Michael Cage vs. James Harden Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Harden and Michael Cage, 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.

Michael Cage and James Harden both played 15 years in the NBA. Michael Cage had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, while James Harden had his rookie season in 2009-10. 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
Michael Cage 15 7 1984-85 to 1999-00
James Harden 15 15 2009-10 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cage James Harden
Season 1984-852009-10
Team Los Angeles ClippersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 %
Michael Cage 75 21.5 7.1 1.7 3.5 5.2 0.7 0.5 0.4 1.1 2.2 2.9 5.3 .543 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.8 .737
James Harden 76 22.9 9.9 0.6 2.6 3.2 1.8 1.1 0.3 1.4 2.6 3.1 7.6 .403 1.2 3.3 .375 2.6 3.2 .808
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------
James Harden 6 20.0 7.7 0.2 2.3 2.5 1.8 1.0 0.2 0.5 2.3 2.0 5.2 .387 1.0 2.7 .375 2.7 3.2 .842

Season 2

Michael Cage James Harden
Season 1985-862010-11
Team Los Angeles ClippersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 %
Michael Cage 78 20.1 6.7 2.2 3.2 5.3 1.0 0.8 0.4 1.4 2.3 2.6 5.5 .479 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.2 .649
James Harden 82 26.7 12.2 0.5 2.6 3.1 2.1 1.1 0.3 1.3 2.5 3.6 8.3 .436 1.4 4.0 .349 3.5 4.2 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------
James Harden 17 31.6 13.0 0.6 4.8 5.4 3.6 1.2 0.8 1.6 2.8 3.9 8.2 .475 1.4 4.5 .303 3.9 4.7 .825

Season 3

Michael Cage James Harden
Season 1986-872011-12
Team Los Angeles ClippersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cage 80 36.5 15.7 4.4 7.1 11.5 1.6 1.2 0.8 2.1 2.8 5.7 11.0 .521 0.0 0.0 .000 4.3 5.8 .730
James Harden 62 31.4 16.8 0.5 3.6 4.1 3.7 1.0 0.2 2.2 2.4 5.0 10.1 .491 1.8 4.7 .390 5.0 6.0 .846
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------
James Harden 20 31.5 16.3 0.7 4.5 5.1 3.4 1.6 0.1 2.1 3.4 4.7 10.7 .435 1.6 3.9 .410 5.4 6.3 .857

Season 4

Michael Cage James Harden
Season 1987-882012-13
Team Los Angeles ClippersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
-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 %
Michael Cage 72 36.9 14.5 5.2 7.9 13.0 1.5 1.3 0.8 2.2 2.7 5.0 10.6 .470 0.0 0.0 .000 4.5 6.6 .688
James Harden 78 38.3 25.9 0.8 4.1 4.9 5.8 1.8 0.5 3.8 2.3 7.5 17.1 .438 2.3 6.2 .368 8.6 10.2 .851
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------
James Harden 6 40.5 26.3 0.8 5.8 6.7 4.5 2.0 1.0 4.5 3.0 7.5 19.2 .391 2.5 7.3 .341 8.8 11.0 .803

Season 5

Michael Cage James Harden
Season 1988-892013-14
Team Seattle SupersonicsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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 %
Michael Cage 80 31.7 10.3 3.5 6.1 9.6 1.6 1.2 0.7 1.6 2.3 3.9 7.9 .498 0.0 0.1 .000 2.5 3.3 .743
James Harden 73 38.0 25.4 0.8 3.9 4.7 6.1 1.6 0.4 3.6 2.4 7.5 16.5 .456 2.4 6.6 .366 7.9 9.1 .866
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cage 8 21.9 7.1 2.8 3.0 5.8 0.6 0.9 0.4 1.0 1.8 3.0 5.0 .600 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 2.8 .409
James Harden 6 43.8 26.8 0.8 3.8 4.7 5.8 2.0 0.2 3.5 3.5 8.3 22.2 .376 2.7 9.0 .296 7.5 8.3 .900

