Rudy Gobert vs. James Harden Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Harden and Rudy Gobert, 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.

Rudy Gobert played 12 years in the NBA, 4 less than James Harden, who played 16. Rudy Gobert had the first of his seasons in 2013-14, 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
Rudy Gobert 12 9 2013-14 to 2024-25
James Harden 16 16 2009-10 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Rudy Gobert James Harden
Season 2013-142009-10
Team Utah JazzOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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%
Rudy Gobert 45 9.6 2.3 1.1 2.3 3.4 0.2 0.2 0.9 0.7 1.3 0.8 1.6 .486 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.4 .492
difference:+31+13.3+7.6+0.5+0.3+0.2+1.6+0.9+0.6-0.7-1.3+2.3+6.0+.083+1.2+3.3+1.9+1.8+.316
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%
Rudy Gobert DNP------ --- ----------
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

Rudy Gobert James Harden
Season 2014-152010-11
Team Utah JazzOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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%
Rudy Gobert 82 26.3 8.4 3.2 6.2 9.5 1.3 0.8 2.3 1.4 2.1 3.1 5.2 .604 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.3 .623
difference:+0.4+3.8+2.7+3.6+6.4+0.8+0.3+2.0-0.1-0.4+0.5+3.1+.168+1.4+4.0+1.4+0.9+.220
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%
Rudy Gobert DNP------ --- ----------
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

Rudy Gobert James Harden
Season 2015-162011-12
Team Utah JazzOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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%
Rudy Gobert 61 31.7 9.1 3.4 7.5 11.0 1.5 0.7 2.2 1.9 2.7 3.2 5.8 .559 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 4.6 .569
difference:+1+0.3+7.7+2.9+3.9+6.9+2.2+0.3+2.0-0.3-0.3+1.8+4.3+.068+1.8+4.7+2.4+1.4+.277
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%
Rudy Gobert DNP------ --- ----------
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

Rudy Gobert James Harden
Season 2016-172012-13
Team Utah JazzHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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%
Rudy Gobert 81 33.9 14.0 3.9 8.9 12.8 1.2 0.6 2.6 1.8 3.0 5.1 7.7 .661 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 5.9 .653
difference:+3+4.4+11.9+3.1+4.8+7.9+4.6+1.2+2.1-2.0-0.7+2.4+9.4+.223+2.3+6.2+4.8+4.3+.198
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%
Rudy Gobert 9 27.3 11.6 2.4 7.4 9.9 1.2 1.0 1.3 1.0 3.3 4.4 7.0 .635 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 5.6 .480
difference:+3+13.2+14.7+1.6+1.6+3.2+3.3+1.0+0.3-3.5-0.3+3.1+12.2+.244+2.5+7.3+6.1+5.4+.323
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

Rudy Gobert James Harden
Season 2017-182013-14
Team Utah JazzHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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%
Rudy Gobert 56 32.4 13.5 2.9 7.8 10.7 1.4 0.8 2.3 1.9 2.7 4.9 7.9 .622 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 5.3 .682
difference:+17+5.6+11.9+2.1+3.9+6.0+4.7+0.8+1.9-1.7-0.3+2.6+8.6+.166+2.4+6.6+4.3+3.8+.184
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%
Rudy Gobert 11 34.8 13.2 3.9 6.8 10.7 1.0 0.9 2.3 1.9 3.1 5.0 7.6 .655 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 5.3 .603
difference:+5+9.0+13.6+3.1+3.0+6.0+4.8+1.1+2.1-1.6-0.4+3.3+14.6+.279+2.7+9.0+4.3+3.0+.297
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

Rudy Gobert James Harden
Season 2018-192014-15
Team Utah JazzHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West 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%
Rudy Gobert 81 31.8 15.9 3.8 9.0 12.9 2.0 0.8 2.3 1.6 2.9 5.9 8.8 .669 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 6.4 .636
difference:+5.0+11.5+2.9+4.3+7.2+5.0+1.1+1.6-2.4-0.3+2.1+9.3+.229+2.6+6.9+4.7+3.8+.232
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%
Rudy Gobert 5 30.4 11.2 4.6 5.6 10.2 1.4 0.6 2.6 1.8 3.2 3.8 6.4 .594 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 4.6 .783
difference:+12+7.0+16.0+3.9+0.6+4.5+6.1+1.0+2.2-2.7-0.3+3.8+10.9+.155+2.4+6.3+6.0+5.9+.133
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

Rudy Gobert James Harden
Season 2019-202015-16
Team Utah JazzHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets 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%
Rudy Gobert 68 34.3 15.1 3.4 10.1 13.5 1.5 0.8 2.0 1.9 3.2 5.7 8.2 .693 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.9 .630
difference:+14+3.8+13.9+2.6+4.8+7.4+6.0+0.9+1.4-2.7-0.4+3.0+11.5+.254+2.9+8.0+5.1+4.3+.230
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%
Rudy Gobert 7 38.6 16.9 3.4 8.0 11.4 1.1 0.6 1.4 1.3 3.7 6.9 10.6 .649 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 6.0 .524
difference:+2+9.7+2.0+4.2+6.2+6.5+1.8+1.2-3.9-1.1+1.3+9.4+.239+2.6+8.4+4.5+3.0+.320
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

