James Harden vs. Jaren Jackson Jr. Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jaren Jackson Jr. 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 / 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.

James Harden played 17 years in the NBA, 9 more than Jaren Jackson Jr., who played 8. James Harden had the first of his seasons in 2009-10, while Jaren Jackson Jr. had his rookie season in 2018-19. 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
James Harden 17 16 2009-10 to 2025-26
Jaren Jackson Jr. 8 4 2018-19 to 2025-26

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8

Rookie Season
James Harden Jaren Jackson Jr.
Season 2009-102018-19
Team Oklahoma City ThunderMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+18+3.2+3.9+0.7+0.8+1.5+0.7+0.2+1.1-0.3-1.2+2.0+2.6+.103+0.3+0.9+.016+0.2+.042
Jaren Jackson Jr. 58 26.1 13.8 1.3 3.4 4.7 1.1 0.9 1.4 1.7 3.8 5.1 10.2 .506 0.9 2.4 .359 2.6 3.4 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Jaren Jackson Jr. DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2
James Harden Jaren Jackson Jr.
Season 2010-112019-20
Team Oklahoma City ThunderMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+25+1.8+5.2+0.5+1.0+1.5+0.7+0.4+1.3-0.4-1.6+2.6+4.9+.033+1.1+2.5+.045+1.1+0.9+.096
Jaren Jackson Jr. 57 28.5 17.4 1.0 3.6 4.6 1.4 0.7 1.6 1.7 4.1 6.2 13.2 .469 2.5 6.5 .394 2.4 3.3 .747
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Jaren Jackson Jr. DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3
James Harden Jaren Jackson Jr.
Season 2011-122020-21
Team Oklahoma City ThunderMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Thunder Lost NBA FinalsGrizzlies Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+51+7.9+2.4+1.0+0.5+1.5+2.6+0.1+1.4-0.8-1.4+0.2+1.3+.067+0.3+0.8+.107+1.8+2.2+.013
Jaren Jackson Jr. 11 23.5 14.4 1.5 4.1 5.6 1.1 1.1 1.6 1.4 3.8 4.8 11.4 .424 1.5 5.5 .283 3.2 3.8 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+15+4.1+2.7+1.1+0.7+0.5+2.4+0.6+1.1-1.3-0.8+0.1+0.1+.009+1.7+.124+2.6+3.1+.018
Jaren Jackson Jr. 5 27.4 13.6 1.8 3.8 5.6 1.0 1.0 1.2 0.8 4.2 4.6 10.8 .426 1.6 5.6 .286 2.8 3.2 .875

Season 4
James Harden Jaren Jackson Jr.
Season 2012-132021-22
Team Houston RocketsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Blocks Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdGrizzlies Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+11.0+9.6+0.7+0.2+0.9+4.7+0.9+1.8-2.1-1.2+2.0+3.8+.023+0.7+1.1+.049+5.0+5.8+.028
Jaren Jackson Jr. 78 27.3 16.3 1.5 4.3 5.8 1.1 0.9 2.3 1.7 3.5 5.5 13.3 .415 1.6 5.1 .319 3.6 4.4 .823
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+6+12.8+10.9+1.4+1.2+0.1+3.6+1.2+1.5-3.1-1.4+2.6+6.2+.013+0.2+1.3+.034+5.5+6.6+.048
Jaren Jackson Jr. 12 27.7 15.4 2.2 4.6 6.8 0.9 0.8 2.5 1.4 4.4 4.9 13.0 .378 2.3 6.0 .375 3.3 4.4 .755

Season 5
James Harden Jaren Jackson Jr.
Season 2013-142022-23
Team Houston RocketsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Blocks Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdGrizzlies Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+10+9.6+6.8+0.9+1.1+2.1+5.1+0.6+2.6-1.9-1.2+0.9+3.5+.050+0.8+2.1+.011+4.1+4.2+.078
Jaren Jackson Jr. 63 28.4 18.6 1.7 5.0 6.8 1.0 1.0 3.0 1.7 3.6 6.6 13.0 .506 1.6 4.5 .355 3.8 4.9 .788
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+7.1+8.8+2.5+0.7+3.1+4.3+1.0+1.8-0.5-0.5+2.5+8.4+.046+1.5+4.8+.016+2.3+2.3+.039
Jaren Jackson Jr. 6 36.7 18.0 3.3 4.5 7.8 1.5 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.8 13.8 .422 1.2 4.2 .280 5.2 6.0 .861

Season 6
James Harden Jaren Jackson Jr.
Season 2014-152023-24
Team Houston RocketsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+15+4.6+4.9+0.4+0.5+0.2+4.7+0.7+0.9-1.6-1.0+0.2+0.5+.004+0.8+1.4+.055+3.7+3.9+.060
Jaren Jackson Jr. 66 32.2 22.5 1.3 4.2 5.5 2.3 1.2 1.6 2.4 3.6 7.8 17.6 .444 1.8 5.5 .320 5.1 6.3 .808
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Jaren Jackson Jr. DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7
James Harden Jaren Jackson Jr.
Season 2015-162024-25
Team Houston RocketsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdGrizzlies Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+8+8.3+6.8+0.4+0.9+0.5+5.5+0.5+0.9-2.5-0.7+0.7+3.3+.049+0.9+2.7+.016+4.6+4.8+.079
Jaren Jackson Jr. 74 29.8 22.2 1.2 4.4 5.6 2.0 1.2 1.5 2.1 3.5 8.0 16.4 .488 2.0 5.3 .375 4.2 5.4 .781
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+1+4.3+10.6+0.9+1.0+0.2+6.1+1.4+0.3-2.4-0.9+2.7+5.5+.031+1.8+5.6+.037+3.3+4.0+.006
Jaren Jackson Jr. 4 34.3 16.0 2.3 2.8 5.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 2.8 3.5 5.5 14.5 .379 0.8 2.8 .273 4.3 5.0 .850

Season 8
James Harden Jaren Jackson Jr.
Season 2016-172025-26
Team Houston RocketsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+56+6.9+11.3+0.3+2.6+2.9+9.2+0.7+0.7-3.6-1.3+1.7+5.1+.043+1.6+4.8+.007+6.3+7.1+.070
Jaren Jackson Jr. 25 29.5 17.8 0.9 4.4 5.2 2.0 0.8 1.2 2.1 4.0 6.6 13.8 .483 1.6 4.5 .354 2.9 3.8 .777
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Jaren Jackson Jr. DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* James Harden played 9 seasons more than Jaren Jackson Jr. in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 9 to 17, from 2018 to 2026—James Harden played in 8 Playoffs.

In those 9 extra years over Jaren Jackson Jr., James Harden got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Season MVP
Achievement 3 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 3 Scoring Leader
Achievement 1 Assists Leader
Achievement 6 All-Star Game
Share: