Don Buse vs. Rajon Rondo Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rajon Rondo and Don Buse, 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.

Don Buse played 9 years in the NBA, 7 less than Rajon Rondo, who played 16. Don Buse had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Rajon Rondo had his rookie season in 2006-07. 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
Don Buse 9 6 1976-77 to 1984-85
Rajon Rondo 16 10 2006-07 to 2021-22

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

Don Buse Rajon Rondo
Season 1976-772006-07
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse 81 36.4 8.0 0.8 2.5 3.3 8.5 3.5 0.2 - 1.6 3.3 7.9 .416 - - - 1.4 1.8 .786
Rajon Rondo 78 23.5 6.4 0.9 2.8 3.7 3.8 1.6 0.1 1.8 2.3 2.4 5.8 .418 0.1 0.4 .207 1.5 2.4 .647
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Rajon Rondo ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Don Buse Rajon Rondo
Season 1977-782007-08
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Don Buse 82 31.1 8.4 0.7 2.3 3.0 4.8 2.3 0.2 1.5 1.8 3.5 7.6 .458 - - - 1.4 1.7 .824
Rajon Rondo 77 29.9 10.6 1.0 3.2 4.2 5.1 1.7 0.2 1.9 2.4 4.6 9.3 .492 0.1 0.2 .263 1.4 2.3 .611
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse 2 38.0 4.0 0.0 2.5 2.5 2.0 2.0 0.0 0.5 1.5 2.0 5.5 .364 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
Rajon Rondo 26 32.0 10.2 1.5 2.6 4.1 6.6 1.7 0.3 1.8 2.8 4.1 10.1 .407 0.2 0.8 .250 1.8 2.6 .691

Season 3

Don Buse Rajon Rondo
Season 1978-792008-09
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics 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 %
Don Buse 82 31.0 7.8 0.5 2.1 2.6 4.3 1.9 0.2 1.2 1.8 3.5 7.0 .495 - - - 0.9 1.1 .769
Rajon Rondo 80 33.0 11.9 1.3 4.0 5.2 8.2 1.9 0.1 2.6 2.4 4.8 9.5 .505 0.2 0.6 .313 2.2 3.4 .642
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse 15 34.1 7.9 1.1 2.5 3.7 3.5 1.5 0.3 1.0 2.1 3.1 7.7 .405 - - - 1.6 2.2 .727
Rajon Rondo 14 41.2 16.9 2.3 7.4 9.7 9.8 2.5 0.2 2.7 3.4 6.6 15.9 .417 0.4 1.7 .250 3.1 4.8 .657

Season 4

Don Buse Rajon Rondo
Season 1979-802009-10
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse 81 30.9 7.7 0.9 2.0 2.9 4.0 1.6 0.1 1.1 1.4 3.2 7.3 .443 0.2 1.0 .241 1.0 1.6 .664
Rajon Rondo 81 36.6 13.7 1.2 3.2 4.4 9.8 2.3 0.1 3.0 2.4 5.7 11.2 .508 0.2 1.0 .213 2.2 3.5 .621
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse 8 29.5 8.5 1.0 1.6 2.6 5.5 0.8 0.0 1.6 1.9 3.5 8.0 .438 0.6 1.6 .385 0.9 1.4 .636
Rajon Rondo 24 40.6 15.8 1.6 4.0 5.6 9.3 1.9 0.1 3.0 2.4 6.3 13.6 .463 0.4 1.0 .375 2.8 4.8 .596

Season 5

Don Buse Rajon Rondo
Season 1980-812010-11
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
Don Buse 58 18.9 5.1 0.3 1.1 1.4 2.4 1.3 0.1 0.7 1.1 2.0 4.9 .397 0.3 1.0 .328 0.9 1.1 .769
Rajon Rondo 68 37.2 10.6 1.3 3.1 4.4 11.2 2.3 0.2 3.4 1.8 4.7 9.9 .475 0.1 0.6 .233 1.1 1.9 .568
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse 2 17.5 2.5 0.0 2.5 2.5 3.5 1.5 0.0 1.0 2.0 0.5 4.0 .125 0.5 2.0 .250 1.0 1.0 1.000
Rajon Rondo 9 38.3 14.0 1.2 4.2 5.4 9.6 1.1 0.0 3.7 1.8 5.7 11.9 .477 0.0 0.3 .000 2.7 4.2 .632

Season 6

Don Buse Rajon Rondo
Season 1981-822011-12
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Don Buse 82 30.8 9.7 0.6 2.2 2.7 5.0 2.0 0.3 1.2 2.1 3.8 8.4 .455 0.9 2.3 .386 1.2 1.5 .813
Rajon Rondo 53 36.9 11.9 1.2 3.7 4.8 11.7 1.8 0.1 3.6 1.9 4.8 10.8 .448 0.2 0.8 .238 2.0 3.4 .597
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Rajon Rondo 19 42.6 17.3 1.8 4.9 6.7 11.9 2.4 0.1 3.8 2.1 7.4 15.8 .468 0.4 1.6 .267 2.1 2.9 .696

