LeBron James vs. D'Angelo Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of D'Angelo Russell and LeBron James, 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 / 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.

LeBron James played 22 years in the NBA, 12 more than D'Angelo Russell, who played 10. LeBron James had the first of his seasons in 2003-04, while D'Angelo Russell had his rookie season in 2015-16. 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
LeBron James 22 18 2003-04 to 2024-25
D'Angelo Russell 10 4 2015-16 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10

Rookie Season
LeBron James D'Angelo Russell
Season 2003-042015-16
Team Cleveland CavaliersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second 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%
LeBron James 79 39.5 20.9 1.3 4.2 5.5 5.9 1.6 0.7 3.5 1.9 7.9 18.9 .417 0.8 2.7 .290 4.4 5.8 .754
difference:+1+11.3+7.7+0.7+1.4+2.1+2.6+0.4+0.5-1.0-0.1+3.0+6.9+.007+0.8+1.9+.061+2.6+3.4+.017
D'Angelo Russell 80 28.2 13.2 0.6 2.8 3.4 3.3 1.2 0.2 2.5 1.8 4.9 12.0 .410 1.6 4.6 .351 1.8 2.4 .737
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher LeBron James nor D'Angelo Russell played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2
LeBron James D'Angelo Russell
Season 2004-052016-17
Team Cleveland CavaliersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 80 42.4 27.2 1.4 6.0 7.4 7.2 2.2 0.7 3.3 1.8 9.9 21.1 .472 1.4 3.9 .351 6.0 8.0 .750
difference:+17+13.7+11.6+0.9+3.0+3.9+2.4+0.8+0.4-0.5-0.3+4.3+7.3+.067+0.7+2.2+.001+3.7+5.0+.032
D'Angelo Russell 63 28.7 15.6 0.5 3.0 3.5 4.8 1.4 0.3 2.8 2.1 5.6 13.8 .405 2.1 6.1 .352 2.3 3.0 .782
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher LeBron James nor D'Angelo Russell played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3
LeBron James D'Angelo Russell
Season 2005-062017-18
Team Cleveland CavaliersBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 79 42.5 31.4 0.9 6.1 7.0 6.6 1.6 0.8 3.3 2.3 11.1 23.1 .480 1.6 4.8 .335 7.6 10.3 .738
difference:+31+16.8+15.9+0.3+2.8+3.1+1.4+0.8+0.4-0.2-0.4+5.3+9.1+.066+0.3+1.0+.011+5.6+7.6+.002
D'Angelo Russell 48 25.7 15.5 0.6 3.3 3.9 5.2 0.8 0.4 3.1 1.9 5.8 14.0 .414 1.9 5.8 .324 2.0 2.7 .740
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 13 46.5 30.8 1.7 6.4 8.1 5.8 1.4 0.7 5.0 3.4 11.2 23.6 .476 1.6 4.8 .333 6.7 9.1 .737
D'Angelo Russell DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4
LeBron James D'Angelo Russell
Season 2006-072018-19
Team Cleveland CavaliersBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA FinalsNets Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 78 40.9 27.3 1.1 5.7 6.7 6.0 1.6 0.7 3.2 2.2 9.9 20.8 .476 1.3 4.0 .319 6.3 9.0 .698
difference:+3+10.7+6.2+0.4+2.5+2.8+1.0+0.4+0.5-0.1-0.5+1.8+2.1+.042+1.6+3.8+.050+4.3+6.5+.082
D'Angelo Russell 81 30.2 21.1 0.7 3.2 3.9 7.0 1.2 0.2 3.1 1.7 8.1 18.7 .434 2.9 7.8 .369 2.0 2.5 .780
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 20 44.7 25.1 1.3 6.8 8.1 8.0 1.7 0.5 3.3 2.0 8.3 20.0 .416 1.1 3.8 .280 7.4 9.8 .755
difference:+15+15.1+5.7+0.9+3.6+4.5+4.4+0.3+0.3-0.5-0.4+0.9+0.6+.057+1.3+3.6+.044+5.2+7.2+.091
D'Angelo Russell 5 29.6 19.4 0.4 3.2 3.6 3.6 1.4 0.2 2.8 2.4 7.4 20.6 .359 2.4 7.4 .324 2.2 2.6 .846

