Yao Ming vs. Bryon Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bryon Russell and Yao Ming, 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 / Games against each other

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.

Yao Ming played 8 years in the NBA, 5 less than Bryon Russell, who played 13. Yao Ming had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, while Bryon Russell had his rookie season in 1993-94. 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
Yao Ming 8 4 2002-03 to 2010-11
Bryon Russell 13 11 1993-94 to 2005-06

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Yao Ming Bryon Russell
Season 2002-031993-94
Team Houston RocketsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz 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 %
Yao Ming 82 29.0 13.5 2.4 5.8 8.2 1.7 0.4 1.8 2.1 2.8 4.9 9.8 .498 0.0 0.0 .500 3.7 4.5 .811
Bryon Russell 67 16.7 5.0 0.9 1.8 2.7 0.8 1.0 0.3 0.8 2.1 2.0 4.2 .484 0.0 0.3 .091 0.9 1.5 .614
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Bryon Russell 6 6.0 2.7 0.7 0.8 1.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.5 0.7 1.7 .400 0.3 0.5 .667 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 2

Yao Ming Bryon Russell
Season 2003-041994-95
Team Houston RocketsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdJazz 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 %
Yao Ming 82 32.8 17.5 2.4 6.6 9.0 1.5 0.3 1.9 2.5 3.3 6.5 12.5 .522 0.0 0.0 .000 4.4 5.4 .809
Bryon Russell 63 13.7 4.5 0.7 1.5 2.2 0.5 0.8 0.2 0.7 1.6 1.7 3.8 .437 0.2 0.7 .295 1.0 1.5 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming 5 37.6 15.0 2.2 5.2 7.4 1.8 0.4 1.4 2.6 4.0 6.2 13.6 .456 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.4 .765
Bryon Russell 2 6.5 5.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.5 .571 1.0 2.0 .500 0.5 1.0 .500

Season 3

Yao Ming Bryon Russell
Season 2004-051995-96
Team Houston RocketsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdJazz 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 %
Yao Ming 80 30.6 18.3 2.6 5.8 8.4 0.8 0.4 2.0 2.5 3.7 6.7 12.2 .552 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 6.2 .783
Bryon Russell 59 9.8 2.9 0.5 1.1 1.5 0.5 0.5 0.1 0.6 1.1 0.9 2.4 .394 0.2 0.7 .350 0.8 1.1 .716
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming 7 31.9 21.4 3.3 4.4 7.7 0.7 0.3 2.7 2.7 4.4 7.9 12.0 .655 0.0 0.0 - 5.7 7.9 .727
Bryon Russell 18 25.5 9.6 0.9 3.2 4.2 1.2 1.3 0.5 0.6 2.3 3.2 6.9 .468 1.4 2.9 .472 1.7 2.1 .816

Season 4

Yao Ming Bryon Russell
Season 2005-061996-97
Team Houston RocketsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming 57 34.2 22.3 2.6 7.6 10.2 1.5 0.5 1.6 2.6 3.4 8.2 15.8 .519 0.0 0.0 .000 5.9 6.9 .853
Bryon Russell 81 31.2 10.8 1.0 3.1 4.1 1.5 1.6 0.3 1.2 2.9 3.7 7.7 .479 1.3 3.3 .409 2.1 3.0 .701
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Bryon Russell 20 38.0 12.3 0.9 3.7 4.6 1.4 1.1 0.3 1.0 3.0 4.5 9.7 .461 1.8 5.1 .356 1.6 2.2 .721

Season 5

Yao Ming Bryon Russell
Season 2006-071997-98
Team Houston RocketsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st RdJazz Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming 48 33.8 25.0 2.1 7.3 9.4 2.0 0.4 2.0 3.5 3.3 8.8 17.1 .516 0.0 0.0 .000 7.4 8.6 .862
Bryon Russell 82 27.1 9.0 1.0 3.0 4.0 1.2 1.1 0.4 1.0 2.8 2.8 6.4 .430 0.9 2.6 .341 2.6 3.4 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming 7 37.1 25.1 3.3 7.0 10.3 0.9 0.1 0.7 4.7 3.9 7.9 17.9 .440 0.0 0.0 - 9.4 10.7 .880
Bryon Russell 20 35.0 11.0 0.6 4.1 4.7 1.1 1.1 0.3 0.9 2.5 3.5 7.4 .469 1.2 3.2 .365 2.9 4.1 .716

Season 6

Yao Ming Bryon Russell
Season 2007-081998-99
Team Houston RocketsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz 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 %
Yao Ming 55 37.2 22.0 3.1 7.7 10.8 2.3 0.5 2.0 3.3 3.1 7.9 15.5 .507 0.0 0.0 .000 6.3 7.4 .850
Bryon Russell 50 35.4 12.4 1.3 4.0 5.3 1.5 1.5 0.3 1.5 3.1 4.3 9.4 .464 1.0 2.9 .354 2.7 3.4 .795
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Bryon Russell 11 35.2 12.1 1.5 4.5 6.1 1.2 1.8 0.2 1.0 3.4 4.5 10.5 .426 0.8 3.3 .250 2.4 3.3 .722

Season 7

Yao Ming Bryon Russell
Season 2008-091999-00
Team Houston RocketsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisJazz 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 %
Yao Ming 77 33.6 19.7 2.6 7.2 9.9 1.8 0.4 1.9 3.0 3.3 7.4 13.4 .548 0.0 0.0 1.000 4.9 5.7 .866
Bryon Russell 82 35.4 14.1 1.2 4.0 5.2 1.9 1.6 0.3 1.2 3.1 5.0 11.1 .446 1.3 3.3 .396 2.9 3.9 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming 9 35.9 17.1 2.1 8.8 10.9 1.0 0.4 1.2 1.9 3.0 6.0 11.0 .545 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 5.7 .902
Bryon Russell 10 37.4 14.0 0.9 4.3 5.2 2.1 1.6 0.5 1.5 2.7 4.8 11.4 .421 1.3 4.5 .289 3.1 4.1 .756

Note: Yao Ming didn't play in 2009-10.

Season 8

Yao Ming Bryon Russell
Season 2010-112000-01
Team Houston RocketsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz 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 %
Yao Ming 5 18.2 10.2 1.4 4.0 5.4 0.8 0.0 1.6 1.4 2.6 3.6 7.4 .486 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.2 .938
Bryon Russell 78 31.7 12.0 1.2 3.0 4.2 2.1 1.2 0.3 1.4 2.9 3.9 9.0 .440 1.2 2.9 .413 2.8 3.7 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Bryon Russell 5 43.0 14.2 0.8 6.4 7.2 3.0 0.6 0.2 0.4 2.6 5.0 11.2 .446 2.0 4.4 .455 2.2 2.4 .917

Season 9

Yao Ming Bryon Russell
Season -2001-02
Team -Utah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Jazz 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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Bryon Russell 66 30.3 9.6 1.2 3.3 4.5 2.1 1.0 0.3 1.7 3.1 3.4 8.8 .380 1.2 3.4 .341 1.7 2.1 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Bryon Russell 4 30.0 7.0 1.5 2.8 4.3 1.8 1.0 0.0 2.3 3.8 2.3 9.0 .250 1.5 3.8 .400 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 10

Yao Ming Bryon Russell
Season -2002-03
Team -Washington Wizards
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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Bryon Russell 70 19.8 4.5 0.6 2.4 3.0 1.0 1.0 0.1 0.8 1.9 1.5 4.4 .353 0.7 2.0 .329 0.8 1.0 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Bryon Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Yao Ming Bryon Russell
Season -2003-04
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Lakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Bryon Russell 72 13.1 4.0 0.4 1.6 2.0 1.0 0.4 0.2 0.5 1.5 1.4 3.4 .402 0.6 1.6 .384 0.7 0.9 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Bryon Russell 6 2.5 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

Yao Ming Bryon Russell
Season -2004-05
Team -Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Nuggets 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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Bryon Russell 70 14.7 4.4 0.7 1.7 2.5 1.0 0.6 0.2 0.5 1.9 1.4 3.6 .377 0.8 2.1 .376 0.9 1.1 .792
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Bryon Russell 3 2.3 1.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.3 .000 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 13

Yao Ming Bryon Russell
Season -2005-06
Team -Denver Nuggets
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 %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Bryon Russell 1 3.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Yao Ming ------- --- ----------
Bryon Russell ------- --- ----------