Derek Fisher vs. Yao Ming: Career Scoring Comparison

We break down the scoring legacies of Yao Ming and Derek Fisher 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 Derek Fisher 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 10.7 points more than Derek Fisher in his 18 seasons (19.0 points against 8.3). On the other hand Derek Fisher scored a total of 1,466 points more than Yao Ming (10,713 vs. 9,247).

Points Per Game

Seasons
Derek Fisher 8.3
18
Yao Ming 19.0
+10.7
8

Total Points

Seasons
Derek Fisher 10,713
+1,466
18
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 Derek Fisher (+11.5 points per game) while Derek Fisher scored more points (+1,591).

Points Per Game

Playoffs
Derek Fisher 8.3
16
Yao Ming 19.8
+11.5
4

Total Points

Playoffs
Derek Fisher 2,146
+1,591
16
Yao Ming 555
4

Points by Thresholds

Regular Season

40+ Point Games

Derek Fisher 0
Yao Ming 2
+2

30+ Point Games

Derek Fisher 0
Yao Ming 49
+49

20+ Point Games

Derek Fisher 51
Yao Ming 232
+181

10+ Point Games

Derek Fisher 474
+34
Yao Ming 440

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Derek Fisher 1,195
+712
Yao Ming 483

0 Point Games (games without points)

Derek Fisher 92
+89
Yao Ming 3

Playoffs

30+ Point Games

Derek Fisher 0
Yao Ming 3
+3

20+ Point Games

Derek Fisher 11
Yao Ming 15
+4

10+ Point Games

Derek Fisher 94
+68
Yao Ming 26

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Derek Fisher 243
+215
Yao Ming 28

0 Point Games (games without points)

Derek Fisher 16
+16
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
Derek Fisher 8.3 2.9 7.2 39.9 1.0 2.6 37.4 1.6 1.9 81.7 18 1,287
difference:+10.7+4.1+6.1+12.6+1.0+2.6+17.4+3.5+4.2+1.6+10+801
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
Derek Fisher 10,713 3,720 9,329 39.9 1,248 3,341 37.4 2,025 2,479 81.7 18 1,287
difference:+1,466+340+2,884+12.6+1,246+3,331+17.4+460+505+1.6+10+801
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
Derek Fisher 8.3 2.8 6.7 42.2 1.1 2.8 39.9 1.5 1.9 80.5 16 259
difference:+11.5+4.2+6.7+9.6+1.1+2.8+39.9+4.4+5.2+2.8+12+231
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
Derek Fisher 2,146 735 1,740 42.2 285 715 39.9 391 486 80.5 16 259
difference:+1,591+540+1,364+9.6+285+715+39.9+226+288+2.8+12+231
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
Derek Fisher 3.9
199780
Yao Ming 13.5
+9.6
200382

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Derek Fisher 5.8
199882
Yao Ming 17.5
+11.7
200482

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Derek Fisher 5.9
199950
Yao Ming 18.3
+12.4
200580

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Derek Fisher 6.3
2000NBA Champion78
Yao Ming 22.3
+16.0
200657

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Derek Fisher 11.5
2001NBA Champion20
Yao Ming 25.0
+13.5
200748

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Derek Fisher 11.2
2002NBA Champion70
Yao Ming 22.0
+10.8
200855

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Derek Fisher 10.5
200382
Yao Ming 19.7
+9.2
200977

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Derek Fisher 7.1
200482
Yao Ming 10.2
+3.1
20115

Derek Fisher's additional seasons:

- Derek Fisher played 12 seasons more than Yao Ming in the NBA.

In those years—his seasons 9 to 20, from 2005 to 2014—he averaged 8.7 points in a total of 809 regular season games. During that period, his highest average was 13.3 ppg and his lowest 5.2.

Playoffs

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Derek Fisher 1.3
+1.3
19976
Yao Ming -
DNP
20030

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Derek Fisher 6.0
199813
Yao Ming 15.0
+9.0
20045

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Derek Fisher 9.8
19998
Yao Ming 21.4
+11.6
20057

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Derek Fisher 4.7
+4.7
2000NBA Champion21
Yao Ming -
DNP
20060

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Derek Fisher 13.4
2001NBA Champion16
Yao Ming 25.1
+11.7
20077

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Derek Fisher 10.2
+10.2
2002NBA Champion19
Yao Ming -
DNP
20080

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Derek Fisher 12.8
200312
Yao Ming 17.1
+4.3
20099

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Derek Fisher 7.5
+7.5
200422
Yao Ming -
DNP
20110

Derek Fisher's additional Playoffs:

- During his 12 additional NBA seasons, Derek Fisher played in 10 Playoffs and won two NBA Championships. In those postseasons he averaged 8.2 points in a total of 164 games. His highest playoff average during that period was 10.3 ppg and his lowest 3.8.