Wesley Matthews vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Wesley Matthews, 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.

Wesley Matthews played 15 years in the NBA, 2 more than Bill Russell, who played 13. Wesley Matthews had the first of his seasons in 2009-10, 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
Wesley Matthews 15 9 2009-10 to 2023-24
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

Rookie Season

Wesley Matthews Bill Russell
Season 2009-101956-57
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wesley Matthews 82 24.7 9.4 0.6 1.7 2.3 1.5 0.8 0.2 1.1 1.9 3.3 6.9 .483 0.8 2.0 .382 2.0 2.4 .829
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 %
Wesley Matthews 10 37.1 13.2 1.0 3.4 4.4 1.7 1.8 0.5 1.5 3.4 3.9 10.1 .386 1.5 4.2 .357 3.9 4.8 .813
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

Wesley Matthews Bill Russell
Season 2010-111957-58
Team Portland Trail BlazersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wesley Matthews 82 33.6 15.9 0.6 2.6 3.1 2.0 1.2 0.1 1.7 2.4 5.4 11.9 .449 1.9 4.6 .407 3.2 3.8 .844
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 %
Wesley Matthews 6 33.7 13.0 0.3 0.8 1.2 1.0 0.7 0.2 1.2 2.5 4.5 9.5 .474 1.3 3.5 .381 2.7 3.2 .842
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

Wesley Matthews Bill Russell
Season 2011-121958-59
Team Portland Trail BlazersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-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 %
Wesley Matthews 66 33.8 13.7 0.8 2.5 3.4 1.7 1.5 0.2 1.1 2.2 4.8 11.6 .412 2.0 5.1 .383 2.2 2.6 .860
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 %
Wesley Matthews ------- --- ----------
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

Wesley Matthews Bill Russell
Season 2012-131959-60
Team Portland Trail BlazersBoston 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 %
Wesley Matthews 69 34.8 14.8 0.5 2.3 2.8 2.5 1.3 0.3 1.6 2.5 5.1 11.7 .436 2.4 6.2 .398 2.2 2.7 .797
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 %
Wesley Matthews ------- --- ----------
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

Wesley Matthews Bill Russell
Season 2013-141960-61
Team Portland Trail BlazersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wesley Matthews 82 33.9 16.4 0.6 2.9 3.5 2.4 0.9 0.2 1.3 2.1 5.4 12.3 .441 2.5 6.2 .393 3.1 3.7 .837
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 %
Wesley Matthews 11 38.7 14.5 0.6 3.3 3.9 1.3 1.3 0.5 2.0 4.1 5.1 12.4 .412 2.0 6.2 .324 2.4 2.9 .813
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

Wesley Matthews Bill Russell
Season 2014-151961-62
Team Portland Trail BlazersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-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 %
Wesley Matthews 60 33.7 15.9 0.6 3.1 3.7 2.3 1.3 0.2 1.4 2.2 5.6 12.5 .448 2.9 7.4 .389 1.8 2.4 .752
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 %
Wesley Matthews ------- --- ----------
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

Wesley Matthews Bill Russell
Season 2015-161962-63
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Mavericks 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 %
Wesley Matthews 78 33.9 12.5 0.3 2.7 3.1 1.9 1.0 0.2 1.0 2.3 4.2 10.9 .388 2.4 6.7 .360 1.6 1.9 .863
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 %
Wesley Matthews 5 34.6 13.0 0.8 2.8 3.6 1.2 1.2 0.0 0.8 2.8 4.0 12.0 .333 2.0 7.0 .286 3.0 3.8 .789
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

Wesley Matthews Bill Russell
Season 2016-171963-64
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-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 %
Wesley Matthews 73 34.2 13.5 0.2 3.3 3.5 2.9 1.1 0.2 1.4 2.2 4.6 11.6 .393 2.4 6.6 .363 2.0 2.5 .816
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 %
Wesley Matthews ------- --- ----------
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

Wesley Matthews Bill Russell
Season 2017-181964-65
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-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 %
Wesley Matthews 63 33.8 12.7 0.4 2.7 3.1 2.7 1.2 0.3 1.3 2.2 4.5 11.1 .406 2.4 6.4 .381 1.3 1.6 .822
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 %
Wesley Matthews ------- --- ----------
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

Wesley Matthews Bill Russell
Season 2018-191965-66
Team Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers 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 %
Wesley Matthews 69 30.3 12.2 0.5 2.0 2.5 2.3 0.8 0.2 1.3 2.3 4.0 10.1 .400 2.2 5.8 .372 1.9 2.4 .810
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 %
Wesley Matthews 4 29.8 7.0 0.0 2.5 2.5 2.0 0.8 0.3 2.0 1.5 2.3 7.5 .300 1.8 5.3 .333 0.8 0.8 1.000
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

Wesley Matthews Bill Russell
Season 2019-201966-67
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisCeltics 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 %
Wesley Matthews 67 24.4 7.4 0.3 2.1 2.5 1.4 0.6 0.1 0.6 1.5 2.5 6.3 .396 1.6 4.4 .364 0.8 1.0 .765
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 %
Wesley Matthews 10 24.6 7.2 0.6 1.2 1.8 0.9 0.9 0.4 0.7 2.0 2.4 5.7 .421 1.7 4.3 .395 0.7 1.0 .700
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

Wesley Matthews Bill Russell
Season 2020-211967-68
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Wesley Matthews 58 19.5 4.8 0.3 1.3 1.6 0.9 0.7 0.3 0.4 1.4 1.5 4.3 .353 1.1 3.4 .335 0.6 0.7 .854
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 %
Wesley Matthews 6 18.3 5.5 0.8 0.8 1.7 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 2.2 1.7 5.5 .303 1.2 4.2 .280 1.0 1.0 1.000
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

Wesley Matthews Bill Russell
Season 2021-221968-69
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wesley Matthews 49 20.4 5.1 0.6 1.3 1.9 0.7 0.5 0.2 0.4 1.8 1.8 4.5 .395 1.1 3.2 .338 0.4 0.6 .786
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 %
Wesley Matthews 12 28.8 6.2 0.8 2.3 3.1 1.2 0.8 0.3 0.5 2.3 2.1 5.3 .391 1.5 3.8 .400 0.5 0.8 .667
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

Wesley Matthews Bill Russell
Season 2022-23-
Team Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Wesley Matthews 52 15.8 3.4 0.7 1.5 2.2 0.7 0.4 0.3 0.3 1.4 1.1 3.1 .363 0.8 2.4 .315 0.5 0.5 .857
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wesley Matthews 2 20.5 6.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 0.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 1.5 2.0 4.5 .444 2.0 3.5 .571 0.0 0.0 -
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Wesley Matthews Bill Russell
Season 2023-24-
Team Atlanta Hawks-
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 %
Wesley Matthews 36 11.5 3.1 0.3 1.2 1.5 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.2 1.2 0.9 2.7 .351 0.7 1.9 .348 0.5 0.7 .750
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wesley Matthews ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------