Jeremy Lin vs. Jermaine O'Neal Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jermaine O'Neal and Jeremy Lin, 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 / 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.

Jeremy Lin played 9 years in the NBA, 9 less than Jermaine O'Neal, who played 18. Jeremy Lin had the first of his seasons in 2010-11, while Jermaine O'Neal had his rookie season in 1996-97. 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
Jeremy Lin 9 4 2010-11 to 2018-19
Jermaine O'Neal 18 14 1996-97 to 2013-14

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Jeremy Lin Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2010-111996-97
Team Golden State WarriorsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 29 9.8 2.6 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.4 1.1 0.3 0.6 1.1 1.0 2.5 .389 0.0 0.2 .200 0.7 0.9 .760
difference:+16+0.4+1.5+0.5+1.1+1.6+1.2+1.1+0.3-0.1+0.5+0.9+.062+0.2+0.3+0.8+.157
Jermaine O'Neal 45 10.2 4.1 0.9 1.9 2.8 0.2 0.0 0.6 0.6 1.0 1.5 3.4 .451 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.7 .603
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------
Jermaine O'Neal 2 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 1.0 .000

Season 2

Jeremy Lin Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2011-121997-98
Team New York KnicksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 35 26.9 14.6 0.5 2.5 3.1 6.2 1.6 0.3 3.6 2.2 4.9 10.9 .446 0.7 2.1 .320 4.2 5.2 .798
difference:+25+13.4+10.1+0.8+0.5+0.3+5.9+1.3+0.7-2.7-0.5+3.0+7.0+.039+0.7+2.1+3.4+3.7+.292
Jermaine O'Neal 60 13.5 4.5 1.3 2.0 3.4 0.3 0.3 1.0 0.9 1.7 1.9 3.9 .485 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .506
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------
Jermaine O'Neal 1 3.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 3.0 .000 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 3

Jeremy Lin Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2012-131998-99
Team Houston RocketsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 82 32.2 13.4 0.4 2.6 3.0 6.1 1.6 0.4 2.9 2.5 4.8 10.9 .441 1.1 3.1 .339 2.6 3.4 .785
difference:+46+23.6+10.9+0.8+1.1+0.3+5.7+1.5-2.5-1.4+3.8+8.6+.007+1.1+3.1+2.1+2.4+.271
Jermaine O'Neal 36 8.6 2.5 1.2 1.5 2.7 0.4 0.1 0.4 0.4 1.1 1.0 2.3 .434 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.0 .514
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 4 21.0 4.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 0.5 0.3 2.0 2.3 1.5 6.0 .250 0.5 3.0 .167 0.5 0.5 1.000
difference:+5+15.0+2.4+0.9+1.0+0.1+1.9+0.5-1.8-1.1+1.1+4.9+.150+0.5+3.0+0.2+0.8+.500
Jermaine O'Neal 9 6.0 1.6 0.9 1.0 1.9 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.2 1.2 0.4 1.1 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.3 .500

Season 4

Jeremy Lin Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2013-141999-00
Team Houston RocketsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 71 28.9 12.5 0.5 2.2 2.6 4.1 1.0 0.4 2.5 2.3 4.2 9.3 .446 1.2 3.2 .358 3.1 3.7 .823
difference:+1+16.6+8.6+0.9+0.3+0.7+3.8+0.8+0.4-1.8-0.5+2.7+6.1+.040+1.2+3.2+2.3+2.3+.241
Jermaine O'Neal 70 12.3 3.9 1.4 1.9 3.3 0.3 0.2 0.8 0.7 1.8 1.5 3.2 .486 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.4 .582
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 6 29.5 11.3 1.2 2.5 3.7 4.3 0.5 0.2 2.2 2.5 4.2 10.2 .410 0.8 3.8 .217 2.2 2.7 .813
difference:+2+24.6+9.8+0.9+1.9+2.8+4.2+0.5+0.2-2.2-1.4+3.8+8.8+.137+0.8+3.8+1.4+1.6+.146
Jermaine O'Neal 8 4.9 1.5 0.3 0.6 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.4 0.0 1.1 0.4 1.4 .273 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.1 .667

Season 5

Jeremy Lin Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2014-152000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPacers Lost East 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%
Jeremy Lin 74 25.8 11.2 0.4 2.3 2.6 4.6 1.1 0.4 2.2 2.6 3.7 8.8 .424 0.9 2.4 .369 2.9 3.6 .795
difference:+7+6.8+1.7+2.7+4.4+7.2+3.4+0.5+2.4-0.2-0.9+1.3+1.9+.041+0.9+2.3+.369+1.2+.194
Jermaine O'Neal 81 32.6 12.9 3.1 6.7 9.8 1.2 0.6 2.8 2.0 3.5 5.0 10.7 .465 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 4.8 .601
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------
Jermaine O'Neal 4 39.3 9.8 3.0 9.5 12.5 1.8 0.0 2.5 1.8 3.3 4.3 9.8 .436 0.0 0.3 .000 1.3 2.5 .500

Season 6

Jeremy Lin Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2015-162001-02
Team Charlotte HornetsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement Most Improved Player
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hornets Lost East Conf 1st RdPacers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 78 26.3 11.7 0.5 2.7 3.2 3.0 0.7 0.5 1.9 2.1 3.8 9.3 .412 1.0 2.9 .336 3.1 3.7 .815
difference:+6+11.3+7.3+2.1+5.2+7.3+1.4+0.1+1.8-0.5-1.6+3.7+6.4+.067+1.0+2.7+.265+0.8+2.0+.127
Jermaine O'Neal 72 37.6 19.0 2.6 7.9 10.5 1.6 0.6 2.3 2.4 3.7 7.5 15.7 .479 0.0 0.2 .071 3.9 5.7 .688
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 7 27.0 12.4 0.4 1.9 2.3 2.6 0.7 0.0 1.6 3.0 3.7 9.0 .413 0.4 2.0 .214 4.6 5.6 .821
difference:+2+11.0+4.8+0.8+4.5+5.3+1.6+0.1+1.6-1.2-1.8+3.1+6.2+.034+0.4+1.8+.214+1.0+0.8+.071
Jermaine O'Neal 5 38.0 17.2 1.2 6.4 7.6 1.0 0.8 1.6 2.8 4.8 6.8 15.2 .447 0.0 0.2 .000 3.6 4.8 .750

Season 7

Jeremy Lin Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2016-172002-03
Team Brooklyn NetsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPacers Lost East 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%
Jeremy Lin 36 24.5 14.5 0.3 3.4 3.8 5.1 1.2 0.4 2.4 2.2 4.9 11.1 .438 1.6 4.3 .372 3.2 3.9 .816
difference:+41+12.7+6.3+2.3+4.3+6.5+3.1+0.3+1.9-0.1-1.4+3.0+5.3+.046+1.5+4.0+.039+1.6+2.7+.085
Jermaine O'Neal 77 37.2 20.8 2.6 7.7 10.3 2.0 0.9 2.3 2.3 3.6 7.9 16.4 .484 0.1 0.3 .333 4.8 6.6 .731
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------
Jermaine O'Neal 6 45.5 22.8 4.0 13.5 17.5 0.7 0.5 3.0 3.0 3.7 7.2 15.3 .467 0.0 0.5 .000 8.5 10.8 .785

Season 8

Jeremy Lin Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2017-182003-04
Team Brooklyn NetsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPacers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 1 25.0 18.0 0.0 0.0 0 4.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 3.0 5.0 12.0 .417 1.0 2.0 .500 7.0 7.0 1.000
difference:+77+10.7+2.1+2.5+7.5+10.0+1.9+0.8+2.6-0.7-0.2+2.8+5.9+.017+1.0+1.8+.389+2.5+1.1+.243
Jermaine O'Neal 78 35.7 20.1 2.5 7.5 10.0 2.1 0.8 2.6 2.3 3.2 7.8 17.9 .434 0.0 0.2 .111 4.5 5.9 .757
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------
Jermaine O'Neal 16 37.6 19.2 1.8 7.3 9.1 1.2 0.5 2.3 1.8 3.3 7.2 17.0 .423 0.0 0.3 .000 4.8 6.9 .700

Season 9

Jeremy Lin Jermaine O'Neal
Season 2018-192004-05
Team Atlanta Hawks, Toronto RaptorsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 74 19.4 9.6 0.3 2.1 2.4 3.1 0.6 0.2 1.7 1.9 3.2 7.3 .440 0.7 2.5 .294 2.4 2.8 .838
difference:+30+15.4+14.7+1.6+4.8+6.4+1.2+1.8-1.3-2.0+5.6+12.1+.012+0.7+2.4+.127+4.3+6.1+.084
Jermaine O'Neal 44 34.8 24.3 1.9 6.9 8.8 1.9 0.6 2.0 3.0 3.9 8.8 19.4 .452 0.0 0.1 .167 6.7 8.9 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin 8 3.4 1.1 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.6 0.3 0.3 1.1 .222 0.1 0.3 .500 0.5 0.5 1.000
difference:+5+33.4+14.9+1.6+6.0+7.6+1.7+0.4+2.6-2.2-3.4+5.6+15.1+.143+0.1+0.1+.500+3.7+5.0+.250
Jermaine O'Neal 13 36.8 16.0 1.6 6.4 8.0 2.2 0.5 2.6 2.8 3.7 5.9 16.2 .365 0.0 0.2 .000 4.2 5.5 .750

Additional Years

* Jermaine O'Neal played 9 seasons more than Jeremy Lin in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 10 to 18, from 2006 to 2014—Jermaine O'Neal played in 5 Playoffs.

In those 9 extra years over Jeremy Lin, Jermaine O'Neal got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 2 All-Star Game