Mel Counts vs. Ben Wallace Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ben Wallace and Mel Counts, 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.

Mel Counts played 12 years in the NBA, 4 less than Ben Wallace, who played 16. Mel Counts had the first of his seasons in 1964-65, 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 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
Mel Counts 12 8 1964-65 to 1975-76
Ben Wallace 16 8 1996-97 to 2011-12

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Mel Counts Ben Wallace
Season 1964-651996-97
Team Boston CelticsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 54 10.6 4.8 - - 4.9 0.4 - - - 2.5 1.9 5.0 .368 - - - 1.1 1.4 .784
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 4 7.5 2.3 - - 2.8 0.3 - - - 2.5 1.0 3.8 .267 - - - 0.3 0.3 1.000
Ben Wallace ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Mel Counts Ben Wallace
Season 1965-661997-98
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 67 15.2 8.4 - - 6.4 0.7 - - - 3.1 3.3 8.2 .403 - - - 1.8 2.2 .828
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 10 8.2 4.3 - - 4.0 0.3 - - - 2.6 1.4 3.9 .359 - - - 1.5 1.7 .882
Ben Wallace ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Mel Counts Ben Wallace
Season 1966-671998-99
Team Baltimore Bullets, Los Angeles LakersWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 56 15.4 7.6 - - 6.1 0.9 - - - 3.3 3.2 7.5 .422 - - - 1.2 1.7 .734
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 3 9.7 4.7 - - 2.7 0.0 - - - 2.0 1.7 6.3 .263 - - - 1.3 1.3 1.000
Ben Wallace ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Mel Counts Ben Wallace
Season 1967-681999-00
Team Los Angeles LakersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 82 21.2 11.7 - - 8.9 1.7 - - - 3.8 4.7 9.9 .475 - - - 2.3 3.1 .748
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 15 20.4 8.6 - - 8.9 1.6 - - - 3.5 3.6 6.7 .535 - - - 1.4 2.1 .677
Ben Wallace ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Mel Counts Ben Wallace
Season 1968-692000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 77 24.2 12.4 - - 7.8 1.4 - - - 2.9 5.1 11.3 .450 - - - 2.3 2.9 .805
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 18 24.6 11.2 - - 7.9 1.4 - - - 3.7 4.1 10.7 .385 - - - 3.0 3.9 .761
Ben Wallace ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Mel Counts Ben Wallace
Season 1969-702001-02
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit 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 Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPistons 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 %
Mel Counts 81 27.1 12.6 - - 8.4 2.0 - - - 3.8 5.4 12.6 .427 - - - 1.9 2.5 .776
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 .000 1.2 2.9 .423
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 14 15.1 6.1 - - 5.3 1.1 - - - 3.4 2.6 6.3 .420 - - - 0.8 0.9 .846
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

Mel Counts Ben Wallace
Season 1970-712002-03
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit 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 Did Not PlayPistons Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 80 20.9 11.0 - - 6.3 1.7 - - - 3.5 4.6 10.0 .457 - - - 1.9 2.5 .753
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
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

Mel Counts Ben Wallace
Season 1971-722003-04
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit 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 >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 76 11.9 5.2 - - 3.4 1.3 - - - 2.1 1.9 4.5 .427 - - - 1.3 1.8 .721
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
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

Mel Counts Ben Wallace
Season 1972-732004-05
Team Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 66 10.0 4.6 - - 3.8 1.0 - - - 1.6 2.0 4.5 .449 - - - 0.6 0.9 .672
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 17 19.2 9.1 - - 6.1 1.6 - - - 3.0 3.6 7.8 .459 - - - 1.9 2.4 .780
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

Mel Counts Ben Wallace
Season 1973-742005-06
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisPistons Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 45 11.1 3.2 1.2 2.0 3.2 1.2 0.4 0.5 - 1.9 1.4 3.7 .365 - - - 0.5 0.7 .727
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 .000 1.5 3.6 .416
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts 4 8.5 3.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 - 0.8 1.5 3.0 .500 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Season 11

Mel Counts Ben Wallace
Season 1974-752006-07
Team New Orleans JazzChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls 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 %
Mel Counts 75 18.9 6.9 1.4 4.5 5.9 2.4 0.7 0.6 - 2.6 2.9 6.6 .438 - - - 1.1 1.5 .761
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
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

Season 12

Mel Counts Ben Wallace
Season 1975-762007-08
Team New Orleans JazzChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers 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 %
Mel Counts 30 10.6 3.0 0.9 2.4 3.3 1.3 0.5 0.3 - 2.5 1.2 3.0 .407 - - - 0.5 0.7 .762
Ben Wallace 72 30.6 4.8 3.3 5.1 8.4 1.5 1.2 1.6 0.9 1.7 1.9 4.9 .392 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 2.3 .426
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Ben Wallace 13 23.4 3.2 2.5 4.0 6.5 1.2 0.6 1.1 0.5 2.0 1.3 2.5 .515 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.5 .350

Season 13

Mel Counts Ben Wallace
Season -2008-09
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Ben Wallace 56 23.5 2.9 2.4 4.0 6.5 0.8 0.9 1.3 0.6 1.5 1.2 2.8 .445 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.1 .422
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Ben Wallace 14 12.6 1.1 1.3 1.4 2.7 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.9 0.6 0.9 .615 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.4 .000

Season 14

Mel Counts Ben Wallace
Season -2009-10
Team -Detroit Pistons
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 %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Ben Wallace 69 28.6 5.5 3.6 5.1 8.7 1.5 1.2 1.2 0.9 1.9 2.3 4.2 .541 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 2.3 .406
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Ben Wallace ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Mel Counts Ben Wallace
Season -2010-11
Team -Detroit Pistons
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 %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Ben Wallace 54 22.9 2.9 2.4 4.1 6.5 1.3 1.0 1.0 0.8 1.5 1.2 2.8 .450 0.0 0.0 .500 0.4 1.1 .333
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Ben Wallace ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Mel Counts Ben Wallace
Season -2011-12
Team -Detroit Pistons
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 %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Ben Wallace 62 15.8 1.4 1.3 3.0 4.3 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.5 1.0 0.5 1.4 .395 0.0 0.1 .250 0.3 0.8 .340
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mel Counts ------- --- ----------
Ben Wallace ------- --- ----------