Yao Ming vs. Kurt Rambis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kurt Rambis and Yao Ming, 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.

Yao Ming played 8 years in the NBA, 6 less than Kurt Rambis, who played 14. Yao Ming had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, while Kurt Rambis had his rookie season in 1981-82. 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
Yao Ming 8 4 2002-03 to 2010-11
Kurt Rambis 14 9 1981-82 to 1994-95

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Yao Ming Kurt Rambis
Season 2002-031981-82
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie 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 %
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
Kurt Rambis 64 17.7 4.6 1.8 3.6 5.4 0.9 0.9 1.2 1.2 2.6 1.8 3.6 .518 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.8 .504
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis 14 19.9 5.9 2.3 3.9 6.1 0.8 0.6 0.9 1.2 3.4 2.4 4.6 .516 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.9 .615

Season 2
Yao Ming Kurt Rambis
Season 2003-041982-83
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West 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 %
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
Kurt Rambis 78 23.2 7.5 2.1 4.7 6.8 1.2 1.3 0.8 1.9 3.0 3.0 5.3 .569 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.1 .687
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Kurt Rambis 15 25.1 7.5 1.8 4.2 6.0 1.3 0.9 1.1 1.5 3.4 3.0 5.3 .570 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.3 .657

Season 3
Yao Ming Kurt Rambis
Season 2004-051983-84
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West 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 %
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
Kurt Rambis 47 15.8 3.6 1.7 3.9 5.7 0.7 0.6 0.3 1.2 2.3 1.3 2.4 .558 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.4 .636
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Kurt Rambis 21 20.4 6.7 1.6 4.2 5.8 0.7 0.5 0.5 1.0 2.7 2.9 4.4 .652 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.6 .636

Season 4
Yao Ming Kurt Rambis
Season 2005-061984-85
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third 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 %
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
Kurt Rambis 82 19.7 5.2 2.0 4.4 6.4 0.8 1.0 0.6 1.2 2.6 2.2 4.0 .554 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.3 .660
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis 19 19.7 6.1 2.2 4.6 6.8 0.9 0.9 0.5 1.0 2.7 2.5 4.3 .593 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.5 .679

Season 5
Yao Ming Kurt Rambis
Season 2006-071985-86
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
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
Kurt Rambis 74 21.3 5.5 2.1 4.9 7.0 0.9 0.9 0.4 1.3 2.7 2.2 3.6 .595 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.6 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Kurt Rambis 14 19.1 4.8 1.9 4.1 5.9 1.0 0.7 0.5 1.3 2.8 1.9 3.2 .600 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.3 .722

Season 6
Yao Ming Kurt Rambis
Season 2007-081986-87
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third 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 %
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
Kurt Rambis 78 19.4 5.7 2.0 3.8 5.8 0.8 0.9 0.5 1.3 2.6 2.1 4.0 .521 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.0 .764
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis 17 12.6 4.6 0.9 3.0 3.9 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.8 2.5 1.4 2.4 .585 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.0 .912

Season 7
Yao Ming Kurt Rambis
Season 2008-091987-88
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
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
Kurt Rambis 70 12.1 4.0 1.5 2.4 3.8 0.8 0.6 0.2 0.8 1.5 1.5 2.7 .548 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .785
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Kurt Rambis 19 9.8 2.7 0.7 2.0 2.7 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.4 1.5 1.1 1.8 .618 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.7 .692

Note: Yao Ming didn't play in 2009-10.

Season 8
Yao Ming Kurt Rambis
Season 2010-111988-89
Team Houston RocketsCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards 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 %
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
Kurt Rambis 75 29.8 11.1 3.6 5.8 9.4 2.1 1.3 0.8 2.0 2.8 4.3 8.4 .518 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.3 .734
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Yao Ming Kurt Rambis
Season -1989-90
Team -Charlotte Hornets, Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Suns 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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis 74 25.7 6.2 2.1 5.0 7.1 1.8 1.4 0.5 1.4 2.8 2.6 5.0 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.7 .646
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis 16 24.1 4.2 2.4 5.3 7.7 1.4 0.5 0.5 1.1 3.2 1.5 3.4 .444 0.0 0.1 .000 1.2 1.8 .679

Season 10
Yao Ming Kurt Rambis
Season -1990-91
Team -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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis 62 14.5 3.6 1.2 3.0 4.3 1.0 0.4 0.2 0.7 1.7 1.3 2.7 .497 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.4 .706
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis 4 13.3 1.0 2.0 1.5 3.5 1.0 1.3 0.3 1.0 1.5 0.5 1.3 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 11
Yao Ming Kurt Rambis
Season -1991-92
Team -Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis 28 13.6 3.2 0.8 3.0 3.8 1.3 0.4 0.5 0.9 1.6 1.4 2.9 .463 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.6 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Yao Ming Kurt Rambis
Season -1992-93
Team -Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis 72 11.4 2.5 1.1 2.1 3.2 0.7 0.6 0.3 0.6 1.7 0.9 1.8 .519 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 0.9 .662
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Yao Ming Kurt Rambis
Season -1993-94
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis 50 12.7 3.3 1.7 2.1 3.8 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.5 1.8 1.2 2.3 .518 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.4 .648
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Yao Ming Kurt Rambis
Season -1994-95
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis 26 7.5 1.7 0.4 0.9 1.3 0.6 0.1 0.3 0.3 1.3 0.7 1.3 .514 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.5 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Kurt Rambis ------- --- ----------
Share: