Yao Ming vs. Derrick Rose: Career Scoring Comparison

We break down the scoring legacies of Derrick Rose and Yao Ming 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 Derrick Rose scored more total points both in the regular season and Playoffs and also has a better playoff average while Yao Ming has a better scoring average in the regular season. 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 1.6 points more than Derrick Rose in his 15 seasons (19.0 points against 17.4). On the other hand Derrick Rose scored a total of 3,326 points more than Yao Ming (12,573 vs. 9,247).

Points Per Game

Seasons
Yao Ming 19.0
+1.6
8
Derrick Rose 17.4
15

Total Points

Seasons
Yao Ming 9,247
8
Derrick Rose 12,573
+3,326
15

Points in the Playoffs

In the NBA postseason Derrick Rose has a better career point average than Yao Ming (+2.1 points per game) and he also scored more points (+586).

Points Per Game

Playoffs
Yao Ming 19.8
4
Derrick Rose 21.9
+2.1
8

Total Points

Playoffs
Yao Ming 555
4
Derrick Rose 1,141
+586
8

Points by Thresholds

Regular Season

50+ Point Games

Yao Ming 0
Derrick Rose 1
+1

40+ Point Games

Yao Ming 2
Derrick Rose 3
+1

30+ Point Games

Yao Ming 49
Derrick Rose 56
+7

20+ Point Games

Yao Ming 232
Derrick Rose 293
+61

10+ Point Games

Yao Ming 440
Derrick Rose 594
+154

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Yao Ming 483
Derrick Rose 714
+231

0 Point Games (games without points)

Yao Ming 3
Derrick Rose 9
+6

Playoffs

40+ Point Games

Yao Ming 0
Derrick Rose 1
+1

30+ Point Games

Yao Ming 3
Derrick Rose 12
+9

20+ Point Games

Yao Ming 15
Derrick Rose 30
+15

10+ Point Games

Yao Ming 26
Derrick Rose 48
+22

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Yao Ming 28
Derrick Rose 51
+23

0 Point Games (games without points)

Yao Ming 0
Derrick Rose 1
+1

Career Shooting Stats Comparison

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Regular Season

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Yao Ming 19.0 7.0 13.3 52.4 0.0 0.0 20.0 5.1 6.1 83.3 8 486
difference:+1.6+0.2+1.6+6.9+0.8+2.6+11.6+2.1+2.5+0.2+7+237
Derrick Rose 17.4 6.8 14.9 45.6 0.8 2.6 31.6 3.0 3.6 83.1 15 723

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Yao Ming 9,247 3,380 6,445 52.4 2 10 20.0 2,485 2,984 83.3 8 486
difference:+3,326+1,541+4,353+6.9+588+1,856+11.6+344+409+0.2+7+237
Derrick Rose 12,573 4,921 10,798 45.6 590 1,866 31.6 2,141 2,575 83.1 15 723

Playoffs

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Yao Ming 19.8 7.0 13.4 51.9 0.0 0.0 - 5.9 7.1 83.3 4 28
difference:+2.1+1.4+6.3+9.3+1.3+4.1+32.2+2.0+2.5+1.2+4+24
Derrick Rose 21.9 8.4 19.7 42.6 1.3 4.1 32.2 3.9 4.6 84.5 8 52

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Yao Ming 555 195 376 51.9 0 0 - 165 198 83.3 4 28
difference:+586+241+648+9.3+68+211+32.2+36+40+1.2+4+24
Derrick Rose 1,141 436 1,024 42.6 68 211 32.2 201 238 84.5 8 52

Year by Year Points Average Comparison

Regular Season

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Yao Ming 13.5
200382
Derrick Rose 16.8
+3.3
200981

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Yao Ming 17.5
200482
Derrick Rose 20.8
+3.3
201078

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Yao Ming 18.3
200580
Derrick Rose 25.0
+6.7
201181

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Yao Ming 22.3
+0.5
200657
Derrick Rose 21.8
201239

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Yao Ming 25.0
+9.1
200748
Derrick Rose 15.9
201410

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Yao Ming 22.0
+4.3
200855
Derrick Rose 17.7
201551

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Yao Ming 19.7
+3.3
200977
Derrick Rose 16.4
201666

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Yao Ming 10.2
20115
Derrick Rose 18.0
+7.8
201764

Derrick Rose's additional seasons:

* Derrick Rose played 8 seasons more than Yao Ming in the NBA.

In those years—his seasons 9 to 16, from 2018 to 2024—he averaged 13.7 points in a total of 303 regular season games. During that period, his highest average was 18.1 ppg and his lowest 5.6.

Playoffs

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Yao Ming -
DNP
20030
Derrick Rose 19.7
+19.7
20097

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Yao Ming 15.0
20045
Derrick Rose 26.8
+11.8
20105

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Yao Ming 21.4
20057
Derrick Rose 27.1
+5.7
201116

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Yao Ming -
DNP
20060
Derrick Rose 23.0
+23.0
20121

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Yao Ming 25.1
+25.1
20077
Derrick Rose -
DNP
20140

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Yao Ming -
DNP
20080
Derrick Rose 20.3
+20.3
201512

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Yao Ming 17.1
+17.1
20099
Derrick Rose -
DNP
20160

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Yao Ming -
DNP
20110
Derrick Rose -
DNP
20170

Derrick Rose's additional Playoffs:

* During his 8 additional NBA seasons, Derrick Rose played in 4 Playoffs. In those postseasons he averaged 16.6 points in a total of 16 games. His highest playoff average during that period was 19.4 ppg and his lowest 0.