Richard Hamilton vs. James Harden Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Harden and Richard Hamilton, 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 / 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.

Richard Hamilton played 14 years in the NBA, 1 less than James Harden, who played 15. Richard Hamilton had the first of his seasons in 1999-00, 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 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
Richard Hamilton 14 9 1999-00 to 2012-13
James Harden 15 15 2009-10 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Richard Hamilton James Harden
Season 1999-002009-10
Team Washington WizardsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 %
Richard Hamilton 71 19.3 9.0 0.5 1.3 1.8 1.5 0.4 0.1 1.2 2.0 3.6 8.5 .420 0.4 1.1 .364 1.5 1.9 .774
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------
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

Richard Hamilton James Harden
Season 2000-012010-11
Team Washington WizardsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 %
Richard Hamilton 78 32.3 18.1 1.0 2.1 3.1 2.9 1.0 0.1 2.6 2.6 7.0 16.0 .438 0.5 1.9 .274 3.6 4.1 .868
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------
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

Richard Hamilton James Harden
Season 2001-022011-12
Team Washington WizardsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 63 35.0 20.0 1.2 2.3 3.4 2.7 0.6 0.2 2.1 2.2 7.5 17.2 .435 0.3 0.7 .381 4.8 5.3 .890
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------
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

Richard Hamilton James Harden
Season 2002-032012-13
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsRockets 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 %
Richard Hamilton 82 32.2 19.7 1.1 2.8 3.9 2.5 0.8 0.2 2.4 3.0 7.0 15.7 .443 0.4 1.5 .269 5.4 6.4 .833
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 17 38.7 22.5 1.1 2.8 3.9 2.6 0.8 0.1 3.4 3.0 7.9 17.8 .442 0.5 1.6 .333 6.2 6.9 .906
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

Richard Hamilton James Harden
Season 2003-042013-14
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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 %
Richard Hamilton 78 35.5 17.6 1.0 2.6 3.6 4.0 1.3 0.2 2.7 2.8 6.8 14.9 .455 0.2 0.9 .265 3.8 4.4 .868
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 23 40.6 21.5 1.4 3.2 4.6 4.2 1.2 0.0 3.1 3.1 7.9 17.6 .447 0.7 1.7 .385 5.1 6.0 .848
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

Richard Hamilton James Harden
Season 2004-052014-15
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost NBA FinalsRockets 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 %
Richard Hamilton 76 38.5 18.7 1.0 2.9 3.9 4.9 1.0 0.2 2.9 3.1 6.7 15.3 .440 0.5 1.6 .305 4.8 5.6 .858
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 25 43.2 20.0 1.2 3.1 4.3 4.3 0.8 0.1 3.1 3.2 7.9 17.5 .453 0.4 1.4 .294 3.8 4.8 .798
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

Richard Hamilton James Harden
Season 2005-062015-16
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsRockets 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 %
Richard Hamilton 80 35.3 20.1 1.1 2.2 3.2 3.4 0.7 0.2 2.2 2.6 8.1 16.5 .491 0.7 1.5 .458 3.2 3.8 .845
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 18 38.3 20.4 0.9 2.0 2.9 2.7 0.9 0.3 2.2 3.3 7.1 17.2 .413 0.8 2.2 .350 5.4 6.3 .851
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

Richard Hamilton James Harden
Season 2006-072016-17
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsRockets 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 %
Richard Hamilton 75 36.8 19.8 1.0 2.8 3.8 3.8 0.8 0.2 2.1 3.1 7.3 15.6 .468 0.6 1.7 .341 4.6 5.4 .861
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 16 39.9 18.8 2.0 2.3 4.3 3.8 0.9 0.1 1.9 3.8 6.8 15.8 .429 0.5 1.3 .400 4.8 5.6 .865
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

Richard Hamilton James Harden
Season 2007-082017-18
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf FinalsRockets 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 %
Richard Hamilton 72 33.7 17.3 1.0 2.2 3.3 4.2 1.0 0.1 1.8 2.4 6.9 14.3 .484 0.9 2.0 .440 2.6 3.1 .833
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 17 38.6 21.6 1.1 3.1 4.2 3.9 1.4 0.5 2.8 2.8 7.9 16.8 .470 0.5 1.5 .308 5.4 5.9 .911
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

Richard Hamilton James Harden
Season 2008-092018-19
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets 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 %
Richard Hamilton 67 34.0 18.3 0.7 2.4 3.1 4.4 0.6 0.1 2.0 2.6 7.0 15.6 .447 1.0 2.8 .368 3.3 3.9 .848
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 4 38.5 13.3 0.5 2.3 2.8 5.0 1.3 0.3 2.5 3.0 5.3 14.8 .356 0.5 2.5 .200 2.3 2.5 .900
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

Richard Hamilton James Harden
Season 2009-102019-20
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Richard Hamilton 46 33.7 18.1 0.7 2.0 2.7 4.4 0.7 0.1 2.5 2.5 6.4 15.6 .409 0.9 3.0 .297 4.4 5.2 .846
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------
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

Richard Hamilton James Harden
Season 2010-112020-21
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets 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 %
Richard Hamilton 55 27.2 14.1 0.4 1.9 2.3 3.1 0.7 0.1 1.6 1.7 5.2 12.2 .429 1.0 2.6 .382 2.7 3.1 .849
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------
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

Richard Hamilton James Harden
Season 2011-122021-22
Team Chicago BullsBrooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd76ers 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 %
Richard Hamilton 28 24.9 11.6 0.7 1.6 2.4 3.0 0.4 0.0 1.8 2.0 5.0 11.1 .452 0.6 1.6 .370 1.0 1.3 .784
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 6 28.5 13.0 1.3 1.8 3.2 3.0 0.2 0.0 1.3 2.5 4.8 11.7 .414 0.3 1.0 .333 3.0 3.7 .818
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

Season 14

Richard Hamilton James Harden
Season 2012-132022-23
Team Chicago BullsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf Semis76ers 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 %
Richard Hamilton 50 21.8 9.8 0.3 1.3 1.7 2.4 0.5 0.1 1.7 1.9 4.1 9.5 .429 0.3 1.0 .308 1.3 1.5 .857
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 4 17.0 6.5 0.0 0.8 0.8 1.3 0.3 0.5 1.3 1.3 2.5 6.8 .370 0.8 1.8 .429 0.8 1.0 .750
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

Season 15

Richard Hamilton James Harden
Season -2023-24
Team -Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Clippers 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 %
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------
James Harden 72 34.3 16.6 0.5 4.7 5.1 8.5 1.1 0.8 2.6 1.8 4.9 11.4 .428 2.6 6.8 .381 4.2 4.8 .878
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------
James Harden 6 40.3 21.2 0.5 4.0 4.5 8.0 1.0 1.0 2.3 2.2 6.7 14.8 .449 3.0 7.8 .383 4.8 5.3 .906