Bob Knight vs. Bill Russell Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Bill Russell and Bob Knight that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

Bob Knight

vs.

Bill Russell

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Bob Knight: 1954-55 to 1954-55
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Bob Knight 0 Bill Russell 11

NBA Seasons Bob Knight 1 Bill Russell 13

Playoffs Played Bob Knight 0 Bill Russell 13

All-Star Games Bob Knight 0 Bill Russell 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Bob Knight 0 * Bill Russell 5

All-NBA First Team Bob Knight 0 Bill Russell 3

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Bob Knight 0 Bill Russell 11

All-Defensive 1st Team Bob Knight 0 * Bill Russell 1 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Bob Knight 0 Bill Russell 1

Rebounds Leader Bob Knight 0 Bill Russell 4

* Notes: Season MVP is awarded since 1955-56. Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Bob Knight 3.5 Bill Russell 15.1

Rebounds Per Game Bob Knight 0.5 Bill Russell 22.5

Assists Per Game Bob Knight 4.0 Bill Russell 4.3

Steals Per Game Bob Knight - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Bob Knight - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Bob Knight 7 Bill Russell 14,522

Total Rebounds Bob Knight 1 Bill Russell 21,620

Total Assists Bob Knight 8 Bill Russell 4,100

Total Steals Bob Knight - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Bob Knight - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Bob Knight 2 Bill Russell 963

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Bob Knight .429 Bill Russell .440

3-Point Percentage Bob Knight - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Bob Knight 1.000 Bill Russell .561

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Bob Knight 3.5 (1955) Bill Russell 18.9 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Bob Knight 0.5 (1955) Bill Russell 24.7 (1964)

Assists Per Game Bob Knight 4.0 (1955) Bill Russell 5.8 (1967)

Steals Per Game Bob Knight - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Bob Knight - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Bob Knight - Bill Russell 16.2

Rebounds Per Game Bob Knight - Bill Russell 24.9

Assists Per Game Bob Knight - Bill Russell 4.7

Steals Per Game Bob Knight - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Bob Knight - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Bob Knight - Bill Russell 2,673

Total Rebounds Bob Knight - Bill Russell 4,104

Total Assists Bob Knight - Bill Russell 770

Total Steals Bob Knight - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Bob Knight - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Bob Knight 0 Bill Russell 165

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Bob Knight - Bill Russell .430

3-Point Percentage Bob Knight - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Bob Knight - Bill Russell .603

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Bob Knight - Bill Russell 22.4 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Bob Knight - Bill Russell 29.9 (1961)

Assists Per Game Bob Knight - Bill Russell 6.3 (1965)

Steals Per Game Bob Knight - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Bob Knight - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Notes: ** Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74, this player has no data for the stat. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat.