Derek Fisher vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Derek Fisher, 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.

Derek Fisher played 18 years in the NBA, 5 more than Bill Russell, who played 13. Derek Fisher had the first of his seasons in 1996-97, 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
Derek Fisher 18 16 1996-97 to 2013-14
Bill Russell 13 13 1956-57 to 1968-69

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18

Rookie Season

Derek Fisher Bill Russell
Season 1996-971956-57
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Derek Fisher 80 11.5 3.9 0.3 0.9 1.2 1.5 0.5 0.1 0.9 1.1 1.3 3.3 .397 0.3 0.9 .301 1.0 1.5 .658
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 %
Derek Fisher 6 5.7 1.3 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.2 0.0 1.0 0.7 0.5 1.8 .273 0.0 0.8 .000 0.3 0.5 .667
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

Derek Fisher Bill Russell
Season 1997-981957-58
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 82 21.5 5.8 0.5 1.9 2.4 4.1 0.9 0.1 1.5 1.5 2.0 4.6 .434 0.4 1.0 .383 1.4 1.9 .757
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 %
Derek Fisher 13 21.5 6.0 0.2 1.8 1.9 3.8 1.3 0.0 1.2 2.5 2.1 5.2 .397 0.5 1.5 .300 1.4 2.2 .621
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

Derek Fisher Bill Russell
Season 1998-991958-59
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Derek Fisher 50 22.6 5.9 0.4 1.4 1.8 3.9 1.2 0.0 1.5 1.9 2.0 5.3 .376 0.8 1.9 .392 1.2 1.6 .759
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 %
Derek Fisher 8 29.8 9.8 0.8 2.9 3.6 4.9 1.0 0.0 1.4 2.5 3.5 8.4 .418 1.3 3.6 .345 1.5 1.9 .800
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

Derek Fisher Bill Russell
Season 1999-001959-60
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 78 23.1 6.3 0.3 1.6 1.8 2.8 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.9 2.1 6.2 .346 0.7 2.1 .313 1.3 1.9 .724
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 %
Derek Fisher 21 15.3 4.7 0.2 0.9 1.0 2.0 0.5 0.0 0.4 1.4 1.6 3.8 .430 0.6 1.4 .414 0.9 1.2 .760
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

Derek Fisher Bill Russell
Season 2000-011960-61
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 20 35.5 11.5 0.3 2.7 3.0 4.4 2.0 0.1 1.5 2.5 3.9 9.4 .412 1.3 3.2 .397 2.5 3.1 .806
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 %
Derek Fisher 16 35.8 13.4 0.3 3.5 3.8 3.0 1.3 0.1 0.8 2.8 4.8 9.9 .484 2.2 4.3 .515 1.6 2.1 .765
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

Derek Fisher Bill Russell
Season 2001-021961-62
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 70 28.2 11.2 0.2 1.9 2.1 2.6 0.9 0.1 0.9 1.7 3.9 9.5 .411 2.1 5.0 .413 1.3 1.6 .847
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 %
Derek Fisher 19 34.2 10.2 0.5 2.7 3.3 2.7 1.0 0.1 1.1 2.6 3.2 8.8 .357 1.5 4.3 .358 2.3 2.9 .786
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

Derek Fisher Bill Russell
Season 2002-031962-63
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Derek Fisher 82 34.5 10.5 0.5 2.4 2.9 3.6 1.1 0.2 1.1 2.4 4.1 9.5 .437 1.0 2.6 .401 1.2 1.5 .800
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 %
Derek Fisher 12 35.4 12.8 0.4 2.6 3.0 1.8 1.5 0.1 1.5 3.3 4.4 8.5 .520 2.4 3.9 .617 1.5 1.8 .818
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

Derek Fisher Bill Russell
Season 2003-041963-64
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Derek Fisher 82 21.6 7.1 0.4 1.5 1.9 2.3 1.3 0.0 1.0 1.4 2.5 7.0 .352 0.6 2.2 .291 1.5 1.9 .797
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 %
Derek Fisher 22 23.1 7.5 0.5 2.1 2.5 2.2 0.8 0.0 0.9 2.1 2.7 6.7 .405 1.0 2.5 .418 1.0 1.6 .657
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

Derek Fisher Bill Russell
Season 2004-051964-65
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston 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 %
Derek Fisher 74 30.0 11.9 0.5 2.4 2.9 4.1 1.0 0.1 1.7 2.4 4.0 10.2 .393 1.5 3.9 .371 2.4 2.7 .862
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 %
Derek Fisher ------- --- ----------
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

Derek Fisher Bill Russell
Season 2005-061965-66
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston 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 %
Derek Fisher 82 31.6 13.3 0.4 2.1 2.6 4.3 1.5 0.1 1.9 2.9 4.4 10.8 .410 1.4 3.6 .397 3.0 3.6 .833
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 %
Derek Fisher ------- --- ----------
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

Derek Fisher Bill Russell
Season 2006-071966-67
Team Utah JazzBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics 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 %
Derek Fisher 82 27.9 10.1 0.4 1.5 1.8 3.3 1.0 0.1 1.5 2.9 3.1 8.2 .382 0.6 1.9 .308 3.2 3.7 .853
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 %
Derek Fisher 16 27.8 9.5 0.3 1.3 1.6 2.6 1.0 0.1 1.2 3.2 3.1 7.6 .405 0.8 2.0 .375 2.6 2.8 .933
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

Derek Fisher Bill Russell
Season 2007-081967-68
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Derek Fisher 82 27.4 11.7 0.3 1.8 2.1 2.9 1.0 0.0 1.1 2.3 4.1 9.5 .436 1.4 3.4 .406 2.0 2.3 .883
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 %
Derek Fisher 21 31.6 10.2 0.1 2.1 2.2 2.5 2.0 0.1 1.0 3.0 3.1 7.0 .452 1.0 2.4 .440 2.9 3.5 .836
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

Derek Fisher Bill Russell
Season 2008-091968-69
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 82 29.8 9.9 0.3 2.0 2.3 3.2 1.2 0.1 0.9 2.3 3.6 8.4 .424 1.5 3.7 .397 1.3 1.6 .846
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 %
Derek Fisher 22 28.9 8.0 0.3 1.7 2.0 2.2 1.0 0.0 1.1 2.8 2.9 7.3 .394 0.9 3.0 .284 1.4 1.6 .861
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

Derek Fisher Bill Russell
Season 2009-10-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 82 27.2 7.5 0.3 1.8 2.1 2.5 1.1 0.1 1.0 2.5 2.6 6.8 .380 1.0 2.7 .348 1.4 1.6 .856
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 23 32.8 10.3 0.4 2.1 2.5 2.8 1.2 0.0 1.6 3.6 3.6 8.0 .448 1.2 3.3 .360 2.0 2.4 .821
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Derek Fisher Bill Russell
Season 2010-11-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Derek Fisher 82 28.0 6.8 0.2 1.7 1.9 2.7 1.2 0.1 0.9 2.3 2.5 6.5 .389 0.8 1.9 .396 1.0 1.3 .806
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 10 32.5 8.2 0.1 2.6 2.7 3.6 1.4 0.2 0.8 2.5 2.9 6.7 .433 0.7 1.7 .412 1.7 2.1 .810
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Derek Fisher Bill Russell
Season 2011-12-
Team Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 63 23.9 5.6 0.2 1.7 1.9 2.7 0.8 0.1 1.2 1.9 2.0 5.5 .371 0.6 1.7 .321 0.9 1.1 .851
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 20 22.3 6.3 0.1 1.5 1.6 1.3 0.9 0.1 0.3 1.9 2.5 5.9 .415 0.9 2.4 .375 0.5 0.5 1.000
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Derek Fisher Bill Russell
Season 2012-13-
Team Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
Derek Fisher 33 17.4 5.3 0.1 1.1 1.1 1.4 0.6 0.1 0.9 1.7 1.7 4.9 .342 0.9 2.4 .375 1.1 1.2 .921
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 11 23.7 8.7 0.1 1.5 1.5 0.7 0.6 0.1 0.7 3.0 2.9 6.4 .457 2.2 4.6 .471 0.7 1.1 .667
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Derek Fisher Bill Russell
Season 2013-14-
Team Oklahoma City Thunder-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
Derek Fisher 81 17.6 5.2 0.1 1.4 1.5 1.4 0.9 0.0 0.6 1.9 1.7 4.5 .391 1.1 2.8 .384 0.7 0.9 .775
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Derek Fisher 19 15.7 3.8 0.3 1.4 1.7 0.8 0.7 0.0 0.3 1.4 1.2 3.8 .315 0.6 2.2 .293 0.8 0.8 1.000
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------