Derek Harper vs. Dwight Howard Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dwight Howard and Derek Harper, 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.

Derek Harper played 16 years in the NBA, 2 less than Dwight Howard, who played 18. Derek Harper had the first of his seasons in 1983-84, while Dwight Howard had his rookie season in 2004-05. 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
Derek Harper 16 10 1983-84 to 1998-99
Dwight Howard 18 12 2004-05 to 2021-22

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

Derek Harper Dwight Howard
Season 1983-842004-05
Team Dallas MavericksOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
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 %
Derek Harper 82 20.9 5.7 0.6 1.5 2.1 2.9 1.2 0.3 1.4 1.7 2.4 5.5 .443 0.0 0.3 .115 0.8 1.2 .673
Dwight Howard 82 32.6 12.0 3.5 6.5 10.0 0.9 0.9 1.7 2.0 2.8 4.3 8.3 .520 0.0 0.0 .000 3.4 5.0 .671
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 10 22.6 5.0 0.8 1.2 2.0 2.8 1.1 0.2 0.6 1.6 2.1 5.4 .389 0.3 0.8 .375 0.5 0.7 .714
Dwight Howard ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Derek Harper Dwight Howard
Season 1984-852005-06
Team Dallas MavericksOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West 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 %
Derek Harper 82 27.0 9.6 0.6 1.9 2.4 4.4 1.8 0.5 1.5 2.4 4.0 7.7 .520 0.3 0.7 .344 1.4 1.9 .721
Dwight Howard 82 36.8 15.8 3.5 9.0 12.5 1.5 0.8 1.4 2.6 3.4 5.7 10.7 .531 0.0 0.0 .000 4.3 7.3 .595
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 4 33.0 6.5 0.3 2.8 3.0 5.0 1.5 0.3 1.0 3.0 2.5 5.3 .476 0.3 0.8 .333 1.3 1.8 .714
Dwight Howard ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Derek Harper Dwight Howard
Season 1985-862006-07
Team Dallas MavericksOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisMagic 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 %
Derek Harper 79 27.2 12.2 0.9 1.9 2.9 5.3 1.9 0.3 1.8 2.1 4.9 9.2 .534 0.2 0.6 .235 2.2 2.9 .747
Dwight Howard 82 36.9 17.6 3.5 8.8 12.3 1.9 0.9 1.9 3.9 3.0 6.4 10.6 .603 0.0 0.0 .500 4.8 8.1 .586
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 10 34.8 13.4 1.3 0.6 1.9 7.6 2.3 0.0 2.3 2.7 5.7 10.7 .533 0.8 1.4 .571 1.2 1.6 .750
Dwight Howard 4 41.8 15.3 4.0 10.8 14.8 1.8 0.5 1.0 4.3 3.3 5.8 10.5 .548 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 8.3 .455

Season 4

Derek Harper Dwight Howard
Season 1986-872007-08
Team Dallas MavericksOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdMagic 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 %
Derek Harper 77 33.2 16.0 0.7 1.9 2.6 7.9 2.2 0.3 1.8 2.5 6.5 12.9 .501 1.0 2.8 .358 2.1 3.0 .684
Dwight Howard 82 37.7 20.7 3.4 10.8 14.2 1.3 0.9 2.1 3.2 3.3 7.1 11.9 .599 0.0 0.0 .000 6.5 10.9 .590
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 4 30.8 16.5 0.5 2.5 3.0 6.8 1.8 0.0 1.3 1.8 5.0 10.0 .500 0.5 2.3 .222 6.0 7.5 .800
Dwight Howard 10 42.1 18.9 6.0 9.8 15.8 0.9 0.8 3.4 3.2 3.8 7.2 12.4 .581 0.0 0.0 - 4.5 8.3 .542

Season 5

Derek Harper Dwight Howard
Season 1987-882008-09
Team Dallas MavericksOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement Blocks Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf FinalsMagic Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 82 37.0 17.0 0.9 2.1 3.0 7.7 2.0 0.4 2.3 2.0 6.5 14.2 .459 0.7 2.3 .313 3.2 4.2 .759
Dwight Howard 79 35.7 20.6 4.3 9.6 13.8 1.4 1.0 2.9 3.0 3.4 7.1 12.4 .572 0.0 0.0 .000 6.4 10.7 .594
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 17 35.4 13.5 0.6 1.9 2.5 7.1 1.9 0.3 1.9 2.6 5.2 11.9 .441 0.5 2.1 .250 2.5 3.5 .729
Dwight Howard 23 39.3 20.3 4.3 11.0 15.3 1.9 0.9 2.6 2.9 4.4 7.0 11.7 .601 0.0 0.1 .000 6.3 9.9 .636

Season 6

Derek Harper Dwight Howard
Season 1988-892009-10
Team Dallas MavericksOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement Blocks Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMagic Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 81 36.6 17.3 0.6 2.2 2.8 7.0 2.1 0.5 2.5 2.7 6.6 13.9 .477 1.2 3.4 .356 2.8 3.5 .806
Dwight Howard 82 34.7 18.3 3.5 9.7 13.2 1.8 0.9 2.8 3.3 3.5 6.2 10.2 .612 0.0 0.1 .000 5.9 10.0 .592
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------
Dwight Howard 14 35.5 18.1 2.7 8.4 11.1 1.4 0.8 3.5 3.6 4.2 6.1 10.0 .614 0.0 0.0 - 5.9 11.3 .519

Season 7

Derek Harper Dwight Howard
Season 1989-902010-11
Team Dallas MavericksOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdMagic 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 %
Derek Harper 82 36.7 18.0 0.7 2.3 3.0 7.4 2.3 0.3 2.5 2.7 6.9 14.2 .488 1.1 2.9 .371 3.0 3.8 .794
Dwight Howard 78 37.6 22.9 4.0 10.1 14.1 1.4 1.4 2.4 3.6 3.3 7.9 13.4 .593 0.0 0.1 .000 7.0 11.7 .596
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 3 39.7 19.3 0.7 2.0 2.7 7.7 1.3 0.0 4.0 4.3 7.0 16.0 .438 1.7 5.3 .313 3.7 5.3 .688
Dwight Howard 6 43.0 27.0 4.5 11.0 15.5 0.5 0.7 1.8 5.5 4.2 8.5 13.5 .630 0.0 0.2 .000 10.0 14.7 .682

Season 8

Derek Harper Dwight Howard
Season 1990-912011-12
Team Dallas MavericksOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-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 %
Derek Harper 77 37.4 19.7 0.8 2.3 3.0 7.1 1.9 0.2 2.3 2.9 7.4 15.9 .467 1.2 3.2 .362 3.7 5.1 .731
Dwight Howard 54 38.3 20.6 3.7 10.8 14.5 1.9 1.5 2.1 3.2 2.9 7.7 13.4 .573 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 10.6 .491
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------
Dwight Howard ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Derek Harper Dwight Howard
Season 1991-922012-13
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 %
Derek Harper 65 34.6 17.7 0.8 1.9 2.6 5.7 1.6 0.3 2.4 2.3 6.9 15.6 .443 0.9 2.9 .312 3.0 4.0 .759
Dwight Howard 76 35.8 17.1 3.3 9.1 12.4 1.4 1.1 2.4 3.0 3.8 6.2 10.7 .578 0.0 0.1 .167 4.7 9.5 .492
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------
Dwight Howard 4 31.5 17.0 2.5 8.3 10.8 1.0 0.5 2.0 4.0 4.3 6.5 10.5 .619 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 9.0 .444

Season 10

Derek Harper Dwight Howard
Season 1992-932013-14
Team Dallas MavericksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second 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 %
Derek Harper 62 34.0 18.2 0.7 1.3 2.0 5.4 1.3 0.3 2.2 2.3 6.3 15.1 .419 1.6 4.1 .393 3.9 5.1 .756
Dwight Howard 71 33.7 18.3 3.3 8.9 12.2 1.8 0.8 1.8 3.2 3.4 6.7 11.3 .591 0.0 0.1 .286 4.9 9.0 .547
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------
Dwight Howard 6 38.5 26.0 4.5 9.2 13.7 1.8 0.7 2.8 3.2 4.2 9.7 17.7 .547 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 10.7 .625

Season 11

Derek Harper Dwight Howard
Season 1993-942014-15
Team Dallas Mavericks, New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA 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 %
Derek Harper 82 26.9 9.6 0.2 1.5 1.7 4.1 1.5 0.1 1.6 2.0 3.7 9.1 .407 0.9 2.5 .360 1.4 2.0 .687
Dwight Howard 41 29.8 15.8 2.7 7.8 10.5 1.2 0.7 1.3 2.8 3.3 6.1 10.3 .593 0.0 0.0 .500 3.5 6.6 .528
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 23 32.6 11.4 0.6 1.8 2.3 4.5 1.8 0.0 1.8 2.7 4.3 10.0 .429 1.3 3.7 .341 1.6 2.4 .643
Dwight Howard 17 33.8 16.4 3.6 10.4 14.0 1.2 1.4 2.3 2.2 3.5 6.2 10.7 .577 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 9.7 .412

Season 12

Derek Harper Dwight Howard
Season 1994-952015-16
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Derek Harper 80 34.0 11.5 0.4 2.0 2.4 5.7 1.0 0.1 1.9 2.7 4.2 9.5 .446 1.3 3.7 .363 1.7 2.4 .724
Dwight Howard 71 32.1 13.7 3.4 8.4 11.8 1.4 1.0 1.6 2.3 3.1 5.2 8.5 .620 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 6.7 .489
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 11 35.3 14.3 0.5 3.0 3.5 5.6 1.0 0.1 2.4 2.6 5.1 9.9 .514 2.5 4.3 .574 1.6 2.2 .750
Dwight Howard 5 36.0 13.2 5.2 8.8 14.0 1.6 0.8 1.4 2.4 4.2 5.2 9.6 .542 0.0 0.2 .000 2.8 7.6 .368

Season 13

Derek Harper Dwight Howard
Season 1995-962016-17
Team New York KnicksAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisHawks 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 %
Derek Harper 82 35.3 14.0 0.4 2.1 2.5 4.3 1.6 0.1 2.2 2.5 5.3 11.5 .464 1.5 4.0 .372 1.9 2.5 .757
Dwight Howard 74 29.7 13.5 4.0 8.7 12.7 1.4 0.9 1.2 2.3 2.7 5.2 8.3 .633 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 5.7 .533
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 8 36.6 10.0 0.0 2.1 2.1 4.8 1.3 0.1 1.8 3.0 3.6 10.3 .354 1.4 4.4 .314 1.4 1.9 .733
Dwight Howard 6 26.2 8.0 3.0 7.7 10.7 1.3 1.0 0.8 1.8 3.5 3.0 6.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.2 .632

Season 14

Derek Harper Dwight Howard
Season 1996-972017-18
Team Dallas MavericksCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
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 %
Derek Harper 75 29.5 10.0 0.4 1.4 1.8 4.3 1.2 0.2 1.8 1.9 4.0 9.0 .444 0.8 2.3 .341 1.3 1.7 .742
Dwight Howard 81 30.4 16.6 3.1 9.3 12.5 1.3 0.6 1.6 2.6 3.1 6.2 11.2 .555 0.0 0.1 .143 4.1 7.2 .574
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------
Dwight Howard ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Derek Harper Dwight Howard
Season 1997-982018-19
Team Orlando MagicWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
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 %
Derek Harper 66 26.7 8.6 0.3 1.2 1.6 3.5 1.1 0.2 1.5 2.1 3.4 8.2 .417 0.9 2.5 .360 0.8 1.2 .696
Dwight Howard 9 25.6 12.8 2.7 6.6 9.2 0.4 0.8 0.4 1.8 3.8 4.8 7.7 .623 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 5.3 .604
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------
Dwight Howard ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Derek Harper Dwight Howard
Season 1998-992019-20
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 45 24.9 6.9 0.3 1.2 1.5 4.2 1.0 0.1 1.2 1.5 2.7 6.5 .412 1.0 2.6 .368 0.6 0.7 .813
Dwight Howard 69 18.9 7.5 2.5 4.9 7.3 0.7 0.4 1.1 1.2 3.2 2.9 4.0 .729 0.0 0.1 .600 1.6 3.1 .514
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper 7 16.0 4.3 0.1 1.3 1.4 2.1 0.3 0.0 0.6 0.3 1.9 4.4 .419 0.1 1.4 .100 0.4 0.9 .500
Dwight Howard 18 15.7 5.8 1.8 2.8 4.6 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.9 3.1 2.2 3.2 .684 0.1 0.1 .500 1.4 2.5 .556

Season 17

Derek Harper Dwight Howard
Season -2020-21
Team -Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------
Dwight Howard 69 17.3 7.0 2.8 5.7 8.4 0.9 0.4 0.9 1.6 2.9 2.6 4.4 .587 0.1 0.3 .250 1.8 3.0 .576
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------
Dwight Howard 12 12.4 4.7 2.2 4.1 6.3 0.7 0.2 0.5 1.0 2.6 1.3 2.5 .533 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 3.3 .600

Season 18

Derek Harper Dwight Howard
Season -2021-22
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
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 %
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------
Dwight Howard 60 16.2 6.2 2.0 4.0 5.9 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.8 1.9 2.2 3.7 .612 0.1 0.3 .533 1.6 2.4 .658
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------
Dwight Howard ------- --- ----------