Al Horford vs. Yao Ming: Career Scoring Comparison

We break down the scoring legacies of Yao Ming and Al Horford to determine who has the better numbers. Here you can compare their career totals, points per game, games of 40+ points, 50+, etc. and their year-by-year scoring averages side by side, both in the Regular Season and Playoffs.

By taking a look at their career numbers for points, the first conclusion one can arrive at is that Yao Ming has better scoring averages both in the regular season and Playoffs while Al Horford scored more total points in both stages. However, we won't stop there and we'll go into detail to analyze what these statistics are made up of, from how many games they had in each threshold (30+ points, 40+, 50+, etc.) to their season-by-season scoring averages.

Career Numbers
Who has the better scoring stats?

Points in the Regular Season

In his 8 NBA regular seasons played, Yao Ming averages 6.2 points more than Al Horford in his 19 seasons (19.0 points against 12.8). On the other hand Al Horford scored a total of 5,552 points more than Yao Ming (14,799 vs. 9,247).

Points Per Game

Seasons
Al Horford 12.8
19
Yao Ming 19.0
+6.2
8

Total Points

Seasons
Al Horford 14,799
+5,552
19
Yao Ming 9,247
8

Points in the Playoffs

Similar to what happens in the regular season, in the NBA postseason Yao Ming has a better career point average than Al Horford (+7.9 points per game) while Al Horford scored more points (+1,798).

Points Per Game

Playoffs
Al Horford 11.9
16
Yao Ming 19.8
+7.9
4

Total Points

Playoffs
Al Horford 2,353
+1,798
16
Yao Ming 555
4

Points by Thresholds

Regular Season

40+ Point Games

Al Horford 0
Yao Ming 2
+2

30+ Point Games

Al Horford 8
Yao Ming 49
+41

20+ Point Games

Al Horford 169
Yao Ming 232
+63

10+ Point Games

Al Horford 796
+356
Yao Ming 440

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Al Horford 1,143
+660
Yao Ming 483

0 Point Games (games without points)

Al Horford 10
+7
Yao Ming 3

Playoffs

30+ Point Games

Al Horford 1
Yao Ming 3
+2

20+ Point Games

Al Horford 27
+12
Yao Ming 15

10+ Point Games

Al Horford 122
+96
Yao Ming 26

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Al Horford 194
+166
Yao Ming 28

0 Point Games (games without points)

Al Horford 3
+3
Yao Ming 0

Career Shooting Stats Comparison

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Regular Season

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Al Horford 12.8 5.3 10.4 50.8 0.9 2.3 37.6 1.4 1.8 76.4 19 1,153
difference:+6.2+1.7+2.9+1.6+0.9+2.3+17.6+3.7+4.3+6.9+11+667
Yao Ming 19.0 7.0 13.3 52.4 0.0 0.0 20.0 5.1 6.1 83.3 8 486

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Al Horford 14,799 6,095 11,991 50.8 998 2,655 37.6 1,611 2,110 76.4 19 1,153
difference:+5,552+2,715+5,546+1.6+996+2,645+17.6+874+874+6.9+11+667
Yao Ming 9,247 3,380 6,445 52.4 2 10 20.0 2,485 2,984 83.3 8 486

Playoffs

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Al Horford 11.9 4.8 9.7 49.3 1.0 2.6 39.1 1.4 1.8 77.5 16 197
difference:+7.9+2.2+3.7+2.6+1.0+2.6+39.1+4.5+5.3+5.8+12+169
Yao Ming 19.8 7.0 13.4 51.9 0.0 0.0 - 5.9 7.1 83.3 4 28

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Al Horford 2,353 938 1,904 49.3 198 506 39.1 279 360 77.5 16 197
difference:+1,798+743+1,528+2.6+198+506+39.1+114+162+5.8+12+169
Yao Ming 555 195 376 51.9 0 0 - 165 198 83.3 4 28

Year by Year Points Average Comparison

NBA Champion = NBA Champion

Regular Season

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Al Horford 10.1
200881
Yao Ming 13.5
+3.4
200382

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Al Horford 11.5
200967
Yao Ming 17.5
+6.0
200482

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Al Horford 14.2
201081
Yao Ming 18.3
+4.1
200580

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Al Horford 15.3
201177
Yao Ming 22.3
+7.0
200657

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Al Horford 12.4
201211
Yao Ming 25.0
+12.6
200748

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Al Horford 17.4
201374
Yao Ming 22.0
+4.6
200855

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Al Horford 18.6
201429
Yao Ming 19.7
+1.1
200977

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Al Horford 15.2
+5.0
201576
Yao Ming 10.2
20115

Al Horford's additional seasons:

- Al Horford played 11 seasons more than Yao Ming in the NBA.

In those years—his seasons 9 to 19, from 2016 to 2026—he averaged 11.8 points in a total of 657 regular season games. During that period, his highest average was 15.2 ppg and his lowest 6.3.

Playoffs

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Al Horford 12.6
+12.6
20087
Yao Ming -
DNP
20030

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Al Horford 6.9
20099
Yao Ming 15.0
+8.1
20045

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Al Horford 14.6
201011
Yao Ming 21.4
+6.8
20057

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Al Horford 11.3
+11.3
201112
Yao Ming -
DNP
20060

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Al Horford 15.3
20123
Yao Ming 25.1
+9.8
20077

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Al Horford 16.7
+16.7
20136
Yao Ming -
DNP
20080

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Al Horford -
DNP
20140
Yao Ming 17.1
+17.1
20099

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Al Horford 14.4
+14.4
201516
Yao Ming -
DNP
20110

Al Horford's additional Playoffs:

- During his 11 additional NBA seasons, Al Horford played in 9 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship. In those postseasons he averaged 11.5 points in a total of 133 games. His highest playoff average during that period was 15.7 ppg and his lowest 6.7.