Bruce Bowen vs. James Harden Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Harden and Bruce Bowen, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Bruce Bowen played 13 years in the NBA, 2 less than James Harden, who played 15. Bruce Bowen had the first of his seasons in 1996-97, while James Harden had his rookie season in 2009-10. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Bruce Bowen 13 10 1996-97 to 2008-09
James Harden 15 15 2009-10 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15

Rookie Season

Bruce Bowen James Harden
Season 1996-972009-10
Team Miami HeatOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 1 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
James Harden 76 22.9 9.9 0.6 2.6 3.2 1.8 1.1 0.3 1.4 2.6 3.1 7.6 .403 1.2 3.3 .375 2.6 3.2 .808
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen ------- --- ----------
James Harden 6 20.0 7.7 0.2 2.3 2.5 1.8 1.0 0.2 0.5 2.3 2.0 5.2 .387 1.0 2.7 .375 2.7 3.2 .842

Season 2

Bruce Bowen James Harden
Season 1997-982010-11
Team Boston CelticsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 61 21.4 5.6 1.3 1.6 2.9 1.3 1.4 0.5 0.9 2.9 2.0 4.9 .409 0.3 1.0 .339 1.2 2.0 .623
James Harden 82 26.7 12.2 0.5 2.6 3.1 2.1 1.1 0.3 1.3 2.5 3.6 8.3 .436 1.4 4.0 .349 3.5 4.2 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen ------- --- ----------
James Harden 17 31.6 13.0 0.6 4.8 5.4 3.6 1.2 0.8 1.6 2.8 3.9 8.2 .475 1.4 4.5 .303 3.9 4.7 .825

Season 3

Bruce Bowen James Harden
Season 1998-992011-12
Team Boston CelticsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 30 16.5 2.3 0.5 1.2 1.7 0.9 0.7 0.3 0.4 1.7 0.9 3.1 .280 0.2 0.9 .269 0.4 0.8 .458
James Harden 62 31.4 16.8 0.5 3.6 4.1 3.7 1.0 0.2 2.2 2.4 5.0 10.1 .491 1.8 4.7 .390 5.0 6.0 .846
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen ------- --- ----------
James Harden 20 31.5 16.3 0.7 4.5 5.1 3.4 1.6 0.1 2.1 3.4 4.7 10.7 .435 1.6 3.9 .410 5.4 6.3 .857

Season 4

Bruce Bowen James Harden
Season 1999-002012-13
Team Philadelphia 76ers, Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf SemisRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 69 12.7 2.8 0.4 1.0 1.4 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.3 1.7 1.0 2.8 .371 0.4 0.8 .466 0.4 0.6 .581
James Harden 78 38.3 25.9 0.8 4.1 4.9 5.8 1.8 0.5 3.8 2.3 7.5 17.1 .438 2.3 6.2 .368 8.6 10.2 .851
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 10 15.8 3.5 0.1 0.9 1.0 0.8 0.7 0.4 0.6 2.7 1.0 2.7 .370 0.5 2.2 .227 1.0 1.6 .625
James Harden 6 40.5 26.3 0.8 5.8 6.7 4.5 2.0 1.0 4.5 3.0 7.5 19.2 .391 2.5 7.3 .341 8.8 11.0 .803

Season 5

Bruce Bowen James Harden
Season 2000-012013-14
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 82 32.7 7.6 0.5 2.4 3.0 1.6 1.0 0.6 0.9 3.3 2.6 7.1 .363 1.3 3.7 .336 1.2 2.0 .609
James Harden 73 38.0 25.4 0.8 3.9 4.7 6.1 1.6 0.4 3.6 2.4 7.5 16.5 .456 2.4 6.6 .366 7.9 9.1 .866
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 3 19.3 4.0 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 2.7 1.7 5.3 .313 0.7 2.7 .250 0.0 0.0 -
James Harden 6 43.8 26.8 0.8 3.8 4.7 5.8 2.0 0.2 3.5 3.5 8.3 22.2 .376 2.7 9.0 .296 7.5 8.3 .900

