Bruce Bowen vs. Yao Ming Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Yao Ming 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 / Games against each other

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, 5 more than Yao Ming, who played 8. Bruce Bowen had the first of his seasons in 1996-97, while Yao Ming had his rookie season in 2002-03. 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
Yao Ming 8 4 2002-03 to 2010-11

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Bruce Bowen Yao Ming
Season 1996-972002-03
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
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 -
Yao Ming 82 29.0 13.5 2.4 5.8 8.2 1.7 0.4 1.8 2.1 2.8 4.9 9.8 .498 0.0 0.0 .500 3.7 4.5 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Bruce Bowen Yao Ming
Season 1997-982003-04
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 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
Yao Ming 82 32.8 17.5 2.4 6.6 9.0 1.5 0.3 1.9 2.5 3.3 6.5 12.5 .522 0.0 0.0 .000 4.4 5.4 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming 5 37.6 15.0 2.2 5.2 7.4 1.8 0.4 1.4 2.6 4.0 6.2 13.6 .456 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.4 .765

Season 3
Bruce Bowen Yao Ming
Season 1998-992004-05
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 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
Yao Ming 80 30.6 18.3 2.6 5.8 8.4 0.8 0.4 2.0 2.5 3.7 6.7 12.2 .552 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 6.2 .783
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bruce Bowen ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming 7 31.9 21.4 3.3 4.4 7.7 0.7 0.3 2.7 2.7 4.4 7.9 12.0 .655 0.0 0.0 - 5.7 7.9 .727

Season 4
Bruce Bowen Yao Ming
Season 1999-002005-06
Team Philadelphia 76ers, Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
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
Yao Ming 57 34.2 22.3 2.6 7.6 10.2 1.5 0.5 1.6 2.6 3.4 8.2 15.8 .519 0.0 0.0 .000 5.9 6.9 .853
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
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Bruce Bowen Yao Ming
Season 2000-012006-07
Team Miami HeatHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second 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
Yao Ming 48 33.8 25.0 2.1 7.3 9.4 2.0 0.4 2.0 3.5 3.3 8.8 17.1 .516 0.0 0.0 .000 7.4 8.6 .862
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 -
Yao Ming 7 37.1 25.1 3.3 7.0 10.3 0.9 0.1 0.7 4.7 3.9 7.9 17.9 .440 0.0 0.0 - 9.4 10.7 .880

Season 6
Bruce Bowen Yao Ming
Season 2001-022007-08
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
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
Yao Ming 55 37.2 22.0 3.1 7.7 10.8 2.3 0.5 2.0 3.3 3.1 7.9 15.5 .507 0.0 0.0 .000 6.3 7.4 .850
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
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Bruce Bowen Yao Ming
Season 2002-032008-09
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-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 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
Yao Ming 77 33.6 19.7 2.6 7.2 9.9 1.8 0.4 1.9 3.0 3.3 7.4 13.4 .548 0.0 0.0 1.000 4.9 5.7 .866
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
Yao Ming 9 35.9 17.1 2.1 8.8 10.9 1.0 0.4 1.2 1.9 3.0 6.0 11.0 .545 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 5.7 .902

Note: Yao Ming didn't play in 2009-10.

Season 8
Bruce Bowen Yao Ming
Season 2003-042010-11
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
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
Yao Ming 5 18.2 10.2 1.4 4.0 5.4 0.8 0.0 1.6 1.4 2.6 3.6 7.4 .486 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.2 .938
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
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Bruce Bowen Yao Ming
Season 2004-05-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
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
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
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
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Bruce Bowen Yao Ming
Season 2005-06-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Spurs 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
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
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
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Bruce Bowen Yao Ming
Season 2006-07-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
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
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
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
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Bruce Bowen Yao Ming
Season 2007-08-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Spurs 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 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
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
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
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Bruce Bowen Yao Ming
Season 2008-09-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 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
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
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
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
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