Malik Rose vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Malik Rose, 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.

Malik Rose and Bill Russell both played 13 years in the NBA. Malik Rose had the first of his seasons in 1996-97, 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
Malik Rose 13 8 1996-97 to 2008-09
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

Rookie Season

Malik Rose Bill Russell
Season 1996-971956-57
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 %
Malik Rose 54 9.7 3.0 1.3 1.7 3.0 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.8 2.1 1.1 2.4 .477 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 1.1 .613
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 %
Malik Rose 2 6.0 2.0 2.0 0.5 2.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 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

Malik Rose Bill Russell
Season 1997-981957-58
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Malik Rose 53 8.1 3.0 0.8 0.9 1.7 0.4 0.4 0.1 0.8 1.5 1.1 2.6 .434 0.0 0.1 .333 0.7 1.2 .639
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 %
Malik Rose 5 3.4 2.0 0.6 0.8 1.4 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.8 0.4 0.8 1.2 .667 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.8 .500
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

Malik Rose Bill Russell
Season 1998-991958-59
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-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 %
Malik Rose 47 12.9 6.0 1.9 2.0 3.9 0.6 0.9 0.5 1.2 2.6 2.0 4.3 .463 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.1 .671
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 %
Malik Rose 17 11.5 2.7 1.0 1.3 2.3 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.6 3.1 0.8 2.2 .368 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.5 .692
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

Malik Rose Bill Russell
Season 1999-001959-60
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Malik Rose 74 18.1 6.7 1.8 2.7 4.5 0.6 0.5 0.7 1.3 3.1 2.4 5.2 .457 0.0 0.0 .333 1.9 2.7 .722
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 %
Malik Rose 4 20.8 5.3 1.3 3.5 4.8 0.3 0.5 0.8 1.8 3.0 2.0 4.5 .444 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 2.3 .556
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

Malik Rose Bill Russell
Season 2000-011960-61
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Malik Rose 57 21.4 7.7 1.7 3.7 5.4 0.8 1.0 0.7 1.3 2.6 2.8 6.5 .435 0.1 0.3 .176 2.0 2.8 .713
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 %
Malik Rose 13 16.6 4.9 1.2 2.5 3.8 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.8 2.9 1.8 4.2 .418 0.1 0.2 .333 1.3 1.5 .850
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

Malik Rose Bill Russell
Season 2001-021961-62
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West 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 %
Malik Rose 82 21.0 9.4 2.1 3.9 6.0 0.7 0.9 0.5 1.7 2.5 3.6 7.7 .463 0.0 0.1 .083 2.3 3.1 .720
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 %
Malik Rose 10 29.2 12.9 2.7 5.2 7.9 1.4 1.0 0.5 1.2 3.1 4.6 9.6 .479 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 5.0 .740
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

Malik Rose Bill Russell
Season 2002-031962-63
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
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 %
Malik Rose 79 24.5 10.4 1.9 4.5 6.4 1.6 0.7 0.5 2.2 2.6 3.7 8.0 .459 0.0 0.1 .400 3.1 3.9 .791
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 %
Malik Rose 24 23.3 9.3 2.0 3.7 5.8 1.0 0.7 0.5 1.8 3.0 3.1 7.5 .419 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 3.9 .766
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

Malik Rose Bill Russell
Season 2003-041963-64
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West 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 %
Malik Rose 67 18.7 7.9 1.6 3.1 4.8 1.0 0.5 0.4 1.7 2.4 2.6 6.0 .428 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.4 .813
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 %
Malik Rose 7 8.1 1.4 1.7 0.7 2.4 0.9 0.6 0.3 1.1 0.9 0.6 2.3 .250 0.0 0.3 .000 0.3 0.6 .500
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

Malik Rose Bill Russell
Season 2004-051964-65
Team San Antonio Spurs, New York KnicksBoston 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 %
Malik Rose 76 19.4 7.0 1.7 2.8 4.5 0.8 0.6 0.2 1.3 2.7 2.6 5.8 .449 0.0 0.1 .100 1.8 2.4 .737
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 %
Malik Rose ------- --- ----------
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

Malik Rose Bill Russell
Season 2005-061965-66
Team New York KnicksBoston 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 %
Malik Rose 72 15.5 4.4 1.2 2.4 3.6 0.9 0.6 0.2 1.1 2.0 1.5 3.9 .374 0.0 0.0 1.000 1.5 1.9 .781
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 %
Malik Rose ------- --- ----------
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

Malik Rose Bill Russell
Season 2006-071966-67
Team New York KnicksBoston 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 %
Malik Rose 65 12.5 3.0 0.7 2.0 2.7 1.0 0.4 0.1 1.0 1.8 1.1 2.9 .398 0.0 0.1 .250 0.6 0.8 .808
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 %
Malik Rose ------- --- ----------
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

Malik Rose Bill Russell
Season 2007-081967-68
Team New York KnicksBoston 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 %
Malik Rose 49 10.1 3.5 0.6 1.5 2.1 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.8 1.6 1.3 3.7 .367 0.0 0.1 .286 0.8 1.0 .725
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 %
Malik Rose ------- --- ----------
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

Malik Rose Bill Russell
Season 2008-091968-69
Team New York Knicks, Oklahoma City ThunderBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive 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 %
Malik Rose 38 12.4 3.4 0.4 2.1 2.5 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.9 1.9 1.2 3.4 .344 0.0 0.2 .000 1.1 1.3 .784
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 %
Malik Rose ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 18 46.1 10.8 - - 20.5 5.4 - - - 3.6 4.3 10.1 .423 - - - 2.3 4.5 .506