Jeremy Lin vs. Yao Ming Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Yao Ming 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, 1 more than Yao Ming, who played 8. Jeremy Lin had the first of his seasons in 2010-11, while Yao Ming had his rookie season in 2002-03. 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
Yao Ming 8 4 2002-03 to 2010-11

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Jeremy Lin Yao Ming
Season 2010-112002-03
Team Golden State WarriorsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
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:+53+19.2+10.9+2.0+5.0+7.0+0.3+0.7+1.5-1.5-1.7+3.9+7.3+.109+0.2+3.0+3.6+.051
Yao Ming 82 29.0 13.5 2.4 5.8 8.2 1.7 0.4 1.8 2.1 2.8 4.9 9.8 .498 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 4.5 .811
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Jeremy Lin nor Yao Ming played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Jeremy Lin Yao Ming
Season 2011-122003-04
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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:+47+5.9+2.9+1.9+4.1+5.9+4.7+1.3+1.6-1.1-1.1+1.6+1.6+.076+0.7+2.1+0.2+0.2+.011
Yao Ming 82 32.8 17.5 2.4 6.6 9.0 1.5 0.3 1.9 2.5 3.3 6.5 12.5 .522 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 5.4 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------
Yao Ming 5 37.6 15.0 2.2 5.2 7.4 1.8 0.4 1.4 2.6 4.0 6.2 13.6 .456 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.4 .765

Season 3

Jeremy Lin Yao Ming
Season 2012-132004-05
Team Houston RocketsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets 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%
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:+2+1.6+4.9+2.2+3.2+5.4+5.3+1.2+1.6-0.4-1.2+1.9+1.3+.111+1.1+3.1+2.3+2.8+.002
Yao Ming 80 30.6 18.3 2.6 5.8 8.4 0.8 0.4 2.0 2.5 3.7 6.7 12.2 .552 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 6.2 .783
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:+3+10.9+17.4+3.3+2.4+5.7+1.3+0.2+2.4-0.7-2.1+6.4+6.0+.405+0.5+3.0+5.2+7.4+.273
Yao Ming 7 31.9 21.4 3.3 4.4 7.7 0.7 0.3 2.7 2.7 4.4 7.9 12.0 .655 0.0 0.0 - 5.7 7.9 .727

Season 4

Jeremy Lin Yao Ming
Season 2013-142005-06
Team Houston RocketsHouston Rockets
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%
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:+14+5.3+9.8+2.1+5.4+7.6+2.6+0.5+1.2-0.1-1.1+4.0+6.5+.073+1.2+3.2+2.8+3.2+.030
Yao Ming 57 34.2 22.3 2.6 7.6 10.2 1.5 0.5 1.6 2.6 3.4 8.2 15.8 .519 0.0 0.0 - 5.9 6.9 .853
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
Yao Ming DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

Jeremy Lin Yao Ming
Season 2014-152006-07
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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%
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:+26+8.0+13.8+1.7+5.0+6.8+2.6+0.7+1.6-1.3-0.7+5.1+8.3+.092+0.9+2.4+4.5+5.0+.067
Yao Ming 48 33.8 25.0 2.1 7.3 9.4 2.0 0.4 2.0 3.5 3.3 8.8 17.1 .516 0.0 0.0 - 7.4 8.6 .862
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------
Yao Ming 7 37.1 25.1 3.3 7.0 10.3 0.9 0.1 0.7 4.7 3.9 7.9 17.9 .440 0.0 0.0 - 9.4 10.7 .880

Season 6

Jeremy Lin Yao Ming
Season 2015-162007-08
Team Charlotte HornetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hornets Lost East Conf 1st RdDid 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%
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:+23+10.9+10.3+2.6+5.0+7.6+0.7+0.2+1.5-1.4-1.0+4.1+6.2+.095+1.0+2.9+3.2+3.7+.035
Yao Ming 55 37.2 22.0 3.1 7.7 10.8 2.3 0.5 2.0 3.3 3.1 7.9 15.5 .507 0.0 0.0 - 6.3 7.4 .850
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
Yao Ming DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7

Jeremy Lin Yao Ming
Season 2016-172008-09
Team Brooklyn NetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets Lost West Conf Semis
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+9.1+5.2+2.3+3.8+6.1+3.3+0.8+1.5-0.6-1.1+2.5+2.3+.110+1.6+4.3+1.7+1.8+.050
Yao Ming 77 33.6 19.7 2.6 7.2 9.9 1.8 0.4 1.9 3.0 3.3 7.4 13.4 .548 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 5.7 .866
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jeremy Lin DNP------ --- ----------
Yao Ming 9 35.9 17.1 2.1 8.8 10.9 1.0 0.4 1.2 1.9 3.0 6.0 11.0 .545 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 5.7 .902

Note: Yao Ming didn't play in 2009-10.

Season 8

Jeremy Lin Yao Ming
Season 2017-182010-11
Team Brooklyn NetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
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:+4+6.8+7.8+1.4+4.0+5.4+3.2+1.6-1.6-0.4+1.4+4.6+.069+1.0+2.0+4.0+3.8+.062
Yao Ming 5 18.2 10.2 1.4 4.0 5.4 0.8 0.0 1.6 1.4 2.6 3.6 7.4 .486 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.2 .938
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Jeremy Lin nor Yao Ming played in the postseason in their season 8

Additional Years

* Jeremy Lin played 1 season more than Yao Ming in the NBA.

In that period—his season 9 in 2019—Jeremy Lin played in the Playoffs and won the NBA Championship.