Rickey Green vs. Shaquille O'Neal Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Shaquille O'Neal and Rickey Green, 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.

Rickey Green played 14 years in the NBA, 5 less than Shaquille O'Neal, who played 19. Rickey Green had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Shaquille O'Neal had his rookie season in 1992-93. 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
Rickey Green 14 8 1977-78 to 1991-92
Shaquille O'Neal 19 17 1992-93 to 2010-11

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19

Rookie Season

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1977-781992-93
Team Golden State WarriorsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-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 %
Rickey Green 76 14.4 4.5 0.6 0.9 1.5 2.0 0.8 0.0 1.0 1.3 1.9 4.9 .381 - - - 0.7 1.2 .600
Shaquille O'Neal 81 37.9 23.4 4.2 9.6 13.9 1.9 0.7 3.5 3.8 4.0 9.0 16.1 .562 0.0 0.0 .000 5.3 8.9 .592
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1978-791993-94
Team Detroit PistonsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-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 %
Rickey Green 27 16.0 6.6 0.6 0.9 1.5 2.3 0.9 0.0 1.6 1.4 2.5 6.6 .379 - - - 1.7 2.5 .672
Shaquille O'Neal 81 39.8 29.3 4.7 8.5 13.2 2.4 0.9 2.9 2.7 3.5 11.8 19.6 .599 0.0 0.0 .000 5.8 10.5 .554
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 3 42.0 20.7 5.7 7.7 13.3 2.3 0.7 3.0 3.3 4.3 7.7 15.0 .511 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 11.3 .471

Note: Rickey Green didn't play in 1979-80.

Season 3

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1980-811994-95
Team Utah JazzOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMagic Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green 47 27.8 9.0 0.6 1.8 2.5 5.0 1.6 0.0 1.8 2.6 3.7 7.8 .481 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.1 .722
Shaquille O'Neal 79 37.0 29.3 4.2 7.3 11.4 2.7 0.9 2.4 2.6 3.3 11.8 20.2 .583 0.0 0.1 .000 5.8 10.8 .533
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 21 38.3 25.7 4.5 7.4 11.9 3.3 0.9 1.9 3.5 4.0 9.3 16.1 .577 0.0 0.0 - 7.1 12.4 .571

Season 4

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1981-821995-96
Team Utah JazzOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMagic 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 %
Rickey Green 81 34.8 14.8 1.0 2.0 3.0 7.8 2.3 0.1 2.4 2.3 6.2 12.5 .493 0.0 0.1 .000 2.5 3.3 .765
Shaquille O'Neal 54 36.0 26.6 3.4 7.7 11.0 2.9 0.6 2.1 2.9 3.6 11.0 19.1 .573 0.0 0.0 .500 4.6 9.5 .487
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 12 38.3 25.8 4.1 5.9 10.0 4.6 0.8 1.3 3.7 3.3 10.9 18.0 .606 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 10.2 .393

Season 5

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1982-831996-97
Team Utah JazzLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 %
Rickey Green 78 35.7 14.3 0.8 2.1 2.9 8.9 2.8 0.1 2.8 2.0 5.9 12.1 .493 0.0 0.2 .154 2.4 3.0 .797
Shaquille O'Neal 51 38.1 26.2 3.8 8.7 12.5 3.1 0.9 2.9 2.9 3.5 10.8 19.4 .557 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 9.4 .484
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 9 36.2 26.9 4.2 6.3 10.6 3.2 0.6 1.9 2.4 4.1 9.9 19.2 .514 0.0 0.0 - 7.1 11.7 .610

Season 6

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1983-841997-98
Team Utah JazzLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisLakers 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 %
Rickey Green 81 34.2 13.2 0.7 2.1 2.8 9.2 2.7 0.2 2.1 1.9 5.4 11.2 .486 0.0 0.2 .118 2.4 2.9 .821
Shaquille O'Neal 60 36.3 28.3 3.5 7.9 11.4 2.4 0.7 2.4 2.9 3.2 11.2 19.1 .584 0.0 0.0 - 6.0 11.4 .527
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green 11 36.7 14.6 0.8 2.3 3.1 9.5 1.7 0.4 2.6 1.5 5.8 13.7 .424 0.1 0.4 .250 2.9 3.9 .744
Shaquille O'Neal 13 38.5 30.5 3.7 6.5 10.2 2.9 0.5 2.6 3.3 3.2 12.2 19.8 .612 0.0 0.0 - 6.2 12.2 .503

Season 7

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1984-851998-99
Team Utah JazzLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisLakers 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 %
Rickey Green 77 31.6 13.0 0.5 2.0 2.5 7.8 1.7 0.0 2.3 1.7 4.9 10.4 .477 0.1 0.3 .300 3.0 3.5 .869
Shaquille O'Neal 49 34.8 26.3 3.8 6.9 10.7 2.3 0.7 1.7 2.5 3.2 10.4 18.1 .576 0.0 0.0 .000 5.5 10.2 .540
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green 10 30.2 15.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 7.5 1.2 0.0 2.0 2.3 5.7 10.6 .538 0.1 0.7 .143 3.5 3.8 .921
Shaquille O'Neal 8 39.4 26.6 5.5 6.1 11.6 2.3 0.9 2.9 2.3 3.6 9.9 19.4 .510 0.0 0.0 - 6.9 14.8 .466

Season 8

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1985-861999-00
Team Utah JazzLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green 80 25.2 11.7 0.4 1.3 1.7 5.1 1.3 0.1 1.7 1.6 4.5 9.5 .471 0.1 0.4 .172 2.7 3.1 .852
Shaquille O'Neal 79 40.0 29.7 4.3 9.4 13.6 3.8 0.5 3.0 2.8 3.2 12.1 21.1 .574 0.0 0.0 .000 5.5 10.4 .524
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green 4 29.8 13.3 0.0 2.3 2.3 9.5 0.5 0.0 1.3 0.3 5.3 10.8 .488 0.3 0.5 .500 2.5 2.8 .909
Shaquille O'Neal 23 43.5 30.7 5.2 10.3 15.4 3.1 0.6 2.4 2.4 2.9 12.4 22.0 .566 0.0 0.0 - 5.9 12.9 .456

Season 9

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1986-872000-01
Team Utah JazzLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green 81 25.8 9.6 0.5 1.5 2.0 6.7 1.4 0.0 1.6 1.3 3.7 8.0 .467 0.1 0.2 .368 2.1 2.6 .827
Shaquille O'Neal 74 39.5 28.7 3.9 8.8 12.7 3.7 0.6 2.8 2.9 3.5 11.0 19.2 .572 0.0 0.0 .000 6.7 13.1 .513
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green 4 18.0 6.8 0.3 1.8 2.0 6.3 0.5 0.0 1.8 1.3 2.8 5.8 .478 0.0 0.3 .000 1.3 1.5 .833
Shaquille O'Neal 16 42.3 30.4 5.7 9.8 15.4 3.2 0.4 2.4 3.6 3.4 11.9 21.5 .555 0.0 0.0 - 6.6 12.5 .525

Season 10

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1987-882001-02
Team Utah JazzLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green 81 13.8 4.9 0.2 0.8 1.0 3.7 0.7 0.0 1.2 1.0 1.9 4.6 .424 0.0 0.2 .211 0.9 1.0 .904
Shaquille O'Neal 67 36.1 27.2 3.5 7.2 10.7 3.0 0.6 2.0 2.6 3.0 10.6 18.3 .579 0.0 0.0 .000 5.9 10.7 .555
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green 7 5.4 0.6 0.0 0.1 0.1 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.4 0.3 0.3 1.1 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Shaquille O'Neal 19 40.8 28.5 3.5 9.1 12.6 2.8 0.5 2.5 3.3 3.3 10.7 20.2 .529 0.0 0.0 - 7.1 10.9 .649

Season 11

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1988-892002-03
Team Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisLakers 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 %
Rickey Green 63 13.8 4.6 0.2 0.9 1.1 3.0 0.6 0.0 1.0 0.6 2.0 4.2 .489 0.0 0.2 .273 0.5 0.5 .909
Shaquille O'Neal 67 37.8 27.5 3.9 7.2 11.1 3.1 0.6 2.4 2.9 3.4 10.4 18.1 .574 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 10.8 .622
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green 8 13.8 3.6 0.4 1.3 1.6 2.3 0.6 0.0 0.5 1.1 1.5 3.6 .414 0.1 0.3 .500 0.5 0.5 1.000
Shaquille O'Neal 12 40.1 27.0 5.3 9.6 14.8 3.7 0.6 2.8 2.9 2.8 10.1 18.8 .535 0.0 0.0 - 6.8 11.0 .621

Season 12

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1989-902003-04
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green 69 13.4 3.5 0.1 0.7 0.8 2.6 0.7 0.0 0.9 0.9 1.4 3.3 .433 0.0 0.2 .091 0.6 0.7 .843
Shaquille O'Neal 67 36.8 21.5 3.7 7.8 11.5 2.9 0.5 2.5 2.9 3.4 8.3 14.1 .584 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 10.1 .490
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green 3 10.3 0.7 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.7 1.7 0.3 2.3 .143 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Shaquille O'Neal 22 41.9 21.5 4.1 9.1 13.2 2.5 0.3 2.8 2.5 4.1 8.3 14.0 .593 0.0 0.0 - 5.0 11.5 .429

Season 13

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1990-912004-05
Team Philadelphia 76ersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisHeat 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 %
Rickey Green 79 28.5 10.0 0.4 1.3 1.7 5.2 0.7 0.1 1.4 1.6 4.2 9.1 .463 0.1 0.5 .222 1.5 1.8 .830
Shaquille O'Neal 73 34.1 22.9 3.5 6.9 10.4 2.7 0.5 2.3 2.8 3.6 9.0 15.0 .601 0.0 0.0 - 4.8 10.5 .461
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green 8 24.9 7.4 0.1 1.0 1.1 2.8 0.9 0.0 1.6 1.1 3.0 6.9 .436 0.4 0.5 .750 1.0 1.1 .889
Shaquille O'Neal 13 33.0 19.4 1.5 6.4 7.8 1.9 0.4 1.5 3.2 4.0 7.8 13.9 .558 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 8.2 .472

Season 14

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1991-922005-06
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green 26 14.1 4.1 0.1 0.8 0.9 2.6 0.7 0.0 0.7 1.1 1.8 4.0 .447 0.0 0.2 .250 0.5 0.7 .722
Shaquille O'Neal 59 30.6 20.0 2.9 6.3 9.2 1.9 0.4 1.8 2.8 3.9 8.1 13.6 .600 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 8.0 .469
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 23 33.0 18.4 3.3 6.5 9.8 1.7 0.5 1.5 3.7 3.7 7.7 12.7 .612 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 7.9 .374

Season 15

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season -2006-07
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Heat 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 %
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 40 28.4 17.3 2.4 5.0 7.4 2.0 0.2 1.4 2.4 3.5 7.1 12.0 .591 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 7.4 .422
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 4 30.3 18.8 4.0 4.5 8.5 1.3 0.3 1.5 3.5 3.8 8.3 14.8 .559 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 6.8 .333

Season 16

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season -2007-08
Team -Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Suns 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 %
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 61 28.7 13.6 2.7 6.4 9.1 1.5 0.5 1.4 3.0 3.7 5.4 9.1 .593 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 5.5 .503
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 5 30.0 15.2 2.6 6.6 9.2 1.0 1.0 2.6 1.8 4.2 4.4 10.0 .440 0.0 0.0 - 6.4 12.8 .500

Season 17

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season -2008-09
Team -Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
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 %
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 75 30.0 17.8 2.5 5.9 8.4 1.7 0.7 1.4 2.2 3.4 6.8 11.2 .609 0.0 0.0 .000 4.1 6.9 .595
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season -2009-10
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers 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 %
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 53 23.4 12.0 1.8 4.9 6.7 1.5 0.3 1.2 2.0 3.2 4.9 8.7 .566 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 4.3 .496
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 11 22.1 11.5 1.9 3.6 5.5 1.4 0.2 1.2 2.2 3.7 4.4 8.5 .516 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 4.3 .660

Season 19

Rickey Green Shaquille O'Neal
Season -2010-11
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 37 20.3 9.2 1.3 3.5 4.8 0.7 0.4 1.1 1.5 3.2 3.6 5.4 .667 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.5 .557
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal 2 6.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 2.0 0.5 1.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 1.0 .000