Penny Hardaway vs. James Harden Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Harden 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

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, 3 less than James Harden, who played 17. Penny Hardaway had the first of his seasons in 1993-94, while James Harden had his rookie season in 2009-10. 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
James Harden 17 16 2009-10 to 2025-26

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 James Harden
Season 1993-942009-10
Team Orlando MagicOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdThunder 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%
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:+6+13.9+6.1+1.7+0.4+2.2+4.8+1.2+0.3-2.2-0.1+3.1+5.7+.063+0.6+1.0+.108+0.4+0.8+.066
James Harden 76 22.9 9.9 0.6 2.6 3.2 1.8 1.1 0.3 1.4 2.6 3.1 7.6 .403 1.2 3.3 .375 2.6 3.2 .808
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
difference:+3+24.3+11.0+2.5+1.7+4.2+5.2+0.7+1.8-6.2-1.0+5.3+11.5+.053+0.7+1.0+.080+0.4+0.1+.142
James Harden 6 20.0 7.7 0.2 2.3 2.5 1.8 1.0 0.2 0.5 2.3 2.0 5.2 .387 1.0 2.7 .375 2.7 3.2 .842

Season 2

Penny Hardaway James Harden
Season 1994-952010-11
Team Orlando MagicOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost NBA FinalsThunder Lost West Conf 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%
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+11.0+8.7+1.3+1.3+5.1+0.6-2.1-0.4+4.0+6.5+.076+0.3+0.8+1.1+1.8+.074
James Harden 82 26.7 12.2 0.5 2.6 3.1 2.1 1.1 0.3 1.3 2.5 3.6 8.3 .436 1.4 4.0 .349 3.5 4.2 .843
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
difference:+4+8.8+6.6+0.8+2.5+1.6+4.1+0.7+0.1-1.9-0.5+3.0+6.3+.003+0.5+0.2+.101+0.1+0.6+.068
James Harden 17 31.6 13.0 0.6 4.8 5.4 3.6 1.2 0.8 1.6 2.8 3.9 8.2 .475 1.4 4.5 .303 3.9 4.7 .825

Season 3

Penny Hardaway James Harden
Season 1995-962011-12
Team Orlando MagicOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf FinalsThunder Lost NBA Finals
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:+20+5.4+4.9+1.1+0.9+0.2+3.4+1.0+0.3-0.6-0.4+2.6+4.7+.022+0.7+1.2+.076+0.4+1.1+.079
James Harden 62 31.4 16.8 0.5 3.6 4.1 3.7 1.0 0.2 2.2 2.4 5.0 10.1 .491 1.8 4.7 .390 5.0 6.0 .846
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+7.9+7.0+1.0+1.5+0.4+2.6+0.1+0.2-0.1-1.1+3.7+7.4+.030+0.1+0.7+.046+0.6+0.2+.113
James Harden 20 31.5 16.3 0.7 4.5 5.1 3.4 1.6 0.1 2.1 3.4 4.7 10.7 .435 1.6 3.9 .410 5.4 6.3 .857

Season 4

Penny Hardaway James Harden
Season 1996-972012-13
Team Orlando MagicHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third TeamAchievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East 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%
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:+19+0.7+5.4+0.6+1.0+0.4+0.2+0.2+0.1-1.3-0.2+0.4+1.2+.009+0.9+1.7+.050+3.8+4.4+.031
James Harden 78 38.3 25.9 0.8 4.1 4.9 5.8 1.8 0.5 3.8 2.3 7.5 17.1 .438 2.3 6.2 .368 8.6 10.2 .851
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:+1+3.9+4.7+0.6+1.2+0.7+1.1+0.4+0.4-2.7-0.2+2.9+3.0+.077+0.3+1.3+.026+0.8+0.2+.062
James Harden 6 40.5 26.3 0.8 5.8 6.7 4.5 2.0 1.0 4.5 3.0 7.5 19.2 .391 2.5 7.3 .341 8.8 11.0 .803

Season 5

Penny Hardaway James Harden
Season 1997-982013-14
Team Orlando MagicHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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%
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:+54+5.1+9.0+0.4+0.3+0.7+2.5+0.1+0.4-1.2+2.1+2.1+.079+1.6+4.0+.066+3.2+2.9+.103
James Harden 73 38.0 25.4 0.8 3.9 4.7 6.1 1.6 0.4 3.6 2.4 7.5 16.5 .456 2.4 6.6 .366 7.9 9.1 .866
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
James Harden 6 43.8 26.8 0.8 3.8 4.7 5.8 2.0 0.2 3.5 3.5 8.3 22.2 .376 2.7 9.0 .296 7.5 8.3 .900

Season 6

Penny Hardaway James Harden
Season 1998-992014-15
Team Orlando MagicHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West 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:+31+2.1+11.6+0.6+0.5+1.7+0.3+0.2-1.0-0.4+2.0+3.8+.020+1.8+4.1+.089+5.8+6.0+.162
James Harden 81 36.8 27.4 0.9 4.7 5.7 7.0 1.9 0.7 4.0 2.6 8.0 18.1 .440 2.6 6.9 .375 8.8 10.2 .868
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:+13+4.4+8.2+1.6+2.2+0.7+2.0+0.7+0.1-1.5-0.4+2.6+3.0+.088+0.9+3.0+.079+2.1+0.7+.147
James Harden 17 37.4 27.2 0.7 5.0 5.7 7.5 1.6 0.4 4.5 2.9 7.6 17.3 .439 2.4 6.3 .383 9.6 10.5 .916

Season 7

Penny Hardaway James Harden
Season 1999-002015-16
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -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%
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:+22+0.5+12.1+0.7+1.0+0.3+2.2+0.1-2.0-0.1+2.4+6.4+.035+2.3+6.3+.035+5.0+5.4+.070
James Harden 82 38.1 29.0 0.8 5.3 6.1 7.5 1.7 0.6 4.6 2.8 8.7 19.7 .439 2.9 8.0 .359 8.8 10.2 .860
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:+4+4.2+6.3+0.2+0.5+0.3+1.9+0.8+0.8-2.4-0.6+0.8+3.9+.052+2.0+6.3+.047+2.7+2.1+.134
James Harden 5 38.6 26.6 1.4 3.8 5.2 7.6 2.4 0.2 5.2 2.6 8.2 20.0 .410 2.6 8.4 .310 7.6 9.0 .844

Season 8

Penny Hardaway James Harden
Season 2000-012016-17
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets Lost West Conf Semis
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:+77+8.4+19.3+0.1+3.7+3.6+7.4+0.2-4.9-1.2+4.5+9.9+.023+2.7+7.3+.097+7.4+8.1+.211
James Harden 81 36.4 29.1 1.2 7.0 8.1 11.2 1.5 0.5 5.7 2.7 8.3 18.9 .440 3.2 9.3 .347 9.2 10.9 .847
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
James Harden 11 37.0 28.5 0.6 4.8 5.5 8.5 1.9 0.5 5.4 3.9 8.2 19.8 .413 2.9 10.5 .278 9.2 10.5 .878

Season 9

Penny Hardaway James Harden
Season 2001-022017-18
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets Lost West Conf Finals
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:+8+4.6+18.4+0.6+1.6+1.0+4.7+0.3+0.3-2.0+4.1+8.5+.031+3.4+9.0+.090+6.7+7.7+.048
James Harden 72 35.4 30.4 0.6 4.8 5.4 8.8 1.8 0.7 4.4 2.3 9.0 20.1 .449 3.7 10.0 .367 8.7 10.1 .858
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
James Harden 17 36.5 28.6 0.8 4.4 5.2 6.8 2.2 0.6 3.8 2.7 9.3 22.6 .410 3.1 10.2 .299 6.9 7.8 .887

