Nene vs. Gary Payton Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gary Payton and Nene, 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 / Games against each other

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.

Nene and Gary Payton both played 17 years in the NBA. Nene had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, while Gary Payton had his rookie season in 1990-91. 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
Nene 17 12 2002-03 to 2018-19
Gary Payton 17 15 1990-91 to 2006-07

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Nene Gary Payton
Season 2002-031990-91
Team Denver NuggetsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 %
Nene 80 28.2 10.5 2.6 3.5 6.1 1.9 1.6 0.8 2.3 3.7 4.0 7.7 .519 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 4.3 .578
Gary Payton 82 27.4 7.2 1.3 1.6 3.0 6.4 2.0 0.2 2.2 3.0 3.2 7.0 .450 0.0 0.2 .077 0.8 1.2 .711
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 5 27.0 4.8 1.0 1.6 2.6 6.4 1.6 0.2 1.8 3.2 2.2 5.4 .407 0.0 0.2 .000 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 2

Nene Gary Payton
Season 2003-041991-92
Team Denver NuggetsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 %
Nene 77 32.5 11.8 2.0 4.5 6.5 2.2 1.5 0.5 2.4 3.6 4.3 8.2 .530 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 4.6 .682
Gary Payton 81 31.5 9.4 1.5 2.1 3.6 6.2 1.8 0.3 2.1 3.1 4.1 9.1 .451 0.0 0.3 .130 1.2 1.8 .669
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene 5 26.6 7.8 2.4 2.6 5.0 3.0 1.0 0.6 1.8 4.4 3.2 7.2 .444 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.6 .538
Gary Payton 8 27.6 7.6 0.8 1.9 2.6 4.8 1.0 0.3 1.3 3.3 3.4 7.3 .466 0.0 0.3 .000 0.9 1.5 .583

Season 3

Nene Gary Payton
Season 2004-051992-93
Team Denver NuggetsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 %
Nene 55 23.9 9.6 1.9 4.0 5.9 1.5 0.9 0.9 1.7 3.0 3.5 7.0 .503 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.9 .660
Gary Payton 82 31.1 13.5 1.2 2.3 3.4 4.9 2.2 0.3 1.8 3.0 5.8 11.7 .494 0.1 0.4 .206 1.8 2.4 .770
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene 5 20.0 6.6 1.8 3.2 5.0 0.4 0.4 0.4 1.0 3.2 1.8 4.2 .429 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.6 .652
Gary Payton 19 31.8 12.3 1.2 2.2 3.3 3.7 1.8 0.2 1.8 3.4 5.5 12.4 .443 0.1 0.3 .167 1.3 1.9 .676

Season 4

Nene Gary Payton
Season 2005-061993-94
Team Denver NuggetsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 %
Nene 1 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Gary Payton 82 35.1 16.5 1.3 2.0 3.3 6.0 2.3 0.2 2.1 2.8 7.1 14.1 .504 0.2 0.7 .278 2.0 3.4 .595
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 5 36.2 15.8 1.2 2.2 3.4 5.6 1.6 0.4 1.6 3.0 6.8 13.8 .493 0.6 1.8 .333 1.6 3.8 .421

Season 5

Nene Gary Payton
Season 2006-071994-95
Team Denver NuggetsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 %
Nene 64 26.8 12.2 2.3 4.7 7.0 1.2 1.0 0.9 2.0 3.3 4.6 8.1 .570 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 4.4 .689
Gary Payton 82 36.8 20.6 1.3 2.1 3.4 7.1 2.5 0.2 2.5 2.5 8.4 16.4 .509 0.9 2.8 .302 3.0 4.2 .716
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene 5 35.8 15.2 4.4 3.4 7.8 2.4 0.6 0.6 2.6 4.2 6.2 10.6 .585 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.6 .778
Gary Payton 4 43.0 17.8 1.5 1.0 2.5 5.3 1.3 0.0 2.0 3.3 8.0 16.8 .478 0.5 2.5 .200 1.3 3.0 .417

