Thurl Bailey vs. Ben Simmons Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ben Simmons and Thurl Bailey, 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

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.

Thurl Bailey played 12 years in the NBA, 6 more than Ben Simmons, who played 6. Thurl Bailey had the first of his seasons in 1983-84, 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
Thurl Bailey 12 9 1983-84 to 1998-99
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

Rookie Season

Thurl Bailey Ben Simmons
Season 1983-842017-18
Team Utah JazzPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf Semis76ers 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 %
Thurl Bailey 81 24.8 8.5 1.4 4.3 5.7 1.6 0.5 1.5 1.3 2.4 3.7 7.3 .512 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.4 .752
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 %
Thurl Bailey 11 30.9 10.6 1.4 4.2 5.5 0.9 0.2 1.0 1.5 3.0 4.5 8.8 .515 0.0 0.2 .000 1.5 1.9 .810
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

Thurl Bailey Ben Simmons
Season 1984-852018-19
Team Utah JazzPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf Semis76ers 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 %
Thurl Bailey 80 31.0 15.2 1.9 4.7 6.6 1.7 0.6 1.3 1.9 2.7 6.3 12.9 .490 0.0 0.0 1.000 2.5 2.9 .842
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 %
Thurl Bailey 10 37.5 16.9 2.1 7.1 9.2 2.7 0.5 1.8 2.1 3.0 6.2 15.2 .408 0.0 0.0 - 4.5 5.5 .818
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

Thurl Bailey Ben Simmons
Season 1985-862019-20
Team Utah JazzPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Thurl Bailey 82 28.8 14.6 1.8 4.2 6.0 1.9 0.5 1.4 1.8 2.0 5.9 13.1 .448 0.0 0.1 .000 2.8 3.4 .830
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 %
Thurl Bailey 4 36.8 16.0 2.8 5.3 8.0 3.3 0.5 0.5 1.3 3.3 7.0 19.3 .364 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 2.8 .727
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Thurl Bailey Ben Simmons
Season 1986-872020-21
Team Utah JazzPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Thurl Bailey 81 26.6 13.8 1.8 3.5 5.3 1.3 0.5 1.1 1.5 1.9 5.7 12.8 .447 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 2.9 .805
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 %
Thurl Bailey 5 30.2 15.6 2.8 3.2 6.0 1.8 0.6 1.2 2.4 2.4 6.0 12.6 .476 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 3.6 1.000
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

Thurl Bailey Ben Simmons
Season 1987-882022-23
Team Utah JazzBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 82 34.2 19.6 1.6 4.8 6.5 1.9 0.6 1.5 2.3 2.3 7.7 15.7 .492 0.0 0.0 .333 4.1 5.0 .826
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 %
Thurl Bailey 11 40.8 23.2 1.9 3.8 5.7 1.6 0.5 2.1 1.9 2.9 9.0 18.5 .488 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 6.2 .838
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Thurl Bailey Ben Simmons
Season 1988-892023-24
Team Utah JazzBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Thurl Bailey 82 33.9 19.5 1.4 4.0 5.5 1.7 0.6 1.1 2.5 2.3 7.5 15.5 .483 0.0 0.1 .400 4.4 5.4 .825
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 %
Thurl Bailey 3 40.7 12.0 3.3 5.0 8.3 1.0 0.3 1.3 3.0 3.7 4.0 11.3 .353 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 5.0 .800
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Thurl Bailey Ben Simmons
Season 1989-90-
Team Utah Jazz-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Thurl Bailey 82 31.5 14.2 1.4 3.6 5.0 1.7 0.4 1.2 1.7 2.1 5.7 11.9 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 3.5 .779
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 5 38.0 21.0 1.6 4.8 6.4 1.4 1.0 1.2 1.0 3.8 8.6 17.6 .489 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 4.8 .792
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Thurl Bailey Ben Simmons
Season 1990-91-
Team Utah Jazz-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Thurl Bailey 82 30.3 12.4 1.2 3.7 5.0 1.5 0.6 1.1 1.6 2.0 4.9 10.6 .458 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.3 .808
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 9 25.3 7.6 1.2 2.3 3.6 1.0 0.3 0.7 1.3 3.0 2.6 7.1 .359 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 2.8 .880
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Thurl Bailey Ben Simmons
Season 1991-92-
Team Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves-
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 %
Thurl Bailey 84 25.0 11.3 1.5 4.3 5.8 0.9 0.4 1.4 1.3 1.9 4.4 10.0 .440 0.0 0.0 .000 2.6 3.2 .796
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Thurl Bailey Ben Simmons
Season 1992-93-
Team Minnesota Timberwolves-
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 %
Thurl Bailey 70 18.2 7.5 0.8 2.3 3.1 0.9 0.3 0.7 0.9 1.3 2.9 6.4 .455 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.0 .838
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Thurl Bailey Ben Simmons
Season 1993-94-
Team Minnesota Timberwolves-
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 %
Thurl Bailey 79 16.4 7.4 0.8 1.9 2.7 0.7 0.3 0.7 0.7 1.2 2.9 5.8 .510 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 1.9 .799
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Note: Thurl Bailey didn't play in 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98.

Season 12

Thurl Bailey Ben Simmons
Season 1998-99-
Team Utah Jazz-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Thurl Bailey 43 12.6 4.2 0.8 1.3 2.2 0.6 0.2 0.7 0.6 1.8 1.8 4.1 .446 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 0.8 .735
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 11 10.5 3.4 0.5 0.9 1.4 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.7 1.7 1.5 3.0 .515 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .750
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------