Tim Hardaway vs. Dwight Howard Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dwight Howard and Tim Hardaway, 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.

Tim Hardaway played 13 years in the NBA, 5 less than Dwight Howard, who played 18. Tim Hardaway had the first of his seasons in 1989-90, while Dwight Howard had his rookie season in 2004-05. 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 13 9 1989-90 to 2002-03
Dwight Howard 18 12 2004-05 to 2021-22

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Tim Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 1989-902004-05
Team Golden State WarriorsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
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 79 33.7 14.7 0.7 3.2 3.9 8.7 2.1 0.2 3.3 2.9 5.9 12.5 .471 0.3 1.1 .274 2.7 3.5 .764
difference:+3+1.1+2.7+2.8+3.3+6.1+7.8+1.2+1.5-1.3-0.1+1.6+4.2+.049+0.3+1.1+0.7+1.5+.093
Dwight Howard 82 32.6 12.0 3.5 6.5 10.0 0.9 0.9 1.7 2.0 2.8 4.3 8.3 .520 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.0 .671
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Tim Hardaway nor Dwight Howard played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Tim Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 1990-912005-06
Team Golden State WarriorsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisDid not play
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 82 39.2 22.9 1.1 3.0 4.0 9.7 2.6 0.1 3.3 2.8 9.0 18.9 .476 1.2 3.1 .385 3.7 4.6 .803
difference:+2.4+7.1+2.4+6.0+8.5+8.2+1.8+1.3-0.7-0.6+3.3+8.2+.055+1.2+3.1+0.6+2.7+.208
Dwight Howard 82 36.8 15.8 3.5 9.0 12.5 1.5 0.8 1.4 2.6 3.4 5.7 10.7 .531 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 7.3 .595
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway 9 44.0 25.2 0.6 3.1 3.7 11.2 3.1 0.8 2.8 2.4 10.0 20.6 .486 1.9 5.3 .354 3.3 4.2 .789
Dwight Howard DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Tim Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 1991-922006-07
Team Golden State WarriorsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf 1st RdMagic Lost East 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%
Tim Hardaway 81 41.1 23.4 1.0 2.8 3.8 10.0 2.0 0.2 3.3 2.6 9.1 19.7 .461 1.6 4.6 .338 3.7 4.8 .766
difference:+1+4.2+5.8+2.5+6.0+8.5+8.1+1.1+1.7-0.6-0.4+2.7+9.1+.142+1.6+4.6+1.1+3.3+.180
Dwight Howard 82 36.9 17.6 3.5 8.8 12.3 1.9 0.9 1.9 3.9 3.0 6.4 10.6 .603 0.0 0.0 - 4.8 8.1 .586
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway 4 44.0 24.5 1.5 2.3 3.8 7.3 3.3 0.0 3.5 3.5 8.0 20.0 .400 2.5 7.3 .345 6.0 9.3 .649
difference:+2.2+9.2+2.5+8.5+11.0+5.5+2.8+1.0-0.8-0.2+2.2+9.5+.148+2.5+7.3+2.2+1.0+.194
Dwight Howard 4 41.8 15.3 4.0 10.8 14.8 1.8 0.5 1.0 4.3 3.3 5.8 10.5 .548 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 8.3 .455

Season 4

Tim Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 1992-932007-08
Team Golden State WarriorsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did not playMagic 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%
Tim Hardaway 66 39.5 21.5 0.9 3.1 4.0 10.6 1.8 0.2 3.3 2.3 7.9 17.7 .447 1.5 4.7 .330 4.1 5.6 .744
difference:+16+1.8+0.8+2.5+7.7+10.2+9.3+0.9+1.9-0.1-1.0+0.8+5.8+.152+1.5+4.7+2.4+5.3+.154
Dwight Howard 82 37.7 20.7 3.4 10.8 14.2 1.3 0.9 2.1 3.2 3.3 7.1 11.9 .599 0.0 0.0 - 6.5 10.9 .590
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
Dwight Howard 10 42.1 18.9 6.0 9.8 15.8 0.9 0.8 3.4 3.2 3.8 7.2 12.4 .581 0.0 0.0 - 4.5 8.3 .542

Note: Tim Hardaway didn't play in 1993-94.

