Hakeem Olajuwon vs. Bryon Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bryon Russell and Hakeem Olajuwon, 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 / Games against each other

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.

Hakeem Olajuwon played 18 years in the NBA, 5 more than Bryon Russell, who played 13. Hakeem Olajuwon had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, while Bryon Russell had his rookie season in 1993-94. 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
Hakeem Olajuwon 18 15 1984-85 to 2001-02
Bryon Russell 13 11 1993-94 to 2005-06

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

Rookie Season

Hakeem Olajuwon Bryon Russell
Season 1984-851993-94
Team Houston RocketsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdJazz 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 35.5 20.6 5.4 6.5 11.9 1.4 1.2 2.7 2.9 4.2 8.3 15.3 .538 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 6.7 .613
Bryon Russell 67 16.7 5.0 0.9 1.8 2.7 0.8 1.0 0.3 0.8 2.1 2.0 4.2 .484 0.0 0.3 .091 0.9 1.5 .614
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 5 37.4 21.2 6.6 6.4 13.0 1.4 1.4 2.6 2.2 4.4 8.4 17.6 .477 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 9.2 .478
Bryon Russell 6 6.0 2.7 0.7 0.8 1.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.5 0.7 1.7 .400 0.3 0.5 .667 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 2

Hakeem Olajuwon Bryon Russell
Season 1985-861994-95
Team Houston RocketsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost NBA FinalsJazz 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 68 36.3 23.5 4.9 6.6 11.5 2.0 2.0 3.4 2.9 4.0 9.2 17.5 .526 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 7.9 .645
Bryon Russell 63 13.7 4.5 0.7 1.5 2.2 0.5 0.8 0.2 0.7 1.6 1.7 3.8 .437 0.2 0.7 .295 1.0 1.5 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 20 38.3 26.9 5.1 6.8 11.8 2.0 2.0 3.5 2.2 4.4 10.3 19.4 .530 0.0 0.1 .000 6.4 10.0 .638
Bryon Russell 2 6.5 5.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.5 .571 1.0 2.0 .500 0.5 1.0 .500

Season 3

Hakeem Olajuwon Bryon Russell
Season 1986-871995-96
Team Houston RocketsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisJazz 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 75 36.8 23.4 4.2 7.2 11.4 2.9 1.9 3.4 3.0 3.9 9.0 17.8 .508 0.0 0.1 .200 5.3 7.6 .702
Bryon Russell 59 9.8 2.9 0.5 1.1 1.5 0.5 0.5 0.1 0.6 1.1 0.9 2.4 .394 0.2 0.7 .350 0.8 1.1 .716
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 10 38.9 29.2 3.9 7.4 11.3 2.5 1.3 4.3 3.6 4.4 11.0 17.9 .615 0.0 0.1 .000 7.2 9.7 .742
Bryon Russell 18 25.5 9.6 0.9 3.2 4.2 1.2 1.3 0.5 0.6 2.3 3.2 6.9 .468 1.4 2.9 .472 1.7 2.1 .816

Season 4

Hakeem Olajuwon Bryon Russell
Season 1987-881996-97
Team Houston RocketsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdJazz Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 79 35.8 22.8 3.8 8.3 12.1 2.1 2.1 2.7 3.1 4.1 9.0 17.5 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 4.8 6.9 .695
Bryon Russell 81 31.2 10.8 1.0 3.1 4.1 1.5 1.6 0.3 1.2 2.9 3.7 7.7 .479 1.3 3.3 .409 2.1 3.0 .701
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.5 37.5 5.0 11.8 16.8 1.8 2.3 2.8 2.3 3.5 14.0 24.5 .571 0.0 0.3 .000 9.5 10.8 .884
Bryon Russell 20 38.0 12.3 0.9 3.7 4.6 1.4 1.1 0.3 1.0 3.0 4.5 9.7 .461 1.8 5.1 .356 1.6 2.2 .721

Season 5

Hakeem Olajuwon Bryon Russell
Season 1988-891997-98
Team Houston RocketsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdJazz Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 36.9 24.8 4.1 9.4 13.5 1.8 2.6 3.4 3.4 4.0 9.6 19.0 .508 0.0 0.1 .000 5.5 8.0 .696
Bryon Russell 82 27.1 9.0 1.0 3.0 4.0 1.2 1.1 0.4 1.0 2.8 2.8 6.4 .430 0.9 2.6 .341 2.6 3.4 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.5 25.3 3.5 9.5 13.0 3.0 2.5 2.8 2.5 4.3 10.5 20.3 .519 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.3 .680
Bryon Russell 20 35.0 11.0 0.6 4.1 4.7 1.1 1.1 0.3 0.9 2.5 3.5 7.4 .469 1.2 3.2 .365 2.9 4.1 .716

Season 6

Hakeem Olajuwon Bryon Russell
Season 1989-901998-99
Team Houston RocketsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdJazz 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 38.1 24.3 3.6 10.4 14.0 2.9 2.1 4.6 3.9 3.8 9.8 19.6 .501 0.0 0.1 .167 4.7 6.5 .713
Bryon Russell 50 35.4 12.4 1.3 4.0 5.3 1.5 1.5 0.3 1.5 3.1 4.3 9.4 .464 1.0 2.9 .354 2.7 3.4 .795
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 40.3 18.5 3.8 7.8 11.5 2.0 2.5 5.8 2.8 4.8 7.8 17.5 .443 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.3 .706
Bryon Russell 11 35.2 12.1 1.5 4.5 6.1 1.2 1.8 0.2 1.0 3.4 4.5 10.5 .426 0.8 3.3 .250 2.4 3.3 .722

Season 7

Hakeem Olajuwon Bryon Russell
Season 1990-911999-00
Team Houston RocketsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdJazz 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 56 36.8 21.2 3.9 9.8 13.8 2.3 2.2 3.9 3.1 3.9 8.7 17.1 .508 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 4.9 .769
Bryon Russell 82 35.4 14.1 1.2 4.0 5.2 1.9 1.6 0.3 1.2 3.1 5.0 11.1 .446 1.3 3.3 .396 2.9 3.9 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 3 43.0 22.0 4.0 10.7 14.7 2.0 1.3 2.7 2.7 3.7 8.7 15.0 .578 0.0 0.3 .000 4.7 5.7 .824
Bryon Russell 10 37.4 14.0 0.9 4.3 5.2 2.1 1.6 0.5 1.5 2.7 4.8 11.4 .421 1.3 4.5 .289 3.1 4.1 .756

Season 8

Hakeem Olajuwon Bryon Russell
Season 1991-922000-01
Team Houston RocketsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 70 37.7 21.6 3.5 8.6 12.1 2.2 1.8 4.3 2.7 3.8 8.4 16.8 .502 0.0 0.0 .000 4.7 6.1 .766
Bryon Russell 78 31.7 12.0 1.2 3.0 4.2 2.1 1.2 0.3 1.4 2.9 3.9 9.0 .440 1.2 2.9 .413 2.8 3.7 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon ------- --- ----------
Bryon Russell 5 43.0 14.2 0.8 6.4 7.2 3.0 0.6 0.2 0.4 2.6 5.0 11.2 .446 2.0 4.4 .455 2.2 2.4 .917

Season 9

Hakeem Olajuwon Bryon Russell
Season 1992-932001-02
Team Houston RocketsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisJazz 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 82 39.5 26.1 3.5 9.6 13.0 3.5 1.8 4.2 3.2 3.7 10.3 19.5 .529 0.0 0.1 .000 5.4 7.0 .779
Bryon Russell 66 30.3 9.6 1.2 3.3 4.5 2.1 1.0 0.3 1.7 3.1 3.4 8.8 .380 1.2 3.4 .341 1.7 2.1 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 12 43.2 25.7 4.3 9.7 14.0 4.8 1.8 4.9 3.8 3.1 10.3 19.8 .517 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 6.3 .827
Bryon Russell 4 30.0 7.0 1.5 2.8 4.3 1.8 1.0 0.0 2.3 3.8 2.3 9.0 .250 1.5 3.8 .400 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 10

