Rudy LaRusso vs. Bob Pettit Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bob Pettit and Rudy LaRusso, 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.

Rudy LaRusso played 10 years in the NBA, 1 less than Bob Pettit, who played 11. Rudy LaRusso had the first of his seasons in 1959-60, while Bob Pettit had his rookie season in 1954-55. 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
Rudy LaRusso 10 9 1959-60 to 1968-69
Bob Pettit 11 9 1954-55 to 1964-65

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11

Rookie Season

Rudy LaRusso Bob Pettit
Season 1959-601954-55
Team Minneapolis LakersMilwaukee Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 71 29.5 13.7 - - 9.6 1.2 - - - 3.1 5.0 12.9 .389 - - - 3.7 5.0 .742
Bob Pettit 72 36.9 20.4 - - 13.8 3.2 - - - 3.6 7.2 17.8 .407 - - - 5.9 7.9 .751
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 9 35.7 15.4 - - 7.8 2.4 - - - 3.8 6.2 14.7 .424 - - - 3.0 3.9 .771
Bob Pettit ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Rudy LaRusso Bob Pettit
Season 1960-611955-56
Team Los Angeles LakersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsHawks Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 79 32.8 14.6 - - 9.9 1.7 - - - 3.5 5.3 12.6 .419 - - - 4.1 5.2 .790
Bob Pettit 72 38.8 25.7 - - 16.2 2.6 - - - 2.8 9.0 20.9 .429 - - - 7.7 10.5 .736
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 12 30.0 12.2 - - 8.0 2.0 - - - 3.6 4.8 12.0 .396 - - - 2.7 4.0 .667
Bob Pettit 8 34.3 19.1 - - 10.5 2.3 - - - 2.5 5.9 16.0 .367 - - - 7.4 8.8 .843

Season 3

Rudy LaRusso Bob Pettit
Season 1961-621956-57
Team Los Angeles LakersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHawks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 80 34.4 17.2 - - 10.4 2.2 - - - 3.2 6.5 13.9 .466 - - - 4.3 5.6 .763
Bob Pettit 71 35.1 24.7 - - 14.6 1.9 - - - 2.5 8.6 20.8 .415 - - - 7.5 9.6 .773
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 13 35.5 14.1 - - 9.1 1.7 - - - 3.9 4.4 12.0 .365 - - - 5.3 7.0 .758
Bob Pettit 10 43.0 29.8 - - 16.8 2.5 - - - 3.3 9.8 23.7 .414 - - - 10.2 13.3 .767

Season 4

Rudy LaRusso Bob Pettit
Season 1962-631957-58
Team Los Angeles LakersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 75 33.4 12.3 - - 10.0 2.5 - - - 3.4 4.3 10.1 .422 - - - 3.8 5.2 .718
Bob Pettit 70 36.1 24.6 - - 17.4 2.2 - - - 3.2 8.3 20.3 .410 - - - 8.0 10.6 .749
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 13 35.8 14.4 - - 9.8 2.2 - - - 4.5 5.0 11.8 .422 - - - 4.4 5.8 .760
Bob Pettit 11 39.1 24.2 - - 16.5 1.8 - - - 2.8 8.2 20.9 .391 - - - 7.8 10.7 .729

Season 5

Rudy LaRusso Bob Pettit
Season 1963-641958-59
Team Los Angeles LakersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisHawks Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 79 34.8 12.3 - - 10.1 2.4 - - - 3.4 4.3 9.8 .434 - - - 3.8 5.0 .751
Bob Pettit 72 39.9 29.2 - - 16.4 3.1 - - - 2.8 10.0 22.8 .438 - - - 9.3 12.2 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 5 37.8 9.0 - - 6.0 2.2 - - - 4.6 2.6 6.6 .394 - - - 3.8 4.4 .864
Bob Pettit 6 42.8 27.8 - - 12.5 2.3 - - - 3.3 9.7 22.8 .423 - - - 8.5 10.8 .785

Season 6

Rudy LaRusso Bob Pettit
Season 1964-651959-60
Team Los Angeles LakersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHawks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 77 33.6 14.1 - - 9.4 2.6 - - - 3.4 4.9 10.7 .461 - - - 4.2 5.4 .773
Bob Pettit 72 40.2 26.1 - - 17.0 3.6 - - - 2.8 9.3 21.2 .438 - - - 7.6 10.0 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 11 35.9 15.0 - - 8.1 2.6 - - - 4.7 5.1 12.5 .409 - - - 4.8 6.7 .716
Bob Pettit 14 41.1 26.1 - - 15.8 3.7 - - - 3.1 9.2 20.9 .442 - - - 7.6 10.1 .754

Season 7

Rudy LaRusso Bob Pettit
Season 1965-661960-61
Team Los Angeles LakersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHawks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 76 30.5 15.4 - - 8.7 2.2 - - - 3.4 5.4 11.8 .457 - - - 4.6 5.9 .787
Bob Pettit 76 39.8 27.9 - - 20.3 3.4 - - - 2.9 10.1 22.6 .447 - - - 7.7 10.6 .724
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 14 28.4 11.9 - - 7.1 1.9 - - - 3.4 4.1 8.9 .460 - - - 3.8 4.8 .791
Bob Pettit 12 43.8 28.6 - - 17.6 3.2 - - - 3.5 9.8 23.7 .412 - - - 9.1 12.0 .757

Season 8

Rudy LaRusso Bob Pettit
Season 1966-671961-62
Team Los Angeles LakersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 45 28.7 12.8 - - 7.8 1.7 - - - 3.3 4.7 11.3 .415 - - - 3.5 5.0 .696
Bob Pettit 78 42.1 31.1 - - 18.7 3.7 - - - 3.8 11.1 24.7 .450 - - - 8.9 11.6 .771
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso ------- --- ----------
Bob Pettit ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Rudy LaRusso Bob Pettit
Season 1967-681962-63
Team San Francisco WarriorsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Div FinalsHawks Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 79 35.7 21.8 - - 9.4 2.3 - - - 4.3 7.6 17.6 .433 - - - 6.6 8.4 .790
Bob Pettit 79 39.1 28.4 - - 15.1 3.1 - - - 3.6 9.8 22.1 .446 - - - 8.7 11.2 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 10 38.5 20.3 - - 9.9 1.7 - - - 3.5 7.2 18.2 .396 - - - 5.9 8.1 .728
Bob Pettit 11 42.1 31.8 - - 15.1 3.0 - - - 3.1 10.8 23.5 .459 - - - 10.2 13.1 .778

Season 10

Rudy LaRusso Bob Pettit
Season 1968-691963-64
Team San Francisco WarriorsSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Div SemisHawks Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 75 37.1 20.7 - - 8.3 2.1 - - - 3.6 7.4 18.0 .410 - - - 5.9 7.5 .794
Bob Pettit 80 41.2 27.4 - - 15.3 3.2 - - - 3.8 9.9 21.4 .463 - - - 7.6 9.6 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso 6 35.8 18.2 - - 8.5 2.5 - - - 3.8 5.7 15.0 .378 - - - 6.8 8.8 .774
Bob Pettit 12 41.2 21.0 - - 14.5 2.8 - - - 3.7 7.8 18.8 .412 - - - 5.5 6.6 .835

Season 11

Rudy LaRusso Bob Pettit
Season -1964-65
Team -St. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Hawks Lost West Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso ------- --- ----------
Bob Pettit 50 35.1 22.5 - - 12.4 2.6 - - - 3.3 7.9 18.5 .429 - - - 6.6 8.1 .820
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy LaRusso ------- --- ----------
Bob Pettit 4 23.8 11.5 - - 6.0 2.0 - - - 2.5 3.8 10.3 .366 - - - 4.0 5.0 .800