Oscar Robertson vs. Fred VanVleet Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Fred VanVleet and Oscar Robertson, 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 / 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.

Oscar Robertson played 14 years in the NBA, 5 more than Fred VanVleet, who played 9. Oscar Robertson had the first of his seasons in 1960-61, while Fred VanVleet had his rookie season in 2016-17. 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
Oscar Robertson 14 10 1960-61 to 1973-74
Fred VanVleet 9 6 2016-17 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Oscar Robertson Fred VanVleet
Season 1960-612016-17
Team Cincinnati RoyalsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Did Not PlayRaptors Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Oscar Robertson 71 42.7 30.5 - - 10.1 9.7 - - - 3.1 10.6 22.5 .473 - - - 9.2 11.2 .822
difference:+34+34.8+27.6+9.0+8.8-2.1+9.5+19.5+.122+8.7+10.6+.004
Fred VanVleet 37 7.9 2.9 0.1 1.0 1.1 0.9 0.4 0.1 0.4 1.0 1.1 3.0 .351 0.3 0.8 .379 0.5 0.6 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Oscar Robertson DNP------ --- ----------
Fred VanVleet 7 4.1 2.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.4 0.9 1.3 .667 0.3 0.7 .400 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Oscar Robertson Fred VanVleet
Season 1961-622017-18
Team Cincinnati RoyalsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Royals Lost West Div SemisRaptors Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Oscar Robertson 79 44.3 30.8 - - 12.5 11.4 - - - 3.3 11.0 22.9 .478 - - - 8.9 11.0 .803
difference:+3+24.3+22.2+10.1+8.2-1.6+7.9+15.7+.052+7.8+9.7+.029
Fred VanVleet 76 20.0 8.6 0.3 2.1 2.4 3.2 0.9 0.3 1.0 1.7 3.1 7.2 .426 1.4 3.4 .414 1.1 1.3 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Oscar Robertson 4 46.3 28.8 - - 11.0 11.0 - - - 4.5 10.5 20.3 .519 - - - 7.8 9.8 .795
difference:+2+27.3+22.0+9.3+8.8-3.2+8.3+13.8+.186+6.6+8.5+.080
Fred VanVleet 6 19.0 6.8 0.0 1.7 1.7 2.2 0.0 0.0 0.7 1.3 2.2 6.5 .333 1.3 4.7 .286 1.2 1.3 .875

Season 3

Oscar Robertson Fred VanVleet
Season 1962-632018-19
Team Cincinnati RoyalsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Royals Lost East Div FinalsNBA 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%
Oscar Robertson 80 44.0 28.3 - - 10.4 9.5 - - - 3.7 10.3 19.9 .518 - - - 7.7 9.5 .810
difference:+16+16.5+17.3+7.8+4.7-2.0+6.5+10.5+.108+6.2+7.7+.033
Fred VanVleet 64 27.5 11.0 0.3 2.3 2.6 4.8 0.9 0.3 1.3 1.7 3.8 9.4 .410 1.8 4.6 .378 1.5 1.8 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Oscar Robertson 12 47.5 31.8 - - 13.0 9.0 - - - 3.4 10.3 22.0 .470 - - - 11.1 12.8 .864
difference:+12+22.8+23.8+11.3+6.4-1.4+7.6+15.1+.078+10.1+11.5+.090
Fred VanVleet 24 24.7 8.0 0.3 1.4 1.7 2.6 0.8 0.3 0.9 2.0 2.7 6.9 .392 1.6 4.1 .388 1.0 1.3 .774

Season 4

Oscar Robertson Fred VanVleet
Season 1963-642019-20
Team Cincinnati RoyalsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Royals Lost East Div FinalsRaptors Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Oscar Robertson 79 45.1 31.4 - - 9.9 11.0 - - - 3.5 10.6 22.0 .483 - - - 10.1 11.9 .853
difference:+25+9.4+13.8+6.1+4.4-1.1+4.7+7.7+.070+7.0+8.2+.005
Fred VanVleet 54 35.7 17.6 0.3 3.4 3.8 6.6 1.9 0.3 2.2 2.4 5.9 14.3 .413 2.7 6.9 .390 3.1 3.7 .848
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Oscar Robertson 10 47.1 29.3 - - 8.9 8.4 - - - 3.0 9.2 20.2 .455 - - - 10.9 12.7 .858
difference:+1+8.0+9.7+4.5+1.5-0.5+2.3+2.9+.055+9.0+10.4+.018
Fred VanVleet 11 39.1 19.6 0.5 3.9 4.4 6.9 1.6 0.6 2.0 2.5 6.9 17.3 .400 3.9 10.0 .391 1.9 2.3 .840

Season 5

Oscar Robertson Fred VanVleet
Season 1964-652020-21
Team Cincinnati RoyalsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Royals Lost East Div 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%
Oscar Robertson 75 45.6 30.4 - - 9.0 11.5 - - - 2.7 10.8 22.4 .480 - - - 8.9 10.6 .839
difference:+23+9.1+10.8+4.8+5.2-0.4+4.3+5.7+.091+5.6+6.9+.046
Fred VanVleet 52 36.5 19.6 0.6 3.6 4.2 6.3 1.7 0.7 1.8 2.3 6.5 16.7 .389 3.3 9.2 .366 3.3 3.7 .885
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Oscar Robertson 4 48.8 28.0 - - 4.8 12.0 - - - 3.5 9.5 22.3 .427 - - - 9.0 9.8 .923
Fred VanVleet DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Oscar Robertson Fred VanVleet
Season 1965-662021-22
Team Cincinnati RoyalsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Royals Lost East Div SemisRaptors Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Oscar Robertson 76 46.0 31.3 - - 7.7 11.1 - - - 3.0 10.8 22.7 .475 - - - 9.8 11.6 .842
difference:+11+8.1+11.0+3.3+4.4-0.5+4.0+5.8+.072+6.8+8.2+.032
Fred VanVleet 65 37.9 20.3 0.7 3.8 4.4 6.7 1.7 0.5 2.6 2.5 6.8 16.9 .403 3.7 9.9 .377 3.0 3.4 .874
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Oscar Robertson 5 44.8 31.8 - - 7.6 7.8 - - - 4.0 9.8 24.0 .408 - - - 12.2 13.6 .897
difference:+1+9.8+18.0+4.6+1.5-1.0+5.0+10.5+.056+10.9+12.1+.064
Fred VanVleet 4 35.0 13.8 0.5 2.5 3.0 6.3 1.8 1.0 1.0 3.0 4.8 13.5 .352 3.0 9.0 .333 1.3 1.5 .833

Season 7

Oscar Robertson Fred VanVleet
Season 1966-672022-23
Team Cincinnati RoyalsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Royals Lost East Div 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%
Oscar Robertson 79 43.9 30.5 - - 6.2 10.7 - - - 2.9 10.6 21.5 .493 - - - 9.3 10.7 .873
difference:+10+7.2+11.2+2.1+3.5-0.1+4.3+5.4+.100+5.6+6.6+.025
Fred VanVleet 69 36.7 19.3 0.4 3.6 4.1 7.2 1.8 0.6 2.0 2.8 6.3 16.1 .393 3.0 8.8 .342 3.7 4.1 .898
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Oscar Robertson 4 45.8 24.8 - - 4.0 11.3 - - - 2.3 8.3 16.0 .516 - - - 8.3 9.3 .892
Fred VanVleet DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Oscar Robertson Fred VanVleet
Season 1967-682023-24
Team Cincinnati RoyalsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Oscar Robertson 65 42.5 29.2 - - 6.0 9.7 - - - 3.1 10.2 20.3 .500 - - - 8.9 10.2 .873
difference:+8+5.7+11.8+2.2+1.6-0.6+4.4+6.4+.084+6.2+7.1+.013
Fred VanVleet 73 36.8 17.4 0.5 3.4 3.8 8.1 1.4 0.8 1.7 2.5 5.8 13.9 .416 3.1 8.0 .387 2.7 3.1 .860
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Oscar Robertson nor Fred VanVleet played in the postseason in their season 8

Season 9

Oscar Robertson Fred VanVleet
Season 1968-692024-25
Team Cincinnati RoyalsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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%
Oscar Robertson 79 43.8 24.7 - - 6.4 9.8 - - - 2.9 8.3 17.1 .486 - - - 8.1 9.7 .838
difference:+19+8.6+10.6+2.7+4.2-0.6+3.5+4.4+.108+6.2+7.4+.028
Fred VanVleet 60 35.2 14.1 0.5 3.2 3.7 5.6 1.6 0.4 1.5 2.3 4.8 12.7 .378 2.7 7.7 .345 1.9 2.3 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Oscar Robertson DNP------ --- ----------
Fred VanVleet 7 40.0 18.7 0.4 3.7 4.1 4.4 1.0 0.3 1.9 2.3 5.7 13.3 .430 3.9 8.9 .435 3.4 3.4 1.000

Additional Years

* Oscar Robertson played 5 seasons more than Fred VanVleet in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 10 to 14, from 1970 to 1974—Oscar Robertson played in 4 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.

In those 5 extra years over Fred VanVleet, Oscar Robertson got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 2 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 3 All-Star Game