Season 6

Michael Cage James Harden
Season 1989-902014-15
Team Seattle SupersonicsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Michael Cage 82 31.6 9.7 3.7 6.3 10.0 0.9 1.0 0.5 1.1 2.8 4.0 7.9 .504 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.6 .698
James Harden 81 36.8 27.4 0.9 4.7 5.7 7.0 1.9 0.7 4.0 2.6 8.0 18.1 .440 2.6 6.9 .375 8.8 10.2 .868
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------
James Harden 17 37.4 27.2 0.7 5.0 5.7 7.5 1.6 0.4 4.5 2.9 7.6 17.3 .439 2.4 6.3 .383 9.6 10.5 .916

Season 7

Michael Cage James Harden
Season 1990-912015-16
Team Seattle SupersonicsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets 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 %
Michael Cage 82 26.1 6.4 2.2 4.6 6.8 1.1 1.0 0.7 1.0 2.4 2.8 5.4 .508 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.4 .625
James Harden 82 38.1 29.0 0.8 5.3 6.1 7.5 1.7 0.6 4.6 2.8 8.7 19.7 .439 2.9 8.0 .359 8.8 10.2 .860
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cage 5 16.0 5.0 1.8 2.4 4.2 0.4 0.6 0.4 0.6 2.4 1.2 2.8 .429 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.4 .765
James Harden 5 38.6 26.6 1.4 3.8 5.2 7.6 2.4 0.2 5.2 2.6 8.2 20.0 .410 2.6 8.4 .310 7.6 9.0 .844

Season 8

Michael Cage James Harden
Season 1991-922016-17
Team Seattle SupersonicsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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 %
Michael Cage 82 30.0 8.8 3.2 5.6 8.9 1.1 1.2 0.7 1.0 2.9 3.7 6.6 .566 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 2.1 .620
James Harden 81 36.4 29.1 1.2 7.0 8.1 11.2 1.5 0.5 5.7 2.7 8.3 18.9 .440 3.2 9.3 .347 9.2 10.9 .847
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cage 9 21.9 4.3 2.0 3.7 5.7 0.4 0.7 0.9 0.9 2.4 2.1 3.8 .559 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.1 1.000
James Harden 11 37.0 28.5 0.6 4.8 5.5 8.5 1.9 0.5 5.4 3.9 8.2 19.8 .413 2.9 10.5 .278 9.2 10.5 .878

Season 9

Michael Cage James Harden
Season 1992-932017-18
Team Seattle SupersonicsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsRockets 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 %
Michael Cage 82 26.3 6.1 3.3 4.8 8.0 0.8 0.9 0.6 0.7 2.2 2.7 5.1 .526 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 1.6 .469
James Harden 72 35.4 30.4 0.6 4.8 5.4 8.8 1.8 0.7 4.4 2.3 9.0 20.1 .449 3.7 10.0 .367 8.7 10.1 .858
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cage 19 19.9 4.8 2.5 3.4 5.8 0.5 0.7 0.4 0.8 2.3 2.2 4.2 .525 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.9 .389
James Harden 17 36.5 28.6 0.8 4.4 5.2 6.8 2.2 0.6 3.8 2.7 9.3 22.6 .410 3.1 10.2 .299 6.9 7.8 .887

Season 10

Michael Cage James Harden
Season 1993-942018-19
Team Seattle SupersonicsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets 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 %
Michael Cage 82 20.8 4.6 2.0 3.4 5.4 0.5 0.9 0.5 0.6 2.2 2.1 3.8 .545 0.0 0.0 .000 0.4 0.9 .486
James Harden 78 36.8 36.1 0.8 5.8 6.6 7.5 2.0 0.7 5.0 3.1 10.8 24.5 .442 4.8 13.2 .368 9.7 11.0 .879
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cage 5 18.6 2.8 2.0 3.4 5.4 0.8 0.8 1.0 0.6 3.0 1.2 3.2 .375 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 1.2 .333
James Harden 11 38.5 31.6 0.8 6.0 6.8 6.6 2.2 0.9 4.6 3.7 9.9 24.0 .413 4.4 12.5 .350 7.5 8.9 .837

Season 11

Michael Cage James Harden
Season 1994-952019-20
Team Cleveland CavaliersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets 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 %
Michael Cage 82 24.9 5.0 2.5 4.4 6.9 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.7 1.8 2.2 4.1 .521 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.1 .602
James Harden 68 36.5 34.3 1.0 5.5 6.6 7.5 1.8 0.9 4.5 3.3 9.9 22.3 .444 4.4 12.4 .355 10.2 11.8 .865
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cage 4 20.3 4.0 2.0 2.5 4.5 0.8 0.5 1.0 0.3 2.3 2.0 4.5 .444 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.5 .000
James Harden 12 37.3 29.6 1.0 4.6 5.6 7.7 1.5 0.8 3.8 3.6 9.1 19.0 .478 3.3 9.8 .333 8.2 9.7 .845

Season 12

Michael Cage James Harden
Season 1995-962020-21
Team Cleveland CavaliersHouston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st RdNets 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 %
Michael Cage 82 32.1 6.0 3.5 5.4 8.9 0.6 1.1 1.0 0.7 2.6 2.7 4.8 .556 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.1 .543
James Harden 44 36.6 24.6 0.8 7.1 7.9 10.8 1.2 0.8 4.0 2.3 7.8 16.7 .466 2.8 7.6 .362 6.3 7.3 .861
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cage 3 33.7 6.3 4.3 5.0 9.3 0.7 0.7 1.7 0.0 1.7 2.7 4.7 .571 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.7 .600
James Harden 9 35.8 20.2 0.8 5.6 6.3 8.6 1.7 0.7 2.9 2.6 5.7 12.0 .472 2.7 7.3 .364 6.2 6.9 .903

Season 13

Michael Cage James Harden
Season 1996-972021-22
Team Philadelphia 76ersBrooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers 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 %
Michael Cage 82 15.2 1.8 1.4 2.5 3.9 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.2 1.4 0.8 1.7 .468 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.5 .463
James Harden 65 37.2 22.0 0.8 6.8 7.7 10.3 1.3 0.6 4.4 2.4 6.3 15.3 .410 2.3 6.9 .330 7.2 8.2 .877
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------
James Harden 12 39.9 18.6 0.9 4.8 5.7 8.6 0.8 0.7 4.2 2.4 5.3 13.2 .405 2.3 6.3 .368 5.6 6.3 .893

Season 14

Michael Cage James Harden
Season 1997-982022-23
Team New Jersey NetsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers 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 %
Michael Cage 79 15.2 1.3 1.5 2.4 3.9 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.3 1.3 0.5 1.1 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.5 .556
James Harden 58 36.8 21.0 0.7 5.4 6.1 10.7 1.2 0.5 3.4 1.9 6.4 14.5 .441 2.8 7.2 .385 5.4 6.2 .867
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------
James Harden 11 38.8 20.3 0.5 5.6 6.2 8.3 1.8 0.4 3.2 2.5 6.5 16.6 .393 2.8 7.5 .378 4.4 5.0 .873

Note: Michael Cage didn't play in 1998-99.

Season 15

Michael Cage James Harden
Season 1999-002023-24
Team New Jersey NetsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayClippers 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 %
Michael Cage 20 12.1 1.4 1.7 2.4 4.1 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.2 1.5 0.6 1.2 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 1.000
James Harden 72 34.3 16.6 0.5 4.7 5.1 8.5 1.1 0.8 2.6 1.8 4.9 11.4 .428 2.6 6.8 .381 4.2 4.8 .878
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------
James Harden 6 40.3 21.2 0.5 4.0 4.5 8.0 1.0 1.0 2.3 2.2 6.7 14.8 .449 3.0 7.8 .383 4.8 5.3 .906