Steve Johnson vs. Yao Ming Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Yao Ming and Steve Johnson, 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.

Steve Johnson played 10 years in the NBA, 2 more than Yao Ming, who played 8. Steve Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1981-82, 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 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
Steve Johnson 10 4 1981-82 to 1990-91
Yao Ming 8 4 2002-03 to 2010-11

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10

Rookie Season

Steve Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1981-822002-03
Team Kansas City KingsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -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 %
Steve Johnson 78 22.3 12.8 1.9 3.9 5.9 1.2 0.5 1.1 2.5 4.8 5.1 8.3 .613 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 4.2 .642
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 .500 3.7 4.5 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Steve Johnson ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Steve Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1982-832003-04
Team Kansas City KingsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Steve Johnson 79 19.5 11.7 1.8 3.3 5.0 1.2 0.5 1.1 2.3 4.1 4.7 7.5 .624 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 4.1 .574
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 .000 4.4 5.4 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Steve Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

Season 3

Steve Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1983-842004-05
Team Kansas City Kings, Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Steve Johnson 81 18.4 9.5 2.0 3.2 5.2 1.0 0.5 0.9 2.0 3.8 3.7 6.7 .559 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.5 .575
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 %
Steve Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

Steve Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1984-852005-06
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Steve Johnson 74 22.4 10.0 2.0 3.9 5.9 0.9 0.5 0.8 2.0 3.6 3.8 7.0 .545 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.4 .718
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 .000 5.9 6.9 .853
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Steve Johnson 3 7.3 2.0 1.0 0.7 1.7 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.7 1.3 0.7 2.3 .286 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Steve Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1985-862006-07
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets 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 %
Steve Johnson 71 25.7 13.8 2.0 4.5 6.5 1.3 0.6 0.9 2.7 4.1 5.1 8.1 .632 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 5.3 .694
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 .000 7.4 8.6 .862
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Steve Johnson 3 17.7 5.0 0.7 1.3 2.0 0.7 0.0 0.3 2.0 4.7 1.7 5.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 3.7 .455
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

Season 6

Steve Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1986-872007-08
Team Portland Trail BlazersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West 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 %
Steve Johnson 79 29.7 16.8 2.5 4.7 7.2 2.0 0.6 1.0 3.5 4.3 6.3 11.3 .556 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.2 .698
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 .000 6.3 7.4 .850
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Steve Johnson 4 34.3 20.8 4.3 5.8 10.0 0.5 0.5 0.3 2.3 3.8 7.0 15.3 .459 0.0 0.0 - 6.8 10.8 .628
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Steve Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1987-882008-09
Team Portland Trail BlazersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Steve Johnson 43 24.4 15.4 2.0 3.7 5.6 1.3 0.4 0.7 2.8 3.5 6.0 11.3 .529 0.0 0.0 .000 3.4 5.8 .586
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 1.000 4.9 5.7 .866
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Steve Johnson ------- --- ----------
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.

Season 8

Steve Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1988-892010-11
Team Portland Trail BlazersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West 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 %
Steve Johnson 72 20.5 10.0 1.9 3.1 5.0 1.5 0.3 0.6 1.9 3.5 4.1 7.8 .524 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.4 .527
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 %
Steve Johnson 3 11.3 2.3 0.3 1.7 2.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 1.0 2.3 0.7 2.7 .250 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Steve Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1989-90-
Team Minnesota Timberwolves, Seattle Supersonics-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Steve Johnson 25 10.4 4.7 0.8 1.4 2.1 0.7 0.1 0.2 1.2 2.2 1.9 3.7 .522 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.4 .600
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Steve Johnson ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Steve Johnson Yao Ming
Season 1990-91-
Team Golden State Warriors-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Steve Johnson 24 9.5 3.8 0.8 1.6 2.4 0.7 0.2 0.2 1.0 2.1 1.4 2.6 .540 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.5 .595
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Steve Johnson ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------