Otis Birdsong vs. Russell Westbrook Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Russell Westbrook and Otis Birdsong, 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.

Otis Birdsong played 12 years in the NBA, 4 less than Russell Westbrook, who played 16. Otis Birdsong had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Russell Westbrook had his rookie season in 2008-09. 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
Otis Birdsong 12 7 1977-78 to 1988-89
Russell Westbrook 16 13 2008-09 to 2023-24

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

Otis Birdsong Russell Westbrook
Season 1977-782008-09
Team Kansas City KingsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
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 %
Otis Birdsong 73 25.7 15.8 1.0 1.4 2.4 2.4 1.0 0.2 2.0 2.5 6.4 13.1 .492 - - - 3.0 4.2 .697
Russell Westbrook 82 32.5 15.3 2.2 2.7 4.9 5.3 1.3 0.2 3.3 2.3 5.3 13.4 .398 0.4 1.6 .271 4.3 5.2 .815
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Otis Birdsong Russell Westbrook
Season 1978-792009-10
Team Kansas City KingsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf SemisThunder 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 %
Otis Birdsong 82 34.6 21.7 2.1 2.2 4.3 3.4 1.5 0.2 2.4 3.1 9.0 17.8 .509 - - - 3.6 5.0 .725
Russell Westbrook 82 34.3 16.1 1.7 3.1 4.9 8.0 1.3 0.4 3.3 2.5 5.9 14.1 .418 0.3 1.3 .221 4.0 5.1 .780
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 5 33.6 21.0 1.6 2.0 3.6 1.8 2.0 0.0 2.0 2.6 7.8 15.2 .513 - - - 5.4 7.6 .711
Russell Westbrook 6 35.3 20.5 1.7 4.3 6.0 6.0 1.7 0.2 2.3 2.2 7.2 15.2 .473 0.8 2.0 .417 5.3 6.3 .842

Season 3

Otis Birdsong Russell Westbrook
Season 1979-802010-11
Team Kansas City KingsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf 1st RdThunder 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 %
Otis Birdsong 82 35.2 22.7 2.1 2.0 4.0 2.5 1.7 0.3 2.2 2.8 9.5 18.9 .505 0.1 0.4 .278 3.5 5.0 .694
Russell Westbrook 82 34.7 21.9 1.5 3.1 4.6 8.2 1.9 0.4 3.9 2.5 7.5 17.0 .442 0.4 1.3 .330 6.5 7.7 .842
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 3 37.3 22.0 3.7 4.0 7.7 2.3 1.3 0.0 2.0 1.7 10.0 20.7 .484 0.0 1.0 .000 2.0 4.7 .429
Russell Westbrook 17 37.5 23.8 2.1 3.2 5.4 6.4 1.4 0.4 4.6 3.3 7.9 20.2 .394 0.8 2.8 .292 7.1 8.4 .852

Season 4

Otis Birdsong Russell Westbrook
Season 1980-812011-12
Team Kansas City KingsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf FinalsThunder Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 71 36.5 24.6 1.7 2.0 3.6 3.3 1.3 0.3 2.4 2.4 10.0 18.4 .544 0.1 0.5 .286 4.5 6.4 .697
Russell Westbrook 66 35.3 23.6 1.5 3.1 4.6 5.5 1.7 0.3 3.6 2.2 8.8 19.2 .457 0.9 3.0 .316 5.2 6.3 .823
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 8 29.3 15.5 1.0 1.6 2.6 3.4 1.5 0.0 2.5 1.6 7.0 12.3 .571 0.1 0.1 1.000 1.4 2.3 .611
Russell Westbrook 20 38.4 23.1 1.1 4.4 5.5 5.9 1.6 0.4 2.3 2.5 8.9 20.4 .435 0.9 3.3 .277 4.5 5.6 .802

