Shaquille O'Neal vs. Klay Thompson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Klay Thompson 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, 6 more than Klay Thompson, who played 13. Shaquille O'Neal had the first of his seasons in 1992-93, while Klay Thompson had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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
Klay Thompson 13 9 2011-12 to 2025-26

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season

Shaquille O'Neal Klay Thompson
Season 1992-932011-12
Team Orlando MagicGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did not playDid not play
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:+15+13.5+10.9+3.8+7.5+11.5+0.1+3.2-2.2-1.7+4.2+5.2+.119+1.7+4.1+4.1+7.5+.276
Klay Thompson 66 24.4 12.5 0.4 2.1 2.4 2.0 0.7 0.3 1.6 2.3 4.8 10.9 .443 1.7 4.1 .414 1.2 1.4 .868
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Shaquille O'Neal nor Klay Thompson played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Shaquille O'Neal Klay Thompson
Season 1993-942012-13
Team Orlando MagicGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost West 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:+1+4.0+12.7+4.3+5.2+9.5+0.2+0.1+2.4-0.8-0.6+5.6+4.9+.177+2.6+6.4+4.2+8.6+.287
Klay Thompson 82 35.8 16.6 0.4 3.3 3.7 2.2 1.0 0.5 1.9 2.9 6.2 14.7 .422 2.6 6.4 .401 1.6 1.9 .841
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:+9+0.7+5.5+4.9+3.9+8.7+0.5+0.3+2.4-1.3-0.6+1.4+0.5+.074+2.1+4.9+4.9+10.8+.362
Klay Thompson 12 41.3 15.2 0.8 3.8 4.6 1.8 1.0 0.6 2.0 3.7 6.3 14.5 .437 2.1 4.9 .424 0.4 0.5 .833

Season 3

Shaquille O'Neal Klay Thompson
Season 1994-952013-14
Team Orlando MagicGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost NBA FinalsWarriors Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+2+1.6+10.9+3.7+4.7+8.3+0.5+1.9-0.9-0.4+4.9+4.7+.139+2.8+6.5+.417+4.0+8.5+.262
Klay Thompson 81 35.4 18.4 0.5 2.6 3.1 2.2 0.9 0.5 1.7 2.9 6.9 15.5 .444 2.8 6.6 .417 1.8 2.3 .795
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:+14+1.6+9.3+3.9+4.5+8.5+0.3+0.1+1.2-1.4-0.6+3.6+2.1+.169+2.3+6.3+4.4+9.0+.221
Klay Thompson 7 36.7 16.4 0.6 2.9 3.4 3.6 1.0 0.7 2.1 3.4 5.7 14.0 .408 2.3 6.3 .364 2.7 3.4 .792

Season 4

Shaquille O'Neal Klay Thompson
Season 1995-962014-15
Team Orlando MagicGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third TeamAchievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+23+4.1+4.9+3.0+4.8+7.8+0.5+1.3-1.0-2.0+3.2+2.2+.110+3.1+7.1+1.7+6.2+.392
Klay Thompson 77 31.9 21.7 0.4 2.9 3.2 2.9 1.1 0.8 1.9 1.6 7.8 16.9 .463 3.1 7.1 .439 2.9 3.3 .879
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:+9+2.1+7.2+3.7+2.5+6.1+2.0+0.4-1.7-0.3+3.8+2.1+.160+2.7+7.0+2.3+8.1+.407
Klay Thompson 21 36.2 18.6 0.4 3.4 3.9 2.6 0.8 0.9 2.0 3.0 7.1 15.9 .446 2.7 7.0 .390 1.7 2.1 .800

Season 5

Shaquille O'Neal Klay Thompson
Season 1996-972015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third TeamAchievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisWarriors Lost NBA Finals
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:+29+4.8+4.1+3.4+5.3+8.7+1.0+0.1+2.3-1.2-1.6+2.7+2.1+.087+3.5+8.0+.425+2.1+6.6+.389
Klay Thompson 80 33.3 22.1 0.4 3.4 3.8 2.1 0.8 0.6 1.7 1.9 8.1 17.3 .470 3.5 8.1 .425 2.4 2.8 .873
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
difference:+15+0.8+2.6+3.6+3.3+6.9+0.9+0.5+1.5-0.4-1.9+1.5+0.3+.070+4.1+9.6+3.7+7.7+.244
Klay Thompson 24 35.4 24.3 0.6 3.0 3.7 2.3 1.1 0.4 2.0 2.2 8.4 18.9 .444 4.1 9.6 .424 3.4 4.0 .854

Season 6

Shaquille O'Neal Klay Thompson
Season 1997-982016-17
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+18+2.3+6.0+2.9+4.9+7.7+0.3+0.1+1.9-1.3-1.4+2.9+1.5+.116+3.4+8.3+3.6+8.6+.326
Klay Thompson 78 34.0 22.3 0.6 3.0 3.7 2.1 0.8 0.5 1.6 1.8 8.3 17.6 .468 3.4 8.3 .414 2.4 2.8 .853
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:+4+3.4+15.5+3.1+3.3+6.3+0.8+0.3+2.3-1.9-0.6+6.7+5.9+.215+2.4+6.2+4.7+10.3+.285
Klay Thompson 17 35.1 15.0 0.6 3.2 3.9 2.1 0.8 0.3 1.4 2.6 5.5 13.9 .397 2.4 6.2 .387 1.5 1.9 .788

