Rodney Buford vs. Russell Westbrook Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Russell Westbrook and Rodney Buford, 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

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.

Rodney Buford played 5 years in the NBA, 11 less than Russell Westbrook, who played 16. Rodney Buford had the first of his seasons in 1999-00, 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 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
Rodney Buford 5 4 1999-00 to 2004-05
Russell Westbrook 16 13 2008-09 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Rodney Buford Russell Westbrook
Season 1999-002008-09
Team Miami HeatOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rodney Buford 34 11.4 4.3 0.3 1.1 1.4 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.3 1.3 1.8 4.4 .411 0.2 0.9 .241 0.5 0.6 .727
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rodney Buford 1 16.0 11.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 4.0 8.0 .500 1.0 2.0 .500 2.0 2.0 1.000
Russell Westbrook ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Rodney Buford Russell Westbrook
Season 2000-012009-10
Team Philadelphia 76ersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsThunder 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 %
Rodney Buford 47 12.2 5.3 0.3 1.2 1.6 0.4 0.4 0.1 0.6 1.4 2.2 5.1 .432 0.3 0.8 .421 0.5 0.6 .828
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 %
Rodney Buford 15 4.7 1.4 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.3 1.0 0.5 1.6 .333 0.2 0.4 .500 0.1 0.1 1.000
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

Rodney Buford Russell Westbrook
Season 2001-022010-11
Team Memphis GrizzliesOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 %
Rodney Buford 63 28.1 9.4 0.8 3.5 4.3 1.1 0.7 0.2 1.0 1.7 4.1 9.4 .435 0.3 1.1 .243 0.9 1.3 .725
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 %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
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

Note: Rodney Buford didn't play in 2002-03.

Season 4

Rodney Buford Russell Westbrook
Season 2003-042011-12
Team Sacramento KingsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf SemisThunder Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rodney Buford 22 6.4 1.9 0.3 0.4 0.7 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.9 2.5 .339 0.0 0.1 .000 0.1 0.3 .500
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 %
Rodney Buford 5 6.2 2.4 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.6 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.4 1.0 2.4 .417 0.2 0.6 .333 0.2 0.4 .500
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

Rodney Buford Russell Westbrook
Season 2004-052012-13
Team New Jersey NetsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdThunder 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 %
Rodney Buford 64 20.5 7.0 0.5 2.4 3.0 1.0 0.6 0.1 0.5 1.6 2.9 7.6 .382 0.5 1.7 .315 0.6 0.7 .822
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 %
Rodney Buford 3 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Rodney Buford Russell Westbrook
Season -2013-14
Team -Oklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Thunder 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 %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
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

Rodney Buford Russell Westbrook
Season -2014-15
Team -Oklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Rodney Buford Russell Westbrook
Season -2015-16
Team -Oklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs -Thunder 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 %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
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

Rodney Buford Russell Westbrook
Season -2016-17
Team -Oklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Thunder 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 %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
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

Rodney Buford Russell Westbrook
Season -2017-18
Team -Oklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Thunder 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 %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
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

Rodney Buford Russell Westbrook
Season -2018-19
Team -Oklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Thunder 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 %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
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

Rodney Buford Russell Westbrook
Season -2019-20
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Rockets 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 %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
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

Rodney Buford Russell Westbrook
Season -2020-21
Team -Washington Wizards
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
Playoffs -Wizards 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 %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
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

Season 14

Rodney Buford Russell Westbrook
Season -2021-22
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 78 34.3 18.5 1.4 6.0 7.4 7.1 1.0 0.3 3.8 3.0 7.0 15.8 .444 1.0 3.4 .298 3.4 5.1 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Rodney Buford Russell Westbrook
Season -2022-23
Team -Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Clippers 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 %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 73 29.1 15.9 1.2 4.6 5.8 7.5 1.0 0.5 3.5 2.2 5.9 13.6 .436 1.2 3.9 .311 2.8 4.3 .656
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 5 38.4 23.6 1.8 5.8 7.6 7.4 1.2 1.4 4.0 3.0 8.6 21.0 .410 2.0 5.6 .357 4.4 5.0 .880

Season 16

Rodney Buford Russell Westbrook
Season -2023-24
Team -Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Clippers 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 %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 68 22.5 11.1 1.4 3.7 5.0 4.5 1.1 0.3 2.1 1.8 4.4 9.8 .454 0.6 2.3 .273 1.6 2.4 .688
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rodney Buford ------- --- ----------
Russell Westbrook 6 19.0 6.3 1.0 3.2 4.2 1.7 1.2 0.5 1.7 1.8 2.2 8.3 .260 0.7 2.8 .235 1.3 2.2 .615