Julius Erving vs. Rudy LaRusso Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rudy LaRusso and Julius Erving, 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.

Julius Erving played 11 years in the NBA, 1 more than Rudy LaRusso, who played 10. Julius Erving had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Rudy LaRusso had his rookie season in 1959-60. 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
Julius Erving 11 11 1976-77 to 1986-87
Rudy LaRusso 10 9 1959-60 to 1968-69

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11

Rookie Season

Julius Erving Rudy LaRusso
Season 1976-771959-60
Team Philadelphia 76ersMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsLakers Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 82 35.9 21.6 2.3 6.1 8.5 3.7 1.9 1.4 - 3.1 8.4 16.7 .499 - - - 4.9 6.3 .777
Rudy LaRusso 71 29.5 13.7 - - 9.6 1.2 - - - 3.1 5.0 12.9 .389 - - - 3.7 5.0 .742
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 19 39.9 27.3 2.2 4.3 6.4 4.5 2.2 1.2 - 2.4 10.7 20.5 .523 - - - 5.8 7.1 .821
Rudy LaRusso 9 35.7 15.4 - - 7.8 2.4 - - - 3.8 6.2 14.7 .424 - - - 3.0 3.9 .771

Season 2

Julius Erving Rudy LaRusso
Season 1977-781960-61
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsLakers Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 74 32.8 20.6 2.4 4.1 6.5 3.8 1.8 1.3 3.2 2.8 8.3 16.4 .502 - - - 4.1 4.9 .845
Rudy LaRusso 79 32.8 14.6 - - 9.9 1.7 - - - 3.5 5.3 12.6 .419 - - - 4.1 5.2 .790
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 10 35.8 21.8 4.0 5.7 9.7 4.0 1.5 1.8 3.5 3.0 8.8 18.0 .489 - - - 4.2 5.6 .750
Rudy LaRusso 12 30.0 12.2 - - 8.0 2.0 - - - 3.6 4.8 12.0 .396 - - - 2.7 4.0 .667

Season 3

Julius Erving Rudy LaRusso
Season 1978-791961-62
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 78 35.9 23.1 2.5 4.7 7.2 4.6 1.7 1.3 4.0 2.7 9.2 18.7 .491 - - - 4.8 6.4 .745
Rudy LaRusso 80 34.4 17.2 - - 10.4 2.2 - - - 3.2 6.5 13.9 .466 - - - 4.3 5.6 .763
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 9 41.3 25.4 3.2 4.6 7.8 5.9 2.0 1.9 4.2 2.4 9.9 19.1 .517 - - - 5.7 7.4 .761
Rudy LaRusso 13 35.5 14.1 - - 9.1 1.7 - - - 3.9 4.4 12.0 .365 - - - 5.3 7.0 .758

Season 4

Julius Erving Rudy LaRusso
Season 1979-801962-63
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 78 36.1 26.9 2.8 4.6 7.4 4.6 2.2 1.8 3.6 2.7 10.7 20.7 .519 0.1 0.3 .200 5.4 6.8 .787
Rudy LaRusso 75 33.4 12.3 - - 10.0 2.5 - - - 3.4 4.3 10.1 .422 - - - 3.8 5.2 .718
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 18 38.6 24.4 1.7 5.8 7.6 4.4 2.0 2.1 3.1 3.1 9.2 18.8 .488 0.1 0.5 .222 6.0 7.6 .794
Rudy LaRusso 13 35.8 14.4 - - 9.8 2.2 - - - 4.5 5.0 11.8 .422 - - - 4.4 5.8 .760

Season 5

Julius Erving Rudy LaRusso
Season 1980-811963-64
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsLakers Lost West Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 82 35.0 24.6 3.0 5.0 8.0 4.4 2.1 1.8 3.2 2.8 9.7 18.6 .521 0.0 0.2 .222 5.1 6.5 .787
Rudy LaRusso 79 34.8 12.3 - - 10.1 2.4 - - - 3.4 4.3 9.8 .434 - - - 3.8 5.0 .751
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 16 37.0 22.9 3.3 3.9 7.1 3.4 1.4 2.6 3.4 3.4 8.9 18.8 .475 0.0 0.1 .000 5.1 6.7 .757
Rudy LaRusso 5 37.8 9.0 - - 6.0 2.2 - - - 4.6 2.6 6.6 .394 - - - 3.8 4.4 .864

