Joakim Noah vs. Hakeem Olajuwon Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Hakeem Olajuwon and Joakim Noah, 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.

Joakim Noah played 13 years in the NBA, 5 less than Hakeem Olajuwon, who played 18. Joakim Noah had the first of his seasons in 2007-08, while Hakeem Olajuwon had his rookie season in 1984-85. 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
Joakim Noah 13 8 2007-08 to 2019-20
Hakeem Olajuwon 18 15 1984-85 to 2001-02

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season

Joakim Noah Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2007-081984-85
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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%
Joakim Noah 74 20.7 6.6 2.4 3.3 5.6 1.1 0.9 0.9 1.2 2.3 2.4 5.0 .482 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.6 .691
difference:+8+14.8+14.0+3.0+3.2+6.3+0.3+0.3+1.8-1.7-1.9+5.9+10.3+.056+2.3+4.1+.078
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 35.5 20.6 5.4 6.5 11.9 1.4 1.2 2.7 2.9 4.2 8.3 15.3 .538 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 6.7 .613
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah DNP------ --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 5 37.4 21.2 6.6 6.4 13.0 1.4 1.4 2.6 2.2 4.4 8.4 17.6 .477 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 9.2 .478

Season 2

Joakim Noah Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2008-091985-86
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah 80 24.2 6.7 3.1 4.5 7.6 1.3 0.6 1.4 1.0 3.0 2.6 4.7 .556 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.3 .676
difference:+12+12.1+16.8+1.8+2.1+3.9+0.7+1.4+2.0-1.9-1.0+6.6+12.8+.030+3.6+5.6+.031
Hakeem Olajuwon 68 36.3 23.5 4.9 6.6 11.5 2.0 2.0 3.4 2.9 4.0 9.2 17.5 .526 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 7.9 .645
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah 7 38.7 10.1 4.0 9.1 13.1 2.3 0.9 2.1 1.1 4.4 3.7 7.3 .510 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.6 .760
difference:+13+0.4+16.8+1.1+2.3+1.3+0.3+1.1+1.4-1.1+6.6+12.1+.020+0.1+3.7+6.4+.122
Hakeem Olajuwon 20 38.3 26.9 5.1 6.8 11.8 2.0 2.0 3.5 2.2 4.4 10.3 19.4 .530 0.0 0.1 .000 6.4 10.0 .638

Season 3

Joakim Noah Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2009-101986-87
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah 64 30.1 10.7 3.4 7.6 11.0 2.1 0.5 1.6 1.8 3.1 4.1 8.1 .504 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.4 .744
difference:+11+6.7+12.7+0.8+0.4+0.4+0.8+1.4+1.8-1.2-0.8+4.9+9.7+.004+0.1+2.8+4.2+.042
Hakeem Olajuwon 75 36.8 23.4 4.2 7.2 11.4 2.9 1.9 3.4 3.0 3.9 9.0 17.8 .508 0.0 0.1 .200 5.3 7.6 .702
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah 5 37.6 14.8 4.0 9.0 13.0 2.6 1.8 1.4 3.0 4.0 5.6 10.6 .528 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 3.8 .947
difference:+5+1.3+14.4+0.1+1.6+1.7+0.1+0.5+2.9-0.6-0.4+5.4+7.3+.087+0.1+3.6+5.9+.205
Hakeem Olajuwon 10 38.9 29.2 3.9 7.4 11.3 2.5 1.3 4.3 3.6 4.4 11.0 17.9 .615 0.0 0.1 .000 7.2 9.7 .742

Season 4

Joakim Noah Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2010-111987-88
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf FinalsRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah 48 32.8 11.7 3.8 6.6 10.4 2.2 1.0 1.5 1.9 3.3 4.4 8.4 .525 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 3.9 .739
difference:+31+3.0+11.1+1.7+1.7+0.1+1.1+1.2-1.2-0.8+4.6+9.1+.011+0.1+1.9+3.0+.044
Hakeem Olajuwon 79 35.8 22.8 3.8 8.3 12.1 2.1 2.1 2.7 3.1 4.1 9.0 17.5 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 4.8 6.9 .695
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah 16 33.1 8.7 4.3 5.9 10.2 2.5 1.0 2.1 1.2 3.9 3.2 7.8 .411 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.2 .725
difference:+12+7.4+28.8+0.7+5.9+6.6+0.7+1.3+0.7-1.1-0.4+10.8+16.7+.160+0.3+7.2+7.6+.159
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.5 37.5 5.0 11.8 16.8 1.8 2.3 2.8 2.3 3.5 14.0 24.5 .571 0.0 0.3 .000 9.5 10.8 .884

