Yao Ming vs. Anderson Varejao Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Anderson Varejao and Yao Ming, 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.

Yao Ming played 8 years in the NBA, 6 less than Anderson Varejao, who played 14. Yao Ming had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, while Anderson Varejao 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 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
Yao Ming 8 4 2002-03 to 2010-11
Anderson Varejao 14 6 2004-05 to 2020-21

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Yao Ming Anderson Varejao
Season 2002-032004-05
Team Houston RocketsCleveland Cavaliers
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 %
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
Anderson Varejao 54 16.0 4.9 2.0 2.7 4.8 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.5 2.3 1.8 3.6 .513 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 2.4 .535
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Yao Ming Anderson Varejao
Season 2003-042005-06
Team Houston RocketsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anderson Varejao 48 15.8 4.6 1.6 3.3 4.9 0.4 0.6 0.4 0.6 2.5 1.6 3.1 .527 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 2.5 .513
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anderson Varejao 13 18.3 6.8 1.4 3.1 4.5 0.2 0.7 0.2 0.5 3.8 2.4 3.8 .620 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.8 .703

Season 3

Yao Ming Anderson Varejao
Season 2004-052006-07
Team Houston RocketsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anderson Varejao 81 23.9 6.8 2.4 4.4 6.7 0.9 0.9 0.6 0.8 3.3 2.4 5.0 .476 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 3.3 .616
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anderson Varejao 20 22.4 6.0 2.3 3.7 6.0 0.6 1.1 0.6 1.0 2.7 2.3 4.5 .511 0.0 0.2 .000 1.4 2.4 .563

Season 4

Yao Ming Anderson Varejao
Season 2005-062007-08
Team Houston RocketsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anderson Varejao 48 27.5 6.7 2.8 5.5 8.3 1.1 0.8 0.5 1.2 2.8 2.8 6.1 .461 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.7 .598
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao 13 18.5 4.1 1.5 3.6 5.2 0.7 0.6 0.1 0.7 2.3 1.7 4.2 .407 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.6 .429

Season 5

Yao Ming Anderson Varejao
Season 2006-072008-09
Team Houston RocketsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anderson Varejao 81 28.5 8.6 2.0 5.1 7.2 1.0 0.9 0.8 1.0 3.0 3.3 6.2 .536 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 3.1 .616
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anderson Varejao 14 30.0 6.9 2.9 3.5 6.4 0.6 1.3 1.1 1.1 3.5 2.9 5.9 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.6 .682

Season 6

Yao Ming Anderson Varejao
Season 2007-082009-10
Team Houston RocketsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anderson Varejao 76 28.5 8.6 2.5 5.1 7.6 1.1 0.9 0.9 0.9 2.9 3.5 6.1 .572 0.0 0.1 .200 1.5 2.3 .663
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao 11 23.2 5.7 2.0 4.5 6.5 0.6 1.0 0.8 1.1 3.5 1.8 4.4 .417 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 2.8 .742

Season 7

Yao Ming Anderson Varejao
Season 2008-092010-11
Team Houston RocketsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anderson Varejao 31 32.1 9.1 3.2 6.5 9.7 1.5 0.9 1.2 1.3 2.8 3.7 7.0 .528 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 2.6 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Note: Yao Ming didn't play in 2009-10.

Season 8

Yao Ming Anderson Varejao
Season 2010-112011-12
Team Houston RocketsCleveland Cavaliers
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 %
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
Anderson Varejao 25 31.4 10.8 4.4 7.1 11.5 1.7 1.4 0.7 1.8 2.5 4.6 8.9 .514 0.0 0.2 .000 1.7 2.6 .672
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Yao Ming Anderson Varejao
Season -2012-13
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao 25 36.0 14.1 5.5 8.9 14.4 3.4 1.5 0.6 1.8 2.7 5.5 11.6 .478 0.0 0.2 .000 3.1 4.1 .755
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Yao Ming Anderson Varejao
Season -2013-14
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao 65 27.7 8.4 2.9 6.8 9.7 2.2 1.1 0.6 1.1 2.5 3.5 7.1 .495 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.1 .681
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Yao Ming Anderson Varejao
Season -2014-15
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao 26 24.5 9.8 2.2 4.3 6.5 1.3 0.7 0.6 1.3 2.2 4.3 7.7 .555 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 1.7 .733
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Yao Ming Anderson Varejao
Season -2015-16
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Warriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao 53 9.4 2.6 0.7 2.0 2.7 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.4 1.3 1.0 2.3 .427 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 0.9 .640
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao 17 5.5 1.2 0.7 0.5 1.2 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.1 1.0 0.3 0.8 .357 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.1 .526

Season 13

Yao Ming Anderson Varejao
Season -2016-17
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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao 14 6.6 1.3 0.9 1.1 1.9 0.7 0.2 0.2 0.6 1.1 0.4 1.0 .357 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Note: Anderson Varejao didn't play in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Season 14

Yao Ming Anderson Varejao
Season -2020-21
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao 5 7.2 2.6 1.4 2.6 4.0 0.6 0.0 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.8 3.2 .250 0.0 0.2 .000 1.0 1.8 .556
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------