Yao Ming vs. Nikola Vucevic Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nikola Vucevic 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, 5 less than Nikola Vucevic, who played 13. Yao Ming had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, while Nikola Vucevic had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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
Nikola Vucevic 13 4 2011-12 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Yao Ming Nikola Vucevic
Season 2002-032011-12
Team Houston RocketsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers 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 %
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
Nikola Vucevic 51 15.9 5.5 1.7 3.1 4.8 0.6 0.4 0.7 0.6 2.2 2.6 5.7 .450 0.1 0.2 .375 0.4 0.7 .529
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic 1 3.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.0 .500

Season 2
Yao Ming Nikola Vucevic
Season 2003-042012-13
Team Houston RocketsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
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
Nikola Vucevic 77 33.2 13.1 3.5 8.4 11.9 1.9 0.8 1.0 1.8 2.8 6.0 11.5 .519 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.6 .683
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
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Yao Ming Nikola Vucevic
Season 2004-052013-14
Team Houston RocketsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
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
Nikola Vucevic 57 31.8 14.2 3.2 7.7 11.0 1.8 1.1 0.8 2.0 3.0 6.2 12.2 .507 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.4 .766
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
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 4
Yao Ming Nikola Vucevic
Season 2005-062014-15
Team Houston RocketsOrlando Magic
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 %
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
Nikola Vucevic 74 34.2 19.3 3.2 7.7 10.9 2.0 0.7 0.7 2.0 3.0 8.5 16.3 .523 0.0 0.1 .333 2.2 2.9 .752
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Yao Ming Nikola Vucevic
Season 2006-072015-16
Team Houston RocketsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
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
Nikola Vucevic 65 31.3 18.2 2.7 6.2 8.9 2.8 0.8 1.1 1.9 2.7 8.2 16.1 .510 0.0 0.1 .222 1.7 2.3 .753
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
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 6
Yao Ming Nikola Vucevic
Season 2007-082016-17
Team Houston RocketsOrlando Magic
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 %
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
Nikola Vucevic 75 28.8 14.6 2.3 8.0 10.4 2.8 1.0 1.0 1.6 2.4 6.4 13.7 .468 0.3 1.0 .307 1.4 2.1 .669
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Yao Ming Nikola Vucevic
Season 2008-092017-18
Team Houston RocketsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
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
Nikola Vucevic 57 29.5 16.5 1.8 7.4 9.2 3.4 1.0 1.1 1.9 2.5 7.0 14.7 .475 1.1 3.6 .314 1.4 1.6 .819
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
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

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

Season 8
Yao Ming Nikola Vucevic
Season 2010-112018-19
Team Houston RocketsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
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
Nikola Vucevic 80 31.4 20.8 2.8 9.2 12.0 3.8 1.0 1.1 2.0 2.0 8.8 16.9 .518 1.1 2.9 .364 2.2 2.8 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic 5 29.4 11.2 1.8 6.2 8.0 3.0 0.4 1.0 2.6 2.4 4.2 11.6 .362 0.6 2.6 .231 2.2 2.8 .786

Season 9
Yao Ming Nikola Vucevic
Season -2019-20
Team -Orlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Magic 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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic 62 32.2 19.6 2.3 8.6 10.9 3.6 0.9 0.8 1.4 2.2 8.0 16.7 .477 1.6 4.7 .339 2.1 2.7 .784
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic 5 37.0 28.0 1.8 9.2 11.0 4.0 0.8 0.6 2.6 2.6 11.2 22.2 .505 3.6 8.8 .409 2.0 2.2 .909

Season 10
Yao Ming Nikola Vucevic
Season -2020-21
Team -Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic 70 33.5 23.4 2.1 9.6 11.7 3.8 0.9 0.7 1.8 2.0 9.5 19.9 .477 2.5 6.3 .400 1.9 2.2 .840
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Yao Ming Nikola Vucevic
Season -2021-22
Team -Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bulls 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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic 73 33.1 17.6 1.9 9.1 11.0 3.2 1.0 1.0 1.9 2.5 7.5 15.8 .473 1.4 4.5 .314 1.3 1.7 .760
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic 5 36.2 19.4 2.8 9.6 12.4 3.2 0.4 1.2 1.6 2.8 8.0 18.2 .440 2.6 8.4 .310 0.8 1.0 .800

Season 12
Yao Ming Nikola Vucevic
Season -2022-23
Team -Chicago Bulls
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 ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic 82 33.5 17.6 1.9 9.1 11.0 3.2 0.7 0.7 1.7 2.2 7.3 14.0 .520 1.5 4.2 .349 1.6 1.9 .835
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Yao Ming Nikola Vucevic
Season -2023-24
Team -Chicago Bulls
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 ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic 76 34.3 18.0 2.8 7.8 10.5 3.3 0.7 0.8 1.6 2.5 7.7 15.9 .484 1.2 4.1 .294 1.4 1.7 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------
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