Larry Costello vs. Shaquille O'Neal Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Shaquille O'Neal and Larry Costello, 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.

Larry Costello played 12 years in the NBA, 7 less than Shaquille O'Neal, who played 19. Larry Costello had the first of his seasons in 1954-55, while Shaquille O'Neal had his rookie season in 1992-93. 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 achivements, 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
Larry Costello 12 10 1954-55 to 1967-68
Shaquille O'Neal 19 17 1992-93 to 2010-11

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19

Rookie Season

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1954-551992-93
Team Philadelphia WarriorsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 19 24.4 6.2 - - 2.6 4.1 - - - 1.9 2.4 7.3 .331 - - - 1.4 1.7 .813
Shaquille O'Neal 81 37.9 23.4 4.2 9.6 13.9 1.9 0.7 3.5 3.8 4.0 9.0 16.1 .562 0.0 0.0 .000 5.3 8.9 .592
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal ------- --- ----------

Note: Larry Costello didn't play in 1955-56.

Season 2

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1956-571993-94
Team Philadelphia WarriorsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisMagic Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 72 29.3 7.6 - - 4.5 3.3 - - - 2.5 2.6 6.9 .374 - - - 2.4 3.1 .788
Shaquille O'Neal 81 39.8 29.3 4.7 8.5 13.2 2.4 0.9 2.9 2.7 3.5 11.8 19.6 .599 0.0 0.0 .000 5.8 10.5 .554
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 2 8.0 3.0 - - 2.5 1.0 - - - 1.5 1.5 4.0 .375 - - - 0.0 0.5 .000
Shaquille O'Neal 3 42.0 20.7 5.7 7.7 13.3 2.3 0.7 3.0 3.3 4.3 7.7 15.0 .511 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 11.3 .471

Season 3

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1957-581994-95
Team Syracuse NationalsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisMagic Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 72 38.1 14.9 - - 5.3 4.4 - - - 3.4 5.3 12.3 .426 - - - 4.4 5.3 .847
Shaquille O'Neal 79 37.0 29.3 4.2 7.3 11.4 2.7 0.9 2.4 2.6 3.3 11.8 20.2 .583 0.0 0.1 .000 5.8 10.8 .533
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 3 44.7 11.3 - - 8.3 4.0 - - - 2.0 3.3 11.3 .294 - - - 4.7 4.7 1.000
Shaquille O'Neal 21 38.3 25.7 4.5 7.4 11.9 3.3 0.9 1.9 3.5 4.0 9.3 16.1 .577 0.0 0.0 - 7.1 12.4 .571

Season 4

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1958-591995-96
Team Syracuse NationalsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div FinalsMagic Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 70 39.3 15.8 - - 5.2 5.4 - - - 3.8 5.9 13.5 .437 - - - 4.0 5.0 .802
Shaquille O'Neal 54 36.0 26.6 3.4 7.7 11.0 2.9 0.6 2.1 2.9 3.6 11.0 19.1 .573 0.0 0.0 .500 4.6 9.5 .487
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 9 40.1 17.7 - - 5.9 6.0 - - - 4.4 6.0 13.4 .446 - - - 5.7 6.8 .836
Shaquille O'Neal 12 38.3 25.8 4.1 5.9 10.0 4.6 0.8 1.3 3.7 3.3 10.9 18.0 .606 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 10.2 .393

Season 5

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1959-601996-97
Team Syracuse NationalsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisLakers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 71 34.8 14.0 - - 5.5 6.3 - - - 3.3 5.2 11.6 .453 - - - 3.5 4.1 .862
Shaquille O'Neal 51 38.1 26.2 3.8 8.7 12.5 3.1 0.9 2.9 2.9 3.5 10.8 19.4 .557 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 9.4 .484
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 3 40.7 16.7 - - 4.7 6.7 - - - 5.0 6.7 15.7 .426 - - - 3.3 4.0 .833
Shaquille O'Neal 9 36.2 26.9 4.2 6.3 10.6 3.2 0.6 1.9 2.4 4.1 9.9 19.2 .514 0.0 0.0 - 7.1 11.7 .610

