Yao Ming vs. Latrell Sprewell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Latrell Sprewell 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 Latrell Sprewell, who played 13. Yao Ming had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, while Latrell Sprewell had his rookie season in 1992-93. 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
Latrell Sprewell 13 5 1992-93 to 2004-05

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Yao Ming Latrell Sprewell
Season 2002-031992-93
Team Houston RocketsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second 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
Latrell Sprewell 77 35.6 15.4 1.0 2.5 3.5 3.8 1.6 0.7 2.6 2.2 5.8 12.6 .464 0.9 2.6 .369 2.7 3.7 .746
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Latrell Sprewell ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Yao Ming Latrell Sprewell
Season 2003-041993-94
Team Houston RocketsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdWarriors 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 %
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
Latrell Sprewell 82 43.1 21.0 1.0 3.9 4.9 4.7 2.2 0.9 2.8 1.9 7.5 17.3 .433 1.7 4.8 .361 4.3 5.6 .774
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
Latrell Sprewell 3 40.7 22.7 0.3 2.7 3.0 7.0 0.7 1.0 3.0 5.0 8.7 20.0 .433 2.7 7.7 .348 2.7 4.0 .667

Season 3
Yao Ming Latrell Sprewell
Season 2004-051994-95
Team Houston RocketsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 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
Latrell Sprewell 69 40.2 20.6 0.8 2.9 3.7 4.0 1.6 0.7 3.3 1.6 7.1 17.0 .418 1.3 4.7 .276 5.1 6.5 .781
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
Latrell Sprewell ------- --- ----------

Season 4
Yao Ming Latrell Sprewell
Season 2005-061995-96
Team Houston RocketsGolden State Warriors
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
Latrell Sprewell 78 39.3 18.9 1.6 3.3 4.9 4.2 1.6 0.6 2.8 1.9 6.6 15.4 .428 1.2 3.6 .323 4.5 5.7 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Latrell Sprewell ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Yao Ming Latrell Sprewell
Season 2006-071996-97
Team Houston RocketsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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
Latrell Sprewell 80 41.9 24.2 0.7 3.9 4.6 6.3 1.7 0.6 4.0 1.9 8.1 18.1 .449 1.8 5.2 .354 6.2 7.3 .843
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
Latrell Sprewell ------- --- ----------

Season 6
Yao Ming Latrell Sprewell
Season 2007-081997-98
Team Houston RocketsGolden State Warriors
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
Latrell Sprewell 14 39.1 21.4 0.5 3.1 3.6 4.9 1.4 0.4 3.1 1.9 7.9 19.8 .397 0.6 3.4 .188 5.0 6.7 .745
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Latrell Sprewell ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Yao Ming Latrell Sprewell
Season 2008-091998-99
Team Houston RocketsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisKnicks 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 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
Latrell Sprewell 37 33.3 16.4 1.1 3.1 4.2 2.5 1.2 0.1 2.1 1.8 5.8 14.0 .415 0.6 2.1 .273 4.2 5.2 .812
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
Latrell Sprewell 20 37.1 20.4 1.2 3.6 4.8 2.2 1.0 0.3 2.9 2.0 7.3 17.3 .419 0.2 1.3 .160 5.7 6.7 .850

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

Season 8
Yao Ming Latrell Sprewell
Season 2010-111999-00
Team Houston RocketsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks 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 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
Latrell Sprewell 82 40.0 18.6 0.6 3.7 4.3 4.0 1.3 0.3 2.8 2.2 6.9 15.9 .435 0.5 1.5 .346 4.2 4.8 .866
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Latrell Sprewell 16 43.8 18.7 0.8 3.6 4.4 3.6 1.1 0.3 2.3 1.8 6.9 16.6 .414 0.6 1.9 .333 4.3 5.5 .784

Season 9
Yao Ming Latrell Sprewell
Season -2000-01
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Latrell Sprewell 77 39.2 17.7 0.6 3.9 4.5 3.5 1.4 0.4 2.8 2.1 6.8 15.8 .430 0.5 1.8 .304 3.6 4.6 .783
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Latrell Sprewell 5 42.4 18.4 0.6 2.4 3.0 3.4 1.0 0.2 4.0 3.4 7.0 17.2 .407 0.6 2.8 .214 3.8 5.0 .760

Season 10
Yao Ming Latrell Sprewell
Season -2001-02
Team -New York Knicks
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 ------- --- ----------
Latrell Sprewell 81 41.1 19.4 0.7 3.0 3.7 3.9 1.2 0.2 2.8 2.0 7.1 17.5 .404 1.8 5.0 .360 3.5 4.3 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Latrell Sprewell ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Yao Ming Latrell Sprewell
Season -2002-03
Team -New York Knicks
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 ------- --- ----------
Latrell Sprewell 74 38.6 16.4 0.6 3.2 3.9 4.5 1.4 0.3 2.3 1.8 6.1 15.2 .403 1.8 4.9 .372 2.3 2.9 .794
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Latrell Sprewell ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Yao Ming Latrell Sprewell
Season -2003-04
Team -Minnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Timberwolves 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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Latrell Sprewell 82 37.8 16.8 0.7 3.1 3.8 3.5 1.1 0.3 1.9 1.2 6.3 15.4 .409 1.2 3.6 .331 2.9 3.6 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Latrell Sprewell 18 42.8 19.8 0.6 3.8 4.4 4.0 1.6 0.7 2.6 1.9 7.2 17.2 .421 2.1 5.3 .385 3.3 4.3 .779

Season 13
Yao Ming Latrell Sprewell
Season -2004-05
Team -Minnesota Timberwolves
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 ------- --- ----------
Latrell Sprewell 80 30.6 12.8 0.8 2.4 3.2 2.2 0.7 0.3 1.6 1.6 5.0 12.0 .414 0.9 2.6 .327 2.0 2.4 .830
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Latrell Sprewell ------- --- ----------
Share: