Walter Davis vs. Hakeem Olajuwon Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Hakeem Olajuwon and Walter Davis, 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 / Games against each other

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.

Walter Davis played 15 years in the NBA, 3 less than Hakeem Olajuwon, who played 18. Walter Davis had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Hakeem Olajuwon had his rookie season in 1984-85. 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
Walter Davis 15 10 1977-78 to 1991-92
Hakeem Olajuwon 18 15 1984-85 to 2001-02

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

Rookie Season

Walter Davis Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1977-781984-85
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Walter Davis 81 32.0 24.2 2.0 4.0 6.0 3.4 1.4 0.2 3.5 3.0 9.7 18.4 .526 - - - 4.8 5.8 .830
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 35.5 20.6 5.4 6.5 11.9 1.4 1.2 2.7 2.9 4.2 8.3 15.3 .538 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 6.7 .613
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 2 33.0 25.0 2.0 6.5 8.5 4.0 1.5 0.0 3.0 4.0 9.5 20.0 .475 - - - 6.0 8.0 .750
Hakeem Olajuwon 5 37.4 21.2 6.6 6.4 13.0 1.4 1.4 2.6 2.2 4.4 8.4 17.6 .477 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 9.2 .478

Season 2

Walter Davis Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1978-791985-86
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsRockets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 79 30.8 23.6 1.4 3.3 4.7 4.3 1.9 0.3 3.7 3.2 9.7 17.2 .561 - - - 4.3 5.2 .831
Hakeem Olajuwon 68 36.3 23.5 4.9 6.6 11.5 2.0 2.0 3.4 2.9 4.0 9.2 17.5 .526 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 7.9 .645
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 15 32.7 22.1 1.6 3.0 4.6 5.3 1.7 0.3 4.4 2.7 8.5 16.3 .520 - - - 5.2 6.4 .813
Hakeem Olajuwon 20 38.3 26.9 5.1 6.8 11.8 2.0 2.0 3.5 2.2 4.4 10.3 19.4 .530 0.0 0.1 .000 6.4 10.0 .638

Season 3

Walter Davis Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1979-801986-87
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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 %
Walter Davis 75 30.8 21.5 1.0 2.6 3.6 4.5 1.5 0.3 3.2 2.7 8.8 15.5 .563 0.0 0.1 .000 4.0 4.9 .819
Hakeem Olajuwon 75 36.8 23.4 4.2 7.2 11.4 2.9 1.9 3.4 3.0 3.9 9.0 17.8 .508 0.0 0.1 .200 5.3 7.6 .702
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 8 30.6 20.8 1.1 1.8 2.9 4.4 0.5 0.1 2.5 2.5 8.6 17.1 .504 0.0 0.4 .000 3.5 4.8 .737
Hakeem Olajuwon 10 38.9 29.2 3.9 7.4 11.3 2.5 1.3 4.3 3.6 4.4 11.0 17.9 .615 0.0 0.1 .000 7.2 9.7 .742

Season 4

Walter Davis Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1980-811987-88
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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 %
Walter Davis 78 28.0 18.0 0.8 1.8 2.6 3.9 1.2 0.2 2.8 2.5 7.6 14.1 .539 0.1 0.2 .412 2.7 3.2 .836
Hakeem Olajuwon 79 35.8 22.8 3.8 8.3 12.1 2.1 2.1 2.7 3.1 4.1 9.0 17.5 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 4.8 6.9 .695
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 7 28.4 16.0 1.0 1.7 2.7 3.1 1.0 0.1 2.4 2.4 7.3 15.1 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.4 .588
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.5 37.5 5.0 11.8 16.8 1.8 2.3 2.8 2.3 3.5 14.0 24.5 .571 0.0 0.3 .000 9.5 10.8 .884

Season 5

Walter Davis Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1981-821988-89
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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 %
Walter Davis 55 21.5 14.4 0.4 1.5 1.9 2.9 0.8 0.1 2.0 1.9 6.4 12.2 .523 0.1 0.3 .188 1.7 2.0 .820
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 36.9 24.8 4.1 9.4 13.5 1.8 2.6 3.4 3.4 4.0 9.6 19.0 .508 0.0 0.1 .000 5.5 8.0 .696
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 7 24.7 18.1 0.7 2.4 3.1 4.3 0.7 0.1 1.7 2.7 7.4 16.6 .448 0.1 0.4 .333 3.1 3.4 .917
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.5 25.3 3.5 9.5 13.0 3.0 2.5 2.8 2.5 4.3 10.5 20.3 .519 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.3 .680

