Bill Russell vs. Charlie Ward Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Charlie Ward and Bill Russell, 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.

Bill Russell played 13 years in the NBA, 2 more than Charlie Ward, who played 11. Bill Russell had the first of his seasons in 1956-57, while Charlie Ward had his rookie season in 1994-95. 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
Bill Russell 13 13 1956-57 to 1968-69
Charlie Ward 11 7 1994-95 to 2004-05

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Bill Russell Charlie Ward
Season 1956-571994-95
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
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 %
Bill Russell 48 35.3 14.7 - - 19.6 1.8 - - - 3.0 5.8 13.5 .427 - - - 3.2 6.4 .492
Charlie Ward 10 4.4 1.6 0.1 0.5 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.8 0.7 0.4 1.9 .211 0.1 1.0 .100 0.7 1.0 .700
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 10 40.9 13.9 - - 24.4 3.2 - - - 4.1 5.4 14.8 .365 - - - 3.1 6.1 .508
Charlie Ward ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Bill Russell Charlie Ward
Season 1957-581995-96
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsKnicks 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 %
Bill Russell 69 38.3 16.6 - - 22.7 2.9 - - - 2.6 6.6 15.0 .442 - - - 3.3 6.4 .519
Charlie Ward 62 12.7 3.9 0.5 1.2 1.6 2.1 0.9 0.1 1.3 1.6 1.4 3.5 .399 0.5 1.6 .333 0.6 0.9 .685
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 9 39.4 15.1 - - 24.6 2.7 - - - 2.7 5.3 14.8 .361 - - - 4.4 7.3 .606
Charlie Ward 7 13.1 4.6 0.3 1.0 1.3 2.4 1.6 0.0 0.9 1.3 1.9 3.9 .481 0.4 1.7 .250 0.4 1.0 .429

Season 3
Bill Russell Charlie Ward
Season 1958-591996-97
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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 %
Bill Russell 70 42.6 16.7 - - 23.0 3.2 - - - 2.3 6.5 14.2 .457 - - - 3.7 6.1 .598
Charlie Ward 79 22.3 5.2 0.6 2.2 2.8 4.1 1.1 0.2 1.9 2.4 1.7 4.3 .395 0.6 1.9 .312 1.2 1.6 .760
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 11 45.1 15.5 - - 27.7 3.6 - - - 2.5 5.9 14.5 .409 - - - 3.7 6.1 .612
Charlie Ward 9 20.3 2.2 0.3 2.4 2.8 4.3 1.4 0.0 1.7 2.0 0.9 3.0 .296 0.1 1.0 .111 0.3 0.4 .750

Season 4
Bill Russell Charlie Ward
Season 1959-601997-98
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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 %
Bill Russell 74 42.5 18.2 - - 24.0 3.7 - - - 2.8 7.5 16.1 .467 - - - 3.2 5.3 .612
Charlie Ward 82 28.3 7.8 0.4 3.0 3.3 5.7 1.8 0.5 2.1 2.4 2.9 6.3 .455 1.0 2.6 .377 1.1 1.4 .805
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 13 44.0 18.5 - - 25.8 2.9 - - - 2.9 7.2 15.8 .456 - - - 4.1 5.8 .707
Charlie Ward 10 26.2 6.6 0.3 2.5 2.8 6.0 2.0 0.2 1.7 2.4 2.3 5.5 .418 0.9 2.1 .429 1.1 1.6 .688

Season 5
Bill Russell Charlie Ward
Season 1960-611998-99
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 78 44.3 16.9 - - 23.9 3.4 - - - 2.0 6.8 16.0 .426 - - - 3.3 6.0 .550
Charlie Ward 50 31.1 7.6 0.5 3.0 3.4 5.4 2.1 0.2 2.6 2.1 2.7 6.7 .404 1.1 3.0 .356 1.1 1.6 .705
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 10 46.2 19.1 - - 29.9 4.8 - - - 2.4 7.3 17.1 .427 - - - 4.5 8.6 .523
Charlie Ward 20 24.7 4.6 0.6 1.7 2.3 3.8 1.8 0.2 1.2 2.3 1.7 4.7 .366 0.9 2.8 .321 0.3 0.4 .750

Season 6
Bill Russell Charlie Ward
Season 1961-621999-00
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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 %
Bill Russell 76 45.2 18.9 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.7 7.6 16.6 .457 - - - 3.8 6.3 .595
Charlie Ward 72 27.6 7.3 0.3 2.9 3.2 4.2 1.3 0.2 1.4 2.4 2.6 6.2 .423 1.4 3.7 .386 0.7 0.8 .828
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 14 48.0 22.4 - - 26.4 5.0 - - - 3.5 8.3 18.1 .458 - - - 5.9 8.1 .726
Charlie Ward 16 27.4 9.4 0.7 3.6 4.3 4.1 1.4 0.3 1.3 2.5 3.6 7.1 .504 1.3 3.3 .396 0.9 1.3 .714

Season 7
Bill Russell Charlie Ward
Season 1962-632000-01
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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 %
Bill Russell 78 44.9 16.8 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.4 6.6 15.2 .432 - - - 3.7 6.6 .555
Charlie Ward 61 24.5 7.1 0.5 2.1 2.6 4.5 1.1 0.2 1.8 2.2 2.5 6.1 .416 1.1 2.9 .383 0.9 1.1 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 13 47.5 20.3 - - 25.1 5.1 - - - 2.8 7.4 16.3 .453 - - - 5.5 8.4 .661
Charlie Ward 5 17.2 5.0 0.4 1.0 1.4 1.4 0.4 0.0 1.6 1.6 1.6 5.4 .296 0.6 2.4 .250 1.2 1.2 1.000

Season 8
Bill Russell Charlie Ward
Season 1963-642001-02
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Bill Russell 78 44.6 15.0 - - 24.7 4.7 - - - 2.4 6.0 13.8 .433 - - - 3.0 5.5 .550
Charlie Ward 63 16.8 5.2 0.2 1.8 2.0 3.2 1.1 0.2 1.2 1.6 1.8 4.8 .373 0.8 2.6 .323 0.7 0.9 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 10 45.1 13.1 - - 27.2 4.4 - - - 3.3 4.7 13.2 .356 - - - 3.7 6.7 .552
Charlie Ward ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Bill Russell Charlie Ward
Season 1964-652002-03
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Bill Russell 78 44.4 14.1 - - 24.1 5.3 - - - 2.6 5.5 12.6 .438 - - - 3.1 5.5 .573
Charlie Ward 66 22.2 7.2 0.4 2.3 2.7 4.6 1.2 0.2 1.4 2.2 2.5 6.3 .399 1.5 4.0 .378 0.6 0.8 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 12 46.8 16.5 - - 25.2 6.3 - - - 3.6 6.6 12.5 .527 - - - 3.3 6.3 .526
Charlie Ward ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Bill Russell Charlie Ward
Season 1965-662003-04
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs 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 %
Bill Russell 78 43.4 12.9 - - 22.8 4.8 - - - 2.8 5.0 12.1 .415 - - - 2.9 5.2 .551
Charlie Ward 71 17.6 6.0 0.2 1.9 2.0 3.0 0.9 0.2 1.4 1.5 2.3 5.5 .410 1.2 2.9 .408 0.3 0.4 .741
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 17 47.9 19.1 - - 25.2 5.0 - - - 3.5 7.3 15.4 .475 - - - 4.5 7.2 .618
Charlie Ward 5 2.6 2.2 0.0 0.0 0 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.2 .667 0.6 0.6 1.000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 11
Bill Russell Charlie Ward
Season 1966-672004-05
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 81 40.7 13.3 - - 21.0 5.8 - - - 3.2 4.9 10.7 .454 - - - 3.5 5.8 .610
Charlie Ward 14 25.7 5.4 0.4 2.4 2.8 3.1 1.1 0.0 1.3 1.6 1.7 5.5 .312 1.1 3.6 .314 0.8 0.9 .846
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 9 43.3 10.6 - - 22.0 5.6 - - - 3.6 3.4 9.6 .360 - - - 3.7 5.8 .635
Charlie Ward ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Bill Russell Charlie Ward
Season 1967-68-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 78 37.9 12.5 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.1 4.7 11.0 .425 - - - 3.2 5.9 .537
Charlie Ward ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 19 45.7 14.4 - - 22.8 5.2 - - - 3.8 5.2 12.7 .409 - - - 4.0 6.8 .585
Charlie Ward ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Bill Russell Charlie Ward
Season 1968-69-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 77 42.7 9.9 - - 19.3 4.9 - - - 3.0 3.6 8.4 .433 - - - 2.6 5.0 .526
Charlie Ward ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 18 46.1 10.8 - - 20.5 5.4 - - - 3.6 4.3 10.1 .423 - - - 2.3 4.5 .506
Charlie Ward ------- --- ----------
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