James Harden vs. Charles Oakley Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Charles Oakley and James Harden, 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.

James Harden played 15 years in the NBA, 4 less than Charles Oakley, who played 19. James Harden had the first of his seasons in 2009-10, while Charles Oakley had his rookie season in 1985-86. 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
James Harden 15 15 2009-10 to 2023-24
Charles Oakley 19 15 1985-86 to 2003-04

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19

Rookie Season

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season 2009-101985-86
Team Oklahoma City ThunderChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls 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 %
James Harden 76 22.9 9.9 0.6 2.6 3.2 1.8 1.1 0.3 1.4 2.6 3.1 7.6 .403 1.2 3.3 .375 2.6 3.2 .808
Charles Oakley 77 23.0 9.6 3.3 5.3 8.6 1.7 0.9 0.4 2.3 3.2 3.6 7.0 .519 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.5 .662
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 6 20.0 7.7 0.2 2.3 2.5 1.8 1.0 0.2 0.5 2.3 2.0 5.2 .387 1.0 2.7 .375 2.7 3.2 .842
Charles Oakley 3 29.3 10.0 3.3 6.7 10.0 1.0 2.0 0.7 1.7 4.3 3.7 7.0 .524 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 4.3 .615

Season 2

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season 2010-111986-87
Team Oklahoma City ThunderChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf FinalsBulls 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 %
James Harden 82 26.7 12.2 0.5 2.6 3.1 2.1 1.1 0.3 1.3 2.5 3.6 8.3 .436 1.4 4.0 .349 3.5 4.2 .843
Charles Oakley 82 36.3 14.5 3.6 9.5 13.1 3.6 1.0 0.4 3.6 3.8 5.7 12.8 .445 0.1 0.4 .367 3.0 4.4 .686
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 17 31.6 13.0 0.6 4.8 5.4 3.6 1.2 0.8 1.6 2.8 3.9 8.2 .475 1.4 4.5 .303 3.9 4.7 .825
Charles Oakley 3 43.0 20.0 5.7 9.7 15.3 2.0 1.3 0.3 2.7 4.3 6.3 16.7 .380 0.7 1.3 .500 6.7 8.0 .833

Season 3

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season 2011-121987-88
Team Oklahoma City ThunderChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Thunder Lost NBA FinalsBulls 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 %
James Harden 62 31.4 16.8 0.5 3.6 4.1 3.7 1.0 0.2 2.2 2.4 5.0 10.1 .491 1.8 4.7 .390 5.0 6.0 .846
Charles Oakley 82 34.3 12.4 4.0 9.0 13.0 3.0 0.8 0.3 2.9 3.3 4.6 9.5 .483 0.0 0.1 .250 3.2 4.4 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 20 31.5 16.3 0.7 4.5 5.1 3.4 1.6 0.1 2.1 3.4 4.7 10.7 .435 1.6 3.9 .410 5.4 6.3 .857
Charles Oakley 10 37.3 10.1 3.9 8.9 12.8 3.2 0.6 0.4 1.8 3.3 4.0 9.1 .440 0.0 0.2 .000 2.1 2.4 .875

Season 4

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season 2012-131988-89
Team Houston RocketsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdKnicks 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 %
James Harden 78 38.3 25.9 0.8 4.1 4.9 5.8 1.8 0.5 3.8 2.3 7.5 17.1 .438 2.3 6.2 .368 8.6 10.2 .851
Charles Oakley 82 31.8 12.9 4.2 6.3 10.5 2.3 1.3 0.2 3.0 3.3 5.2 10.2 .510 0.1 0.6 .250 2.4 3.1 .773
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 6 40.5 26.3 0.8 5.8 6.7 4.5 2.0 1.0 4.5 3.0 7.5 19.2 .391 2.5 7.3 .341 8.8 11.0 .803
Charles Oakley 9 33.2 9.7 4.8 6.4 11.2 1.2 1.3 0.1 2.4 3.4 3.9 8.1 .479 0.1 0.2 .500 1.8 2.7 .667

Season 5

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season 2013-141989-90
Team Houston RocketsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdKnicks 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 %
James Harden 73 38.0 25.4 0.8 3.9 4.7 6.1 1.6 0.4 3.6 2.4 7.5 16.5 .456 2.4 6.6 .366 7.9 9.1 .866
Charles Oakley 61 36.0 14.6 4.2 7.7 11.9 2.4 1.0 0.3 2.7 3.6 5.5 10.5 .524 0.0 0.0 .000 3.6 4.7 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 6 43.8 26.8 0.8 3.8 4.7 5.8 2.0 0.2 3.5 3.5 8.3 22.2 .376 2.7 9.0 .296 7.5 8.3 .900
Charles Oakley 10 33.6 12.1 3.9 7.1 11.0 2.7 1.1 0.2 2.2 3.3 4.3 8.4 .512 0.1 0.1 1.000 3.4 5.2 .654

