Wayne Cooper vs. Yao Ming Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Yao Ming and Wayne Cooper, 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.

Wayne Cooper played 14 years in the NBA, 6 more than Yao Ming, who played 8. Wayne Cooper 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
Wayne Cooper 14 10 1978-79 to 1991-92
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

Rookie Season

Wayne Cooper Yao Ming
Season 1978-792002-03
Team Golden State WarriorsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -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 %
Wayne Cooper 65 12.2 4.6 1.4 2.9 4.3 0.3 0.1 0.7 0.8 1.8 2.0 4.5 .437 - - - 0.6 0.9 .672
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 %
Wayne Cooper ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Wayne Cooper Yao Ming
Season 1979-802003-04
Team Golden State WarriorsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-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 %
Wayne Cooper 79 22.5 11.0 2.6 3.9 6.4 0.5 0.3 1.0 1.8 3.1 4.6 9.5 .489 0.0 0.1 .250 1.7 2.3 .751
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 %
Wayne Cooper ------- --- ----------
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

Wayne Cooper Yao Ming
Season 1980-812004-05
Team Utah JazzHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -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 %
Wayne Cooper 71 20.0 6.9 2.3 3.9 6.2 0.7 0.3 0.7 1.1 3.1 3.0 6.6 .452 0.0 0.0 .333 0.9 1.3 .689
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 %
Wayne Cooper ------- --- ----------
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

Wayne Cooper Yao Ming
Season 1981-822005-06
Team Dallas MavericksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third 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 %
Wayne Cooper 76 23.9 9.0 2.6 4.6 7.2 1.5 0.5 1.4 1.2 3.8 3.7 8.8 .420 0.0 0.1 .125 1.6 2.1 .744
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 %
Wayne Cooper ------- --- ----------
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Wayne Cooper Yao Ming
Season 1982-832006-07
Team Portland Trail BlazersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Wayne Cooper 80 26.2 9.7 2.7 5.0 7.6 1.5 0.3 1.7 2.0 4.0 4.0 9.0 .443 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 2.5 .685
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 %
Wayne Cooper 7 32.6 12.4 3.4 4.6 8.0 1.3 0.3 1.1 2.4 4.7 5.1 10.6 .486 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.4 .882
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

Wayne Cooper Yao Ming
Season 1983-842007-08
Team Portland Trail BlazersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West 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 %
Wayne Cooper 81 20.5 9.8 2.2 3.7 5.9 0.9 0.3 1.3 1.4 3.0 3.8 8.2 .459 0.0 0.1 .000 2.3 2.8 .804
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 %
Wayne Cooper 5 20.8 4.8 2.2 1.8 4.0 0.8 0.2 0.8 1.0 2.8 2.0 5.4 .370 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.6 .500
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Wayne Cooper Yao Ming
Season 1984-852008-09
Team Denver NuggetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West 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 %
Wayne Cooper 80 25.4 12.1 2.9 5.0 7.9 1.1 0.4 2.5 1.9 3.8 5.1 10.7 .472 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.9 .685
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 %
Wayne Cooper 15 21.4 10.9 2.3 3.9 6.2 1.3 0.5 2.4 1.3 3.5 4.5 9.5 .469 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.7 .750
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

Wayne Cooper Yao Ming
Season 1985-862010-11
Team Denver NuggetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Wayne Cooper 78 27.1 13.1 2.4 5.4 7.8 1.0 0.5 2.9 1.5 4.0 5.4 11.6 .466 0.0 0.1 .429 2.2 2.8 .795
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 %
Wayne Cooper 8 19.3 7.9 1.4 3.6 5.0 0.9 0.3 0.6 1.4 3.9 3.0 7.0 .429 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.8 .682
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Wayne Cooper Yao Ming
Season 1986-87-
Team Denver Nuggets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Wayne Cooper 69 22.6 8.0 2.3 4.5 6.9 1.0 0.2 1.5 1.1 3.7 3.4 7.6 .448 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.6 .725
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 3 13.7 4.0 2.0 3.7 5.7 0.7 0.0 0.3 0.3 3.0 1.7 4.0 .417 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Wayne Cooper Yao Ming
Season 1987-88-
Team Denver Nuggets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Wayne Cooper 45 19.2 6.4 2.2 3.8 6.0 0.7 0.3 2.1 1.3 3.2 2.6 6.0 .437 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.5 .746
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 9 10.7 2.0 1.8 1.9 3.7 0.7 0.3 0.9 0.4 2.1 0.9 2.6 .348 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 1.000
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Wayne Cooper Yao Ming
Season 1988-89-
Team Denver Nuggets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Wayne Cooper 79 23.6 6.6 2.7 5.2 7.8 1.0 0.5 2.7 0.9 3.8 2.8 5.6 .495 0.0 0.1 .250 1.0 1.3 .745
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 3 14.7 4.0 1.3 3.0 4.3 0.7 0.3 0.7 0.0 3.3 2.0 4.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Wayne Cooper Yao Ming
Season 1989-90-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 79 14.9 3.8 1.5 2.8 4.3 0.6 0.2 1.2 0.5 2.7 1.7 3.8 .454 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.5 .641
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 18 13.8 2.7 1.4 2.6 3.9 0.3 0.3 1.6 0.3 2.2 1.1 2.6 .404 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.1 .526
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Wayne Cooper Yao Ming
Season 1990-91-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Wayne Cooper 67 11.1 2.2 0.8 2.0 2.8 0.3 0.1 0.9 0.3 1.8 0.9 2.2 .393 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.6 .786
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 3 4.3 0.7 0.3 1.3 1.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.7 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Wayne Cooper Yao Ming
Season 1991-92-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 35 9.8 2.2 1.1 1.8 2.9 0.6 0.1 0.8 0.4 1.6 1.0 2.3 .427 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.3 .636
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 3 9.0 1.3 0.3 2.3 2.7 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.3 1.3 0.7 1.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------