Bill Russell vs. Wally Szczerbiak Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Wally Szczerbiak and Bill Russell, 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.

Bill Russell played 13 years in the NBA, 3 more than Wally Szczerbiak, who played 10. Bill Russell had the first of his seasons in 1956-57, while Wally Szczerbiak had his rookie season in 1999-00. 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
Bill Russell 13 13 1956-57 to 1968-69
Wally Szczerbiak 10 7 1999-00 to 2008-09

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Bill Russell Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1956-571999-00
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTimberwolves 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 %
Bill Russell 48 35.3 14.7 - - 19.6 1.8 - - - 3.0 5.8 13.5 .427 - - - 3.2 6.4 .492
Wally Szczerbiak 73 29.7 11.6 1.2 2.5 3.7 2.8 0.8 0.3 1.1 2.4 4.7 9.2 .511 0.4 1.1 .359 1.8 2.2 .826
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 10 40.9 13.9 - - 24.4 3.2 - - - 4.1 5.4 14.8 .365 - - - 3.1 6.1 .508
Wally Szczerbiak 4 23.5 6.0 0.5 1.5 2.0 0.5 0.8 0.3 0.3 1.8 3.0 7.5 .400 0.0 0.8 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Bill Russell Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1957-582000-01
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsTimberwolves 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 %
Bill Russell 69 38.3 16.6 - - 22.7 2.9 - - - 2.6 6.6 15.0 .442 - - - 3.3 6.4 .519
Wally Szczerbiak 82 34.8 14.0 1.6 3.8 5.5 3.2 0.7 0.4 1.7 2.8 5.7 11.2 .510 0.3 0.9 .338 2.2 2.5 .870
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 9 39.4 15.1 - - 24.6 2.7 - - - 2.7 5.3 14.8 .361 - - - 4.4 7.3 .606
Wally Szczerbiak 4 35.8 14.0 1.0 3.5 4.5 2.5 1.3 0.8 3.0 1.5 4.5 9.3 .486 0.0 0.3 .000 5.0 6.3 .800

Season 3

Bill Russell Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1958-592001-02
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTimberwolves 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 %
Bill Russell 70 42.6 16.7 - - 23.0 3.2 - - - 2.3 6.5 14.2 .457 - - - 3.7 6.1 .598
Wally Szczerbiak 82 38.0 18.7 1.5 3.3 4.8 3.1 0.8 0.3 2.2 2.3 7.4 14.6 .508 1.1 2.3 .455 2.8 3.3 .831
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 11 45.1 15.5 - - 27.7 3.6 - - - 2.5 5.9 14.5 .409 - - - 3.7 6.1 .612
Wally Szczerbiak 3 43.3 20.0 3.0 4.0 7.0 2.0 0.7 0.0 2.7 2.7 7.0 14.7 .477 0.7 3.0 .222 5.3 6.0 .889

Season 4

Bill Russell Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1959-602002-03
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTimberwolves 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 %
Bill Russell 74 42.5 18.2 - - 24.0 3.7 - - - 2.8 7.5 16.1 .467 - - - 3.2 5.3 .612
Wally Szczerbiak 52 35.3 17.6 1.0 3.6 4.6 2.6 0.8 0.4 1.7 2.4 6.8 14.0 .481 1.2 2.8 .421 2.9 3.3 .867
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 13 44.0 18.5 - - 25.8 2.9 - - - 2.9 7.2 15.8 .456 - - - 4.1 5.8 .707
Wally Szczerbiak 6 42.0 14.5 1.0 4.0 5.0 2.2 1.0 0.2 3.0 3.2 4.8 10.2 .475 0.5 2.3 .214 4.3 5.0 .867

Season 5

Bill Russell Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1960-612003-04
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTimberwolves 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 %
Bill Russell 78 44.3 16.9 - - 23.9 3.4 - - - 2.0 6.8 16.0 .426 - - - 3.3 6.0 .550
Wally Szczerbiak 28 22.2 10.2 0.9 2.3 3.1 1.2 0.4 0.0 1.0 1.5 3.8 8.4 .449 0.7 1.6 .435 1.9 2.3 .828
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 10 46.2 19.1 - - 29.9 4.8 - - - 2.4 7.3 17.1 .427 - - - 4.5 8.6 .523
Wally Szczerbiak 12 24.8 11.8 0.8 2.5 3.3 1.7 0.5 0.2 2.0 2.6 3.9 9.3 .420 0.8 2.4 .345 3.2 3.4 .927