Season 6

Nene Gary Payton
Season 2007-081995-96
Team Denver NuggetsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdSupersonics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene 16 16.6 5.3 1.9 3.6 5.4 0.9 0.6 0.9 1.3 2.9 1.8 4.4 .408 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 3.1 .551
Gary Payton 81 39.0 19.3 1.3 2.9 4.2 7.5 2.9 0.2 3.2 2.7 7.6 15.8 .484 1.2 3.7 .328 2.8 3.8 .748
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene 3 10.0 4.3 1.0 1.3 2.3 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.7 2.7 1.7 3.0 .556 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000
Gary Payton 21 43.4 20.7 0.9 4.2 5.1 6.8 1.8 0.3 3.0 3.3 7.7 15.9 .485 2.0 4.8 .410 3.3 5.2 .633

Season 7

Nene Gary Payton
Season 2008-091996-97
Team Denver NuggetsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf FinalsSupersonics 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 %
Nene 77 32.6 14.6 2.4 5.4 7.8 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.9 3.6 5.6 9.2 .604 0.0 0.1 .200 3.5 4.8 .723
Gary Payton 82 39.2 21.8 1.3 3.3 4.6 7.1 2.4 0.2 2.6 2.5 8.6 18.1 .476 1.5 4.6 .313 3.1 4.3 .715
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene 16 32.8 11.5 2.3 5.2 7.5 2.6 1.3 0.6 1.9 4.1 4.3 7.9 .548 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.4 .657
Gary Payton 12 45.6 23.8 1.7 3.8 5.4 8.7 2.2 0.3 2.9 2.2 8.8 21.3 .412 2.1 6.3 .333 4.2 5.1 .820

Season 8

Nene Gary Payton
Season 2009-101997-98
Team Denver NuggetsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 %
Nene 82 33.6 13.8 2.0 5.6 7.6 2.5 1.4 1.0 1.5 3.4 5.1 8.7 .587 0.0 0.0 .000 3.6 5.1 .704
Gary Payton 82 38.4 19.2 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.3 2.3 0.2 2.8 2.4 7.1 15.6 .453 1.6 4.8 .338 3.4 4.6 .744
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene 5 33.8 11.4 1.6 4.2 5.8 2.2 1.2 0.2 0.8 3.4 3.6 5.8 .621 0.0 0.0 - 4.2 7.2 .583
Gary Payton 10 42.7 24.0 0.9 2.5 3.4 7.0 1.8 0.1 2.6 3.1 8.7 18.3 .475 1.9 5.0 .380 4.7 5.0 .940

Season 9

Nene Gary Payton
Season 2010-111998-99
Team Denver NuggetsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Nene 75 30.5 14.5 1.9 5.7 7.6 2.0 1.1 1.0 1.8 3.2 5.4 8.7 .615 0.0 0.1 .200 3.8 5.4 .711
Gary Payton 50 40.2 21.7 1.2 3.6 4.9 8.7 2.2 0.2 3.1 2.3 8.0 18.5 .434 1.7 5.6 .295 4.0 5.5 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene 5 32.4 14.2 2.8 6.2 9.0 1.6 1.0 0.8 1.6 3.4 4.4 9.2 .478 0.0 0.0 - 5.4 9.6 .563
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Nene Gary Payton
Season 2011-121999-00
Team Denver Nuggets, Washington WizardsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 %
Nene 39 28.5 13.7 1.6 5.8 7.5 2.1 1.1 1.0 2.5 2.4 5.4 10.1 .537 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 4.3 .673
Gary Payton 82 41.8 24.2 1.2 5.2 6.5 8.9 1.9 0.2 2.7 2.2 9.1 20.3 .448 2.2 6.3 .340 3.8 5.2 .735
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 5 44.2 25.8 1.6 6.0 7.6 7.4 1.8 0.2 3.6 3.2 10.0 22.6 .442 1.8 4.6 .391 4.0 5.2 .769

Season 11

Nene Gary Payton
Season 2012-132000-01
Team Washington WizardsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-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 %
Nene 61 27.2 12.6 1.7 5.0 6.7 2.9 0.9 0.6 2.3 2.8 4.7 9.7 .480 0.0 0.0 .000 3.2 4.4 .729
Gary Payton 79 41.1 23.1 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.1 1.6 0.3 2.6 2.3 9.2 20.1 .456 1.3 3.4 .375 3.4 4.5 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Nene Gary Payton
Season 2013-142001-02
Team Washington WizardsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Wizards Lost East Conf SemisSupersonics 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 %
Nene 53 29.4 14.2 1.2 4.3 5.5 2.9 1.2 0.9 2.2 3.1 5.6 11.2 .503 0.0 0.1 .200 2.9 5.0 .583
Gary Payton 82 40.3 22.1 1.0 3.9 4.8 9.0 1.6 0.3 2.5 2.2 9.0 19.2 .467 0.9 2.9 .314 3.3 4.1 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene 10 32.5 13.7 0.8 4.5 5.3 2.6 0.9 1.1 1.7 3.6 6.4 13.8 .464 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 2.6 .346
Gary Payton 5 41.2 22.2 2.0 6.6 8.6 5.8 0.6 0.4 2.6 2.4 9.0 21.2 .425 0.8 3.0 .267 3.4 5.8 .586

