Penny Hardaway vs. Dwight Howard Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dwight Howard and Penny Hardaway, 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 / Scoring / Stats / 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.

Penny Hardaway played 14 years in the NBA, 4 less than Dwight Howard, who played 18. Penny Hardaway had the first of his seasons in 1993-94, while Dwight Howard had his rookie season in 2004-05. 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
Penny Hardaway 14 8 1993-94 to 2007-08
Dwight Howard 18 12 2004-05 to 2021-22

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Penny Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 1993-942004-05
Team Orlando MagicOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdDid 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%
Penny Hardaway 82 36.8 16.0 2.3 3.0 5.4 6.6 2.3 0.6 3.6 2.5 6.2 13.3 .466 0.6 2.3 .267 3.0 4.0 .742
difference:+4.2+4.0+1.2+3.5+4.6+5.7+1.4+1.1-1.6-0.3+1.9+5.0+.054+0.6+2.3+0.4+1.0+.071
Dwight Howard 82 32.6 12.0 3.5 6.5 10.0 0.9 0.9 1.7 2.0 2.8 4.3 8.3 .520 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.0 .671
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 3 44.3 18.7 2.7 4.0 6.7 7.0 1.7 2.0 6.7 3.3 7.3 16.7 .440 1.7 3.7 .455 2.3 3.3 .700
Dwight Howard DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Penny Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 1994-952005-06
Team Orlando MagicOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 77 37.7 20.9 1.8 2.6 4.4 7.2 1.7 0.3 3.4 2.1 7.6 14.8 .512 1.1 3.2 .349 4.6 6.0 .769
difference:+5+0.9+5.1+1.7+6.4+8.1+5.7+0.9+1.1-0.8-1.3+1.9+4.1+.019+1.1+3.2+0.3+1.3+.174
Dwight Howard 82 36.8 15.8 3.5 9.0 12.5 1.5 0.8 1.4 2.6 3.4 5.7 10.7 .531 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 7.3 .595
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 21 40.4 19.6 1.4 2.3 3.8 7.7 1.9 0.7 3.5 3.3 6.9 14.5 .472 1.9 4.7 .404 4.0 5.3 .757
Dwight Howard DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Penny Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 1995-962006-07
Team Orlando MagicOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf FinalsMagic Lost East 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%
Penny Hardaway 82 36.8 21.7 1.6 2.7 4.3 7.1 2.0 0.5 2.8 2.0 7.6 14.8 .513 1.1 3.5 .314 5.4 7.1 .767
difference:+0.1+4.1+1.9+6.1+8.0+5.2+1.1+1.4-1.1-1.0+1.2+4.2+.090+1.1+3.5+0.6+1.0+.181
Dwight Howard 82 36.9 17.6 3.5 8.8 12.3 1.9 0.9 1.9 3.9 3.0 6.4 10.6 .603 0.0 0.0 - 4.8 8.1 .586
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 12 39.4 23.3 1.7 3.0 4.7 6.0 1.7 0.3 2.2 2.3 8.4 18.1 .465 1.7 4.6 .364 4.8 6.5 .744
difference:+8+2.4+8.0+2.3+7.8+10.1+4.2+1.2+0.7-2.1-1.0+2.6+7.6+.083+1.7+4.6+1.0+1.8+.289
Dwight Howard 4 41.8 15.3 4.0 10.8 14.8 1.8 0.5 1.0 4.3 3.3 5.8 10.5 .548 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 8.3 .455

Season 4

Penny Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 1996-972007-08
Team Orlando MagicOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdMagic Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 59 37.6 20.5 1.4 3.1 4.5 5.6 1.6 0.6 2.5 2.1 7.1 15.9 .447 1.4 4.5 .318 4.8 5.8 .820
difference:+23+0.1+0.2+2.0+7.7+9.7+4.3+0.7+1.5-0.7-1.2+4.0+.152+1.4+4.5+1.7+5.1+.230
Dwight Howard 82 37.7 20.7 3.4 10.8 14.2 1.3 0.9 2.1 3.2 3.3 7.1 11.9 .599 0.0 0.0 - 6.5 10.9 .590
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 5 44.4 31.0 1.4 4.6 6.0 3.4 2.4 1.4 1.8 2.8 10.4 22.2 .468 2.2 6.0 .367 8.0 10.8 .741
difference:+5+2.3+12.1+4.6+5.2+9.8+2.5+1.6+2.0-1.4-1.0+3.2+9.8+.113+2.2+6.0+3.5+2.5+.199
Dwight Howard 10 42.1 18.9 6.0 9.8 15.8 0.9 0.8 3.4 3.2 3.8 7.2 12.4 .581 0.0 0.0 - 4.5 8.3 .542

Season 5

Penny Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 1997-982008-09
Team Orlando MagicOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement Blocks Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMagic Lost NBA Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 19 32.9 16.4 0.4 3.6 4.0 3.6 1.5 0.8 2.4 2.4 5.4 14.4 .377 0.8 2.6 .300 4.7 6.2 .763
difference:+60+2.8+4.2+3.9+6.0+9.8+2.2+0.5+2.1-0.6-1.0+1.7+2.0+.195+0.8+2.6+1.7+4.5+.169
Dwight Howard 79 35.7 20.6 4.3 9.6 13.8 1.4 1.0 2.9 3.0 3.4 7.1 12.4 .572 0.0 0.0 - 6.4 10.7 .594
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
Dwight Howard 23 39.3 20.3 4.3 11.0 15.3 1.9 0.9 2.6 2.9 4.4 7.0 11.7 .601 0.0 0.1 .000 6.3 9.9 .636

Season 6

Penny Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 1998-992009-10
Team Orlando MagicOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement Blocks Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdMagic Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 50 38.9 15.8 1.5 4.2 5.7 5.3 2.2 0.5 3.0 2.2 6.0 14.3 .420 0.8 2.8 .286 3.0 4.2 .706
difference:+32+4.2+2.5+2.0+5.5+7.5+3.5+1.3+2.3-0.3-1.3+0.2+4.1+.192+0.8+2.7+.286+2.9+5.8+.114
Dwight Howard 82 34.7 18.3 3.5 9.7 13.2 1.8 0.9 2.8 3.3 3.5 6.2 10.2 .612 0.0 0.1 .000 5.9 10.0 .592
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 4 41.8 19.0 2.3 2.8 5.0 5.5 2.3 0.3 3.0 3.3 5.0 14.3 .351 1.5 3.3 .462 7.5 9.8 .769
difference:+10+6.3+0.9+0.4+5.6+6.1+4.1+1.5+3.2-0.6-0.9+1.1+4.3+.263+1.5+3.3+1.6+1.5+.250
Dwight Howard 14 35.5 18.1 2.7 8.4 11.1 1.4 0.8 3.5 3.6 4.2 6.1 10.0 .614 0.0 0.0 - 5.9 11.3 .519

Season 7

Penny Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 1999-002010-11
Team Phoenix SunsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -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 SemisMagic 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%
Penny Hardaway 60 37.6 16.9 1.5 4.3 5.8 5.3 1.6 0.6 2.6 2.7 6.3 13.3 .474 0.6 1.7 .324 3.8 4.8 .790
difference:+18+6.0+2.5+5.8+8.3+3.9+0.2+1.8-1.0-0.6+1.6+0.1+.119+0.6+1.6+.324+3.2+6.9+.194
Dwight Howard 78 37.6 22.9 4.0 10.1 14.1 1.4 1.4 2.4 3.6 3.3 7.9 13.4 .593 0.0 0.1 .000 7.0 11.7 .596
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 9 42.8 20.3 1.6 3.3 4.9 5.7 1.6 1.0 2.8 3.2 7.4 16.1 .462 0.6 2.1 .263 4.9 6.9 .710
difference:+3+0.2+6.7+2.9+7.7+10.6+5.2+0.9+0.8-2.7-1.0+1.1+2.6+.168+0.6+1.9+.263+5.1+7.8+.028
Dwight Howard 6 43.0 27.0 4.5 11.0 15.5 0.5 0.7 1.8 5.5 4.2 8.5 13.5 .630 0.0 0.2 .000 10.0 14.7 .682

Season 8

Penny Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 2000-012011-12
Team Phoenix SunsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-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%
Penny Hardaway 4 28.0 9.8 1.3 3.3 4.5 3.8 1.5 0.3 0.8 1.5 3.8 9.0 .417 0.5 2.0 .250 1.8 2.8 .636
difference:+50+10.3+10.8+2.4+7.5+10.0+1.9+1.8-2.4-1.4+3.9+4.4+.156+0.5+1.9+.250+3.4+7.8+.145
Dwight Howard 54 38.3 20.6 3.7 10.8 14.5 1.9 1.5 2.1 3.2 2.9 7.7 13.4 .573 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 10.6 .491
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Penny Hardaway nor Dwight Howard played in the postseason in their season 8

Season 9

Penny Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 2001-022012-13
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 80 30.8 12.0 1.2 3.2 4.4 4.1 1.5 0.4 2.4 2.3 4.9 11.6 .418 0.3 1.0 .277 2.0 2.4 .810
difference:+4+5.0+5.1+2.1+5.9+8.0+2.7+0.4+2.0-0.6-1.5+1.3+0.9+.160+0.3+0.9+.110+2.7+7.1+.318
Dwight Howard 76 35.8 17.1 3.3 9.1 12.4 1.4 1.1 2.4 3.0 3.8 6.2 10.7 .578 0.0 0.1 .167 4.7 9.5 .492
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
Dwight Howard 4 31.5 17.0 2.5 8.3 10.8 1.0 0.5 2.0 4.0 4.3 6.5 10.5 .619 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 9.0 .444

Season 10

Penny Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 2002-032013-14
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 58 30.6 10.6 1.1 3.3 4.4 4.1 1.1 0.4 2.5 2.6 4.4 9.9 .447 0.4 1.3 .356 1.3 1.7 .794
difference:+13+3.1+7.7+2.2+5.6+7.8+2.3+0.3+1.4-0.7-0.8+2.3+1.4+.144+0.4+1.2+.070+3.6+7.3+.247
Dwight Howard 71 33.7 18.3 3.3 8.9 12.2 1.8 0.8 1.8 3.2 3.4 6.7 11.3 .591 0.0 0.1 .286 4.9 9.0 .547
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 6 40.7 12.7 1.5 4.5 6.0 4.3 2.2 0.8 2.2 4.3 4.5 11.7 .386 1.5 4.2 .360 2.2 3.0 .722
difference:+2.2+13.3+3.0+4.7+7.7+2.5+1.5+2.0-1.0-0.1+5.2+6.0+.161+1.5+4.2+4.5+7.7+.097
Dwight Howard 6 38.5 26.0 4.5 9.2 13.7 1.8 0.7 2.8 3.2 4.2 9.7 17.7 .547 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 10.7 .625

Season 11

Penny Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 2003-042014-15
Team Phoenix Suns, New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 76 27.6 9.2 0.9 2.9 3.8 2.3 0.9 0.3 1.4 1.9 3.7 8.9 .411 0.4 1.0 .380 1.5 1.8 .804
difference:+35+2.2+6.6+1.8+4.9+6.7+1.1+0.2+1.0-1.4-1.4+2.4+1.4+.182+0.4+1.0+2.0+4.8+.276
Dwight Howard 41 29.8 15.8 2.7 7.8 10.5 1.2 0.7 1.3 2.8 3.3 6.1 10.3 .593 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 6.6 .528
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 4 42.0 16.5 1.0 3.5 4.5 5.8 1.5 0.3 2.5 2.0 5.8 15.8 .365 1.3 3.5 .357 3.8 4.5 .833
difference:+13+8.2+0.1+2.6+6.9+9.5+4.6+0.1+2.0-0.3-1.5+0.4+5.1+.212+1.3+3.5+0.2+5.2+.421
Dwight Howard 17 33.8 16.4 3.6 10.4 14.0 1.2 1.4 2.3 2.2 3.5 6.2 10.7 .577 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 9.7 .412

Season 12

Penny Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 2004-052015-16
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 37 24.2 7.3 0.5 1.9 2.4 2.0 0.8 0.1 1.4 2.1 3.0 7.0 .423 0.4 1.4 .300 0.9 1.2 .739
difference:+34+7.9+6.4+2.9+6.5+9.4+0.6+0.2+1.5-0.9-1.0+2.2+1.5+.197+0.4+1.3+.300+2.4+5.5+.250
Dwight Howard 71 32.1 13.7 3.4 8.4 11.8 1.4 1.0 1.6 2.3 3.1 5.2 8.5 .620 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 6.7 .489
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
Dwight Howard 5 36.0 13.2 5.2 8.8 14.0 1.6 0.8 1.4 2.4 4.2 5.2 9.6 .542 0.0 0.2 .000 2.8 7.6 .368

Season 13

Penny Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 2005-062016-17
Team New York KnicksAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 4 18.0 2.5 0.0 2.5 2.5 2.0 0.5 0.0 1.5 1.8 1.0 3.5 .286 0.0 0.3 .000 0.5 0.5 1.000
difference:+70+11.7+11.0+4.0+6.2+10.2+0.6+0.4+1.2-0.8-0.9+4.2+4.8+.347+0.3+2.6+5.2+.467
Dwight Howard 74 29.7 13.5 4.0 8.7 12.7 1.4 0.9 1.2 2.3 2.7 5.2 8.3 .633 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 5.7 .533
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
Dwight Howard 6 26.2 8.0 3.0 7.7 10.7 1.3 1.0 0.8 1.8 3.5 3.0 6.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.2 .632

Note: Penny Hardaway didn't play in 2006-07.

Season 14

Penny Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 2007-082017-18
Team Miami HeatCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 16 20.3 3.8 0.2 2.0 2.2 2.2 1.2 0.1 0.8 1.5 1.4 3.8 .367 0.5 1.2 .421 0.5 0.6 .889
difference:+65+10.1+12.8+2.9+7.3+10.3+0.9+0.6+1.5-1.8-1.6+4.8+7.4+.188+0.5+1.1+.278+3.6+6.6+.315
Dwight Howard 81 30.4 16.6 3.1 9.3 12.5 1.3 0.6 1.6 2.6 3.1 6.2 11.2 .555 0.0 0.1 .143 4.1 7.2 .574
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Penny Hardaway nor Dwight Howard played in the postseason in their season 14

Additional Years

* Dwight Howard played 4 seasons more than Penny Hardaway in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 18, from 2019 to 2022—Dwight Howard played in two Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.