Season 6

Bruce Bowen James Harden
Season 2001-022014-15
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisRockets Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 59 28.8 7.0 0.7 2.0 2.7 1.5 1.1 0.4 1.1 2.0 2.6 6.7 .389 0.9 2.5 .378 0.8 1.6 .479
James Harden 81 36.8 27.4 0.9 4.7 5.7 7.0 1.9 0.7 4.0 2.6 8.0 18.1 .440 2.6 6.9 .375 8.8 10.2 .868
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 10 34.5 6.8 0.9 2.4 3.3 1.4 1.1 0.7 0.7 2.8 2.5 6.1 .410 1.1 2.5 .440 0.7 1.4 .500
James Harden 17 37.4 27.2 0.7 5.0 5.7 7.5 1.6 0.4 4.5 2.9 7.6 17.3 .439 2.4 6.3 .383 9.6 10.5 .916

Season 7

Bruce Bowen James Harden
Season 2002-032015-16
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 82 31.3 7.1 0.7 2.2 2.9 1.4 0.8 0.5 0.9 2.4 2.7 5.8 .466 1.2 2.8 .441 0.4 1.1 .404
James Harden 82 38.1 29.0 0.8 5.3 6.1 7.5 1.7 0.6 4.6 2.8 8.7 19.7 .439 2.9 8.0 .359 8.8 10.2 .860
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 24 31.2 6.9 0.6 2.3 2.9 1.6 0.8 0.7 0.6 2.2 2.3 6.0 .372 1.5 3.3 .438 1.0 1.8 .548
James Harden 5 38.6 26.6 1.4 3.8 5.2 7.6 2.4 0.2 5.2 2.6 8.2 20.0 .410 2.6 8.4 .310 7.6 9.0 .844

Season 8

Bruce Bowen James Harden
Season 2003-042016-17
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisRockets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 82 32.0 6.9 0.5 2.5 3.1 1.4 1.0 0.4 1.1 2.0 2.6 6.1 .420 0.9 2.6 .363 0.8 1.4 .579
James Harden 81 36.4 29.1 1.2 7.0 8.1 11.2 1.5 0.5 5.7 2.7 8.3 18.9 .440 3.2 9.3 .347 9.2 10.9 .847
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 10 29.9 6.0 0.6 2.3 2.9 1.0 0.4 0.3 0.4 2.4 2.3 6.3 .365 1.1 2.9 .379 0.3 1.3 .231
James Harden 11 37.0 28.5 0.6 4.8 5.5 8.5 1.9 0.5 5.4 3.9 8.2 19.8 .413 2.9 10.5 .278 9.2 10.5 .878

Season 9

Bruce Bowen James Harden
Season 2004-052017-18
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 82 32.0 8.2 0.6 2.9 3.5 1.5 0.7 0.5 0.7 2.1 3.1 7.3 .420 1.2 3.1 .403 0.9 1.4 .634
James Harden 72 35.4 30.4 0.6 4.8 5.4 8.8 1.8 0.7 4.4 2.3 9.0 20.1 .449 3.7 10.0 .367 8.7 10.1 .858
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 23 35.4 5.7 0.4 2.5 2.9 1.6 0.5 0.6 0.7 3.3 2.0 5.6 .359 1.3 2.9 .433 0.5 0.7 .647
James Harden 17 36.5 28.6 0.8 4.4 5.2 6.8 2.2 0.6 3.8 2.7 9.3 22.6 .410 3.1 10.2 .299 6.9 7.8 .887

Season 10

Bruce Bowen James Harden
Season 2005-062018-19
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisRockets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 82 33.6 7.5 0.4 3.5 3.9 1.5 1.0 0.4 0.8 2.3 2.8 6.5 .433 1.3 3.0 .424 0.6 1.0 .607
James Harden 78 36.8 36.1 0.8 5.8 6.6 7.5 2.0 0.7 5.0 3.1 10.8 24.5 .442 4.8 13.2 .368 9.7 11.0 .879
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 13 34.0 6.2 0.5 1.7 2.2 1.2 0.8 0.6 0.7 3.2 2.5 4.7 .525 1.2 2.3 .500 0.1 0.2 .500
James Harden 11 38.5 31.6 0.8 6.0 6.8 6.6 2.2 0.9 4.6 3.7 9.9 24.0 .413 4.4 12.5 .350 7.5 8.9 .837

