Tim Hardaway Jr. vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Tim Hardaway Jr., 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.

Tim Hardaway Jr. played 11 years in the NBA, 2 less than Bill Russell, who played 13. Tim Hardaway Jr. had the first of his seasons in 2013-14, 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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 11 5 2013-14 to 2023-24
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

Tim Hardaway Jr. Bill Russell
Season 2013-141956-57
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. 81 23.1 10.2 0.2 1.3 1.5 0.8 0.5 0.1 0.6 1.8 3.6 8.5 .428 1.6 4.4 .363 1.3 1.6 .828
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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------
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

Tim Hardaway Jr. Bill Russell
Season 2014-151957-58
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tim Hardaway Jr. 70 24.0 11.5 0.2 2.1 2.2 1.8 0.3 0.2 1.2 1.7 4.0 10.2 .389 1.7 5.1 .342 1.8 2.2 .801
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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------
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

Tim Hardaway Jr. Bill Russell
Season 2015-161958-59
Team Atlanta HawksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East 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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. 51 16.9 6.4 0.1 1.5 1.7 1.0 0.4 0.1 0.5 0.9 2.2 5.2 .430 0.9 2.8 .336 1.0 1.1 .893
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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. 9 9.7 2.2 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.8 2.9 .269 0.2 1.6 .143 0.4 0.7 .667
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

Tim Hardaway Jr. Bill Russell
Season 2016-171959-60
Team Atlanta HawksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. 79 27.3 14.5 0.4 2.4 2.8 2.3 0.7 0.2 1.3 1.3 5.3 11.5 .455 1.9 5.3 .357 2.1 2.7 .766
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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. 6 33.3 12.8 0.5 2.2 2.7 1.2 0.5 0.0 1.7 2.2 4.5 13.7 .329 1.8 7.0 .262 2.0 3.2 .632
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

Tim Hardaway Jr. Bill Russell
Season 2017-181960-61
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. 57 33.1 17.5 0.6 3.4 3.9 2.7 1.1 0.2 1.6 2.2 6.3 15.0 .421 2.3 7.2 .317 2.6 3.1 .816
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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------
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

Tim Hardaway Jr. Bill Russell
Season 2018-191961-62
Team New York Knicks, Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. 65 31.6 18.1 0.5 2.9 3.4 2.4 0.8 0.1 1.6 2.2 6.0 15.3 .393 2.5 7.3 .340 3.6 4.2 .841
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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------
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

Tim Hardaway Jr. Bill Russell
Season 2019-201962-63
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Mavericks 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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. 71 29.5 15.8 0.4 2.9 3.3 1.9 0.6 0.1 1.0 1.8 5.4 12.5 .434 2.9 7.2 .398 2.1 2.6 .819
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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. 6 34.0 17.8 0.5 3.0 3.5 1.8 0.3 0.0 0.5 2.7 6.7 15.8 .421 3.2 9.0 .352 1.3 1.8 .727
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

Tim Hardaway Jr. Bill Russell
Season 2020-211963-64
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks 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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. 70 28.4 16.6 0.3 3.0 3.3 1.8 0.4 0.2 0.9 1.6 5.8 13.0 .447 3.0 7.6 .391 2.0 2.5 .816
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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. 7 37.4 17.0 0.7 2.6 3.3 1.4 0.4 0.0 0.9 2.4 6.0 14.4 .416 3.3 8.1 .404 1.7 2.3 .750
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

Tim Hardaway Jr. Bill Russell
Season 2021-221964-65
Team Dallas MavericksBoston 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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. 42 29.6 14.2 0.3 3.4 3.7 2.2 0.9 0.1 0.8 1.8 5.0 12.6 .394 2.4 7.2 .336 1.9 2.5 .757
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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------
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

Tim Hardaway Jr. Bill Russell
Season 2022-231965-66
Team Dallas MavericksBoston 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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. 71 30.3 14.4 0.3 3.2 3.5 1.8 0.7 0.2 0.8 1.7 4.8 11.9 .401 3.0 7.7 .385 1.8 2.3 .770
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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------
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

Tim Hardaway Jr. Bill Russell
Season 2023-241966-67
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks TBDCeltics 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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. 79 26.8 14.4 0.3 2.9 3.2 1.8 0.5 0.1 0.9 1.3 5.0 12.4 .402 2.7 7.6 .353 1.8 2.1 .852
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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. 4 14.5 6.3 0.0 2.0 2.0 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.5 2.3 5.3 .429 0.8 2.8 .273 1.0 1.5 .667
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

Tim Hardaway Jr. Bill Russell
Season -1967-68
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second 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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------
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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------
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

Tim Hardaway Jr. Bill Russell
Season -1968-69
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------
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 %
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 18 46.1 10.8 - - 20.5 5.4 - - - 3.6 4.3 10.1 .423 - - - 2.3 4.5 .506