Dale Ellis vs. Yao Ming Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Yao Ming and Dale Ellis, 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.

Dale Ellis played 17 years in the NBA, 9 more than Yao Ming, who played 8. Dale Ellis had the first of his seasons in 1983-84, 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
Dale Ellis 17 10 1983-84 to 1999-00
Yao Ming 8 4 2002-03 to 2010-11

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Dale Ellis Yao Ming
Season 1983-842002-03
Team Dallas MavericksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks 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 %
Dale Ellis 67 15.8 8.2 1.6 2.1 3.7 0.8 0.6 0.1 1.2 1.8 3.4 7.4 .456 0.2 0.4 .414 1.3 1.8 .719
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 %
Dale Ellis 8 22.3 7.4 2.4 2.9 5.3 0.5 1.3 0.3 0.6 2.1 3.3 10.0 .325 0.1 1.5 .083 0.8 1.0 .750
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Dale Ellis Yao Ming
Season 1984-852003-04
Team Dallas MavericksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West 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 %
Dale Ellis 72 18.3 9.3 1.4 1.9 3.3 0.8 0.6 0.1 0.8 1.8 3.8 8.4 .454 0.6 1.5 .385 1.1 1.4 .740
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 %
Dale Ellis 4 17.0 5.8 1.0 0.8 1.8 0.8 1.0 0.0 1.0 0.8 2.5 5.8 .435 0.5 1.3 .400 0.3 0.5 .500
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

Dale Ellis Yao Ming
Season 1985-862004-05
Team Dallas MavericksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West 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 %
Dale Ellis 72 15.1 7.1 1.2 1.1 2.3 0.5 0.6 0.1 0.5 1.1 2.7 6.5 .411 0.9 2.4 .364 0.8 1.1 .720
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 %
Dale Ellis 7 9.6 4.3 0.4 0.6 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.3 3.1 .409 1.0 1.7 .583 0.7 0.7 1.000
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

Dale Ellis Yao Ming
Season 1986-872005-06
Team Seattle SupersonicsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement Most Improved Player-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis 82 37.5 24.9 2.3 3.2 5.5 2.9 1.3 0.4 2.9 3.3 9.6 18.5 .516 1.0 2.9 .358 4.7 6.0 .787
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 %
Dale Ellis 14 37.9 25.2 2.6 3.8 6.4 2.6 0.7 0.4 2.4 3.9 10.6 21.7 .487 0.9 2.6 .361 3.1 3.9 .815
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Dale Ellis Yao Ming
Season 1987-882006-07
Team Seattle SupersonicsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West 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 %
Dale Ellis 75 37.2 25.8 2.2 2.3 4.5 2.6 1.0 0.1 2.3 2.9 10.2 20.3 .503 1.4 3.5 .413 4.0 5.3 .767
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 %
Dale Ellis 5 34.4 20.8 2.2 2.4 4.6 3.0 0.6 0.4 2.4 3.4 8.0 16.6 .482 0.6 2.4 .250 4.2 5.8 .724
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

Dale Ellis Yao Ming
Season 1988-892007-08
Team Seattle SupersonicsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third TeamAchievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Dale Ellis 82 38.9 27.5 1.9 2.3 4.2 2.0 1.3 0.3 2.7 2.4 10.5 20.9 .501 2.0 4.1 .478 4.6 5.6 .816
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 %
Dale Ellis 8 38.0 22.9 1.8 2.3 4.0 1.3 1.4 0.1 2.6 2.4 9.0 20.0 .450 1.9 4.6 .405 3.0 4.1 .727
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Dale Ellis Yao Ming
Season 1989-902008-09
Team Seattle SupersonicsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Dale Ellis 55 37.0 23.5 1.6 2.7 4.3 2.0 1.1 0.1 2.2 2.3 9.1 18.4 .497 1.7 4.7 .375 3.5 4.3 .818
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 %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
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

Dale Ellis Yao Ming
Season 1990-912010-11
Team Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee BucksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -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 %
Dale Ellis 51 27.9 16.8 1.3 2.1 3.4 1.9 1.0 0.2 1.6 2.2 6.7 14.1 .474 1.1 3.1 .363 2.4 3.3 .723
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 %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Dale Ellis Yao Ming
Season 1991-92-
Team Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis 81 27.0 15.7 1.1 2.0 3.1 1.3 0.7 0.2 1.5 1.9 6.0 12.8 .469 1.7 4.1 .419 2.0 2.6 .774
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Dale Ellis Yao Ming
Season 1992-93-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Dale Ellis 82 33.3 16.7 1.0 2.8 3.8 1.3 1.0 0.2 1.4 2.2 6.6 13.3 .499 1.5 3.6 .401 1.9 2.4 .797
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis 10 30.5 12.5 0.9 2.6 3.5 1.1 0.4 0.0 1.0 2.5 5.1 11.3 .451 1.0 3.2 .313 1.3 1.6 .813
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Dale Ellis Yao Ming
Season 1993-94-
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 %
Dale Ellis 77 33.6 15.2 0.9 2.4 3.3 1.0 0.9 0.1 1.0 1.8 6.2 12.6 .494 1.7 4.3 .395 1.1 1.4 .776
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis 4 28.5 10.5 0.8 1.8 2.5 0.3 0.8 0.0 1.0 1.5 4.3 10.8 .395 1.3 4.3 .294 0.8 1.3 .600
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Dale Ellis Yao Ming
Season 1994-95-
Team Denver Nuggets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Dale Ellis 81 24.6 11.3 0.7 2.0 2.7 0.7 0.5 0.1 1.0 1.8 4.3 9.6 .453 1.3 3.2 .403 1.4 1.6 .866
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis 3 24.3 12.0 2.0 2.7 4.7 1.0 0.7 0.3 0.7 2.0 3.3 9.3 .357 1.3 4.3 .308 4.0 4.3 .923
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Dale Ellis Yao Ming
Season 1995-96-
Team Denver Nuggets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis 81 32.4 14.9 1.1 2.8 3.9 1.7 0.7 0.1 1.2 2.4 5.7 11.8 .479 1.9 4.5 .412 1.7 2.2 .760
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Dale Ellis Yao Ming
Season 1996-97-
Team Denver Nuggets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis 82 35.9 16.6 1.2 2.4 3.6 2.0 0.7 0.1 1.8 2.2 5.8 14.0 .414 2.3 6.4 .364 2.6 3.2 .817
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Dale Ellis Yao Ming
Season 1997-98-
Team Seattle Supersonics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Dale Ellis 79 24.5 11.8 0.6 1.7 2.3 1.1 0.8 0.1 0.9 1.6 4.4 8.9 .497 1.6 3.5 .464 1.4 1.8 .782
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis 10 17.2 5.6 0.4 0.9 1.3 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.2 1.0 2.0 5.3 .377 1.1 2.6 .423 0.5 0.6 .833
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Dale Ellis Yao Ming
Season 1998-99-
Team Seattle Supersonics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis 48 25.7 10.3 0.5 1.9 2.4 0.8 0.5 0.1 0.9 1.6 3.6 8.2 .441 2.0 4.5 .433 1.1 1.5 .757
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Dale Ellis Yao Ming
Season 1999-00-
Team Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Hornets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis 42 13.4 4.2 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.5 1.1 1.6 3.8 .415 0.9 2.4 .370 0.2 0.3 .692
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dale Ellis ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------