Season 6

Julius Erving Rudy LaRusso
Season 1981-821964-65
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 81 34.4 24.4 2.7 4.2 6.9 3.9 2.0 1.7 2.6 2.8 9.6 17.6 .546 0.0 0.1 .273 5.1 6.7 .763
Rudy LaRusso 77 33.6 14.1 - - 9.4 2.6 - - - 3.4 4.9 10.7 .461 - - - 4.2 5.4 .773
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 21 37.1 22.0 2.7 4.7 7.4 4.7 1.8 1.8 3.2 2.6 8.0 15.4 .519 0.0 0.3 .167 5.9 7.9 .752
Rudy LaRusso 11 35.9 15.0 - - 8.1 2.6 - - - 4.7 5.1 12.5 .409 - - - 4.8 6.7 .716

Season 7

Julius Erving Rudy LaRusso
Season 1982-831965-66
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
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 %
Julius Erving 72 33.6 21.4 2.4 4.4 6.8 3.7 1.6 1.8 2.7 2.8 8.4 16.3 .517 0.0 0.1 .286 4.6 6.0 .759
Rudy LaRusso 76 30.5 15.4 - - 8.7 2.2 - - - 3.4 5.4 11.8 .457 - - - 4.6 5.9 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 13 37.9 18.4 2.5 5.2 7.6 3.4 1.2 2.1 3.0 3.2 7.3 16.2 .450 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 5.2 .721
Rudy LaRusso 14 28.4 11.9 - - 7.1 1.9 - - - 3.4 4.1 8.9 .460 - - - 3.8 4.8 .791

Season 8

Julius Erving Rudy LaRusso
Season 1983-841966-67
Team Philadelphia 76ersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East 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 %
Julius Erving 77 34.8 22.4 2.5 4.4 6.9 4.0 1.8 1.8 3.0 2.8 8.8 17.2 .512 0.1 0.3 .333 4.7 6.3 .754
Rudy LaRusso 45 28.7 12.8 - - 7.8 1.7 - - - 3.3 4.7 11.3 .415 - - - 3.5 5.0 .696
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 5 38.8 18.2 1.8 4.6 6.4 5.0 1.6 1.2 4.2 2.8 7.2 15.2 .474 0.0 0.2 .000 3.8 4.4 .864
Rudy LaRusso ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Julius Erving Rudy LaRusso
Season 1984-851967-68
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsWarriors Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 78 32.5 20.0 2.2 3.1 5.3 3.0 1.7 1.4 2.7 2.6 7.8 15.8 .494 0.0 0.2 .214 4.3 5.7 .765
Rudy LaRusso 79 35.7 21.8 - - 9.4 2.3 - - - 4.3 7.6 17.6 .433 - - - 6.6 8.4 .790
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 13 33.4 17.1 2.2 3.4 5.6 3.7 1.9 0.8 2.8 2.6 6.5 14.4 .449 0.0 0.1 .000 4.2 4.8 .857
Rudy LaRusso 10 38.5 20.3 - - 9.9 1.7 - - - 3.5 7.2 18.2 .396 - - - 5.9 8.1 .728

Season 10

Julius Erving Rudy LaRusso
Season 1985-861968-69
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisWarriors Lost West Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 74 33.4 18.1 2.3 2.7 5.0 3.4 1.5 1.1 2.9 2.6 7.0 14.7 .480 0.1 0.4 .281 3.9 5.0 .785
Rudy LaRusso 75 37.1 20.7 - - 8.3 2.1 - - - 3.6 7.4 18.0 .410 - - - 5.9 7.5 .794
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 12 36.1 17.7 2.2 3.7 5.8 4.2 0.9 1.3 3.3 2.7 6.8 15.0 .450 0.2 0.9 .182 4.0 5.4 .738
Rudy LaRusso 6 35.8 18.2 - - 8.5 2.5 - - - 3.8 5.7 15.0 .378 - - - 6.8 8.8 .774

Season 11

Julius Erving Rudy LaRusso
Season 1986-87-
Team Philadelphia 76ers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Julius Erving 60 32.0 16.8 1.9 2.5 4.4 3.2 1.3 1.6 2.6 2.3 6.7 14.2 .471 0.2 0.9 .264 3.2 3.9 .813
Rudy LaRusso ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 5 36.0 18.2 2.8 2.2 5.0 3.4 1.4 1.2 1.8 3.8 6.8 16.4 .415 0.4 1.2 .333 4.2 5.0 .840
Rudy LaRusso ------- --- ----------