Complete Stats Comparison of Yao Ming and Arvydas Sabonis

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Yao Ming and Arvydas Sabonis during their NBA careers. First we show you a summary of who had better numbers on each statistical category and then we compare in detail the performance of each of these stars in the regular season and the Playoffs, both in total stats and averages per game.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings / Games against each other

This in-depth comparison includes all the numbers, if you prefer a simplified version of this analysis with only the basic statistics, you will find it at the career comparison of these two NBA stars.

On this page we compare:

Who has better stats? Main stats / All stats
Regular Season: Averages / Totals / Pecentages
Playoffs: Averages / Totals / Pecentages

Main Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Yao Ming3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		8
seasons
Arvydas Sabonis2
(assists, steals)		2
(assists, steals)		7
seasons
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Yao Ming3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		0
4
Playoffs
Arvydas Sabonis2
(assists, steals)		5
(points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)		7
Playoffs

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Yao Ming7
stats		9
stats		2
stats
Arvydas Sabonis5
stats		5
stats		1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Yao Ming7
stats		3
stats		2
stats
Arvydas Sabonis5
stats		10
stats		1
stat
they are tied1
stat

- "Better Career Total" includes games and years played as stats.

- For turnovers and personal fouls, lower numbers are better.

- Field goal, free-throw and three-point attempts are not included on these tables since it can't be said that higher is better.

Now, lets compare all their stats in detail, one by one...

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, Yao Ming had better averages in points, rebounds and blocks while Arvydas Sabonis had better averages in assists and steals.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Yao Ming had better averages in points (+7.0), field goals made (+2.6), free throws made (+2.3), offensive rebounds (+0.9), defensive rebounds (+1.0), total rebounds (+1.9) and blocks (+0.8)
- Arvydas Sabonis had better averages in 3-pointers made (+0.3), assists (+0.5) and steals (+0.4)
- Yao Ming had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+0.9) and personal fouls (+0.6)
-
- Yao Ming had higher averages in field goals attempted (+4.4) and free throws attempted (+2.5)
- Arvydas Sabonis had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+0.9)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Yao Ming 19.0
+7.0
Arvydas Sabonis 12.0
Field Goals Made
Yao Ming 7.0
+2.6
Arvydas Sabonis 4.4
Field Goals Attempted
Yao Ming 13.3
+4.4
Arvydas Sabonis 8.9
3-Pointers Made
Yao Ming 0.0
Arvydas Sabonis 0.3
+0.3
3-Pointers Attempted
Yao Ming 0.0
Arvydas Sabonis 0.9
+0.9
Free Throws Made
Yao Ming 5.1
+2.3
Arvydas Sabonis 2.8
Free Throws Attempted
Yao Ming 6.1
+2.5
Arvydas Sabonis 3.6
Offensive Rebounds
Yao Ming 2.5
+0.9
Arvydas Sabonis 1.6
Defensive Rebounds
Yao Ming 6.7
+1.0
Arvydas Sabonis 5.7
Total Rebounds
Yao Ming 9.2
+1.9
Arvydas Sabonis 7.3
Assists
Yao Ming 1.6
Arvydas Sabonis 2.1
+0.5
Steals
Yao Ming 0.4
Arvydas Sabonis 0.8
+0.4
Blocks
Yao Ming 1.9
+0.8
Arvydas Sabonis 1.1
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Yao Ming 2.7
+0.9
Arvydas Sabonis 1.8
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Yao Ming 3.3
+0.6
Arvydas Sabonis 2.7

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, Yao Ming had more total points, rebounds and blocks while Arvydas Sabonis had more total assists and steals.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Yao Ming played more years (+1) and games (+16), and had more points (+3,618), field goals made (+1,298), free throws made (+1,156), offensive rebounds (+499), defensive rebounds (+559), total rebounds (+1,058) and blocks (+426)
- Arvydas Sabonis had more 3-pointers made (+134), assists (+195) and steals (+181)
- Yao Ming had more turnovers (+474) and personal fouls (+306)
-
- Yao Ming had more field goals attempted (+2,285) and free throws attempted (+1,294)
- Arvydas Sabonis had more 3-pointers attempted (+405)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Yao Ming 8
+1
Arvydas Sabonis 7
Games
Yao Ming 486
+16
Arvydas Sabonis 470
Points
Yao Ming 9,247
+3,618
Arvydas Sabonis 5,629
Field Goals Made
Yao Ming 3,380
+1,298
Arvydas Sabonis 2,082
Field Goals Attempted
Yao Ming 6,445
+2,285
Arvydas Sabonis 4,160
3-Pointers Made
Yao Ming 2
Arvydas Sabonis 136
+134
3-Pointers Attempted
Yao Ming 10
Arvydas Sabonis 415
+405
Free Throws Made
Yao Ming 2,485
+1,156
Arvydas Sabonis 1,329
Free Throws Attempted
Yao Ming 2,984
+1,294
Arvydas Sabonis 1,690
Offensive Rebounds
Yao Ming 1,233
+499
Arvydas Sabonis 734
Defensive Rebounds
Yao Ming 3,261
+559
Arvydas Sabonis 2,702
Total Rebounds
Yao Ming 4,494
+1,058
Arvydas Sabonis 3,436
Assists
Yao Ming 769
Arvydas Sabonis 964
+195
Steals
Yao Ming 189
Arvydas Sabonis 370
+181
Blocks
Yao Ming 920
+426
Arvydas Sabonis 494
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Yao Ming 1,311
+474
Arvydas Sabonis 837
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Yao Ming 1,596
+306
Arvydas Sabonis 1,290

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Yao Ming had better field goal percentage and free throw percentage while Arvydas Sabonis had better 3-point percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Yao Ming 52.4%
+2.4
Arvydas Sabonis 50.0%
3-Point Percentage
Yao Ming 20.0%
Arvydas Sabonis 32.8%
+12.8
Free Throw Percentage
Yao Ming 83.3%
+4.7
Arvydas Sabonis 78.6%

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Yao Ming had better averages in points, rebounds and blocks while Arvydas Sabonis had better averages in assists and steals.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Yao Ming had better averages in points (+7.7), field goals made (+2.6), free throws made (+2.8), offensive rebounds (+1.3), defensive rebounds (+0.6), total rebounds (+1.9) and blocks (+0.6)
- Arvydas Sabonis had better averages in 3-pointers made (+0.3), assists (+0.9) and steals (+0.6)
- Yao Ming had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+1.3) and personal fouls (+0.4)
-
- Yao Ming had higher averages in field goals attempted (+3.8) and free throws attempted (+3.2)
- Arvydas Sabonis had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+0.9)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Yao Ming 19.8
+7.7
Arvydas Sabonis 12.1
Field Goals Made
Yao Ming 7.0
+2.6
Arvydas Sabonis 4.4
Field Goals Attempted
Yao Ming 13.4
+3.8
Arvydas Sabonis 9.6
3-Pointers Made
Yao Ming 0.0
Arvydas Sabonis 0.3
+0.3
3-Pointers Attempted
Yao Ming 0.0
Arvydas Sabonis 0.9
+0.9
Free Throws Made
Yao Ming 5.9
+2.8
Arvydas Sabonis 3.1
Free Throws Attempted
Yao Ming 7.1
+3.2
Arvydas Sabonis 3.9
Offensive Rebounds
Yao Ming 2.7
+1.3
Arvydas Sabonis 1.4
Defensive Rebounds
Yao Ming 6.6
+0.6
Arvydas Sabonis 6.0
Total Rebounds
Yao Ming 9.3
+1.9
Arvydas Sabonis 7.4
Assists
Yao Ming 1.0
Arvydas Sabonis 1.9
+0.9
Steals
Yao Ming 0.3
Arvydas Sabonis 0.9
+0.6
Blocks
Yao Ming 1.5
+0.6
Arvydas Sabonis 0.9
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Yao Ming 2.9
+1.3
Arvydas Sabonis 1.6
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Yao Ming 3.8
+0.4
Arvydas Sabonis 3.4

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Arvydas Sabonis had more total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks than Yao Ming.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Yao Ming had more free throws made (+7) and offensive rebounds (+4)
- Arvydas Sabonis played more years (+3) and games (+23), and had more points (+62), field goals made (+27), 3-pointers made (+15), defensive rebounds (+121), total rebounds (+117), assists (+68), steals (+39) and blocks (+6)
-
- Arvydas Sabonis had more personal fouls (+70)
- Yao Ming had more free throws attempted (+1)
- Arvydas Sabonis had more field goals attempted (+115) and 3-pointers attempted (+47)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Yao Ming 4
Arvydas Sabonis 7
+3
Games
Yao Ming 28
Arvydas Sabonis 51
+23
Points
Yao Ming 555
Arvydas Sabonis 617
+62
Field Goals Made
Yao Ming 195
Arvydas Sabonis 222
+27
Field Goals Attempted
Yao Ming 376
Arvydas Sabonis 491
+115
3-Pointers Made
Yao Ming 0
Arvydas Sabonis 15
+15
3-Pointers Attempted
Yao Ming 0
Arvydas Sabonis 47
+47
Free Throws Made
Yao Ming 165
+7
Arvydas Sabonis 158
Free Throws Attempted
Yao Ming 198
+1
Arvydas Sabonis 197
Offensive Rebounds
Yao Ming 76
+4
Arvydas Sabonis 72
Defensive Rebounds
Yao Ming 185
Arvydas Sabonis 306
+121
Total Rebounds
Yao Ming 261
Arvydas Sabonis 378
+117
Assists
Yao Ming 29
Arvydas Sabonis 97
+68
Steals
Yao Ming 9
Arvydas Sabonis 48
+39
Blocks
Yao Ming 42
Arvydas Sabonis 48
+6
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Yao Ming 82
Arvydas Sabonis 82
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Yao Ming 105
Arvydas Sabonis 175
+70

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Yao Ming had better field goal percentage and free throw percentage while Arvydas Sabonis had better 3-point percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Yao Ming 51.9%
+6.7
Arvydas Sabonis 45.2%
3-Point Percentage
Yao Ming 0%
Arvydas Sabonis 31.9%
+31.9
Free Throw Percentage
Yao Ming 83.3%
+3.1
Arvydas Sabonis 80.2%
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