Sam Cassell vs. Yao Ming Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Yao Ming and Sam Cassell, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.
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.
Sam Cassell played 15 years in the NBA, 7 more than Yao Ming, who played 8. Sam Cassell had the first of his seasons in 1993-94, while Yao Ming had his rookie season in 2002-03. 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 |
| Sam Cassell |
15 |
11 |
1993-94 to 2007-08 |
| Yao Ming |
8 |
4 |
2002-03 to 2010-11 |
Comparison Season by Season |
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Jump to season:
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Rookie Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Sam Cassell |
66 |
17.0 |
6.7 |
0.4 |
1.7 |
2.0 |
2.9 |
0.9 |
0.1 |
1.4 |
2.1 |
2.5 |
5.9 |
.418 |
0.4 |
1.3 |
.295 |
1.4 |
1.6 |
.841 |
| difference: | +16 | +12.0 | +6.8 | +2.0 | +4.1 | +6.2 | +1.2 | +0.5 | +1.7 | -0.7 | -0.7 | +2.4 | +3.9 | +.080 | +0.4 | +1.3 | | +2.3 | +2.9 | +.030 |
| Yao Ming |
82 |
29.0 |
13.5 |
2.4 |
5.8 |
8.2 |
1.7 |
0.4 |
1.8 |
2.1 |
2.8 |
4.9 |
9.8 |
.498 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
3.7 |
4.5 |
.811 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Sam Cassell |
22 |
21.7 |
9.4 |
0.9 |
1.8 |
2.7 |
4.2 |
1.0 |
0.2 |
2.1 |
2.8 |
2.9 |
7.3 |
.394 |
0.8 |
2.0 |
.378 |
2.9 |
3.4 |
.865 |
| Yao Ming |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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2nd Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Sam Cassell |
82 |
23.0 |
9.5 |
0.5 |
2.1 |
2.6 |
4.9 |
1.1 |
0.2 |
2.0 |
2.5 |
3.1 |
7.2 |
.427 |
0.8 |
2.3 |
.330 |
2.6 |
3.1 |
.843 |
| difference: | | +9.8 | +8.0 | +1.9 | +4.5 | +6.4 | +3.4 | +0.8 | +1.7 | -0.5 | -0.8 | +3.4 | +5.3 | +.095 | +0.8 | +2.3 | | +1.8 | +2.3 | +.034 |
| Yao Ming |
82 |
32.8 |
17.5 |
2.4 |
6.6 |
9.0 |
1.5 |
0.3 |
1.9 |
2.5 |
3.3 |
6.5 |
12.5 |
.522 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
4.4 |
5.4 |
.809 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Sam Cassell |
22 |
22.0 |
11.0 |
0.4 |
1.5 |
1.9 |
4.0 |
1.0 |
0.1 |
1.5 |
3.0 |
3.4 |
7.7 |
.438 |
1.1 |
2.7 |
.400 |
3.2 |
3.9 |
.835 |
| difference: | +17 | +15.6 | +4.0 | +1.8 | +3.7 | +5.5 | +2.2 | +0.6 | +1.3 | -1.1 | -1.0 | +2.8 | +5.9 | +.018 | +1.1 | +2.7 | | +0.6 | +0.5 | +.070 |
| Yao Ming |
5 |
37.6 |
15.0 |
2.2 |
5.2 |
7.4 |
1.8 |
0.4 |
1.4 |
2.6 |
4.0 |
6.2 |
13.6 |
.456 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
2.6 |
3.4 |
.765 |
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Sam Cassell |
61 |
27.6 |
14.5 |
0.8 |
2.2 |
3.1 |
4.6 |
0.9 |
0.1 |
2.6 |
2.7 |
4.7 |
10.8 |
.439 |
1.2 |
3.4 |
.348 |
3.9 |
4.7 |
.825 |
| difference: | +19 | +3.0 | +3.8 | +1.8 | +3.6 | +5.3 | +3.8 | +0.5 | +1.9 | -0.1 | -1.0 | +2.0 | +1.4 | +.113 | +1.2 | +3.4 | | +1.0 | +1.5 | +.042 |
| Yao Ming |
80 |
30.6 |
18.3 |