Season 7

Shaquille O'Neal Klay Thompson
Season 1998-992017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+24+0.5+6.3+3.4+3.5+6.9+0.2+0.1+1.2-0.7-1.6+2.5+1.9+.088+3.1+7.1+4.4+8.9+.297
Klay Thompson 73 34.3 20.0 0.4 3.4 3.8 2.5 0.8 0.5 1.8 1.6 7.9 16.2 .488 3.1 7.1 .440 1.1 1.3 .837
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
difference:+13+1.6+7.0+5.0+2.5+7.5+0.5+0.1+2.6-0.8-1.3+2.3+3.1+.045+3.2+7.5+5.6+13.3+.405
Klay Thompson 21 37.8 19.6 0.5 3.6 4.1 1.8 0.8 0.3 1.5 2.3 7.6 16.3 .465 3.2 7.5 .427 1.3 1.5 .871

Season 8

Shaquille O'Neal Klay Thompson
Season 1999-002018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors Lost NBA Finals
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:+1+6.0+8.2+3.8+6.0+9.8+1.4+0.6+2.4-1.3-1.2+3.7+3.1+.107+3.1+7.7+3.8+8.4+.292
Klay Thompson 78 34.0 21.5 0.5 3.4 3.8 2.4 1.1 0.6 1.5 2.0 8.4 18.0 .467 3.1 7.7 .402 1.7 2.0 .816
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
difference:+2+4.5+10.0+4.6+6.8+11.3+1.0+0.7+1.7-0.6-0.1+4.6+4.9+.110+3.3+7.5+4.1+10.9+.446
Klay Thompson 21 39.0 20.7 0.6 3.5 4.1 2.1 1.3 0.7 1.8 2.8 7.8 17.1 .456 3.3 7.5 .443 1.8 2.0 .902

Note: Klay Thompson didn't play in 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Season 9

Shaquille O'Neal Klay Thompson
Season 2000-012021-22
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 ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+42+10.1+8.3+3.4+5.4+8.8+0.9+0.1+2.3-1.6-1.8+3.3+1.3+.143+3.6+9.3+5.3+11.5+.389
Klay Thompson 32 29.4 20.4 0.5 3.4 3.9 2.8 0.5 0.5 1.3 1.7 7.7 17.9 .429 3.6 9.3 .385 1.4 1.6 .902
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:+6+6.3+11.4+5.4+6.2+11.5+0.9+0.7+1.7-2.3-1.3+4.7+4.8+.126+3.5+9.1+5.4+11.1+.342
Klay Thompson 22 36.0 19.0 0.3 3.6 3.9 2.3 1.1 0.7 1.3 2.1 7.2 16.7 .429 3.5 9.1 .385 1.2 1.4 .867

Season 10

Shaquille O'Neal Klay Thompson
Season 2001-022022-23
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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%
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 - 5.9 10.7 .555
difference:+2+3.1+5.3+2.9+3.6+6.6+0.6+0.1+1.6-0.8-1.1+2.7+0.2+.143+4.4+10.6+4.2+8.8+.324
Klay Thompson 69 33.0 21.9 0.6 3.6 4.1 2.4 0.7 0.4 1.8 1.9 7.9 18.1 .436 4.4 10.6 .412 1.7 1.9 .879
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+6+4.8+10.0+3.4+5.0+8.4+0.6+2.2-1.3-1.1+4.2+3.4+.141+3.8+10.5+5.5+9.1+.226
Klay Thompson 13 36.0 18.5 0.1 4.1 4.2 2.2 0.5 0.3 2.0 2.2 6.5 16.8 .388 3.8 10.5 .368 1.6 1.8 .875

Season 11

Shaquille O'Neal Klay Thompson
Season 2002-032023-24
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
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 >>
11th 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 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
difference:+10+8.1+9.6+3.4+4.4+7.8+0.8+1.9-1.4-1.8+4.0+3.4+.142+3.5+9.0+5.1+9.0+.305
Klay Thompson 77 29.7 17.9 0.5 2.8 3.3 2.3 0.6 0.5 1.5 1.6 6.4 14.7 .432 3.5 9.0 .387 1.6 1.8 .927
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Klay Thompson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 12

Shaquille O'Neal Klay Thompson
Season 2003-042024-25
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid not play
more >>
12th 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 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
difference:+5+9.5+7.5+3.1+5.0+8.1+0.9+0.2+2.1-1.7-2.3+3.3+1.9+.172+3.0+7.7+4.0+9.1+.415
Klay Thompson 72 27.3 14.0 0.6 2.8 3.4 2.0 0.7 0.4 1.2 1.1 5.0 12.2 .412 3.0 7.7 .391 0.9 1.0 .905
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Klay Thompson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 13

Shaquille O'Neal Klay Thompson
Season 2004-052025-26
Team Miami HeatDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf FinalsDid not play
(season in progress)
more >>
13th 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 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
difference:+42+12.1+11.7+3.2+4.6+7.9+1.4+0.1+2.0-2.0-2.6+5.0+4.3+.229+2.7+7.7+4.3+9.7+.206
Klay Thompson 31 22.0 11.2 0.3 2.3 2.5 1.3 0.4 0.3 0.8 1.0 4.0 10.7 .372 2.7 7.7 .354 0.5 0.8 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Klay Thompson DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Shaquille O'Neal played 6 seasons more than Klay Thompson in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 19, from 2006 to 2011—Shaquille O'Neal played in 5 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.

In those 6 extra years over Klay Thompson, Shaquille O'Neal got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 3 All-Star Game
Achievement 1 All-Star Game MVP