Darryl Dawkins vs. Hakeem Olajuwon Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Hakeem Olajuwon and Darryl Dawkins, 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.

Darryl Dawkins played 14 years in the NBA, 4 less than Hakeem Olajuwon, who played 18. Darryl Dawkins had the first of his seasons in 1975-76, while Hakeem Olajuwon had his rookie season in 1984-85. 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
Darryl Dawkins 14 10 1975-76 to 1988-89
Hakeem Olajuwon 18 15 1984-85 to 2001-02

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18

Rookie Season

Darryl Dawkins Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1975-761984-85
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Rookie First 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 %
Darryl Dawkins 37 4.5 2.4 0.4 0.9 1.3 0.1 0.1 0.2 - 1.1 1.1 2.2 .500 - - - 0.2 0.6 .333
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 35.5 20.6 5.4 6.5 11.9 1.4 1.2 2.7 2.9 4.2 8.3 15.3 .538 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 6.7 .613
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 5 37.4 21.2 6.6 6.4 13.0 1.4 1.4 2.6 2.2 4.4 8.4 17.6 .477 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 9.2 .478

Season 2

Darryl Dawkins Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1976-771985-86
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsRockets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins 59 11.6 5.3 1.0 2.9 3.9 0.4 0.2 0.8 - 2.2 2.3 3.6 .628 - - - 0.7 1.3 .506
Hakeem Olajuwon 68 36.3 23.5 4.9 6.6 11.5 2.0 2.0 3.4 2.9 4.0 9.2 17.5 .526 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 7.9 .645
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins 18 18.4 7.3 0.5 4.9 5.4 0.9 0.4 1.0 - 2.6 2.8 5.3 .526 - - - 1.7 2.6 .660
Hakeem Olajuwon 20 38.3 26.9 5.1 6.8 11.8 2.0 2.0 3.5 2.2 4.4 10.3 19.4 .530 0.0 0.1 .000 6.4 10.0 .638

Season 3

Darryl Dawkins Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1977-781986-87
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsRockets 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 %
Darryl Dawkins 70 24.6 11.7 1.7 6.3 7.9 1.2 0.5 1.8 1.8 3.8 4.7 8.2 .575 - - - 2.2 3.1 .709
Hakeem Olajuwon 75 36.8 23.4 4.2 7.2 11.4 2.9 1.9 3.4 3.0 3.9 9.0 17.8 .508 0.0 0.1 .200 5.3 7.6 .702
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins 10 18.0 6.3 0.6 5.1 5.7 1.0 0.3 1.5 1.4 3.4 2.7 5.3 .509 - - - 0.9 1.7 .529
Hakeem Olajuwon 10 38.9 29.2 3.9 7.4 11.3 2.5 1.3 4.3 3.6 4.4 11.0 17.9 .615 0.0 0.1 .000 7.2 9.7 .742

Season 4

Darryl Dawkins Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1978-791987-88
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Darryl Dawkins 78 26.1 13.1 1.6 6.5 8.1 1.6 0.4 1.8 2.5 3.8 5.5 10.7 .517 - - - 2.0 3.0 .672
Hakeem Olajuwon 79 35.8 22.8 3.8 8.3 12.1 2.1 2.1 2.7 3.1 4.1 9.0 17.5 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 4.8 6.9 .695
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins 9 28.3 16.0 2.3 6.8 9.1 1.3 0.2 1.8 1.9 4.7 6.2 11.8 .528 - - - 3.6 5.2 .681
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.5 37.5 5.0 11.8 16.8 1.8 2.3 2.8 2.3 3.5 14.0 24.5 .571 0.0 0.3 .000 9.5 10.8 .884

Season 5

Darryl Dawkins Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1979-801988-89
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsRockets 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 %
Darryl Dawkins 80 31.8 14.7 2.5 6.2 8.7 1.9 0.6 1.8 2.9 4.1 6.2 11.8 .522 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.6 .653
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 36.9 24.8 4.1 9.4 13.5 1.8 2.6 3.4 3.4 4.0 9.6 19.0 .508 0.0 0.1 .000 5.5 8.0 .696
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins 18 33.7 17.3 2.4 5.2 7.6 1.8 0.7 2.3 2.6 4.2 7.0 13.2 .529 0.0 0.2 .000 3.3 5.2 .645
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.5 25.3 3.5 9.5 13.0 3.0 2.5 2.8 2.5 4.3 10.5 20.3 .519 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.3 .680