Season 6

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1960-611997-98
Team Syracuse NationalsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div FinalsLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 75 28.9 14.5 - - 3.9 5.5 - - - 3.8 5.4 11.3 .482 - - - 3.6 4.5 .799
Shaquille O'Neal 60 36.3 28.3 3.5 7.9 11.4 2.4 0.7 2.4 2.9 3.2 11.2 19.1 .584 0.0 0.0 - 6.0 11.4 .527
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 8 33.6 16.4 - - 4.4 6.5 - - - 4.9 5.3 12.9 .408 - - - 5.9 6.9 .855
Shaquille O'Neal 13 38.5 30.5 3.7 6.5 10.2 2.9 0.5 2.6 3.3 3.2 12.2 19.8 .612 0.0 0.0 - 6.2 12.2 .503

Season 7

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1961-621998-99
Team Syracuse NationalsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisLakers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 63 29.4 13.8 - - 3.9 5.7 - - - 3.5 4.9 11.5 .427 - - - 3.9 4.7 .837
Shaquille O'Neal 49 34.8 26.3 3.8 6.9 10.7 2.3 0.7 1.7 2.5 3.2 10.4 18.1 .576 0.0 0.0 .000 5.5 10.2 .540
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 5 33.4 14.6 - - 3.2 5.6 - - - 4.2 4.4 10.2 .431 - - - 5.8 6.6 .879
Shaquille O'Neal 8 39.4 26.6 5.5 6.1 11.6 2.3 0.9 2.9 2.3 3.6 9.9 19.4 .510 0.0 0.0 - 6.9 14.8 .466

Season 8

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1962-631999-00
Team Syracuse NationalsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 78 26.5 11.0 - - 3.0 4.3 - - - 3.4 3.7 8.5 .432 - - - 3.7 4.2 .881
Shaquille O'Neal 79 40.0 29.7 4.3 9.4 13.6 3.8 0.5 3.0 2.8 3.2 12.1 21.1 .574 0.0 0.0 .000 5.5 10.4 .524
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 5 26.8 10.2 - - 0.8 4.6 - - - 5.4 3.2 7.4 .432 - - - 3.8 4.6 .826
Shaquille O'Neal 23 43.5 30.7 5.2 10.3 15.4 3.1 0.6 2.4 2.4 2.9 12.4 22.0 .566 0.0 0.0 - 5.9 12.9 .456

Season 9

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1963-642000-01
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 45 25.3 11.8 - - 2.3 3.7 - - - 3.3 4.2 9.1 .468 - - - 3.3 3.8 .865
Shaquille O'Neal 74 39.5 28.7 3.9 8.8 12.7 3.7 0.6 2.8 2.9 3.5 11.0 19.2 .572 0.0 0.0 .000 6.7 13.1 .513
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 5 7.2 3.2 - - 0.6 0.8 - - - 2.8 0.6 2.8 .214 - - - 2.0 2.0 1.000
Shaquille O'Neal 16 42.3 30.4 5.7 9.8 15.4 3.2 0.4 2.4 3.6 3.4 11.9 21.5 .555 0.0 0.0 - 6.6 12.5 .525

Season 10

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1964-652001-02
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 64 30.7 13.5 - - 2.6 4.3 - - - 3.8 4.8 10.9 .445 - - - 3.8 4.3 .877
Shaquille O'Neal 67 36.1 27.2 3.5 7.2 10.7 3.0 0.6 2.0 2.6 3.0 10.6 18.3 .579 0.0 0.0 .000 5.9 10.7 .555
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 10 20.7 5.5 - - 1.2 2.0 - - - 4.3 2.2 5.3 .415 - - - 1.1 1.6 .688
Shaquille O'Neal 19 40.8 28.5 3.5 9.1 12.6 2.8 0.5 2.5 3.3 3.3 10.7 20.2 .529 0.0 0.0 - 7.1 10.9 .649

Note: Larry Costello didn't play in 1965-66.

