Is Cameron Payne Better Than Nick Van Exel? NBA Stats Decide

This is as close as it gets. Cameron Payne and Nick Van Exel split the statistical categories evenly — 4 apiece — making this one of the most genuinely contested PG comparisons in NBA history. When the numbers are this balanced, the debate comes down to which statistics matter most to you.

Nick Van Exel's Assists Per Game of 6.6 compared to Cameron Payne's 3.2 represents a 106.2% advantage — dramatically better than their counterpart in this critical category. Cameron Payne falls 44.8% below the career average of 5.8 in this category while Nick Van Exel exceeds it. It is the single most decisive number in this comparison and the clearest statistical argument for Nick Van Exel's edge.

The most competitive category in this matchup is Three Point %, where Cameron Payne posts 36.6% against Nick Van Exel's 35.7% — a gap of just 2.5%. Nick Van Exel can point to this as evidence that the overall comparison is closer than the final 4-4 tally suggests. In any debate, Three Point % is the statistical ammunition for the Nick Van Exel 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.

With categories split evenly, this comparison ultimately comes down to which statistics matter most to you. Nick Van Exel claims the tiebreaker through Assists Per Game advantage — a 106.2% edge — but reasonable people can, and do, argue both sides of this NBA debate.