Yao Ming vs. John Starks Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of John Starks 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.
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 Starks, who played 13. Yao Ming had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, while John Starks had his rookie season in 1988-89. 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 |
| Yao Ming |
8 |
4 |
2002-03 to 2010-11 |
| John Starks |
13 |
9 |
1988-89 to 2001-02 |
Comparison Season by Season |
|
Jump to season:
|
|
|
Rookie Season |
|
Yao Ming |
John Starks |
| Season |
2002-03 | 1988-89 |
| Team |
Houston Rockets | Golden State Warriors |
| Honors & Awards |
 All-Rookie First Team | - |
| All-Star Game | - |
| Playoffs |
Did Not Play | Did Not Play |
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
- |
3.7 |
4.5 |
.811 |
| difference: | +46 | +20.2 | +9.4 | +2.0 | +5.1 | +7.1 | +0.9 | +0.2 | +1.7 | -1.0 | -1.8 | +3.5 | +6.3 | +.090 | +0.3 | +0.7 | | +2.8 | +3.1 | +.157 |
| John Starks |
36 |
8.8 |
4.1 |
0.4 |
0.7 |
1.1 |
0.8 |
0.6 |
0.1 |
1.1 |
1.0 |
1.4 |
3.5 |
.408 |
0.3 |
0.7 |
.385 |
0.9 |
1.4 |
.654 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
| * Neiher Yao Ming nor John Starks played in the postseason in their season 1 |
Note: John Starks didn't play in 1989-90.
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
- |
4.4 |
5.4 |
.809 |
| difference: | +21 | +13.6 | +9.9 | +1.9 | +4.9 | +6.9 | +1.8 | +0.7 | +1.6 | -1.3 | -1.1 | +3.5 | +5.8 | +.083 | +0.4 | +1.5 | | +3.1 | +3.7 | +.057 |
| John Starks |
61 |
19.2 |
7.6 |
0.5 |
1.7 |
2.1 |
3.3 |
1.0 |
0.3 |
1.2 |
2.2 |
3.0 |
6.7 |
.439 |
0.4 |
1.5 |
.290 |
1.3 |
1.7 |
.752 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +2 | +28.3 | +13.0 | +1.9 | +4.5 | +6.4 | +0.2 | +0.4 | +1.4 | -0.6 | -2.7 | +5.5 | +11.9 | +.056 | | | | +1.9 | +2.7 | +.235 |
| John Starks |
3 |
9.3 |
2.0 |
0.3 |
0.7 |
1.0 |
2.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
2.0 |
1.3 |
0.7 |
1.7 |
.400 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
0.7 |
0.7 |
1.000 |
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +2 | +4.8 | +4.4 | +2.1 | +4.0 | +6.1 | +2.6 | +0.9 | +1.8 | -0.7 | -0.9 | +1.8 | +1.2 | +.103 | +1.1 | +3.3 | | +2.0 | +2.5 | +.005 |
| John Starks |
82 |
25.8 |
13.9 |
0.5 |
1.8 |
2.3 |
3.4 |
1.3 |
0.2 |
1.8 |
2.8 |
4.9 |
11.0 |
.449 |
1.1 |
3.3 |
.348 |
2.9 |
3.7 |
.778 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +5 | +7.3 | +9.3 | +2.7 | +2.5 | +5.2 | +2.5 | +1.1 | +2.7 | -0.9 | -0.6 | +4.1 | +1.7 | +.281 | +0.9 | +3.8 | | +2.2 | +3.6 | +.081 |
| John Starks |
12 |
24.6 |
12.1 |
0.6 |
1.9 |
2.5 |
3.2 |
1.4 |
0.0 |
1.8 |
3.8 |
3.8 |
10.3 |
.374 |
0.9 |
3.8 |
.239 |
3.5 |
4.3 |
.808 |
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
- |
5.9 |
6.9 |
.853 |
| difference: | +23 | +3.2 | +4.8 | +1.9 | +5.7 | +7.6 | +3.6 | +0.6 | +1.4 | -0.4 | -0.5 | +1.8 | +0.8 | +.091 | +1.4 | +4.2 | | +2.6 | +2.8 | +.058 |
| John Starks |
80 |
31.0 |
17.5 |
0.7 |
1.9 |
2.6 |
5.1 |
1.1 |
0.2 |
2.2 |
2.9 |
6.4 |
15.0 |
.428 |
1.4 |
4.2 |
.321 |
