Shaquille O'Neal vs. Jerome Whitehead Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jerome Whitehead 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

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, 8 more than Jerome Whitehead, who played 11. Shaquille O'Neal had the first of his seasons in 1992-93, while Jerome Whitehead had his rookie season in 1978-79. 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
Shaquille O'Neal 19 17 1992-93 to 2010-11
Jerome Whitehead 11 1 1978-79 to 1988-89

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19

Rookie Season

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 1992-931978-79
Team Orlando MagicSan Diego Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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 .000 5.3 8.9 .592
Jerome Whitehead 31 4.9 1.2 0.5 1.1 1.6 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.9 0.5 1.1 .441 - - - 0.3 0.6 .444
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal ------- --- ----------
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 1993-941979-80
Team Orlando MagicSan Diego Clippers, Utah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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 .000 5.8 10.5 .554
Jerome Whitehead 50 11.1 2.5 1.1 2.2 3.3 0.5 0.2 0.3 0.7 1.9 1.2 2.3 .509 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.7 .286
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 1994-951980-81
Team Orlando MagicDallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Diego Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Jerome Whitehead 48 14.3 4.0 1.2 3.3 4.5 0.5 0.4 0.2 1.2 2.5 1.7 3.8 .461 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.2 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 1995-961981-82
Team Orlando MagicSan Diego Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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 .500 4.6 9.5 .487
Jerome Whitehead 72 30.8 13.8 3.2 6.0 9.2 1.4 0.7 0.6 2.0 4.0 5.6 10.1 .559 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.3 .763
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 1996-971982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Diego Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Jerome Whitehead 46 19.7 8.7 2.3 3.4 5.7 0.9 0.5 0.3 1.4 3.0 3.6 6.7 .536 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 1.9 .828
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 1997-981983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Diego Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Jerome Whitehead 70 13.2 5.4 1.3 2.2 3.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.8 2.3 2.1 4.2 .490 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.5 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 1998-991984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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 .000 5.5 10.2 .540
Jerome Whitehead 79 32.1 13.0 2.8 5.1 7.9 0.7 0.6 0.5 1.8 4.1 5.3 10.4 .510 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.0 .783
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 1999-001985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
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 NVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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 .000 5.5 10.4 .524
Jerome Whitehead 81 13.3 3.9 1.2 2.9 4.0 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.8 2.2 1.6 3.6 .429 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.2 .619
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 2000-011986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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 %
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 .000 6.7 13.1 .513
Jerome Whitehead 73 12.8 5.1 1.5 2.1 3.6 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.7 2.4 2.0 4.5 .450 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.5 .699
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Jerome Whitehead 10 10.0 2.2 0.5 0.9 1.4 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 2.2 0.9 2.7 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 1.0 .400

Season 10

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 2001-021987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal 67 36.1 27.2 3.5 7.2 10.7 3.0 0.6 2.0 2.6 3.0 10.6 18.3 .579 0.0 0.0 .000 5.9 10.7 .555
Jerome Whitehead 72 17.0 5.7 1.5 2.9 4.5 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.7 2.9 2.4 5.0 .483 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.1 .720
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal 19 40.8 28.5 3.5 9.1 12.6 2.8 0.5 2.5 3.3 3.3 10.7 20.2 .529 0.0 0.0 - 7.1 10.9 .649
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 2002-031988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal 67 37.8 27.5 3.9 7.2 11.1 3.1 0.6 2.4 2.9 3.4 10.4 18.1 .574 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 10.8 .622
Jerome Whitehead 57 10.9 3.1 0.9 1.5 2.4 0.3 0.4 0.1 0.4 2.0 1.3 3.2 .396 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.8 .660
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal 12 40.1 27.0 5.3 9.6 14.8 3.7 0.6 2.8 2.9 2.8 10.1 18.8 .535 0.0 0.0 - 6.8 11.0 .621
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 2003-04-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal 67 36.8 21.5 3.7 7.8 11.5 2.9 0.5 2.5 2.9 3.4 8.3 14.1 .584 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 10.1 .490
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal 22 41.9 21.5 4.1 9.1 13.2 2.5 0.3 2.8 2.5 4.1 8.3 14.0 .593 0.0 0.0 - 5.0 11.5 .429
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 2004-05-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal 73 34.1 22.9 3.5 6.9 10.4 2.7 0.5 2.3 2.8 3.6 9.0 15.0 .601 0.0 0.0 - 4.8 10.5 .461
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal 13 33.0 19.4 1.5 6.4 7.8 1.9 0.4 1.5 3.2 4.0 7.8 13.9 .558 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 8.2 .472
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 2005-06-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal 59 30.6 20.0 2.9 6.3 9.2 1.9 0.4 1.8 2.8 3.9 8.1 13.6 .600 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 8.0 .469
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal 23 33.0 18.4 3.3 6.5 9.8 1.7 0.5 1.5 3.7 3.7 7.7 12.7 .612 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 7.9 .374
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 2006-07-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal 40 28.4 17.3 2.4 5.0 7.4 2.0 0.2 1.4 2.4 3.5 7.1 12.0 .591 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 7.4 .422
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal 4 30.3 18.8 4.0 4.5 8.5 1.3 0.3 1.5 3.5 3.8 8.3 14.8 .559 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 6.8 .333
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 2007-08-
Team Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Shaquille O'Neal 61 28.7 13.6 2.7 6.4 9.1 1.5 0.5 1.4 3.0 3.7 5.4 9.1 .593 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 5.5 .503
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal 5 30.0 15.2 2.6 6.6 9.2 1.0 1.0 2.6 1.8 4.2 4.4 10.0 .440 0.0 0.0 - 6.4 12.8 .500
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 2008-09-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal 75 30.0 17.8 2.5 5.9 8.4 1.7 0.7 1.4 2.2 3.4 6.8 11.2 .609 0.0 0.0 .000 4.1 6.9 .595
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal ------- --- ----------
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 2009-10-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Shaquille O'Neal 53 23.4 12.0 1.8 4.9 6.7 1.5 0.3 1.2 2.0 3.2 4.9 8.7 .566 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 4.3 .496
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal 11 22.1 11.5 1.9 3.6 5.5 1.4 0.2 1.2 2.2 3.7 4.4 8.5 .516 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 4.3 .660
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------

Season 19

Shaquille O'Neal Jerome Whitehead
Season 2010-11-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Shaquille O'Neal 37 20.3 9.2 1.3 3.5 4.8 0.7 0.4 1.1 1.5 3.2 3.6 5.4 .667 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.5 .557
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal 2 6.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 2.0 0.5 1.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 1.0 .000
Jerome Whitehead ------- --- ----------