Patrick Ewing vs. James Harden Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of James Harden and Patrick Ewing, 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.

Patrick Ewing played 17 years in the NBA, 2 more than James Harden, who played 15. Patrick Ewing had the first of his seasons in 1985-86, while James Harden had his rookie season in 2009-10. 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
Patrick Ewing 17 14 1985-86 to 2001-02
James Harden 15 15 2009-10 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Patrick Ewing James Harden
Season 1985-862009-10
Team New York KnicksOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie 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 %
Patrick Ewing 50 35.4 20.0 2.5 6.5 9.0 2.0 1.1 2.1 3.4 3.8 7.7 16.3 .474 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 6.1 .739
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing ------- --- ----------
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

Season 2

Patrick Ewing James Harden
Season 1986-872010-11
Team New York KnicksOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
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 %
Patrick Ewing 63 35.0 21.5 2.5 6.3 8.8 1.7 1.4 2.3 3.6 3.9 8.4 16.7 .503 0.0 0.1 .000 4.7 6.6 .713
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing ------- --- ----------
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

Season 3

Patrick Ewing James Harden
Season 1987-882011-12
Team New York KnicksOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdThunder Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 82 31.0 20.2 3.0 5.3 8.2 1.5 1.3 3.0 3.5 4.0 8.0 14.4 .555 0.0 0.0 .000 4.2 5.8 .716
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 4 38.3 18.8 4.0 8.8 12.8 2.5 1.5 3.3 2.8 4.3 7.0 14.3 .491 0.0 0.3 .000 4.8 5.5 .864
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

Season 4

Patrick Ewing James Harden
Season 1988-892012-13
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisRockets 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 %
Patrick Ewing 80 36.2 22.7 2.7 6.6 9.3 2.4 1.5 3.5 3.3 3.9 9.1 16.0 .567 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 6.1 .746
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 9 37.8 19.9 2.6 7.4 10.0 2.2 1.0 2.0 1.7 3.9 7.8 16.0 .486 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 5.8 .750
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

Season 5

Patrick Ewing James Harden
Season 1989-902013-14
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisRockets 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 %
Patrick Ewing 82 38.6 28.6 2.9 8.0 10.9 2.2 1.0 4.0 3.4 4.0 11.2 20.4 .551 0.0 0.0 .250 6.1 7.9 .775
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 10 39.5 29.4 2.1 8.4 10.5 3.1 1.3 2.0 2.7 4.1 11.4 21.9 .521 0.1 0.2 .500 6.5 7.9 .823
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

Season 6

Patrick Ewing James Harden
Season 1990-912014-15
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets 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 %
Patrick Ewing 81 38.3 26.6 2.4 8.8 11.2 3.0 1.0 3.2 3.6 3.5 10.4 20.3 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 5.7 7.7 .745
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 3 36.7 16.7 0.7 9.3 10.0 2.0 0.3 1.7 3.7 4.0 6.0 15.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 4.7 6.0 .778
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

Season 7

Patrick Ewing James Harden
Season 1991-922015-16
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisRockets 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 %
Patrick Ewing 82 38.4 24.0 2.8 8.5 11.2 1.9 1.1 3.0 2.5 3.4 9.7 18.6 .522 0.0 0.1 .167 4.6 6.2 .738
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 12 40.2 22.7 2.8 8.3 11.1 2.3 0.6 2.6 1.9 4.1 9.1 19.9 .456 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 6.1 .740
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

Season 8

Patrick Ewing James Harden
Season 1992-932016-17
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsRockets 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 %
Patrick Ewing 81 37.1 24.2 2.4 9.7 12.1 1.9 0.9 2.0 3.3 3.5 9.6 19.1 .503 0.0 0.1 .143 4.9 6.9 .719
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 15 40.3 25.5 2.9 8.1 10.9 2.4 1.1 2.1 2.6 4.0 11.0 21.5 .512 0.1 0.1 1.000 3.4 5.3 .638
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

