Walter Davis vs. Ben Simmons Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ben Simmons and Walter Davis, 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.

Walter Davis played 15 years in the NBA, 9 more than Ben Simmons, who played 6. Walter Davis had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Ben Simmons had his rookie season in 2017-18. 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
Walter Davis 15 10 1977-78 to 1991-92
Ben Simmons 6 3 2017-18 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

Rookie Season

Walter Davis Ben Simmons
Season 1977-782017-18
Team Phoenix SunsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rookie of the YearAchievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st Rd76ers 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 %
Walter Davis 81 32.0 24.2 2.0 4.0 6.0 3.4 1.4 0.2 3.5 3.0 9.7 18.4 .526 - - - 4.8 5.8 .830
Ben Simmons 81 33.7 15.8 1.8 6.3 8.1 8.2 1.7 0.9 3.4 2.6 6.7 12.3 .545 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 4.2 .560
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 2 33.0 25.0 2.0 6.5 8.5 4.0 1.5 0.0 3.0 4.0 9.5 20.0 .475 - - - 6.0 8.0 .750
Ben Simmons 10 36.9 16.3 1.6 7.8 9.4 7.7 1.7 0.8 4.4 3.4 6.1 12.5 .488 0.0 0.1 .000 4.1 5.8 .707

Season 2

Walter Davis Ben Simmons
Season 1978-792018-19
Team Phoenix SunsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 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 %
Walter Davis 79 30.8 23.6 1.4 3.3 4.7 4.3 1.9 0.3 3.7 3.2 9.7 17.2 .561 - - - 4.3 5.2 .831
Ben Simmons 79 34.2 16.9 2.2 6.6 8.8 7.7 1.4 0.8 3.5 2.6 6.8 12.2 .563 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 5.4 .600
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 15 32.7 22.1 1.6 3.0 4.6 5.3 1.7 0.3 4.4 2.7 8.5 16.3 .520 - - - 5.2 6.4 .813
Ben Simmons 12 35.1 13.9 1.9 5.1 7.0 6.0 1.3 1.0 2.7 3.8 6.0 9.7 .621 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.3 .575

Season 3

Walter Davis Ben Simmons
Season 1979-802019-20
Team Phoenix SunsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Walter Davis 75 30.8 21.5 1.0 2.6 3.6 4.5 1.5 0.3 3.2 2.7 8.8 15.5 .563 0.0 0.1 .000 4.0 4.9 .819
Ben Simmons 57 35.4 16.4 2.0 5.8 7.8 8.0 2.1 0.6 3.5 3.3 6.6 11.4 .580 0.0 0.1 .286 3.2 5.2 .621
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 8 30.6 20.8 1.1 1.8 2.9 4.4 0.5 0.1 2.5 2.5 8.6 17.1 .504 0.0 0.4 .000 3.5 4.8 .737
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Walter Davis Ben Simmons
Season 1980-812020-21
Team Phoenix SunsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West 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 %
Walter Davis 78 28.0 18.0 0.8 1.8 2.6 3.9 1.2 0.2 2.8 2.5 7.6 14.1 .539 0.1 0.2 .412 2.7 3.2 .836
Ben Simmons 58 32.4 14.3 1.6 5.6 7.2 6.9 1.6 0.6 3.0 2.9 5.6 10.1 .557 0.1 0.2 .300 3.0 4.9 .613
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 7 28.4 16.0 1.0 1.7 2.7 3.1 1.0 0.1 2.4 2.4 7.3 15.1 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.4 .588
Ben Simmons 12 33.5 11.9 2.1 5.8 7.9 8.8 1.3 0.8 2.3 3.3 4.9 7.9 .621 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 6.1 .342

Note: Ben Simmons didn't play in 2021-22.

