Steven Adams vs. Ben Wallace Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ben Wallace and Steven Adams, 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

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.

Steven Adams played 11 years in the NBA, 5 less than Ben Wallace, who played 16. Steven Adams had the first of his seasons in 2013-14, 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
Steven Adams 11 8 2013-14 to 2024-25
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

Rookie Season

Steven Adams Ben Wallace
Season 2013-141996-97
Team Oklahoma City ThunderWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf FinalsDid 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%
Steven Adams 81 14.8 3.3 1.8 2.3 4.1 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.9 2.5 1.1 2.3 .503 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.7 .581
difference:+47+9.0+2.2+1.1+1.3+2.4+0.4+0.3+0.4-0.4-1.7+0.6+0.9+.155+0.8+1.1+.281
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%
Steven Adams 18 18.4 3.9 1.2 2.9 4.1 0.2 0.1 1.3 0.6 2.7 1.7 2.5 .689 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 1.3 .348
Ben Wallace DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Steven Adams Ben Wallace
Season 2014-151997-98
Team Oklahoma City ThunderWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Steven Adams 70 25.3 7.7 2.8 4.6 7.5 0.9 0.5 1.2 1.4 3.2 3.1 5.7 .544 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.9 .502
difference:+3+8.5+4.6+1.1+1.4+2.7+0.6+0.4+0.1-1.0-1.5+1.8+3.3+.026+1.0+1.4+.145
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
* Neiher Steven Adams nor Ben Wallace played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3

Steven Adams Ben Wallace
Season 2015-161998-99
Team Oklahoma City ThunderWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost West 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%
Steven Adams 80 25.2 8.0 2.7 3.9 6.7 0.8 0.5 1.1 1.1 2.8 3.3 5.3 .613 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.5 .582
difference:+34+1.6+2.0+0.3+1.5+1.6+0.4+0.6+0.9-0.3-0.4+0.8+1.0+.035+0.4+0.4+.226
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%
Steven Adams 18 30.7 10.1 3.4 6.1 9.5 0.7 0.5 0.8 0.9 3.1 3.8 6.2 .613 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 4.1 .630
Ben Wallace DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Steven Adams Ben Wallace
Season 2016-171999-00
Team Oklahoma City ThunderOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost West 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%
Steven Adams 80 29.9 11.3 3.5 4.2 7.7 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.8 2.4 4.7 8.2 .571 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.2 .611
difference:+1+5.7+6.5+0.9+1.4+0.5+0.3+0.2+0.6-1.0-0.4+2.6+4.1+.068+1.3+1.8+.137
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%
Steven Adams 5 31.4 8.0 3.4 3.4 6.8 1.4 1.2 1.8 0.8 2.8 3.6 5.6 .643 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 2.2 .364
Ben Wallace DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

Steven Adams Ben Wallace
Season 2017-182000-01
Team Oklahoma City ThunderDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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%
Steven Adams 76 32.7 13.9 5.1 4.0 9.0 1.2 1.2 1.0 1.7 2.8 5.9 9.4 .629 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.8 .559
difference:+4+1.8+7.5+1.3+5.4+4.2+0.3+0.1+1.3-0.2-0.4+3.2+3.9+.139+0.1+1.1+0.8+.223
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Steven Adams 6 33.3 10.5 3.2 4.3 7.5 1.5 0.7 0.7 0.7 2.5 4.5 7.7 .587 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.2 .692
Ben Wallace DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Steven Adams Ben Wallace
Season 2018-192001-02
Team Oklahoma City ThunderDetroit 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 Thunder Lost West 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%
Steven Adams 80 33.4 13.9 4.9 4.6 9.5 1.6 1.5 1.0 1.7 2.6 6.0 10.1 .595 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.7 .500
difference:+3.1+6.3+0.9+4.4+3.5+0.2+0.2+2.5-0.8-0.4+2.8+4.1+.064+0.6+0.8+.077
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%
Steven Adams 5 31.8 11.8 2.4 4.8 7.2 1.4 1.0 1.0 1.8 2.6 5.6 8.4 .667 0.0 0.2 .000 0.6 1.6 .375
difference:+5+9.0+4.5+2.4+6.5+8.9+0.2+0.9+1.6-0.1-0.2+2.8+2.5+.192+0.2+1.1+2.3+.061
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

Steven Adams Ben Wallace
Season 2019-202002-03
Team Oklahoma City ThunderDetroit 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 Thunder Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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%
Steven Adams 63 26.7 10.9 3.3 6.0 9.3 2.3 0.8 1.1 1.5 1.9 4.5 7.6 .592 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.2 .582
difference:+10+12.7+4.0+0.7+5.4+6.1+0.7+0.6+2.1-0.3-0.6+1.6+1.6+.111+0.1+0.7+0.6+.132
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%
Steven Adams 7 30.0 10.1 4.9 6.7 11.6 1.3 0.6 0.3 2.3 1.4 4.4 7.4 .596 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 2.9 .450
difference:+10+12.5+1.2+0.2+4.5+4.7+0.3+1.9+2.8-1.4-1.5+1.3+1.0+.110+1.3+3.0+.004
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

Steven Adams Ben Wallace
Season 2020-212003-04
Team New Orleans PelicansDetroit 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%
Steven Adams 58 27.7 7.6 3.7 5.2 8.9 1.9 0.9 0.7 1.3 1.9 3.3 5.3 .614 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 2.3 .444
difference:+23+10.0+1.9+0.3+3.2+3.5+0.2+0.9+2.3-0.2-0.1+0.6+3.9+.193+.125+0.8+1.3+.046
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%
Steven Adams 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

Steven Adams Ben Wallace
Season 2021-222004-05
Team Memphis GrizzliesDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf SemisPistons 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%
Steven Adams 76 26.3 6.9 4.6 5.4 10.0 3.4 0.9 0.8 1.5 2.0 2.8 5.1 .547 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.6 .543
difference:+2+9.8+2.8+0.7+2.8+2.2+1.7+0.5+1.6-0.4-0.1+1.2+3.7+.094+0.1+0.4+1.5+.115
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%
Steven Adams 7 16.3 3.4 2.1 4.3 6.4 2.1 0.1 0.1 0.6 1.7 1.3 3.0 .429 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.6 .545
difference:+18+22.7+6.6+1.7+3.2+4.9+1.1+1.6+2.3-0.6-0.9+2.8+5.5+.052+0.2+1.0+2.5+.084
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

Steven Adams Ben Wallace
Season 2022-232005-06
Team Memphis GrizzliesDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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%
Steven Adams 42 27.0 8.6 5.1 6.5 11.5 2.3 0.9 1.1 1.9 2.3 3.7 6.3 .597 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 3.1 .364
difference:+40+8.2+1.3+1.4+1.1+0.2+0.4+0.9+1.1-0.8-0.3+0.8+0.6+.087+0.4+0.5+.052
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%
Steven Adams DNP------ --- ----------
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

Note: Steven Adams didn't play in 2023-24.

Season 11

Steven Adams Ben Wallace
Season 2024-252006-07
Team Houston RocketsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Rockets Lost West 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%
Steven Adams 58 13.7 3.9 2.9 2.8 5.6 1.1 0.4 0.5 0.9 1.0 1.6 2.9 .545 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.6 .462
difference:+19+21.3+2.5+1.0+3.9+5.1+1.3+1.0+1.5-0.4-1.0+0.9+2.6+.092+0.1+0.7+1.9+.054
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%
Steven Adams 7 22.1 5.7 3.3 3.3 6.6 0.6 0.4 1.1 0.7 1.0 1.7 2.9 .600 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 4.3 .533
difference:+3+14.8+3.0+0.4+3.3+2.9+0.8+1.1+0.6-0.3-0.9+1.3+2.4+.034+0.1+0.4+1.1+.033
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

Additional Years

* Ben Wallace played 5 seasons more than Steven Adams in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 12 to 16, from 2008 to 2012—Ben Wallace played in two Playoffs.