Kevin Johnson vs. Hakeem Olajuwon Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Hakeem Olajuwon and Kevin Johnson, 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.

Kevin Johnson played 12 years in the NBA, 6 less than Hakeem Olajuwon, who played 18. Kevin Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1987-88, 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
Kevin Johnson 12 11 1987-88 to 1999-00
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

Rookie Season

Kevin Johnson Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1987-881984-85
Team Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix SunsHouston 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%
Kevin Johnson 80 24.0 9.2 0.5 1.9 2.4 5.5 1.3 0.3 1.8 1.9 3.4 7.5 .461 0.1 0.3 .208 2.2 2.6 .839
difference:+2+11.5+11.4+4.9+4.6+9.5+4.1+0.1+2.4-1.1-2.3+4.9+7.8+.077+0.1+0.3+1.9+4.1+.226
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%
Kevin Johnson 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

Kevin Johnson Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1988-891985-86
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Most Improved Player-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsRockets 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%
Kevin Johnson 81 39.2 20.4 0.6 3.6 4.2 12.2 1.7 0.3 4.0 2.8 7.0 13.9 .505 0.0 0.3 .091 6.3 7.1 .882
difference:+13+2.9+3.1+4.3+3.0+7.3+10.2+0.3+3.1-1.1-1.2+2.2+3.6+.021+0.3+1.2+0.8+.237
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%
Kevin Johnson 12 41.2 23.8 1.0 3.3 4.3 12.3 1.6 0.4 4.6 2.3 7.5 15.2 .495 0.3 0.8 .300 8.5 9.2 .927
difference:+8+2.9+3.1+4.1+3.5+7.5+10.3+0.4+3.1-2.4-2.1+2.8+4.2+.035+0.3+0.7+.300+2.1+0.8+.289
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

Kevin Johnson Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1989-901986-87
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsRockets 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%
Kevin Johnson 74 37.6 22.5 0.6 3.1 3.6 11.4 1.3 0.2 3.6 1.9 7.8 15.7 .499 0.1 0.6 .195 6.8 8.1 .838
difference:+1+0.8+0.9+3.6+4.1+7.8+8.5+0.6+3.2-0.6-2.0+1.2+2.1+.009+0.1+0.5+.005+1.5+0.5+.136
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%
Kevin Johnson 16 36.4 21.3 0.6 2.8 3.3 10.6 1.6 0.0 3.9 1.8 7.7 16.1 .479 0.1 0.7 .182 5.8 7.0 .821
difference:+6+2.5+7.9+3.3+4.6+8.0+8.1+0.3+4.3-0.3-2.6+3.3+1.8+.136+0.1+0.6+.182+1.4+2.7+.079
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

Kevin Johnson Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1990-911987-88
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets 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%
Kevin Johnson 77 36.0 22.2 0.7 2.8 3.5 10.1 2.1 0.1 3.5 2.3 7.7 14.9 .516 0.1 0.6 .205 6.7 8.0 .843
difference:+2+0.2+0.6+3.1+5.5+8.6+8.0+2.6-0.4-1.8+1.3+2.6+.002+0.1+0.5+.205+1.9+1.1+.148
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%
Kevin Johnson 4 36.5 12.8 0.5 2.8 3.3 9.8 0.5 0.3 3.0 2.3 4.0 13.3 .302 0.3 1.8 .143 4.5 7.5 .600
difference:+4.0+24.7+4.5+9.0+13.5+8.0+1.8+2.5-0.7-1.2+10.0+11.2+.269+0.3+1.5+.143+5.0+3.3+.284
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

Kevin Johnson Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1991-921988-89
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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%
Kevin Johnson 78 37.2 19.7 0.8 3.0 3.7 10.7 1.5 0.3 3.5 2.3 6.9 14.4 .479 0.1 0.6 .217 5.7 7.1 .807
difference:+4+0.3+5.1+3.3+6.4+9.8+8.9+1.1+3.1-0.1-1.7+2.7+4.6+.029+0.1+0.5+.217+0.2+0.9+.111
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%
Kevin Johnson 8 41.9 23.6 1.0 3.1 4.1 11.6 1.5 0.3 3.1 3.0 7.8 16.0 .484 0.4 0.8 .500 7.8 9.0 .861
difference:+4+1.4+1.7+2.5+6.4+8.9+8.6+1.0+2.5-0.6-1.3+2.7+4.3+.035+0.4+0.8+3.5+2.7+.181
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

Kevin Johnson Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1992-931989-90
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement Blocks Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost NBA FinalsRockets 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%
Kevin Johnson 49 33.5 16.1 0.6 1.5 2.1 7.8 1.7 0.4 3.1 2.0 5.8 11.5 .499 0.0 0.2 .125 4.6 5.6 .819
difference:+33+4.6+8.2+3.0+8.9+11.9+4.9+0.4+4.2-0.8-1.8+4.0+8.1+.002+0.1+.042+0.1+0.9+.106
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%
Kevin Johnson 23 39.7 17.8 0.4 2.3 2.7 7.9 1.5 0.6 3.7 2.5 6.2 13.0 .480 0.0 0.1 .000 5.4 6.8 .795
difference:+19+0.6+0.7+3.4+5.5+8.8+5.9+1.0+5.2-0.9-2.3+1.6+4.5+.037+0.1+2.4+2.5+.089
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

Kevin Johnson Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1993-941990-91
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Blocks Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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%
Kevin Johnson 67 36.6 20.0 0.8 1.7 2.5 9.5 1.9 0.1 3.5 1.9 7.1 14.6 .487 0.1 0.4 .222 5.7 6.9 .819
difference:+11+0.2+1.2+3.1+8.1+11.3+7.2+0.3+3.8-0.4-2.0+1.6+2.5+.021+0.1+0.3+.222+1.9+2.0+.050
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%
Kevin Johnson 10 42.7 26.6 1.0 2.5 3.5 9.6 1.0 0.1 3.4 2.3 9.7 21.2 .458 0.3 1.0 .300 6.9 8.1 .852
difference:+7+0.3+4.6+3.0+8.2+11.2+7.6+0.3+2.6-0.7-1.4+1.0+6.2+.120+0.3+0.7+.300+2.2+2.4+.028
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

Kevin Johnson Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1994-951991-92
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West 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%
Kevin Johnson 47 28.8 15.5 0.7 1.8 2.4 7.7 1.0 0.4 2.2 1.9 5.2 11.1 .470 0.1 0.6 .154 5.0 6.1 .810
difference:+23+8.9+6.1+2.8+6.8+9.7+5.5+0.8+3.9-0.5-1.9+3.2+5.7+.032+0.1+0.6+0.3+.044
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%
Kevin Johnson 10 37.1 24.8 0.7 3.4 4.1 9.3 0.9 0.4 3.4 2.5 8.6 15.0 .573 0.5 1.0 .500 7.1 8.4 .845
Hakeem Olajuwon DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

Kevin Johnson Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1995-961992-93
Team Phoenix SunsHouston 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 Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets 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%
Kevin Johnson 56 35.8 18.7 0.8 3.2 3.9 9.2 1.5 0.2 3.0 2.6 6.1 12.0 .507 0.4 1.0 .368 6.1 7.1 .859
difference:+26+3.7+7.4+2.7+6.4+9.1+5.7+0.3+4.0-0.2-1.1+4.2+7.5+.022+0.4+0.9+.368+0.7+0.1+.080
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%
Kevin Johnson 4 37.8 17.3 0.5 3.8 4.3 10.8 0.5 0.5 2.8 2.0 6.8 14.3 .474 0.3 1.0 .250 3.5 4.3 .824
difference:+8+5.4+8.4+3.8+5.9+9.7+6.0+1.3+4.4-1.0-1.1+3.5+5.5+.043+0.3+0.9+.250+1.7+2.0+.003
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

Kevin Johnson Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1996-971993-94
Team Phoenix SunsHouston 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 Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA 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%
Kevin Johnson 70 38.0 20.1 0.8 2.8 3.6 9.3 1.5 0.2 3.1 2.0 6.3 12.7 .496 1.3 2.9 .441 6.3 7.4 .852
difference:+10+3.0+7.2+2.1+6.3+8.3+5.7+0.1+3.5-0.3-1.6+4.9+8.5+.032+1.2+2.7+.020+1.4+0.6+.136
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%
Kevin Johnson 5 41.6 16.8 1.6 2.8 4.4 6.0 2.6 0.0 3.6 3.0 5.2 17.6 .295 0.6 4.4 .136 5.8 6.6 .879
difference:+18+1.4+12.1+0.8+5.9+6.6+1.7+0.9+4.0-0.6+6.4+4.7+.224+0.5+4.2+.364+0.2+0.4+.084
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

Kevin Johnson Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1997-981994-95
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA 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%
Kevin Johnson 50 25.8 9.5 0.7 2.6 3.3 4.9 0.5 0.2 2.0 1.1 3.1 6.9 .447 0.1 0.5 .154 3.2 3.7 .871
difference:+22+13.8+18.3+1.7+5.8+7.5+1.4+1.3+3.2-1.3-2.4+8.0+14.6+.070+0.1+0.3+.034+2.4+3.8+.115
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%
Kevin Johnson 4 30.5 13.8 0.5 1.8 2.3 4.8 0.5 0.3 1.5 1.5 5.8 10.5 .548 0.3 1.0 .250 2.0 3.0 .667
difference:+18+11.7+19.2+1.5+6.5+8.0+0.3+0.7+2.5-1.6-2.8+8.1+15.7+.017+0.2+0.8+.250+3.0+4.4+.014
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

Note: Kevin Johnson didn't play in 1998-99.

Season 12

Kevin Johnson Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1999-001995-96
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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%
Kevin Johnson 6 18.8 6.7 0.0 2.7 2.7 4.0 0.3 0.0 1.2 1.0 2.7 4.7 .571 0.2 0.2 1.000 1.2 1.2 1.000
difference:+66+20.0+20.2+2.4+5.7+8.2+0.4+1.3+2.9-2.2-2.4+8.0+16.1+.057+0.2+.786+4.3+6.4+.276
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%
Kevin Johnson 9 14.3 3.2 0.0 1.4 1.4 2.6 0.3 0.1 1.4 1.1 1.3 4.1 .324 0.0 0.3 .000 0.6 0.7 .833
difference:+1+26.8+19.2+2.1+5.6+7.7+1.3+1.6+2.0-2.2-2.4+8.1+14.3+.186+0.2+3.0+4.3+.108
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

Additional Years

* Hakeem Olajuwon played 6 seasons more than Kevin Johnson in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 13 to 18, from 1997 to 2002—Hakeem Olajuwon played in 4 Playoffs.

In those 6 extra years over Kevin Johnson, Hakeem Olajuwon got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 1 All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement 1 All-Star Game