Billy Cunningham vs. Rudy Gay Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rudy Gay and Billy Cunningham, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.
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.
Billy Cunningham played 9 years in the NBA, 8 less than Rudy Gay, who played 17. Billy Cunningham had the first of his seasons in 1965-66, while Rudy Gay had his rookie season in 2006-07. 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 achievements, 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 |
Billy Cunningham |
9 |
6 |
1965-66 to 1975-76 |
Rudy Gay |
17 |
3 |
2006-07 to 2022-23 |
Comparison Season by Season |
Jump to season:
|
|
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Rookie Season Stats Comparison |
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
Billy Cunningham |
80 |
26.7 |
14.3 |
- |
- |
7.5 |
2.6 |
- |
- |
- |
3.8 |
5.4 |
12.6 |
.426 |
- |
- |
- |
3.5 |
5.5 |
.634 |
difference: | +2 | +0.3 | +3.5 | | | +3.0 | +1.3 | | | | -1.3 | +1.3 | +2.9 | +.004 | | | | +1.6 | +2.8 | +.093 |
Rudy Gay |
78 |
27.0 |
10.8 |
1.2 |
3.3 |
4.5 |
1.3 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
1.8 |
2.5 |
4.1 |
9.7 |
.422 |
0.7 |
1.8 |
.364 |
1.9 |
2.7 |
.727 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
Billy Cunningham |
4 |
17.3 |
5.3 |
- |
- |
4.5 |
2.5 |
- |
- |
- |
2.8 |
1.3 |
7.8 |
.161 |
- |
- |
- |
2.8 |
3.3 |
.846 |
Rudy Gay |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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2nd Season Stats Comparison |
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
Billy Cunningham |
81 |
26.8 |
18.5 |
- |
- |
7.3 |
2.5 |
- |
- |
- |
3.2 |
6.9 |
15.0 |
.459 |
- |
- |
- |
4.7 |
6.9 |
.686 |
difference: | | +10.2 | +1.6 | | | +1.1 | +0.5 | | | | -0.4 | +0.8 | +1.7 | +.002 | | | | +1.6 | +3.0 | +.099 |
Rudy Gay |
81 |
37.0 |
20.1 |
1.7 |
4.4 |
6.2 |
2.0 |
1.4 |
1.0 |
2.3 |
2.8 |
7.7 |
16.7 |
.461 |
1.7 |
4.8 |
.346 |
3.1 |
3.9 |
.785 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
Billy Cunningham |
15 |
22.6 |
15.0 |
- |
- |
6.2 |
2.2 |
- |
- |
- |
3.5 |
5.5 |
14.7 |
.376 |
- |
- |
- |
3.9 |
6.0 |
.656 |
Rudy Gay |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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3rd Season Stats Comparison |
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
Billy Cunningham |
74 |
28.1 |
18.9 |
- |
- |
7.6 |
2.5 |
- |
- |
- |
3.5 |
7.0 |
15.9 |
.438 |
- |
- |
- |
5.0 |
6.9 |
.723 |
difference: | +5 | +9.2 | | | | +2.1 | +0.8 | | | | -0.7 | +0.2 | +0.1 | +.015 | | | | +1.7 | +2.5 | +.044 |
Rudy Gay |
79 |
37.3 |
18.9 |
1.4 |
4.2 |
5.5 |
1.7 |
1.2 |
0.7 |
2.6 |
2.8 |
7.2 |
16.0 |
.453 |
1.1 |
3.1 |
.351 |
3.3 |
4.4 |
.767 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
Billy Cunningham |
3 |
28.7 |
20.7 |
- |
- |
7.3 |
3.3 |
- |
- |
- |
5.3 |
8.0 |
14.3 |
.558 |
- |
- |
- |
4.7 |
5.7 |
.824 |
Rudy Gay |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison |
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
Billy Cunningham |
82 |
40.8 |
24.8 |
- |
- |
12.8 |
3.5 |
- |
- |
- |
4.0 |
9.0 |
21.2 |
.426 |
- |
- |
- |
6.8 |
9.2 |
.737 |
difference: | +2 | +1.1 | +5.2 | | | +6.9 | +1.6 | | | | -1.5 | +1.5 | +5.1 | +.040 | | | | +3.0 | +4.2 | +.016 |
Rudy Gay |
80 |
39.7 |
19.6 |
1.4 |
4.5 |
5.9 |
1.9 |
1.5 |
0.8 |
2.1 |
2.5 |
7.5 |
16.1 |
.466 |
0.8 |
2.5 |
.327 |
3.8 |
5.0 |
.753 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
Billy Cunningham |
5 |
43.4 |
24.4 |
- |
- |
12.6 |
2.4 |
- |
- |
- |
4.8 |
9.8 |
23.4 |
.419 |
- |
- |
- |
4.8 |
7.6 |
.632 |
Rudy Gay |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison |
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
Billy Cunningham |
81 |
39.4 |
26.1 |
- |
- |
13.6 |
4.3 |
- |
- |
- |
4.1 |
9.9 |
21.1 |
.469 |
- |
- |
- |
6.3 |
8.6 |
.729 |
difference: | +27 | +0.5 | +6.3 | | | +7.4 | +1.5 | | | | -1.7 | +2.3 | +5.0 | +.002 | | | | +2.7 | +4.1 | +.076 |
Rudy Gay |
54 |
39.9 |
19.8 |
1.5 |
4.7 |
6.2 |
2.8 |
1.7 |
1.1 |
2.5 |
2.4 |
7.6 |
16.1 |
.471 |
1.1 |
2.7 |
.396 |
3.6 |
4.5 |
.805 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
Billy Cunningham |
5 |
41.0 |
29.2 |
- |
- |
10.4 |
4.0 |
- |
- |
- |
3.8 |
12.2 |
24.6 |
.496 |
- |
- |
- |
4.8 |
7.2 |
.667 |
Rudy Gay |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison |
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
Billy Cunningham |
81 |
38.1 |
23.0 |
- |
- |
11.7 |
4.9 |
- |
- |
- |
4.0 |
8.7 |
18.8 |
.462 |
- |
- |
- |
5.6 |
7.7 |
.734 |
difference: | +16 | +0.8 | +4.0 | | | +5.3 | +2.6 | | | | -1.9 | +1.2 | +2.4 | +.007 | | | | +2.4 | +3.7 | +.057 |
Rudy Gay |
65 |
37.3 |
19.0 |
2.0 |
4.4 |
6.4 |
2.3 |
1.5 |
0.8 |
2.5 |
2.1 |
7.5 |
16.4 |
.455 |
0.8 |
2.7 |
.312 |
3.2 |
4.0 |
.791 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
Billy Cunningham |
7 |
43.0 |
25.9 |
- |
- |
15.4 |
5.7 |
- |
- |
- |
4.0 |
9.6 |
20.3 |
.472 |
- |
- |
- |
6.7 |
9.6 |
.701 |
difference: | | +3.1 | +6.9 | | | +8.8 | +4.3 | | | | -1.9 | +2.7 | +4.0 | +.051 | | | | +2.0 | +3.9 | +.124 |
Rudy Gay |
7 |
39.9 |
19.0 |
1.4 |
5.1 |
6.6 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
0.3 |
3.0 |
2.1 |
6.9 |
16.3 |
.421 |
0.6 |
2.7 |
.211 |
4.7 |
5.7 |
.825 |
|
Season 7 |
|
Billy Cunningham |
Rudy Gay |
Season |
1971-72 | 2012-13 |
Team |
Philadelphia 76ers | Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors |
Honors & Awards |
All-NBA Second Team | - |
All-Star Game | - |
Playoffs |
Did Not Play | Did Not Play |
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison |
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
Billy Cunningham |
75 |
38.7 |
23.3 |
- |
- |
12.2 |
5.9 |
- |
- |
- |
3.9 |
8.8 |
19.0 |
.461 |
- |
- |
- |
5.7 |
8.0 |
.712 |
difference: | | +2.9 | +5.1 | | | +6.1 | +3.2 | | | | -1.5 | +1.9 | +2.3 | +.045 | | | | +2.5 | +4.1 | +.102 |
Rudy Gay |
75 |
35.8 |
18.2 |
1.3 |
4.8 |
6.1 |
2.7 |
1.5 |
0.7 |
2.6 |
2.4 |
6.9 |
16.7 |
.416 |
1.1 |
3.5 |
.323 |
3.2 |
3.9 |
.814 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
* Neiher Billy Cunningham nor Rudy Gay played in the postseason in their season 7 |
Note: Billy Cunningham didn't play in 1972-73 and 1973-74.
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8th Season Stats Comparison |
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
Billy Cunningham |
80 |
35.7 |
19.5 |
1.6 |
7.5 |
9.1 |
5.5 |
1.1 |
0.4 |
- |
3.4 |
7.6 |
17.8 |
.428 |
- |
- |
- |
4.3 |
5.6 |
.777 |
difference: | +7 | +1.0 | +0.5 | +0.1 | +3.1 | +3.1 | +2.6 | +0.2 | +0.4 | | -1.1 | +0.2 | +1.6 | +.027 | | | | +0.1 | +0.3 | +.045 |
Rudy Gay |
73 |
34.7 |
20.0 |
1.5 |
4.4 |
6.0 |
2.9 |
1.3 |
0.8 |
3.1 |
2.3 |
7.4 |
16.2 |
.455 |
0.9 |
2.7 |
.330 |
4.4 |
5.3 |
.822 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
* Neiher Billy Cunningham nor Rudy Gay played in the postseason in their season 8 |
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison |
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
Billy Cunningham |
20 |
32.0 |
13.7 |
1.5 |
5.9 |
7.4 |
5.4 |
1.2 |
0.5 |
- |
2.9 |
5.2 |
12.6 |
.410 |
- |
- |
- |
3.4 |
4.4 |
.773 |
difference: | +48 | +3.4 | +7.4 | +0.1 | +1.5 | +1.5 | +1.7 | +0.2 | +0.1 | | -0.6 | +2.3 | +3.8 | +.045 | | | | +1.6 | +1.4 | +.085 |
Rudy Gay |
68 |
35.4 |
21.1 |
1.4 |
4.4 |
5.9 |
3.7 |
1.0 |
0.6 |
2.7 |
2.3 |
7.5 |
16.4 |
.455 |
1.2 |
3.2 |
.359 |
5.0 |
5.8 |
.858 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
* Neiher Billy Cunningham nor Rudy Gay played in the postseason in their season 9 |
|
Additional Years |
* Rudy Gay played 8 seasons more than Billy Cunningham in the NBA.
In that period—his seasons 10 to 17, from 2016 to 2023—Rudy Gay played in two Playoffs. |