Bill Russell vs. Klay Thompson Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Klay Thompson and Bill Russell 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

Bill Russell

vs.

Klay Thompson

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69
Klay Thompson: 2011-12 to 2023-24

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Bill Russell 11 Klay Thompson 4

NBA Seasons Bill Russell 13 Klay Thompson 11

Playoffs Played Bill Russell 13 Klay Thompson 9

All-Star Games Bill Russell 12 Klay Thompson 5

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Bill Russell 5 Klay Thompson 0

All-NBA First Team Bill Russell 3 Klay Thompson 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Bill Russell 11 Klay Thompson 2

All-Defensive 1st Team Bill Russell 1 * Klay Thompson 0

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Bill Russell 1 Klay Thompson 1

Rebounds Leader Bill Russell 4 Klay Thompson 0

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Bill Russell 15.1 Klay Thompson 19.6

Rebounds Per Game Bill Russell 22.5 Klay Thompson 3.5

Assists Per Game Bill Russell 4.3 Klay Thompson 2.3

Steals Per Game Bill Russell - n/a ** Klay Thompson 0.9

Blocks Per Game Bill Russell - n/a ** Klay Thompson 0.5

Totals Stats

Total Points Bill Russell 14,522 Klay Thompson 15,531

Total Rebounds Bill Russell 21,620 Klay Thompson 2,795

Total Assists Bill Russell 4,100 Klay Thompson 1,843

Total Steals Bill Russell - n/a ** Klay Thompson 676

Total Blocks Bill Russell - n/a ** Klay Thompson 413

Total Games Bill Russell 963 Klay Thompson 793

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Bill Russell .440 Klay Thompson .453

3-Point Percentage Bill Russell - n/a ** Klay Thompson .413

Free Throw Percentage Bill Russell .561 Klay Thompson .858

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Bill Russell 18.9 (1962) Klay Thompson 22.3 (2017)

Rebounds Per Game Bill Russell 24.7 (1964) Klay Thompson 4.1 (2023)

Assists Per Game Bill Russell 5.8 (1967) Klay Thompson 2.9 (2015)

Steals Per Game Bill Russell - n/a ** Klay Thompson 1.1 (2015)

Blocks Per Game Bill Russell - n/a ** Klay Thompson 0.8 (2015)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Bill Russell 16.2 Klay Thompson 19.2

Rebounds Per Game Bill Russell 24.9 Klay Thompson 4.0

Assists Per Game Bill Russell 4.7 Klay Thompson 2.2

Steals Per Game Bill Russell - n/a ** Klay Thompson 0.9

Blocks Per Game Bill Russell - n/a ** Klay Thompson 0.5

Totals Stats

Total Points Bill Russell 2,673 Klay Thompson 3,032

Total Rebounds Bill Russell 4,104 Klay Thompson 626

Total Assists Bill Russell 770 Klay Thompson 351

Total Steals Bill Russell - n/a ** Klay Thompson 150

Total Blocks Bill Russell - n/a ** Klay Thompson 85

Total Games Bill Russell 165 Klay Thompson 158

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Bill Russell .430 Klay Thompson .436

3-Point Percentage Bill Russell - n/a ** Klay Thompson .405

Free Throw Percentage Bill Russell .603 Klay Thompson .845

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Bill Russell 22.4 (1962) Klay Thompson 24.3 (2016)

Rebounds Per Game Bill Russell 29.9 (1961) Klay Thompson 4.6 (2013)

Assists Per Game Bill Russell 6.3 (1965) Klay Thompson 3.6 (2014)

Steals Per Game Bill Russell - n/a ** Klay Thompson 1.3 (2019)

Blocks Per Game Bill Russell - n/a ** Klay Thompson 0.9 (2015)

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.