Ben Hansbrough or Charles Barkley? The NBA Stat Breakdown

Few NBA comparisons generate more debate than Ben Hansbrough vs Charles Barkley. The numbers reveal a genuinely competitive matchup — Charles Barkley takes 5 categories while Ben Hansbrough claims 3, making this one of the closer head to head comparisons at the PG position. Every statistical category matters in a matchup this tight.

Charles Barkley's Points Per Game of 22.1 compared to Ben Hansbrough's 2.0 represents a 1005% advantage — dramatically better than their counterpart in this critical category. Ben Hansbrough falls 85.9% below the career average of 14.2 in this category while Charles Barkley exceeds it. It is the single most decisive number in this comparison and the clearest statistical argument for Charles Barkley's edge.

The most competitive category in this matchup is Three Point %, where Ben Hansbrough posts 26.1% against Charles Barkley's 26.6% — a gap of just 1.9%. Ben Hansbrough can point to this as evidence that the overall comparison is closer than the final 5-3 tally suggests. In any debate, Three Point % is the statistical ammunition for the Ben Hansbrough side.

In NBA history, backcourt players are judged on their ability to create offense for themselves and teammates alike. Points per game captures scoring but assists and efficiency metrics reveal the complete offensive picture.

The verdict favors Charles Barkley — 5 categories to 3 — but Ben Hansbrough makes this far from a one-sided debate. Anyone building the case for Ben Hansbrough has real statistical ammunition particularly in Three Point % where the gap narrows to just 1.9%. The numbers have spoken, but the argument will continue.