John Starks vs. Russell Westbrook Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Russell Westbrook and John Starks, 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.

John Starks played 13 years in the NBA, 4 less than Russell Westbrook, who played 17. John Starks had the first of his seasons in 1988-89, while Russell Westbrook had his rookie season in 2008-09. 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
John Starks 13 9 1988-89 to 2001-02
Russell Westbrook 17 14 2008-09 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season

John Starks Russell Westbrook
Season 1988-892008-09
Team Golden State WarriorsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 36 8.8 4.1 0.4 0.7 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.0 1.4 3.5 .408 0.3 0.7 .385 0.9 1.4 .654
difference:+46+23.7+11.2+1.8+2.0+3.8+4.5+0.7+0.1-2.2-1.3+3.9+9.9+.010+0.1+0.9+.114+3.4+3.8+.161
Russell Westbrook 82 32.5 15.3 2.2 2.7 4.9 5.3 1.3 0.2 3.3 2.3 5.3 13.4 .398 0.4 1.6 .271 4.3 5.2 .815
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher John Starks nor Russell Westbrook played in the postseason in their season 1

Note: John Starks didn't play in 1989-90.

Season 2

John Starks Russell Westbrook
Season 1990-912009-10
Team New York KnicksOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdThunder Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 61 19.2 7.6 0.5 1.7 2.1 3.3 1.0 0.3 1.2 2.2 3.0 6.7 .439 0.4 1.5 .290 1.3 1.7 .752
difference:+21+15.1+8.5+1.2+1.4+2.8+4.7+0.3+0.1-2.1-0.3+2.9+7.4+.021+0.1+0.2+.069+2.7+3.4+.028
Russell Westbrook 82 34.3 16.1 1.7 3.1 4.9 8.0 1.3 0.4 3.3 2.5 5.9 14.1 .418 0.3 1.3 .221 4.0 5.1 .780
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 3 9.3 2.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.3 0.7 1.7 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000
difference:+3+26.0+18.5+1.4+3.6+5.0+4.0+1.7+0.2-0.3-0.9+6.5+13.5+.073+0.8+2.0+4.6+5.6+.158
Russell Westbrook 6 35.3 20.5 1.7 4.3 6.0 6.0 1.7 0.2 2.3 2.2 7.2 15.2 .473 0.8 2.0 .417 5.3 6.3 .842

Season 3

John Starks Russell Westbrook
Season 1991-922010-11
Team New York KnicksOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisThunder Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 82 25.8 13.9 0.5 1.8 2.3 3.4 1.3 0.2 1.8 2.8 4.9 11.0 .449 1.1 3.3 .348 2.9 3.7 .778
difference:+8.9+8.0+1.0+1.3+2.3+4.8+0.6+0.2-2.1-0.3+2.6+6.0+.007+0.7+2.0+.018+3.6+4.0+.064
Russell Westbrook 82 34.7 21.9 1.5 3.1 4.6 8.2 1.9 0.4 3.9 2.5 7.5 17.0 .442 0.4 1.3 .330 6.5 7.7 .842
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 12 24.6 12.1 0.6 1.9 2.5 3.2 1.4 0.0 1.8 3.8 3.8 10.3 .374 0.9 3.8 .239 3.5 4.3 .808
difference:+5+12.9+11.7+1.5+1.3+2.9+3.2+0.4-2.8-0.5+4.1+9.9+.020+0.1+1.0+.053+3.6+4.1+.044
Russell Westbrook 17 37.5 23.8 2.1 3.2 5.4 6.4 1.4 0.4 4.6 3.3 7.9 20.2 .394 0.8 2.8 .292 7.1 8.4 .852

Season 4

John Starks Russell Westbrook
Season 1992-932011-12
Team New York KnicksOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsThunder Lost NBA Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 80 31.0 17.5 0.7 1.9 2.6 5.1 1.1 0.2 2.2 2.9 6.4 15.0 .428 1.4 4.2 .321 3.3 4.1 .795
difference:+14+4.3+6.1+0.8+1.2+2.0+0.4+0.6+0.1-1.4-0.7+2.4+4.2+.029+0.5+1.2+.005+1.9+2.2+.028
Russell Westbrook 66 35.3 23.6 1.5 3.1 4.6 5.5 1.7 0.3 3.6 2.2 8.8 19.2 .457 0.9 3.0 .316 5.2 6.3 .823
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 15 38.3 16.5 0.3 3.2 3.5 6.4 1.0 0.2 3.7 3.8 5.9 13.3 .440 1.9 5.0 .373 2.9 4.0 .717
difference:+5+0.1+6.6+0.8+1.2+2.0+0.5+0.6+0.2-1.4-1.3+3.0+7.1+.005+1.0+1.7+.096+1.6+1.6+.085
Russell Westbrook 20 38.4 23.1 1.1 4.4 5.5 5.9 1.6 0.4 2.3 2.5 8.9 20.4 .435 0.9 3.3 .277 4.5 5.6 .802

