James Harden vs. Gary Payton Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Gary Payton and James Harden that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

James Harden

vs.

Gary Payton

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
James Harden: 2009-10 to 2023-24
Gary Payton: 1990-91 to 2006-07

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships James Harden 0 Gary Payton 1

NBA Seasons James Harden 15 Gary Payton 17

Playoffs Played James Harden 14 Gary Payton 15

All-Star Games James Harden 10 Gary Payton 9

Honors and Awards

Season MVP James Harden 1 Gary Payton 0

All-NBA First Team James Harden 6 Gary Payton 2

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) James Harden 7 Gary Payton 9

All-Defensive 1st Team James Harden 0 Gary Payton 9

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) James Harden 0 Gary Payton 9

Defensive Player of The Year James Harden 0 Gary Payton 1

Scoring Leader James Harden 3 Gary Payton 0

Assists Leader James Harden 2 Gary Payton 0

Steals Leader James Harden 0 Gary Payton 1

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game James Harden 24.1 Gary Payton 16.3

Rebounds Per Game James Harden 5.6 Gary Payton 3.9

Assists Per Game James Harden 7.1 Gary Payton 6.7

Steals Per Game James Harden 1.5 Gary Payton 1.8

Blocks Per Game James Harden 0.6 Gary Payton 0.2

Totals Stats

Total Points James Harden 25,885 Gary Payton 21,813

Total Rebounds James Harden 6,017 Gary Payton 5,269

Total Assists James Harden 7,629 Gary Payton 8,966

Total Steals James Harden 1,597 Gary Payton 2,445

Total Blocks James Harden 600 Gary Payton 285

Total Games James Harden 1,072 Gary Payton 1,335

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage James Harden .441 Gary Payton .466

3-Point Percentage James Harden .364 Gary Payton .317

Free Throw Percentage James Harden .861 Gary Payton .729

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game James Harden 36.1 (2019) Gary Payton 24.2 (2000)

Rebounds Per Game James Harden 8.1 (2017) Gary Payton 6.5 (2000)

Assists Per Game James Harden 11.2 (2017) Gary Payton 9.0 (2002)

Steals Per Game James Harden 2.0 (2019) Gary Payton 2.9 (1996)

Blocks Per Game James Harden 0.9 (2020) Gary Payton 0.3 (2001)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game James Harden 22.7 Gary Payton 14.0

Rebounds Per Game James Harden 5.5 Gary Payton 3.7

Assists Per Game James Harden 6.3 Gary Payton 5.3

Steals Per Game James Harden 1.7 Gary Payton 1.4

Blocks Per Game James Harden 0.5 Gary Payton 0.2

Totals Stats

Total Points James Harden 3,637 Gary Payton 2,155

Total Rebounds James Harden 883 Gary Payton 575

Total Assists James Harden 1,013 Gary Payton 811

Total Steals James Harden 267 Gary Payton 216

Total Blocks James Harden 85 Gary Payton 32

Total Games James Harden 160 Gary Payton 154

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage James Harden .424 Gary Payton .441

3-Point Percentage James Harden .338 Gary Payton .315

Free Throw Percentage James Harden .869 Gary Payton .706

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game James Harden 31.6 (2019) Gary Payton 25.8 (2000)

Rebounds Per Game James Harden 6.8 (2019) Gary Payton 8.6 (2002)

Assists Per Game James Harden 8.6 (2022) Gary Payton 8.7 (2003)

Steals Per Game James Harden 2.4 (2016) Gary Payton 2.2 (1997)

Blocks Per Game James Harden 1.0 (2013) Gary Payton 0.4 (2002)