Season 5

Otis Birdsong Russell Westbrook
Season 1981-822012-13
Team New Jersey NetsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 %
Otis Birdsong 37 27.7 14.2 0.8 1.8 2.6 3.4 0.8 0.1 1.7 2.0 6.1 13.0 .469 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 3.4 .583
Russell Westbrook 82 34.9 23.2 1.4 3.9 5.2 7.4 1.8 0.3 3.3 2.3 8.2 18.7 .438 1.2 3.7 .323 5.6 7.0 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 2 34.0 24.0 0.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 3.0 0.0 4.0 2.5 8.5 20.5 .415 1.0 4.5 .222 6.0 7.0 .857

Season 6

Otis Birdsong Russell Westbrook
Season 1982-832013-14
Team New Jersey NetsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdThunder 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 %
Otis Birdsong 62 30.4 15.1 0.9 1.6 2.4 3.9 1.4 0.3 1.8 2.5 6.9 13.5 .511 0.0 0.1 .333 1.3 2.3 .566
Russell Westbrook 46 30.7 21.8 1.2 4.5 5.7 6.9 1.9 0.2 3.8 2.3 7.5 17.2 .437 1.5 4.7 .318 5.3 6.4 .826
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 2 18.5 6.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 4.5 1.5 0.0 0.5 1.5 3.0 8.0 .375 0.0 0.5 .000 0.5 1.0 .500
Russell Westbrook 19 38.7 26.7 2.4 4.9 7.3 8.1 2.2 0.3 4.4 3.3 8.8 20.9 .420 1.5 5.3 .280 7.6 8.6 .884

Season 7

Otis Birdsong Russell Westbrook
Season 1983-842014-15
Team New Jersey NetsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Nets Lost East 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 %
Otis Birdsong 69 31.4 19.8 1.1 1.4 2.5 3.9 1.2 0.2 2.5 2.6 8.4 16.6 .508 0.1 0.3 .250 2.8 4.6 .608
Russell Westbrook 67 34.4 28.1 1.9 5.4 7.3 8.6 2.1 0.2 4.4 2.7 9.4 22.0 .426 1.3 4.3 .299 8.1 9.8 .835
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 11 35.2 15.2 0.6 1.7 2.4 3.7 1.8 0.1 2.0 3.5 6.5 15.5 .415 0.0 0.1 .000 2.3 4.4 .521
Russell Westbrook ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Otis Birdsong Russell Westbrook
Season 1984-852015-16
Team New Jersey NetsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 %
Otis Birdsong 56 32.9 20.6 1.1 1.6 2.6 4.1 1.5 0.1 2.1 2.6 8.8 17.3 .511 0.1 0.4 .190 2.9 4.6 .622
Russell Westbrook 80 34.4 23.5 1.8 6.0 7.8 10.4 2.0 0.3 4.3 2.5 8.2 18.1 .454 1.3 4.3 .296 5.8 7.2 .812
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 18 37.4 26.0 2.3 4.6 6.9 11.0 2.6 0.1 4.3 2.4 8.8 21.8 .405 1.9 5.8 .324 6.4 7.8 .829

Season 9

Otis Birdsong Russell Westbrook
Season 1985-862016-17
Team New Jersey NetsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdThunder 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 %
Otis Birdsong 77 31.1 15.8 1.1 1.5 2.6 3.4 1.1 0.2 2.3 3.0 7.0 13.7 .513 0.1 0.3 .364 1.6 2.7 .581
Russell Westbrook 81 34.6 31.6 1.7 9.0 10.7 10.4 1.6 0.4 5.4 2.3 10.2 24.0 .425 2.5 7.2 .343 8.8 10.4 .845
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 3 44.0 23.0 1.7 2.3 4.0 3.3 2.0 1.0 3.0 4.7 9.7 18.3 .527 0.0 1.0 .000 3.7 6.3 .579
Russell Westbrook 5 38.8 37.4 1.8 9.8 11.6 10.8 2.4 0.4 6.0 3.2 11.8 30.4 .388 2.6 9.8 .265 11.2 14.0 .800

Season 10

Otis Birdsong Russell Westbrook
Season 1986-872017-18
Team New Jersey NetsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 %
Otis Birdsong 7 18.1 6.3 0.4 0.6 1.0 2.4 0.4 0.0 1.3 2.3 2.7 6.0 .452 0.0 0.1 .000 0.9 1.3 .667
Russell Westbrook 80 36.4 25.4 1.9 8.2 10.1 10.3 1.8 0.3 4.8 2.5 9.5 21.1 .449 1.2 4.1 .298 5.2 7.1 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 6 39.2 29.3 1.8 10.2 12.0 7.5 1.5 0.0 5.2 3.5 10.7 26.8 .398 2.5 7.0 .357 5.5 6.7 .825

Season 11

Otis Birdsong Russell Westbrook
Season 1987-882018-19
Team New Jersey NetsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 %
Otis Birdsong 67 28.1 10.9 1.1 1.4 2.5 3.3 0.8 0.2 1.9 2.1 5.0 11.0 .458 0.1 0.4 .360 0.7 1.4 .511
Russell Westbrook 73 36.0 22.9 1.5 9.6 11.1 10.7 1.9 0.5 4.5 3.4 8.6 20.2 .428 1.6 5.6 .290 4.1 6.2 .656
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 5 39.4 22.8 1.4 7.6 9.0 10.6 1.0 0.6 4.6 3.8 8.0 22.2 .360 2.2 6.8 .324 4.6 5.2 .885

Season 12

Otis Birdsong Russell Westbrook
Season 1988-892019-20
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets 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 %
Otis Birdsong 13 8.3 2.8 0.3 0.7 1.0 0.7 0.2 0.1 0.9 0.8 1.4 2.8 .500 0.1 0.2 .333 0.0 0.2 .000
Russell Westbrook 57 35.9 27.2 1.8 6.2 7.9 7.0 1.6 0.4 4.5 3.5 10.6 22.5 .472 1.0 3.7 .258 5.1 6.7 .763
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 3 6.7 0.7 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.3 0.3 1.0 1.0 0.3 1.7 .200 0.0 0.7 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Russell Westbrook 8 32.8 17.9 1.4 5.6 7.0 4.6 1.5 0.3 3.8 2.9 7.4 17.5 .421 1.0 4.1 .242 2.1 4.0 .531

Season 13

Otis Birdsong Russell Westbrook
Season -2020-21
Team -Washington Wizards
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
Playoffs -Wizards 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 %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 65 36.4 22.2 1.7 9.9 11.5 11.7 1.4 0.4 4.8 2.9 8.4 19.0 .439 1.3 4.2 .315 4.2 6.4 .656
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 5 37.2 19.0 2.8 7.6 10.4 11.8 0.4 0.2 4.2 3.4 5.6 16.8 .333 1.0 4.0 .250 6.8 8.6 .791

Season 14

Otis Birdsong Russell Westbrook
Season -2021-22
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 %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 78 34.3 18.5 1.4 6.0 7.4 7.1 1.0 0.3 3.8 3.0 7.0 15.8 .444 1.0 3.4 .298 3.4 5.1 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Otis Birdsong Russell Westbrook
Season -2022-23
Team -Los Angeles Lakers, 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 %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 73 29.1 15.9 1.2 4.6 5.8 7.5 1.0 0.5 3.5 2.2 5.9 13.6 .436 1.2 3.9 .311 2.8 4.3 .656
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 5 38.4 23.6 1.8 5.8 7.6 7.4 1.2 1.4 4.0 3.0 8.6 21.0 .410 2.0 5.6 .357 4.4 5.0 .880

Season 16

Otis Birdsong Russell Westbrook
Season -2023-24
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 %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 68 22.5 11.1 1.4 3.7 5.0 4.5 1.1 0.3 2.1 1.8 4.4 9.8 .454 0.6 2.3 .273 1.6 2.4 .688
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 6 19.0 6.3 1.0 3.2 4.2 1.7 1.2 0.5 1.7 1.8 2.2 8.3 .260 0.7 2.8 .235 1.3 2.2 .615