Season 5

Tim Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 1994-952008-09
Team Golden State WarriorsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement Blocks Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did not playMagic 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%
Tim Hardaway 62 37.4 20.1 0.7 2.3 3.1 9.3 1.4 0.2 3.5 2.5 6.9 16.2 .427 2.7 7.2 .378 3.5 4.6 .760
difference:+17+1.7+0.5+3.6+7.3+10.7+7.9+0.4+2.7-0.5-0.9+0.2+3.8+.145+2.7+7.2+2.9+6.1+.166
Dwight Howard 79 35.7 20.6 4.3 9.6 13.8 1.4 1.0 2.9 3.0 3.4 7.1 12.4 .572 0.0 0.0 - 6.4 10.7 .594
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
Dwight Howard 23 39.3 20.3 4.3 11.0 15.3 1.9 0.9 2.6 2.9 4.4 7.0 11.7 .601 0.0 0.1 .000 6.3 9.9 .636

Season 6

Tim Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 1995-962009-10
Team Golden State Warriors, Miami HeatOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement Blocks Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdMagic Lost East 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 80 31.7 15.2 0.4 2.4 2.9 8.0 1.7 0.2 2.9 2.5 5.2 12.4 .422 1.7 4.7 .364 3.0 3.8 .790
difference:+2+3.0+3.1+3.1+7.3+10.3+6.2+0.8+2.6-0.4-1.0+1.0+2.2+.190+1.7+4.6+.364+2.9+6.2+.198
Dwight Howard 82 34.7 18.3 3.5 9.7 13.2 1.8 0.9 2.8 3.3 3.5 6.2 10.2 .612 0.0 0.1 .000 5.9 10.0 .592
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway 3 36.7 17.7 0.3 1.3 1.7 5.7 1.0 0.0 5.0 3.3 6.7 14.3 .465 2.7 7.3 .364 1.7 2.3 .714
difference:+11+1.2+0.4+2.4+7.1+9.4+4.3+0.2+3.5-1.4-0.9+0.6+4.3+.149+2.7+7.3+4.2+9.0+.195
Dwight Howard 14 35.5 18.1 2.7 8.4 11.1 1.4 0.8 3.5 3.6 4.2 6.1 10.0 .614 0.0 0.0 - 5.9 11.3 .519

Season 7

Tim Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 1996-972010-11
Team Miami HeatOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf FinalsMagic Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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 81 38.7 20.3 0.6 2.8 3.4 8.6 1.9 0.1 2.8 2.0 7.1 17.1 .415 2.5 7.3 .344 3.6 4.5 .799
difference:+3+1.1+2.6+3.4+7.3+10.7+7.2+0.5+2.3-0.8-1.3+0.8+3.7+.178+2.5+7.2+.344+3.4+7.2+.203
Dwight Howard 78 37.6 22.9 4.0 10.1 14.1 1.4 1.4 2.4 3.6 3.3 7.9 13.4 .593 0.0 0.1 .000 7.0 11.7 .596
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway 17 41.2 18.7 0.8 3.3 4.1 7.0 1.6 0.1 3.1 2.2 6.1 16.9 .359 2.5 7.9 .313 4.1 5.2 .795
difference:+11+1.8+8.3+3.7+7.7+11.4+6.5+0.9+1.7-2.4-2.0+2.4+3.4+.271+2.5+7.7+.313+5.9+9.5+.113
Dwight Howard 6 43.0 27.0 4.5 11.0 15.5 0.5 0.7 1.8 5.5 4.2 8.5 13.5 .630 0.0 0.2 .000 10.0 14.7 .682

Season 8

Tim Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 1997-982011-12
Team Miami HeatOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdDid 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%
Tim Hardaway 81 37.4 18.9 0.6 3.1 3.7 8.3 1.7 0.2 2.8 2.5 6.9 16.0 .431 1.9 5.5 .351 3.2 4.1 .781
difference:+27+0.9+1.7+3.1+7.7+10.8+6.4+0.2+1.9-0.4-0.4+0.8+2.6+.142+1.9+5.4+.351+2.0+6.5+.290
Dwight Howard 54 38.3 20.6 3.7 10.8 14.5 1.9 1.5 2.1 3.2 2.9 7.7 13.4 .573 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 10.6 .491
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway 5 44.4 26.0 0.6 2.8 3.4 6.6 1.2 0.0 3.6 1.8 8.4 18.8 .447 3.4 7.8 .436 5.8 7.4 .784
Dwight Howard DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

Tim Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 1998-992012-13
Team Miami HeatLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers 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%
Tim Hardaway 48 36.9 17.4 0.3 2.9 3.2 7.3 1.2 0.1 2.7 2.1 6.3 15.7 .400 2.3 6.5 .360 2.5 3.1 .812
difference:+28+1.1+0.3+3.0+6.2+9.2+5.9+0.1+2.3-0.3-1.7+0.1+5.0+.178+2.3+6.4+.193+2.2+6.4+.320
Dwight Howard 76 35.8 17.1 3.3 9.1 12.4 1.4 1.1 2.4 3.0 3.8 6.2 10.7 .578 0.0 0.1 .167 4.7 9.5 .492
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway 5 36.4 9.0 0.6 2.2 2.8 6.4 1.0 0.2 3.6 2.8 3.0 11.2 .268 1.0 5.0 .200 2.0 3.2 .625
difference:+1+4.9+8.0+1.9+6.1+8.0+5.4+0.5+1.8-0.4-1.5+3.5+0.7+.351+1.0+5.0+2.0+5.8+.181
Dwight Howard 4 31.5 17.0 2.5 8.3 10.8 1.0 0.5 2.0 4.0 4.3 6.5 10.5 .619 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 9.0 .444

