Dennis Johnson vs. Cazzie Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Cazzie Russell and Dennis Johnson, 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.

Dennis Johnson played 14 years in the NBA, 2 more than Cazzie Russell, who played 12. Dennis Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Cazzie Russell had his rookie season in 1966-67. 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
Dennis Johnson 14 13 1976-77 to 1989-90
Cazzie Russell 12 8 1966-67 to 1977-78

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Dennis Johnson Cazzie Russell
Season 1976-771966-67
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks Lost East Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 81 20.6 9.2 2.0 1.7 3.7 1.5 1.5 0.7 - 2.7 3.5 7.0 .504 - - - 2.2 3.5 .624
Cazzie Russell 77 22.0 11.3 - - 3.3 2.4 - - - 2.3 4.5 10.2 .436 - - - 2.3 3.0 .785
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Cazzie Russell 4 22.3 15.5 - - 4.8 2.8 - - - 4.0 6.5 16.5 .394 - - - 2.5 3.3 .769

Season 2

Dennis Johnson Cazzie Russell
Season 1977-781967-68
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost NBA FinalsKnicks Lost East Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 81 27.3 12.7 1.9 1.8 3.6 2.8 1.5 0.6 2.0 2.6 4.5 10.9 .417 - - - 3.7 5.0 .732
Cazzie Russell 82 28.0 16.9 - - 4.6 2.4 - - - 2.7 6.7 14.5 .462 - - - 3.4 4.3 .808
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 22 37.6 16.1 2.1 2.5 4.6 3.3 1.0 1.0 2.5 2.9 5.5 13.4 .412 - - - 5.1 7.2 .704
Cazzie Russell 6 34.8 21.7 - - 3.8 1.7 - - - 2.7 9.2 16.3 .561 - - - 3.3 4.0 .833

Season 3

Dennis Johnson Cazzie Russell
Season 1978-791968-69
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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 %
Dennis Johnson 80 34.0 15.9 1.8 2.9 4.7 3.5 1.3 1.2 2.4 2.6 6.0 13.9 .434 - - - 3.8 4.9 .781
Cazzie Russell 50 32.9 18.3 - - 4.2 2.3 - - - 2.8 7.2 16.1 .450 - - - 3.8 4.8 .796
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 17 40.1 20.9 2.6 3.5 6.1 4.1 1.6 1.5 3.0 3.7 8.0 17.8 .450 - - - 4.9 6.4 .771
Cazzie Russell 5 7.2 2.4 - - 1.0 0.2 - - - 0.8 1.0 4.2 .238 - - - 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 4

Dennis Johnson Cazzie Russell
Season 1979-801969-70
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 81 36.3 19.0 2.1 3.0 5.1 4.1 1.8 1.0 2.8 3.3 7.1 16.8 .422 0.1 0.7 .207 4.7 6.0 .780
Cazzie Russell 78 20.0 11.5 - - 3.0 1.7 - - - 1.8 4.9 9.9 .498 - - - 1.6 2.1 .775
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 15 38.8 17.1 1.7 2.6 4.3 3.8 1.8 0.7 2.9 3.2 6.7 16.3 .410 0.3 1.0 .333 3.5 4.1 .839
Cazzie Russell 19 16.1 9.4 - - 2.5 0.8 - - - 1.6 4.2 8.7 .485 - - - 0.9 1.0 .947

Season 5

Dennis Johnson Cazzie Russell
Season 1980-811970-71
Team Phoenix SunsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisKnicks 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 %
Dennis Johnson 79 33.1 18.8 2.0 2.6 4.6 3.7 1.7 0.8 2.6 3.1 6.7 15.4 .436 0.1 0.6 .216 5.2 6.3 .820
Cazzie Russell 57 18.5 9.2 - - 3.4 1.4 - - - 1.3 3.8 8.8 .429 - - - 1.6 2.1 .773
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 7 38.1 19.6 1.0 3.7 4.7 2.9 1.3 1.3 2.7 2.6 7.4 15.7 .473 0.1 0.7 .200 4.6 6.0 .762
Cazzie Russell 11 10.9 5.6 - - 2.0 0.7 - - - 1.3 2.3 5.8 .391 - - - 1.1 1.1 1.000

Season 6

Dennis Johnson Cazzie Russell
Season 1981-821971-72
Team Phoenix SunsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisWarriors 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 %
Dennis Johnson 80 36.7 19.5 1.8 3.4 5.1 4.6 1.3 0.7 2.9 3.2 7.2 15.4 .470 0.1 0.5 .190 5.0 6.2 .806
Cazzie Russell 79 36.7 21.4 - - 5.4 3.1 - - - 2.2 8.7 19.2 .455 - - - 4.0 4.8 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 7 38.7 22.3 1.9 2.6 4.4 4.6 2.1 0.6 3.6 4.0 9.0 18.9 .477 0.0 0.4 .000 4.3 5.6 .769
Cazzie Russell 5 32.2 14.2 - - 4.4 1.8 - - - 2.6 6.2 12.6 .492 - - - 1.8 2.4 .750

Season 7

Dennis Johnson Cazzie Russell
Season 1982-831972-73
Team Phoenix SunsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 77 33.1 14.2 1.2 3.2 4.4 5.0 1.3 0.5 2.6 2.6 5.2 11.2 .462 0.1 0.4 .161 3.8 4.8 .791
Cazzie Russell 80 30.4 15.7 - - 4.4 2.3 - - - 2.1 6.8 14.8 .458 - - - 2.2 2.5 .864
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 3 36.0 18.0 2.0 5.7 7.7 5.7 1.7 0.7 2.7 3.0 7.3 16.0 .458 0.0 0.3 .000 3.3 4.0 .833
Cazzie Russell 11 23.9 14.8 - - 3.3 1.5 - - - 2.2 6.5 13.4 .490 - - - 1.7 2.0 .864

Season 8

Dennis Johnson Cazzie Russell
Season 1983-841973-74
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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 %
Dennis Johnson 80 33.3 13.2 1.1 2.4 3.5 4.2 1.2 0.7 2.2 3.1 4.8 11.0 .437 0.1 0.4 .125 3.5 4.1 .852
Cazzie Russell 82 31.4 20.5 1.7 2.6 4.3 2.3 0.7 0.2 - 2.4 9.0 18.7 .482 - - - 2.5 3.0 .835
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 22 36.7 16.6 1.4 2.2 3.6 4.4 1.1 0.3 2.4 3.4 5.9 14.5 .404 0.1 0.3 .429 4.7 5.5 .867
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Dennis Johnson Cazzie Russell
Season 1984-851974-75
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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 %
Dennis Johnson 80 37.2 15.7 1.1 2.8 4.0 6.8 1.2 0.5 2.7 2.8 6.2 13.3 .462 0.1 0.3 .269 3.3 3.8 .853
Cazzie Russell 40 26.4 15.7 0.9 2.0 2.9 2.7 0.7 0.1 - 1.4 6.6 14.5 .455 - - - 2.5 2.8 .894
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 21 40.4 17.3 1.1 2.9 4.0 7.3 1.5 0.4 3.4 3.1 6.8 15.2 .445 0.0 0.7 .000 3.8 4.4 .860
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Dennis Johnson Cazzie Russell
Season 1985-861975-76
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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 %
Dennis Johnson 78 35.0 15.6 0.9 2.6 3.4 5.8 1.4 0.4 2.2 2.6 6.2 13.6 .455 0.1 0.5 .143 3.1 3.8 .818
Cazzie Russell 74 22.0 11.8 0.7 1.8 2.5 1.6 0.7 0.0 - 1.6 5.0 10.8 .463 - - - 1.8 2.0 .892
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 18 39.7 16.2 1.3 2.9 4.2 5.9 2.2 0.3 2.8 3.2 6.1 13.6 .445 0.3 0.9 .375 3.7 4.7 .798
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Dennis Johnson Cazzie Russell
Season 1986-871976-77
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 79 37.1 13.4 0.6 2.7 3.3 7.5 1.1 0.5 2.2 2.5 5.4 12.1 .444 0.1 0.8 .113 2.6 3.2 .833
Cazzie Russell 82 31.5 16.4 1.0 2.5 3.6 2.6 1.0 0.1 - 2.0 7.0 14.4 .490 - - - 2.3 2.7 .858
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 23 41.9 18.9 1.0 2.9 4.0 8.9 0.7 0.3 1.9 3.1 7.3 15.7 .465 0.1 1.1 .115 4.2 4.9 .850
Cazzie Russell 11 34.7 15.8 2.0 2.4 4.4 2.3 1.5 0.1 - 3.0 5.9 14.3 .414 - - - 4.0 4.5 .880

Season 12

Dennis Johnson Cazzie Russell
Season 1987-881977-78
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 77 34.7 12.6 0.8 2.3 3.1 7.8 1.2 0.4 2.5 2.6 4.6 10.4 .438 0.2 0.6 .261 3.3 3.9 .856
Cazzie Russell 36 21.9 8.8 0.9 1.4 2.3 1.7 0.5 0.1 1.0 1.8 3.7 8.4 .438 - - - 1.4 1.6 .860
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 17 41.3 15.9 0.9 3.6 4.5 8.2 1.4 0.5 2.6 3.0 5.4 12.4 .433 0.4 0.9 .375 4.8 6.1 .796
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Dennis Johnson Cazzie Russell
Season 1988-89-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Dennis Johnson 72 32.1 10.0 0.4 2.2 2.6 6.6 1.3 0.3 2.4 2.9 3.8 8.9 .434 0.1 0.7 .140 2.2 2.7 .821
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 3 19.7 2.7 0.7 0.7 1.3 3.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.7 1.3 5.0 .267 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Dennis Johnson Cazzie Russell
Season 1989-90-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Dennis Johnson 75 27.1 7.1 0.6 2.0 2.7 6.5 1.1 0.2 1.6 2.4 2.7 6.3 .434 0.0 0.3 .042 1.6 1.9 .843
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 5 32.4 13.8 0.4 2.4 2.8 5.6 0.4 0.4 2.0 3.4 6.0 12.4 .484 0.4 1.2 .333 1.4 1.4 1.000
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------