James Harden vs. Ricky Pierce Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ricky Pierce 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, 1 less than Ricky Pierce, who played 16. James Harden had the first of his seasons in 2009-10, while Ricky Pierce had his rookie season in 1982-83. 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
Ricky Pierce 16 12 1982-83 to 1997-98

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

James Harden Ricky Pierce
Season 2009-101982-83
Team Oklahoma City ThunderDetroit Pistons
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
Ricky Pierce 39 6.8 2.2 0.4 0.5 0.9 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.5 1.1 0.8 2.3 .375 0.0 0.2 .143 0.5 0.8 .563
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
Ricky Pierce ------- --- ----------

Season 2

James Harden Ricky Pierce
Season 2010-111983-84
Team Oklahoma City ThunderSan Diego Clippers
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
Ricky Pierce 69 18.6 9.9 0.9 1.1 2.0 0.9 0.4 0.2 1.2 2.1 3.9 8.3 .470 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 2.5 .861
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
Ricky Pierce ------- --- ----------

Season 3

James Harden Ricky Pierce
Season 2011-121984-85
Team Oklahoma City ThunderMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Thunder Lost NBA FinalsBucks 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 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
Ricky Pierce 44 20.0 9.8 1.1 1.5 2.7 2.1 0.8 0.1 1.4 2.7 3.8 7.0 .537 0.0 0.1 .250 2.3 2.8 .823
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
Ricky Pierce 8 24.8 9.9 1.0 1.3 2.3 1.9 0.4 0.1 2.1 3.3 4.5 9.1 .493 0.0 0.3 .000 0.9 1.1 .778

Season 4

James Harden Ricky Pierce
Season 2012-131985-86
Team Houston RocketsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdBucks 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 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
Ricky Pierce 81 26.5 13.9 1.2 1.7 2.9 2.2 1.0 0.1 1.3 3.1 5.3 9.9 .538 0.0 0.3 .130 3.3 3.8 .858
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
Ricky Pierce 13 24.8 11.1 1.5 1.2 2.8 1.5 0.6 0.2 1.2 3.2 4.0 8.7 .460 0.0 0.2 .000 3.1 3.5 .889

Season 5

James Harden Ricky Pierce
Season 2013-141986-87
Team Houston RocketsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdBucks 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 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
Ricky Pierce 79 31.7 19.5 1.5 1.9 3.4 1.8 0.8 0.3 1.5 2.8 7.3 13.6 .534 0.0 0.4 .107 4.9 5.6 .880
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
Ricky Pierce 12 26.4 15.9 1.0 1.3 2.3 1.3 0.8 0.4 1.6 3.3 5.7 11.8 .479 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 5.6 .821

Season 6

James Harden Ricky Pierce
Season 2014-151987-88
Team Houston RocketsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsBucks 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
Ricky Pierce 37 26.1 16.4 0.8 1.4 2.2 2.0 0.6 0.2 1.5 2.5 6.7 13.1 .510 0.1 0.4 .214 2.9 3.3 .877
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
Ricky Pierce 5 21.0 11.8 1.2 1.6 2.8 1.8 0.2 0.4 0.8 1.8 5.0 10.6 .472 0.2 1.0 .200 1.6 1.8 .889

Season 7

James Harden Ricky Pierce
Season 2015-161988-89
Team Houston RocketsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdBucks 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
Ricky Pierce 75 27.7 17.6 1.1 1.5 2.6 2.1 1.0 0.3 1.5 2.6 7.0 13.6 .518 0.1 0.5 .222 3.4 4.0 .859
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
Ricky Pierce 9 32.4 22.3 0.6 2.2 2.8 2.8 1.2 0.2 1.0 3.4 8.6 15.7 .546 0.7 0.9 .750 4.6 5.2 .872

Season 8

James Harden Ricky Pierce
Season 2016-171989-90
Team Houston RocketsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisBucks 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 36.4 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
Ricky Pierce 59 29.0 23.0 1.1 1.7 2.8 2.3 0.8 0.1 2.2 2.7 8.5 16.7 .510 0.8 2.3 .346 5.2 6.2 .839
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
Ricky Pierce 4 30.5 22.3 1.5 0.8 2.3 1.5 1.3 0.0 0.8 3.5 7.0 15.0 .467 1.3 2.5 .500 7.0 7.8 .903

Season 9

James Harden Ricky Pierce
Season 2017-181990-91
Team Houston RocketsMilwaukee Bucks, Seattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsSupersonics 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
Ricky Pierce 78 27.8 20.5 0.9 1.6 2.4 2.2 0.8 0.2 1.9 2.2 7.2 14.8 .485 0.6 1.5 .397 5.5 6.0 .913
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
Ricky Pierce 5 22.4 11.4 1.2 1.6 2.8 0.8 0.8 0.2 2.2 2.4 3.8 11.4 .333 0.6 2.0 .300 3.2 3.4 .941

Season 10

James Harden Ricky Pierce
Season 2018-191991-92
Team Houston RocketsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisSupersonics 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 %
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
Ricky Pierce 78 34.1 21.7 1.2 1.8 3.0 3.1 1.1 0.3 2.4 2.7 7.9 16.7 .475 0.4 1.6 .268 5.3 5.8 .916
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
Ricky Pierce 9 35.1 19.6 1.0 1.4 2.4 3.1 0.6 0.1 2.7 2.7 7.0 14.6 .481 0.3 1.2 .273 5.2 6.0 .870

Season 11

James Harden Ricky Pierce
Season 2019-201992-93
Team Houston RocketsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisSupersonics 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 %
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
Ricky Pierce 77 28.8 18.2 0.8 1.7 2.5 2.9 1.3 0.1 2.1 2.2 6.8 13.9 .489 0.5 1.5 .372 4.1 4.6 .889
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
Ricky Pierce 19 30.4 17.7 0.9 1.5 2.4 2.2 0.6 0.2 1.5 2.1 6.5 14.2 .456 0.6 1.6 .400 4.2 4.6 .898

Season 12

James Harden Ricky Pierce
Season 2020-211993-94
Team Houston Rockets, Brooklyn NetsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisSupersonics 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
Ricky Pierce 51 20.0 14.5 0.6 1.1 1.6 1.8 0.8 0.1 1.3 1.6 5.3 11.3 .471 0.1 0.6 .188 3.7 4.1 .896
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
Ricky Pierce 5 14.8 8.0 0.8 0.2 1.0 0.6 0.2 0.0 1.8 1.6 2.8 6.2 .452 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.4 .706

Season 13

James Harden Ricky Pierce
Season 2021-221994-95
Team Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ersGolden State Warriors
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
Ricky Pierce 27 24.9 12.5 0.4 1.9 2.4 1.5 0.8 0.1 0.9 1.4 4.1 9.4 .437 0.9 2.6 .329 3.4 3.9 .877
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
Ricky Pierce ------- --- ----------

Season 14

James Harden Ricky Pierce
Season 2022-231995-96
Team Philadelphia 76ersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement Assists Leader-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisPacers 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 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
Ricky Pierce 76 18.5 9.7 0.5 1.3 1.8 1.3 0.8 0.1 1.2 2.5 3.5 7.8 .447 0.5 1.4 .337 2.3 2.7 .849
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
Ricky Pierce 5 26.6 10.2 0.6 0.2 0.8 3.0 1.6 0.2 2.4 2.6 3.2 9.4 .340 0.4 1.6 .250 3.4 4.0 .850

Season 15

James Harden Ricky Pierce
Season 2023-241996-97
Team Los Angeles ClippersDenver Nuggets, Charlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdHornets 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 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
Ricky Pierce 60 20.8 11.0 0.6 1.4 2.0 1.3 0.5 0.2 1.1 1.6 4.0 8.3 .481 0.7 1.6 .442 2.3 2.6 .897
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
Ricky Pierce 3 29.0 7.7 0.3 2.3 2.7 1.3 0.7 0.0 1.0 2.7 3.7 8.0 .458 0.3 2.3 .143 0.0 0.0 -

Season 16

James Harden Ricky Pierce
Season -1997-98
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
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 ------- --- ----------
Ricky Pierce 39 11.3 3.9 0.5 0.7 1.2 0.9 0.2 0.0 0.5 0.9 1.3 3.7 .364 0.1 0.3 .308 1.1 1.3 .827
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Ricky Pierce ------- --- ----------