LaMelo Ball vs. Nene Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nene and LaMelo Ball, 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.

LaMelo Ball played 4 years in the NBA, 13 less than Nene, who played 17. LaMelo Ball had the first of his seasons in 2020-21, while Nene had his rookie season in 2002-03. 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
LaMelo Ball 4 0 2020-21 to 2023-24
Nene 17 12 2002-03 to 2018-19

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

LaMelo Ball Nene
Season 2020-212002-03
Team Charlotte HornetsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball 51 28.8 15.7 1.2 4.7 5.9 6.1 1.6 0.4 2.8 2.7 5.7 13.2 .436 1.8 5.1 .352 2.5 3.2 .758
Nene 80 28.2 10.5 2.6 3.5 6.1 1.9 1.6 0.8 2.3 3.7 4.0 7.7 .519 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 4.3 .578
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene ------- --- ----------

Season 2

LaMelo Ball Nene
Season 2021-222003-04
Team Charlotte HornetsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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 %
LaMelo Ball 75 32.3 20.1 1.4 5.2 6.7 7.6 1.6 0.4 3.3 3.2 7.2 16.7 .429 2.9 7.5 .389 2.8 3.2 .872
Nene 77 32.5 11.8 2.0 4.5 6.5 2.2 1.5 0.5 2.4 3.6 4.3 8.2 .530 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 4.6 .682
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 5 26.6 7.8 2.4 2.6 5.0 3.0 1.0 0.6 1.8 4.4 3.2 7.2 .444 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.6 .538

Season 3

LaMelo Ball Nene
Season 2022-232004-05
Team Charlotte HornetsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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 %
LaMelo Ball 36 35.2 23.3 1.2 5.3 6.4 8.4 1.3 0.3 3.6 3.3 8.2 20.0 .411 4.0 10.6 .376 2.8 3.4 .836
Nene 55 23.9 9.6 1.9 4.0 5.9 1.5 0.9 0.9 1.7 3.0 3.5 7.0 .503 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.9 .660
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 5 20.0 6.6 1.8 3.2 5.0 0.4 0.4 0.4 1.0 3.2 1.8 4.2 .429 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.6 .652

Season 4

LaMelo Ball Nene
Season 2023-242005-06
Team Charlotte HornetsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball 22 32.3 23.9 1.3 3.8 5.1 8.0 1.8 0.2 3.8 3.6 8.3 19.2 .433 3.2 9.0 .355 4.1 4.7 .865
Nene 1 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene ------- --- ----------

Season 5

LaMelo Ball Nene
Season -2006-07
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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 64 26.8 12.2 2.3 4.7 7.0 1.2 1.0 0.9 2.0 3.3 4.6 8.1 .570 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 4.4 .689
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 5 35.8 15.2 4.4 3.4 7.8 2.4 0.6 0.6 2.6 4.2 6.2 10.6 .585 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.6 .778

Season 6

LaMelo Ball Nene
Season -2007-08
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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 16 16.6 5.3 1.9 3.6 5.4 0.9 0.6 0.9 1.3 2.9 1.8 4.4 .408 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 3.1 .551
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 3 10.0 4.3 1.0 1.3 2.3 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.7 2.7 1.7 3.0 .556 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 7

LaMelo Ball Nene
Season -2008-09
Team -Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Nuggets 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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 77 32.6 14.6 2.4 5.4 7.8 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.9 3.6 5.6 9.2 .604 0.0 0.1 .200 3.5 4.8 .723
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 16 32.8 11.5 2.3 5.2 7.5 2.6 1.3 0.6 1.9 4.1 4.3 7.9 .548 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.4 .657

Season 8

LaMelo Ball Nene
Season -2009-10
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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 82 33.6 13.8 2.0 5.6 7.6 2.5 1.4 1.0 1.5 3.4 5.1 8.7 .587 0.0 0.0 .000 3.6 5.1 .704
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 5 33.8 11.4 1.6 4.2 5.8 2.2 1.2 0.2 0.8 3.4 3.6 5.8 .621 0.0 0.0 - 4.2 7.2 .583

Season 9

LaMelo Ball Nene
Season -2010-11
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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 75 30.5 14.5 1.9 5.7 7.6 2.0 1.1 1.0 1.8 3.2 5.4 8.7 .615 0.0 0.1 .200 3.8 5.4 .711
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 5 32.4 14.2 2.8 6.2 9.0 1.6 1.0 0.8 1.6 3.4 4.4 9.2 .478 0.0 0.0 - 5.4 9.6 .563

Season 10

LaMelo Ball Nene
Season -2011-12
Team -Denver Nuggets, 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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 39 28.5 13.7 1.6 5.8 7.5 2.1 1.1 1.0 2.5 2.4 5.4 10.1 .537 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 4.3 .673
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene ------- --- ----------

Season 11

LaMelo Ball Nene
Season -2012-13
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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 61 27.2 12.6 1.7 5.0 6.7 2.9 0.9 0.6 2.3 2.8 4.7 9.7 .480 0.0 0.0 .000 3.2 4.4 .729
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene ------- --- ----------

Season 12

LaMelo Ball Nene
Season -2013-14
Team -Washington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Wizards 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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 53 29.4 14.2 1.2 4.3 5.5 2.9 1.2 0.9 2.2 3.1 5.6 11.2 .503 0.0 0.1 .200 2.9 5.0 .583
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 10 32.5 13.7 0.8 4.5 5.3 2.6 0.9 1.1 1.7 3.6 6.4 13.8 .464 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 2.6 .346

Season 13

LaMelo Ball Nene
Season -2014-15
Team -Washington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Wizards 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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 67 25.3 11.0 1.3 3.9 5.1 1.8 1.0 0.3 1.9 2.7 4.6 9.0 .511 0.0 0.1 .200 1.8 3.0 .604
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 10 25.7 7.9 2.5 4.1 6.6 1.5 0.9 0.3 1.4 3.2 3.4 7.6 .447 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 2.3 .478

Season 14

LaMelo Ball Nene
Season -2015-16
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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 57 19.2 9.2 0.9 3.6 4.5 1.7 0.9 0.5 1.3 2.7 3.7 6.7 .544 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 3.2 .578
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene ------- --- ----------

Season 15

LaMelo Ball Nene
Season -2016-17
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Rockets 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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 67 17.9 9.1 1.4 2.8 4.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 1.1 2.4 3.7 5.9 .617 0.0 0.1 .333 1.7 2.9 .589
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 9 17.9 10.0 1.2 3.4 4.7 0.6 0.7 0.4 1.0 2.7 4.0 5.7 .706 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 3.4 .581

Season 16

LaMelo Ball Nene
Season -2017-18
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Rockets 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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 52 14.6 6.5 1.0 2.3 3.4 0.9 0.5 0.3 0.7 2.4 2.6 4.6 .569 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 2.1 .636
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 11 9.7 2.8 0.5 2.0 2.5 0.5 0.2 0.5 0.7 1.6 1.1 1.8 .600 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.0 .636

Season 17

LaMelo Ball Nene
Season -2018-19
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Rockets 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 %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 42 13.0 3.6 0.8 2.1 2.9 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.3 2.1 1.4 2.8 .517 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 1.1 .660
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
LaMelo Ball ------- --- ----------
Nene 7 7.6 3.9 1.3 0.7 2.0 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 1.0 1.4 1.4 1.000 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .778