Chris Mullin vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Chris Mullin, 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 / Stats / Stats Rankings

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.

Chris Mullin played 16 years in the NBA, 3 more than Bill Russell, who played 13. Chris Mullin had the first of his seasons in 1985-86, 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 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
Chris Mullin 16 8 1985-86 to 2000-01
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

Chris Mullin Bill Russell
Season 1985-861956-57
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 55 25.3 14.0 0.8 1.3 2.1 1.9 1.3 0.4 1.4 2.4 5.2 11.3 .463 0.1 0.5 .185 3.4 3.8 .896
difference:+7+10.0+0.7+17.5+0.1-0.6+0.6+2.2+.036+0.2+2.6+.404
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin DNP------ --- ----------
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

Chris Mullin Bill Russell
Season 1986-871957-58
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 82 29.0 15.1 0.5 1.7 2.2 3.2 1.2 0.4 1.9 2.6 5.8 11.3 .514 0.2 0.8 .302 3.3 4.0 .825
difference:+13+9.3+1.5+20.5+0.3+0.8+3.7+.072+2.4+.306
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 10 26.2 11.3 0.2 1.3 1.5 2.3 0.9 0.2 1.6 3.1 4.9 9.8 .500 0.3 0.4 .750 1.2 1.6 .750
difference:+1+13.2+3.8+23.1+0.4-0.4+0.4+5.0+.139+3.2+5.7+.144
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

Chris Mullin Bill Russell
Season 1987-881958-59
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 60 33.9 20.2 1.0 2.5 3.4 4.8 1.9 0.5 2.6 2.3 7.8 15.4 .508 0.6 1.6 .351 4.0 4.5 .885
difference:+10+8.7+3.5+19.6+1.6+1.3+1.2+.051+0.3+1.6+.287
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin DNP------ --- ----------
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

Chris Mullin Bill Russell
Season 1988-891959-60
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 82 37.7 26.5 1.9 4.0 5.9 5.1 2.1 0.5 3.6 2.2 10.1 19.9 .509 0.3 1.2 .230 6.0 6.7 .892
difference:+8+4.8+8.3+18.1+1.4-0.6+2.6+3.8+.042+2.8+1.4+.280
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 8 42.6 29.4 1.4 4.5 5.9 4.5 1.8 1.4 4.0 2.4 11.0 20.4 .540 0.1 1.0 .125 7.3 8.4 .866
difference:+5+1.4+10.9+19.9+1.6-0.5+3.8+4.6+.084+3.2+2.6+.159
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

Chris Mullin Bill Russell
Season 1989-901960-61
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-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 >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 78 36.3 25.1 1.7 4.3 5.9 4.1 1.6 0.6 3.1 1.8 8.7 16.3 .536 1.1 3.0 .372 6.5 7.3 .889
difference:+8.0+8.2+18.0+0.7-0.2+1.9+0.3+.110+3.2+1.3+.339
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin DNP------ --- ----------
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

Chris Mullin Bill Russell
Season 1990-911961-62
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 82 40.4 25.7 1.7 3.7 5.4 4.0 2.1 0.8 3.0 2.1 9.5 17.7 .536 0.5 1.6 .301 6.3 7.1 .884
difference:+6+4.8+6.8+18.2+0.5-0.6+1.9+1.1+.079+2.5+0.8+.289
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 8 45.8 23.8 1.1 6.1 7.3 2.9 1.9 1.5 3.1 2.9 8.6 16.4 .527 1.1 1.6 .692 5.4 6.3 .860
difference:+6+2.2+1.4+19.1+2.1-0.6+0.3+1.7+.069+0.5+1.8+.134
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

Chris Mullin Bill Russell
Season 1991-921962-63
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston 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 MVP
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 81 41.3 25.6 1.6 4.0 5.6 3.5 2.1 0.8 2.5 2.1 10.2 19.6 .524 0.8 2.2 .366 4.3 5.2 .833
difference:+3+3.6+8.8+18.0+1.0-0.3+3.6+4.4+.092+0.6+1.4+.278
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 4 42.0 17.8 0.8 2.3 3.0 3.0 1.3 0.5 2.0 2.0 6.8 15.8 .429 1.0 3.0 .333 3.3 3.5 .929
difference:+9+5.5+2.5+22.1+2.1-0.8+0.6+0.5+.024+2.2+4.9+.268
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

Chris Mullin Bill Russell
Season 1992-931963-64
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 46 41.3 25.9 0.9 4.1 5.0 3.6 1.5 0.9 3.0 1.7 10.3 20.2 .510 1.3 2.9 .451 4.0 4.9 .810
difference:+32+3.3+10.9+19.7+1.1-0.7+4.3+6.4+.077+1.0+0.6+.260
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin DNP------ --- ----------
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

Chris Mullin Bill Russell
Season 1993-941964-65
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 62 37.5 16.8 1.0 4.5 5.6 5.1 1.7 0.9 2.9 1.8 6.6 14.0 .472 0.9 2.4 .364 2.7 3.5 .753
difference:+16+6.9+2.7+18.5+0.2-0.8+1.1+1.4+.034+0.4+2.0+.180
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 3 45.0 25.3 1.3 3.3 4.7 3.7 0.0 1.7 2.3 1.3 10.0 17.0 .588 2.0 4.0 .500 3.3 3.7 .909
difference:+9+1.8+8.8+20.5+2.6-2.3+3.4+4.5+.061+2.6+.383
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

Chris Mullin Bill Russell
Season 1994-951965-66
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 25 35.6 19.0 1.0 3.6 4.6 5.0 1.5 0.8 3.7 2.1 6.8 13.9 .489 1.7 3.7 .452 3.8 4.3 .879
difference:+53+7.8+6.1+18.2+0.2-0.7+1.8+1.8+.074+0.9+0.9+.328
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin DNP------ --- ----------
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

Chris Mullin Bill Russell
Season 1995-961966-67
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Div Finals
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 55 29.4 13.3 0.8 2.1 2.9 3.5 1.4 0.6 2.2 2.3 4.9 9.8 .499 1.1 2.7 .393 2.5 2.9 .856
difference:+26+11.3+18.1+2.3-0.9+0.9+.045+1.0+2.9+.246
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin DNP------ --- ----------
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

Chris Mullin Bill Russell
Season 1996-971967-68
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 79 34.6 14.5 0.9 3.1 4.0 4.1 1.6 0.4 2.4 2.0 5.5 10.0 .553 1.1 2.6 .411 2.3 2.7 .864
difference:+1+3.3+2.0+14.6+0.5-1.1+0.8+1.0+.128+0.9+3.2+.327
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin DNP------ --- ----------
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

Chris Mullin Bill Russell
Season 1997-981968-69
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 82 26.5 11.3 0.5 2.6 3.0 2.3 1.2 0.5 1.4 2.3 4.1 8.4 .481 1.3 3.0 .440 1.9 2.0 .939
difference:+5+16.2+1.4+16.3+2.6-0.7+0.5+.048+0.7+3.0+.413
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Chris Mullin 16 25.8 8.9 0.8 2.8 3.6 1.4 0.9 0.6 1.5 2.0 3.3 7.1 .460 1.3 3.3 .385 1.1 1.3 .857
difference:+2+20.3+1.9+16.9+4.0-1.6+1.0+3.0+.037+1.2+3.2+.351
Bill Russell 18 46.1 10.8 - - 20.5 5.4 - - - 3.6 4.3 10.1 .423 - - - 2.3 4.5 .506

Additional Years

* Chris Mullin played 3 seasons more than Bill Russell in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 16, from 1999 to 2001—Chris Mullin played in two Playoffs.