Nene vs. Ben Simmons Season by Season Comparison

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

Nene played 17 years in the NBA, 11 more than Ben Simmons, who played 6. Nene had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, 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
Nene 17 12 2002-03 to 2018-19
Ben Simmons 6 3 2017-18 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Nene Ben Simmons
Season 2002-032017-18
Team Denver NuggetsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers 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 %
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
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 %
Nene ------- --- ----------
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

Nene Ben Simmons
Season 2003-042018-19
Team Denver NuggetsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
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
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 %
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
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

Nene Ben Simmons
Season 2004-052019-20
Team Denver NuggetsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
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
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 %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Nene Ben Simmons
Season 2005-062020-21
Team Denver NuggetsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers 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 %
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 -
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 %
Nene ------- --- ----------
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

Nene Ben Simmons
Season 2006-072022-23
Team Denver NuggetsBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
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
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 %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Nene Ben Simmons
Season 2007-082023-24
Team Denver NuggetsBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
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
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 %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Nene Ben Simmons
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 %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Nene Ben Simmons
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 %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Nene Ben Simmons
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 %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Nene Ben Simmons
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 %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene ------- --- ----------
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Nene Ben Simmons
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 %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene ------- --- ----------
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Nene Ben Simmons
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 %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Nene Ben Simmons
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 %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Nene Ben Simmons
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 %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene ------- --- ----------
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Nene Ben Simmons
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 %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Nene Ben Simmons
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 %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Nene Ben Simmons
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 %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------