James Harden vs. Zach LaVine Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Zach LaVine 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 16 years in the NBA, 5 more than Zach LaVine, who played 11. James Harden had the first of his seasons in 2009-10, while Zach LaVine had his rookie season in 2014-15. 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 16 16 2009-10 to 2024-25
Zach LaVine 11 1 2014-15 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11

Rookie Season

James Harden Zach LaVine
Season 2009-102014-15
Team Oklahoma City ThunderMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second TeamAchievement 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:+1+1.8+0.2+0.2+0.2+0.4+1.8+0.4+0.2-1.1-0.5+0.6+1.2+.019+0.5+1.1+.034+0.7+0.9+.034
Zach LaVine 77 24.7 10.1 0.4 2.4 2.8 3.6 0.7 0.1 2.5 2.1 3.7 8.8 .422 0.7 2.2 .341 1.9 2.3 .842
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
Zach LaVine DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

James Harden Zach LaVine
Season 2010-112015-16
Team Oklahoma City ThunderMinnesota Timberwolves
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:+1.3+1.8+0.2+0.1+0.3+1.0+0.3+0.1-0.6-0.1+1.7+3.4+.016+0.1+0.1+.040+1.5+1.7+.050
Zach LaVine 82 28.0 14.0 0.3 2.5 2.8 3.1 0.8 0.2 1.9 2.4 5.3 11.7 .452 1.5 3.9 .389 2.0 2.5 .793
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
Zach LaVine DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

James Harden Zach LaVine
Season 2011-122016-17
Team Oklahoma City ThunderMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Thunder Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
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:+15+5.8+2.1+0.1+0.6+0.7+0.7+0.1-0.4-0.2+1.9+5.0+.032+0.8+1.9+.003+2.5+3.0+.010
Zach LaVine 47 37.2 18.9 0.4 3.0 3.4 3.0 0.9 0.2 1.8 2.2 6.9 15.1 .459 2.6 6.6 .387 2.5 3.0 .836
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
Zach LaVine DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

James Harden Zach LaVine
Season 2012-132017-18
Team Houston RocketsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
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:+54+11.0+9.2+0.4+0.6+1.0+2.8+0.8+0.3-2.0+1.8+2.3+.055+0.5+1.1+.027+5.0+5.7+.038
Zach LaVine 24 27.3 16.7 0.4 3.5 3.9 3.0 1.0 0.2 1.8 2.3 5.7 14.8 .383 1.8 5.1 .341 3.6 4.5 .813
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
Zach LaVine DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

James Harden Zach LaVine
Season 2013-142018-19
Team Houston RocketsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
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+3.5+1.7+0.2+0.1+1.6+0.6-0.2-0.2+0.9+1.5+.011+0.5+1.5+.008+2.9+3.1+.034
Zach LaVine 63 34.5 23.7 0.6 4.0 4.7 4.5 1.0 0.4 3.4 2.2 8.4 18.0 .467 1.9 5.1 .374 5.0 6.0 .832
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
Zach LaVine DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

James Harden Zach LaVine
Season 2014-152019-20
Team Houston RocketsChicago Bulls
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:+21+2.0+1.9+0.2+0.6+0.9+2.8+0.4+0.2-0.6-0.4+1.0+1.9+.010+0.5+1.2+.005+4.3+4.6+.066
Zach LaVine 60 34.8 25.5 0.7 4.1 4.8 4.2 1.5 0.5 3.4 2.2 9.0 20.0 .450 3.1 8.1 .380 4.5 5.6 .802
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
Zach LaVine DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7

James Harden Zach LaVine
Season 2015-162020-21
Team Houston RocketsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
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:+24+3.0+1.6+0.2+0.9+1.1+2.6+0.9+0.1-1.1-0.4+1.1+0.3+.068+0.5+0.2+.060+4.4+5.1+.011
Zach LaVine 58 35.1 27.4 0.6 4.4 5.0 4.9 0.8 0.5 3.5 2.4 9.8 19.4 .507 3.4 8.2 .419 4.4 5.1 .849
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
Zach LaVine DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

James Harden Zach LaVine
Season 2016-172021-22
Team Houston RocketsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisBulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+14+1.7+4.7+0.9+2.7+3.5+6.7+0.9+0.2-3.1-0.9+0.1+1.2+.036+0.4+2.2+.042+4.4+5.3+.006
Zach LaVine 67 34.7 24.4 0.3 4.3 4.6 4.5 0.6 0.3 2.6 1.8 8.4 17.7 .476 2.8 7.1 .389 4.8 5.6 .853
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
difference:+7+1.3+9.2+0.6+0.5+0.2+2.5+1.1+0.2-2.4-1.6+1.4+4.0+.016+0.6+4.5+.097+5.7+6.7+.055
Zach LaVine 4 38.3 19.3 0.0 5.3 5.3 6.0 0.8 0.3 3.0 2.3 6.8 15.8 .429 2.3 6.0 .375 3.5 3.8 .933

Season 9

James Harden Zach LaVine
Season 2017-182022-23
Team Houston RocketsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+5+0.5+5.6+0.1+0.9+0.9+4.6+0.9+0.5-1.9-0.2+0.3+2.1+.036+1.1+2.9+.008+4.0+4.5+.010
Zach LaVine 77 35.9 24.8 0.5 3.9 4.5 4.2 0.9 0.2 2.5 2.1 8.7 18.0 .485 2.6 7.1 .375 4.7 5.6 .848
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Zach LaVine DNP------ --- ----------

Season 10

James Harden Zach LaVine
Season 2018-192023-24
Team Houston RocketsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
10th 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 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
difference:+53+1.9+16.6+0.5+1.0+1.4+3.6+1.2+0.4-2.9-0.8+4.0+9.5+.010+2.4+6.4+.019+6.2+6.9+.025
Zach LaVine 25 34.9 19.5 0.3 4.8 5.2 3.9 0.8 0.3 2.1 2.3 6.8 15.0 .452 2.4 6.8 .349 3.5 4.1 .854
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Zach LaVine DNP------ --- ----------

Season 11

James Harden Zach LaVine
Season 2019-202024-25
Team Houston RocketsChicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+6+1.3+11.0+0.7+1.5+2.3+3.3+1.0+0.7-1.7-1.7+1.5+5.8+.067+1.2+5.2+.091+7.0+7.9+.040
Zach LaVine 74 35.2 23.3 0.3 4.0 4.3 4.2 0.8 0.2 2.8 1.6 8.4 16.5 .511 3.2 7.2 .446 3.2 3.9 .825
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Zach LaVine DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* James Harden played 5 seasons more than Zach LaVine in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 12 to 16, from 2021 to 2025—James Harden played in 5 Playoffs.

In those 5 extra years over Zach LaVine, James Harden got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 1 Assists Leader
Achievement 3 All-Star Game