Rajon Rondo vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Rajon Rondo, 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.

Rajon Rondo played 16 years in the NBA, 3 more than Bill Russell, who played 13. Rajon Rondo had the first of his seasons in 2006-07, 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
Rajon Rondo 16 10 2006-07 to 2021-22
Bill Russell 13 13 1956-57 to 1968-69

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Rajon Rondo Bill Russell
Season 2006-071956-57
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second 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 %
Rajon Rondo 78 23.5 6.4 0.9 2.8 3.7 3.8 1.6 0.1 1.8 2.3 2.4 5.8 .418 0.1 0.4 .207 1.5 2.4 .647
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 %
Rajon Rondo ------- --- ----------
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

Rajon Rondo Bill Russell
Season 2007-081957-58
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rajon Rondo 77 29.9 10.6 1.0 3.2 4.2 5.1 1.7 0.2 1.9 2.4 4.6 9.3 .492 0.1 0.2 .263 1.4 2.3 .611
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 %
Rajon Rondo 26 32.0 10.2 1.5 2.6 4.1 6.6 1.7 0.3 1.8 2.8 4.1 10.1 .407 0.2 0.8 .250 1.8 2.6 .691
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

Rajon Rondo Bill Russell
Season 2008-091958-59
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Rajon Rondo 80 33.0 11.9 1.3 4.0 5.2 8.2 1.9 0.1 2.6 2.4 4.8 9.5 .505 0.2 0.6 .313 2.2 3.4 .642
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 %
Rajon Rondo 14 41.2 16.9 2.3 7.4 9.7 9.8 2.5 0.2 2.7 3.4 6.6 15.9 .417 0.4 1.7 .250 3.1 4.8 .657
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

Rajon Rondo Bill Russell
Season 2009-101959-60
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA 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 %
Rajon Rondo 81 36.6 13.7 1.2 3.2 4.4 9.8 2.3 0.1 3.0 2.4 5.7 11.2 .508 0.2 1.0 .213 2.2 3.5 .621
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 %
Rajon Rondo 24 40.6 15.8 1.6 4.0 5.6 9.3 1.9 0.1 3.0 2.4 6.3 13.6 .463 0.4 1.0 .375 2.8 4.8 .596
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

Rajon Rondo Bill Russell
Season 2010-111960-61
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Rajon Rondo 68 37.2 10.6 1.3 3.1 4.4 11.2 2.3 0.2 3.4 1.8 4.7 9.9 .475 0.1 0.6 .233 1.1 1.9 .568
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 %
Rajon Rondo 9 38.3 14.0 1.2 4.2 5.4 9.6 1.1 0.0 3.7 1.8 5.7 11.9 .477 0.0 0.3 .000 2.7 4.2 .632
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

Rajon Rondo Bill Russell
Season 2011-121961-62
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East 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 %
Rajon Rondo 53 36.9 11.9 1.2 3.7 4.8 11.7 1.8 0.1 3.6 1.9 4.8 10.8 .448 0.2 0.8 .238 2.0 3.4 .597
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 %
Rajon Rondo 19 42.6 17.3 1.8 4.9 6.7 11.9 2.4 0.1 3.8 2.1 7.4 15.8 .468 0.4 1.6 .267 2.1 2.9 .696
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

Rajon Rondo Bill Russell
Season 2012-131962-63
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
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 %
Rajon Rondo 38 37.4 13.7 1.1 4.4 5.6 11.1 1.8 0.2 3.9 2.5 5.9 12.2 .484 0.3 1.3 .240 1.6 2.4 .645
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 %
Rajon Rondo ------- --- ----------
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

Rajon Rondo Bill Russell
Season 2013-141963-64
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second 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 %
Rajon Rondo 30 33.3 11.7 0.7 4.7 5.5 9.8 1.3 0.1 3.3 2.2 4.7 11.7 .403 0.9 3.0 .289 1.4 2.2 .627
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 %
Rajon Rondo ------- --- ----------
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

Rajon Rondo Bill Russell
Season 2014-151964-65
Team Boston Celtics, Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First 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 %
Rajon Rondo 68 29.7 8.9 1.1 4.4 5.5 7.9 1.3 0.1 3.1 2.3 4.0 9.5 .426 0.4 1.3 .314 0.5 1.1 .397
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 %
Rajon Rondo 2 18.5 9.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 3.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 3.0 4.5 10.0 .450 0.5 1.0 .500 0.0 0.0 -
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

Rajon Rondo Bill Russell
Season 2015-161965-66
Team Sacramento KingsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Assists 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 %
Rajon Rondo 72 35.2 11.9 1.1 5.0 6.0 11.7 2.0 0.1 3.9 2.4 4.9 10.9 .454 0.9 2.4 .365 1.2 2.1 .580
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 %
Rajon Rondo ------- --- ----------
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

Rajon Rondo Bill Russell
Season 2016-171966-67
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
Rajon Rondo 69 26.7 7.8 1.1 4.1 5.1 6.7 1.4 0.2 2.4 2.1 3.3 8.1 .408 0.7 1.9 .376 0.4 0.7 .600
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 %
Rajon Rondo 2 33.5 11.5 3.5 5.0 8.5 10.0 3.5 0.5 2.0 3.0 5.5 13.0 .423 0.0 3.0 .000 0.5 1.0 .500
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

Rajon Rondo Bill Russell
Season 2017-181967-68
Team New Orleans PelicansBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pelicans 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 %
Rajon Rondo 65 26.2 8.3 0.5 3.6 4.0 8.2 1.1 0.2 2.3 1.8 3.6 7.6 .468 0.8 2.3 .333 0.4 0.7 .543
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 %
Rajon Rondo 9 33.6 10.3 1.0 6.6 7.6 12.2 1.4 0.2 3.7 2.2 4.2 10.2 .413 0.9 2.1 .421 1.0 1.6 .643
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

Rajon Rondo Bill Russell
Season 2018-191968-69
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston 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 %
Rajon Rondo 46 29.8 9.2 0.7 4.5 5.3 8.0 1.2 0.2 2.8 2.2 3.8 9.4 .405 1.1 3.1 .359 0.5 0.8 .639
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 %
Rajon Rondo ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 18 46.1 10.8 - - 20.5 5.4 - - - 3.6 4.3 10.1 .423 - - - 2.3 4.5 .506

Season 14

Rajon Rondo Bill Russell
Season 2019-20-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Rajon Rondo 48 20.5 7.1 0.5 2.5 3.0 5.0 0.8 0.0 1.9 1.2 2.9 6.8 .418 0.9 2.6 .328 0.6 0.9 .659
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rajon Rondo 16 24.7 8.9 0.8 3.5 4.3 6.6 1.4 0.1 2.1 2.3 3.4 7.6 .455 1.3 3.1 .400 0.8 1.2 .684
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Rajon Rondo Bill Russell
Season 2020-21-
Team Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
Rajon Rondo 45 17.1 5.4 0.4 2.0 2.4 4.4 0.8 0.1 1.8 1.2 2.1 4.8 .442 0.8 2.0 .404 0.4 0.4 .941
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rajon Rondo 13 16.9 4.2 0.3 2.3 2.6 3.8 0.4 0.2 1.1 1.4 1.4 4.1 .340 0.8 2.2 .393 0.6 0.9 .667
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Rajon Rondo Bill Russell
Season 2021-22-
Team Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers-
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 %
Rajon Rondo 39 17.9 4.8 0.4 2.4 2.8 4.4 0.8 0.2 1.7 1.4 1.7 4.5 .386 0.8 2.3 .352 0.5 0.7 .731
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rajon Rondo ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------