Tim Hardaway Jr. vs. Shaquille O'Neal Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Hardaway Jr., 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.

Tim Hardaway Jr. played 13 years in the NBA, 6 less than Shaquille O'Neal, who played 19. Tim Hardaway Jr. had the first of his seasons in 2013-14, while Shaquille O'Neal had his rookie season in 1992-93. 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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 13 6 2013-14 to 2025-26
Shaquille O'Neal 19 17 1992-93 to 2010-11

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Tim Hardaway Jr. Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2013-141992-93
Team New York KnicksOrlando Magic
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%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 81 23.1 10.2 0.2 1.3 1.5 0.8 0.5 0.1 0.6 1.8 3.6 8.5 .428 1.6 4.4 .363 1.3 1.6 .828
difference:+14.8+13.2+4.0+8.3+12.4+1.1+0.2+3.4-3.2-2.2+5.4+7.6+.134+1.6+4.4+4.0+7.3+.236
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
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Tim Hardaway Jr. nor Shaquille O'Neal played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Tim Hardaway Jr. Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2014-151993-94
Team New York KnicksOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMagic Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 70 24.0 11.5 0.2 2.1 2.2 1.8 0.3 0.2 1.2 1.7 4.0 10.2 .389 1.7 5.1 .342 1.8 2.2 .801
difference:+11+15.8+17.8+4.5+6.4+11.0+0.6+0.6+2.7-1.5-1.8+7.8+9.4+.210+1.7+5.1+4.0+8.3+.247
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. DNP------ --- ----------
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

Season 3

Tim Hardaway Jr. Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2015-161994-95
Team Atlanta HawksOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisMagic Lost NBA Finals
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 51 16.9 6.4 0.1 1.5 1.7 1.0 0.4 0.1 0.5 0.9 2.2 5.2 .430 0.9 2.8 .336 1.0 1.1 .893
difference:+28+20.1+22.9+4.1+5.8+9.7+1.7+0.5+2.3-2.1-2.4+9.6+15.0+.153+0.9+2.7+.336+4.8+9.7+.360
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 9 9.7 2.2 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.8 2.9 .269 0.2 1.6 .143 0.4 0.7 .667
difference:+12+28.6+23.5+4.5+6.4+10.9+2.5+0.9+1.8-3.2-3.8+8.5+13.2+.308+0.2+1.6+6.7+11.7+.096
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

Season 4

Tim Hardaway Jr. Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2016-171995-96
Team Atlanta HawksOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf 1st RdMagic Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 79 27.3 14.5 0.4 2.4 2.8 2.3 0.7 0.2 1.3 1.3 5.3 11.5 .455 1.9 5.3 .357 2.1 2.7 .766
difference:+25+8.7+12.1+3.0+5.3+8.2+0.6+0.1+1.9-1.6-2.3+5.7+7.6+.118+1.9+5.3+2.5+6.8+.279
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 6 33.3 12.8 0.5 2.2 2.7 1.2 0.5 0.0 1.7 2.2 4.5 13.7 .329 1.8 7.0 .262 2.0 3.2 .632
difference:+6+5.0+13.0+3.6+3.7+7.3+3.4+0.3+1.3-2.0-1.1+6.4+4.3+.277+1.8+7.0+2.0+7.0+.239
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

Season 5

Tim Hardaway Jr. Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2017-181996-97
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 57 33.1 17.5 0.6 3.4 3.9 2.7 1.1 0.2 1.6 2.2 6.3 15.0 .421 2.3 7.2 .317 2.6 3.1 .816
difference:+6+5.0+8.7+3.2+5.3+8.6+0.4+0.2+2.7-1.3-1.3+4.5+4.4+.136+2.3+7.1+.317+1.9+6.3+.332
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. DNP------ --- ----------
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

Season 6

Tim Hardaway Jr. Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2018-191997-98
Team New York Knicks, Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 65 31.6 18.1 0.5 2.9 3.4 2.4 0.8 0.1 1.6 2.2 6.0 15.3 .393 2.5 7.3 .340 3.6 4.2 .841
difference:+5+4.7+10.2+3.0+5.0+8.0+0.1+2.3-1.3-1.0+5.2+3.8+.191+2.5+7.3+2.4+7.2+.314
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. DNP------ --- ----------
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

