Sam Bowie vs. Shaquille O'Neal Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Shaquille O'Neal and Sam Bowie, 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.

Sam Bowie played 10 years in the NBA, 9 less than Shaquille O'Neal, who played 19. Sam Bowie had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, 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
Sam Bowie 10 5 1984-85 to 1994-95
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

Sam Bowie Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1984-851992-93
Team Portland Trail BlazersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Sam Bowie 76 29.2 10.0 2.7 5.9 8.6 2.8 0.7 2.7 2.3 3.7 3.9 7.3 .537 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.0 .711
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 %
Sam Bowie 9 28.8 7.3 1.8 6.7 8.4 2.3 0.4 2.3 1.3 4.0 2.9 6.6 .441 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.8 .560
Shaquille O'Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Sam Bowie Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1985-861993-94
Team Portland Trail BlazersOrlando 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 %
Sam Bowie 38 29.8 11.8 2.4 6.2 8.6 2.6 0.6 2.5 2.3 3.7 4.4 9.1 .484 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.2 .708
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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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

Season 3

Sam Bowie Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1986-871994-95
Team Portland Trail BlazersOrlando 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 %
Sam Bowie 5 32.6 16.0 2.8 3.8 6.6 1.8 0.2 2.0 3.0 3.8 6.0 13.2 .455 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 6.0 .667
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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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

Note: Sam Bowie didn't play in 1987-88.

Season 4

Sam Bowie Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1988-891995-96
Team Portland Trail BlazersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdMagic 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 %
Sam Bowie 20 20.6 8.6 1.8 3.5 5.3 1.8 0.4 1.7 1.7 2.2 3.5 7.7 .451 0.3 0.4 .714 1.4 2.5 .571
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 %
Sam Bowie 3 22.3 10.3 3.3 3.3 6.7 1.0 0.0 2.3 1.0 2.7 4.0 9.3 .429 0.3 0.7 .500 2.0 2.7 .750
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

Sam Bowie Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1989-901996-97
Team New Jersey NetsLos 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 %
Sam Bowie 68 32.5 14.7 3.0 7.1 10.1 1.3 0.6 1.8 1.8 3.1 5.1 12.3 .416 0.1 0.5 .323 4.3 5.6 .776
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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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

Sam Bowie Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1990-911997-98
Team New Jersey NetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 %
Sam Bowie 62 30.9 12.9 2.8 4.9 7.7 2.4 0.7 1.5 2.3 2.8 5.1 11.7 .434 0.1 0.4 .182 2.7 3.7 .732
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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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

Sam Bowie Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1991-921998-99
Team New Jersey NetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
Sam Bowie 71 30.7 15.0 2.9 5.3 8.1 2.6 0.6 1.7 2.1 3.0 5.9 13.3 .445 0.1 0.4 .320 3.0 3.9 .757
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 %
Sam Bowie 4 28.0 9.3 2.0 2.8 4.8 2.3 0.8 0.8 1.3 4.8 3.5 8.3 .424 0.3 0.5 .500 2.0 3.0 .667
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

Sam Bowie Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1992-931999-00
Team New Jersey NetsLos 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 Nets Lost East 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 %
Sam Bowie 79 26.5 9.1 2.0 5.0 7.0 1.6 0.4 1.6 1.5 2.9 3.6 8.1 .450 0.0 0.1 .333 1.8 2.3 .779
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 %
Sam Bowie 3 23.7 3.3 0.7 3.3 4.0 0.7 2.0 0.3 1.3 3.0 1.3 3.0 .444 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000
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

Sam Bowie Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1993-942000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 %
Sam Bowie 25 22.2 8.9 1.1 4.2 5.2 1.9 0.2 1.1 1.7 2.6 3.0 6.9 .436 0.0 0.2 .250 2.9 3.3 .867
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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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

Sam Bowie Shaquille O'Neal
Season 1994-952001-02
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Sam Bowie 67 18.3 4.6 1.1 3.2 4.3 1.8 0.3 1.2 1.4 2.7 1.8 4.0 .442 0.0 0.2 .182 1.0 1.3 .764
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 %
Sam Bowie 10 13.5 2.1 1.3 2.0 3.3 0.3 0.1 0.9 0.6 2.5 0.8 3.0 .267 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.5 1.000
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

Sam Bowie Shaquille O'Neal
Season -2002-03
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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

Sam Bowie Shaquille O'Neal
Season -2003-04
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs -Lakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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

Sam Bowie Shaquille O'Neal
Season -2004-05
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Heat 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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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

Sam Bowie Shaquille O'Neal
Season -2005-06
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -NBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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

Sam Bowie 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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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

Sam Bowie 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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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

Sam Bowie 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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
Shaquille O'Neal ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Sam Bowie 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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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

Sam Bowie 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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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 %
Sam Bowie ------- --- ----------
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