Season 5
LeBron James D'Angelo Russell
Season 2007-082019-20
Team Cleveland CavaliersGolden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 75 40.4 30.0 1.8 6.1 7.9 7.2 1.8 1.1 3.4 2.2 10.6 21.9 .484 1.5 4.8 .315 7.3 10.3 .712
difference:+30+8.1+6.9+1.4+2.5+4.0+0.9+0.7+0.8-0.1-0.3+2.6+3.1+.058+2.0+4.8+.052+3.7+5.9+.097
D'Angelo Russell 45 32.3 23.1 0.4 3.6 3.9 6.3 1.1 0.3 3.3 1.9 8.0 18.8 .426 3.5 9.6 .367 3.6 4.4 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 13 42.5 28.2 1.2 6.6 7.8 7.6 1.8 1.3 4.2 2.5 8.7 21.2 .411 1.4 5.4 .257 9.4 12.8 .731
D'Angelo Russell DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6
LeBron James D'Angelo Russell
Season 2008-092020-21
Team Cleveland CavaliersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 81 37.7 28.4 1.3 6.3 7.6 7.2 1.7 1.1 3.0 1.7 9.7 19.9 .489 1.6 4.7 .344 7.3 9.4 .780
difference:+39+9.2+9.4+0.9+4.0+5.0+1.4+0.6+0.7-0.3-0.1+3.0+4.4+.058+1.3+2.7+.043+4.6+5.9+.015
D'Angelo Russell 42 28.5 19.0 0.4 2.3 2.6 5.8 1.1 0.4 2.7 1.6 6.7 15.5 .431 2.9 7.4 .387 2.7 3.5 .765
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 14 41.4 35.3 1.4 7.8 9.1 7.3 1.6 0.9 2.7 2.1 11.4 22.3 .510 1.9 5.8 .333 10.6 14.2 .749
D'Angelo Russell DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7
LeBron James D'Angelo Russell
Season 2009-102021-22
Team Cleveland CavaliersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf SemisTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 76 39.0 29.7 0.9 6.4 7.3 8.6 1.6 1.0 3.4 1.6 10.1 20.1 .503 1.7 5.1 .333 7.8 10.2 .767
difference:+11+7.0+11.6+0.5+3.5+4.0+1.5+0.6+0.7-0.9-0.4+3.9+5.1+.092+1.0+2.9+.007+4.8+6.5+.058
D'Angelo Russell 65 32.0 18.1 0.4 2.9 3.3 7.1 1.0 0.3 2.5 2.0 6.2 15.0 .411 2.7 8.0 .340 3.0 3.7 .825
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 11 41.8 29.1 1.4 7.9 9.3 7.6 1.7 1.8 3.8 2.1 9.6 19.2 .502 1.8 4.5 .400 8.0 10.9 .733
difference:+5+9.1+17.1+1.4+5.4+6.8+0.9+0.2+1.8-1.0-0.7+5.6+7.2+.169+0.2+0.7+.013+6.0+8.2+.017
D'Angelo Russell 6 32.7 12.0 0.0 2.5 2.5 6.7 1.5 0.0 2.8 2.8 4.0 12.0 .333 2.0 5.2 .387 2.0 2.7 .750

