Yao Ming vs. Paul Westphal Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul Westphal 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, 4 less than Paul Westphal, who played 12. Yao Ming had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, while Paul Westphal had his rookie season in 1972-73. 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
Paul Westphal 12 9 1972-73 to 1983-84

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Yao Ming Paul Westphal
Season 2002-031972-73
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
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
Paul Westphal 60 8.0 4.1 - - 1.1 1.2 - - - 1.5 1.5 3.5 .420 - - - 1.1 1.4 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal 11 9.9 3.9 - - 0.6 0.8 - - - 2.2 1.7 3.5 .487 - - - 0.5 0.6 .714

Season 2

Yao Ming Paul Westphal
Season 2003-041973-74
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West 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 %
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
Paul Westphal 82 14.2 7.2 0.6 1.1 1.7 2.1 0.5 0.4 - 2.1 2.9 5.8 .501 - - - 1.4 1.9 .732
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
Paul Westphal 18 13.4 5.7 0.3 0.8 1.2 1.7 0.4 0.1 - 2.1 2.6 5.6 .460 - - - 0.6 0.8 .733

Season 3

Yao Ming Paul Westphal
Season 2004-051974-75
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
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
Paul Westphal 82 19.3 9.8 0.5 1.5 2.0 2.9 1.0 0.4 - 2.3 4.2 8.2 .510 - - - 1.5 1.9 .763
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
Paul Westphal 11 16.6 8.0 0.5 0.7 1.2 2.9 0.5 0.2 - 1.9 3.5 7.4 .469 - - - 1.1 1.6 .667

Season 4

Yao Ming Paul Westphal
Season 2005-061975-76
Team Houston RocketsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 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
Paul Westphal 82 36.1 20.5 0.9 2.3 3.2 5.4 2.6 0.5 - 2.7 8.0 16.2 .494 - - - 4.5 5.4 .830
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal 19 36.1 21.1 0.7 1.7 2.5 5.1 1.8 0.5 - 3.2 8.7 17.0 .511 - - - 3.7 4.9 .763

Season 5

Yao Ming Paul Westphal
Season 2006-071976-77
Team Houston RocketsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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
Paul Westphal 81 32.1 21.3 0.7 1.6 2.3 5.7 1.7 0.3 - 2.1 8.4 16.3 .518 - - - 4.5 5.4 .825
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
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Yao Ming Paul Westphal
Season 2007-081977-78
Team Houston RocketsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 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
Paul Westphal 80 31.0 25.2 0.5 1.5 2.1 5.5 1.7 0.4 3.5 2.0 10.1 19.6 .516 - - - 5.0 6.1 .813
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal 2 33.0 26.0 1.5 1.5 3.0 9.5 0.5 0.0 2.5 2.0 11.0 23.5 .468 - - - 4.0 4.5 .889

Season 7

Yao Ming Paul Westphal
Season 2008-091978-79
Team Houston RocketsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisSuns 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 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
Paul Westphal 81 32.6 24.0 0.4 1.5 2.0 6.5 1.4 0.3 2.9 2.0 9.9 18.5 .535 - - - 4.2 5.0 .837
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
Paul Westphal 15 35.6 22.4 0.5 1.7 2.2 4.3 1.0 0.3 2.5 2.5 9.5 19.1 .495 - - - 3.5 4.4 .788

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

Season 8

Yao Ming Paul Westphal
Season 2010-111979-80
Team Houston RocketsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 %
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
Paul Westphal 82 32.5 21.9 0.6 1.7 2.3 5.1 1.5 0.4 2.5 2.0 8.4 16.1 .525 0.3 1.1 .280 4.7 5.4 .862
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal 8 31.6 20.9 0.3 1.0 1.3 3.9 1.4 0.4 1.6 2.5 8.6 17.8 .486 0.1 1.5 .083 3.5 4.0 .875

Season 9

Yao Ming Paul Westphal
Season -1980-81
Team -Seattle Supersonics
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 ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal 36 29.9 16.7 0.3 1.6 1.9 4.1 1.3 0.4 2.2 1.9 6.1 13.9 .442 0.2 0.7 .240 4.3 5.1 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Yao Ming Paul Westphal
Season -1981-82
Team -New York Knicks
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 ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal 18 25.1 11.7 0.5 0.7 1.2 5.6 1.1 0.4 2.6 3.4 4.8 10.8 .443 0.1 0.4 .250 2.0 2.6 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Yao Ming Paul Westphal
Season -1982-83
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal 80 24.7 10.0 0.2 1.2 1.4 5.5 1.1 0.2 2.5 2.3 4.0 8.7 .459 0.2 0.6 .292 1.9 2.3 .804
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal 6 26.0 9.5 0.0 1.3 1.3 5.7 0.3 0.3 1.5 2.2 3.7 8.3 .440 0.5 1.3 .375 1.7 2.2 .769

Season 12

Yao Ming Paul Westphal
Season -1983-84
Team -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 ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal 59 14.7 7.0 0.1 0.6 0.7 2.5 0.7 0.1 1.3 1.2 2.4 5.3 .460 0.1 0.4 .269 2.0 2.4 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Paul Westphal 17 13.1 5.3 0.2 0.3 0.5 2.2 0.7 0.0 1.4 1.4 1.8 4.7 .375 0.1 0.5 .222 1.6 1.9 .875