Penny Hardaway vs. Ben Wallace Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ben Wallace and Penny Hardaway, 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 / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings / 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.

Penny Hardaway played 14 years in the NBA, 2 less than Ben Wallace, who played 16. Penny Hardaway had the first of his seasons in 1993-94, while Ben Wallace had his rookie season in 1996-97. 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 achievements, 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
Penny Hardaway 14 8 1993-94 to 2007-08
Ben Wallace 16 8 1996-97 to 2011-12

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Penny Hardaway Ben Wallace
Season 1993-941996-97
Team Orlando MagicWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 82 36.8 16.0 2.3 3.0 5.4 6.6 2.3 0.6 3.6 2.5 6.2 13.3 .466 0.6 2.3 .267 3.0 4.0 .742
difference:+48+31.0+14.9+1.6+2.0+3.7+6.5+2.1+0.3-3.1-1.7+5.7+11.9+.118+0.6+2.3+2.8+3.4+.442
Ben Wallace 34 5.8 1.1 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.5 1.4 .348 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.6 .300
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 3 44.3 18.7 2.7 4.0 6.7 7.0 1.7 2.0 6.7 3.3 7.3 16.7 .440 1.7 3.7 .455 2.3 3.3 .700
Ben Wallace DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Penny Hardaway Ben Wallace
Season 1994-951997-98
Team Orlando MagicWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 77 37.7 20.9 1.8 2.6 4.4 7.2 1.7 0.3 3.4 2.1 7.6 14.8 .512 1.1 3.2 .349 4.6 6.0 .769
difference:+10+20.9+17.8+0.1+0.6+0.4+6.9+0.8+0.8-3.0-0.4+6.3+12.4+.006+1.1+3.2+4.1+4.5+.412
Ben Wallace 67 16.8 3.1 1.7 3.2 4.8 0.3 0.9 1.1 0.4 1.7 1.3 2.4 .518 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.5 .357
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 21 40.4 19.6 1.4 2.3 3.8 7.7 1.9 0.7 3.5 3.3 6.9 14.5 .472 1.9 4.7 .404 4.0 5.3 .757
Ben Wallace DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Penny Hardaway Ben Wallace
Season 1995-961998-99
Team Orlando MagicWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 82 36.8 21.7 1.6 2.7 4.3 7.1 2.0 0.5 2.8 2.0 7.6 14.8 .513 1.1 3.5 .314 5.4 7.1 .767
difference:+36+10.0+15.7+1.4+2.7+4.0+6.7+0.9+1.5-2.0-0.4+5.1+10.5+.065+1.1+3.5+4.4+4.2+.411
Ben Wallace 46 26.8 6.0 3.0 5.4 8.3 0.4 1.1 2.0 0.8 2.4 2.5 4.3 .578 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.9 .356
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 12 39.4 23.3 1.7 3.0 4.7 6.0 1.7 0.3 2.2 2.3 8.4 18.1 .465 1.7 4.6 .364 4.8 6.5 .744
Ben Wallace DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Penny Hardaway Ben Wallace
Season 1996-971999-00
Team Orlando MagicOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 59 37.6 20.5 1.4 3.1 4.5 5.6 1.6 0.6 2.5 2.1 7.1 15.9 .447 1.4 4.5 .318 4.8 5.8 .820
difference:+22+13.4+15.7+1.2+2.5+3.7+4.8+0.7+1.0-1.7-0.1+5.0+11.8+.056+1.4+4.5+4.1+4.4+.346
Ben Wallace 81 24.2 4.8 2.6 5.6 8.2 0.8 0.9 1.6 0.8 2.0 2.1 4.1 .503 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.4 .474
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 5 44.4 31.0 1.4 4.6 6.0 3.4 2.4 1.4 1.8 2.8 10.4 22.2 .468 2.2 6.0 .367 8.0 10.8 .741
Ben Wallace DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

Penny Hardaway Ben Wallace
Season 1997-982000-01
Team Orlando MagicDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 19 32.9 16.4 0.4 3.6 4.0 3.6 1.5 0.8 2.4 2.4 5.4 14.4 .377 0.8 2.6 .300 4.7 6.2 .763
difference:+61+1.6+10.0+3.4+5.8+9.2+2.1+0.2+1.5-0.9+2.7+8.9+.113+0.8+2.5+.050+3.7+3.2+.427
Ben Wallace 80 34.5 6.4 3.8 9.4 13.2 1.5 1.3 2.3 1.5 2.4 2.7 5.5 .490 0.0 0.1 .250 1.0 3.0 .336
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Penny Hardaway nor Ben Wallace played in the postseason in their season 5

Season 6

Penny Hardaway Ben Wallace
Season 1998-992001-02
Team Orlando MagicDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement Blocks Leader
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdPistons Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 50 38.9 15.8 1.5 4.2 5.7 5.3 2.2 0.5 3.0 2.2 6.0 14.3 .420 0.8 2.8 .286 3.0 4.2 .706
difference:+30+2.4+8.2+2.5+4.8+7.3+3.9+0.5+3.0-2.1+2.8+8.3+.111+0.8+2.8+1.8+1.3+.283
Ben Wallace 80 36.5 7.6 4.0 9.0 13.0 1.4 1.7 3.5 0.9 2.2 3.2 6.0 .531 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 2.9 .423
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 4 41.8 19.0 2.3 2.8 5.0 5.5 2.3 0.3 3.0 3.3 5.0 14.3 .351 1.5 3.3 .462 7.5 9.8 .769
difference:+6+1.0+11.7+2.5+8.5+11.1+4.3+0.4+2.3-1.1-0.9+2.2+8.4+.124+1.5+3.3+5.8+5.9+.333
Ben Wallace 10 40.8 7.3 4.8 11.3 16.1 1.2 1.9 2.6 1.9 2.4 2.8 5.9 .475 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 3.9 .436

Season 7

Penny Hardaway Ben Wallace
Season 1999-002002-03
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisPistons Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 60 37.6 16.9 1.5 4.3 5.8 5.3 1.6 0.6 2.6 2.7 6.3 13.3 .474 0.6 1.7 .324 3.8 4.8 .790
difference:+13+1.8+10.0+2.5+7.1+9.6+3.7+0.2+2.6-1.4-0.2+3.4+7.3+.007+0.6+1.6+.157+2.6+2.2+.340
Ben Wallace 73 39.4 6.9 4.0 11.4 15.4 1.6 1.4 3.2 1.2 2.5 2.9 6.0 .481 0.0 0.1 .167 1.2 2.6 .450
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 9 42.8 20.3 1.6 3.3 4.9 5.7 1.6 1.0 2.8 3.2 7.4 16.1 .462 0.6 2.1 .263 4.9 6.9 .710
difference:+8+0.3+11.4+3.5+7.9+11.4+4.1+0.9+2.1-1.9-0.3+4.3+9.7+.024+0.6+2.0+.263+2.3+1.0+.264
Ben Wallace 17 42.5 8.9 5.1 11.2 16.3 1.6 2.5 3.1 0.9 2.9 3.1 6.4 .486 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 5.9 .446

Season 8

Penny Hardaway Ben Wallace
Season 2000-012003-04
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 4 28.0 9.8 1.3 3.3 4.5 3.8 1.5 0.3 0.8 1.5 3.8 9.0 .417 0.5 2.0 .250 1.8 2.8 .636
difference:+77+9.7+0.3+2.7+5.1+7.9+2.1+0.3+2.7-0.7-0.5+0.1+0.2+.004+0.5+1.9+.125+0.8+.146
Ben Wallace 81 37.7 9.5 4.0 8.4 12.4 1.7 1.8 3.0 1.5 2.0 3.9 9.2 .421 0.0 0.1 .125 1.8 3.6 .490
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
Ben Wallace 23 40.3 10.3 4.1 10.1 14.3 1.9 1.9 2.4 1.6 2.5 4.0 8.9 .454 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 5.1 .427

Season 9

Penny Hardaway Ben Wallace
Season 2001-022004-05
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 80 30.8 12.0 1.2 3.2 4.4 4.1 1.5 0.4 2.4 2.3 4.9 11.6 .418 0.3 1.0 .277 2.0 2.4 .810
difference:+6+5.3+2.3+2.7+5.0+7.8+2.4+0.1+2.0-1.3-0.2+0.9+2.8+.035+0.3+0.9+.166+0.2+1.7+.382
Ben Wallace 74 36.1 9.7 3.9 8.2 12.2 1.7 1.4 2.4 1.1 2.1 4.0 8.8 .453 0.0 0.1 .111 1.8 4.1 .428
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
Ben Wallace 25 39.0 10.0 3.8 7.5 11.3 1.0 1.7 2.4 1.2 2.6 4.1 8.5 .481 0.0 0.2 .000 1.9 4.1 .461

