Rudy Gobert vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Rudy Gobert, 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.

Rudy Gobert played 12 years in the NBA, 1 less than Bill Russell, who played 13. Rudy Gobert had the first of his seasons in 2013-14, while Bill Russell had his rookie season in 1956-57. 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
Rudy Gobert 12 9 2013-14 to 2024-25
Bill Russell 13 13 1956-57 to 1968-69

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

Rudy Gobert Bill Russell
Season 2013-141956-57
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 45 9.6 2.3 1.1 2.3 3.4 0.2 0.2 0.9 0.7 1.3 0.8 1.6 .486 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.4 .492
difference:+3+25.7+12.4+16.2+1.6-1.7+5.0+11.9+.059+2.5+5.0
Bill Russell 48 35.3 14.7 - - 19.6 1.8 - - - 3.0 5.8 13.5 .427 - - - 3.2 6.4 .492
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert DNP------ --- ----------
Bill Russell 10 40.9 13.9 - - 24.4 3.2 - - - 4.1 5.4 14.8 .365 - - - 3.1 6.1 .508

Season 2

Rudy Gobert Bill Russell
Season 2014-151957-58
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 82 26.3 8.4 3.2 6.2 9.5 1.3 0.8 2.3 1.4 2.1 3.1 5.2 .604 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.3 .623
difference:+13+12.0+8.2+13.2+1.6-0.5+3.5+9.8+.162+1.2+3.1+.104
Bill Russell 69 38.3 16.6 - - 22.7 2.9 - - - 2.6 6.6 15.0 .442 - - - 3.3 6.4 .519
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert DNP------ --- ----------
Bill Russell 9 39.4 15.1 - - 24.6 2.7 - - - 2.7 5.3 14.8 .361 - - - 4.4 7.3 .606

Season 3

Rudy Gobert Bill Russell
Season 2015-161958-59
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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%
Rudy Gobert 61 31.7 9.1 3.4 7.5 11.0 1.5 0.7 2.2 1.9 2.7 3.2 5.8 .559 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 4.6 .569
difference:+9+10.9+7.6+12.0+1.7-0.4+3.3+8.4+.102+1.1+1.5+.029
Bill Russell 70 42.6 16.7 - - 23.0 3.2 - - - 2.3 6.5 14.2 .457 - - - 3.7 6.1 .598
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert DNP------ --- ----------
Bill Russell 11 45.1 15.5 - - 27.7 3.6 - - - 2.5 5.9 14.5 .409 - - - 3.7 6.1 .612

Season 4

Rudy Gobert Bill Russell
Season 2016-171959-60
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 81 33.9 14.0 3.9 8.9 12.8 1.2 0.6 2.6 1.8 3.0 5.1 7.7 .661 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 5.9 .653
difference:+7+8.6+4.2+11.2+2.5-0.2+2.4+8.4+.194+0.6+0.6+.041
Bill Russell 74 42.5 18.2 - - 24.0 3.7 - - - 2.8 7.5 16.1 .467 - - - 3.2 5.3 .612
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 9 27.3 11.6 2.4 7.4 9.9 1.2 1.0 1.3 1.0 3.3 4.4 7.0 .635 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 5.6 .480
difference:+4+16.7+6.9+15.9+1.7-0.4+2.8+8.8+.179+1.4+0.2+.227
Bill Russell 13 44.0 18.5 - - 25.8 2.9 - - - 2.9 7.2 15.8 .456 - - - 4.1 5.8 .707

Season 5

Rudy Gobert Bill Russell
Season 2017-181960-61
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 56 32.4 13.5 2.9 7.8 10.7 1.4 0.8 2.3 1.9 2.7 4.9 7.9 .622 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 5.3 .682
difference:+22+11.9+3.4+13.2+2.0-0.7+1.9+8.1+.196+0.3+0.7+.132
Bill Russell 78 44.3 16.9 - - 23.9 3.4 - - - 2.0 6.8 16.0 .426 - - - 3.3 6.0 .550
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 11 34.8 13.2 3.9 6.8 10.7 1.0 0.9 2.3 1.9 3.1 5.0 7.6 .655 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 5.3 .603
difference:+1+11.4+5.9+19.2+3.8-0.7+2.3+9.5+.228+1.3+3.3+.080
Bill Russell 10 46.2 19.1 - - 29.9 4.8 - - - 2.4 7.3 17.1 .427 - - - 4.5 8.6 .523

Season 6

Rudy Gobert Bill Russell
Season 2018-191961-62
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 81 31.8 15.9 3.8 9.0 12.9 2.0 0.8 2.3 1.6 2.9 5.9 8.8 .669 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 6.4 .636
difference:+5+13.4+3.0+10.7+2.5-0.2+1.7+7.8+.212+0.3+0.1+.041
Bill Russell 76 45.2 18.9 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.7 7.6 16.6 .457 - - - 3.8 6.3 .595
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 5 30.4 11.2 4.6 5.6 10.2 1.4 0.6 2.6 1.8 3.2 3.8 6.4 .594 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 4.6 .783
difference:+9+17.6+11.2+16.2+3.6-0.3+4.5+11.7+.136+2.3+3.5+.057
Bill Russell 14 48.0 22.4 - - 26.4 5.0 - - - 3.5 8.3 18.1 .458 - - - 5.9 8.1 .726

Season 7

Rudy Gobert Bill Russell
Season 2019-201962-63
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 68 34.3 15.1 3.4 10.1 13.5 1.5 0.8 2.0 1.9 3.2 5.7 8.2 .693 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.9 .630
difference:+10+10.6+1.7+10.1+3.0-0.8+0.9+7.0+.261+0.7+.075
Bill Russell 78 44.9 16.8 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.4 6.6 15.2 .432 - - - 3.7 6.6 .555
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 7 38.6 16.9 3.4 8.0 11.4 1.1 0.6 1.4 1.3 3.7 6.9 10.6 .649 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 6.0 .524
difference:+6+8.9+3.4+13.7+4.0-0.9+0.5+5.7+.196+2.4+2.4+.137
Bill Russell 13 47.5 20.3 - - 25.1 5.1 - - - 2.8 7.4 16.3 .453 - - - 5.5 8.4 .661

Season 8

Rudy Gobert Bill Russell
Season 2020-211963-64
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 71 30.8 14.3 3.4 10.1 13.5 1.3 0.6 2.7 1.7 2.3 5.5 8.2 .675 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 5.3 .623
difference:+7+13.8+0.7+11.2+3.4-0.1+0.5+5.6+.242+0.3+0.2+.073
Bill Russell 78 44.6 15.0 - - 24.7 4.7 - - - 2.4 6.0 13.8 .433 - - - 3.0 5.5 .550
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 11 34.2 14.7 3.9 8.4 12.3 0.8 0.5 2.1 1.5 4.2 5.5 7.4 .741 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 6.0 .636
difference:+1+10.9+1.6+14.9+3.6-0.9+0.8+5.8+.385+0.1+0.7+.084
Bill Russell 10 45.1 13.1 - - 27.2 4.4 - - - 3.3 4.7 13.2 .356 - - - 3.7 6.7 .552

Season 9

Rudy Gobert Bill Russell
Season 2021-221964-65
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Rebounds LeaderAchievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA 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%
Rudy Gobert 66 32.1 15.6 3.7 11.0 14.7 1.1 0.7 2.1 1.8 2.7 5.5 7.7 .713 0.0 0.1 .000 4.6 6.7 .690
difference:+12+12.3+1.5+9.4+4.2-0.1+4.9+.275+1.5+1.2+.117
Bill Russell 78 44.4 14.1 - - 24.1 5.3 - - - 2.6 5.5 12.6 .438 - - - 3.1 5.5 .573
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 6 32.8 12.0 3.5 9.7 13.2 0.5 0.2 1.0 1.3 3.2 3.5 5.5 .636 0.0 0.0 - 5.0 7.3 .682
difference:+6+14.0+4.5+12.0+5.8-0.4+3.1+7.0+.109+1.7+1.0+.156
Bill Russell 12 46.8 16.5 - - 25.2 6.3 - - - 3.6 6.6 12.5 .527 - - - 3.3 6.3 .526

Season 10

Rudy Gobert Bill Russell
Season 2022-231965-66
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 70 30.7 13.4 3.3 8.3 11.6 1.2 0.8 1.4 1.7 3.0 5.1 7.8 .659 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 4.9 .644
difference:+8+12.7+0.5+11.2+3.6-0.2+0.1+4.3+.244+0.2+0.3+.093
Bill Russell 78 43.4 12.9 - - 22.8 4.8 - - - 2.8 5.0 12.1 .415 - - - 2.9 5.2 .551
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 5 35.4 15.0 3.6 8.6 12.2 2.0 0.4 1.0 1.6 4.8 5.8 9.2 .630 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.4 .630
difference:+12+12.5+4.1+13.0+3.0-1.3+1.5+6.2+.155+1.1+1.8+.012
Bill Russell 17 47.9 19.1 - - 25.2 5.0 - - - 3.5 7.3 15.4 .475 - - - 4.5 7.2 .618

Season 11

Rudy Gobert Bill Russell
Season 2023-241966-67
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics Lost East Div Finals
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 76 34.1 14.0 3.8 9.2 12.9 1.3 0.7 2.1 1.6 3.1 5.3 8.1 .661 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 5.1 .638
difference:+5+6.6+0.7+8.1+4.5-0.1+0.4+2.6+.207+0.2+0.7+.028
Bill Russell 81 40.7 13.3 - - 21.0 5.8 - - - 3.2 4.9 10.7 .454 - - - 3.5 5.8 .610
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 15 34.1 12.1 2.7 7.1 9.8 1.6 0.9 1.0 1.5 3.7 4.3 6.9 .615 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 5.3 .671
difference:+6+9.2+1.5+12.2+4.0-0.1+0.9+2.7+.255+0.2+0.5+.036
Bill Russell 9 43.3 10.6 - - 22.0 5.6 - - - 3.6 3.4 9.6 .360 - - - 3.7 5.8 .635

Season 12

Rudy Gobert Bill Russell
Season 2024-251967-68
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 72 33.2 12.0 3.7 7.2 10.9 1.8 0.8 1.4 1.2 2.5 4.7 7.1 .669 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.8 .674
difference:+6+4.7+0.5+7.7+2.8-0.6+3.9+.244+0.6+2.1+.137
Bill Russell 78 37.9 12.5 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.1 4.7 11.0 .425 - - - 3.2 5.9 .537
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gobert 15 27.4 7.9 3.1 5.5 8.6 0.7 0.5 1.2 0.9 2.5 3.1 5.3 .582 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 3.3 .520
difference:+4+18.3+6.5+14.2+4.5-1.3+2.1+7.4+.173+2.3+3.5+.065
Bill Russell 19 45.7 14.4 - - 22.8 5.2 - - - 3.8 5.2 12.7 .409 - - - 4.0 6.8 .585

Additional Years

* Bill Russell played 1 season more than Rudy Gobert in the NBA.

In that period—his season 13 in 1969—Bill Russell played in the Playoffs and won the NBA Championship.

In that extra year over Rudy Gobert, Bill Russell got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 1 All-Star Game