Tim Hardaway vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Tim Hardaway, 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 and Bill Russell both played 13 years in the NBA. Tim Hardaway had the first of his seasons in 1989-90, 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 13 9 1989-90 to 2002-03
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 Bill Russell
Season 1989-901956-57
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston 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 79 33.7 14.7 0.7 3.2 3.9 8.7 2.1 0.2 3.3 2.9 5.9 12.5 .471 0.3 1.1 .274 2.7 3.5 .764
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 ------- --- ----------
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 Bill Russell
Season 1990-911957-58
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisCeltics 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 82 39.2 22.9 1.1 3.0 4.0 9.7 2.6 0.1 3.3 2.8 9.0 18.9 .476 1.2 3.1 .385 3.7 4.6 .803
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 9 44.0 25.2 0.6 3.1 3.7 11.2 3.1 0.8 2.8 2.4 10.0 20.6 .486 1.9 5.3 .354 3.3 4.2 .789
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 Bill Russell
Season 1991-921958-59
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors 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 81 41.1 23.4 1.0 2.8 3.8 10.0 2.0 0.2 3.3 2.6 9.1 19.7 .461 1.6 4.6 .338 3.7 4.8 .766
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 4 44.0 24.5 1.5 2.3 3.8 7.3 3.3 0.0 3.5 3.5 8.0 20.0 .400 2.5 7.3 .345 6.0 9.3 .649
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 Bill Russell
Season 1992-931959-60
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 66 39.5 21.5 0.9 3.1 4.0 10.6 1.8 0.2 3.3 2.3 7.9 17.7 .447 1.5 4.7 .330 4.1 5.6 .744
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 ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 13 44.0 18.5 - - 25.8 2.9 - - - 2.9 7.2 15.8 .456 - - - 4.1 5.8 .707

Note: Tim Hardaway didn't play in 1993-94.

Season 5

Tim Hardaway Bill Russell
Season 1994-951960-61
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston 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 62 37.4 20.1 0.7 2.3 3.1 9.3 1.4 0.2 3.5 2.5 6.9 16.2 .427 2.7 7.2 .378 3.5 4.6 .760
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 ------- --- ----------
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 Bill Russell
Season 1995-961961-62
Team Golden State Warriors, Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat 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 80 31.7 15.2 0.4 2.4 2.9 8.0 1.7 0.2 2.9 2.5 5.2 12.4 .422 1.7 4.7 .364 3.0 3.8 .790
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 3 36.7 17.7 0.3 1.3 1.7 5.7 1.0 0.0 5.0 3.3 6.7 14.3 .465 2.7 7.3 .364 1.7 2.3 .714
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 Bill Russell
Season 1996-971962-63
Team Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Tim Hardaway 81 38.7 20.3 0.6 2.8 3.4 8.6 1.9 0.1 2.8 2.0 7.1 17.1 .415 2.5 7.3 .344 3.6 4.5 .799
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 17 41.2 18.7 0.8 3.3 4.1 7.0 1.6 0.1 3.1 2.2 6.1 16.9 .359 2.5 7.9 .313 4.1 5.2 .795
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 Bill Russell
Season 1997-981963-64
Team Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat 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 81 37.4 18.9 0.6 3.1 3.7 8.3 1.7 0.2 2.8 2.5 6.9 16.0 .431 1.9 5.5 .351 3.2 4.1 .781
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 5 44.4 26.0 0.6 2.8 3.4 6.6 1.2 0.0 3.6 1.8 8.4 18.8 .447 3.4 7.8 .436 5.8 7.4 .784
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 Bill Russell
Season 1998-991964-65
Team Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat 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 48 36.9 17.4 0.3 2.9 3.2 7.3 1.2 0.1 2.7 2.1 6.3 15.7 .400 2.3 6.5 .360 2.5 3.1 .812
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 5 36.4 9.0 0.6 2.2 2.8 6.4 1.0 0.2 3.6 2.8 3.0 11.2 .268 1.0 5.0 .200 2.0 3.2 .625
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 Bill Russell
Season 1999-001965-66
Team Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat 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 52 32.2 13.4 0.5 2.4 2.9 7.4 0.9 0.1 2.3 2.2 4.7 12.3 .386 1.8 4.9 .367 2.1 2.6 .827
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 7 26.0 7.7 0.1 2.0 2.1 4.7 0.7 0.0 1.6 1.4 2.9 9.7 .294 1.0 4.9 .206 1.0 1.4 .700
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 Bill Russell
Season 2000-011966-67
Team Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Tim Hardaway 77 33.9 14.9 0.3 2.3 2.6 6.3 1.2 0.1 2.5 2.0 5.3 13.5 .392 2.5 6.7 .366 1.9 2.4 .801
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 2 18.0 2.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 4.5 0.0 0.0 4.0 2.0 1.0 4.5 .222 0.5 1.5 .333 0.0 0.0 -
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 Bill Russell
Season 2001-021967-68
Team Dallas Mavericks, Denver NuggetsBoston 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 68 23.5 9.6 0.2 1.6 1.8 4.1 0.8 0.1 1.6 1.6 3.3 9.1 .365 1.8 5.2 .347 1.1 1.4 .794
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 ------- --- ----------
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 Bill Russell
Season 2002-031968-69
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers 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 10 12.7 4.9 0.1 1.4 1.5 2.4 0.9 0.0 1.1 0.8 1.8 4.9 .367 1.1 3.1 .355 0.2 0.4 .500
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 4 11.8 3.3 0.0 0.5 0.5 2.3 0.3 0.0 0.8 0.5 1.3 3.8 .333 0.8 2.5 .300 0.0 0.0 -
Bill Russell 18 46.1 10.8 - - 20.5 5.4 - - - 3.6 4.3 10.1 .423 - - - 2.3 4.5 .506