Darryl Dawkins vs. James Harden Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Harden 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

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, 1 less than James Harden, who played 15. Darryl Dawkins had the first of his seasons in 1975-76, 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
Darryl Dawkins 14 10 1975-76 to 1988-89
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

Darryl Dawkins James Harden
Season 1975-762009-10
Team Philadelphia 76ersOklahoma 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 %
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
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 %
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------
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

Darryl Dawkins James Harden
Season 1976-772010-11
Team Philadelphia 76ersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsThunder 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 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
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 %
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
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

Darryl Dawkins James Harden
Season 1977-782011-12
Team Philadelphia 76ersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsThunder 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 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
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 %
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
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

Darryl Dawkins James Harden
Season 1978-792012-13
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third 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
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 %
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
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

Darryl Dawkins James Harden
Season 1979-802013-14
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-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
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 %
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
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

Darryl Dawkins James Harden
Season 1980-812014-15
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsRockets 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 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
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 %
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
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

Darryl Dawkins James Harden
Season 1981-822015-16
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -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 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
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 %
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
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

Darryl Dawkins James Harden
Season 1982-832016-17
Team New Jersey NetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets 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 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
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 %
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
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

Darryl Dawkins James Harden
Season 1983-842017-18
Team New Jersey NetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East 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 %
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
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 %
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
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

Darryl Dawkins James Harden
Season 1984-852018-19
Team New Jersey NetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets 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 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
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 %
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
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

Darryl Dawkins James Harden
Season 1985-862019-20
Team New Jersey NetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets 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 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
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 %
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
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

Darryl Dawkins James Harden
Season 1986-872020-21
Team New Jersey NetsHouston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets 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 %
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
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 %
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------
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

Darryl Dawkins James Harden
Season 1987-882021-22
Team Utah Jazz, Detroit PistonsBrooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers 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 %
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
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 %
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------
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

Darryl Dawkins James Harden
Season 1988-892022-23
Team Detroit PistonsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers 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 %
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
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 %
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------
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

Darryl Dawkins 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 %
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------
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 %
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------
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