Richard Hamilton vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Richard Hamilton, 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.

Richard Hamilton played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than Bill Russell, who played 13. Richard Hamilton had the first of his seasons in 1999-00, 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
Richard Hamilton 14 9 1999-00 to 2012-13
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

Rookie Season

Richard Hamilton Bill Russell
Season 1999-001956-57
Team Washington WizardsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 %
Richard Hamilton 71 19.3 9.0 0.5 1.3 1.8 1.5 0.4 0.1 1.2 2.0 3.6 8.5 .420 0.4 1.1 .364 1.5 1.9 .774
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 %
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------
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

Richard Hamilton Bill Russell
Season 2000-011957-58
Team Washington WizardsBoston 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 %
Richard Hamilton 78 32.3 18.1 1.0 2.1 3.1 2.9 1.0 0.1 2.6 2.6 7.0 16.0 .438 0.5 1.9 .274 3.6 4.1 .868
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 %
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------
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

Richard Hamilton Bill Russell
Season 2001-021958-59
Team Washington WizardsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -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 %
Richard Hamilton 63 35.0 20.0 1.2 2.3 3.4 2.7 0.6 0.2 2.1 2.2 7.5 17.2 .435 0.3 0.7 .381 4.8 5.3 .890
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 %
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------
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

Richard Hamilton Bill Russell
Season 2002-031959-60
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Richard Hamilton 82 32.2 19.7 1.1 2.8 3.9 2.5 0.8 0.2 2.4 3.0 7.0 15.7 .443 0.4 1.5 .269 5.4 6.4 .833
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 %
Richard Hamilton 17 38.7 22.5 1.1 2.8 3.9 2.6 0.8 0.1 3.4 3.0 7.9 17.8 .442 0.5 1.6 .333 6.2 6.9 .906
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

Richard Hamilton Bill Russell
Season 2003-041960-61
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 78 35.5 17.6 1.0 2.6 3.6 4.0 1.3 0.2 2.7 2.8 6.8 14.9 .455 0.2 0.9 .265 3.8 4.4 .868
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 %
Richard Hamilton 23 40.6 21.5 1.4 3.2 4.6 4.2 1.2 0.0 3.1 3.1 7.9 17.6 .447 0.7 1.7 .385 5.1 6.0 .848
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

Richard Hamilton Bill Russell
Season 2004-051961-62
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Richard Hamilton 76 38.5 18.7 1.0 2.9 3.9 4.9 1.0 0.2 2.9 3.1 6.7 15.3 .440 0.5 1.6 .305 4.8 5.6 .858
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 %
Richard Hamilton 25 43.2 20.0 1.2 3.1 4.3 4.3 0.8 0.1 3.1 3.2 7.9 17.5 .453 0.4 1.4 .294 3.8 4.8 .798
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

Richard Hamilton Bill Russell
Season 2005-061962-63
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Richard Hamilton 80 35.3 20.1 1.1 2.2 3.2 3.4 0.7 0.2 2.2 2.6 8.1 16.5 .491 0.7 1.5 .458 3.2 3.8 .845
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 %
Richard Hamilton 18 38.3 20.4 0.9 2.0 2.9 2.7 0.9 0.3 2.2 3.3 7.1 17.2 .413 0.8 2.2 .350 5.4 6.3 .851
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

Richard Hamilton Bill Russell
Season 2006-071963-64
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Richard Hamilton 75 36.8 19.8 1.0 2.8 3.8 3.8 0.8 0.2 2.1 3.1 7.3 15.6 .468 0.6 1.7 .341 4.6 5.4 .861
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 %
Richard Hamilton 16 39.9 18.8 2.0 2.3 4.3 3.8 0.9 0.1 1.9 3.8 6.8 15.8 .429 0.5 1.3 .400 4.8 5.6 .865
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

Richard Hamilton Bill Russell
Season 2007-081964-65
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Richard Hamilton 72 33.7 17.3 1.0 2.2 3.3 4.2 1.0 0.1 1.8 2.4 6.9 14.3 .484 0.9 2.0 .440 2.6 3.1 .833
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 %
Richard Hamilton 17 38.6 21.6 1.1 3.1 4.2 3.9 1.4 0.5 2.8 2.8 7.9 16.8 .470 0.5 1.5 .308 5.4 5.9 .911
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

Richard Hamilton Bill Russell
Season 2008-091965-66
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Richard Hamilton 67 34.0 18.3 0.7 2.4 3.1 4.4 0.6 0.1 2.0 2.6 7.0 15.6 .447 1.0 2.8 .368 3.3 3.9 .848
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 %
Richard Hamilton 4 38.5 13.3 0.5 2.3 2.8 5.0 1.3 0.3 2.5 3.0 5.3 14.8 .356 0.5 2.5 .200 2.3 2.5 .900
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

Richard Hamilton Bill Russell
Season 2009-101966-67
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Richard Hamilton 46 33.7 18.1 0.7 2.0 2.7 4.4 0.7 0.1 2.5 2.5 6.4 15.6 .409 0.9 3.0 .297 4.4 5.2 .846
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 %
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------
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

Richard Hamilton Bill Russell
Season 2010-111967-68
Team Detroit PistonsBoston 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 %
Richard Hamilton 55 27.2 14.1 0.4 1.9 2.3 3.1 0.7 0.1 1.6 1.7 5.2 12.2 .429 1.0 2.6 .382 2.7 3.1 .849
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 %
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------
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

Richard Hamilton Bill Russell
Season 2011-121968-69
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Richard Hamilton 28 24.9 11.6 0.7 1.6 2.4 3.0 0.4 0.0 1.8 2.0 5.0 11.1 .452 0.6 1.6 .370 1.0 1.3 .784
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 %
Richard Hamilton 6 28.5 13.0 1.3 1.8 3.2 3.0 0.2 0.0 1.3 2.5 4.8 11.7 .414 0.3 1.0 .333 3.0 3.7 .818
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

Richard Hamilton Bill Russell
Season 2012-13-
Team Chicago Bulls-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 50 21.8 9.8 0.3 1.3 1.7 2.4 0.5 0.1 1.7 1.9 4.1 9.5 .429 0.3 1.0 .308 1.3 1.5 .857
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Hamilton 4 17.0 6.5 0.0 0.8 0.8 1.3 0.3 0.5 1.3 1.3 2.5 6.8 .370 0.8 1.8 .429 0.8 1.0 .750
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------