Dell Curry vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Dell Curry, 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.

Dell Curry played 16 years in the NBA, 3 more than Bill Russell, who played 13. Dell Curry had the first of his seasons in 1986-87, while Bill Russell had his rookie season in 1956-57. 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
Dell Curry 16 10 1986-87 to 2001-02
Bill Russell 13 13 1956-57 to 1968-69

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Dell Curry Bill Russell
Season 1986-871956-57
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 67 9.5 4.9 0.4 0.7 1.2 0.9 0.4 0.1 0.7 1.3 2.1 4.9 .426 0.3 0.9 .283 0.4 0.6 .789
Bill Russell 48 35.3 14.7 - - 19.6 1.8 - - - 3.0 5.8 13.5 .427 - - - 3.2 6.4 .492
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 2 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 1.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Bill Russell 10 40.9 13.9 - - 24.4 3.2 - - - 4.1 5.4 14.8 .365 - - - 3.1 6.1 .508

Season 2

Dell Curry Bill Russell
Season 1987-881957-58
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 79 19.0 10.0 0.5 1.6 2.1 1.9 1.2 0.3 1.4 1.6 4.3 9.4 .458 0.4 1.0 .346 1.0 1.3 .782
Bill Russell 69 38.3 16.6 - - 22.7 2.9 - - - 2.6 6.6 15.0 .442 - - - 3.3 6.4 .519
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 2 8.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 0.5 2.0 .250 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Bill Russell 9 39.4 15.1 - - 24.6 2.7 - - - 2.7 5.3 14.8 .361 - - - 4.4 7.3 .606

Season 3

Dell Curry Bill Russell
Season 1988-891958-59
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 48 16.9 11.9 0.5 1.6 2.2 1.0 0.9 0.1 0.9 1.4 5.3 10.9 .491 0.4 1.1 .345 0.8 1.0 .870
Bill Russell 70 42.6 16.7 - - 23.0 3.2 - - - 2.3 6.5 14.2 .457 - - - 3.7 6.1 .598
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 11 45.1 15.5 - - 27.7 3.6 - - - 2.5 5.9 14.5 .409 - - - 3.7 6.1 .612

Season 4

Dell Curry Bill Russell
Season 1989-901959-60
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 67 27.8 16.0 0.5 2.0 2.5 2.4 1.5 0.4 1.5 2.2 6.9 14.8 .466 0.8 2.2 .354 1.4 1.6 .923
Bill Russell 74 42.5 18.2 - - 24.0 3.7 - - - 2.8 7.5 16.1 .467 - - - 3.2 5.3 .612
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 13 44.0 18.5 - - 25.8 2.9 - - - 2.9 7.2 15.8 .456 - - - 4.1 5.8 .707

Season 5

Dell Curry Bill Russell
Season 1990-911960-61
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 76 19.9 10.6 0.6 2.0 2.6 2.2 1.0 0.3 1.1 1.6 4.4 9.4 .471 0.4 1.1 .372 1.3 1.5 .842
Bill Russell 78 44.3 16.9 - - 23.9 3.4 - - - 2.0 6.8 16.0 .426 - - - 3.3 6.0 .550
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 10 46.2 19.1 - - 29.9 4.8 - - - 2.4 7.3 17.1 .427 - - - 4.5 8.6 .523

Season 6

Dell Curry Bill Russell
Season 1991-921961-62
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 77 26.2 15.7 0.7 2.6 3.4 2.3 1.2 0.3 1.7 2.0 6.5 13.5 .486 1.0 2.4 .404 1.6 2.0 .836
Bill Russell 76 45.2 18.9 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.7 7.6 16.6 .457 - - - 3.8 6.3 .595
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 14 48.0 22.4 - - 26.4 5.0 - - - 3.5 8.3 18.1 .458 - - - 5.9 8.1 .726

Season 7

Dell Curry Bill Russell
Season 1992-931962-63
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Hornets Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 80 26.2 15.3 0.6 2.9 3.6 2.3 1.1 0.3 1.6 1.9 6.2 13.8 .452 1.2 3.0 .401 1.7 2.0 .866
Bill Russell 78 44.9 16.8 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.4 6.6 15.2 .432 - - - 3.7 6.6 .555
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 9 24.7 11.0 1.2 2.3 3.6 2.0 1.4 0.0 1.4 2.1 4.7 10.8 .433 0.7 2.3 .286 1.0 1.2 .818
Bill Russell 13 47.5 20.3 - - 25.1 5.1 - - - 2.8 7.4 16.3 .453 - - - 5.5 8.4 .661

Season 8

Dell Curry Bill Russell
Season 1993-941963-64
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 82 26.5 16.3 0.9 2.3 3.2 2.7 1.2 0.3 1.5 2.0 6.5 14.3 .455 1.9 4.6 .402 1.4 1.6 .873
Bill Russell 78 44.6 15.0 - - 24.7 4.7 - - - 2.4 6.0 13.8 .433 - - - 3.0 5.5 .550
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 10 45.1 13.1 - - 27.2 4.4 - - - 3.3 4.7 13.2 .356 - - - 3.7 6.7 .552

Season 9

Dell Curry Bill Russell
Season 1994-951964-65
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hornets Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 69 24.9 13.6 0.6 1.8 2.4 1.6 0.8 0.3 1.4 2.1 5.0 11.3 .441 2.2 5.2 .427 1.4 1.6 .856
Bill Russell 78 44.4 14.1 - - 24.1 5.3 - - - 2.6 5.5 12.6 .438 - - - 3.1 5.5 .573
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 4 26.8 12.8 1.3 1.0 2.3 1.5 0.0 0.0 1.5 2.8 4.0 8.5 .471 2.3 5.3 .429 2.5 2.8 .909
Bill Russell 12 46.8 16.5 - - 25.2 6.3 - - - 3.6 6.6 12.5 .527 - - - 3.3 6.3 .526

Season 10

Dell Curry Bill Russell
Season 1995-961965-66
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 82 28.9 14.5 0.8 2.4 3.2 2.1 1.3 0.3 1.6 2.1 5.4 11.9 .453 2.0 5.0 .404 1.8 2.1 .854
Bill Russell 78 43.4 12.9 - - 22.8 4.8 - - - 2.8 5.0 12.1 .415 - - - 2.9 5.2 .551
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 17 47.9 19.1 - - 25.2 5.0 - - - 3.5 7.3 15.4 .475 - - - 4.5 7.2 .618

Season 11

Dell Curry Bill Russell
Season 1996-971966-67
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hornets Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 68 30.6 14.8 0.6 2.5 3.1 1.7 0.9 0.2 1.4 2.2 5.6 12.3 .459 1.9 4.4 .426 1.7 2.1 .803
Bill Russell 81 40.7 13.3 - - 21.0 5.8 - - - 3.2 4.9 10.7 .454 - - - 3.5 5.8 .610
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 3 17.0 4.7 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.7 1.3 0.0 0.3 1.7 1.7 5.7 .294 0.3 1.3 .250 1.0 1.0 1.000
Bill Russell 9 43.3 10.6 - - 22.0 5.6 - - - 3.6 3.4 9.6 .360 - - - 3.7 5.8 .635

Season 12

Dell Curry Bill Russell
Season 1997-981967-68
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hornets Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 52 18.7 9.4 0.5 1.4 1.9 1.3 0.6 0.1 1.0 1.6 3.7 8.3 .447 1.2 2.8 .421 0.8 1.0 .788
Bill Russell 78 37.9 12.5 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.1 4.7 11.0 .425 - - - 3.2 5.9 .537
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 9 18.8 5.8 0.7 1.4 2.1 1.1 0.8 0.3 0.6 2.3 2.3 5.8 .404 0.4 1.8 .250 0.7 0.8 .857
Bill Russell 19 45.7 14.4 - - 22.8 5.2 - - - 3.8 5.2 12.7 .409 - - - 4.0 6.8 .585

Season 13

Dell Curry Bill Russell
Season 1998-991968-69
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 42 20.6 10.1 0.4 1.6 2.0 1.1 0.9 0.1 1.1 1.0 3.9 8.0 .485 1.6 3.5 .476 0.7 0.8 .824
Bill Russell 77 42.7 9.9 - - 19.3 4.9 - - - 3.0 3.6 8.4 .433 - - - 2.6 5.0 .526
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 3 16.3 3.0 0.0 1.3 1.3 0.3 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.7 0.7 5.0 .133 0.3 2.7 .125 1.3 1.3 1.000
Bill Russell 18 46.1 10.8 - - 20.5 5.4 - - - 3.6 4.3 10.1 .423 - - - 2.3 4.5 .506

Season 14

Dell Curry Bill Russell
Season 1999-00-
Team Toronto Raptors-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Raptors 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 %
Dell Curry 67 16.3 7.6 0.2 1.3 1.5 1.3 0.5 0.1 0.6 1.0 2.9 6.8 .427 1.4 3.6 .393 0.4 0.5 .750
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 3 10.0 2.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.7 0.0 0.7 1.3 0.7 1.3 .500 0.7 1.0 .667 0.3 0.7 .500
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Dell Curry Bill Russell
Season 2000-01-
Team Toronto Raptors-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Raptors 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 %
Dell Curry 71 13.5 6.0 0.2 1.0 1.2 1.1 0.4 0.1 0.5 0.9 2.3 5.4 .424 0.9 2.0 .428 0.6 0.7 .843
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 12 15.1 6.5 0.2 1.0 1.2 0.8 0.5 0.1 0.9 0.8 2.3 5.3 .422 1.2 3.1 .378 0.8 1.0 .833
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Dell Curry Bill Russell
Season 2001-02-
Team Toronto Raptors-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Raptors 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 %
Dell Curry 56 15.8 6.4 0.4 1.0 1.4 1.1 0.4 0.1 0.7 0.9 2.5 6.2 .406 0.8 2.3 .344 0.6 0.7 .892
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dell Curry 4 15.0 7.0 0.0 1.3 1.3 1.0 1.3 0.5 0.8 1.0 2.5 6.3 .400 1.0 1.3 .800 1.0 1.0 1.000
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------