Season 6

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season 2014-151990-91
Team Houston RocketsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsKnicks 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 %
James Harden 81 36.8 27.4 0.9 4.7 5.7 7.0 1.9 0.7 4.0 2.6 8.0 18.1 .440 2.6 6.9 .375 8.8 10.2 .868
Charles Oakley 76 36.0 11.2 4.0 8.1 12.1 2.7 0.8 0.2 2.8 3.8 4.0 7.8 .516 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 4.0 .784
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 17 37.4 27.2 0.7 5.0 5.7 7.5 1.6 0.4 4.5 2.9 7.6 17.3 .439 2.4 6.3 .383 9.6 10.5 .916
Charles Oakley 3 33.3 7.7 5.0 5.3 10.3 1.0 0.7 0.3 2.3 4.3 3.3 7.0 .476 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.0 .500

Season 7

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season 2015-161991-92
Team Houston RocketsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdKnicks 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 %
James Harden 82 38.1 29.0 0.8 5.3 6.1 7.5 1.7 0.6 4.6 2.8 8.7 19.7 .439 2.9 8.0 .359 8.8 10.2 .860
Charles Oakley 82 28.2 6.2 3.1 5.4 8.5 1.6 0.8 0.2 1.5 3.1 2.6 4.9 .522 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.4 .735
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 5 38.6 26.6 1.4 3.8 5.2 7.6 2.4 0.2 5.2 2.6 8.2 20.0 .410 2.6 8.4 .310 7.6 9.0 .844
Charles Oakley 12 29.5 5.3 3.7 5.3 9.0 0.7 0.7 0.4 1.3 3.0 1.8 4.8 .379 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.3 .741

Season 8

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season 2016-171992-93
Team Houston RocketsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisKnicks 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 %
James Harden 81 36.4 29.1 1.2 7.0 8.1 11.2 1.5 0.5 5.7 2.7 8.3 18.9 .440 3.2 9.3 .347 9.2 10.9 .847
Charles Oakley 82 27.2 6.9 3.5 5.1 8.6 1.5 1.0 0.2 1.5 3.5 2.7 5.3 .508 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.1 .722
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 11 37.0 28.5 0.6 4.8 5.5 8.5 1.9 0.5 5.4 3.9 8.2 19.8 .413 2.9 10.5 .278 9.2 10.5 .878
Charles Oakley 15 33.8 11.1 4.7 6.3 11.0 1.1 1.1 0.1 2.4 3.4 4.2 8.7 .481 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.7 .727

Season 9

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season 2017-181993-94
Team Houston RocketsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsKnicks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 72 35.4 30.4 0.6 4.8 5.4 8.8 1.8 0.7 4.4 2.3 9.0 20.1 .449 3.7 10.0 .367 8.7 10.1 .858
Charles Oakley 82 35.8 11.8 4.3 7.5 11.8 2.7 1.3 0.2 2.4 3.6 4.4 9.3 .478 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 3.8 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 17 36.5 28.6 0.8 4.4 5.2 6.8 2.2 0.6 3.8 2.7 9.3 22.6 .410 3.1 10.2 .299 6.9 7.8 .887
Charles Oakley 25 39.7 13.2 4.6 7.0 11.7 2.4 1.4 0.2 2.6 3.5 5.0 10.5 .477 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 4.1 .775

Season 10

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season 2018-191994-95
Team Houston RocketsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisKnicks 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 %
James Harden 78 36.8 36.1 0.8 5.8 6.6 7.5 2.0 0.7 5.0 3.1 10.8 24.5 .442 4.8 13.2 .368 9.7 11.0 .879
Charles Oakley 50 31.3 10.1 3.1 5.8 8.9 2.5 1.2 0.1 2.1 3.6 3.8 7.9 .489 0.1 0.2 .250 2.4 3.0 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 11 38.5 31.6 0.8 6.0 6.8 6.6 2.2 0.9 4.6 3.7 9.9 24.0 .413 4.4 12.5 .350 7.5 8.9 .837
Charles Oakley 11 38.3 13.1 2.8 5.6 8.5 3.7 1.7 0.5 2.2 3.8 4.5 9.9 .450 0.4 0.9 .400 3.8 4.6 .824

Season 11

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season 2019-201995-96
Team Houston RocketsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisKnicks 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 %
James Harden 68 36.5 34.3 1.0 5.5 6.6 7.5 1.8 0.9 4.5 3.3 9.9 22.3 .444 4.4 12.4 .355 10.2 11.8 .865
Charles Oakley 53 33.5 11.4 3.1 5.6 8.7 2.6 1.1 0.3 2.0 3.7 4.0 8.5 .471 0.1 0.5 .269 3.3 4.0 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 12 37.3 29.6 1.0 4.6 5.6 7.7 1.5 0.8 3.8 3.6 9.1 19.0 .478 3.3 9.8 .333 8.2 9.7 .845
Charles Oakley 8 38.5 13.1 3.5 5.1 8.6 1.8 1.0 0.0 3.5 4.1 4.9 9.8 .500 0.3 0.8 .333 3.1 4.5 .694