Season 11

Bruce Bowen James Harden
Season 2006-072019-20
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 82 30.0 6.2 0.3 2.4 2.7 1.4 0.8 0.3 0.8 2.1 2.3 5.7 .405 1.1 2.8 .384 0.5 0.9 .589
James Harden 68 36.5 34.3 1.0 5.5 6.6 7.5 1.8 0.9 4.5 3.3 9.9 22.3 .444 4.4 12.4 .355 10.2 11.8 .865
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 20 34.5 6.5 0.6 3.5 4.1 1.3 1.4 0.2 0.7 2.7 2.4 6.0 .395 1.7 3.7 .446 0.2 0.3 .500
James Harden 12 37.3 29.6 1.0 4.6 5.6 7.7 1.5 0.8 3.8 3.6 9.1 19.0 .478 3.3 9.8 .333 8.2 9.7 .845

Season 12

Bruce Bowen James Harden
Season 2007-082020-21
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsNets Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 81 30.2 6.0 0.4 2.5 2.9 1.1 0.7 0.3 0.6 2.2 2.1 5.3 .407 1.1 2.7 .419 0.6 0.9 .652
James Harden 44 36.6 24.6 0.8 7.1 7.9 10.8 1.2 0.8 4.0 2.3 7.8 16.7 .466 2.8 7.6 .362 6.3 7.3 .861
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 17 29.9 6.1 0.1 1.8 1.9 1.4 0.6 0.4 0.5 2.4 2.2 5.5 .398 1.3 3.2 .407 0.5 0.6 .727
James Harden 9 35.8 20.2 0.8 5.6 6.3 8.6 1.7 0.7 2.9 2.6 5.7 12.0 .472 2.7 7.3 .364 6.2 6.9 .903

Season 13

Bruce Bowen James Harden
Season 2008-092021-22
Team San Antonio SpursBrooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st Rd76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 80 18.8 2.7 0.2 1.6 1.8 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.3 1.5 1.0 2.3 .422 0.5 1.2 .429 0.2 0.3 .538
James Harden 65 37.2 22.0 0.8 6.8 7.7 10.3 1.3 0.6 4.4 2.4 6.3 15.3 .410 2.3 6.9 .330 7.2 8.2 .877
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen 5 26.0 4.2 0.0 3.0 3.0 0.6 0.6 0.0 0.6 2.0 1.4 2.6 .538 1.0 1.8 .556 0.4 0.4 1.000
James Harden 12 39.9 18.6 0.9 4.8 5.7 8.6 0.8 0.7 4.2 2.4 5.3 13.2 .405 2.3 6.3 .368 5.6 6.3 .893

Season 14

Bruce Bowen James Harden
Season -2022-23
Team -Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
Playoffs -76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen ------- --- ----------
James Harden 58 36.8 21.0 0.7 5.4 6.1 10.7 1.2 0.5 3.4 1.9 6.4 14.5 .441 2.8 7.2 .385 5.4 6.2 .867
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen ------- --- ----------
James Harden 11 38.8 20.3 0.5 5.6 6.2 8.3 1.8 0.4 3.2 2.5 6.5 16.6 .393 2.8 7.5 .378 4.4 5.0 .873

Season 15

Bruce Bowen James Harden
Season -2023-24
Team -Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Clippers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen ------- --- ----------
James Harden 72 34.3 16.6 0.5 4.7 5.1 8.5 1.1 0.8 2.6 1.8 4.9 11.4 .428 2.6 6.8 .381 4.2 4.8 .878
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen ------- --- ----------
James Harden 6 40.3 21.2 0.5 4.0 4.5 8.0 1.0 1.0 2.3 2.2 6.7 14.8 .449 3.0 7.8 .383 4.8 5.3 .906