Season 6

Darryl Dawkins Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1980-811989-90
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement Blocks Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsRockets 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 %
Darryl Dawkins 76 27.5 14.0 1.4 5.8 7.2 1.4 0.5 1.5 2.9 4.2 5.6 9.2 .607 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.0 .720
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 38.1 24.3 3.6 10.4 14.0 2.9 2.1 4.6 3.9 3.8 9.8 19.6 .501 0.0 0.1 .167 4.7 6.5 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins 16 26.3 13.8 1.8 4.4 6.1 0.9 0.2 1.0 2.3 4.4 5.4 9.6 .562 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 4.3 .721
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.3 18.5 3.8 7.8 11.5 2.0 2.5 5.8 2.8 4.8 7.8 17.5 .443 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.3 .706

Season 7

Darryl Dawkins Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1981-821990-91
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Blocks Leader
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsRockets 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 %
Darryl Dawkins 48 23.4 11.0 1.4 4.9 6.4 1.1 0.4 1.1 2.0 4.0 4.3 7.6 .564 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.4 .695
Hakeem Olajuwon 56 36.8 21.2 3.9 9.8 13.8 2.3 2.2 3.9 3.1 3.9 8.7 17.1 .508 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 4.9 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins 21 21.9 11.0 1.1 3.6 4.7 0.5 0.3 1.7 1.8 4.5 4.7 8.5 .556 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.4 .660
Hakeem Olajuwon 3 43.0 22.0 4.0 10.7 14.7 2.0 1.3 2.7 2.7 3.7 8.7 15.0 .578 0.0 0.3 .000 4.7 5.7 .824

Season 8

Darryl Dawkins Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1982-831991-92
Team New Jersey NetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins 81 25.8 12.0 1.6 3.6 5.2 1.4 0.8 1.9 3.5 4.7 5.0 8.3 .599 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.2 .646
Hakeem Olajuwon 70 37.7 21.6 3.5 8.6 12.1 2.2 1.8 4.3 2.7 3.8 8.4 16.8 .502 0.0 0.0 .000 4.7 6.1 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins 2 29.5 18.0 1.0 4.0 5.0 1.0 2.0 2.5 4.0 3.5 8.5 11.0 .773 0.0 0.5 .000 1.0 1.0 1.000
Hakeem Olajuwon ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Darryl Dawkins Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1983-841992-93
Team New Jersey NetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Blocks Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East 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 %
Darryl Dawkins 81 29.8 16.8 2.0 4.7 6.7 1.5 0.7 1.7 2.9 4.8 6.3 10.6 .593 0.0 0.1 .400 4.2 5.7 .735
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 39.5 26.1 3.5 9.6 13.0 3.5 1.8 4.2 3.2 3.7 10.3 19.5 .529 0.0 0.1 .000 5.4 7.0 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins 11 30.9 18.4 2.0 4.2 6.2 1.2 0.5 0.9 2.9 4.7 6.0 10.7 .559 0.0 0.3 .000 6.4 7.5 .843
Hakeem Olajuwon 12 43.2 25.7 4.3 9.7 14.0 4.8 1.8 4.9 3.8 3.1 10.3 19.8 .517 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 6.3 .827

Season 10

Darryl Dawkins Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1984-851993-94
Team New Jersey NetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins 39 24.9 13.5 1.4 3.2 4.6 1.2 0.4 0.9 2.4 4.4 4.9 8.7 .566 0.0 0.0 .000 3.7 5.2 .711
Hakeem Olajuwon 80 41.0 27.3 2.9 9.1 11.9 3.6 1.6 3.7 3.4 3.6 11.2 21.2 .528 0.1 0.2 .421 4.9 6.8 .716
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins 3 21.3 8.3 1.3 3.3 4.7 1.3 0.7 2.0 2.3 4.3 3.7 7.7 .478 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .750
Hakeem Olajuwon 23 43.0 28.9 2.4 8.7 11.0 4.3 1.7 4.0 3.6 3.6 11.6 22.3 .519 0.1 0.2 .500 5.6 7.0 .795