Hakeem Olajuwon Bryon Russell
Season 1993-942002-03
Team Houston RocketsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 80 41.0 27.3 2.9 9.1 11.9 3.6 1.6 3.7 3.4 3.6 11.2 21.2 .528 0.1 0.2 .421 4.9 6.8 .716
Bryon Russell 70 19.8 4.5 0.6 2.4 3.0 1.0 1.0 0.1 0.8 1.9 1.5 4.4 .353 0.7 2.0 .329 0.8 1.0 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 23 43.0 28.9 2.4 8.7 11.0 4.3 1.7 4.0 3.6 3.6 11.6 22.3 .519 0.1 0.2 .500 5.6 7.0 .795
Bryon Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Hakeem Olajuwon Bryon Russell
Season 1994-952003-04
Team Houston RocketsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 72 39.6 27.8 2.4 8.4 10.8 3.5 1.8 3.4 3.3 3.5 11.1 21.5 .517 0.0 0.2 .188 5.6 7.5 .756
Bryon Russell 72 13.1 4.0 0.4 1.6 2.0 1.0 0.4 0.2 0.5 1.5 1.4 3.4 .402 0.6 1.6 .384 0.7 0.9 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 22 42.2 33.0 2.0 8.3 10.3 4.5 1.2 2.8 3.1 4.3 13.9 26.2 .531 0.1 0.2 .500 5.0 7.4 .681
Bryon Russell 6 2.5 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

Hakeem Olajuwon Bryon Russell
Season 1995-962004-05
Team Houston RocketsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisNuggets 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 72 38.8 26.9 2.4 8.4 10.9 3.6 1.6 2.9 3.4 3.4 10.7 20.8 .514 0.0 0.2 .214 5.5 7.6 .724
Bryon Russell 70 14.7 4.4 0.7 1.7 2.5 1.0 0.6 0.2 0.5 1.9 1.4 3.6 .377 0.8 2.1 .376 0.9 1.1 .792
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 8 41.1 22.4 2.1 7.0 9.1 3.9 1.9 2.1 3.6 3.5 9.4 18.4 .510 0.0 0.1 .000 3.6 5.0 .725
Bryon Russell 3 2.3 1.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.3 .000 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 13

Hakeem Olajuwon Bryon Russell
Season 1996-972005-06
Team Houston RocketsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 78 36.6 23.2 2.2 7.0 9.2 3.0 1.5 2.2 3.6 3.2 9.3 18.3 .510 0.1 0.2 .313 4.5 5.7 .787
Bryon Russell 1 3.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 16 39.4 23.1 2.9 8.0 10.9 3.4 2.1 2.6 2.9 3.8 9.2 15.6 .590 0.0 0.2 .000 4.8 6.5 .731
Bryon Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Hakeem Olajuwon Bryon Russell
Season 1997-98-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 47 34.7 16.4 2.5 7.3 9.8 3.0 1.8 2.0 2.7 3.2 6.5 13.5 .483 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.5 .755
Bryon Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 5 38.0 20.4 1.8 9.0 10.8 2.4 1.0 3.2 2.6 3.6 7.8 19.8 .394 0.0 0.2 .000 4.8 6.6 .727
Bryon Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Hakeem Olajuwon Bryon Russell
Season 1998-99-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 50 35.7 18.9 2.1 7.4 9.6 1.8 1.6 2.5 2.8 3.2 7.5 14.5 .514 0.1 0.3 .308 3.9 5.4 .717
Bryon Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 4 31.0 13.3 1.3 6.0 7.3 0.5 1.3 0.8 1.3 4.5 5.8 13.5 .426 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.0 .875
Bryon Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Hakeem Olajuwon Bryon Russell
Season 1999-00-
Team Houston Rockets-
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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 44 23.8 10.3 1.5 4.8 6.2 1.4 0.9 1.6 1.7 2.0 4.4 9.6 .458 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.5 .616
Bryon Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon ------- --- ----------
Bryon Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Hakeem Olajuwon Bryon Russell
Season 2000-01-
Team Houston Rockets-
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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 58 26.6 11.9 2.1 5.3 7.4 1.2 1.2 1.5 1.4 2.4 4.9 9.8 .498 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.4 .621
Bryon Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon ------- --- ----------
Bryon Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Hakeem Olajuwon Bryon Russell
Season 2001-02-
Team Toronto Raptors-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Raptors 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 %
Hakeem Olajuwon 61 22.6 7.1 1.6 4.4 6.0 1.1 1.2 1.5 1.6 2.4 3.2 6.9 .464 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.4 .560
Bryon Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hakeem Olajuwon 5 17.2 5.6 1.8 2.0 3.8 0.4 1.4 0.8 1.2 1.8 2.4 4.4 .545 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .667
Bryon Russell ------- --- ----------