Penny Hardaway vs. LeBron James Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of LeBron James 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, 8 less than LeBron James, who played 22. Penny Hardaway had the first of his seasons in 1993-94, while LeBron James had his rookie season in 2003-04. 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
LeBron James 22 18 2003-04 to 2024-25

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 LeBron James
Season 1993-942003-04
Team Orlando MagicCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
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:+3+2.7+4.9+1.0+1.2+0.1+0.7+0.7+0.1-0.1-0.6+1.7+5.6+.049+0.2+0.4+.023+1.4+1.8+.012
LeBron James 79 39.5 20.9 1.3 4.2 5.5 5.9 1.6 0.7 3.5 1.9 7.9 18.9 .417 0.8 2.7 .290 4.4 5.8 .754
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
LeBron James DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Penny Hardaway LeBron James
Season 1994-952004-05
Team Orlando MagicCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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:+3+4.7+6.3+0.4+3.4+3.0+0.5+0.4-0.1-0.3+2.3+6.3+.040+0.3+0.7+.002+1.4+2.0+.019
LeBron James 80 42.4 27.2 1.4 6.0 7.4 7.2 2.2 0.7 3.3 1.8 9.9 21.1 .472 1.4 3.9 .351 6.0 8.0 .750
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
LeBron James DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Penny Hardaway LeBron James
Season 1995-962005-06
Team Orlando MagicCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf FinalsCavaliers Lost East 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%
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:+3+5.7+9.7+0.7+3.4+2.7+0.5+0.4+0.3-0.5-0.3+3.5+8.3+.033+0.5+1.3+.021+2.2+3.2+.029
LeBron James 79 42.5 31.4 0.9 6.1 7.0 6.6 1.6 0.8 3.3 2.3 11.1 23.1 .480 1.6 4.8 .335 7.6 10.3 .738
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:+1+7.1+7.5+3.4+3.4+0.2+0.3+0.4-2.8-1.1+2.8+5.5+.011+0.1+0.2+.031+1.9+2.6+.007
LeBron James 13 46.5 30.8 1.7 6.4 8.1 5.8 1.4 0.7 5.0 3.4 11.2 23.6 .476 1.6 4.8 .333 6.7 9.1 .737

Season 4

Penny Hardaway LeBron James
Season 1996-972006-07
Team Orlando MagicCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
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+3.3+6.8+0.3+2.6+2.2+0.4+0.1-0.7-0.1+2.8+4.9+.029+0.1+0.5+.001+1.5+3.2+.122
LeBron James 78 40.9 27.3 1.1 5.7 6.7 6.0 1.6 0.7 3.2 2.2 9.9 20.8 .476 1.3 4.0 .319 6.3 9.0 .698
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:+15+0.3+5.9+0.1+2.2+2.1+4.6+0.7+0.9-1.5-0.8+2.1+2.2+.052+1.1+2.2+.087+0.6+1.0+.014
LeBron James 20 44.7 25.1 1.3 6.8 8.1 8.0 1.7 0.5 3.3 2.0 8.3 20.0 .416 1.1 3.8 .280 7.4 9.8 .755

Season 5

Penny Hardaway LeBron James
Season 1997-982007-08
Team Orlando MagicCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
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:+56+7.5+13.6+1.4+2.5+3.9+3.6+0.3+0.3-1.0-0.2+5.2+7.5+.107+0.7+2.2+.015+2.6+4.1+.051
LeBron James 75 40.4 30.0 1.8 6.1 7.9 7.2 1.8 1.1 3.4 2.2 10.6 21.9 .484 1.5 4.8 .315 7.3 10.3 .712
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
LeBron James 13 42.5 28.2 1.2 6.6 7.8 7.6 1.8 1.3 4.2 2.5 8.7 21.2 .411 1.4 5.4 .257 9.4 12.8 .731

Season 6

Penny Hardaway LeBron James
Season 1998-992008-09
Team Orlando MagicCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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:+31+1.2+12.6+0.2+2.1+1.9+1.9+0.5+0.6-0.5+3.7+5.6+.069+0.8+1.9+.058+4.3+5.2+.074
LeBron James 81 37.7 28.4 1.3 6.3 7.6 7.2 1.7 1.1 3.0 1.7 9.7 19.9 .489 1.6 4.7 .344 7.3 9.4 .780
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+0.4+16.3+0.9+5.0+4.1+1.8+0.7+0.6-0.3-1.2+6.4+8.0+.159+0.4+2.5+.129+3.1+4.4+.020
LeBron James 14 41.4 35.3 1.4 7.8 9.1 7.3 1.6 0.9 2.7 2.1 11.4 22.3 .510 1.9 5.8 .333 10.6 14.2 .749

Season 7

Penny Hardaway LeBron James
Season 1999-002009-10
Team Phoenix SunsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
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:+16+1.4+12.8+0.6+2.1+1.5+3.3+0.4-0.8-1.1+3.8+6.8+.029+1.1+3.4+.009+4.0+5.4+.023
LeBron James 76 39.0 29.7 0.9 6.4 7.3 8.6 1.6 1.0 3.4 1.6 10.1 20.1 .503 1.7 5.1 .333 7.8 10.2 .767
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:+2+1.0+8.8+0.2+4.6+4.4+1.9+0.1+0.8-1.0-1.1+2.2+3.1+.040+1.2+2.4+.137+3.1+4.0+.023
LeBron James 11 41.8 29.1 1.4 7.9 9.3 7.6 1.7 1.8 3.8 2.1 9.6 19.2 .502 1.8 4.5 .400 8.0 10.9 .733