Season 6

Walter Davis Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1982-831989-90
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement Blocks Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Walter Davis 80 31.1 19.0 0.8 1.7 2.5 5.0 1.5 0.2 2.4 2.3 8.3 16.1 .516 0.1 0.3 .304 2.3 2.8 .818
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 38.1 24.3 3.6 10.4 14.0 2.9 2.1 4.6 3.9 3.8 9.8 19.6 .501 0.0 0.1 .167 4.7 6.5 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 3 37.7 26.0 1.7 3.3 5.0 4.3 2.0 1.7 1.7 2.0 10.0 23.0 .435 0.3 0.7 .500 5.7 7.0 .810
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.3 18.5 3.8 7.8 11.5 2.0 2.5 5.8 2.8 4.8 7.8 17.5 .443 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.3 .706

Season 7

Walter Davis Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1983-841990-91
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Blocks Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsRockets 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 %
Walter Davis 78 32.6 20.0 0.5 2.1 2.6 5.5 1.4 0.2 2.7 2.6 8.4 16.3 .512 0.3 1.1 .230 3.0 3.5 .863
Hakeem Olajuwon 56 36.8 21.2 3.9 9.8 13.8 2.3 2.2 3.9 3.1 3.9 8.7 17.1 .508 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 4.9 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 17 36.6 24.9 0.9 1.8 2.7 6.4 1.7 0.2 2.5 3.2 10.3 19.2 .535 0.2 0.6 .273 4.1 4.6 .897
Hakeem Olajuwon 3 43.0 22.0 4.0 10.7 14.7 2.0 1.3 2.7 2.7 3.7 8.7 15.0 .578 0.0 0.3 .000 4.7 5.7 .824

Season 8

Walter Davis Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1984-851991-92
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -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 %
Walter Davis 23 24.8 15.0 0.3 1.3 1.5 4.3 0.8 0.0 2.2 1.8 6.0 13.4 .450 0.1 0.4 .300 2.8 3.2 .877
Hakeem Olajuwon 70 37.7 21.6 3.5 8.6 12.1 2.2 1.8 4.3 2.7 3.8 8.4 16.8 .502 0.0 0.0 .000 4.7 6.1 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Walter Davis Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1985-861992-93
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Blocks Leader
-Achievement 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 %
Walter Davis 70 32.0 21.8 0.8 2.1 2.9 5.2 1.4 0.0 3.1 2.2 8.9 18.4 .485 0.3 1.1 .237 3.7 4.4 .843
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 39.5 26.1 3.5 9.6 13.0 3.5 1.8 4.2 3.2 3.7 10.3 19.5 .529 0.0 0.1 .000 5.4 7.0 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 12 43.2 25.7 4.3 9.7 14.0 4.8 1.8 4.9 3.8 3.1 10.3 19.8 .517 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 6.3 .827

Season 10

Walter Davis Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1986-871993-94
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 79 33.5 23.6 1.1 1.9 3.1 4.6 1.2 0.1 2.9 2.3 9.9 19.2 .514 0.3 1.0 .259 3.6 4.2 .862
Hakeem Olajuwon 80 41.0 27.3 2.9 9.1 11.9 3.6 1.6 3.7 3.4 3.6 11.2 21.2 .528 0.1 0.2 .421 4.9 6.8 .716
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 23 43.0 28.9 2.4 8.7 11.0 4.3 1.7 4.0 3.6 3.6 11.6 22.3 .519 0.1 0.2 .500 5.6 7.0 .795

Season 11

Walter Davis Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1987-881994-95
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 68 28.7 17.9 0.5 1.9 2.3 4.1 1.3 0.0 1.9 1.9 7.2 15.2 .473 0.5 1.4 .375 3.0 3.4 .887
Hakeem Olajuwon 72 39.6 27.8 2.4 8.4 10.8 3.5 1.8 3.4 3.3 3.5 11.1 21.5 .517 0.0 0.2 .188 5.6 7.5 .756
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 22 42.2 33.0 2.0 8.3 10.3 4.5 1.2 2.8 3.1 4.3 13.9 26.2 .531 0.1 0.2 .500 5.0 7.4 .681

