Bob Lanier vs. Bill Russell Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Bill Russell and Bob Lanier 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 Lanier

vs.

Bill Russell

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Bob Lanier: 1970-71 to 1983-84
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Bob Lanier 0 Bill Russell 11

NBA Seasons Bob Lanier 14 Bill Russell 13

Playoffs Played Bob Lanier 9 Bill Russell 13

All-Star Games Bob Lanier 8 Bill Russell 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Bob Lanier 0 Bill Russell 5

All-NBA First Team Bob Lanier 0 Bill Russell 3

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

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

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

Rebounds Leader Bob Lanier 0 Bill Russell 4

* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Bob Lanier 20.1 Bill Russell 15.1

Rebounds Per Game Bob Lanier 10.1 Bill Russell 22.5

Assists Per Game Bob Lanier 3.1 Bill Russell 4.3

Steals Per Game Bob Lanier 1.1 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Bob Lanier 1.5 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Bob Lanier 19,248 Bill Russell 14,522

Total Rebounds Bob Lanier 9,698 Bill Russell 21,620

Total Assists Bob Lanier 3,007 Bill Russell 4,100

Total Steals Bob Lanier 777 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Bob Lanier 1,100 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Bob Lanier 959 Bill Russell 963

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Bob Lanier .514 Bill Russell .440

3-Point Percentage Bob Lanier .154 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Bob Lanier .767 Bill Russell .561

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Bob Lanier 25.7 (1972) Bill Russell 18.9 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Bob Lanier 14.9 (1973) Bill Russell 24.7 (1964)

Assists Per Game Bob Lanier 4.6 (1975) Bill Russell 5.8 (1967)

Steals Per Game Bob Lanier 1.4 (1974) * Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Bob Lanier 3.0 (1974) * Bill Russell - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Bob Lanier 18.6 Bill Russell 16.2

Rebounds Per Game Bob Lanier 9.6 Bill Russell 24.9

Assists Per Game Bob Lanier 3.5 Bill Russell 4.7

Steals Per Game Bob Lanier 0.9 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Bob Lanier 1.5 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Bob Lanier 1,244 Bill Russell 2,673

Total Rebounds Bob Lanier 645 Bill Russell 4,104

Total Assists Bob Lanier 235 Bill Russell 770

Total Steals Bob Lanier 62 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Bob Lanier 99 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Bob Lanier 67 Bill Russell 165

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Bob Lanier .532 Bill Russell .430

3-Point Percentage Bob Lanier .000 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Bob Lanier .768 Bill Russell .603

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Bob Lanier 28.0 (1977) Bill Russell 22.4 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Bob Lanier 16.7 (1977) Bill Russell 29.9 (1961)

Assists Per Game Bob Lanier 6.3 (1975) Bill Russell 6.3 (1965)

Steals Per Game Bob Lanier 1.7 (1981) * Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Bob Lanier 4.0 (1975) * Bill Russell - n/a **

Notes: * Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74. Some years in this player's career don't have stats. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80. Some years in this player's career don't have stats. ** 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.