Season 11

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1966-672002-03
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 49 19.9 7.8 - - 2.1 2.9 - - - 2.9 2.7 6.0 .444 - - - 2.4 2.7 .902
Shaquille O'Neal 67 37.8 27.5 3.9 7.2 11.1 3.1 0.6 2.4 2.9 3.4 10.4 18.1 .574 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 10.8 .622
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 2 12.5 8.5 - - 2.0 1.5 - - - 1.0 3.0 4.0 .750 - - - 2.5 2.5 1.000
Shaquille O'Neal 12 40.1 27.0 5.3 9.6 14.8 3.7 0.6 2.8 2.9 2.8 10.1 18.8 .535 0.0 0.0 - 6.8 11.0 .621

Season 12

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1967-682003-04
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 28 17.6 7.2 - - 1.8 2.4 - - - 2.2 2.4 5.3 .453 - - - 2.4 2.9 .827
Shaquille O'Neal 67 36.8 21.5 3.7 7.8 11.5 2.9 0.5 2.5 2.9 3.4 8.3 14.1 .584 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 10.1 .490
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 22 41.9 21.5 4.1 9.1 13.2 2.5 0.3 2.8 2.5 4.1 8.3 14.0 .593 0.0 0.0 - 5.0 11.5 .429

Season 13

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season -2004-05
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Heat Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 73 34.1 22.9 3.5 6.9 10.4 2.7 0.5 2.3 2.8 3.6 9.0 15.0 .601 0.0 0.0 - 4.8 10.5 .461
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 13 33.0 19.4 1.5 6.4 7.8 1.9 0.4 1.5 3.2 4.0 7.8 13.9 .558 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 8.2 .472

Season 14

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season -2005-06
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -NBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 59 30.6 20.0 2.9 6.3 9.2 1.9 0.4 1.8 2.8 3.9 8.1 13.6 .600 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 8.0 .469
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 23 33.0 18.4 3.3 6.5 9.8 1.7 0.5 1.5 3.7 3.7 7.7 12.7 .612 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 7.9 .374

Season 15

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season -2006-07
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Heat Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 40 28.4 17.3 2.4 5.0 7.4 2.0 0.2 1.4 2.4 3.5 7.1 12.0 .591 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 7.4 .422
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 4 30.3 18.8 4.0 4.5 8.5 1.3 0.3 1.5 3.5 3.8 8.3 14.8 .559 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 6.8 .333

Season 16

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season -2007-08
Team -Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Suns Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 61 28.7 13.6 2.7 6.4 9.1 1.5 0.5 1.4 3.0 3.7 5.4 9.1 .593 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 5.5 .503
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 5 30.0 15.2 2.6 6.6 9.2 1.0 1.0 2.6 1.8 4.2 4.4 10.0 .440 0.0 0.0 - 6.4 12.8 .500

Season 17

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season -2008-09
Team -Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 75 30.0 17.8 2.5 5.9 8.4 1.7 0.7 1.4 2.2 3.4 6.8 11.2 .609 0.0 0.0 .000 4.1 6.9 .595
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season -2009-10
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 53 23.4 12.0 1.8 4.9 6.7 1.5 0.3 1.2 2.0 3.2 4.9 8.7 .566 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 4.3 .496
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 11 22.1 11.5 1.9 3.6 5.5 1.4 0.2 1.2 2.2 3.7 4.4 8.5 .516 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 4.3 .660

Season 19

Larry Costello Shaquille O'Neal
Season -2010-11
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Celtics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 37 20.3 9.2 1.3 3.5 4.8 0.7 0.4 1.1 1.5 3.2 3.6 5.4 .667 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.5 .557
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 2 6.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 2.0 0.5 1.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 1.0 .000