Season 5

John Starks Russell Westbrook
Season 1993-942012-13
Team New York KnicksOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsThunder Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 59 34.9 19.0 0.6 2.5 3.1 5.9 1.6 0.1 3.1 3.2 6.9 16.6 .420 1.9 5.7 .335 3.2 4.2 .754
difference:+23+4.2+0.8+1.4+2.1+1.5+0.2+0.2-0.2-0.9+1.3+2.1+.018+0.7+2.0+.012+2.4+2.8+.046
Russell Westbrook 82 34.9 23.2 1.4 3.9 5.2 7.4 1.8 0.3 3.3 2.3 8.2 18.7 .438 1.2 3.7 .323 5.6 7.0 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 25 33.6 14.6 0.4 2.0 2.3 4.6 1.4 0.1 2.3 3.4 4.4 11.6 .381 1.9 5.3 .356 3.9 5.0 .770
difference:+23+0.4+9.4+0.1+4.0+4.2+2.4+1.6+0.1-1.7-0.9+4.1+8.9+.034+0.9+0.8+.134+2.1+2.0+.087
Russell Westbrook 2 34.0 24.0 0.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 3.0 0.0 4.0 2.5 8.5 20.5 .415 1.0 4.5 .222 6.0 7.0 .857

Season 6

John Starks Russell Westbrook
Season 1994-952013-14
Team New York KnicksOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisThunder Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 80 34.1 15.3 0.4 2.3 2.7 5.1 1.2 0.1 2.0 3.2 5.2 13.3 .395 2.7 7.6 .355 2.1 2.9 .737
difference:+34+3.4+6.5+0.8+2.2+3.0+1.8+0.7+0.1-1.8-0.9+2.3+3.9+.042+1.2+2.9+.037+3.2+3.5+.089
Russell Westbrook 46 30.7 21.8 1.2 4.5 5.7 6.9 1.9 0.2 3.8 2.3 7.5 17.2 .437 1.5 4.7 .318 5.3 6.4 .826
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 11 34.5 15.6 0.2 2.1 2.3 5.2 1.2 0.1 2.4 3.6 5.3 11.7 .450 2.7 6.6 .411 2.4 3.8 .619
difference:+8+4.2+11.1+2.2+2.8+5.0+2.9+1.0+0.2-2.0-0.3+3.5+9.2+.030+1.2+1.3+.131+5.2+4.8+.265
Russell Westbrook 19 38.7 26.7 2.4 4.9 7.3 8.1 2.2 0.3 4.4 3.3 8.8 20.9 .420 1.5 5.3 .280 7.6 8.6 .884

Season 7

John Starks Russell Westbrook
Season 1995-962014-15
Team New York KnicksOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 81 30.8 12.6 0.4 2.5 2.9 3.9 1.3 0.1 1.9 2.8 4.6 10.4 .443 1.8 4.9 .361 1.6 2.1 .753
difference:+14+3.6+15.5+1.5+2.9+4.4+4.7+0.8+0.1-2.5-0.1+4.8+11.6+.017+0.5+0.6+.062+6.5+7.7+.082
Russell Westbrook 67 34.4 28.1 1.9 5.4 7.3 8.6 2.1 0.2 4.4 2.7 9.4 22.0 .426 1.3 4.3 .299 8.1 9.8 .835
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 8 39.3 16.0 0.4 3.3 3.6 4.1 1.6 0.1 3.1 3.3 4.9 10.9 .448 2.6 5.6 .467 3.6 4.9 .744
Russell Westbrook DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

John Starks Russell Westbrook
Season 1996-972015-16
Team New York KnicksOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisThunder Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 77 26.5 13.8 0.5 2.2 2.7 2.8 1.2 0.1 2.1 2.5 4.8 11.1 .431 1.9 5.3 .369 2.2 2.9 .769
difference:+3+7.9+9.7+1.3+3.8+5.1+7.6+0.8+0.2-2.2+3.4+7.0+.023+0.6+1.0+.073+3.6+4.3+.043
Russell Westbrook 80 34.4 23.5 1.8 6.0 7.8 10.4 2.0 0.3 4.3 2.5 8.2 18.1 .454 1.3 4.3 .296 5.8 7.2 .812
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 9 28.3 14.0 0.8 2.7 3.4 2.8 1.1 0.0 2.2 2.8 4.9 11.0 .444 1.4 4.6 .317 2.8 3.4 .806
difference:+9+9.1+12.0+1.5+1.9+3.5+8.2+1.5+0.1-2.1-0.4+3.9+10.8+.039+0.5+1.2+.007+3.6+4.4+.023
Russell Westbrook 18 37.4 26.0 2.3 4.6 6.9 11.0 2.6 0.1 4.3 2.4 8.8 21.8 .405 1.9 5.8 .324 6.4 7.8 .829

