Bill Russell vs. Hot Rod Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Hot Rod Williams 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 and Hot Rod Williams both played 13 years in the NBA. Bill Russell had the first of his seasons in 1956-57, while Hot Rod Williams had his rookie season in 1986-87. 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
Hot Rod Williams 13 9 1986-87 to 1998-99

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Bill Russell Hot Rod Williams
Season 1956-571986-87
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
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
Hot Rod Williams 80 33.9 14.6 2.8 5.1 7.9 1.9 0.7 2.1 1.7 2.5 5.4 11.2 .485 0.0 0.0 .000 3.7 5.0 .745
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
Hot Rod Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Bill Russell Hot Rod Williams
Season 1957-581987-88
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers 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 69 38.3 16.6 - - 22.7 2.9 - - - 2.6 6.6 15.0 .442 - - - 3.3 6.4 .519
Hot Rod Williams 77 27.4 10.9 2.1 4.5 6.6 1.3 0.8 1.9 1.4 2.6 4.1 8.6 .477 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.6 .756
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
Hot Rod Williams 5 26.6 9.2 2.6 3.2 5.8 0.8 0.6 1.4 0.8 2.6 4.0 8.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 2.6 .462

Season 3

Bill Russell Hot Rod Williams
Season 1958-591988-89
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers 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 70 42.6 16.7 - - 23.0 3.2 - - - 2.3 6.5 14.2 .457 - - - 3.7 6.1 .598
Hot Rod Williams 82 25.9 11.6 2.1 3.7 5.8 1.3 0.9 1.6 1.2 2.3 4.3 8.5 .509 0.0 0.0 .250 2.9 3.8 .748
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
Hot Rod Williams 5 32.2 11.0 1.4 5.4 6.8 2.0 0.4 1.4 2.2 2.4 4.2 9.0 .467 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.6 .722

Season 4

Bill Russell Hot Rod Williams
Season 1959-601989-90
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers 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 74 42.5 18.2 - - 24.0 3.7 - - - 2.8 7.5 16.1 .467 - - - 3.2 5.3 .612
Hot Rod Williams 82 33.9 16.8 2.7 5.4 8.1 2.0 1.0 2.0 1.7 2.6 6.4 13.0 .493 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 5.4 .739
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
Hot Rod Williams 5 34.8 19.0 2.8 6.4 9.2 2.2 0.4 1.0 1.4 4.6 7.8 14.0 .557 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 4.4 .773

Season 5

Bill Russell Hot Rod Williams
Season 1960-611990-91
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
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 44.3 16.9 - - 23.9 3.4 - - - 2.0 6.8 16.0 .426 - - - 3.3 6.0 .550
Hot Rod Williams 43 30.1 11.7 2.6 4.2 6.7 2.3 0.8 1.6 1.5 2.9 4.6 10.0 .463 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.8 .652
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
Hot Rod Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Bill Russell Hot Rod Williams
Season 1961-621991-92
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers 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
Hot Rod Williams 80 30.4 11.9 2.9 4.7 7.6 2.5 0.8 2.3 1.0 2.4 4.3 8.5 .503 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.5 .752
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
Hot Rod Williams 17 33.4 15.0 2.9 4.7 7.6 2.5 1.4 1.0 1.8 3.4 4.9 9.1 .545 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 6.4 .798

Season 7

Bill Russell Hot Rod Williams
Season 1962-631992-93
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers 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 44.9 16.8 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.4 6.6 15.2 .432 - - - 3.7 6.6 .555
Hot Rod Williams 67 30.7 11.0 1.9 4.3 6.2 2.3 0.7 1.6 1.7 2.6 3.9 8.4 .470 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 4.4 .716
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
Hot Rod Williams 9 26.3 9.0 1.3 3.2 4.6 1.9 0.6 1.6 1.2 2.9 3.3 8.3 .400 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.1 .750

Season 8

Bill Russell Hot Rod Williams
Season 1963-641993-94
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
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
Hot Rod Williams 76 35.0 13.7 2.7 4.8 7.6 2.5 1.0 1.7 1.8 2.9 5.2 10.9 .478 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.6 .728
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
Hot Rod Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Bill Russell Hot Rod Williams
Season 1964-651994-95
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers 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 44.4 14.1 - - 24.1 5.3 - - - 2.6 5.5 12.6 .438 - - - 3.1 5.5 .573
Hot Rod Williams 74 35.7 12.6 2.3 4.5 6.9 2.6 1.1 1.4 2.0 2.9 4.9 10.9 .452 0.0 0.1 .200 2.6 3.9 .685
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
Hot Rod Williams 4 36.0 6.8 0.8 5.5 6.3 2.8 2.3 0.8 2.5 2.8 3.0 10.5 .286 0.0 0.3 .000 0.8 2.0 .375

Season 10

Bill Russell Hot Rod Williams
Season 1965-661995-96
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns 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 78 43.4 12.9 - - 22.8 4.8 - - - 2.8 5.0 12.1 .415 - - - 2.9 5.2 .551
Hot Rod Williams 62 26.6 7.3 2.1 3.9 6.0 1.0 0.7 1.5 1.0 2.7 2.9 6.4 .453 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.1 .731
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
Hot Rod Williams 4 28.8 9.0 2.8 3.8 6.5 0.3 0.0 1.8 1.5 4.3 3.5 8.0 .438 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.0 .667

Season 11

Bill Russell Hot Rod Williams
Season 1966-671996-97
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Div FinalsSuns 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 81 40.7 13.3 - - 21.0 5.8 - - - 3.2 4.9 10.7 .454 - - - 3.5 5.8 .610
Hot Rod Williams 68 31.4 8.0 2.6 5.6 8.3 1.5 1.0 1.3 1.0 2.6 3.0 6.1 .490 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.9 .672
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
Hot Rod Williams 5 20.6 4.0 2.0 2.6 4.6 0.6 0.4 1.6 1.0 2.4 1.6 3.0 .533 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 2.0 .400

Season 12

Bill Russell Hot Rod Williams
Season 1967-681997-98
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns 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 78 37.9 12.5 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.1 4.7 11.0 .425 - - - 3.2 5.9 .537
Hot Rod Williams 71 18.8 3.6 1.5 2.9 4.4 0.7 0.5 0.8 0.4 1.9 1.3 2.8 .470 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.3 .699
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
Hot Rod Williams 3 11.0 2.0 0.7 0.7 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.7 0.0 2.7 0.7 2.3 .286 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.0 .667

Season 13

Bill Russell Hot Rod Williams
Season 1968-691998-99
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First 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 77 42.7 9.9 - - 19.3 4.9 - - - 3.0 3.6 8.4 .433 - - - 2.6 5.0 .526
Hot Rod Williams 25 16.1 1.2 1.4 1.9 3.3 0.6 0.5 0.7 0.5 2.0 0.4 1.3 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .700
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
Hot Rod Williams ------- --- ----------