Season 9

Patrick Ewing James Harden
Season 1993-942017-18
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsRockets 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 %
Patrick Ewing 79 37.6 24.5 2.8 8.4 11.2 2.3 1.1 2.7 3.3 3.5 9.4 19.0 .496 0.1 0.2 .286 5.6 7.4 .765
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 25 41.3 21.9 3.5 8.2 11.7 2.6 1.3 3.0 3.3 3.8 8.4 19.2 .437 0.2 0.4 .364 4.9 6.5 .755
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

Season 10

Patrick Ewing James Harden
Season 1994-952018-19
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisRockets 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 %
Patrick Ewing 79 37.0 23.9 2.0 9.0 11.0 2.7 0.9 2.0 3.2 3.4 9.2 18.4 .503 0.1 0.3 .286 5.3 7.1 .750
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 11 36.3 19.0 1.5 8.1 9.6 2.5 0.5 2.3 2.7 4.6 7.3 14.2 .513 0.1 0.3 .333 4.4 6.4 .686
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

Season 11

Patrick Ewing James Harden
Season 1995-962019-20
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisRockets 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 %
Patrick Ewing 76 36.6 22.5 2.1 8.5 10.6 2.1 0.9 2.4 2.9 3.3 8.9 19.2 .466 0.1 0.4 .143 4.6 6.1 .761
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 8 41.0 21.5 1.4 9.3 10.6 1.9 0.1 3.1 3.8 2.8 8.1 17.1 .474 0.1 0.3 .500 5.1 7.9 .651
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

Season 12

Patrick Ewing James Harden
Season 1996-972020-21
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisNets 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 %
Patrick Ewing 78 37.0 22.4 2.2 8.4 10.7 2.0 0.9 2.4 3.4 3.2 8.4 17.2 .488 0.0 0.1 .222 5.6 7.5 .754
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 9 39.7 22.6 2.9 7.7 10.6 1.9 0.3 2.4 3.0 3.3 9.8 18.6 .527 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.7 .643
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

Season 13

Patrick Ewing James Harden
Season 1997-982021-22
Team New York KnicksBrooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf Semis76ers 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 %
Patrick Ewing 26 32.6 20.8 2.3 7.9 10.2 1.1 0.6 2.2 3.0 2.8 7.8 15.5 .504 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 7.2 .720
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 4 33.3 14.0 2.3 5.8 8.0 1.3 0.8 1.3 2.5 4.0 5.0 14.0 .357 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 6.8 .593
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

Season 14

Patrick Ewing James Harden
Season 1998-992022-23
Team New York KnicksPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA Finals76ers 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 %
Patrick Ewing 38 34.2 17.3 1.9 8.0 9.9 1.1 0.8 2.6 2.6 2.8 6.5 14.9 .435 0.0 0.1 .000 4.3 6.1 .706
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 11 31.5 13.1 1.3 7.5 8.7 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.9 3.2 5.3 12.3 .430 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.3 .778
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

Season 15

Patrick Ewing James Harden
Season 1999-002023-24
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsClippers 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 %
Patrick Ewing 62 32.8 15.0 2.3 7.5 9.7 0.9 0.6 1.4 2.3 3.2 5.8 12.5 .466 0.0 0.0 .000 3.3 4.6 .731
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 14 32.9 14.6 2.1 7.4 9.5 0.4 1.1 1.4 1.9 3.4 5.1 12.1 .418 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 6.4 .697
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

Season 16

Patrick Ewing James Harden
Season 2000-01-
Team Seattle Supersonics-
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 %
Patrick Ewing 79 26.7 9.6 1.6 5.8 7.4 1.2 0.7 1.2 1.9 2.9 3.7 8.7 .430 0.0 0.0 .000 2.2 3.2 .685
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing ------- --- ----------
James Harden ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Patrick Ewing James Harden
Season 2001-02-
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 %
Patrick Ewing 65 13.9 6.0 0.9 3.1 4.0 0.5 0.3 0.7 1.0 2.0 2.3 5.1 .444 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.1 .701
James Harden ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 4 17.0 6.5 1.3 4.3 5.5 1.0 0.3 1.0 0.5 3.0 2.0 6.3 .320 0.0 0.3 .000 2.5 4.3 .588
James Harden ------- --- ----------