Season 12

Walter Davis Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1988-891995-96
Team Denver NuggetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets 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 %
Walter Davis 81 22.9 15.6 0.5 1.4 1.9 2.3 0.9 0.1 1.6 2.3 6.6 13.3 .498 0.2 0.9 .290 2.2 2.5 .879
Hakeem Olajuwon 72 38.8 26.9 2.4 8.4 10.9 3.6 1.6 2.9 3.4 3.4 10.7 20.8 .514 0.0 0.2 .214 5.5 7.6 .724
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 3 31.3 25.7 0.7 1.0 1.7 1.3 1.0 0.0 2.7 3.7 10.3 20.0 .517 0.0 1.3 .000 5.0 5.0 1.000
Hakeem Olajuwon 8 41.1 22.4 2.1 7.0 9.1 3.9 1.9 2.1 3.6 3.5 9.4 18.4 .510 0.0 0.1 .000 3.6 5.0 .725

Season 13

Walter Davis Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1989-901996-97
Team Denver NuggetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 69 23.7 17.5 0.7 1.9 2.6 2.2 0.9 0.1 1.5 2.3 7.2 15.0 .481 0.1 0.7 .130 3.0 3.3 .912
Hakeem Olajuwon 78 36.6 23.2 2.2 7.0 9.2 3.0 1.5 2.2 3.6 3.2 9.3 18.3 .510 0.1 0.2 .313 4.5 5.7 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 3 23.3 14.0 1.3 1.7 3.0 2.0 0.3 0.0 1.7 1.3 6.0 15.0 .400 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 2.0 1.000
Hakeem Olajuwon 16 39.4 23.1 2.9 8.0 10.9 3.4 2.1 2.6 2.9 3.8 9.2 15.6 .590 0.0 0.2 .000 4.8 6.5 .731

Season 14

Walter Davis Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1990-911997-98
Team Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail BlazersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf FinalsRockets 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 %
Walter Davis 71 20.9 13.0 1.0 1.5 2.5 1.8 1.1 0.0 1.2 2.1 5.7 12.1 .468 0.2 0.5 .306 1.5 1.6 .915
Hakeem Olajuwon 47 34.7 16.4 2.5 7.3 9.8 3.0 1.8 2.0 2.7 3.2 6.5 13.5 .483 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.5 .755
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 13 8.5 3.3 0.5 0.6 1.2 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.5 0.4 1.5 3.7 .396 0.0 0.1 .000 0.4 0.5 .833
Hakeem Olajuwon 5 38.0 20.4 1.8 9.0 10.8 2.4 1.0 3.2 2.6 3.6 7.8 19.8 .394 0.0 0.2 .000 4.8 6.6 .727

Season 15

Walter Davis Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1991-921998-99
Team Denver NuggetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
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 %
Walter Davis 46 16.1 9.9 0.4 1.1 1.5 1.5 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.5 4.0 8.8 .459 0.1 0.3 .313 1.8 2.0 .872
Hakeem Olajuwon 50 35.7 18.9 2.1 7.4 9.6 1.8 1.6 2.5 2.8 3.2 7.5 14.5 .514 0.1 0.3 .308 3.9 5.4 .717
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 31.0 13.3 1.3 6.0 7.3 0.5 1.3 0.8 1.3 4.5 5.8 13.5 .426 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.0 .875

Season 16

Walter Davis Hakeem Olajuwon
Season -1999-00
Team -Houston Rockets
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 %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 44 23.8 10.3 1.5 4.8 6.2 1.4 0.9 1.6 1.7 2.0 4.4 9.6 .458 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.5 .616
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Walter Davis Hakeem Olajuwon
Season -2000-01
Team -Houston Rockets
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 %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 58 26.6 11.9 2.1 5.3 7.4 1.2 1.2 1.5 1.4 2.4 4.9 9.8 .498 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.4 .621
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Walter Davis Hakeem Olajuwon
Season -2001-02
Team -Toronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Raptors 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 %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 61 22.6 7.1 1.6 4.4 6.0 1.1 1.2 1.5 1.6 2.4 3.2 6.9 .464 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.4 .560
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 5 17.2 5.6 1.8 2.0 3.8 0.4 1.4 0.8 1.2 1.8 2.4 4.4 .545 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .667