Hakeem Olajuwon vs. Paul Westphal Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul Westphal and Hakeem Olajuwon, 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.

Hakeem Olajuwon played 18 years in the NBA, 6 more than Paul Westphal, who played 12. Hakeem Olajuwon had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, while Paul Westphal had his rookie season in 1972-73. 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
Hakeem Olajuwon 18 15 1984-85 to 2001-02
Paul Westphal 12 9 1972-73 to 1983-84

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

Hakeem Olajuwon Paul Westphal
Season 1984-851972-73
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
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
Paul Westphal 60 8.0 4.1 - - 1.1 1.2 - - - 1.5 1.5 3.5 .420 - - - 1.1 1.4 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Westphal 11 9.9 3.9 - - 0.6 0.8 - - - 2.2 1.7 3.5 .487 - - - 0.5 0.6 .714

Season 2

Hakeem Olajuwon Paul Westphal
Season 1985-861973-74
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Westphal 82 14.2 7.2 0.6 1.1 1.7 2.1 0.5 0.4 - 2.1 2.9 5.8 .501 - - - 1.4 1.9 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Westphal 18 13.4 5.7 0.3 0.8 1.2 1.7 0.4 0.1 - 2.1 2.6 5.6 .460 - - - 0.6 0.8 .733

Season 3

Hakeem Olajuwon Paul Westphal
Season 1986-871974-75
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisCeltics 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 %
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
Paul Westphal 82 19.3 9.8 0.5 1.5 2.0 2.9 1.0 0.4 - 2.3 4.2 8.2 .510 - - - 1.5 1.9 .763
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Westphal 11 16.6 8.0 0.5 0.7 1.2 2.9 0.5 0.2 - 1.9 3.5 7.4 .469 - - - 1.1 1.6 .667

Season 4

Hakeem Olajuwon Paul Westphal
Season 1987-881975-76
Team Houston RocketsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdSuns Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Westphal 82 36.1 20.5 0.9 2.3 3.2 5.4 2.6 0.5 - 2.7 8.0 16.2 .494 - - - 4.5 5.4 .830
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Westphal 19 36.1 21.1 0.7 1.7 2.5 5.1 1.8 0.5 - 3.2 8.7 17.0 .511 - - - 3.7 4.9 .763

Season 5

Hakeem Olajuwon Paul Westphal
Season 1988-891976-77
Team Houston RocketsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
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
Paul Westphal 81 32.1 21.3 0.7 1.6 2.3 5.7 1.7 0.3 - 2.1 8.4 16.3 .518 - - - 4.5 5.4 .825
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Hakeem Olajuwon Paul Westphal
Season 1989-901977-78
Team Houston RocketsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdSuns 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 %
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
Paul Westphal 80 31.0 25.2 0.5 1.5 2.1 5.5 1.7 0.4 3.5 2.0 10.1 19.6 .516 - - - 5.0 6.1 .813
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Westphal 2 33.0 26.0 1.5 1.5 3.0 9.5 0.5 0.0 2.5 2.0 11.0 23.5 .468 - - - 4.0 4.5 .889

Season 7

Hakeem Olajuwon Paul Westphal
Season 1990-911978-79
Team Houston RocketsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdSuns 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 %
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
Paul Westphal 81 32.6 24.0 0.4 1.5 2.0 6.5 1.4 0.3 2.9 2.0 9.9 18.5 .535 - - - 4.2 5.0 .837
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Westphal 15 35.6 22.4 0.5 1.7 2.2 4.3 1.0 0.3 2.5 2.5 9.5 19.1 .495 - - - 3.5 4.4 .788

Season 8

Hakeem Olajuwon Paul Westphal
Season 1991-921979-80
Team Houston RocketsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
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
Paul Westphal 82 32.5 21.9 0.6 1.7 2.3 5.1 1.5 0.4 2.5 2.0 8.4 16.1 .525 0.3 1.1 .280 4.7 5.4 .862
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal 8 31.6 20.9 0.3 1.0 1.3 3.9 1.4 0.4 1.6 2.5 8.6 17.8 .486 0.1 1.5 .083 3.5 4.0 .875

Season 9

Hakeem Olajuwon Paul Westphal
Season 1992-931980-81
Team Houston RocketsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
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
Paul Westphal 36 29.9 16.7 0.3 1.6 1.9 4.1 1.3 0.4 2.2 1.9 6.1 13.9 .442 0.2 0.7 .240 4.3 5.1 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Hakeem Olajuwon Paul Westphal
Season 1993-941981-82
Team Houston RocketsNew York Knicks
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 NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Westphal 18 25.1 11.7 0.5 0.7 1.2 5.6 1.1 0.4 2.6 3.4 4.8 10.8 .443 0.1 0.4 .250 2.0 2.6 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Hakeem Olajuwon Paul Westphal
Season 1994-951982-83
Team Houston RocketsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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 %
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
Paul Westphal 80 24.7 10.0 0.2 1.2 1.4 5.5 1.1 0.2 2.5 2.3 4.0 8.7 .459 0.2 0.6 .292 1.9 2.3 .804
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Westphal 6 26.0 9.5 0.0 1.3 1.3 5.7 0.3 0.3 1.5 2.2 3.7 8.3 .440 0.5 1.3 .375 1.7 2.2 .769

Season 12

Hakeem Olajuwon Paul Westphal
Season 1995-961983-84
Team Houston RocketsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisSuns 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 %
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
Paul Westphal 59 14.7 7.0 0.1 0.6 0.7 2.5 0.7 0.1 1.3 1.2 2.4 5.3 .460 0.1 0.4 .269 2.0 2.4 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Westphal 17 13.1 5.3 0.2 0.3 0.5 2.2 0.7 0.0 1.4 1.4 1.8 4.7 .375 0.1 0.5 .222 1.6 1.9 .875

Season 13

Hakeem Olajuwon Paul Westphal
Season 1996-97-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Hakeem Olajuwon Paul Westphal
Season 1997-98-
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 %
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Hakeem Olajuwon Paul Westphal
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 %
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Hakeem Olajuwon Paul Westphal
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 %
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Hakeem Olajuwon Paul Westphal
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 %
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Hakeem Olajuwon Paul Westphal
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 %
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------