Season 8
LeBron James D'Angelo Russell
Season 2010-112022-23
Team Miami HeatMinnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Heat Lost NBA FinalsLakers 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%
LeBron James 79 38.8 26.7 1.0 6.5 7.5 7.0 1.6 0.6 3.6 2.1 9.6 18.8 .510 1.2 3.5 .330 6.4 8.4 .759
difference:+8+6.3+8.9+0.5+4.0+4.5+0.8+0.6+0.2-1.0-0.1+3.3+5.4+.041+1.5+3.4+.066+3.9+5.4+.070
D'Angelo Russell 71 32.5 17.8 0.5 2.5 3.0 6.2 1.0 0.4 2.6 2.0 6.3 13.4 .469 2.7 6.9 .396 2.5 3.0 .829
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 21 43.9 23.7 1.6 6.8 8.4 5.9 1.7 1.2 3.1 2.7 8.3 17.8 .466 1.4 4.0 .353 5.7 7.4 .763
difference:+5+14.3+10.4+1.0+4.5+5.5+1.3+1.0+0.9-1.3-0.7+3.1+5.6+.040+0.3+1.4+.043+4.4+5.8+.006
D'Angelo Russell 16 29.6 13.3 0.6 2.3 2.9 4.6 0.7 0.3 1.8 2.0 5.2 12.2 .426 1.7 5.4 .310 1.3 1.6 .769

Season 9
LeBron James D'Angelo Russell
Season 2011-122023-24
Team Miami HeatLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
Others -NBA Cup NBA Cup 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%
LeBron James 62 37.5 27.1 1.5 6.4 7.9 6.2 1.9 0.8 3.4 1.5 10.0 18.9 .531 0.9 2.4 .362 6.2 8.1 .771
difference:+14+4.8+9.1+1.1+3.7+4.8+0.1+1.0+0.3-1.3-0.6+3.5+4.7+.075+2.1+4.8+.053+4.1+5.6+.057
D'Angelo Russell 76 32.7 18.0 0.4 2.7 3.1 6.3 0.9 0.5 2.1 2.1 6.5 14.2 .456 3.0 7.2 .415 2.1 2.5 .828
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 23 42.7 30.3 2.3 7.4 9.7 5.6 1.9 0.7 3.5 2.0 10.9 21.8 .500 1.0 3.7 .259 7.5 10.2 .739
difference:+18+5.7+16.1+2.1+4.8+6.9+1.4+1.1+0.5-1.7-0.8+5.3+7.2+.116+1.8+5.1+.059+7.3+9.8+.239
D'Angelo Russell 5 37.0 14.2 0.2 2.6 2.8 4.2 0.8 0.2 1.8 1.2 5.6 14.6 .384 2.8 8.8 .318 0.2 0.4 .500

Season 10
LeBron James D'Angelo Russell
Season 2012-132024-25
Team Miami HeatLos Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 76 37.9 26.8 1.3 6.8 8.0 7.3 1.7 0.9 3.0 1.4 10.1 17.8 .565 1.4 3.3 .406 5.3 7.0 .753
difference:+18+12.4+14.2+1.0+4.4+5.2+2.2+0.7+0.5-1.1-0.6+5.8+6.8+.175+0.5+2.9+.092+3.2+4.5+.081
D'Angelo Russell 58 25.5 12.6 0.3 2.4 2.8 5.1 1.0 0.4 1.9 2.0 4.3 11.0 .390 1.9 6.2 .314 2.1 2.5 .834
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
LeBron James 23 41.7 25.9 1.6 6.8 8.4 6.6 1.8 0.8 3.0 1.9 9.2 18.8 .491 1.6 4.2 .375 5.9 7.6 .777
D'Angelo Russell DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* LeBron James played 12 seasons more than D'Angelo Russell in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 11 to 22, from 2014 to 2025—LeBron James played in 10 Playoffs and won two NBA Championships and one NBA Cup.

In those 12 extra years over D'Angelo Russell, LeBron James got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 2 Finals MVP
Achievement 6 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 2 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 4 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 1 All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement 1 Assists Leader
Achievement 1 Cup MVP
Achievement 1 Cup All-Tournament Team
Achievement 12 All-Star Game
Achievement 1 All-Star Game MVP
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