Season 13

Nene Gary Payton
Season 2014-152002-03
Team Washington WizardsSeattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Wizards Lost East Conf SemisBucks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene 67 25.3 11.0 1.3 3.9 5.1 1.8 1.0 0.3 1.9 2.7 4.6 9.0 .511 0.0 0.1 .200 1.8 3.0 .604
Gary Payton 80 40.1 20.4 1.0 3.2 4.2 8.3 1.7 0.3 2.3 2.3 8.3 18.3 .454 0.7 2.3 .297 3.1 4.4 .710
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene 10 25.7 7.9 2.5 4.1 6.6 1.5 0.9 0.3 1.4 3.2 3.4 7.6 .447 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 2.3 .478
Gary Payton 6 41.8 18.5 0.7 2.3 3.0 8.7 1.3 0.2 2.2 3.0 8.0 18.7 .429 0.2 2.5 .067 2.3 3.3 .700

Season 14

Nene Gary Payton
Season 2015-162003-04
Team Washington WizardsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene 57 19.2 9.2 0.9 3.6 4.5 1.7 0.9 0.5 1.3 2.7 3.7 6.7 .544 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 3.2 .578
Gary Payton 82 34.5 14.6 0.9 3.3 4.2 5.5 1.2 0.2 1.8 2.1 5.9 12.5 .471 0.7 2.0 .333 2.2 3.1 .714
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene ------- --- ----------
Gary Payton 22 35.0 7.8 0.9 2.4 3.3 5.3 1.0 0.2 1.3 2.7 3.1 8.5 .366 0.6 2.5 .250 1.0 1.3 .750

Season 15

Nene Gary Payton
Season 2016-172004-05
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene 67 17.9 9.1 1.4 2.8 4.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 1.1 2.4 3.7 5.9 .617 0.0 0.1 .333 1.7 2.9 .589
Gary Payton 77 33.0 11.3 0.6 2.4 3.1 6.1 1.1 0.2 1.9 1.6 4.4 9.4 .468 0.5 1.7 .326 2.0 2.6 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene 9 17.9 10.0 1.2 3.4 4.7 0.6 0.7 0.4 1.0 2.7 4.0 5.7 .706 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 3.4 .581
Gary Payton 7 34.1 10.3 1.1 3.0 4.1 4.6 0.9 0.1 1.6 1.4 4.7 10.6 .446 0.1 2.0 .071 0.7 0.9 .833

Season 16

Nene Gary Payton
Season 2017-182005-06
Team Houston RocketsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene 52 14.6 6.5 1.0 2.3 3.4 0.9 0.5 0.3 0.7 2.4 2.6 4.6 .569 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 2.1 .636
Gary Payton 81 28.5 7.7 0.4 2.5 2.9 3.2 0.9 0.1 1.3 2.1 2.8 6.8 .420 0.8 2.8 .287 1.2 1.6 .794
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene 11 9.7 2.8 0.5 2.0 2.5 0.5 0.2 0.5 0.7 1.6 1.1 1.8 .600 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.0 .636
Gary Payton 23 24.3 5.8 0.3 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.0 0.1 0.8 2.4 2.1 5.0 .422 0.7 2.5 .293 0.8 1.1 .720

Season 17

Nene Gary Payton
Season 2018-192006-07
Team Houston RocketsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisHeat Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene 42 13.0 3.6 0.8 2.1 2.9 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.3 2.1 1.4 2.8 .517 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 1.1 .660
Gary Payton 68 22.1 5.3 0.3 1.7 1.9 3.0 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.7 2.1 5.4 .393 0.5 1.8 .260 0.6 0.8 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nene 7 7.6 3.9 1.3 0.7 2.0 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 1.0 1.4 1.4 1.000 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .778
Gary Payton 2 16.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 1.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -