Grant Hill vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Grant Hill, 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.

Grant Hill played 18 years in the NBA, 5 more than Bill Russell, who played 13. Grant Hill had the first of his seasons in 1994-95, 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
Grant Hill 18 8 1994-95 to 2012-13
Bill Russell 13 13 1956-57 to 1968-69

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Grant Hill Bill Russell
Season 1994-951956-57
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First 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 %
Grant Hill 70 38.3 19.9 1.8 4.6 6.4 5.0 1.8 0.9 2.9 2.9 7.3 15.2 .477 0.1 0.4 .148 5.3 7.3 .732
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 %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
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

Grant Hill Bill Russell
Season 1995-961957-58
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Grant Hill 80 40.8 20.2 1.6 8.2 9.8 6.9 1.3 0.6 3.3 3.0 7.1 15.3 .462 0.1 0.3 .192 6.1 8.1 .751
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 %
Grant Hill 3 38.3 19.0 1.3 6.0 7.3 3.7 1.0 0.0 2.7 4.3 7.3 13.0 .564 0.3 0.7 .500 4.0 4.7 .857
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

Grant Hill Bill Russell
Season 1996-971958-59
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Grant Hill 80 39.3 21.4 1.5 7.5 9.0 7.3 1.8 0.6 3.2 2.3 7.8 15.7 .496 0.1 0.4 .303 5.6 7.9 .711
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 %
Grant Hill 5 40.8 23.6 2.6 4.2 6.8 5.4 0.8 1.0 3.8 2.8 9.0 20.6 .437 0.0 0.0 - 5.6 7.8 .718
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

Grant Hill Bill Russell
Season 1997-981959-60
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Grant Hill 81 40.7 21.1 1.1 6.5 7.7 6.8 1.8 0.7 3.5 2.4 7.6 16.8 .452 0.0 0.3 .143 5.9 8.0 .740
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 %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
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

Grant Hill Bill Russell
Season 1998-991960-61
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Grant Hill 50 37.0 21.1 1.3 5.8 7.1 6.0 1.6 0.5 3.7 2.3 7.7 16.0 .479 0.0 0.3 .000 5.7 7.6 .752
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 %
Grant Hill 5 35.0 19.4 1.4 5.8 7.2 7.4 2.0 0.4 2.4 2.4 8.4 18.4 .457 0.0 0.2 .000 2.6 3.2 .813
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

Grant Hill Bill Russell
Season 1999-001961-62
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Grant Hill 74 37.5 25.8 1.3 5.3 6.6 5.2 1.4 0.6 3.2 2.6 9.4 19.2 .489 0.5 1.3 .347 6.5 8.2 .795
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 %
Grant Hill 2 28.0 11.0 0.0 5.5 5.5 4.5 0.5 0.0 5.0 3.5 3.0 8.0 .375 0.5 1.0 .500 4.5 5.0 .900
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

Grant Hill Bill Russell
Season 2000-011962-63
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
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 %
Grant Hill 4 33.3 13.8 2.0 4.3 6.3 6.3 1.3 0.5 2.8 2.3 4.8 10.8 .442 0.3 0.3 1.000 4.0 6.5 .615
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 %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
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

Grant Hill Bill Russell
Season 2001-021963-64
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second 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 %
Grant Hill 14 36.6 16.8 2.1 6.9 8.9 4.6 0.6 0.3 2.6 2.9 5.9 13.9 .426 0.0 0.1 .000 4.9 5.7 .863
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 %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
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

Grant Hill Bill Russell
Season 2002-031964-65
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-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 %
Grant Hill 29 29.1 14.5 1.4 5.7 7.1 4.2 1.0 0.4 2.9 1.6 5.2 10.6 .492 0.0 0.1 .250 4.1 5.0 .819
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 %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 12 46.8 16.5 - - 25.2 6.3 - - - 3.6 6.6 12.5 .527 - - - 3.3 6.3 .526

Note: Grant Hill didn't play in 2003-04.

Season 10

Grant Hill Bill Russell
Season 2004-051965-66
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Grant Hill 67 34.9 19.7 1.1 3.6 4.7 3.3 1.4 0.4 2.4 2.1 7.7 15.1 .509 0.0 0.2 .231 4.2 5.1 .821
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 %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
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

Grant Hill Bill Russell
Season 2005-061966-67
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Grant Hill 21 29.2 15.1 0.7 3.1 3.8 2.3 1.1 0.3 1.7 2.4 5.7 11.6 .490 0.1 0.4 .250 3.7 4.9 .765
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 %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
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

Grant Hill Bill Russell
Season 2006-071967-68
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic 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 %
Grant Hill 65 30.9 14.4 0.8 2.8 3.6 2.1 0.9 0.4 2.2 2.2 5.3 10.2 .518 0.0 0.2 .167 3.8 5.0 .765
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 %
Grant Hill 4 35.8 15.0 0.5 5.0 5.5 3.8 0.5 0.3 2.5 2.0 4.8 9.5 .500 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 8.3 .667
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

Grant Hill Bill Russell
Season 2007-081968-69
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Grant Hill 70 31.7 13.1 1.1 4.0 5.0 2.9 0.9 0.8 1.4 2.2 5.1 10.2 .503 0.5 1.5 .317 2.4 2.8 .867
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 %
Grant Hill 3 22.7 3.7 1.0 4.3 5.3 1.0 0.7 0.3 0.0 1.0 1.7 3.7 .455 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 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

Grant Hill Bill Russell
Season 2008-09-
Team Phoenix Suns-
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 %
Grant Hill 82 29.8 12.0 0.8 4.2 4.9 2.3 1.1 0.7 1.5 2.2 4.8 9.1 .523 0.3 0.9 .316 2.2 2.7 .808
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Grant Hill Bill Russell
Season 2009-10-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Grant Hill 81 30.0 11.3 0.9 4.6 5.5 2.4 0.7 0.4 1.3 2.0 4.1 8.7 .478 0.4 1.0 .438 2.5 3.1 .817
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 16 28.3 9.6 0.8 5.1 5.8 2.3 0.8 0.6 1.2 2.9 3.7 7.7 .480 0.2 1.0 .188 2.1 2.4 .868
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Grant Hill Bill Russell
Season 2010-11-
Team Phoenix Suns-
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 %
Grant Hill 80 30.1 13.2 1.0 3.3 4.2 2.5 0.8 0.4 1.7 2.3 5.0 10.3 .484 0.6 1.4 .395 2.7 3.2 .829
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Grant Hill Bill Russell
Season 2011-12-
Team Phoenix Suns-
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 %
Grant Hill 49 28.1 10.2 0.6 2.9 3.5 2.2 0.8 0.6 1.3 1.8 4.1 9.2 .446 0.3 1.1 .264 1.7 2.2 .761
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Grant Hill Bill Russell
Season 2012-13-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
Grant Hill 29 15.1 3.2 0.2 1.5 1.7 0.9 0.4 0.2 0.9 1.3 1.3 3.4 .388 0.1 0.4 .273 0.5 0.8 .583
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Hill 1 20.0 4.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 5.0 2.0 4.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------