Bill Russell vs. David West Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of David West 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 less than David West, who played 15. Bill Russell had the first of his seasons in 1956-57, while David West had his rookie season in 2003-04. 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
David West 15 9 2003-04 to 2017-18

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Bill Russell David West
Season 1956-572003-04
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHornets 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 48 35.3 14.7 - - 19.6 1.8 - - - 3.0 5.8 13.5 .427 - - - 3.2 6.4 .492
David West 71 13.1 3.8 1.6 2.5 4.2 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.7 1.6 1.5 3.2 .474 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.1 .713
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
David West 7 15.9 5.9 1.1 3.1 4.3 1.1 0.3 0.6 1.0 1.4 2.1 4.0 .536 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 1.9 .846

Season 2

Bill Russell David West
Season 1957-582004-05
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Bill Russell 69 38.3 16.6 - - 22.7 2.9 - - - 2.6 6.6 15.0 .442 - - - 3.3 6.4 .519
David West 30 18.4 6.2 1.3 3.0 4.3 0.8 0.4 0.5 1.2 2.1 2.5 5.7 .436 0.1 0.2 .400 1.1 1.7 .680
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
David West ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Bill Russell David West
Season 1958-592005-06
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
Honors & Awards 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 70 42.6 16.7 - - 23.0 3.2 - - - 2.3 6.5 14.2 .457 - - - 3.7 6.1 .598
David West 74 34.1 17.1 2.3 5.1 7.4 1.2 0.8 0.9 1.4 2.9 7.2 14.0 .512 0.0 0.1 .273 2.7 3.2 .843
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
David West ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Bill Russell David West
Season 1959-602006-07
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
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 74 42.5 18.2 - - 24.0 3.7 - - - 2.8 7.5 16.1 .467 - - - 3.2 5.3 .612
David West 52 36.5 18.3 2.4 5.7 8.2 2.2 0.8 0.7 1.9 2.8 7.3 15.2 .476 0.2 0.5 .320 3.6 4.4 .824
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
David West ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Bill Russell David West
Season 1960-612007-08
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHornets 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 44.3 16.9 - - 23.9 3.4 - - - 2.0 6.8 16.0 .426 - - - 3.3 6.0 .550
David West 76 37.8 20.6 2.4 6.5 8.9 2.3 0.8 1.3 2.2 2.7 8.3 17.2 .482 0.1 0.3 .240 3.9 4.6 .850
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
David West 12 40.4 21.2 1.8 6.8 8.5 2.8 1.1 1.9 1.8 2.7 8.5 18.3 .466 0.1 0.2 .500 4.1 4.6 .891

Season 6

Bill Russell David West
Season 1961-622008-09
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHornets 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 %
Bill Russell 76 45.2 18.9 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.7 7.6 16.6 .457 - - - 3.8 6.3 .595
David West 76 39.2 21.0 2.1 6.4 8.5 2.3 0.6 0.9 2.1 2.7 8.0 17.0 .472 0.1 0.3 .240 4.8 5.5 .884
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
David West 5 35.6 18.0 1.0 6.4 7.4 1.2 1.0 0.4 2.8 3.8 6.4 16.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 5.2 5.8 .897

Season 7

Bill Russell David West
Season 1962-632009-10
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
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 44.9 16.8 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.4 6.6 15.2 .432 - - - 3.7 6.6 .555
David West 81 36.4 19.0 2.0 5.4 7.5 3.0 0.9 0.7 2.1 2.9 7.6 15.1 .505 0.1 0.3 .259 3.7 4.2 .865
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
David West ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Bill Russell David West
Season 1963-642010-11
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans Hornets
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
David West 70 35.0 18.9 2.2 5.3 7.6 2.3 1.0 0.9 2.0 2.9 7.5 14.9 .508 0.0 0.1 .222 3.8 4.7 .807
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
David West ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Bill Russell David West
Season 1964-652011-12
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers 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 78 44.4 14.1 - - 24.1 5.3 - - - 2.6 5.5 12.6 .438 - - - 3.1 5.5 .573
David West 66 29.2 12.8 1.8 4.8 6.6 2.1 0.8 0.7 1.4 2.4 5.3 10.8 .487 0.0 0.1 .222 2.2 2.7 .807
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
David West 11 37.8 15.3 1.9 6.6 8.5 2.0 0.7 0.5 1.5 3.0 6.0 13.5 .446 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.0 .818

Season 10

Bill Russell David West
Season 1965-662012-13
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers 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 78 43.4 12.9 - - 22.8 4.8 - - - 2.8 5.0 12.1 .415 - - - 2.9 5.2 .551
David West 73 33.4 17.1 2.0 5.7 7.7 2.9 1.0 0.9 2.2 2.0 6.9 13.8 .498 0.1 0.3 .211 3.3 4.3 .768
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
David West 19 36.3 15.9 2.2 5.4 7.6 2.1 0.7 0.8 2.4 2.8 6.1 13.1 .462 0.0 0.2 .000 3.8 4.9 .766

Season 11

Bill Russell David West
Season 1966-672013-14
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Div FinalsPacers 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 81 40.7 13.3 - - 21.0 5.8 - - - 3.2 4.9 10.7 .454 - - - 3.5 5.8 .610
David West 80 30.9 14.0 1.5 5.3 6.8 2.8 0.8 0.9 1.7 2.3 5.7 11.7 .488 0.1 0.2 .267 2.5 3.1 .789
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
David West 19 36.2 15.1 1.3 5.5 6.7 3.9 0.7 0.8 2.3 3.0 6.4 12.9 .494 0.1 0.5 .200 2.3 3.2 .705

Season 12

Bill Russell David West
Season 1967-682014-15
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
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 37.9 12.5 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.1 4.7 11.0 .425 - - - 3.2 5.9 .537
David West 66 28.7 11.7 1.6 5.2 6.8 3.4 0.7 0.7 1.8 2.4 4.9 10.4 .471 0.1 0.3 .200 1.8 2.4 .739
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
David West ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Bill Russell David West
Season 1968-692015-16
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First 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 77 42.7 9.9 - - 19.3 4.9 - - - 3.0 3.6 8.4 .433 - - - 2.6 5.0 .526
David West 78 18.0 7.1 0.9 3.0 4.0 1.8 0.6 0.7 0.9 1.8 3.1 5.7 .545 0.0 0.1 .429 0.8 1.0 .788
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
David West 10 17.6 5.8 1.3 2.4 3.7 1.3 0.6 0.7 0.7 1.9 2.5 5.5 .455 0.3 0.6 .500 0.5 0.9 .556

Season 14

Bill Russell David West
Season -2016-17
Team -Golden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
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 ------- --- ----------
David West 68 12.6 4.6 0.7 2.3 3.0 2.2 0.6 0.7 1.1 1.5 2.0 3.7 .536 0.0 0.1 .375 0.6 0.8 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
David West 17 13.0 4.5 0.4 2.3 2.7 2.1 0.4 0.8 0.6 1.5 2.0 3.5 .576 0.1 0.1 .500 0.4 0.5 .778

Season 15

Bill Russell David West
Season -2017-18
Team -Golden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
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 ------- --- ----------
David West 73 13.7 6.8 0.9 2.4 3.3 1.9 0.6 1.0 1.1 1.6 3.0 5.2 .571 0.0 0.1 .375 0.8 1.1 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
David West 18 9.7 3.3 0.6 1.4 2.1 1.8 0.3 0.6 0.6 1.3 1.5 2.5 .600 0.1 0.1 .500 0.2 0.2 1.000