Season 7

Tim Hardaway Jr. Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2019-201998-99
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 71 29.5 15.8 0.4 2.9 3.3 1.9 0.6 0.1 1.0 1.8 5.4 12.5 .434 2.9 7.2 .398 2.1 2.6 .819
difference:+22+5.3+10.5+3.4+4.0+7.4+0.4+0.1+1.6-1.5-1.4+5.0+5.6+.142+2.9+7.2+3.4+7.6+.279
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 6 34.0 17.8 0.5 3.0 3.5 1.8 0.3 0.0 0.5 2.7 6.7 15.8 .421 3.2 9.0 .352 1.3 1.8 .727
difference:+2+5.4+8.8+5.0+3.1+8.1+0.5+0.6+2.9-1.8-0.9+3.2+3.6+.089+3.2+9.0+5.6+13.0+.261
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

Season 8

Tim Hardaway Jr. Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2020-211999-00
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
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 Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 70 28.4 16.6 0.3 3.0 3.3 1.8 0.4 0.2 0.9 1.6 5.8 13.0 .447 3.0 7.6 .391 2.0 2.5 .816
difference:+9+11.6+13.1+4.0+6.4+10.3+2.0+0.1+2.8-1.9-1.6+6.3+8.1+.127+3.0+7.6+3.5+7.9+.292
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 7 37.4 17.0 0.7 2.6 3.3 1.4 0.4 0.0 0.9 2.4 6.0 14.4 .416 3.3 8.1 .404 1.7 2.3 .750
difference:+16+6.1+13.7+4.5+7.7+12.1+1.7+0.2+2.4-1.5-0.5+6.4+7.6+.150+3.3+8.1+4.2+10.6+.294
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

Season 9

Tim Hardaway Jr. Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2021-222000-01
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 42 29.6 14.2 0.3 3.4 3.7 2.2 0.9 0.1 0.8 1.8 5.0 12.6 .394 2.4 7.2 .336 1.9 2.5 .757
difference:+32+9.9+14.5+3.6+5.4+9.0+1.5+0.3+2.7-2.1-1.7+6.0+6.6+.178+2.4+7.2+4.8+10.6+.244
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. DNP------ --- ----------
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

Season 10

Tim Hardaway Jr. Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2022-232001-02
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 71 30.3 14.4 0.3 3.2 3.5 1.8 0.7 0.2 0.8 1.7 4.8 11.9 .401 3.0 7.7 .385 1.8 2.3 .770
difference:+4+5.8+12.8+3.2+4.0+7.2+1.2+0.1+1.8-1.8-1.3+5.8+6.4+.178+3.0+7.7+4.1+8.4+.215
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. DNP------ --- ----------
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

Season 11

Tim Hardaway Jr. Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2023-242002-03
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost NBA FinalsLakers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 79 26.8 14.4 0.3 2.9 3.2 1.8 0.5 0.1 0.9 1.3 5.0 12.4 .402 2.7 7.6 .353 1.8 2.1 .852
difference:+12+11.0+13.1+3.6+4.3+7.9+1.3+0.1+2.3-2.0-2.1+5.4+5.7+.172+2.7+7.6+4.9+8.7+.230
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 14 12.7 4.4 0.1 1.6 1.8 0.4 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.7 1.6 4.1 .379 0.9 2.6 .351 0.3 0.6 .500
difference:+2+27.4+22.6+5.2+8.0+13.0+3.3+0.2+2.7-2.8-2.1+8.5+14.7+.156+0.9+2.6+6.5+10.4+.121
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

Season 12

Tim Hardaway Jr. Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2024-252003-04
Team Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 77 28.0 11.0 0.2 2.1 2.4 1.6 0.5 0.1 0.6 1.2 3.6 8.8 .406 2.2 5.9 .368 1.6 1.9 .855
difference:+10+8.8+10.5+3.5+5.7+9.1+1.3+2.4-2.3-2.2+4.7+5.3+.178+2.2+5.9+3.3+8.2+.365
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 6 31.3 12.0 0.3 2.5 2.8 1.2 0.3 0.0 1.5 1.7 4.0 11.8 .338 2.7 8.7 .308 1.3 1.7 .800
difference:+16+10.6+9.5+3.8+6.6+10.4+1.3+2.8-1.0-2.4+4.3+2.2+.255+2.7+8.7+3.7+9.8+.371
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

Season 13

Tim Hardaway Jr. Shaquille O'Neal
Season 2025-262004-05
Team Denver NuggetsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHeat Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. 13 22.8 11.4 0.3 1.6 1.9 1.5 0.6 0.1 0.2 1.3 3.8 8.2 .462 2.5 5.4 .471 1.3 1.4 .944
difference:+60+11.3+11.5+3.2+5.3+8.5+1.2+0.1+2.2-2.6-2.3+5.2+6.8+.139+2.5+5.4+3.5+9.1+.483
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway Jr. DNP------ --- ----------
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

Additional Years

* Shaquille O'Neal played 6 seasons more than Tim Hardaway Jr. 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 Tim Hardaway Jr., 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