Season 5

Walter Davis Ben Simmons
Season 1981-822022-23
Team Phoenix SunsBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Walter Davis 55 21.5 14.4 0.4 1.5 1.9 2.9 0.8 0.1 2.0 1.9 6.4 12.2 .523 0.1 0.3 .188 1.7 2.0 .820
Ben Simmons 42 26.3 6.9 1.0 5.3 6.3 6.1 1.3 0.6 2.3 3.3 3.2 5.6 .566 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.4 .439
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 7 24.7 18.1 0.7 2.4 3.1 4.3 0.7 0.1 1.7 2.7 7.4 16.6 .448 0.1 0.4 .333 3.1 3.4 .917
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Walter Davis Ben Simmons
Season 1982-832023-24
Team Phoenix SunsBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Walter Davis 80 31.1 19.0 0.8 1.7 2.5 5.0 1.5 0.2 2.4 2.3 8.3 16.1 .516 0.1 0.3 .304 2.3 2.8 .818
Ben Simmons 15 23.9 6.1 2.1 5.9 7.9 5.7 0.8 0.6 1.8 2.4 2.9 4.9 .581 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 1.0 .400
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 3 37.7 26.0 1.7 3.3 5.0 4.3 2.0 1.7 1.7 2.0 10.0 23.0 .435 0.3 0.7 .500 5.7 7.0 .810
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Walter Davis Ben Simmons
Season 1983-84-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Walter Davis 78 32.6 20.0 0.5 2.1 2.6 5.5 1.4 0.2 2.7 2.6 8.4 16.3 .512 0.3 1.1 .230 3.0 3.5 .863
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 17 36.6 24.9 0.9 1.8 2.7 6.4 1.7 0.2 2.5 3.2 10.3 19.2 .535 0.2 0.6 .273 4.1 4.6 .897
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Walter Davis Ben Simmons
Season 1984-85-
Team Phoenix Suns-
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 %
Walter Davis 23 24.8 15.0 0.3 1.3 1.5 4.3 0.8 0.0 2.2 1.8 6.0 13.4 .450 0.1 0.4 .300 2.8 3.2 .877
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Walter Davis Ben Simmons
Season 1985-86-
Team Phoenix Suns-
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 %
Walter Davis 70 32.0 21.8 0.8 2.1 2.9 5.2 1.4 0.0 3.1 2.2 8.9 18.4 .485 0.3 1.1 .237 3.7 4.4 .843
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Walter Davis Ben Simmons
Season 1986-87-
Team Phoenix Suns-
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 %
Walter Davis 79 33.5 23.6 1.1 1.9 3.1 4.6 1.2 0.1 2.9 2.3 9.9 19.2 .514 0.3 1.0 .259 3.6 4.2 .862
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Walter Davis Ben Simmons
Season 1987-88-
Team Phoenix Suns-
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 %
Walter Davis 68 28.7 17.9 0.5 1.9 2.3 4.1 1.3 0.0 1.9 1.9 7.2 15.2 .473 0.5 1.4 .375 3.0 3.4 .887
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Walter Davis Ben Simmons
Season 1988-89-
Team Denver Nuggets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Walter Davis 81 22.9 15.6 0.5 1.4 1.9 2.3 0.9 0.1 1.6 2.3 6.6 13.3 .498 0.2 0.9 .290 2.2 2.5 .879
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 3 31.3 25.7 0.7 1.0 1.7 1.3 1.0 0.0 2.7 3.7 10.3 20.0 .517 0.0 1.3 .000 5.0 5.0 1.000
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Walter Davis Ben Simmons
Season 1989-90-
Team Denver Nuggets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Walter Davis 69 23.7 17.5 0.7 1.9 2.6 2.2 0.9 0.1 1.5 2.3 7.2 15.0 .481 0.1 0.7 .130 3.0 3.3 .912
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 3 23.3 14.0 1.3 1.7 3.0 2.0 0.3 0.0 1.7 1.3 6.0 15.0 .400 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 2.0 1.000
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Walter Davis Ben Simmons
Season 1990-91-
Team Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Walter Davis 71 20.9 13.0 1.0 1.5 2.5 1.8 1.1 0.0 1.2 2.1 5.7 12.1 .468 0.2 0.5 .306 1.5 1.6 .915
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis 13 8.5 3.3 0.5 0.6 1.2 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.5 0.4 1.5 3.7 .396 0.0 0.1 .000 0.4 0.5 .833
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Walter Davis Ben Simmons
Season 1991-92-
Team Denver Nuggets-
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 %
Walter Davis 46 16.1 9.9 0.4 1.1 1.5 1.5 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.5 4.0 8.8 .459 0.1 0.3 .313 1.8 2.0 .872
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walter Davis ------- --- ----------
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------