Mel Payton vs. Bill Russell Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Bill Russell and Mel Payton 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

Mel Payton

vs.

Bill Russell

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Mel Payton: 1951-52 to 1952-53
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Mel Payton 0 Bill Russell 11

NBA Seasons Mel Payton 2 Bill Russell 13

Playoffs Played Mel Payton 2 Bill Russell 13

All-Star Games Mel Payton 0 Bill Russell 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Mel Payton 0 * Bill Russell 5

All-NBA First Team Mel Payton 0 Bill Russell 3

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Mel Payton 0 Bill Russell 11

All-Defensive 1st Team Mel Payton 0 * Bill Russell 1 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Mel Payton 0 Bill Russell 1

Rebounds Leader Mel Payton 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 Mel Payton 5.4 Bill Russell 15.1

Rebounds Per Game Mel Payton 3.6 Bill Russell 22.5

Assists Per Game Mel Payton 1.1 Bill Russell 4.3

Steals Per Game Mel Payton - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Mel Payton - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Mel Payton 595 Bill Russell 14,522

Total Rebounds Mel Payton 396 Bill Russell 21,620

Total Assists Mel Payton 126 Bill Russell 4,100

Total Steals Mel Payton - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Mel Payton - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Mel Payton 111 Bill Russell 963

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Mel Payton .363 Bill Russell .440

3-Point Percentage Mel Payton - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Mel Payton .746 Bill Russell .561

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Mel Payton 7.1 (1953) Bill Russell 18.9 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Mel Payton 4.7 (1953) Bill Russell 24.7 (1964)

Assists Per Game Mel Payton 1.2 (1953) Bill Russell 5.8 (1967)

Steals Per Game Mel Payton - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Mel Payton - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Mel Payton 5.0 Bill Russell 16.2

Rebounds Per Game Mel Payton 1.8 Bill Russell 24.9

Assists Per Game Mel Payton 0.2 Bill Russell 4.7

Steals Per Game Mel Payton - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Mel Payton - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Mel Payton 25 Bill Russell 2,673

Total Rebounds Mel Payton 9 Bill Russell 4,104

Total Assists Mel Payton 1 Bill Russell 770

Total Steals Mel Payton - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Mel Payton - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Mel Payton 5 Bill Russell 165

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Mel Payton .421 Bill Russell .430

3-Point Percentage Mel Payton - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Mel Payton .900 Bill Russell .603

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Mel Payton 10.5 (1953) Bill Russell 22.4 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Mel Payton 3.0 (1953) Bill Russell 29.9 (1961)

Assists Per Game Mel Payton 0.3 (1952) Bill Russell 6.3 (1965)

Steals Per Game Mel Payton - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Mel Payton - 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.