LaMelo Ball vs. Russell Westbrook Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Russell Westbrook and LaMelo Ball, 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 / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings / Games against each other
Career comparison / Season by season / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings / 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.
LaMelo Ball played 5 years in the NBA, 12 less than Russell Westbrook, who played 17. LaMelo Ball had the first of his seasons in 2020-21, 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 |
| LaMelo Ball | 5 | 0 | 2020-21 to 2024-25 |
| Russell Westbrook | 17 | 14 | 2008-09 to 2024-25 |
Rookie Season |
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| LaMelo Ball | Russell Westbrook | |
| Season | 2020-21 | 2008-09 |
| Team | Charlotte Hornets | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Honors & Awards |  Rookie of the Year | - |
| All-Rookie First Team | All-Rookie First Team | |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Did Not Play |
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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 | % | ||||
| LaMelo Ball | 51 | 28.8 | 15.7 | 1.2 | 4.7 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 5.7 | 13.2 | .436 | 1.8 | 5.1 | .352 | 2.5 | 3.2 | .758 |
| difference: | +31 | +3.7 | +0.4 | +1.0 | +2.0 | +1.0 | +0.8 | +0.3 | +0.2 | -0.5 | -0.4 | +0.4 | +0.2 | +.038 | +1.4 | +3.5 | +.081 | +1.8 | +2.0 | +.057 |
| 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 LaMelo Ball nor Russell Westbrook played in the postseason in their season 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Season 2 |
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| LaMelo Ball | Russell Westbrook | |
| Season | 2021-22 | 2009-10 |
| Team | Charlotte Hornets | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Honors & Awards | All-Star Game | - |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Thunder Lost West Conf 1st Rd |
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| LaMelo Ball | 75 | 32.3 | 20.1 | 1.4 | 5.2 | 6.7 | 7.6 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 7.2 | 16.7 | .429 | 2.9 | 7.5 | .389 | 2.8 | 3.2 | .872 |
| difference: | +7 | +2.0 | +4.0 | +0.3 | +2.1 | +1.8 | +0.4 | +0.3 | -0.7 | +1.3 | +2.6 | +.011 | +2.6 | +6.2 | +.168 | +1.2 | +1.9 | +.092 | ||
| 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 | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| LaMelo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
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| LaMelo Ball | Russell Westbrook | |
| Season | 2022-23 | 2010-11 |
| Team | Charlotte Hornets | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Honors & Awards | - | All-NBA Second Team |
| - | All-Star Game | |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Thunder Lost West Conf Finals |
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| LaMelo Ball | 36 | 35.2 | 23.3 | 1.2 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 8.4 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 8.2 | 20.0 | .411 | 4.0 | 10.6 | .376 | 2.8 | 3.4 | .836 |
| difference: | +46 | +0.5 | +1.4 | +0.3 | +2.2 | +1.8 | +0.2 | +0.6 | +0.1 | -0.3 | -0.8 | +0.7 | +3.0 | +.031 | +3.6 | +9.3 | +.046 | +3.7 | +4.3 | +.006 |
| 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 | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| LaMelo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
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| LaMelo Ball | Russell Westbrook | |
| Season | 2023-24 | 2011-12 |
| Team | Charlotte Hornets | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Honors & Awards | - | All-NBA Second Team |
| - | All-Star Game | |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Thunder Lost NBA Finals |
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 | % | ||||
| LaMelo Ball | 22 | 32.3 | 23.9 | 1.3 | 3.8 | 5.1 | 8.0 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 8.3 | 19.2 | .433 | 3.2 | 9.0 | .355 | 4.1 | 4.7 | .865 |
| difference: | +44 | +3.0 | +0.3 | +0.2 | +0.7 | +0.5 | +2.5 | +0.1 | +0.1 | -0.2 | -1.4 | +0.5 | +.024 | +2.3 | +6.0 | +.039 | +1.1 | +1.6 | +.042 | |
| 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 | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| LaMelo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
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| LaMelo Ball | Russell Westbrook | |
| Season | 2024-25 | 2012-13 |
| Team | Charlotte Hornets | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Honors & Awards | - | All-NBA Second Team |
| - | All-Star Game | |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Thunder Lost West Conf Semis |
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 | % | ||||
| LaMelo Ball | 47 | 32.0 | 25.2 | 1.0 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 7.4 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 8.6 | 21.3 | .405 | 3.8 | 11.2 | .339 | 4.1 | 4.9 | .843 |
| difference: | +35 | +2.9 | +2.0 | +0.4 | +0.3 | +0.7 | -0.3 | -1.0 | +0.4 | +2.6 | +.033 | +2.6 | +7.5 | +.016 | +1.5 | +2.1 | +.043 | |||
| 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 | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| LaMelo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
Additional Years |
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* Russell Westbrook played 12 seasons more than LaMelo Ball in the NBA. In that period—his seasons 6 to 17, from 2014 to 2025—Russell Westbrook played in 10 Playoffs. In those 12 extra years over LaMelo Ball, Russell Westbrook got these achievements: | |
| Honors & Awards | 1 Season MVP 2 All-NBA First Team 2 All-NBA Second Team 2 All-NBA Third Team 2 Scoring Leader 3 Assists Leader 6 All-Star Game 2 All-Star Game MVP |