Deandre Ayton vs. Nick Van Exel Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nick Van Exel and Deandre Ayton, 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.

Deandre Ayton played 6 years in the NBA, 7 less than Nick Van Exel, who played 13. Deandre Ayton had the first of his seasons in 2018-19, while Nick Van Exel had his rookie season in 1993-94. 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
Deandre Ayton 6 3 2018-19 to 2023-24
Nick Van Exel 13 7 1993-94 to 2005-06

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Deandre Ayton Nick Van Exel
Season 2018-191993-94
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
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 %
Deandre Ayton 71 30.7 16.3 3.1 7.1 10.3 1.8 0.9 0.9 1.8 2.9 7.2 12.3 .585 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 2.7 .746
Nick Van Exel 81 33.3 13.6 0.6 2.4 2.9 5.8 1.0 0.1 1.8 1.9 5.1 13.0 .394 1.5 4.5 .338 1.9 2.4 .781
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Deandre Ayton ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Deandre Ayton Nick Van Exel
Season 2019-201994-95
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 %
Deandre Ayton 38 32.5 18.2 3.9 7.6 11.5 1.9 0.7 1.5 2.1 3.1 8.2 14.9 .546 0.1 0.3 .231 1.8 2.3 .753
Nick Van Exel 80 36.8 16.9 0.3 2.5 2.8 8.3 1.2 0.1 2.8 2.0 5.8 13.8 .420 2.3 6.4 .358 2.9 3.8 .783
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Deandre Ayton ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel 10 46.4 20.0 0.9 2.9 3.8 7.3 2.1 0.3 2.2 3.3 6.7 16.2 .414 2.1 6.6 .318 4.5 5.9 .763

Season 3

Deandre Ayton Nick Van Exel
Season 2020-211995-96
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost NBA FinalsLakers 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 %
Deandre Ayton 69 30.7 14.4 3.3 7.2 10.5 1.4 0.6 1.2 1.5 2.8 6.2 10.0 .626 0.1 0.3 .200 1.9 2.5 .769
Nick Van Exel 74 34.0 14.9 0.4 2.1 2.4 6.9 0.9 0.1 2.1 1.6 5.4 12.8 .417 1.9 5.4 .357 2.2 2.8 .799
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Deandre Ayton 22 36.4 15.8 3.0 8.8 11.8 1.1 0.8 1.1 1.3 2.9 7.0 10.6 .658 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.4 .736
Nick Van Exel 4 34.3 11.8 1.0 3.0 4.0 6.8 0.5 0.0 2.8 2.5 4.0 13.5 .296 1.3 4.0 .313 2.5 3.3 .769

Season 4

Deandre Ayton Nick Van Exel
Season 2021-221996-97
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisLakers 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 %
Deandre Ayton 58 29.5 17.2 2.6 7.7 10.2 1.4 0.7 0.7 1.6 2.4 7.6 12.0 .634 0.1 0.3 .368 1.8 2.4 .746
Nick Van Exel 79 37.2 15.3 0.6 2.3 2.9 8.5 0.9 0.1 2.7 1.4 5.5 13.6 .402 2.2 5.9 .378 2.1 2.5 .825
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Deandre Ayton 13 30.5 17.9 2.5 6.4 8.9 1.7 0.4 0.8 1.5 2.6 8.1 12.6 .640 0.2 0.3 .500 1.6 2.5 .636
Nick Van Exel 9 39.2 14.4 0.7 2.8 3.4 6.4 1.1 0.0 2.0 2.1 5.0 13.2 .378 1.3 4.9 .273 3.1 3.8 .824

Season 5

Deandre Ayton Nick Van Exel
Season 2022-231997-98
Team Phoenix SunsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisLakers 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 %
Deandre Ayton 67 30.4 18.0 2.6 7.4 10.0 1.7 0.6 0.8 1.8 2.8 7.8 13.2 .589 0.1 0.4 .292 2.3 3.0 .760
Nick Van Exel 64 32.1 13.8 0.5 2.5 3.0 6.9 1.0 0.1 1.6 1.9 4.9 11.6 .419 1.9 4.9 .389 2.1 2.7 .791
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Deandre Ayton 10 31.9 13.4 2.9 6.8 9.7 1.0 0.6 0.7 1.7 3.5 6.1 11.1 .550 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 2.3 .522
Nick Van Exel 13 28.3 11.6 0.7 1.8 2.5 4.2 0.6 0.1 1.7 2.3 3.8 11.6 .331 1.7 5.4 .314 2.2 3.1 .725

Season 6

Deandre Ayton Nick Van Exel
Season 2023-241998-99
Team Portland Trail BlazersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
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 %
Deandre Ayton 55 32.4 16.7 3.2 7.9 11.1 1.6 1.0 0.8 1.8 2.0 7.8 13.6 .570 0.0 0.2 .100 1.2 1.4 .823
Nick Van Exel 50 36.0 16.5 0.3 2.0 2.3 7.4 0.8 0.1 2.4 1.8 6.1 15.4 .398 1.4 4.7 .308 2.8 3.5 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Deandre Ayton ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Deandre Ayton Nick Van Exel
Season -1999-00
Team -Denver Nuggets
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 %
Deandre Ayton ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel 79 37.3 16.1 0.4 3.5 3.9 9.0 0.9 0.1 2.8 1.9 6.0 15.4 .390 1.7 5.1 .332 2.5 3.0 .817
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Deandre Ayton ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Deandre Ayton Nick Van Exel
Season -2000-01
Team -Denver Nuggets
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 %
Deandre Ayton ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel 71 37.9 17.7 0.6 2.8 3.4 8.5 0.9 0.3 2.3 1.5 6.5 15.7 .414 1.9 5.0 .377 2.9 3.5 .819
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Deandre Ayton ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Deandre Ayton Nick Van Exel
Season -2001-02
Team -Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Mavericks 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 %
Deandre Ayton ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel 72 34.7 18.4 0.4 3.1 3.5 6.6 0.6 0.2 2.2 1.4 7.0 17.0 .409 1.7 4.9 .340 2.8 3.5 .801
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Deandre Ayton ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel 8 32.8 11.1 0.9 2.1 3.0 3.9 1.0 0.0 1.5 3.3 4.6 12.6 .366 0.9 4.3 .206 1.0 1.5 .667

Season 10

Deandre Ayton Nick Van Exel
Season -2002-03
Team -Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Mavericks 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 %
Deandre Ayton ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel 73 27.8 12.5 0.5 2.4 2.8 4.3 0.6 0.1 1.7 1.2 4.7 11.4 .412 1.6 4.3 .378 1.5 2.0 .764
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Deandre Ayton ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel 20 33.7 19.5 0.9 2.5 3.4 4.1 0.6 0.0 2.0 2.4 7.5 16.3 .460 2.2 5.6 .393 2.3 3.2 .703

Season 11

Deandre Ayton Nick Van Exel
Season -2003-04
Team -Golden State Warriors
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 %
Deandre Ayton ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel 39 32.2 12.6 0.4 2.3 2.7 5.3 0.5 0.1 2.0 1.5 4.8 12.3 .390 1.2 3.8 .307 1.8 2.5 .707
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Deandre Ayton ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Deandre Ayton Nick Van Exel
Season -2004-05
Team -Portland Trail Blazers
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 %
Deandre Ayton ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel 53 30.5 11.1 0.4 2.7 3.0 4.3 0.8 0.0 1.7 1.3 4.0 10.6 .381 1.9 4.8 .389 1.1 1.4 .784
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Deandre Ayton ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Deandre Ayton Nick Van Exel
Season -2005-06
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 %
Deandre Ayton ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel 65 15.2 5.5 0.1 1.3 1.4 1.9 0.2 0.0 0.9 0.9 2.1 5.3 .397 0.8 2.4 .357 0.4 0.6 .683
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Deandre Ayton ------- --- ----------
Nick Van Exel 12 11.1 2.2 0.1 0.9 1.0 1.4 0.3 0.2 0.4 1.2 0.6 2.7 .219 0.3 0.8 .300 0.8 0.8 1.000