Nene vs. Karl-Anthony Towns Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Karl-Anthony Towns 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, 8 more than Karl-Anthony Towns, who played 9. Nene had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, while Karl-Anthony Towns had his rookie season in 2015-16. 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
Karl-Anthony Towns 9 4 2015-16 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 Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2002-032015-16
Team Denver NuggetsMinnesota Timberwolves
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 %
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
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 32.0 18.3 2.8 7.7 10.5 2.0 0.7 1.7 2.2 3.0 7.6 14.1 .542 0.4 1.1 .341 2.7 3.4 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Nene Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2003-042016-17
Team Denver NuggetsMinnesota Timberwolves
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 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
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 37.0 25.1 3.6 8.7 12.3 2.7 0.7 1.3 2.6 2.9 9.8 18.0 .542 1.2 3.4 .367 4.3 5.2 .832
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
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Nene Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2004-052017-18
Team Denver NuggetsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdTimberwolves 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 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
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 35.6 21.3 2.9 9.4 12.3 2.4 0.8 1.4 1.9 3.5 7.8 14.3 .545 1.5 3.5 .421 4.2 4.9 .858
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
Karl-Anthony Towns 5 34.0 15.2 3.0 10.4 13.4 2.2 0.4 1.0 2.4 2.8 5.6 12.0 .467 0.6 2.2 .273 3.4 4.6 .739

Season 4
Nene Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2005-062018-19
Team Denver NuggetsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
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 -
Karl-Anthony Towns 77 33.1 24.4 3.4 9.0 12.4 3.4 0.9 1.6 3.1 3.8 8.8 17.1 .518 1.8 4.6 .400 4.9 5.8 .836
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Nene Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2006-072019-20
Team Denver NuggetsMinnesota Timberwolves
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
Karl-Anthony Towns 35 33.9 26.5 2.7 8.1 10.8 4.4 0.9 1.2 3.1 3.3 9.0 17.8 .508 3.3 7.9 .412 5.1 6.5 .796
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
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 6
Nene Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2007-082020-21
Team Denver NuggetsMinnesota Timberwolves
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
Karl-Anthony Towns 50 33.8 24.8 2.7 7.9 10.6 4.5 0.8 1.1 3.2 3.7 8.5 17.5 .486 2.4 6.3 .387 5.3 6.2 .859
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
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Nene Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2008-092021-22
Team Denver NuggetsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf FinalsTimberwolves 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 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
Karl-Anthony Towns 74 33.5 24.6 2.6 7.2 9.8 3.6 1.0 1.1 3.1 3.6 8.7 16.4 .529 2.0 4.9 .410 5.2 6.3 .822
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
Karl-Anthony Towns 6 37.0 21.8 1.8 9.0 10.8 2.2 0.7 2.0 4.5 4.2 6.5 13.3 .488 1.7 3.7 .455 7.2 8.3 .860

Season 8
Nene Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2009-102022-23
Team Denver NuggetsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdTimberwolves 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
Karl-Anthony Towns 29 33.0 20.8 1.7 6.5 8.1 4.8 0.7 0.6 3.0 3.8 7.3 14.8 .495 2.1 5.7 .366 4.1 4.7 .874
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
Karl-Anthony Towns 5 36.0 18.2 1.2 9.0 10.2 2.0 0.6 0.8 3.6 4.2 6.4 14.0 .457 1.2 4.8 .250 4.2 5.6 .750

Season 9
Nene Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2010-112023-24
Team Denver NuggetsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdTimberwolves TBD
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
Karl-Anthony Towns 62 32.7 21.8 1.5 6.8 8.3 3.0 0.7 0.7 2.9 3.3 7.7 15.3 .504 2.2 5.3 .416 4.1 4.7 .873
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
Karl-Anthony Towns 9 32.0 19.3 1.8 6.8 8.6 2.7 0.7 0.2 1.8 3.9 7.0 13.4 .521 2.3 4.4 .525 3.0 3.8 .794

Season 10
Nene Karl-Anthony Towns
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
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Nene Karl-Anthony Towns
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
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Nene Karl-Anthony Towns
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
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
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
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Nene Karl-Anthony Towns
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
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
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
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Nene Karl-Anthony Towns
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
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 15
Nene Karl-Anthony Towns
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
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
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
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 16
Nene Karl-Anthony Towns
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
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
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
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 17
Nene Karl-Anthony Towns
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
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
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
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
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