Season 7

Don Buse Rajon Rondo
Season 1982-832012-13
Team Portland Trail BlazersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse 41 15.7 4.7 0.5 0.9 1.3 2.8 1.1 0.0 0.6 1.5 1.8 4.4 .396 0.2 0.9 .257 1.0 1.1 .891
Rajon Rondo 38 37.4 13.7 1.1 4.4 5.6 11.1 1.8 0.2 3.9 2.5 5.9 12.2 .484 0.3 1.3 .240 1.6 2.4 .645
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse 5 6.2 1.4 0.0 0.4 0.4 1.4 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.4 1.6 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .750
Rajon Rondo ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Don Buse Rajon Rondo
Season 1983-842013-14
Team Kansas City KingsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse 76 17.5 5.0 0.4 1.1 1.5 4.0 1.1 0.0 1.1 0.8 2.0 4.6 .426 0.2 0.8 .305 0.8 1.1 .788
Rajon Rondo 30 33.3 11.7 0.7 4.7 5.5 9.8 1.3 0.1 3.3 2.2 4.7 11.7 .403 0.9 3.0 .289 1.4 2.2 .627
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse 3 16.7 7.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 3.7 0.3 0.3 1.0 1.7 2.3 5.3 .438 1.0 2.0 .500 1.3 2.0 .667
Rajon Rondo ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Don Buse Rajon Rondo
Season 1984-852014-15
Team Kansas City KingsBoston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks 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 %
Don Buse 65 14.4 3.4 0.3 0.6 0.9 3.1 0.6 0.0 0.7 1.2 1.3 3.1 .404 0.5 1.3 .356 0.4 0.5 .767
Rajon Rondo 68 29.7 8.9 1.1 4.4 5.5 7.9 1.3 0.1 3.1 2.3 4.0 9.5 .426 0.4 1.3 .314 0.5 1.1 .397
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Rajon Rondo 2 18.5 9.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 3.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 3.0 4.5 10.0 .450 0.5 1.0 .500 0.0 0.0 -

Season 10

Don Buse Rajon Rondo
Season -2015-16
Team -Sacramento Kings
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Rajon Rondo 72 35.2 11.9 1.1 5.0 6.0 11.7 2.0 0.1 3.9 2.4 4.9 10.9 .454 0.9 2.4 .365 1.2 2.1 .580
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Rajon Rondo ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Don Buse Rajon Rondo
Season -2016-17
Team -Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bulls 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 %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Rajon Rondo 69 26.7 7.8 1.1 4.1 5.1 6.7 1.4 0.2 2.4 2.1 3.3 8.1 .408 0.7 1.9 .376 0.4 0.7 .600
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Rajon Rondo 2 33.5 11.5 3.5 5.0 8.5 10.0 3.5 0.5 2.0 3.0 5.5 13.0 .423 0.0 3.0 .000 0.5 1.0 .500

Season 12

Don Buse Rajon Rondo
Season -2017-18
Team -New Orleans Pelicans
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pelicans 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 %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Rajon Rondo 65 26.2 8.3 0.5 3.6 4.0 8.2 1.1 0.2 2.3 1.8 3.6 7.6 .468 0.8 2.3 .333 0.4 0.7 .543
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Rajon Rondo 9 33.6 10.3 1.0 6.6 7.6 12.2 1.4 0.2 3.7 2.2 4.2 10.2 .413 0.9 2.1 .421 1.0 1.6 .643

Season 13

Don Buse Rajon Rondo
Season -2018-19
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Rajon Rondo 46 29.8 9.2 0.7 4.5 5.3 8.0 1.2 0.2 2.8 2.2 3.8 9.4 .405 1.1 3.1 .359 0.5 0.8 .639
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Rajon Rondo ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Don Buse Rajon Rondo
Season -2019-20
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
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 %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Rajon Rondo 48 20.5 7.1 0.5 2.5 3.0 5.0 0.8 0.0 1.9 1.2 2.9 6.8 .418 0.9 2.6 .328 0.6 0.9 .659
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Rajon Rondo 16 24.7 8.9 0.8 3.5 4.3 6.6 1.4 0.1 2.1 2.3 3.4 7.6 .455 1.3 3.1 .400 0.8 1.2 .684

Season 15

Don Buse Rajon Rondo
Season -2020-21
Team -Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Clippers 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 %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Rajon Rondo 45 17.1 5.4 0.4 2.0 2.4 4.4 0.8 0.1 1.8 1.2 2.1 4.8 .442 0.8 2.0 .404 0.4 0.4 .941
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Rajon Rondo 13 16.9 4.2 0.3 2.3 2.6 3.8 0.4 0.2 1.1 1.4 1.4 4.1 .340 0.8 2.2 .393 0.6 0.9 .667

Season 16

Don Buse Rajon Rondo
Season -2021-22
Team -Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Rajon Rondo 39 17.9 4.8 0.4 2.4 2.8 4.4 0.8 0.2 1.7 1.4 1.7 4.5 .386 0.8 2.3 .352 0.5 0.7 .731
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Don Buse ------- --- ----------
Rajon Rondo ------- --- ----------