Shaquille O'Neal vs. Rudy Tomjanovich Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rudy Tomjanovich and Shaquille O'Neal, 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.

Shaquille O'Neal played 19 years in the NBA, 8 more than Rudy Tomjanovich, who played 11. Shaquille O'Neal had the first of his seasons in 1992-93, while Rudy Tomjanovich had his rookie season in 1970-71. 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
Shaquille O'Neal 19 17 1992-93 to 2010-11
Rudy Tomjanovich 11 5 1970-71 to 1980-81

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

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1992-931970-71
Team Orlando MagicSan Diego Rockets
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 %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 77 13.8 5.3 - - 4.9 0.9 - - - 1.6 2.2 5.7 .383 - - - 0.9 1.5 .652
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal ------- --- ----------
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1993-941971-72
Team Orlando MagicHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic 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 %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 78 34.5 15.0 - - 11.8 1.5 - - - 2.5 6.4 12.9 .495 - - - 2.2 3.1 .723
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1994-951972-73
Team Orlando MagicHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic 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 %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 81 36.7 19.3 - - 11.6 2.2 - - - 2.8 8.1 16.9 .478 - - - 3.1 4.1 .746
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1995-961973-74
Team Orlando MagicHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic 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 %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 80 40.3 24.5 2.9 6.1 9.0 3.1 1.1 0.8 - 2.9 9.9 18.4 .536 - - - 4.8 5.7 .848
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1996-971974-75
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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 %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 81 38.7 20.7 2.3 5.3 7.6 2.9 0.9 0.3 - 2.8 8.6 16.3 .525 - - - 3.6 4.5 .790
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 8 38.0 23.0 2.8 5.3 8.0 2.9 0.1 0.5 - 2.1 9.0 16.0 .563 - - - 5.0 6.0 .833

Season 6

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1997-981975-76
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West 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 %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 79 36.9 18.5 2.1 6.3 8.4 2.4 0.5 0.2 - 2.6 7.9 15.2 .517 - - - 2.8 3.6 .767
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1998-991976-77
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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 %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 81 38.6 21.6 2.1 6.3 8.4 2.1 0.7 0.3 - 2.4 9.0 17.7 .510 - - - 3.5 4.2 .839
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 12 38.1 20.3 2.0 3.4 5.4 2.0 0.6 0.3 - 3.0 8.9 17.7 .505 - - - 2.4 3.1 .784

Season 8

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 1999-001977-78
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
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 NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 23 36.9 21.5 1.7 4.3 6.0 1.4 0.7 0.2 1.7 2.7 9.4 19.4 .485 - - - 2.7 3.5 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 2000-011978-79
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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 %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 74 35.7 19.0 2.3 5.4 7.7 1.9 0.6 0.2 1.9 2.5 8.4 16.2 .517 - - - 2.3 3.0 .760
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 2 32.0 10.0 3.5 3.5 7.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 4.5 11.5 .391 - - - 1.0 2.5 .400

Season 10

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 2001-021979-80
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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 %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 62 29.6 14.2 2.1 3.6 5.8 1.8 0.5 0.2 1.6 2.6 6.0 12.5 .476 0.4 1.3 .278 1.9 2.4 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 7 26.4 8.3 1.7 4.0 5.7 1.4 0.3 0.0 2.0 3.0 3.4 9.1 .375 0.1 1.0 .143 1.3 1.9 .692

Season 11

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
Season 2002-031980-81
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisRockets Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 52 24.3 11.6 1.5 2.5 4.0 1.6 0.4 0.1 1.1 2.3 5.1 10.8 .467 0.2 1.0 .235 1.3 1.6 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich 8 3.9 0.8 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.4 0.1 1.1 .111 0.0 0.4 .000 0.5 0.8 .667

Season 12

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
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 %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
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 %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
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 %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
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 %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
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 %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
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 %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Shaquille O'Neal ------- --- ----------
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
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 %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------

Season 19

Shaquille O'Neal Rudy Tomjanovich
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 %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Rudy Tomjanovich ------- --- ----------