Penny Hardaway vs. Steve Nash Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Steve Nash 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, 4 less than Steve Nash, who played 18. Penny Hardaway had the first of his seasons in 1993-94, while Steve Nash 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
Steve Nash 18 12 1996-97 to 2013-14

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 Steve Nash
Season 1993-941996-97
Team Orlando MagicPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdSuns Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+17+26.3+12.7+2.1+2.3+4.4+4.5+2.0+0.6-2.6-1.1+5.1+10.6+.043+0.2+1.5+.151+2.4+3.2+.082
Steve Nash 65 10.5 3.3 0.2 0.7 1.0 2.1 0.3 0.0 1.0 1.4 1.1 2.7 .423 0.4 0.8 .418 0.6 0.8 .824
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
difference:+1+40.5+17.4+2.4+4.0+6.4+6.7+1.4+1.7-6.2-2.0+6.8+14.4+.218+1.4+2.7+.205+2.3+3.3
Steve Nash 4 3.8 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 1.3 0.5 2.3 .222 0.3 1.0 .250 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Penny Hardaway Steve Nash
Season 1994-951997-98
Team Orlando MagicPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Magic Lost NBA FinalsSuns Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+1+15.8+11.8+1.4+0.9+2.3+3.8+0.9+0.2-2.1-0.2+4.1+7.1+.053+0.6+.066+3.6+4.9+.091
Steve Nash 76 21.9 9.1 0.4 1.7 2.1 3.4 0.8 0.1 1.3 1.9 3.5 7.7 .459 1.1 2.6 .415 1.0 1.1 .860
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
difference:+17+27.6+14.1+0.9+0.3+1.3+5.9+1.4+0.7-2.7-1.5+4.9+10.0+.028+1.6+3.4+.204+2.7+3.3+.132
Steve Nash 4 12.8 5.5 0.5 2.0 2.5 1.8 0.5 0.0 0.8 1.8 2.0 4.5 .444 0.3 1.3 .200 1.3 2.0 .625

Season 3

Penny Hardaway Steve Nash
Season 1995-961998-99
Team Orlando MagicDallas Mavericks
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:+42+5.1+13.8+0.8+0.6+1.4+1.6+1.1+0.4-0.7-0.5+4.7+6.9+.150+0.1+0.2+.060+4.4+5.9+.059
Steve Nash 40 31.7 7.9 0.8 2.1 2.9 5.5 0.9 0.1 2.1 2.5 2.9 7.9 .363 1.2 3.3 .374 1.0 1.2 .826
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
Steve Nash DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Penny Hardaway Steve Nash
Season 1996-971999-00
Team Orlando MagicDallas Mavericks
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:+3+10.2+11.9+0.8+1.5+2.3+0.7+0.9+0.5-0.7-0.1+4.0+9.4+.030+0.3+1.8+.085+3.5+4.3+.062
Steve Nash 56 27.4 8.6 0.6 1.6 2.2 4.9 0.7 0.1 1.8 2.2 3.1 6.5 .477 1.1 2.7 .403 1.3 1.5 .882
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
Steve Nash DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

Penny Hardaway Steve Nash
Season 1997-982000-01
Team Orlando MagicDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks Lost West Conf Semis
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:+51+1.2+0.8+0.3+1.1+0.8+3.7+0.5+0.7-0.5-0.1+0.1+3.1+.110+0.5+0.5+.106+1.4+2.5+.132
Steve Nash 70 34.1 15.6 0.7 2.5 3.2 7.3 1.0 0.1 2.9 2.3 5.5 11.3 .487 1.3 3.1 .406 3.3 3.7 .895
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
Steve Nash 10 37.0 13.6 0.6 2.6 3.2 6.4 0.6 0.1 2.5 1.9 4.5 10.8 .417 1.6 3.9 .410 3.0 3.4 .882

Season 6

Penny Hardaway Steve Nash
Season 1998-992001-02
Team Orlando MagicDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdMavericks Lost West 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:+32+4.3+2.1+0.9+1.7+2.6+2.4+1.6+0.5-0.2-0.2+0.4+1.0+.063+1.1+1.4+.169+0.2+0.6+.181
Steve Nash 82 34.6 17.9 0.6 2.5 3.1 7.7 0.6 0.0 2.8 2.0 6.4 13.3 .483 1.9 4.2 .455 3.2 3.6 .887
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:+4+1.3+0.5+1.4+0.3+1.0+3.3+1.8+0.3-0.8-0.8+1.4+0.5+.081+1.0+2.3+.018+3.2+5.4+.202
Steve Nash 8 40.5 19.5 0.9 3.1 4.0 8.8 0.5 0.0 3.8 2.5 6.4 14.8 .432 2.5 5.6 .444 4.3 4.4 .971

Season 7

Penny Hardaway Steve Nash
Season 1999-002002-03
Team Phoenix SunsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisMavericks Lost West 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:+22+4.5+0.8+0.7+2.2+2.9+2.0+0.6+0.5-0.3-1.1+0.3+.009+0.8+1.6+.089+0.7+.119
Steve Nash 82 33.1 17.7 0.8 2.1 2.9 7.3 1.0 0.1 2.3 1.6 6.3 13.6 .465 1.4 3.3 .413 3.8 4.1 .909
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:+11+6.4+4.2+0.8+0.5+1.4+1.6+0.7+0.9-0.2-0.8+1.6+3.2+.015+1.3+1.7+.224+2.1+3.7+.163
Steve Nash 20 36.4 16.1 0.8 2.8 3.5 7.3 0.9 0.1 2.6 2.4 5.8 12.9 .447 1.9 3.8 .487 2.8 3.2 .873

