Shaquille O'Neal vs. Fred VanVleet Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Fred VanVleet and Shaquille O'Neal, 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.

Shaquille O'Neal played 19 years in the NBA, 10 more than Fred VanVleet, who played 9. Shaquille O'Neal had the first of his seasons in 1992-93, while Fred VanVleet had his rookie season in 2016-17. 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
Shaquille O'Neal 19 17 1992-93 to 2010-11
Fred VanVleet 9 6 2016-17 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9

Rookie Season

Shaquille O'Neal Fred VanVleet
Season 1992-932016-17
Team Orlando MagicToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayRaptors Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Shaquille O'Neal 81 37.9 23.4 4.2 9.6 13.9 1.9 0.7 3.5 3.8 4.0 9.0 16.1 .562 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 8.9 .592
difference:+44+30.0+20.5+4.1+8.6+12.8+1.0+0.3+3.4-3.4-3.0+7.9+13.1+.211+0.3+0.8+4.8+8.3+.226
Fred VanVleet 37 7.9 2.9 0.1 1.0 1.1 0.9 0.4 0.1 0.4 1.0 1.1 3.0 .351 0.3 0.8 .379 0.5 0.6 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Shaquille O'Neal DNP------ --- ----------
Fred VanVleet 7 4.1 2.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.4 0.9 1.3 .667 0.3 0.7 .400 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Shaquille O'Neal Fred VanVleet
Season 1993-942017-18
Team Orlando MagicToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdRaptors Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Shaquille O'Neal 81 39.8 29.3 4.7 8.5 13.2 2.4 0.9 2.9 2.7 3.5 11.8 19.6 .599 0.0 0.0 - 5.8 10.5 .554
difference:+5+19.8+20.7+4.4+6.4+10.8+0.8+2.6-1.7-1.8+8.7+12.4+.173+1.4+3.4+4.7+9.2+.278
Fred VanVleet 76 20.0 8.6 0.3 2.1 2.4 3.2 0.9 0.3 1.0 1.7 3.1 7.2 .426 1.4 3.4 .414 1.1 1.3 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Shaquille O'Neal 3 42.0 20.7 5.7 7.7 13.3 2.3 0.7 3.0 3.3 4.3 7.7 15.0 .511 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 11.3 .471
difference:+3+23.0+13.9+5.7+6.0+11.6+0.1+0.7+3.0-2.6-3.0+5.5+8.5+.178+1.3+4.7+4.1+10.0+.404
Fred VanVleet 6 19.0 6.8 0.0 1.7 1.7 2.2 0.0 0.0 0.7 1.3 2.2 6.5 .333 1.3 4.7 .286 1.2 1.3 .875

Season 3

Shaquille O'Neal Fred VanVleet
Season 1994-952018-19
Team Orlando MagicToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Shaquille O'Neal 79 37.0 29.3 4.2 7.3 11.4 2.7 0.9 2.4 2.6 3.3 11.8 20.2 .583 0.0 0.1 .000 5.8 10.8 .533
difference:+15+9.5+18.3+3.9+5.0+8.8+2.1+2.1-1.3-1.6+8.0+10.8+.173+1.8+4.5+.378+4.3+9.0+.310
Fred VanVleet 64 27.5 11.0 0.3 2.3 2.6 4.8 0.9 0.3 1.3 1.7 3.8 9.4 .410 1.8 4.6 .378 1.5 1.8 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Shaquille O'Neal 21 38.3 25.7 4.5 7.4 11.9 3.3 0.9 1.9 3.5 4.0 9.3 16.1 .577 0.0 0.0 - 7.1 12.4 .571
difference:+3+13.6+17.7+4.2+6.0+10.2+0.7+0.1+1.6-2.6-2.0+6.6+9.2+.185+1.6+4.1+6.1+11.1+.203
Fred VanVleet 24 24.7 8.0 0.3 1.4 1.7 2.6 0.8 0.3 0.9 2.0 2.7 6.9 .392 1.6 4.1 .388 1.0 1.3 .774

Season 4

Shaquille O'Neal Fred VanVleet
Season 1995-962019-20
Team Orlando MagicToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf FinalsRaptors Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Shaquille O'Neal 54 36.0 26.6 3.4 7.7 11.0 2.9 0.6 2.1 2.9 3.6 11.0 19.1 .573 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 9.5 .487
difference:+0.3+9.0+3.1+4.3+7.2+3.7+1.3+1.8-0.7-1.2+5.1+4.8+.160+2.7+6.9+1.5+5.8+.361
Fred VanVleet 54 35.7 17.6 0.3 3.4 3.8 6.6 1.9 0.3 2.2 2.4 5.9 14.3 .413 2.7 6.9 .390 3.1 3.7 .848
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Shaquille O'Neal 12 38.3 25.8 4.1 5.9 10.0 4.6 0.8 1.3 3.7 3.3 10.9 18.0 .606 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 10.2 .393
difference:+1+0.8+6.2+3.6+2.0+5.6+2.3+0.8+0.7-1.7-0.8+4.0+0.7+.206+3.9+10.0+2.1+7.9+.447
Fred VanVleet 11 39.1 19.6 0.5 3.9 4.4 6.9 1.6 0.6 2.0 2.5 6.9 17.3 .400 3.9 10.0 .391 1.9 2.3 .840

Season 5

Shaquille O'Neal Fred VanVleet
Season 1996-972020-21
Team Los Angeles LakersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Shaquille O'Neal 51 38.1 26.2 3.8 8.7 12.5 3.1 0.9 2.9 2.9 3.5 10.8 19.4 .557 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 9.4 .484
difference:+1+1.6+6.6+3.2+5.1+8.3+3.2+0.8+2.2-1.1-1.2+4.3+2.7+.168+3.3+9.1+.366+1.2+5.7+.401
Fred VanVleet 52 36.5 19.6 0.6 3.6 4.2 6.3 1.7 0.7 1.8 2.3 6.5 16.7 .389 3.3 9.2 .366 3.3 3.7 .885
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Shaquille O'Neal 9 36.2 26.9 4.2 6.3 10.6 3.2 0.6 1.9 2.4 4.1 9.9 19.2 .514 0.0 0.0 - 7.1 11.7 .610
Fred VanVleet DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Shaquille O'Neal Fred VanVleet
Season 1997-982021-22
Team Los Angeles LakersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsRaptors Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Shaquille O'Neal 60 36.3 28.3 3.5 7.9 11.4 2.4 0.7 2.4 2.9 3.2 11.2 19.1 .584 0.0 0.0 - 6.0 11.4 .527
difference:+5+1.6+8.0+2.8+4.1+7.0+4.3+1.0+1.9-0.3-0.7+4.4+2.2+.181+3.7+9.9+3.0+8.0+.347
Fred VanVleet 65 37.9 20.3 0.7 3.8 4.4 6.7 1.7 0.5 2.6 2.5 6.8 16.9 .403 3.7 9.9 .377 3.0 3.4 .874
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Shaquille O'Neal 13 38.5 30.5 3.7 6.5 10.2 2.9 0.5 2.6 3.3 3.2 12.2 19.8 .612 0.0 0.0 - 6.2 12.2 .503
difference:+9+3.5+16.7+3.2+4.0+7.2+3.4+1.3+1.6-2.3-0.2+7.4+6.3+.260+3.0+9.0+4.9+10.7+.330
Fred VanVleet 4 35.0 13.8 0.5 2.5 3.0 6.3 1.8 1.0 1.0 3.0 4.8 13.5 .352 3.0 9.0 .333 1.3 1.5 .833

Season 7

Shaquille O'Neal Fred VanVleet
Season 1998-992022-23
Team Los Angeles LakersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Shaquille O'Neal 49 34.8 26.3 3.8 6.9 10.7 2.3 0.7 1.7 2.5 3.2 10.4 18.1 .576 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 10.2 .540
difference:+20+1.9+7.0+3.4+3.3+6.6+4.9+1.1+1.1-0.5-0.4+4.1+2.0+.183+3.0+8.8+1.8+6.1+.358
Fred VanVleet 69 36.7 19.3 0.4 3.6 4.1 7.2 1.8 0.6 2.0 2.8 6.3 16.1 .393 3.0 8.8 .342 3.7 4.1 .898
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Shaquille O'Neal 8 39.4 26.6 5.5 6.1 11.6 2.3 0.9 2.9 2.3 3.6 9.9 19.4 .510 0.0 0.0 - 6.9 14.8 .466
Fred VanVleet DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Shaquille O'Neal Fred VanVleet
Season 1999-002023-24
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Shaquille O'Neal 79 40.0 29.7 4.3 9.4 13.6 3.8 0.5 3.0 2.8 3.2 12.1 21.1 .574 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 10.4 .524
difference:+6+3.2+12.3+3.8+6.0+9.8+4.3+0.9+2.2-1.1-0.7+6.3+7.2+.158+3.1+8.0+2.8+7.3+.336
Fred VanVleet 73 36.8 17.4 0.5 3.4 3.8 8.1 1.4 0.8 1.7 2.5 5.8 13.9 .416 3.1 8.0 .387 2.7 3.1 .860
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Shaquille O'Neal 23 43.5 30.7 5.2 10.3 15.4 3.1 0.6 2.4 2.4 2.9 12.4 22.0 .566 0.0 0.0 - 5.9 12.9 .456
Fred VanVleet DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

Shaquille O'Neal Fred VanVleet
Season 2000-012024-25
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Shaquille O'Neal 74 39.5 28.7 3.9 8.8 12.7 3.7 0.6 2.8 2.9 3.5 11.0 19.2 .572 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 13.1 .513
difference:+14+4.3+14.6+3.4+5.6+9.0+1.9+1.0+2.4-1.4-1.2+6.2+6.5+.194+2.7+7.7+4.8+10.8+.297
Fred VanVleet 60 35.2 14.1 0.5 3.2 3.7 5.6 1.6 0.4 1.5 2.3 4.8 12.7 .378 2.7 7.7 .345 1.9 2.3 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Shaquille O'Neal 16 42.3 30.4 5.7 9.8 15.4 3.2 0.4 2.4 3.6 3.4 11.9 21.5 .555 0.0 0.0 - 6.6 12.5 .525
difference:+9+2.3+11.7+5.3+6.1+11.3+1.2+0.6+2.1-1.7-1.1+6.2+8.2+.125+3.9+8.9+3.2+9.1+.475
Fred VanVleet 7 40.0 18.7 0.4 3.7 4.1 4.4 1.0 0.3 1.9 2.3 5.7 13.3 .430 3.9 8.9 .435 3.4 3.4 1.000

Additional Years

* Shaquille O'Neal played 10 seasons more than Fred VanVleet in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 10 to 19, from 2002 to 2011—Shaquille O'Neal played in 9 Playoffs and won two NBA Championships.

In those 10 extra years over Fred VanVleet, Shaquille O'Neal got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Finals MVP
Achievement 5 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 1 All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement 7 All-Star Game
Achievement 2 All-Star Game MVP