3.3 |
4.1 |
.795 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Yao Ming |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| John Starks |
15 |
38.3 |
16.5 |
0.3 |
3.2 |
3.5 |
6.4 |
1.0 |
0.2 |
3.7 |
3.8 |
5.9 |
13.3 |
.440 |
1.9 |
5.0 |
.373 |
2.9 |
4.0 |
.717 |
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
- |
7.4 |
8.6 |
.862 |
| difference: | +11 | +1.1 | +6.0 | +1.5 | +4.8 | +6.3 | +3.9 | +1.2 | +1.9 | -0.4 | -0.1 | +1.9 | +0.5 | +.096 | +1.9 | +5.7 | | +4.2 | +4.4 | +.108 |
| John Starks |
59 |
34.9 |
19.0 |
0.6 |
2.5 |
3.1 |
5.9 |
1.6 |
0.1 |
3.1 |
3.2 |
6.9 |
16.6 |
.420 |
1.9 |
5.7 |
.335 |
3.2 |
4.2 |
.754 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +18 | +3.5 | +10.5 | +2.9 | +5.0 | +8.0 | +3.7 | +1.3 | +0.6 | -2.4 | -0.5 | +3.5 | +6.3 | +.059 | +1.9 | +5.3 | | +5.5 | +5.7 | +.110 |
| John Starks |
25 |
33.6 |
14.6 |
0.4 |
2.0 |
2.3 |
4.6 |
1.4 |
0.1 |
2.3 |
3.4 |
4.4 |
11.6 |
.381 |
1.9 |
5.3 |
.356 |
3.9 |
5.0 |
.770 |
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
- |
6.3 |
7.4 |
.850 |
| difference: | +25 | +3.1 | +6.7 | +2.7 | +5.4 | +8.1 | +2.8 | +0.7 | +1.9 | -1.3 | -0.1 | +2.7 | +2.2 | +.112 | +2.7 | +7.6 | | +4.2 | +4.5 | +.113 |
| John Starks |
80 |
34.1 |
15.3 |
0.4 |
2.3 |
2.7 |
5.1 |
1.2 |
0.1 |
2.0 |
3.2 |
5.2 |
13.3 |
.395 |
2.7 |
7.6 |
.355 |
2.1 |
2.9 |
.737 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Yao Ming |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| John Starks |
11 |
34.5 |
15.6 |
0.2 |
2.1 |
2.3 |
5.2 |
1.2 |
0.1 |
2.4 |
3.6 |
5.3 |
11.7 |
.450 |
2.7 |
6.6 |
.411 |
2.4 |
3.8 |
.619 |
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
- |
4.9 |
5.7 |
.866 |
| difference: | +4 | +2.8 | +7.1 | +2.2 | +4.7 | +7.0 | +2.1 | +0.9 | +1.8 | -1.1 | -0.5 | +2.8 | +3.0 | +.105 | +1.8 | +4.9 | | +3.3 | +3.6 | +.113 |
| John Starks |
81 |
30.8 |
12.6 |
0.4 |
2.5 |
2.9 |
3.9 |
1.3 |
0.1 |
1.9 |
2.8 |
4.6 |
10.4 |
.443 |
1.8 |
4.9 |
.361 |
1.6 |
2.1 |
.753 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +1 | +3.4 | +1.1 | +1.7 | +5.5 | +7.3 | +3.1 | +1.2 | +1.1 | -1.2 | -0.3 | +1.1 | +0.1 | +.097 | +2.6 | +5.6 | | +1.5 | +0.8 | +.158 |
| John Starks |
8 |
39.3 |
16.0 |
0.4 |
3.3 |
3.6 |
4.1 |
1.6 |
0.1 |
3.1 |
3.3 |
4.9 |
10.9 |
.448 |
2.6 |
5.6 |
.467 |
3.6 |
4.9 |
.744 |
Note: Yao Ming didn't play in 2009-10.
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +72 | +8.3 | +3.6 | +0.9 | +1.8 | +2.7 | +2.0 | +1.2 | +1.5 | -0.7 | -0.1 | +1.2 | +3.7 | +.055 | +1.9 | +5.3 | | +0.8 | +0.3 | +.169 |
| John Starks |
77 |
26.5 |
13.8 |
0.5 |
2.2 |
2.7 |
2.8 |
1.2 |
0.1 |
2.1 |
2.5 |
4.8 |
11.1 |
.431 |
1.9 |
5.3 |
.369 |
2.2 |
2.9 |
.769 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Yao Ming |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| John Starks |
9 |
28.3 |
14.0 |
0.8 |
2.7 |
3.4 |
2.8 |
1.1 |
0.0 |
2.2 |
2.8 |
4.9 |
11.0 |
.444 |
1.4 |
4.6 |
.317 |
2.8 |
3.4 |
.806 |
|
Additional Years |
* John Starks played 5 seasons more than Yao Ming in the NBA.
In that period—his seasons 9 to 13, from 1998 to 2002—John Starks played in two Playoffs. |