Season 9

John Starks Russell Westbrook
Season 1997-982016-17
Team New York KnicksOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisThunder Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 82 26.7 12.9 0.6 2.2 2.8 2.7 1.0 0.1 1.7 2.5 4.5 11.5 .393 1.6 4.9 .327 2.3 2.9 .787
difference:+1+7.9+18.7+1.1+6.8+7.9+7.7+0.6+0.3-3.7-0.2+5.7+12.5+.032+0.9+2.3+.016+6.5+7.5+.058
Russell Westbrook 81 34.6 31.6 1.7 9.0 10.7 10.4 1.6 0.4 5.4 2.3 10.2 24.0 .425 2.5 7.2 .343 8.8 10.4 .845
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 10 31.4 16.4 0.4 3.6 4.0 2.3 1.6 0.1 1.1 3.5 5.9 12.5 .472 2.5 5.9 .424 2.1 2.4 .875
difference:+5+7.4+21.0+1.4+6.2+7.6+8.5+0.8+0.3-4.9-0.3+5.9+17.9+.084+0.1+3.9+.159+9.1+11.6+.075
Russell Westbrook 5 38.8 37.4 1.8 9.8 11.6 10.8 2.4 0.4 6.0 3.2 11.8 30.4 .388 2.6 9.8 .265 11.2 14.0 .800

Season 10

John Starks Russell Westbrook
Season 1998-992017-18
Team Golden State WarriorsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 50 33.7 13.8 0.7 2.6 3.3 4.7 1.4 0.1 1.7 2.7 5.4 14.6 .370 1.6 5.4 .290 1.5 2.0 .740
difference:+30+2.7+11.6+1.2+5.6+6.8+5.6+0.4+0.2-3.1-0.2+4.1+6.5+.079+0.4+1.3+.008+3.7+5.1+.003
Russell Westbrook 80 36.4 25.4 1.9 8.2 10.1 10.3 1.8 0.3 4.8 2.5 9.5 21.1 .449 1.2 4.1 .298 5.2 7.1 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks DNP------ --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 6 39.2 29.3 1.8 10.2 12.0 7.5 1.5 0.0 5.2 3.5 10.7 26.8 .398 2.5 7.0 .357 5.5 6.7 .825

Season 11

John Starks Russell Westbrook
Season 1999-002018-19
Team Golden State Warriors, Chicago BullsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 37 32.2 13.9 0.3 2.5 2.7 4.9 1.1 0.1 1.8 2.8 5.5 14.6 .375 1.6 4.6 .345 1.4 1.6 .847
difference:+36+3.8+9.0+1.2+7.1+8.4+5.8+0.8+0.4-2.7-0.6+3.1+5.6+.053+1.0+.055+2.7+4.6+.191
Russell Westbrook 73 36.0 22.9 1.5 9.6 11.1 10.7 1.9 0.5 4.5 3.4 8.6 20.2 .428 1.6 5.6 .290 4.1 6.2 .656
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks DNP------ --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 5 39.4 22.8 1.4 7.6 9.0 10.6 1.0 0.6 4.6 3.8 8.0 22.2 .360 2.2 6.8 .324 4.6 5.2 .885

Season 12

John Starks Russell Westbrook
Season 2000-012019-20
Team Utah JazzHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 75 28.3 9.3 0.4 1.7 2.1 2.4 1.0 0.1 1.3 2.9 3.6 9.1 .398 0.9 2.4 .352 1.2 1.5 .802
difference:+18+7.6+17.9+1.4+4.5+5.8+4.6+0.6+0.3-3.2-0.6+7.0+13.4+.074+0.1+1.3+.094+3.9+5.2+.039
Russell Westbrook 57 35.9 27.2 1.8 6.2 7.9 7.0 1.6 0.4 4.5 3.5 10.6 22.5 .472 1.0 3.7 .258 5.1 6.7 .763
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 3 12.0 3.7 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.7 1.3 4.0 .333 0.3 1.3 .250 0.7 0.7 1.000
difference:+5+20.8+14.2+1.4+4.6+6.0+4.3+1.2-3.1-1.2+6.1+13.5+.088+0.7+2.8+.008+1.4+3.3+.469
Russell Westbrook 8 32.8 17.9 1.4 5.6 7.0 4.6 1.5 0.3 3.8 2.9 7.4 17.5 .421 1.0 4.1 .242 2.1 4.0 .531

Season 13

John Starks Russell Westbrook
Season 2001-022020-21
Team Utah JazzWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
Playoffs Did Not PlayWizards Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks 66 14.1 4.4 0.2 0.8 1.0 1.1 0.5 0.0 0.8 1.9 1.7 4.7 .368 0.4 1.4 .305 0.5 0.6 .805
difference:+1+22.3+17.8+1.5+9.1+10.5+10.6+0.9+0.4-4.0-1.0+6.7+14.3+.071+0.9+2.8+.010+3.7+5.8+.149
Russell Westbrook 65 36.4 22.2 1.7 9.9 11.5 11.7 1.4 0.4 4.8 2.9 8.4 19.0 .439 1.3 4.2 .315 4.2 6.4 .656
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
John Starks DNP------ --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 5 37.2 19.0 2.8 7.6 10.4 11.8 0.4 0.2 4.2 3.4 5.6 16.8 .333 1.0 4.0 .250 6.8 8.6 .791

Additional Years

* Russell Westbrook played 4 seasons more than John Starks in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 17, from 2022 to 2025—Russell Westbrook played in 3 Playoffs.