Yao Ming vs. John Salmons Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of John Salmons 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, 5 less than John Salmons, who played 13. Yao Ming had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, while John Salmons 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
Yao Ming 8 4 2002-03 to 2010-11
John Salmons 13 5 2002-03 to 2014-15

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Yao Ming John Salmons
Season 2002-032002-03
Team Houston RocketsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers 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 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
John Salmons 64 7.9 2.1 0.3 0.7 0.9 0.7 0.3 0.1 0.5 0.8 0.8 1.8 .414 0.2 0.5 .323 0.4 0.5 .743
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
John Salmons 6 2.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.2 .000 0.0 0.2 .000 0.0 0.3 .000

Season 2
Yao Ming John Salmons
Season 2003-042003-04
Team Houston RocketsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
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
John Salmons 77 20.8 5.8 0.5 2.1 2.5 1.7 0.8 0.2 1.0 1.6 2.1 5.4 .387 0.6 1.9 .340 0.9 1.2 .772
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
John Salmons ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Yao Ming John Salmons
Season 2004-052004-05
Team Houston RocketsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd76ers 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 %
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
John Salmons 58 17.1 4.1 0.2 1.9 2.1 2.0 0.7 0.2 0.9 1.6 1.5 3.6 .405 0.5 1.6 .341 0.6 0.8 .729
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
John Salmons 2 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 4
Yao Ming John Salmons
Season 2005-062005-06
Team Houston RocketsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third 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 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
John Salmons 82 25.1 7.5 0.6 2.1 2.7 2.7 0.9 0.2 1.5 2.2 2.7 6.4 .420 0.3 1.1 .299 1.9 2.4 .775
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
John Salmons ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Yao Ming John Salmons
Season 2006-072006-07
Team Houston RocketsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
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
John Salmons 79 27.0 8.5 0.6 2.7 3.3 3.2 0.9 0.3 1.5 2.2 3.0 6.5 .456 0.5 1.4 .357 2.0 2.6 .779
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
John Salmons ------- --- ----------

Season 6
Yao Ming John Salmons
Season 2007-082007-08
Team Houston RocketsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third 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 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
John Salmons 81 31.1 12.5 0.9 3.4 4.3 2.6 1.1 0.4 2.1 2.1 4.7 9.9 .477 0.5 1.5 .325 2.6 3.2 .823
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
John Salmons ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Yao Ming John Salmons
Season 2008-092008-09
Team Houston RocketsSacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisBulls 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 %
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
John Salmons 79 37.5 18.3 0.7 3.5 4.2 3.2 1.1 0.3 2.1 2.3 6.5 13.8 .472 1.6 3.8 .417 3.6 4.4 .830
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
John Salmons 7 44.7 18.1 0.9 3.6 4.4 2.3 1.3 1.0 1.7 2.9 6.1 15.3 .402 1.7 5.4 .316 4.1 4.9 .853

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

Season 8
Yao Ming John Salmons
Season 2010-112009-10
Team Houston RocketsChicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayBucks 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 %
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
John Salmons 81 34.9 15.4 0.4 2.9 3.3 2.8 1.2 0.3 1.5 2.0 5.4 12.2 .441 1.5 3.8 .382 3.1 3.8 .830
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
John Salmons 7 40.7 17.0 1.0 2.7 3.7 4.0 1.4 0.6 1.7 2.7 6.3 15.6 .404 0.6 3.3 .174 3.9 4.0 .964

Season 9
Yao Ming John Salmons
Season -2010-11
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
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 ------- --- ----------
John Salmons 73 35.0 14.0 0.4 3.3 3.6 3.5 1.0 0.4 1.9 2.2 5.1 12.3 .415 1.1 3.0 .379 2.7 3.3 .813
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
John Salmons ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Yao Ming John Salmons
Season -2011-12
Team -Sacramento Kings
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 ------- --- ----------
John Salmons 46 27.2 7.5 0.4 2.5 2.9 2.0 0.8 0.2 1.0 1.7 3.1 7.5 .409 0.7 2.4 .295 0.6 1.0 .644
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
John Salmons ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Yao Ming John Salmons
Season -2012-13
Team -Sacramento Kings
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 ------- --- ----------
John Salmons 76 30.0 8.8 0.4 2.3 2.7 3.0 0.7 0.3 1.1 1.9 3.2 8.1 .399 1.3 3.5 .371 1.1 1.4 .773
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
John Salmons ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Yao Ming John Salmons
Season -2013-14
Team -Sacramento Kings, 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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
John Salmons 78 22.1 5.2 0.3 1.8 2.1 1.9 0.6 0.2 0.7 1.6 1.9 5.3 .363 0.8 2.1 .387 0.5 0.7 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
John Salmons 6 12.8 2.2 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.3 0.0 0.2 1.5 0.8 2.8 .294 0.3 2.0 .167 0.2 0.2 1.000

Season 13
Yao Ming John Salmons
Season -2014-15
Team -New Orleans Pelicans
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 ------- --- ----------
John Salmons 21 12.9 2.0 0.2 0.8 1.0 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.2 1.2 0.8 2.3 .333 0.4 1.2 .308 0.1 0.2 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
John Salmons ------- --- ----------
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