Yao Ming vs. Thabo Sefolosha Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Thabo Sefolosha 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 / Games against each other

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 Thabo Sefolosha, who played 14. Yao Ming had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, while Thabo Sefolosha had his rookie season in 2006-07. 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
Thabo Sefolosha 14 9 2006-07 to 2019-20

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 Thabo Sefolosha
Season 2002-032006-07
Team Houston RocketsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls 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
Thabo Sefolosha 71 12.2 3.6 0.5 1.7 2.2 0.8 0.5 0.2 0.8 1.4 1.5 3.6 .426 0.2 0.6 .357 0.3 0.6 .511
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha 9 11.0 3.3 0.4 1.4 1.9 0.8 0.2 0.0 0.8 1.2 1.1 2.9 .385 0.3 0.9 .375 0.8 1.3 .583

Season 2

Yao Ming Thabo Sefolosha
Season 2003-042007-08
Team Houston RocketsChicago Bulls
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
Thabo Sefolosha 69 20.8 6.7 0.7 3.0 3.7 1.9 0.9 0.4 1.3 1.9 2.6 6.1 .428 0.4 1.3 .330 1.1 1.5 .721
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
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Yao Ming Thabo Sefolosha
Season 2004-052008-09
Team Houston RocketsChicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder
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
Thabo Sefolosha 66 22.0 5.9 0.8 2.8 3.7 1.7 1.1 0.7 1.0 1.6 2.3 5.4 .426 0.4 1.3 .276 0.9 1.1 .836
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
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Yao Ming Thabo Sefolosha
Season 2005-062009-10
Team Houston RocketsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 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
Thabo Sefolosha 82 28.6 6.0 0.9 3.8 4.7 1.8 1.2 0.6 1.1 1.9 2.4 5.4 .440 0.5 1.6 .313 0.7 1.1 .674
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha 6 21.2 4.5 0.5 2.5 3.0 1.2 0.8 1.0 0.3 2.5 1.3 4.5 .296 0.5 2.2 .231 1.3 1.5 .889

Season 5

Yao Ming Thabo Sefolosha
Season 2006-072010-11
Team Houston RocketsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdThunder 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
Thabo Sefolosha 79 25.9 5.1 0.8 3.6 4.4 1.4 1.2 0.5 0.7 2.2 2.0 4.2 .471 0.4 1.3 .275 0.7 1.0 .747
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
Thabo Sefolosha 17 20.2 4.6 0.7 2.4 3.1 0.7 0.9 0.3 0.9 1.4 1.8 3.9 .463 0.2 1.5 .154 0.8 0.8 1.000

Season 6

Yao Ming Thabo Sefolosha
Season 2007-082011-12
Team Houston RocketsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 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
Thabo Sefolosha 42 21.8 4.8 0.5 2.5 3.0 1.1 0.9 0.4 1.0 1.9 1.6 3.7 .432 0.7 1.7 .437 0.9 1.0 .884
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha 20 22.3 5.3 0.6 2.1 2.7 1.3 1.5 0.5 0.6 2.2 2.1 5.1 .402 0.8 2.5 .327 0.4 0.5 .889

Season 7

Yao Ming Thabo Sefolosha
Season 2008-092012-13
Team Houston RocketsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisThunder 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 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
Thabo Sefolosha 81 27.5 7.6 0.7 3.2 3.9 1.5 1.3 0.5 0.8 2.2 2.8 5.8 .481 1.3 3.2 .419 0.7 0.9 .826
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
Thabo Sefolosha 11 27.3 5.7 1.2 3.3 4.5 2.1 1.1 0.5 0.7 2.4 1.9 5.5 .344 1.1 3.5 .316 0.8 1.0 .818

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

Season 8

Yao Ming Thabo Sefolosha
Season 2010-112013-14
Team Houston RocketsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 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
Thabo Sefolosha 61 26.0 6.3 0.8 2.8 3.6 1.5 1.3 0.3 0.9 1.5 2.3 5.6 .415 0.8 2.5 .316 0.9 1.1 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha 15 15.7 3.7 0.5 1.6 2.1 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.5 0.7 1.5 3.7 .418 0.4 1.5 .261 0.3 0.3 .800

Season 9

Yao Ming Thabo Sefolosha
Season -2014-15
Team -Atlanta Hawks
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 ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha 52 18.8 5.3 1.0 3.3 4.3 1.4 1.0 0.4 0.7 1.3 2.0 4.8 .418 0.5 1.5 .321 0.9 1.1 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Yao Ming Thabo Sefolosha
Season -2015-16
Team -Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Hawks 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 ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha 75 23.4 6.4 0.7 3.8 4.5 1.4 1.1 0.5 0.9 1.5 2.5 4.9 .507 0.6 1.6 .341 0.8 1.3 .626
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha 10 20.3 5.9 0.8 3.3 4.1 1.7 1.0 0.6 1.0 1.7 2.2 4.6 .478 0.7 1.9 .368 0.8 1.5 .533

Season 11

Yao Ming Thabo Sefolosha
Season -2016-17
Team -Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Hawks 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 ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha 62 25.7 7.2 0.9 3.5 4.4 1.7 1.5 0.5 0.9 1.6 2.8 6.4 .441 0.7 1.9 .342 0.9 1.2 .733
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha 4 2.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 1.0 .250

Season 12

Yao Ming Thabo Sefolosha
Season -2017-18
Team -Utah Jazz
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 ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha 38 21.2 8.2 0.8 3.5 4.2 0.9 1.4 0.3 0.8 1.6 3.1 6.3 .492 0.8 2.2 .381 1.2 1.4 .815
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Yao Ming Thabo Sefolosha
Season -2018-19
Team -Utah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Jazz 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 ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha 50 12.2 3.8 0.2 2.3 2.5 0.5 0.9 0.1 0.5 0.8 1.4 3.0 .477 0.7 1.6 .436 0.3 0.4 .636
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha 4 10.5 1.3 0.3 1.8 2.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.8 0.5 3.5 .143 0.3 2.0 .125 0.0 0.0 -

Season 14

Yao Ming Thabo Sefolosha
Season -2019-20
Team -Houston Rockets
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 ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha 41 10.6 2.2 0.5 1.8 2.3 0.6 0.6 0.3 0.4 1.0 0.9 2.2 .407 0.4 1.3 .278 0.1 0.2 .375
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Thabo Sefolosha ------- --- ----------