Dwight Howard vs. Craig Neal Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Craig Neal and Dwight Howard, 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.

Dwight Howard played 18 years in the NBA, 16 more than Craig Neal, who played 2. Dwight Howard had the first of his seasons in 2004-05, while Craig Neal had his rookie season in 1988-89. 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
Dwight Howard 18 12 2004-05 to 2021-22
Craig Neal 2 0 1988-89 to 1990-91

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

Dwight Howard Craig Neal
Season 2004-051988-89
Team Orlando MagicPortland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
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 %
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
Craig Neal 53 9.4 2.2 0.1 0.4 0.5 2.2 0.5 0.1 1.0 1.3 0.8 2.3 .366 0.2 0.6 .294 0.3 0.4 .609
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dwight Howard ------- --- ----------
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------

Note: Craig Neal didn't play in 1989-90.

Season 2

Dwight Howard Craig Neal
Season 2005-061990-91
Team Orlando MagicDenver Nuggets
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 %
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
Craig Neal 10 12.5 4.4 0.2 1.4 1.6 3.7 0.4 0.0 1.9 2.6 1.4 3.5 .400 0.3 0.9 .333 1.3 2.2 .591
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dwight Howard ------- --- ----------
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Dwight Howard Craig Neal
Season 2006-07-
Team Orlando Magic-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic 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 %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Dwight Howard Craig Neal
Season 2007-08-
Team Orlando Magic-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic 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 %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Dwight Howard Craig Neal
Season 2008-09-
Team Orlando 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 Magic Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Dwight Howard Craig Neal
Season 2009-10-
Team Orlando 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 Magic 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 %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Dwight Howard Craig Neal
Season 2010-11-
Team Orlando Magic-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic 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 %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Dwight Howard Craig Neal
Season 2011-12-
Team Orlando Magic-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dwight Howard ------- --- ----------
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Dwight Howard Craig Neal
Season 2012-13-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Dwight Howard Craig Neal
Season 2013-14-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Dwight Howard Craig Neal
Season 2014-15-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Dwight Howard Craig Neal
Season 2015-16-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
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 %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Dwight Howard Craig Neal
Season 2016-17-
Team Atlanta Hawks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Dwight Howard Craig Neal
Season 2017-18-
Team 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 %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dwight Howard ------- --- ----------
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Dwight Howard Craig Neal
Season 2018-19-
Team Washington Wizards-
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 %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dwight Howard ------- --- ----------
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Dwight Howard Craig Neal
Season 2019-20-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
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 %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Dwight Howard Craig Neal
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 %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Dwight Howard Craig Neal
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 %
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
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dwight Howard ------- --- ----------
Craig Neal ------- --- ----------