Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Jeff Ruland Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jeff Ruland and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 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 / Games against each other

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.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played 20 years in the NBA, 12 more than Jeff Ruland, who played 8. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had the first of his seasons in 1969-70, while Jeff Ruland had his rookie season in 1981-82. 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
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 20 18 1969-70 to 1988-89
Jeff Ruland 8 4 1981-82 to 1992-93

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20

Rookie Season
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1969-701981-82
Team Milwaukee BucksWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Div FinalsBullets 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 %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 43.1 28.8 - - 14.5 4.1 - - - 3.5 11.4 22.1 .518 - - - 5.9 9.1 .653
Jeff Ruland 82 27.0 14.4 3.1 6.2 9.3 1.6 0.5 0.7 2.9 3.9 5.1 9.1 .561 0.0 0.0 .333 4.2 5.5 .752
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 10 43.5 35.2 - - 16.8 4.1 - - - 2.5 13.9 24.5 .567 - - - 7.4 10.1 .733
Jeff Ruland 7 33.9 17.0 4.1 5.3 9.4 0.7 0.4 0.6 3.3 3.4 5.4 11.3 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 6.1 8.0 .768

Season 2
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1970-711982-83
Team Milwaukee BucksWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Scoring 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 %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 40.1 31.7 - - 16.0 3.3 - - - 3.2 13.0 22.5 .577 - - - 5.7 8.3 .690
Jeff Ruland 79 36.2 19.4 3.7 7.3 11.0 3.0 0.9 1.0 3.8 3.9 7.3 13.3 .552 0.0 0.0 .333 4.7 6.9 .689
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 14 41.2 26.6 - - 17.0 2.5 - - - 3.2 10.9 21.1 .515 - - - 4.9 7.2 .673
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1971-721983-84
Team Milwaukee BucksWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf FinalsBullets Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 81 44.2 34.8 - - 16.6 4.6 - - - 2.9 14.3 24.9 .574 - - - 6.2 9.0 .689
Jeff Ruland 75 41.1 22.2 3.5 8.8 12.3 3.9 0.9 1.0 4.6 3.8 8.0 13.8 .579 0.0 0.1 .143 6.2 8.5 .733
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 11 46.4 28.7 - - 18.2 5.1 - - - 3.2 12.6 28.9 .437 - - - 3.5 4.9 .704
Jeff Ruland 4 46.8 24.0 4.0 8.8 12.8 7.8 0.5 0.8 4.8 3.8 9.3 17.8 .521 0.0 0.3 .000 5.5 6.8 .815

Season 4
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1972-731984-85
Team Milwaukee BucksWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf SemisBullets Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 76 42.8 30.2 - - 16.1 5.0 - - - 2.7 12.9 23.3 .554 - - - 4.3 6.1 .713
Jeff Ruland 37 38.8 18.9 3.4 7.6 11.1 4.4 0.8 0.7 4.8 3.5 6.8 11.9 .569 0.0 0.1 .000 5.4 7.9 .685
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 6 46.0 22.8 - - 16.2 2.8 - - - 4.3 9.8 23.0 .428 - - - 3.2 5.8 .543
Jeff Ruland 4 40.5 17.5 3.0 5.5 8.5 5.3 2.3 1.0 5.8 3.8 7.0 11.8 .596 0.0 0.5 .000 3.5 5.0 .700

Season 5
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1973-741985-86
Team Milwaukee BucksWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks Lost NBA FinalsBullets Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 81 43.8 27.0 3.5 11.0 14.5 4.8 1.4 3.5 - 2.9 11.7 21.7 .539 - - - 3.6 5.2 .702
Jeff Ruland 30 37.1 19.0 3.6 7.1 10.7 5.3 0.8 0.8 4.0 3.3 7.1 12.8 .554 0.0 0.1 .000 4.8 6.7 .725
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 16 47.4 32.2 4.2 11.6 15.8 4.9 1.3 2.4 - 2.6 14.0 25.1 .557 - - - 4.2 5.7 .736
Jeff Ruland 2 27.0 14.0 2.5 3.5 6.0 5.0 0.0 1.0 3.0 3.0 3.5 7.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 7.0 8.5 .824

Season 6
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1974-751986-87
Team Milwaukee BucksPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 65 42.3 30.0 3.0 11.0 14.0 4.1 1.0 3.3 - 3.2 12.5 24.4 .513 - - - 5.0 6.6 .763
Jeff Ruland 5 23.2 9.4 2.4 3.2 5.6 2.0 0.0 0.8 2.0 2.6 3.8 5.6 .679 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.4 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ------- --- ----------
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------

Note: Jeff Ruland didn't play in 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90 and 1990-91.

Season 7
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1975-761991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 41.2 27.7 3.3 13.5 16.9 5.0 1.5 4.1 - 3.6 11.1 21.1 .529 - - - 5.5 7.8 .703
Jeff Ruland 13 16.1 3.9 1.2 2.4 3.6 0.4 0.5 0.3 1.5 3.5 1.5 2.9 .526 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .688
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ------- --- ----------
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------

Season 8
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1976-771992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 36.8 26.2 3.2 10.0 13.3 3.9 1.2 3.2 - 3.2 10.8 18.7 .579 - - - 4.6 6.5 .701
Jeff Ruland 11 5.0 1.1 0.8 0.8 1.6 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.5 1.5 0.5 1.0 .455 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.4 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 11 42.5 34.6 4.6 13.1 17.7 4.1 1.7 3.5 - 3.8 13.4 22.0 .607 - - - 7.9 10.9 .725
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1977-78-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 62 36.5 25.8 3.0 9.9 12.9 4.3 1.7 3.0 3.4 2.9 10.7 19.4 .550 - - - 4.4 5.6 .783
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3 44.7 27.0 4.7 9.0 13.7 3.7 0.7 4.0 4.7 4.7 12.7 24.3 .521 - - - 1.7 3.0 .556
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1978-79-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 80 39.5 23.8 2.6 10.2 12.8 5.4 1.0 4.0 3.5 2.9 9.7 16.8 .577 - - - 4.4 5.9 .736
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 8 45.9 28.5 2.3 10.4 12.6 4.8 1.0 4.1 3.6 3.3 11.0 19.0 .579 - - - 6.5 7.8 .839
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1979-80-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
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 %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 38.3 24.8 2.3 8.5 10.8 4.5 1.0 3.4 3.6 2.6 10.2 16.9 .604 0.0 0.0 .000 4.4 5.8 .765
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 15 41.2 31.9 3.4 8.7 12.1 3.1 1.1 3.9 3.7 3.4 13.2 23.1 .572 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 7.0 .790
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1980-81-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 80 37.2 26.2 2.5 7.8 10.3 3.4 0.7 2.9 3.1 3.1 10.5 18.2 .574 0.0 0.0 .000 5.3 6.9 .766
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3 44.7 26.7 4.3 12.3 16.7 4.0 1.0 2.7 3.7 4.7 10.0 21.7 .462 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 9.3 .714
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1981-82-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards 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 %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 76 35.2 23.9 2.3 6.4 8.7 3.0 0.8 2.7 3.0 2.9 9.9 17.1 .579 0.0 0.0 .000 4.1 5.8 .706
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 14 35.2 20.4 2.4 6.1 8.5 3.6 1.0 3.2 2.9 3.2 8.2 15.8 .520 0.0 0.0 - 3.9 6.2 .632
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1982-83-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 79 32.3 21.8 2.1 5.4 7.5 2.5 0.8 2.2 2.5 2.8 9.1 15.5 .588 0.0 0.0 .000 3.5 4.7 .749
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 15 39.2 27.1 1.7 6.0 7.7 2.8 1.1 3.7 3.3 4.1 10.9 19.1 .568 0.0 0.1 .000 5.3 7.1 .755
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------

Season 15
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1983-84-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 80 32.8 21.5 2.1 5.2 7.3 2.6 0.7 1.8 2.8 2.6 9.0 15.5 .578 0.0 0.0 .000 3.6 4.9 .723
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 21 36.5 23.9 2.7 5.6 8.2 3.8 1.1 2.1 2.1 3.4 9.8 17.7 .555 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 5.7 .750
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------

Season 16
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1984-85-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
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 %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 79 33.3 22.0 2.1 5.8 7.9 3.2 0.8 2.1 2.5 3.0 9.2 15.3 .599 0.0 0.0 .000 3.7 5.0 .732
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 19 32.1 21.9 2.6 5.5 8.1 4.0 1.2 1.9 2.7 3.5 8.8 15.8 .560 0.0 0.0 - 4.2 5.4 .777
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------

Season 17
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1985-86-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 79 33.3 23.4 1.7 4.4 6.1 3.5 0.8 1.6 2.6 3.1 9.6 16.9 .564 0.0 0.0 .000 4.3 5.6 .765
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 14 34.9 25.9 1.9 4.1 5.9 3.5 1.1 1.7 3.0 3.9 11.2 20.1 .557 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 4.4 .787
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------

Season 18
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1986-87-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards 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 %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 78 31.3 17.5 1.9 4.8 6.7 2.6 0.6 1.2 2.4 3.1 7.2 12.7 .564 0.0 0.0 .333 3.1 4.4 .714
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 18 31.1 19.2 2.2 4.7 6.8 2.0 0.4 1.9 2.2 3.1 6.9 13.0 .530 0.0 0.1 .000 5.4 6.8 .795
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------

Season 19
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1987-88-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards 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 %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 80 28.9 14.6 1.5 4.5 6.0 1.7 0.6 1.2 2.0 2.7 6.0 11.3 .532 0.0 0.0 .000 2.6 3.4 .762
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24 29.9 14.1 2.0 3.4 5.5 1.5 0.6 1.5 1.9 3.4 5.9 12.7 .464 0.0 0.1 .000 2.3 3.0 .789
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------

Season 20
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jeff Ruland
Season 1988-89-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 74 22.9 10.1 1.4 3.1 4.5 1.0 0.5 1.1 1.3 2.6 4.2 8.9 .475 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.2 .739
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 15 23.4 11.1 0.9 3.1 3.9 1.3 0.3 0.7 1.5 2.9 4.5 9.8 .463 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.9 .721
Jeff Ruland ------- --- ----------
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