Reggie Miller vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Reggie Miller, 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.

Reggie Miller played 18 years in the NBA, 5 more than Bill Russell, who played 13. Reggie Miller had the first of his seasons in 1987-88, 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
Reggie Miller 18 15 1987-88 to 2004-05
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

Reggie Miller Bill Russell
Season 1987-881956-57
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 %
Reggie Miller 82 22.4 10.0 1.2 1.2 2.3 1.6 0.6 0.2 1.2 1.9 3.7 7.6 .488 0.7 2.1 .355 1.8 2.3 .801
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 %
Reggie Miller ------- --- ----------
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

Reggie Miller Bill Russell
Season 1988-891957-58
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Reggie Miller 74 34.3 16.0 1.0 3.0 3.9 3.1 1.3 0.4 1.9 2.3 5.4 11.2 .479 1.3 3.3 .402 3.9 4.6 .844
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 %
Reggie Miller ------- --- ----------
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

Reggie Miller Bill Russell
Season 1989-901958-59
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Reggie Miller 82 38.9 24.6 1.2 2.4 3.6 3.8 1.3 0.2 2.7 2.1 8.1 15.7 .514 1.8 4.4 .414 6.6 7.6 .868
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 %
Reggie Miller 3 41.7 20.7 0.3 3.7 4.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.0 6.7 11.7 .571 1.0 2.3 .429 6.3 7.0 .905
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

Reggie Miller Bill Russell
Season 1990-911959-60
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Reggie Miller 82 36.2 22.6 1.0 2.4 3.4 4.0 1.3 0.2 2.0 2.0 7.3 14.2 .512 1.4 3.9 .348 6.7 7.3 .918
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 %
Reggie Miller 5 38.6 21.6 1.0 2.2 3.2 2.8 1.6 0.4 2.4 2.8 6.8 14.0 .486 1.6 3.8 .421 6.4 7.4 .865
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

Reggie Miller Bill Russell
Season 1991-921960-61
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Reggie Miller 82 38.0 20.7 1.0 2.9 3.9 3.8 1.3 0.3 1.9 2.6 6.9 13.7 .501 1.6 4.2 .378 5.4 6.3 .858
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 %
Reggie Miller 3 43.3 27.0 1.3 1.0 2.3 4.7 1.3 0.0 1.3 4.0 8.3 14.3 .581 2.3 3.7 .636 8.0 10.0 .800
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

Reggie Miller Bill Russell
Season 1992-931961-62
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Reggie Miller 82 36.0 21.2 0.8 2.3 3.1 3.2 1.5 0.3 1.8 2.2 7.0 14.5 .479 2.0 5.1 .399 5.2 5.9 .880
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 %
Reggie Miller 4 43.8 31.5 1.0 2.0 3.0 2.8 0.8 0.0 2.5 2.8 10.0 18.8 .533 2.5 4.8 .526 9.0 9.5 .947
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

Reggie Miller Bill Russell
Season 1993-941962-63
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 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 %
Reggie Miller 79 33.4 19.9 0.4 2.3 2.7 3.1 1.5 0.3 2.2 2.4 6.6 13.2 .503 1.6 3.7 .421 5.1 5.6 .908
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 %
Reggie Miller 16 36.0 23.2 0.7 2.3 3.0 2.9 1.3 0.3 2.0 2.1 7.6 16.9 .448 2.2 5.2 .422 5.9 7.0 .839
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

Reggie Miller Bill Russell
Season 1994-951963-64
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 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 %
Reggie Miller 81 32.9 19.6 0.4 2.2 2.6 3.0 1.2 0.2 1.9 1.9 6.2 13.5 .462 2.4 5.8 .415 4.7 5.3 .897
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 %
Reggie Miller 17 37.7 25.5 0.5 3.1 3.6 2.1 0.9 0.2 2.3 2.1 8.1 17.1 .476 3.2 7.5 .422 6.1 7.1 .860
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

Reggie Miller Bill Russell
Season 1995-961964-65
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Reggie Miller 76 34.5 21.1 0.5 2.3 2.8 3.3 1.0 0.2 2.5 2.3 6.6 14.0 .473 2.2 5.4 .410 5.7 6.6 .863
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 %
Reggie Miller 1 31.0 29.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 7.0 17.0 .412 2.0 6.0 .333 13.0 15.0 .867
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

Reggie Miller Bill Russell
Season 1996-971965-66
Team Indiana PacersBoston 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 %
Reggie Miller 81 36.6 21.6 0.7 2.9 3.5 3.4 0.9 0.3 2.0 2.1 6.8 15.4 .444 2.8 6.6 .427 5.2 5.9 .880
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 %
Reggie Miller ------- --- ----------
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

Reggie Miller Bill Russell
Season 1997-981966-67
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East 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 %
Reggie Miller 81 34.5 19.5 0.6 2.3 2.9 2.1 1.0 0.1 1.6 1.8 6.4 13.3 .477 2.0 4.7 .429 4.7 5.4 .868
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 %
Reggie Miller 16 39.3 19.9 0.3 1.4 1.8 2.0 1.2 0.2 1.7 1.6 6.1 14.4 .426 2.4 5.9 .400 5.3 5.9 .904
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

Reggie Miller Bill Russell
Season 1998-991967-68
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 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 %
Reggie Miller 50 35.7 18.4 0.5 2.2 2.7 2.2 0.7 0.2 1.5 2.0 5.9 13.4 .438 2.1 5.5 .385 4.5 4.9 .915
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 %
Reggie Miller 13 37.0 20.2 1.0 2.9 3.9 2.6 0.7 0.2 1.6 2.0 6.1 15.3 .397 2.2 6.5 .333 5.9 6.6 .895
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

Reggie Miller Bill Russell
Season 1999-001968-69
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers 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 %
Reggie Miller 81 36.9 18.1 0.6 2.3 3.0 2.3 1.0 0.3 1.6 1.6 5.8 12.9 .448 2.0 5.0 .408 4.6 5.0 .919
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 %
Reggie Miller 22 40.6 24.0 0.4 2.0 2.4 2.7 1.0 0.5 1.3 1.7 7.9 17.5 .452 2.6 6.7 .395 5.5 5.9 .938
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

Reggie Miller Bill Russell
Season 2000-01-
Team Indiana Pacers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Reggie Miller 81 39.3 18.9 0.5 3.0 3.5 3.2 1.0 0.2 1.6 2.0 6.4 14.5 .440 2.1 5.7 .366 4.0 4.3 .928
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Reggie Miller 4 44.0 31.3 1.8 3.3 5.0 2.5 0.8 0.5 2.8 0.8 10.3 22.5 .456 3.8 8.8 .429 7.0 7.5 .933
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Reggie Miller Bill Russell
Season 2001-02-
Team Indiana Pacers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Reggie Miller 79 36.6 16.5 0.3 2.5 2.8 3.2 1.1 0.1 1.5 1.8 5.2 11.6 .453 2.3 5.6 .406 3.7 4.1 .911
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Reggie Miller 5 39.6 23.6 0.0 3.2 3.2 2.8 1.6 0.2 2.8 2.0 8.4 16.6 .506 2.6 6.2 .419 4.2 4.8 .875
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Reggie Miller Bill Russell
Season 2002-03-
Team Indiana Pacers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Reggie Miller 70 30.2 12.6 0.3 2.2 2.5 2.4 0.9 0.1 0.9 1.3 4.0 9.1 .441 1.6 4.5 .355 3.0 3.3 .900
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Reggie Miller 6 29.5 9.2 0.2 2.2 2.3 2.3 0.2 0.2 1.2 1.5 2.5 8.8 .283 0.7 4.2 .160 3.5 3.8 .913
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Reggie Miller Bill Russell
Season 2003-04-
Team Indiana Pacers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Reggie Miller 80 28.2 10.0 0.2 2.1 2.4 3.1 0.8 0.1 0.9 1.2 3.3 7.4 .438 1.7 4.2 .401 1.8 2.1 .885
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Reggie Miller 16 28.4 10.1 0.2 2.1 2.3 2.8 1.1 0.2 1.8 1.4 2.8 7.0 .402 1.5 4.0 .375 2.9 3.2 .922
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Reggie Miller Bill Russell
Season 2004-05-
Team Indiana Pacers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Reggie Miller 66 31.9 14.8 0.3 2.1 2.4 2.2 0.8 0.1 1.2 1.7 4.8 10.9 .437 1.5 4.5 .322 3.8 4.1 .933
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Reggie Miller 13 33.0 14.8 0.3 2.8 3.1 1.5 0.8 0.1 1.6 2.2 4.8 11.0 .434 1.6 5.1 .318 3.7 3.9 .941
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------