Season 12

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season 2020-211996-97
Team Houston Rockets, Brooklyn NetsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisKnicks 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 %
James Harden 44 36.6 24.6 0.8 7.1 7.9 10.8 1.2 0.8 4.0 2.3 7.8 16.7 .466 2.8 7.6 .362 6.3 7.3 .861
Charles Oakley 80 35.9 10.8 3.1 6.7 9.8 2.8 1.4 0.3 2.1 3.8 4.2 8.7 .488 0.1 0.2 .263 2.3 2.8 .808
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 9 35.8 20.2 0.8 5.6 6.3 8.6 1.7 0.7 2.9 2.6 5.7 12.0 .472 2.7 7.3 .364 6.2 6.9 .903
Charles Oakley 10 35.8 9.8 2.3 6.5 8.8 1.6 2.2 0.3 1.8 3.7 3.8 8.6 .442 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 2.9 .759

Season 13

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season 2021-221997-98
Team Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisKnicks 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 %
James Harden 65 37.2 22.0 0.8 6.8 7.7 10.3 1.3 0.6 4.4 2.4 6.3 15.3 .410 2.3 6.9 .330 7.2 8.2 .877
Charles Oakley 79 34.6 9.0 2.8 6.4 9.2 2.5 1.6 0.3 1.6 3.5 3.9 8.8 .440 0.0 0.1 .000 1.2 1.4 .851
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 12 39.9 18.6 0.9 4.8 5.7 8.6 0.8 0.7 4.2 2.4 5.3 13.2 .405 2.3 6.3 .368 5.6 6.3 .893
Charles Oakley 10 34.0 8.1 2.1 6.4 8.5 1.4 1.1 0.2 1.3 3.8 2.9 7.1 .408 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 2.5 .920

Season 14

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season 2022-231998-99
Team Philadelphia 76ersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement Assists Leader-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East 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 %
James Harden 58 36.8 21.0 0.7 5.4 6.1 10.7 1.2 0.5 3.4 1.9 6.4 14.5 .441 2.8 7.2 .385 5.4 6.2 .867
Charles Oakley 50 32.7 7.0 1.9 5.6 7.5 3.4 0.9 0.4 1.9 3.6 2.8 6.5 .428 0.0 0.1 .200 1.3 1.7 .807
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 11 38.8 20.3 0.5 5.6 6.2 8.3 1.8 0.4 3.2 2.5 6.5 16.6 .393 2.8 7.5 .378 4.4 5.0 .873
Charles Oakley ------- --- ----------

Season 15

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season 2023-241999-00
Team Los Angeles ClippersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdRaptors 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 %
James Harden 72 34.3 16.6 0.5 4.7 5.1 8.5 1.1 0.8 2.6 1.8 4.9 11.4 .428 2.6 6.8 .381 4.2 4.8 .878
Charles Oakley 80 30.4 6.9 1.5 5.3 6.8 3.2 1.3 0.6 1.9 3.7 2.9 7.0 .418 0.2 0.5 .341 0.8 1.1 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 6 40.3 21.2 0.5 4.0 4.5 8.0 1.0 1.0 2.3 2.2 6.7 14.8 .449 3.0 7.8 .383 4.8 5.3 .906
Charles Oakley 3 37.0 10.0 0.7 7.0 7.7 3.7 2.0 0.3 1.7 4.7 4.7 9.7 .483 0.7 2.3 .286 0.0 0.3 .000

Season 16

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season -2000-01
Team -Toronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Raptors 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 %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Charles Oakley 78 35.5 9.6 1.8 7.7 9.5 3.4 1.0 0.6 1.8 3.3 3.9 10.1 .388 0.1 0.6 .224 1.6 1.9 .836
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Charles Oakley 12 32.6 9.3 1.7 4.7 6.3 1.8 1.0 0.6 1.8 2.4 3.9 9.0 .435 0.3 0.7 .375 1.2 1.4 .824

Season 17

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season -2001-02
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 %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Charles Oakley 57 24.3 3.8 1.3 4.8 6.0 2.0 0.9 0.2 1.5 3.1 1.7 4.6 .369 0.0 0.1 .167 0.4 0.5 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Charles Oakley ------- --- ----------

Season 18

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season -2002-03
Team -Washington Wizards
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 %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Charles Oakley 42 12.2 1.8 0.9 1.7 2.5 1.0 0.3 0.1 0.5 2.1 0.5 1.3 .418 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.8 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Charles Oakley ------- --- ----------

Season 19

James Harden Charles Oakley
Season -2003-04
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 %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Charles Oakley 7 3.6 1.3 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.1 0.3 0.9 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.9 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Charles Oakley ------- --- ----------