2.6 |
5.8 |
8.4 |
0.8 |
0.4 |
2.0 |
2.5 |
3.7 |
6.7 |
12.2 |
.552 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
4.9 |
6.2 |
.783 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Sam Cassell |
8 |
25.8 |
10.4 |
0.1 |
2.0 |
2.1 |
4.3 |
0.8 |
0.1 |
2.3 |
2.5 |
3.3 |
10.1 |
.321 |
1.0 |
3.6 |
.276 |
2.9 |
3.6 |
.793 |
| difference: | +1 | +6.1 | +11.0 | +3.2 | +2.4 | +5.6 | +3.6 | +0.5 | +2.6 | -0.4 | -1.9 | +4.6 | +1.9 | +.334 | +1.0 | +3.6 | | +2.8 | +4.3 | +.066 |
| Yao Ming |
7 |
31.9 |
21.4 |
3.3 |
4.4 |
7.7 |
0.7 |
0.3 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
4.4 |
7.9 |
12.0 |
.655 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
5.7 |
7.9 |
.727 |
|
Season 4 |
|
Sam Cassell |
Yao Ming |
| Season |
1996-97 | 2005-06 |
| Team |
Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets | Houston Rockets |
| Honors & Awards |
- |  All-NBA Third Team |
| - | All-Star Game |
| Playoffs |
Did Not Play | Did Not Play |
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4th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Sam Cassell |
61 |
28.1 |
15.9 |
0.8 |
2.2 |
3.0 |
5.0 |
1.3 |
0.3 |
2.8 |
3.3 |
5.5 |
12.8 |
.430 |
1.3 |
3.8 |
.351 |
3.5 |
4.1 |
.845 |
| difference: | +4 | +6.1 | +6.4 | +1.8 | +5.4 | +7.2 | +3.5 | +0.8 | +1.3 | -0.2 | -0.1 | +2.7 | +3.0 | +.089 | +1.3 | +3.8 | | +2.4 | +2.8 | +.008 |
| Yao Ming |
57 |
34.2 |
22.3 |
2.6 |
7.6 |
10.2 |
1.5 |
0.5 |
1.6 |
2.6 |
3.4 |
8.2 |
15.8 |
.519 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
5.9 |
6.9 |
.853 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
| * Neiher Sam Cassell nor Yao Ming played in the postseason in their season 4 |
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5th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Sam Cassell |
75 |
34.7 |
19.6 |
1.0 |
2.1 |
3.0 |
8.0 |
1.6 |
0.3 |
3.6 |
3.5 |
6.8 |
15.4 |
.441 |
0.2 |
1.1 |
.188 |
5.8 |
6.8 |
.860 |
| difference: | +27 | +0.9 | +5.4 | +1.1 | +5.2 | +6.4 | +6.0 | +1.2 | +1.7 | -0.1 | -0.2 | +2.0 | +1.7 | +.075 | +0.2 | +1.1 | | +1.6 | +1.8 | +.002 |
| Yao Ming |
48 |
33.8 |
25.0 |
2.1 |
7.3 |
9.4 |
2.0 |
0.4 |
2.0 |
3.5 |
3.3 |
8.8 |
17.1 |
.516 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
7.4 |
8.6 |
.862 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Sam Cassell |
3 |
9.0 |
2.0 |
0.3 |
0.7 |
1.0 |
1.7 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
0.7 |
2.3 |
1.0 |
3.0 |
.333 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
| difference: | +4 | +28.1 | +23.1 | +3.0 | +6.3 | +9.3 | +0.8 | +0.1 | +0.4 | -4.0 | -1.6 | +6.9 | +14.9 | +.107 | | | | +9.4 | +10.7 | |
| Yao Ming |
7 |
37.1 |
25.1 |
3.3 |
7.0 |
10.3 |
0.9 |
0.1 |
0.7 |
4.7 |
3.9 |
7.9 |
17.9 |
.440 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
9.4 |
10.7 |
.880 |
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Sam Cassell |
8 |
24.9 |
15.9 |
0.6 |
1.3 |
1.9 |
4.5 |
1.1 |
0.0 |