Season 5

Joakim Noah Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2011-121988-89
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets 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%
Joakim Noah 64 30.4 10.2 3.8 6.0 9.8 2.5 0.6 1.4 1.4 2.5 3.9 7.7 .508 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.2 .748
difference:+18+6.5+14.6+0.3+3.4+3.7+0.7+2.0+2.0-2.0-1.5+5.7+11.3+0.1+3.1+4.8+.052
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 36.9 24.8 4.1 9.4 13.5 1.8 2.6 3.4 3.4 4.0 9.6 19.0 .508 0.0 0.1 .000 5.5 8.0 .696
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah 3 33.0 15.0 3.0 6.3 9.3 3.0 0.7 1.3 0.3 1.7 6.3 8.7 .731 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.7 .636
difference:+1+7.5+10.3+0.5+3.2+3.7+1.8+1.5-2.2-2.6+4.2+11.6+.212+2.0+2.6+.044
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.5 25.3 3.5 9.5 13.0 3.0 2.5 2.8 2.5 4.3 10.5 20.3 .519 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.3 .680

Season 6

Joakim Noah Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2012-131989-90
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement Blocks Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisRockets Lost West 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%
Joakim Noah 66 36.8 11.9 3.9 7.2 11.1 4.0 1.2 2.1 2.7 2.8 4.6 9.5 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 3.6 .751
difference:+16+1.3+12.4+0.3+3.2+2.9+1.1+0.9+2.5-1.2-1.0+5.2+10.1+.020+.167+2.0+2.9+.038
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 38.1 24.3 3.6 10.4 14.0 2.9 2.1 4.6 3.9 3.8 9.8 19.6 .501 0.0 0.1 .167 4.7 6.5 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah 12 34.1 10.8 4.3 5.3 9.6 2.3 0.8 2.2 2.0 3.6 4.3 9.9 .437 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.3 .641
difference:+8+6.2+7.7+0.5+2.5+1.9+0.3+1.7+3.6-0.8-1.2+3.5+7.6+.006+0.9+1.0+.065
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.3 18.5 3.8 7.8 11.5 2.0 2.5 5.8 2.8 4.8 7.8 17.5 .443 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.3 .706

Season 7

Joakim Noah Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2013-141990-91
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement Blocks Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets 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%
Joakim Noah 80 35.3 12.6 3.5 7.7 11.3 5.4 1.2 1.5 2.4 3.1 4.8 10.0 .475 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 4.2 .737
difference:+24+1.5+8.6+0.4+2.1+2.5+3.1+1.0+2.4-0.7-0.8+3.9+7.1+.033+0.1+0.7+0.7+.032
Hakeem Olajuwon 56 36.8 21.2 3.9 9.8 13.8 2.3 2.2 3.9 3.1 3.9 8.7 17.1 .508 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 4.9 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah 5 42.0 10.4 3.0 9.8 12.8 4.6 1.0 1.4 3.8 3.8 4.2 8.2 .512 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.4 .588
difference:+2+1.0+11.6+1.0+0.9+1.9+2.6+0.3+1.3-1.1-0.1+4.5+6.8+.066+0.3+2.7+2.3+.236
Hakeem Olajuwon 3 43.0 22.0 4.0 10.7 14.7 2.0 1.3 2.7 2.7 3.7 8.7 15.0 .578 0.0 0.3 .000 4.7 5.7 .824

Season 8

Joakim Noah Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2014-151991-92
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East 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%
Joakim Noah 67 30.6 7.2 3.3 6.4 9.6 4.7 0.7 1.1 1.8 3.0 2.8 6.4 .445 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.6 .603
difference:+3+7.1+14.4+0.2+2.2+2.5+2.5+1.1+3.2-0.9-0.8+5.6+10.4+.057+3.1+3.5+.163
Hakeem Olajuwon 70 37.7 21.6 3.5 8.6 12.1 2.2 1.8 4.3 2.7 3.8 8.4 16.8 .502 0.0 0.0 - 4.7 6.1 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah 12 32.9 5.8 3.8 7.3 11.0 3.2 0.8 1.2 1.7 3.1 2.6 6.3 .408 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.7 .350
Hakeem Olajuwon DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

Joakim Noah Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2015-161992-93
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Blocks Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets Lost West 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%
Joakim Noah 29 21.9 4.3 3.0 5.8 8.8 3.8 0.6 1.0 1.8 2.7 1.8 4.6 .383 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.6 .489
difference:+53+17.6+21.8+0.5+3.8+4.2+0.3+1.2+3.2-1.4-1.0+8.5+14.9+.146+0.1+4.6+5.4+.290
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 39.5 26.1 3.5 9.6 13.0 3.5 1.8 4.2 3.2 3.7 10.3 19.5 .529 0.0 0.1 .000 5.4 7.0 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah DNP------ --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 12 43.2 25.7 4.3 9.7 14.0 4.8 1.8 4.9 3.8 3.1 10.3 19.8 .517 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 6.3 .827

Season 10

Joakim Noah Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2016-171993-94
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah 46 22.1 5.0 3.5 5.2 8.8 2.2 0.7 0.8 1.3 2.8 2.2 4.4 .490 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.7 .436
difference:+34+18.9+22.3+0.6+3.9+3.1+1.4+0.9+2.9-2.1-0.8+9.0+16.8+.038+0.1+0.2+4.2+5.1+.280
Hakeem Olajuwon 80 41.0 27.3 2.9 9.1 11.9 3.6 1.6 3.7 3.4 3.6 11.2 21.2 .528 0.1 0.2 .421 4.9 6.8 .716
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah DNP------ --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 23 43.0 28.9 2.4 8.7 11.0 4.3 1.7 4.0 3.6 3.6 11.6 22.3 .519 0.1 0.2 .500 5.6 7.0 .795

Season 11

Joakim Noah Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2017-181994-95
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah 7 5.7 1.7 0.9 1.1 2.0 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.7 0.7 1.4 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.6 .500
difference:+65+33.9+26.1+1.5+7.3+8.8+2.9+1.5+3.1-2.7-2.8+10.4+20.1+.017+0.2+5.3+6.9+.256
Hakeem Olajuwon 72 39.6 27.8 2.4 8.4 10.8 3.5 1.8 3.4 3.3 3.5 11.1 21.5 .517 0.0 0.2 .188 5.6 7.5 .756
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah DNP------ --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 22 42.2 33.0 2.0 8.3 10.3 4.5 1.2 2.8 3.1 4.3 13.9 26.2 .531 0.1 0.2 .500 5.0 7.4 .681

Season 12

Joakim Noah Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2018-191995-96
Team Memphis GrizzliesHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah 42 16.5 7.1 1.4 4.3 5.7 2.1 0.5 0.7 1.2 2.3 2.6 5.1 .516 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.6 .716
difference:+30+22.3+19.8+1.0+4.1+5.2+1.5+1.1+2.2-2.2-1.1+8.1+15.7+.002+0.2+3.6+5.0+.008
Hakeem Olajuwon 72 38.8 26.9 2.4 8.4 10.9 3.6 1.6 2.9 3.4 3.4 10.7 20.8 .514 0.0 0.2 .214 5.5 7.6 .724
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah DNP------ --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 8 41.1 22.4 2.1 7.0 9.1 3.9 1.9 2.1 3.6 3.5 9.4 18.4 .510 0.0 0.1 .000 3.6 5.0 .725

Season 13

Joakim Noah Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 2019-201996-97
Team Los Angeles ClippersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf SemisRockets Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah 5 10.0 2.8 1.0 2.2 3.2 1.4 0.2 0.2 1.2 1.8 0.8 1.6 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.6 .750
difference:+73+26.6+20.4+1.2+4.8+6.0+1.6+1.3+2.0-2.4-1.4+8.5+16.7+.010+0.1+0.2+3.3+4.1+.037
Hakeem Olajuwon 78 36.6 23.2 2.2 7.0 9.2 3.0 1.5 2.2 3.6 3.2 9.3 18.3 .510 0.1 0.2 .313 4.5 5.7 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Joakim Noah 2 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
difference:+14+38.4+23.1+2.9+8.0+10.9+3.4+2.1+2.6-2.9-3.8+9.2+15.6+0.2+4.8+6.5
Hakeem Olajuwon 16 39.4 23.1 2.9 8.0 10.9 3.4 2.1 2.6 2.9 3.8 9.2 15.6 .590 0.0 0.2 .000 4.8 6.5 .731

Additional Years

* Hakeem Olajuwon played 5 seasons more than Joakim Noah in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 18, from 1998 to 2002—Hakeem Olajuwon played in 3 Playoffs.

In those 5 extra years over Joakim Noah, Hakeem Olajuwon got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA Third Team