Season 8

Penny Hardaway LeBron James
Season 2000-012010-11
Team Phoenix SunsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHeat Lost NBA Finals
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:+75+10.8+16.9+0.3+3.2+3.0+3.2+0.1+0.3-2.8-0.6+5.8+9.8+.093+0.7+1.5+.080+4.6+5.6+.123
LeBron James 79 38.8 26.7 1.0 6.5 7.5 7.0 1.6 0.6 3.6 2.1 9.6 18.8 .510 1.2 3.5 .330 6.4 8.4 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
LeBron James 21 43.9 23.7 1.6 6.8 8.4 5.9 1.7 1.2 3.1 2.7 8.3 17.8 .466 1.4 4.0 .353 5.7 7.4 .763

Season 9

Penny Hardaway LeBron James
Season 2001-022011-12
Team Phoenix SunsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+18+6.7+15.1+0.3+3.2+3.5+2.1+0.4+0.4-1.0-0.8+5.1+7.3+.113+0.6+1.4+.085+4.2+5.7+.039
LeBron James 62 37.5 27.1 1.5 6.4 7.9 6.2 1.9 0.8 3.4 1.5 10.0 18.9 .531 0.9 2.4 .362 6.2 8.1 .771
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
LeBron James 23 42.7 30.3 2.3 7.4 9.7 5.6 1.9 0.7 3.5 2.0 10.9 21.8 .500 1.0 3.7 .259 7.5 10.2 .739

Season 10

Penny Hardaway LeBron James
Season 2002-032012-13
Team Phoenix SunsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-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%
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:+18+7.3+16.2+0.2+3.5+3.6+3.2+0.6+0.5-0.5-1.2+5.7+7.9+.118+1.0+2.0+.050+4.0+5.3+.041
LeBron James 76 37.9 26.8 1.3 6.8 8.0 7.3 1.7 0.9 3.0 1.4 10.1 17.8 .565 1.4 3.3 .406 5.3 7.0 .753
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:+17+1.0+13.2+0.1+2.3+2.4+2.3+0.4-0.8-2.4+4.7+7.1+.105+0.1+.015+3.7+4.6+.055
LeBron James 23 41.7 25.9 1.6 6.8 8.4 6.6 1.8 0.8 3.0 1.9 9.2 18.8 .491 1.6 4.2 .375 5.9 7.6 .777

Season 11

Penny Hardaway LeBron James
Season 2003-042013-14
Team Phoenix Suns, New York KnicksMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdHeat Lost NBA 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:+1+10.1+17.9+0.2+3.0+3.1+4.0+0.7-2.1-0.3+6.3+8.7+.156+1.1+3.0+.001+4.2+5.8+.054
LeBron James 77 37.7 27.1 1.1 5.9 6.9 6.3 1.6 0.3 3.5 1.6 10.0 17.6 .567 1.5 4.0 .379 5.7 7.6 .750
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:+16+3.8+10.9+0.3+2.9+2.6+1.0+0.3+0.3-0.6-0.3+3.8+1.2+.200+0.5+0.8+.050+2.7+3.5+.027
LeBron James 20 38.2 27.4 0.7 6.4 7.1 4.8 1.8 0.6 3.1 2.3 9.6 17.0 .565 1.8 4.3 .407 6.5 8.0 .806

Season 12

Penny Hardaway LeBron James
Season 2004-052014-15
Team New York KnicksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
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:+32+11.9+18.0+0.2+3.4+3.6+5.4+0.8+0.6-2.5-0.1+6.0+11.5+.065+1.3+3.5+.054+4.5+6.5+.029
LeBron James 69 36.1 25.3 0.7 5.3 6.0 7.4 1.6 0.7 3.9 2.0 9.0 18.5 .488 1.7 4.9 .354 5.4 7.7 .710
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
LeBron James 20 42.2 30.1 1.9 9.5 11.3 8.5 1.7 1.1 4.1 2.9 11.4 27.2 .417 1.3 5.5 .227 6.1 8.4 .731

Season 13

Penny Hardaway LeBron James
Season 2005-062015-16
Team New York KnicksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+72+17.6+22.8+1.5+3.5+4.9+4.8+0.9+0.6-1.8-0.1+8.7+15.1+.234+1.1+3.4+.309+4.2+6.0+.269
LeBron James 76 35.6 25.3 1.5 6.0 7.4 6.8 1.4 0.6 3.3 1.9 9.7 18.6 .520 1.1 3.7 .309 4.7 6.5 .731
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
LeBron James 21 39.1 26.3 2.0 7.5 9.5 7.6 2.3 1.3 3.6 2.6 10.4 19.9 .525 1.5 4.5 .340 3.9 5.9 .661

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

Season 14

Penny Hardaway LeBron James
Season 2007-082016-17
Team Miami HeatCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
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:+58+17.5+22.6+1.1+5.3+6.4+6.5+0.5-3.3-0.3+8.5+14.4+.181+1.2+3.4+.058+4.3+6.6+.215
LeBron James 74 37.8 26.4 1.3 7.3 8.6 8.7 1.2 0.6 4.1 1.8 9.9 18.2 .548 1.7 4.6 .363 4.8 7.2 .674
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
LeBron James 18 41.3 32.8 1.1 8.1 9.1 7.8 1.9 1.3 4.0 2.4 12.1 21.3 .565 2.4 5.9 .411 6.3 9.0 .698

Additional Years

* LeBron James played 8 seasons more than Penny Hardaway in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 22, from 2018 to 2025—LeBron James played in 6 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship and one NBA Cup.

In those 8 extra years over Penny Hardaway, LeBron James got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Finals MVP
Achievement 2 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 2 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 4 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 1 Assists Leader
Achievement 1 Cup MVP
Achievement 1 Cup All-Tournament Team
Achievement 8 All-Star Game
Achievement 1 All-Star Game MVP