2.5 |
2.8 |
4.9 |
11.6 |
.419 |
0.3 |
1.3 |
.200 |
5.9 |
6.3 |
.940 |
| difference: | +47 | +12.3 | +6.1 | +2.5 | +6.4 | +8.9 | +2.2 | +0.6 | +2.0 | -0.8 | -0.3 | +3.0 | +3.9 | +.088 | +0.3 | +1.3 | | +0.4 | +1.1 | +.090 |
| Yao Ming |
55 |
37.2 |
22.0 |
3.1 |
7.7 |
10.8 |
2.3 |
0.5 |
2.0 |
3.3 |
3.1 |
7.9 |
15.5 |
.507 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
6.3 |
7.4 |
.850 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Sam Cassell |
3 |
34.3 |
15.3 |
0.0 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
8.7 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
2.3 |
4.7 |
5.3 |
10.7 |
.500 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
.000 |
4.7 |
5.3 |
.875 |
| Yao Ming |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Sam Cassell |
81 |
35.8 |
18.6 |
0.9 |
2.9 |
3.7 |
9.0 |
1.3 |
0.1 |
3.3 |
3.1 |
6.7 |
14.4 |
.466 |
0.3 |
1.1 |
.289 |
4.8 |
5.5 |
.876 |
| difference: | +4 | +2.2 | +1.1 | +1.7 | +4.3 | +6.2 | +7.2 | +0.9 | +1.8 | -0.3 | -0.2 | +0.7 | +1.0 | +.082 | +0.3 | +1.1 | | +0.1 | +0.2 | +.010 |
| Yao Ming |
77 |
33.6 |
19.7 |
2.6 |
7.2 |
9.9 |
1.8 |
0.4 |
1.9 |
3.0 |
3.3 |
7.4 |
13.4 |
.548 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
4.9 |
5.7 |
.866 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Sam Cassell |
5 |
35.6 |
15.8 |
0.0 |
3.4 |
3.4 |
9.0 |
0.8 |
0.0 |
1.8 |
3.8 |
6.0 |
14.4 |
.417 |
0.2 |
1.0 |
.200 |
3.6 |
4.2 |
.857 |
| difference: | +4 | +0.3 | +1.3 | +2.1 | +5.4 | +7.5 | +8.0 | +0.4 | +1.2 | -0.1 | -0.8 | | +3.4 | +.128 | +0.2 | +1.0 | | +1.5 | +1.5 | +.045 |
| Yao Ming |
9 |
35.9 |
17.1 |
2.1 |
8.8 |
10.9 |
1.0 |
0.4 |
1.2 |
1.9 |
3.0 |
6.0 |
11.0 |
.545 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
5.1 |
5.7 |
.902 |
Note: Yao Ming didn't play in 2009-10.
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Sam Cassell |
76 |
35.6 |
18.2 |
0.6 |
3.2 |
3.8 |
7.6 |
1.2 |
0.1 |
2.9 |
2.8 |
7.1 |
14.9 |
.474 |
0.4 |
1.3 |
.306 |
3.6 |
4.3 |
.858 |
| difference: | +71 | +17.4 | +8.0 | +0.8 | +0.8 | +1.6 | +6.8 | +1.2 | +1.5 | -1.5 | -0.2 | +3.5 | +7.5 | +.012 | +0.4 | +1.3 | | +0.6 | +1.1 | +.080 |
| Yao Ming |
5 |
18.2 |
10.2 |
1.4 |
4.0 |
5.4 |
0.8 |
0.0 |
1.6 |
1.4 |
2.6 |
3.6 |
7.4 |
.486 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
3.0 |
3.2 |
.938 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Sam Cassell |
18 |
37.9 |
17.4 |
0.7 |
3.9 |
4.6 |
6.7 |
1.1 |
0.2 |
2.9 |
4.2 |
6.1 |
15.4 |
.396 |
0.6 |
1.7 |
.333 |
4.7 |
5.4 |
.866 |
| Yao Ming |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Additional Years |
* Sam Cassell played 7 seasons more than Yao Ming in the NBA.
In that period—his seasons 9 to 15, from 2002 to 2008—Sam Cassell played in 4 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship. In those 7 extra years over Yao Ming, Sam Cassell got these achievements: |
| Honors & Awards | 1 All-NBA Second Team
1 All-Star Game
|
NBA Champion