Season 10

Penny Hardaway Ben Wallace
Season 2002-032005-06
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 58 30.6 10.6 1.1 3.3 4.4 4.1 1.1 0.4 2.5 2.6 4.4 9.9 .447 0.4 1.3 .356 1.3 1.7 .794
difference:+24+4.6+3.3+2.6+4.3+6.9+2.2+0.7+1.8-1.4-0.6+1.5+4.2+.063+0.4+1.3+0.2+1.9+.378
Ben Wallace 82 35.2 7.3 3.7 7.6 11.3 1.9 1.8 2.2 1.1 2.0 2.9 5.7 .510 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 3.6 .416
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 6 40.7 12.7 1.5 4.5 6.0 4.3 2.2 0.8 2.2 4.3 4.5 11.7 .386 1.5 4.2 .360 2.2 3.0 .722
difference:+12+5.0+8.0+1.8+2.7+4.5+2.6+0.9+0.4-1.4-2.0+2.7+7.8+.079+1.5+4.1+.360+1.2+0.7+.449
Ben Wallace 18 35.7 4.7 3.3 7.2 10.5 1.7 1.3 1.2 0.8 2.3 1.8 3.9 .465 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 3.7 .273

Season 11

Penny Hardaway Ben Wallace
Season 2003-042006-07
Team Phoenix Suns, New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdBulls Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 76 27.6 9.2 0.9 2.9 3.8 2.3 0.9 0.3 1.4 1.9 3.7 8.9 .411 0.4 1.0 .380 1.5 1.8 .804
difference:+1+7.4+2.8+3.0+3.8+6.9+0.1+0.5+1.7-0.1-0.1+1.2+3.4+.042+0.4+0.9+.180+0.1+1.7+.396
Ben Wallace 77 35.0 6.4 3.9 6.7 10.7 2.4 1.4 2.0 1.3 2.0 2.5 5.5 .453 0.0 0.1 .200 1.4 3.5 .408
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 4 42.0 16.5 1.0 3.5 4.5 5.8 1.5 0.3 2.5 2.0 5.8 15.8 .365 1.3 3.5 .357 3.8 4.5 .833
difference:+6+5.1+7.8+1.9+3.1+5.0+4.4+1.4-1.5-0.1+2.8+10.5+.201+1.3+3.4+.357+1.1+0.9+.333
Ben Wallace 10 36.9 8.7 2.9 6.6 9.5 1.4 1.5 1.7 1.0 1.9 3.0 5.3 .566 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 5.4 .500

Season 12

Penny Hardaway Ben Wallace
Season 2004-052007-08
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 37 24.2 7.3 0.5 1.9 2.4 2.0 0.8 0.1 1.4 2.1 3.0 7.0 .423 0.4 1.4 .300 0.9 1.2 .739
difference:+35+6.4+2.5+2.8+3.2+6.0+0.5+0.4+1.5-0.5-0.4+1.1+2.1+.031+0.4+1.3+.300+0.1+1.1+.313
Ben Wallace 72 30.6 4.8 3.3 5.1 8.4 1.5 1.2 1.6 0.9 1.7 1.9 4.9 .392 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 2.3 .426
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
Ben Wallace 13 23.4 3.2 2.5 4.0 6.5 1.2 0.6 1.1 0.5 2.0 1.3 2.5 .515 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.5 .350

Season 13

Penny Hardaway Ben Wallace
Season 2005-062008-09
Team New York KnicksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 4 18.0 2.5 0.0 2.5 2.5 2.0 0.5 0.0 1.5 1.8 1.0 3.5 .286 0.0 0.3 .000 0.5 0.5 1.000
difference:+52+5.5+0.4+2.4+1.5+4.0+1.2+0.4+1.3-0.9-0.3+0.2+0.7+.159+0.3+0.6+.578
Ben Wallace 56 23.5 2.9 2.4 4.0 6.5 0.8 0.9 1.3 0.6 1.5 1.2 2.8 .445 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.1 .422
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
Ben Wallace 14 12.6 1.1 1.3 1.4 2.7 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.9 0.6 0.9 .615 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.4 .000

Note: Penny Hardaway didn't play in 2006-07.

Season 14

Penny Hardaway Ben Wallace
Season 2007-082009-10
Team Miami HeatDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway 16 20.3 3.8 0.2 2.0 2.2 2.2 1.2 0.1 0.8 1.5 1.4 3.8 .367 0.5 1.2 .421 0.5 0.6 .889
difference:+53+8.3+1.7+3.4+3.1+6.5+0.7+1.1-0.1-0.4+0.9+0.4+.174+0.5+1.2+0.4+1.7+.483
Ben Wallace 69 28.6 5.5 3.6 5.1 8.7 1.5 1.2 1.2 0.9 1.9 2.3 4.2 .541 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 2.3 .406
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Penny Hardaway nor Ben Wallace played in the postseason in their season 14

Additional Years

* Ben Wallace played 2 seasons more than Penny Hardaway in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 16, from 2011 to 2012—Ben Wallace didn't play in the postseason.