Maurice Cheeks vs. Yao Ming Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Yao Ming and Maurice Cheeks, 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.

Maurice Cheeks played 15 years in the NBA, 7 more than Yao Ming, who played 8. Maurice Cheeks had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Yao Ming had his rookie season in 2002-03. 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
Maurice Cheeks 15 13 1978-79 to 1992-93
Yao Ming 8 4 2002-03 to 2010-11

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Maurice Cheeks Yao Ming
Season 1978-792002-03
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-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 %
Maurice Cheeks 82 29.4 8.4 0.8 2.3 3.1 5.3 2.1 0.1 2.4 2.4 3.6 7.0 .510 - - - 1.2 1.7 .721
Yao Ming 82 29.0 13.5 2.4 5.8 8.2 1.7 0.4 1.8 2.1 2.8 4.9 9.8 .498 0.0 0.0 .500 3.7 4.5 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 9 36.7 18.8 1.4 2.4 3.9 7.0 4.1 0.4 3.2 3.2 7.3 13.4 .545 - - - 4.1 6.2 .661
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Maurice Cheeks Yao Ming
Season 1979-802003-04
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsRockets 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 79 33.2 11.4 0.9 2.5 3.5 7.0 2.3 0.4 2.7 2.5 4.5 8.4 .540 0.1 0.1 .444 2.3 2.9 .779
Yao Ming 82 32.8 17.5 2.4 6.6 9.0 1.5 0.3 1.9 2.5 3.3 6.5 12.5 .522 0.0 0.0 .000 4.4 5.4 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 18 37.5 11.6 1.2 2.9 4.1 6.2 2.5 0.2 2.5 2.4 4.9 9.7 .511 0.1 0.3 .200 1.6 2.3 .707
Yao Ming 5 37.6 15.0 2.2 5.2 7.4 1.8 0.4 1.4 2.6 4.0 6.2 13.6 .456 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.4 .765

Season 3

Maurice Cheeks Yao Ming
Season 1980-812004-05
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsRockets 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 81 29.8 9.4 0.8 2.2 3.0 6.9 2.4 0.5 2.1 2.9 3.8 7.2 .534 0.0 0.1 .375 1.7 2.2 .787
Yao Ming 80 30.6 18.3 2.6 5.8 8.4 0.8 0.4 2.0 2.5 3.7 6.7 12.2 .552 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 6.2 .783
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 16 32.1 10.5 0.3 2.9 3.2 7.3 2.5 0.8 2.3 3.4 4.3 7.8 .544 0.0 0.2 .000 2.0 2.6 .762
Yao Ming 7 31.9 21.4 3.3 4.4 7.7 0.7 0.3 2.7 2.7 4.4 7.9 12.0 .655 0.0 0.0 - 5.7 7.9 .727

Season 4

Maurice Cheeks Yao Ming
Season 1981-822005-06
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 79 31.6 11.2 0.6 2.5 3.1 8.4 2.6 0.4 2.3 3.1 4.5 8.6 .521 0.1 0.3 .273 2.2 2.8 .777
Yao Ming 57 34.2 22.3 2.6 7.6 10.2 1.5 0.5 1.6 2.6 3.4 8.2 15.8 .519 0.0 0.0 .000 5.9 6.9 .853
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 21 36.4 14.3 0.7 2.2 3.0 8.2 2.3 0.3 2.3 2.8 6.0 12.6 .472 0.0 0.4 .111 2.4 3.1 .769
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Maurice Cheeks Yao Ming
Season 1982-832006-07
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 79 31.2 12.5 0.7 2.0 2.6 6.9 2.3 0.4 2.3 2.3 5.1 9.4 .542 0.0 0.1 .167 2.3 3.0 .754
Yao Ming 48 33.8 25.0 2.1 7.3 9.4 2.0 0.4 2.0 3.5 3.3 8.8 17.1 .516 0.0 0.0 .000 7.4 8.6 .862
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 13 37.2 16.3 0.8 2.2 3.0 7.0 2.0 0.2 2.6 1.8 6.4 12.7 .503 0.1 0.2 .500 3.5 4.9 .703
Yao Ming 7 37.1 25.1 3.3 7.0 10.3 0.9 0.1 0.7 4.7 3.9 7.9 17.9 .440 0.0 0.0 - 9.4 10.7 .880