Season 6

Bill Russell Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1961-622004-05
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
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 %
Bill Russell 76 45.2 18.9 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.7 7.6 16.6 .457 - - - 3.8 6.3 .595
Wally Szczerbiak 81 31.6 15.5 1.0 2.7 3.7 2.4 0.5 0.2 1.6 2.2 5.7 11.3 .506 0.8 2.1 .373 3.2 3.8 .855
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 14 48.0 22.4 - - 26.4 5.0 - - - 3.5 8.3 18.1 .458 - - - 5.9 8.1 .726
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Bill Russell Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1962-632005-06
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
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 %
Bill Russell 78 44.9 16.8 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.4 6.6 15.2 .432 - - - 3.7 6.6 .555
Wally Szczerbiak 72 37.9 19.0 1.1 3.3 4.3 3.0 0.6 0.3 1.9 2.1 6.8 14.1 .487 1.4 3.5 .400 3.9 4.3 .897
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 13 47.5 20.3 - - 25.1 5.1 - - - 2.8 7.4 16.3 .453 - - - 5.5 8.4 .661
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Bill Russell Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1963-642006-07
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
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 %
Bill Russell 78 44.6 15.0 - - 24.7 4.7 - - - 2.4 6.0 13.8 .433 - - - 3.0 5.5 .550
Wally Szczerbiak 32 28.1 15.0 0.5 2.6 3.1 1.7 0.6 0.1 1.7 2.0 5.0 12.1 .415 1.4 3.3 .415 3.5 3.9 .897
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 10 45.1 13.1 - - 27.2 4.4 - - - 3.3 4.7 13.2 .356 - - - 3.7 6.7 .552
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Bill Russell Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1964-652007-08
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers 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 %
Bill Russell 78 44.4 14.1 - - 24.1 5.3 - - - 2.6 5.5 12.6 .438 - - - 3.1 5.5 .573
Wally Szczerbiak 75 23.1 11.5 0.5 2.4 2.9 1.4 0.3 0.2 1.0 1.4 4.1 9.6 .431 1.2 2.9 .413 2.0 2.3 .851
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 12 46.8 16.5 - - 25.2 6.3 - - - 3.6 6.6 12.5 .527 - - - 3.3 6.3 .526
Wally Szczerbiak 13 28.8 10.8 0.3 1.5 1.8 1.5 0.2 0.1 0.8 2.5 3.6 9.6 .376 1.5 4.8 .323 2.0 2.2 .929

Season 10

Bill Russell Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1965-662008-09
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 78 43.4 12.9 - - 22.8 4.8 - - - 2.8 5.0 12.1 .415 - - - 2.9 5.2 .551
Wally Szczerbiak 74 20.6 7.0 0.6 2.6 3.1 1.1 0.4 0.1 0.7 1.8 2.4 5.4 .450 0.9 2.3 .411 1.2 1.4 .849
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 17 47.9 19.1 - - 25.2 5.0 - - - 3.5 7.3 15.4 .475 - - - 4.5 7.2 .618
Wally Szczerbiak 12 12.8 3.6 0.7 1.7 2.3 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.8 1.6 1.3 3.0 .444 0.2 1.0 .167 0.8 0.9 .818

Season 11

Bill Russell Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1966-67-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Bill Russell 81 40.7 13.3 - - 21.0 5.8 - - - 3.2 4.9 10.7 .454 - - - 3.5 5.8 .610
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 9 43.3 10.6 - - 22.0 5.6 - - - 3.6 3.4 9.6 .360 - - - 3.7 5.8 .635
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Bill Russell Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1967-68-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Bill Russell 78 37.9 12.5 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.1 4.7 11.0 .425 - - - 3.2 5.9 .537
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 19 45.7 14.4 - - 22.8 5.2 - - - 3.8 5.2 12.7 .409 - - - 4.0 6.8 .585
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Bill Russell Wally Szczerbiak
Season 1968-69-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Bill Russell 77 42.7 9.9 - - 19.3 4.9 - - - 3.0 3.6 8.4 .433 - - - 2.6 5.0 .526
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 18 46.1 10.8 - - 20.5 5.4 - - - 3.6 4.3 10.1 .423 - - - 2.3 4.5 .506
Wally Szczerbiak ------- --- ----------