Season 10

Tim Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 1999-002013-14
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf SemisRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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 52 32.2 13.4 0.5 2.4 2.9 7.4 0.9 0.1 2.3 2.2 4.7 12.3 .386 1.8 4.9 .367 2.1 2.6 .827
difference:+19+1.5+4.9+2.8+6.5+9.3+5.6+0.1+1.7-0.9-1.2+2.0+1.0+.205+1.8+4.8+.081+2.8+6.4+.280
Dwight Howard 71 33.7 18.3 3.3 8.9 12.2 1.8 0.8 1.8 3.2 3.4 6.7 11.3 .591 0.0 0.1 .286 4.9 9.0 .547
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway 7 26.0 7.7 0.1 2.0 2.1 4.7 0.7 0.0 1.6 1.4 2.9 9.7 .294 1.0 4.9 .206 1.0 1.4 .700
difference:+1+12.5+18.3+4.4+7.2+11.6+2.9+2.8-1.6-2.8+6.8+8.0+.253+1.0+4.9+5.7+9.3+.075
Dwight Howard 6 38.5 26.0 4.5 9.2 13.7 1.8 0.7 2.8 3.2 4.2 9.7 17.7 .547 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 10.7 .625

Season 11

Tim Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 2000-012014-15
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf Finals
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 77 33.9 14.9 0.3 2.3 2.6 6.3 1.2 0.1 2.5 2.0 5.3 13.5 .392 2.5 6.7 .366 1.9 2.4 .801
difference:+36+4.1+0.9+2.4+5.5+7.9+5.1+0.5+1.2-0.3-1.3+0.8+3.2+.201+2.5+6.7+1.6+4.2+.273
Dwight Howard 41 29.8 15.8 2.7 7.8 10.5 1.2 0.7 1.3 2.8 3.3 6.1 10.3 .593 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 6.6 .528
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway 2 18.0 2.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 4.5 0.0 0.0 4.0 2.0 1.0 4.5 .222 0.5 1.5 .333 0.0 0.0 -
difference:+15+15.8+13.9+3.1+9.9+13.0+3.3+1.4+2.3-1.8-1.5+5.2+6.2+.355+0.5+1.5+4.0+9.7
Dwight Howard 17 33.8 16.4 3.6 10.4 14.0 1.2 1.4 2.3 2.2 3.5 6.2 10.7 .577 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 9.7 .412

Season 12

Tim Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 2001-022015-16
Team Dallas Mavericks, Denver NuggetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did not playRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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 68 23.5 9.6 0.2 1.6 1.8 4.1 0.8 0.1 1.6 1.6 3.3 9.1 .365 1.8 5.2 .347 1.1 1.4 .794
difference:+3+8.6+4.1+3.2+6.8+10.0+2.7+0.2+1.5-0.7-1.5+1.9+0.6+.255+1.8+5.1+.347+2.2+5.3+.305
Dwight Howard 71 32.1 13.7 3.4 8.4 11.8 1.4 1.0 1.6 2.3 3.1 5.2 8.5 .620 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 6.7 .489
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
Dwight Howard 5 36.0 13.2 5.2 8.8 14.0 1.6 0.8 1.4 2.4 4.2 5.2 9.6 .542 0.0 0.2 .000 2.8 7.6 .368

Season 13

Tim Hardaway Dwight Howard
Season 2002-032016-17
Team Indiana PacersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdHawks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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 10 12.7 4.9 0.1 1.4 1.5 2.4 0.9 0.0 1.1 0.8 1.8 4.9 .367 1.1 3.1 .355 0.2 0.4 .500
difference:+64+17.0+8.6+3.9+7.3+11.2+1.0+1.2-1.2-1.9+3.4+3.4+.266+1.1+3.1+2.9+5.3+.033
Dwight Howard 74 29.7 13.5 4.0 8.7 12.7 1.4 0.9 1.2 2.3 2.7 5.2 8.3 .633 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 5.7 .533
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway 4 11.8 3.3 0.0 0.5 0.5 2.3 0.3 0.0 0.8 0.5 1.3 3.8 .333 0.8 2.5 .300 0.0 0.0 -
difference:+2+14.4+4.7+3.0+7.2+10.2+1.0+0.7+0.8-1.0-3.0+1.7+2.2+.167+0.8+2.5+2.0+3.2
Dwight Howard 6 26.2 8.0 3.0 7.7 10.7 1.3 1.0 0.8 1.8 3.5 3.0 6.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.2 .632

Additional Years

* Dwight Howard played 5 seasons more than Tim Hardaway in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 18, from 2018 to 2022—Dwight Howard played in two Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.