Season 10

Penny Hardaway James Harden
Season 2002-032018-19
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf Semis
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:+20+6.2+25.5+0.3+2.5+2.2+3.4+0.9+0.3-2.5-0.5+6.4+14.6+.005+4.4+11.9+.012+8.4+9.3+.085
James Harden 78 36.8 36.1 0.8 5.8 6.6 7.5 2.0 0.7 5.0 3.1 10.8 24.5 .442 4.8 13.2 .368 9.7 11.0 .879
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:+5+2.2+18.9+0.7+1.5+0.8+2.3+0.1-2.4-0.6+5.4+12.3+.027+2.9+8.3+.010+5.3+5.9+.115
James Harden 11 38.5 31.6 0.8 6.0 6.8 6.6 2.2 0.9 4.6 3.7 9.9 24.0 .413 4.4 12.5 .350 7.5 8.9 .837

Season 11

Penny Hardaway James Harden
Season 2003-042019-20
Team Phoenix Suns, New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf Semis
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:+8+8.9+25.1+0.1+2.6+2.8+5.2+0.9+0.6-3.1-1.4+6.2+13.4+.033+4.0+11.4+.025+8.7+10.0+.061
James Harden 68 36.5 34.3 1.0 5.5 6.6 7.5 1.8 0.9 4.5 3.3 9.9 22.3 .444 4.4 12.4 .355 10.2 11.8 .865
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:+8+4.7+13.1+1.1+1.1+1.9+0.5-1.3-1.6+3.3+3.2+.113+2.0+6.3+.024+4.4+5.2+.012
James Harden 12 37.3 29.6 1.0 4.6 5.6 7.7 1.5 0.8 3.8 3.6 9.1 19.0 .478 3.3 9.8 .333 8.2 9.7 .845

Season 12

Penny Hardaway James Harden
Season 2004-052020-21
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets Lost East 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%
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:+7+12.4+17.3+0.3+5.2+5.5+8.8+0.4+0.7-2.6-0.2+4.8+9.7+.043+2.4+6.2+.062+5.4+6.1+.122
James Harden 44 36.6 24.6 0.8 7.1 7.9 10.8 1.2 0.8 4.0 2.3 7.8 16.7 .466 2.8 7.6 .362 6.3 7.3 .861
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
James Harden 9 35.8 20.2 0.8 5.6 6.3 8.6 1.7 0.7 2.9 2.6 5.7 12.0 .472 2.7 7.3 .364 6.2 6.9 .903

Season 13

Penny Hardaway James Harden
Season 2005-062021-22
Team New York KnicksBrooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers Lost East Conf Semis
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:+61+19.2+19.5+0.8+4.3+5.2+8.3+0.8+0.6-2.9-0.6+5.3+11.8+.124+2.3+6.6+.330+6.7+7.7+.123
James Harden 65 37.2 22.0 0.8 6.8 7.7 10.3 1.3 0.6 4.4 2.4 6.3 15.3 .410 2.3 6.9 .330 7.2 8.2 .877
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
James Harden 12 39.9 18.6 0.9 4.8 5.7 8.6 0.8 0.7 4.2 2.4 5.3 13.2 .405 2.3 6.3 .368 5.6 6.3 .893

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

Season 14

Penny Hardaway James Harden
Season 2007-082022-23
Team Miami HeatPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers Lost East Conf Semis
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:+42+16.5+17.2+0.5+3.4+3.9+8.5+0.4-2.6-0.4+5.0+10.7+.074+2.3+6.0+.036+4.9+5.6+.022
James Harden 58 36.8 21.0 0.7 5.4 6.1 10.7 1.2 0.5 3.4 1.9 6.4 14.5 .441 2.8 7.2 .385 5.4 6.2 .867
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
James Harden 11 38.8 20.3 0.5 5.6 6.2 8.3 1.8 0.4 3.2 2.5 6.5 16.6 .393 2.8 7.5 .378 4.4 5.0 .873

Additional Years

* James Harden played 3 seasons more than Penny Hardaway in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 17, from 2024 to 2026—James Harden played in two Playoffs.

In those 3 extra years over Penny Hardaway, James Harden got these achievements:

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