .463 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.8 .652
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
Hot Rod Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 6

James Harden Hot Rod Williams
Season 2014-151991-92
Team Houston RocketsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsCavaliers 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 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
Hot Rod Williams 80 30.4 11.9 2.9 4.7 7.6 2.5 0.8 2.3 1.0 2.4 4.3 8.5 .503 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.5 .752
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
Hot Rod Williams 17 33.4 15.0 2.9 4.7 7.6 2.5 1.4 1.0 1.8 3.4 4.9 9.1 .545 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 6.4 .798

Season 7

James Harden Hot Rod Williams
Season 2015-161992-93
Team Houston RocketsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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 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
Hot Rod Williams 67 30.7 11.0 1.9 4.3 6.2 2.3 0.7 1.6 1.7 2.6 3.9 8.4 .470 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 4.4 .716
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
Hot Rod Williams 9 26.3 9.0 1.3 3.2 4.6 1.9 0.6 1.6 1.2 2.9 3.3 8.3 .400 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.1 .750

Season 8

James Harden Hot Rod Williams
Season 2016-171993-94
Team Houston RocketsCleveland Cavaliers
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
Hot Rod Williams 76 35.0 13.7 2.7 4.8 7.6 2.5 1.0 1.7 1.8 2.9 5.2 10.9 .478 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.6 .728
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
Hot Rod Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 9

James Harden Hot Rod Williams
Season 2017-181994-95
Team Houston RocketsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsCavaliers 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 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
Hot Rod Williams 74 35.7 12.6 2.3 4.5 6.9 2.6 1.1 1.4 2.0 2.9 4.9 10.9 .452 0.0 0.1 .200 2.6 3.9 .685
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
Hot Rod Williams 4 36.0 6.8 0.8 5.5 6.3 2.8 2.3 0.8 2.5 2.8 3.0 10.5 .286 0.0 0.3 .000 0.8 2.0 .375

Season 10

James Harden Hot Rod Williams
Season 2018-191995-96
Team Houston RocketsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisSuns 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 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
Hot Rod Williams 62 26.6 7.3 2.1 3.9 6.0 1.0 0.7 1.5 1.0 2.7 2.9 6.4 .453 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.1 .731
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
Hot Rod Williams 4 28.8 9.0 2.8 3.8 6.5 0.3 0.0 1.8 1.5 4.3 3.5 8.0 .438 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.0 .667

Season 11

James Harden Hot Rod Williams
Season 2019-201996-97
Team Houston RocketsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisSuns 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 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
Hot Rod Williams 68 31.4 8.0 2.6 5.6 8.3 1.5 1.0 1.3 1.0 2.6 3.0 6.1 .490 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.9 .672
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
Hot Rod Williams 5 20.6 4.0 2.0 2.6 4.6 0.6 0.4 1.6 1.0 2.4 1.6 3.0 .533 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 2.0 .400

Season 12

James Harden Hot Rod Williams
Season 2020-211997-98
Team Houston Rockets, Brooklyn NetsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisSuns 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 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
Hot Rod Williams 71 18.8 3.6 1.5 2.9 4.4 0.7 0.5 0.8 0.4 1.9 1.3 2.8 .470 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.3 .699
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
Hot Rod Williams 3 11.0 2.0 0.7 0.7 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.7 0.0 2.7 0.7 2.3 .286 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.0 .667

Season 13

James Harden Hot Rod Williams
Season 2021-221998-99
Team Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
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
Hot Rod Williams 25 16.1 1.2 1.4 1.9 3.3 0.6 0.5 0.7 0.5 2.0 0.4 1.3 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .700
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
Hot Rod Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 14

James Harden Hot Rod Williams
Season 2022-23-
Team Philadelphia 76ers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Assists Leader-
Playoffs 76ers 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
Hot Rod Williams ------- --- ----------
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
Hot Rod Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 15

James Harden Hot Rod Williams
Season 2023-24-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers 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 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
Hot Rod Williams ------- --- ----------
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
Hot Rod Williams ------- --- ----------