Season 6

Maurice Cheeks Yao Ming
Season 1983-842007-08
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 75 33.3 12.7 0.6 2.1 2.7 6.4 2.3 0.3 2.4 2.6 5.1 9.4 .550 0.1 0.3 .400 2.3 3.1 .733
Yao Ming 55 37.2 22.0 3.1 7.7 10.8 2.3 0.5 2.0 3.3 3.1 7.9 15.5 .507 0.0 0.0 .000 6.3 7.4 .850
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 5 34.2 16.6 0.4 2.0 2.4 3.8 2.6 0.0 2.0 3.6 7.0 13.4 .522 0.0 0.2 .000 2.6 3.0 .867
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Maurice Cheeks Yao Ming
Season 1984-852008-09
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsRockets 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 78 33.5 13.1 0.7 2.1 2.8 6.4 2.2 0.3 2.0 2.4 5.4 9.5 .570 0.1 0.3 .231 2.2 2.6 .879
Yao Ming 77 33.6 19.7 2.6 7.2 9.9 1.8 0.4 1.9 3.0 3.3 7.4 13.4 .548 0.0 0.0 1.000 4.9 5.7 .866
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 13 37.2 15.2 0.9 2.6 3.5 5.2 2.4 0.4 2.6 2.2 6.2 11.8 .529 0.0 0.4 .000 2.8 3.2 .857
Yao Ming 9 35.9 17.1 2.1 8.8 10.9 1.0 0.4 1.2 1.9 3.0 6.0 11.0 .545 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 5.7 .902

Note: Yao Ming didn't play in 2009-10.

Season 8

Maurice Cheeks Yao Ming
Season 1985-862010-11
Team Philadelphia 76ersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 82 39.9 15.4 0.7 2.2 2.9 9.2 2.5 0.3 2.9 2.0 6.0 11.1 .537 0.0 0.2 .235 3.4 4.1 .842
Yao Ming 5 18.2 10.2 1.4 4.0 5.4 0.8 0.0 1.6 1.4 2.6 3.6 7.4 .486 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.2 .938
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 12 43.3 20.8 1.1 3.6 4.7 7.1 1.1 0.3 2.7 1.5 7.8 15.2 .516 0.0 0.6 .000 5.2 6.1 .849
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Maurice Cheeks Yao Ming
Season 1986-87-
Team Philadelphia 76ers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 68 38.6 15.6 0.7 2.5 3.2 7.9 2.6 0.2 2.5 1.6 6.1 11.6 .527 0.1 0.3 .235 3.3 4.3 .777
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 5 42.0 17.6 0.2 2.4 2.6 8.8 1.8 0.8 2.4 2.8 7.0 13.2 .530 0.0 0.2 .000 3.6 4.2 .857
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Maurice Cheeks Yao Ming
Season 1987-88-
Team Philadelphia 76ers-
Honors & Awards 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 79 36.3 13.7 0.7 2.5 3.2 8.0 2.1 0.3 2.0 1.5 5.4 10.9 .495 0.0 0.3 .136 2.9 3.5 .825
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Maurice Cheeks Yao Ming
Season 1988-89-
Team Philadelphia 76ers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 71 32.4 11.6 0.5 2.0 2.6 7.8 1.5 0.2 1.6 1.6 4.7 9.8 .483 0.0 0.2 .077 2.1 2.7 .774
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 3 42.7 17.7 1.0 2.7 3.7 13.0 2.3 0.3 1.0 1.3 7.0 13.7 .512 0.0 0.3 .000 3.7 4.3 .846
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Maurice Cheeks Yao Ming
Season 1989-90-
Team San Antonio Spurs, 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 81 31.1 9.7 0.6 2.3 3.0 5.6 1.5 0.1 1.5 1.0 3.8 7.5 .504 0.0 0.2 .250 2.1 2.5 .847
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 10 38.8 12.8 1.2 2.7 3.9 8.5 1.7 0.2 1.9 2.1 5.0 10.4 .481 0.0 0.4 .000 2.8 3.1 .903
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Maurice Cheeks Yao Ming
Season 1990-91-
Team New York Knicks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 76 28.3 7.8 0.3 2.0 2.3 5.7 1.7 0.1 1.4 1.8 3.2 6.4 .499 0.1 0.3 .250 1.4 1.7 .814
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 3 33.7 10.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 5.3 1.0 0.3 2.7 3.0 4.7 7.7 .609 0.3 1.0 .333 0.3 0.7 .500
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Maurice Cheeks Yao Ming
Season 1991-92-
Team Atlanta Hawks-
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 %
Maurice Cheeks 56 19.4 4.6 0.5 1.2 1.7 3.3 1.5 0.0 0.6 1.3 2.1 4.4 .462 0.1 0.1 .500 0.5 0.8 .605
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Maurice Cheeks Yao Ming
Season 1992-93-
Team New Jersey Nets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 35 14.6 3.6 0.1 1.1 1.2 3.1 0.9 0.1 0.9 1.0 1.5 2.7 .548 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 0.8 .889
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 5 16.4 4.4 0.6 0.6 1.2 2.8 1.2 0.2 1.4 0.6 2.2 4.6 .478 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.2 .000
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------