Season 8

Penny Hardaway Steve Nash
Season 2000-012003-04
Team Phoenix SunsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+74+5.5+4.7+0.5+1.1+1.5+5.0+0.6+0.2-1.9-0.3+1.3+1.8+.053+0.8+1.3+.155+1.1+0.4+.280
Steve Nash 78 33.5 14.5 0.8 2.2 3.0 8.8 0.9 0.1 2.7 1.8 5.1 10.8 .470 1.3 3.3 .405 2.9 3.2 .916
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
Steve Nash 5 39.2 13.6 1.2 4.0 5.2 9.0 0.8 0.0 2.4 2.8 5.4 14.0 .386 1.2 3.2 .375 1.6 1.8 .889

Season 9

Penny Hardaway Steve Nash
Season 2001-022004-05
Team Phoenix SunsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns Lost West Conf 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:+5+3.5+3.5+0.4+0.6+1.1+7.4+0.5+0.3-0.9-0.5+0.8+0.2+.084+1.0+1.9+.154+0.8+0.8+.077
Steve Nash 75 34.3 15.5 0.8 2.6 3.3 11.5 1.0 0.1 3.3 1.8 5.7 11.4 .502 1.3 2.9 .431 2.8 3.2 .887
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
Steve Nash 15 40.7 23.9 0.6 4.2 4.8 11.3 0.9 0.2 4.7 2.4 9.3 17.9 .520 1.4 3.6 .389 3.8 4.1 .919

Season 10

Penny Hardaway Steve Nash
Season 2002-032005-06
Team Phoenix SunsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdSuns Lost West 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:+21+4.8+8.2+0.5+0.3+0.2+6.4+0.3+0.2-1.0-1.1+2.4+3.5+.065+1.5+3.0+.083+2.0+1.8+.127
Steve Nash 79 35.4 18.8 0.6 3.6 4.2 10.5 0.8 0.2 3.5 1.5 6.8 13.4 .512 1.9 4.3 .439 3.3 3.5 .921
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:+14+0.8+7.7+1.0+1.3+2.3+5.9+1.8+0.5-1.2-2.4+2.8+2.9+.116+0.1+0.2+.008+2.0+1.6+.190
Steve Nash 20 39.9 20.4 0.5 3.2 3.7 10.2 0.4 0.3 3.4 1.9 7.3 14.6 .502 1.6 4.4 .368 4.2 4.6 .912

Season 11

Penny Hardaway Steve Nash
Season 2003-042006-07
Team Phoenix Suns, New York KnicksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdSuns Lost West 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:+7.7+9.4+0.5+0.2+0.3+9.3+0.1+0.2-2.4-0.4+3.1+3.9+.121+1.7+3.5+.075+1.4+1.5+.095
Steve Nash 76 35.3 18.6 0.4 3.1 3.5 11.6 0.8 0.1 3.8 1.5 6.8 12.8 .532 2.1 4.5 .455 2.9 3.3 .899
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:+7+4.5+2.4+0.6+0.7+1.3+7.5+1.1+0.2-1.9-0.1+0.9+1.3+.098+0.4+.130+0.1+0.3+.058
Steve Nash 11 37.5 18.9 0.4 2.8 3.2 13.3 0.4 0.1 4.4 1.9 6.7 14.5 .463 1.7 3.5 .487 3.7 4.2 .891

Season 12

Penny Hardaway Steve Nash
Season 2004-052007-08
Team New York KnicksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+44+10.1+9.6+0.2+1.2+1.1+9.1+0.1-2.2-0.7+3.0+4.9+.081+1.8+3.3+.170+1.8+1.8+.167
Steve Nash 81 34.3 16.9 0.3 3.1 3.5 11.1 0.7 0.1 3.6 1.4 6.0 11.9 .504 2.2 4.7 .470 2.7 3.0 .906
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
Steve Nash 5 36.6 16.2 0.2 2.6 2.8 7.8 0.4 0.2 2.4 2.0 6.4 14.0 .457 1.2 4.0 .300 2.2 2.4 .917

Season 13

Penny Hardaway Steve Nash
Season 2005-062008-09
Team New York KnicksPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
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:+70+15.6+13.2+0.3+0.3+0.5+7.7+0.2+0.1-1.9-0.3+4.8+8.0+.217+1.5+3.0+.439+2.1+2.3+.067
Steve Nash 74 33.6 15.7 0.3 2.8 3.0 9.7 0.7 0.1 3.4 1.5 5.8 11.5 .503 1.5 3.3 .439 2.6 2.8 .933
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Penny Hardaway nor Steve Nash played in the postseason in their season 13

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

Season 14

Penny Hardaway Steve Nash
Season 2007-082009-10
Team Miami HeatPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns Lost West Conf Finals
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:+65+12.5+12.7+0.2+0.9+1.1+8.8+0.7-2.8-0.2+4.8+8.4+.140+1.0+2.4+.005+2.1+2.2+.049
Steve Nash 81 32.8 16.5 0.4 2.9 3.3 11.0 0.5 0.1 3.6 1.3 6.2 12.2 .507 1.5 3.6 .426 2.6 2.8 .938
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Penny Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
Steve Nash 16 33.7 17.8 0.4 2.9 3.3 10.1 0.3 0.1 3.8 1.3 6.2 11.9 .518 1.2 3.1 .380 4.2 4.7 .893

Additional Years

* Steve Nash played 4 seasons more than Penny Hardaway in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 18, from 2011 to 2014—Steve Nash played in one postseason.

In those 4 extra years over Penny Hardaway, Steve Nash got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Assists Leader
Achievement 1 All-Star Game