Rudy Gobert James Harden
Season 2020-212016-17
Team Utah JazzHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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%
Rudy Gobert 71 30.8 14.3 3.4 10.1 13.5 1.3 0.6 2.7 1.7 2.3 5.5 8.2 .675 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 5.3 .623
difference:+10+5.6+14.8+2.2+3.1+5.4+9.9+0.9+2.2-4.0-0.4+2.8+10.7+.235+3.2+9.2+.347+5.9+5.6+.224
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%
Rudy Gobert 11 34.2 14.7 3.9 8.4 12.3 0.8 0.5 2.1 1.5 4.2 5.5 7.4 .741 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 6.0 .636
difference:+2.8+13.8+3.3+3.6+6.8+7.7+1.4+1.6-3.9-0.3+2.7+12.4+.328+2.9+10.4+.278+5.4+4.5+.242
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

Rudy Gobert James Harden
Season 2021-222017-18
Team Utah JazzHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets 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%
Rudy Gobert 66 32.1 15.6 3.7 11.0 14.7 1.1 0.7 2.1 1.8 2.7 5.5 7.7 .713 0.0 0.1 .000 4.6 6.7 .690
difference:+6+3.3+14.8+3.1+6.2+9.3+7.7+1.1+1.4-2.6-0.4+3.5+12.4+.264+3.7+9.9+.367+4.1+3.4+.168
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%
Rudy Gobert 6 32.8 12.0 3.5 9.7 13.2 0.5 0.2 1.0 1.3 3.2 3.5 5.5 .636 0.0 0.0 - 5.0 7.3 .682
difference:+11+3.7+16.6+2.7+5.3+8.0+6.3+2.0+0.4-2.5-0.5+5.8+17.1+.226+3.1+10.2+1.9+0.5+.205
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

Rudy Gobert James Harden
Season 2022-232018-19
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves 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%
Rudy Gobert 70 30.7 13.4 3.3 8.3 11.6 1.2 0.8 1.4 1.7 3.0 5.1 7.8 .659 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 4.9 .644
difference:+8+6.1+22.7+2.5+2.5+5.0+6.3+1.2+0.7-3.3-0.1+5.7+16.7+.217+4.8+13.2+6.6+6.1+.235
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%
Rudy Gobert 5 35.4 15.0 3.6 8.6 12.2 2.0 0.4 1.0 1.6 4.8 5.8 9.2 .630 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.4 .630
difference:+6+3.1+16.6+2.8+2.6+5.4+4.6+1.8+0.1-3.0-1.1+4.1+14.8+.217+4.4+12.5+4.1+3.5+.207
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

Rudy Gobert James Harden
Season 2023-242019-20
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf FinalsRockets 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%
Rudy Gobert 76 34.1 14.0 3.8 9.2 12.9 1.3 0.7 2.1 1.6 3.1 5.3 8.1 .661 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 5.1 .638
difference:+8+2.4+20.3+2.8+3.7+6.3+6.2+1.1+1.2-2.9-0.2+4.6+14.2+.217+4.4+12.4+6.9+6.7+.227
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%
Rudy Gobert 15 34.1 12.1 2.7 7.1 9.8 1.6 0.9 1.0 1.5 3.7 4.3 6.9 .615 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 5.3 .671
difference:+3+3.2+17.5+1.7+2.5+4.2+6.1+0.6+0.2-2.3-0.1+4.8+12.1+.137+3.3+9.8+4.7+4.4+.174
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

Rudy Gobert James Harden
Season 2024-252020-21
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesHouston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf FinalsNets 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%
Rudy Gobert 72 33.2 12.0 3.7 7.2 10.9 1.8 0.8 1.4 1.2 2.5 4.7 7.1 .669 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.8 .674
difference:+28+3.4+12.6+2.9+0.1+3.0+9.0+0.4+0.6-2.8-0.2+3.1+9.6+.203+2.8+7.6+3.7+3.5+.187
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%
Rudy Gobert 15 27.4 7.9 3.1 5.5 8.6 0.7 0.5 1.2 0.9 2.5 3.1 5.3 .582 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 3.3 .520
difference:+6+8.4+12.3+2.3+0.1+2.3+7.9+1.2+0.5-2.0-0.1+2.6+6.7+.110+2.7+7.3+4.5+3.6+.383
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

Additional Years

* James Harden played 4 seasons more than Rudy Gobert in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 13 to 16, from 2022 to 2025—James Harden played in 4 Playoffs.

In those 4 extra years over Rudy Gobert, James Harden got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 1 Assists Leader
Achievement 2 All-Star Game