Kobe Bryant vs. Cazzie Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Cazzie Russell and Kobe Bryant, 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.

Kobe Bryant played 20 years in the NBA, 8 more than Cazzie Russell, who played 12. Kobe Bryant had the first of his seasons in 1996-97, 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
Kobe Bryant 20 15 1996-97 to 2015-16
Cazzie Russell 12 8 1966-67 to 1977-78

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20

Rookie Season

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 1996-971966-67
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisKnicks 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 %
Kobe Bryant 71 15.5 7.6 0.7 1.2 1.9 1.3 0.7 0.3 1.6 1.4 2.5 5.9 .417 0.7 1.9 .375 1.9 2.3 .819
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 %
Kobe Bryant 9 14.8 8.2 0.1 1.1 1.2 1.2 0.3 0.2 1.6 2.6 2.3 6.1 .382 0.7 2.6 .261 2.9 3.3 .867
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

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 1997-981967-68
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 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 %
Kobe Bryant 79 26.0 15.4 1.0 2.1 3.1 2.5 0.9 0.5 2.0 2.3 4.9 11.6 .428 0.9 2.8 .341 4.6 5.8 .794
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 %
Kobe Bryant 11 20.2 8.7 0.6 1.3 1.9 1.5 0.3 0.7 1.0 2.5 2.8 6.9 .408 0.3 1.3 .214 2.8 4.1 .689
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

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 1998-991968-69
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisKnicks 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 %
Kobe Bryant 50 37.9 19.9 1.1 4.2 5.3 3.8 1.4 1.0 3.1 3.1 7.2 15.6 .465 0.5 2.0 .267 4.9 5.8 .839
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 %
Kobe Bryant 8 39.6 19.8 1.6 5.3 6.9 4.6 1.9 1.3 3.9 3.0 7.6 17.8 .430 1.0 2.9 .348 3.5 4.4 .800
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

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 1999-001969-70
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 66 38.2 22.5 1.6 4.7 6.3 4.9 1.6 0.9 2.8 3.3 8.4 17.9 .468 0.7 2.2 .319 5.0 6.1 .821
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 %
Kobe Bryant 22 39.0 21.1 1.2 3.3 4.5 4.4 1.5 1.5 2.5 4.0 7.9 17.9 .442 1.0 2.9 .344 4.3 5.7 .754
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

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 2000-011970-71
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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 %
Kobe Bryant 68 40.9 28.5 1.5 4.3 5.9 5.0 1.7 0.6 3.2 3.3 10.3 22.2 .464 0.9 2.9 .305 7.0 8.2 .853
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 %
Kobe Bryant 16 43.4 29.4 1.8 5.4 7.3 6.1 1.6 0.8 3.2 3.3 10.5 22.4 .469 0.7 2.1 .324 7.8 9.4 .821
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

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 2001-021971-72
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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 %
Kobe Bryant 80 38.3 25.2 1.4 4.1 5.5 5.5 1.5 0.4 2.8 2.9 9.4 20.0 .469 0.4 1.7 .250 6.1 7.4 .829
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 %
Kobe Bryant 19 43.8 26.6 1.5 4.4 5.8 4.6 1.4 0.9 2.8 3.4 9.8 22.7 .434 1.2 3.1 .379 5.8 7.6 .759
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

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 2002-031972-73
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisWarriors 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 %
Kobe Bryant 82 41.5 30.0 1.3 5.6 6.9 5.9 2.2 0.8 3.5 2.7 10.6 23.5 .451 1.5 4.0 .383 7.3 8.7 .843
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 %
Kobe Bryant 12 44.3 32.1 1.3 3.8 5.1 5.2 1.2 0.1 3.5 2.9 11.4 26.4 .432 2.1 5.2 .403 7.2 8.7 .827
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

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 2003-041973-74
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Kobe Bryant 65 37.6 24.0 1.6 3.9 5.5 5.1 1.7 0.4 2.6 2.7 7.9 18.1 .438 1.1 3.3 .327 7.0 8.2 .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 %
Kobe Bryant 22 44.2 24.5 0.8 3.9 4.7 5.5 1.9 0.3 2.8 2.7 8.6 20.9 .413 1.1 4.4 .247 6.1 7.5 .813
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 2004-051974-75
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 66 40.7 27.6 1.4 4.5 5.9 6.0 1.3 0.8 4.1 2.6 8.7 20.1 .433 2.0 5.9 .339 8.2 10.1 .816
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 %
Kobe Bryant ------- --- ----------
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 2005-061975-76
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Kobe Bryant 80 41.0 35.4 0.9 4.4 5.3 4.5 1.8 0.4 3.1 2.9 12.2 27.2 .450 2.3 6.5 .347 8.7 10.2 .850
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 %
Kobe Bryant 7 44.9 27.9 0.6 5.7 6.3 5.1 1.1 0.4 4.7 3.6 10.3 20.7 .497 2.0 5.0 .400 5.3 6.9 .771
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 2006-071976-77
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
Kobe Bryant 77 40.8 31.6 1.0 4.7 5.7 5.4 1.4 0.5 3.3 2.7 10.6 22.8 .463 1.8 5.2 .344 8.7 10.0 .868
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 %
Kobe Bryant 5 43.0 32.8 0.2 5.0 5.2 4.4 1.0 0.4 4.4 2.0 12.0 26.0 .462 2.0 5.6 .357 6.8 7.4 .919
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

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 2007-081977-78
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Kobe Bryant 82 38.9 28.3 1.1 5.2 6.3 5.4 1.8 0.5 3.1 2.8 9.5 20.6 .459 1.8 5.1 .361 7.6 9.0 .840
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 %
Kobe Bryant 21 41.1 30.1 0.9 4.8 5.7 5.6 1.7 0.4 3.3 2.8 10.6 22.0 .479 1.5 5.0 .302 7.5 9.2 .809
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 2008-09-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 82 36.1 26.8 1.1 4.1 5.2 4.9 1.5 0.5 2.6 2.3 9.8 20.9 .467 1.4 4.1 .351 5.9 6.9 .856
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 23 40.9 30.2 0.8 4.5 5.3 5.5 1.7 0.9 2.6 2.6 10.5 23.0 .457 1.6 4.6 .349 7.6 8.6 .883
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 2009-10-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 73 38.8 27.0 1.1 4.3 5.4 5.0 1.5 0.3 3.2 2.6 9.8 21.5 .456 1.4 4.1 .329 6.0 7.4 .811
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 23 40.1 29.2 1.1 4.9 6.0 5.5 1.3 0.7 3.4 3.3 10.2 22.2 .458 2.1 5.7 .374 6.7 8.0 .842
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 2010-11-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Kobe Bryant 82 33.9 25.3 1.0 4.1 5.1 4.7 1.2 0.1 3.0 2.1 9.0 20.0 .451 1.4 4.3 .323 5.9 7.1 .828
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 10 35.4 22.8 0.8 2.6 3.4 3.3 1.6 0.3 3.1 2.3 8.3 18.6 .446 1.2 4.1 .293 5.0 6.1 .820
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 2011-12-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Kobe Bryant 58 38.5 27.9 1.1 4.3 5.4 4.6 1.2 0.3 3.5 1.8 9.9 23.0 .430 1.5 4.9 .303 6.6 7.8 .845
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant 12 39.7 30.0 1.3 3.5 4.8 4.3 1.3 0.2 2.8 2.8 11.0 25.1 .439 1.4 5.0 .283 6.6 7.9 .832
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 2012-13-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 78 38.6 27.3 0.8 4.7 5.6 6.0 1.4 0.3 3.7 2.2 9.5 20.4 .463 1.7 5.2 .324 6.7 8.0 .839
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant ------- --- ----------
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 2013-14-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 6 29.5 13.8 0.3 4.0 4.3 6.3 1.2 0.2 5.7 1.5 5.2 12.2 .425 0.5 2.7 .188 3.0 3.5 .857
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant ------- --- ----------
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 19

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 2014-15-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 35 34.5 22.3 0.7 4.9 5.7 5.6 1.3 0.2 3.7 1.9 7.6 20.4 .373 1.5 5.3 .293 5.6 6.9 .813
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant ------- --- ----------
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 20

Kobe Bryant Cazzie Russell
Season 2015-16-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Kobe Bryant 66 28.2 17.6 0.6 3.1 3.7 2.8 0.9 0.2 2.0 1.7 6.0 16.9 .358 2.0 7.1 .285 3.5 4.3 .826
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kobe Bryant ------- --- ----------
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------