Dillon Brooks vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Dillon Brooks, 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 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.

Dillon Brooks played 9 years in the NBA, 4 less than Bill Russell, who played 13. Dillon Brooks had the first of his seasons in 2017-18, 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
Dillon Brooks 9 4 2017-18 to 2025-26
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

Rookie Season

Dillon Brooks Bill Russell
Season 2017-181956-57
Team Memphis GrizzliesBoston 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%
Dillon Brooks 82 28.7 11.0 0.6 2.5 3.1 1.6 0.9 0.2 1.5 2.8 4.1 9.4 .440 1.1 3.2 .356 1.5 2.0 .747
difference:+34+6.6+3.7+16.5+0.2-0.2+1.7+4.1+.013+1.7+4.4+.255
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%
Dillon Brooks 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

Dillon Brooks Bill Russell
Season 2018-191957-58
Team Memphis GrizzliesBoston 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 >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dillon Brooks 18 18.3 7.5 0.5 1.2 1.7 0.9 0.6 0.2 1.1 2.8 2.7 6.8 .402 0.8 2.2 .375 1.2 1.7 .733
difference:+51+20.0+9.1+21.0+2.0-0.2+3.9+8.2+.040+2.1+4.7+.214
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%
Dillon Brooks DNP------ --- ----------
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

Dillon Brooks Bill Russell
Season 2019-201958-59
Team Memphis GrizzliesBoston 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%
Dillon Brooks 73 28.9 16.2 0.9 2.4 3.3 2.1 0.9 0.4 1.7 3.8 6.0 14.6 .407 2.0 5.6 .358 2.2 2.8 .808
difference:+3+13.7+0.5+19.7+1.1-1.5+0.5+0.4+.050+1.5+3.3+.210
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%
Dillon Brooks 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

Dillon Brooks Bill Russell
Season 2020-211959-60
Team Memphis GrizzliesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA 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%
Dillon Brooks 67 29.8 17.2 0.8 2.1 2.9 2.3 1.2 0.4 1.8 3.5 6.4 15.4 .419 1.9 5.6 .344 2.4 2.9 .815
difference:+7+12.7+1.0+21.1+1.4-0.7+1.1+0.7+.048+0.8+2.4+.203
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%
Dillon Brooks 5 35.0 25.8 1.0 3.2 4.2 2.2 1.4 0.4 1.8 3.4 10.0 19.4 .515 1.6 4.0 .400 4.2 5.2 .808
difference:+8+9.0+7.3+21.6+0.7-0.5+2.8+3.6+.059+0.1+0.6+.101
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

Dillon Brooks Bill Russell
Season 2021-221960-61
Team Memphis GrizzliesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf SemisNBA 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%
Dillon Brooks 32 27.7 18.4 0.9 2.3 3.2 2.8 1.1 0.3 1.6 3.3 7.1 16.4 .432 1.4 4.7 .309 2.8 3.3 .849
difference:+46+16.6+1.5+20.7+0.6-1.3+0.3+0.4+.006+0.5+2.7+.299
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%
Dillon Brooks 11 30.5 14.6 0.7 2.0 2.7 2.7 1.0 0.3 2.0 3.3 5.5 15.6 .349 2.3 6.5 .347 1.5 2.3 .640
difference:+1+15.7+4.5+27.2+2.1-0.9+1.8+1.5+.078+3.0+6.3+.117
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

Dillon Brooks Bill Russell
Season 2022-231961-62
Team Memphis GrizzliesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA 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%
Dillon Brooks 73 30.3 14.3 0.6 2.7 3.3 2.6 0.9 0.2 1.4 3.3 5.4 13.6 .396 2.0 6.0 .326 1.6 2.1 .779
difference:+3+14.9+4.6+20.3+1.9-0.6+2.2+3.0+.061+2.2+4.2+.184
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%
Dillon Brooks 6 27.8 10.5 0.5 2.5 3.0 1.8 0.2 0.0 1.2 3.3 4.0 12.8 .312 1.7 7.0 .238 0.8 1.2 .714
difference:+8+20.2+11.9+23.4+3.2-0.2+4.3+5.3+.146+5.1+6.9+.012
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

Dillon Brooks Bill Russell
Season 2023-241962-63
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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%
Dillon Brooks 72 30.9 12.7 0.7 2.7 3.4 1.7 0.9 0.1 1.2 3.3 4.6 10.7 .428 1.8 5.1 .359 1.7 2.0 .844
difference:+6+14.0+4.1+20.2+2.8-0.9+2.0+4.5+.004+2.0+4.6+.289
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%
Dillon Brooks DNP------ --- ----------
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

Dillon Brooks Bill Russell
Season 2024-251963-64
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA 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%
Dillon Brooks 75 31.8 14.0 1.0 2.7 3.7 1.7 0.8 0.2 1.0 3.2 5.1 11.9 .429 2.5 6.3 .397 1.3 1.6 .818
difference:+3+12.8+1.0+21.0+3.0-0.8+0.9+1.9+.004+1.7+3.9+.268
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%
Dillon Brooks 7 29.4 12.3 1.3 1.9 3.1 1.3 0.7 0.3 1.3 3.9 4.0 9.0 .444 1.4 4.1 .345 2.9 3.4 .833
difference:+3+15.7+0.8+24.1+3.1-0.6+0.7+4.2+.088+0.8+3.3+.281
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

Dillon Brooks Bill Russell
Season 2025-261964-65
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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%
Dillon Brooks 3 30.3 19.3 1.3 2.0 3.3 2.3 2.7 0.7 2.3 4.3 7.3 19.7 .373 3.0 10.3 .290 1.7 1.7 1.000
difference:+75+14.1+5.2+20.8+3.0-1.7+1.8+7.1+.065+1.4+3.8+.427
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%
Dillon Brooks DNP------ --- ----------
Bill Russell 12 46.8 16.5 - - 25.2 6.3 - - - 3.6 6.6 12.5 .527 - - - 3.3 6.3 .526

Additional Years

* Bill Russell played 4 seasons more than Dillon Brooks in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 10 to 13, from 1966 to 1969—Bill Russell played in 4 Playoffs and won 3 NBA Championships.

In those 4 extra years over Dillon Brooks, Bill Russell got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 3 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 1 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 4 All-Star Game