Tracy McGrady vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Tracy McGrady, 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.

Tracy McGrady played 16 years in the NBA, 3 more than Bill Russell, who played 13. Tracy McGrady had the first of his seasons in 1997-98, 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 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
Tracy McGrady 16 9 1997-98 to 2012-13
Bill Russell 13 13 1956-57 to 1968-69

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Tracy McGrady Bill Russell
Season 1997-981956-57
Team Toronto RaptorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 64 18.4 7.0 1.6 2.6 4.2 1.5 0.8 1.0 1.0 1.3 2.8 6.2 .450 0.2 0.6 .341 1.2 1.7 .712
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady ------- --- ----------
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

Tracy McGrady Bill Russell
Season 1998-991957-58
Team Toronto RaptorsBoston 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 >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 49 22.6 9.3 2.4 3.2 5.7 2.3 1.1 1.3 1.6 1.9 3.4 7.9 .436 0.2 0.7 .229 2.3 3.2 .726
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady ------- --- ----------
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

Tracy McGrady Bill Russell
Season 1999-001958-59
Team Toronto RaptorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Raptors Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 79 31.2 15.4 2.4 4.0 6.3 3.3 1.1 1.9 2.0 2.5 5.8 12.9 .451 0.2 0.8 .277 3.5 5.0 .707
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 3 37.0 16.7 3.3 3.7 7.0 3.0 1.0 1.0 3.3 3.3 5.7 14.7 .386 0.7 2.3 .286 4.7 5.3 .875
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

Tracy McGrady Bill Russell
Season 2000-011959-60
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Most Improved Player-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 77 40.1 26.8 2.5 5.0 7.5 4.6 1.5 1.5 2.6 2.1 10.2 22.4 .457 0.8 2.2 .355 5.6 7.6 .733
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 4 44.3 33.8 1.5 5.0 6.5 8.3 1.8 1.3 2.0 2.8 12.8 30.8 .415 0.5 2.5 .200 7.8 9.5 .816
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

Tracy McGrady Bill Russell
Season 2001-021960-61
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 76 38.3 25.6 2.0 5.9 7.9 5.3 1.6 1.0 2.5 1.8 9.4 20.9 .451 1.4 3.7 .364 5.5 7.3 .748
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 4 44.5 30.8 1.5 4.8 6.3 5.5 0.5 1.8 3.3 2.8 10.5 22.8 .462 1.3 4.0 .313 8.5 11.5 .739
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

Tracy McGrady Bill Russell
Season 2002-031961-62
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 75 39.4 32.1 1.6 4.9 6.5 5.5 1.7 0.8 2.6 2.1 11.1 24.2 .457 2.3 6.0 .386 7.7 9.7 .793
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 7 44.1 31.7 1.4 5.3 6.7 4.7 2.0 0.9 3.7 2.3 10.6 23.6 .448 2.3 6.7 .340 8.3 10.7 .773
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

Tracy McGrady Bill Russell
Season 2003-041962-63
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 67 39.9 28.0 1.4 4.6 6.0 5.5 1.4 0.6 2.7 1.9 9.7 23.4 .417 2.6 7.7 .339 5.9 7.5 .796
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady ------- --- ----------
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

Tracy McGrady Bill Russell
Season 2004-051963-64
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 78 40.8 25.7 0.9 5.3 6.2 5.7 1.7 0.7 2.6 2.1 9.2 21.3 .431 1.8 5.6 .326 5.5 7.1 .774
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 7 43.1 30.7 1.7 5.7 7.4 6.7 1.6 1.4 3.7 2.9 11.1 24.4 .456 2.4 6.6 .370 6.0 7.3 .824
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

Tracy McGrady Bill Russell
Season 2005-061964-65
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 47 37.1 24.4 1.0 5.6 6.5 4.8 1.3 0.9 2.6 1.9 8.7 21.5 .406 1.6 5.0 .312 5.4 7.2 .747
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady ------- --- ----------
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

Tracy McGrady Bill Russell
Season 2006-071965-66
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 71 35.8 24.6 0.8 4.5 5.3 6.5 1.3 0.5 3.0 1.9 9.0 20.8 .431 1.8 5.4 .331 4.9 6.9 .707
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 7 40.0 25.3 0.7 5.1 5.9 7.3 0.7 0.9 3.0 1.7 9.0 22.9 .394 1.3 5.1 .250 6.0 8.1 .737
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

Tracy McGrady Bill Russell
Season 2007-081966-67
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 66 37.0 21.6 0.6 4.5 5.1 5.9 1.0 0.5 2.4 1.4 8.3 19.8 .419 1.3 4.5 .292 3.7 5.4 .684
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 6 41.2 27.0 1.2 7.0 8.2 6.8 1.5 0.8 3.0 1.3 10.3 24.3 .425 0.8 4.0 .208 5.5 8.8 .623
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

Tracy McGrady Bill Russell
Season 2008-091967-68
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 35 33.7 15.6 0.6 3.8 4.4 5.0 1.2 0.4 2.0 1.1 5.4 13.9 .388 1.3 3.3 .376 3.6 4.5 .801
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 19 45.7 14.4 - - 22.8 5.2 - - - 3.8 5.2 12.7 .409 - - - 4.0 6.8 .585

Season 13

Tracy McGrady Bill Russell
Season 2009-101968-69
Team Houston Rockets, New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 30 22.4 8.2 0.7 2.4 3.1 3.3 0.5 0.5 1.5 1.3 3.0 7.8 .387 0.5 2.1 .250 1.6 2.1 .746
Bill Russell 77 42.7 9.9 - - 19.3 4.9 - - - 3.0 3.6 8.4 .433 - - - 2.6 5.0 .526
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 18 46.1 10.8 - - 20.5 5.4 - - - 3.6 4.3 10.1 .423 - - - 2.3 4.5 .506

Season 14

Tracy McGrady Bill Russell
Season 2010-11-
Team Detroit Pistons-
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 %
Tracy McGrady 72 23.4 8.0 0.7 2.8 3.5 3.5 0.9 0.5 1.4 1.4 3.2 7.1 .442 0.4 1.2 .341 1.3 1.8 .698
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Tracy McGrady Bill Russell
Season 2011-12-
Team Atlanta Hawks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Tracy McGrady 52 16.1 5.3 0.4 2.5 3.0 2.1 0.3 0.3 1.0 0.7 1.9 4.4 .437 0.3 0.6 .455 1.1 1.6 .675
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 6 15.0 4.2 1.0 1.8 2.8 1.0 0.0 0.3 1.7 0.7 1.7 4.3 .385 0.0 0.7 .000 0.8 1.0 .833
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Tracy McGrady Bill Russell
Season 2012-13-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Tracy McGrady 6 5.2 0.0 0.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.0 1.2 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------