Julius Erving vs. Derek Harper Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Derek Harper and Julius Erving, 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 / Games against each other

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.

Julius Erving played 11 years in the NBA, 5 less than Derek Harper, who played 16. Julius Erving had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Derek Harper had his rookie season in 1983-84. 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
Julius Erving 11 11 1976-77 to 1986-87
Derek Harper 16 10 1983-84 to 1998-99

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Julius Erving Derek Harper
Season 1976-771983-84
Team Philadelphia 76ersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsMavericks 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 %
Julius Erving 82 35.9 21.6 2.3 6.1 8.5 3.7 1.9 1.4 - 3.1 8.4 16.7 .499 - - - 4.9 6.3 .777
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 19 39.9 27.3 2.2 4.3 6.4 4.5 2.2 1.2 - 2.4 10.7 20.5 .523 - - - 5.8 7.1 .821
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

Season 2

Julius Erving Derek Harper
Season 1977-781984-85
Team Philadelphia 76ersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsMavericks 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 %
Julius Erving 74 32.8 20.6 2.4 4.1 6.5 3.8 1.8 1.3 3.2 2.8 8.3 16.4 .502 - - - 4.1 4.9 .845
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 10 35.8 21.8 4.0 5.7 9.7 4.0 1.5 1.8 3.5 3.0 8.8 18.0 .489 - - - 4.2 5.6 .750
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

Season 3

Julius Erving Derek Harper
Season 1978-791985-86
Team Philadelphia 76ersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisMavericks 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 %
Julius Erving 78 35.9 23.1 2.5 4.7 7.2 4.6 1.7 1.3 4.0 2.7 9.2 18.7 .491 - - - 4.8 6.4 .745
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 9 41.3 25.4 3.2 4.6 7.8 5.9 2.0 1.9 4.2 2.4 9.9 19.1 .517 - - - 5.7 7.4 .761
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

Season 4

Julius Erving Derek Harper
Season 1979-801986-87
Team Philadelphia 76ersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsMavericks 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 %
Julius Erving 78 36.1 26.9 2.8 4.6 7.4 4.6 2.2 1.8 3.6 2.7 10.7 20.7 .519 0.1 0.3 .200 5.4 6.8 .787
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 18 38.6 24.4 1.7 5.8 7.6 4.4 2.0 2.1 3.1 3.1 9.2 18.8 .488 0.1 0.5 .222 6.0 7.6 .794
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

Season 5

Julius Erving Derek Harper
Season 1980-811987-88
Team Philadelphia 76ersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsMavericks 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 %
Julius Erving 82 35.0 24.6 3.0 5.0 8.0 4.4 2.1 1.8 3.2 2.8 9.7 18.6 .521 0.0 0.2 .222 5.1 6.5 .787
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 16 37.0 22.9 3.3 3.9 7.1 3.4 1.4 2.6 3.4 3.4 8.9 18.8 .475 0.0 0.1 .000 5.1 6.7 .757
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

Season 6

Julius Erving Derek Harper
Season 1981-821988-89
Team Philadelphia 76ersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Julius Erving 81 34.4 24.4 2.7 4.2 6.9 3.9 2.0 1.7 2.6 2.8 9.6 17.6 .546 0.0 0.1 .273 5.1 6.7 .763
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 21 37.1 22.0 2.7 4.7 7.4 4.7 1.8 1.8 3.2 2.6 8.0 15.4 .519 0.0 0.3 .167 5.9 7.9 .752
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Julius Erving Derek Harper
Season 1982-831989-90
Team Philadelphia 76ersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks 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 %
Julius Erving 72 33.6 21.4 2.4 4.4 6.8 3.7 1.6 1.8 2.7 2.8 8.4 16.3 .517 0.0 0.1 .286 4.6 6.0 .759
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 13 37.9 18.4 2.5 5.2 7.6 3.4 1.2 2.1 3.0 3.2 7.3 16.2 .450 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 5.2 .721
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

Season 8

Julius Erving Derek Harper
Season 1983-841990-91
Team Philadelphia 76ersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East 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 %
Julius Erving 77 34.8 22.4 2.5 4.4 6.9 4.0 1.8 1.8 3.0 2.8 8.8 17.2 .512 0.1 0.3 .333 4.7 6.3 .754
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 5 38.8 18.2 1.8 4.6 6.4 5.0 1.6 1.2 4.2 2.8 7.2 15.2 .474 0.0 0.2 .000 3.8 4.4 .864
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Julius Erving Derek Harper
Season 1984-851991-92
Team Philadelphia 76ersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Julius Erving 78 32.5 20.0 2.2 3.1 5.3 3.0 1.7 1.4 2.7 2.6 7.8 15.8 .494 0.0 0.2 .214 4.3 5.7 .765
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 13 33.4 17.1 2.2 3.4 5.6 3.7 1.9 0.8 2.8 2.6 6.5 14.4 .449 0.0 0.1 .000 4.2 4.8 .857
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Julius Erving Derek Harper
Season 1985-861992-93
Team Philadelphia 76ersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East 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 %
Julius Erving 74 33.4 18.1 2.3 2.7 5.0 3.4 1.5 1.1 2.9 2.6 7.0 14.7 .480 0.1 0.4 .281 3.9 5.0 .785
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 12 36.1 17.7 2.2 3.7 5.8 4.2 0.9 1.3 3.3 2.7 6.8 15.0 .450 0.2 0.9 .182 4.0 5.4 .738
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Julius Erving Derek Harper
Season 1986-871993-94
Team Philadelphia 76ersDallas Mavericks, New York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf 1st RdKnicks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 60 32.0 16.8 1.9 2.5 4.4 3.2 1.3 1.6 2.6 2.3 6.7 14.2 .471 0.2 0.9 .264 3.2 3.9 .813
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 5 36.0 18.2 2.8 2.2 5.0 3.4 1.4 1.2 1.8 3.8 6.8 16.4 .415 0.4 1.2 .333 4.2 5.0 .840
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

Season 12

Julius Erving Derek Harper
Season -1994-95
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
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

Season 13

Julius Erving Derek Harper
Season -1995-96
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
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

Season 14

Julius Erving Derek Harper
Season -1996-97
Team -Dallas Mavericks
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 %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Julius Erving Derek Harper
Season -1997-98
Team -Orlando Magic
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 %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
Derek Harper ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Julius Erving Derek Harper
Season -1998-99
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Lakers 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 %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
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