Wayne Cooper vs. Ben Simmons Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ben Simmons and Wayne Cooper, 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.

Wayne Cooper played 14 years in the NBA, 8 more than Ben Simmons, who played 6. Wayne Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, 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
Wayne Cooper 14 10 1978-79 to 1991-92
Ben Simmons 6 3 2017-18 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Wayne Cooper Ben Simmons
Season 1978-792017-18
Team Golden State WarriorsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers 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 %
Wayne Cooper 65 12.2 4.6 1.4 2.9 4.3 0.3 0.1 0.7 0.8 1.8 2.0 4.5 .437 - - - 0.6 0.9 .672
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 %
Wayne Cooper ------- --- ----------
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

Wayne Cooper Ben Simmons
Season 1979-802018-19
Team Golden State WarriorsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers 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 %
Wayne Cooper 79 22.5 11.0 2.6 3.9 6.4 0.5 0.3 1.0 1.8 3.1 4.6 9.5 .489 0.0 0.1 .250 1.7 2.3 .751
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 %
Wayne Cooper ------- --- ----------
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

Wayne Cooper Ben Simmons
Season 1980-812019-20
Team Utah JazzPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 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 %
Wayne Cooper 71 20.0 6.9 2.3 3.9 6.2 0.7 0.3 0.7 1.1 3.1 3.0 6.6 .452 0.0 0.0 .333 0.9 1.3 .689
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 %
Wayne Cooper ------- --- ----------
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Wayne Cooper Ben Simmons
Season 1981-822020-21
Team Dallas MavericksPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers 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 %
Wayne Cooper 76 23.9 9.0 2.6 4.6 7.2 1.5 0.5 1.4 1.2 3.8 3.7 8.8 .420 0.0 0.1 .125 1.6 2.1 .744
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 %
Wayne Cooper ------- --- ----------
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

Wayne Cooper Ben Simmons
Season 1982-832022-23
Team Portland Trail BlazersBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Wayne Cooper 80 26.2 9.7 2.7 5.0 7.6 1.5 0.3 1.7 2.0 4.0 4.0 9.0 .443 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 2.5 .685
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 %
Wayne Cooper 7 32.6 12.4 3.4 4.6 8.0 1.3 0.3 1.1 2.4 4.7 5.1 10.6 .486 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.4 .882
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Wayne Cooper Ben Simmons
Season 1983-842023-24
Team Portland Trail BlazersBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Wayne Cooper 81 20.5 9.8 2.2 3.7 5.9 0.9 0.3 1.3 1.4 3.0 3.8 8.2 .459 0.0 0.1 .000 2.3 2.8 .804
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 %
Wayne Cooper 5 20.8 4.8 2.2 1.8 4.0 0.8 0.2 0.8 1.0 2.8 2.0 5.4 .370 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.6 .500
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Wayne Cooper Ben Simmons
Season 1984-85-
Team Denver Nuggets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Wayne Cooper 80 25.4 12.1 2.9 5.0 7.9 1.1 0.4 2.5 1.9 3.8 5.1 10.7 .472 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.9 .685
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 15 21.4 10.9 2.3 3.9 6.2 1.3 0.5 2.4 1.3 3.5 4.5 9.5 .469 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.7 .750
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Wayne Cooper Ben Simmons
Season 1985-86-
Team Denver Nuggets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Wayne Cooper 78 27.1 13.1 2.4 5.4 7.8 1.0 0.5 2.9 1.5 4.0 5.4 11.6 .466 0.0 0.1 .429 2.2 2.8 .795
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 8 19.3 7.9 1.4 3.6 5.0 0.9 0.3 0.6 1.4 3.9 3.0 7.0 .429 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.8 .682
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Wayne Cooper Ben Simmons
Season 1986-87-
Team Denver Nuggets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Wayne Cooper 69 22.6 8.0 2.3 4.5 6.9 1.0 0.2 1.5 1.1 3.7 3.4 7.6 .448 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.6 .725
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 3 13.7 4.0 2.0 3.7 5.7 0.7 0.0 0.3 0.3 3.0 1.7 4.0 .417 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Wayne Cooper Ben Simmons
Season 1987-88-
Team Denver Nuggets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Wayne Cooper 45 19.2 6.4 2.2 3.8 6.0 0.7 0.3 2.1 1.3 3.2 2.6 6.0 .437 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.5 .746
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 9 10.7 2.0 1.8 1.9 3.7 0.7 0.3 0.9 0.4 2.1 0.9 2.6 .348 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 1.000
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Wayne Cooper Ben Simmons
Season 1988-89-
Team Denver Nuggets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Wayne Cooper 79 23.6 6.6 2.7 5.2 7.8 1.0 0.5 2.7 0.9 3.8 2.8 5.6 .495 0.0 0.1 .250 1.0 1.3 .745
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 3 14.7 4.0 1.3 3.0 4.3 0.7 0.3 0.7 0.0 3.3 2.0 4.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Wayne Cooper Ben Simmons
Season 1989-90-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 79 14.9 3.8 1.5 2.8 4.3 0.6 0.2 1.2 0.5 2.7 1.7 3.8 .454 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.5 .641
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 18 13.8 2.7 1.4 2.6 3.9 0.3 0.3 1.6 0.3 2.2 1.1 2.6 .404 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.1 .526
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Wayne Cooper Ben Simmons
Season 1990-91-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Wayne Cooper 67 11.1 2.2 0.8 2.0 2.8 0.3 0.1 0.9 0.3 1.8 0.9 2.2 .393 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.6 .786
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 3 4.3 0.7 0.3 1.3 1.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.7 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Wayne Cooper Ben Simmons
Season 1991-92-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 35 9.8 2.2 1.1 1.8 2.9 0.6 0.1 0.8 0.4 1.6 1.0 2.3 .427 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.3 .636
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 3 9.0 1.3 0.3 2.3 2.7 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.3 1.3 0.7 1.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Ben Simmons ------- --- ----------