Season 11

Darryl Dawkins Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1985-861994-95
Team New Jersey NetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins 51 23.7 15.3 1.7 3.3 4.9 1.5 0.3 1.2 2.4 4.5 5.6 8.6 .644 0.0 0.0 .000 4.1 5.8 .707
Hakeem Olajuwon 72 39.6 27.8 2.4 8.4 10.8 3.5 1.8 3.4 3.3 3.5 11.1 21.5 .517 0.0 0.2 .188 5.6 7.5 .756
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins 1 17.0 10.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 4.0 6.0 .667 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.0 .667
Hakeem Olajuwon 22 42.2 33.0 2.0 8.3 10.3 4.5 1.2 2.8 3.1 4.3 13.9 26.2 .531 0.1 0.2 .500 5.0 7.4 .681

Season 12

Darryl Dawkins Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1986-871995-96
Team New Jersey NetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive 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 %
Darryl Dawkins 6 17.7 9.5 1.5 1.7 3.2 0.3 0.3 0.5 2.5 4.2 3.3 5.3 .625 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 4.0 .708
Hakeem Olajuwon 72 38.8 26.9 2.4 8.4 10.9 3.6 1.6 2.9 3.4 3.4 10.7 20.8 .514 0.0 0.2 .214 5.5 7.6 .724
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 8 41.1 22.4 2.1 7.0 9.1 3.9 1.9 2.1 3.6 3.5 9.4 18.4 .510 0.0 0.1 .000 3.6 5.0 .725

Season 13

Darryl Dawkins Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1987-881996-97
Team Utah Jazz, Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Darryl Dawkins 6 5.5 1.7 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.2 2.3 0.3 1.5 .222 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.5 .400
Hakeem Olajuwon 78 36.6 23.2 2.2 7.0 9.2 3.0 1.5 2.2 3.6 3.2 9.3 18.3 .510 0.1 0.2 .313 4.5 5.7 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 16 39.4 23.1 2.9 8.0 10.9 3.4 2.1 2.6 2.9 3.8 9.2 15.6 .590 0.0 0.2 .000 4.8 6.5 .731

Season 14

Darryl Dawkins Hakeem Olajuwon
Season 1988-891997-98
Team Detroit PistonsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
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 %
Darryl Dawkins 14 3.4 1.9 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.9 0.6 1.4 .474 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.3 .500
Hakeem Olajuwon 47 34.7 16.4 2.5 7.3 9.8 3.0 1.8 2.0 2.7 3.2 6.5 13.5 .483 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.5 .755
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 5 38.0 20.4 1.8 9.0 10.8 2.4 1.0 3.2 2.6 3.6 7.8 19.8 .394 0.0 0.2 .000 4.8 6.6 .727

Season 15

Darryl Dawkins Hakeem Olajuwon
Season -1998-99
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Playoffs -Rockets 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 %
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 50 35.7 18.9 2.1 7.4 9.6 1.8 1.6 2.5 2.8 3.2 7.5 14.5 .514 0.1 0.3 .308 3.9 5.4 .717
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 31.0 13.3 1.3 6.0 7.3 0.5 1.3 0.8 1.3 4.5 5.8 13.5 .426 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.0 .875

Season 16

Darryl Dawkins Hakeem Olajuwon
Season -1999-00
Team -Houston Rockets
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 %
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 44 23.8 10.3 1.5 4.8 6.2 1.4 0.9 1.6 1.7 2.0 4.4 9.6 .458 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.5 .616
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Darryl Dawkins Hakeem Olajuwon
Season -2000-01
Team -Houston Rockets
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 %
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 58 26.6 11.9 2.1 5.3 7.4 1.2 1.2 1.5 1.4 2.4 4.9 9.8 .498 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.4 .621
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Darryl Dawkins Hakeem Olajuwon
Season -2001-02
Team -Toronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Raptors Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 61 22.6 7.1 1.6 4.4 6.0 1.1 1.2 1.5 1.6 2.4 3.2 6.9 .464 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.4 .560
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------
Hakeem Olajuwon 5 17.2 5.6 1.8 2.0 3.8 0.4 1.4 0.8 1.2 1.8 2.4 4.4 .545 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .667