Earl Cureton vs. Dwight Howard Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dwight Howard and Earl Cureton, 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.

Earl Cureton played 12 years in the NBA, 6 less than Dwight Howard, who played 18. Earl Cureton had the first of his seasons in 1980-81, 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
Earl Cureton 12 7 1980-81 to 1996-97
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

Earl Cureton Dwight Howard
Season 1980-812004-05
Team Philadelphia 76ersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs 76ers Lost East 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 %
Earl Cureton 52 10.2 4.2 1.0 2.0 3.0 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.6 1.3 1.8 3.9 .454 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.2 .516
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 %
Earl Cureton 9 4.0 1.3 0.1 0.9 1.0 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.7 2.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.2 .000
Dwight Howard ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Earl Cureton Dwight Howard
Season 1981-822005-06
Team Philadelphia 76ersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton 66 14.5 5.3 1.4 2.7 4.1 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.7 2.2 2.3 4.6 .487 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.4 .543
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 %
Earl Cureton 12 6.3 2.7 1.0 1.2 2.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.4 1.0 1.1 3.4 .317 0.0 0.1 .000 0.5 0.8 .667
Dwight Howard ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Earl Cureton Dwight Howard
Season 1982-832006-07
Team Philadelphia 76ersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMagic 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 %
Earl Cureton 73 13.5 3.4 1.2 2.5 3.7 0.6 0.5 0.3 1.0 2.0 1.5 3.5 .419 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.9 .493
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 %
Earl Cureton 5 5.0 0.4 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.6 1.0 0.2 0.8 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Earl Cureton Dwight Howard
Season 1983-842007-08
Team Detroit PistonsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East 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 %
Earl Cureton 73 12.4 2.6 1.2 2.8 3.9 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.8 2.0 1.1 2.4 .458 0.0 0.0 .000 0.4 0.8 .525
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 %
Earl Cureton 5 18.6 6.4 2.8 3.8 6.6 0.4 0.4 0.2 1.0 1.8 3.0 6.2 .484 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 1.2 .333
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

Earl Cureton Dwight Howard
Season 1984-852008-09
Team Detroit PistonsOrlando 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 Pistons Lost East Conf SemisMagic Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton 81 20.3 6.1 2.1 3.1 5.2 1.0 0.7 0.5 1.4 2.7 2.6 5.3 .484 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.8 .569
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 %
Earl Cureton 9 14.8 4.1 1.1 3.4 4.6 0.4 1.0 0.2 0.4 2.2 1.8 3.8 .471 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 1.0 .556
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

Earl Cureton Dwight Howard
Season 1985-862009-10
Team Detroit PistonsOrlando 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 Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdMagic 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 %
Earl Cureton 80 25.2 8.6 2.5 3.8 6.3 1.7 0.7 0.7 1.9 3.0 3.6 7.1 .505 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.6 .555
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 %
Earl Cureton 4 31.5 9.0 3.0 4.5 7.5 2.3 0.8 0.0 1.3 3.5 4.3 7.8 .548 0.0 0.3 .000 0.5 2.0 .250
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

Earl Cureton Dwight Howard
Season 1986-872010-11
Team Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles ClippersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMagic 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 %
Earl Cureton 78 25.3 7.3 2.7 3.1 5.8 1.6 0.4 0.7 1.0 2.4 3.1 6.5 .476 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.9 .539
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 %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
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

Earl Cureton Dwight Howard
Season 1987-882011-12
Team Los Angeles ClippersOrlando 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 %
Earl Cureton 69 16.3 4.3 1.4 2.5 3.9 0.9 0.5 0.5 0.8 2.0 1.9 4.5 .429 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.9 .524
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 %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
Dwight Howard ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Earl Cureton Dwight Howard
Season 1988-892012-13
Team Charlotte HornetsLos 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 %
Earl Cureton 82 25.0 6.5 2.3 3.7 6.0 1.6 0.6 0.7 1.4 2.8 2.8 5.7 .501 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.5 .537
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 %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
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

Note: Earl Cureton didn't play in 1989-90.

Season 10

Earl Cureton Dwight Howard
Season 1990-912013-14
Team Charlotte HornetsHouston 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 %
Earl Cureton 9 17.7 1.9 0.7 3.3 4.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.7 1.8 0.9 2.7 .333 0.0 0.1 .000 0.1 0.3 .333
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 %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
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

Note: Earl Cureton didn't play in 1991-92 and 1992-93.

Season 11

Earl Cureton Dwight Howard
Season 1993-942014-15
Team Houston RocketsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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 %
Earl Cureton 2 15.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 2.0 1.0 4.0 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 1.0 .000
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 %
Earl Cureton 10 10.0 1.8 0.6 2.3 2.9 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 2.0 0.8 1.0 .800 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 1.000
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

Note: Earl Cureton didn't play in 1994-95 and 1995-96.

Season 12

Earl Cureton Dwight Howard
Season 1996-972015-16
Team Toronto RaptorsHouston 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 %
Earl Cureton 9 5.1 0.8 0.4 0.6 1.0 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.1 0.3 0.9 .375 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.3 .333
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 %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
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

Earl Cureton Dwight Howard
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 %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
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 %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
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

Earl Cureton Dwight Howard
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 %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
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 %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
Dwight Howard ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Earl Cureton Dwight Howard
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 %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
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 %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
Dwight Howard ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Earl Cureton Dwight Howard
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 %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
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 %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
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

Earl Cureton 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 %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
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 %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
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

Earl Cureton 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 %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
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 %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
Dwight Howard ------- --- ----------