Walt Frazier vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Walt Frazier, 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.

Walt Frazier and Bill Russell both played 13 years in the NBA. Walt Frazier had the first of his seasons in 1967-68, 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
Walt Frazier 13 8 1967-68 to 1979-80
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

Rookie Season

Walt Frazier Bill Russell
Season 1967-681956-57
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Div SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Frazier 74 21.5 9.0 - - 4.2 4.1 - - - 2.7 3.5 7.7 .451 - - - 2.1 3.2 .655
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 %
Walt Frazier 4 29.8 9.5 - - 5.5 6.3 - - - 3.0 3.0 8.3 .364 - - - 3.5 4.5 .778
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

Walt Frazier Bill Russell
Season 1968-691957-58
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Div FinalsCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Frazier 80 36.9 17.5 - - 6.2 7.9 - - - 3.1 6.6 13.2 .505 - - - 4.3 5.7 .746
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 %
Walt Frazier 10 41.5 21.2 - - 7.4 9.1 - - - 3.0 8.9 17.7 .503 - - - 3.4 5.7 .596
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

Walt Frazier Bill Russell
Season 1969-701958-59
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Frazier 77 39.5 20.9 - - 6.0 8.2 - - - 2.6 7.8 15.0 .518 - - - 5.3 7.1 .748
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 %
Walt Frazier 19 43.9 16.0 - - 7.8 8.2 - - - 2.8 6.2 13.0 .478 - - - 3.6 4.7 .764
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

Walt Frazier Bill Russell
Season 1970-711959-60
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Walt Frazier 80 43.2 21.7 - - 6.8 6.7 - - - 3.0 8.1 16.5 .494 - - - 5.4 7.0 .779
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 %
Walt Frazier 12 41.8 22.6 - - 5.8 4.5 - - - 3.8 9.0 17.0 .529 - - - 4.6 6.3 .733
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

Walt Frazier Bill Russell
Season 1971-721960-61
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Walt Frazier 77 40.6 23.2 - - 6.7 5.8 - - - 2.4 8.7 17.0 .512 - - - 5.8 7.2 .808
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 %
Walt Frazier 16 44.0 24.3 - - 7.0 6.1 - - - 3.0 9.3 17.3 .536 - - - 5.8 7.8 .736
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

Walt Frazier Bill Russell
Season 1972-731961-62
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Frazier 78 40.8 21.1 - - 7.3 5.9 - - - 2.4 8.7 17.8 .490 - - - 3.7 4.5 .817
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 %
Walt Frazier 17 45.0 21.9 - - 7.3 6.2 - - - 3.1 8.8 17.2 .514 - - - 4.3 5.5 .777
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

Walt Frazier Bill Russell
Season 1973-741962-63
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Walt Frazier 80 41.7 20.5 1.5 5.2 6.7 6.9 2.0 0.2 - 2.7 8.4 17.9 .472 - - - 3.7 4.4 .838
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 %
Walt Frazier 12 40.9 22.5 1.8 6.2 7.9 4.0 1.8 0.3 - 3.4 9.4 18.8 .502 - - - 3.7 4.1 .898
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

Walt Frazier Bill Russell
Season 1974-751963-64
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Walt Frazier 78 41.1 21.5 1.2 4.8 6.0 6.1 2.4 0.2 - 2.6 8.6 17.8 .483 - - - 4.2 5.1 .828
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 %
Walt Frazier 3 41.3 23.7 1.0 5.7 6.7 7.0 3.7 0.0 - 1.3 9.7 15.3 .630 - - - 4.3 5.3 .813
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

Walt Frazier Bill Russell
Season 1975-761964-65
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Walt Frazier 59 41.1 19.1 1.3 5.4 6.8 5.9 1.8 0.2 - 2.8 8.0 16.4 .485 - - - 3.2 3.8 .823
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 %
Walt Frazier ------- --- ----------
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

Walt Frazier Bill Russell
Season 1976-771965-66
Team New York KnicksBoston 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 %
Walt Frazier 76 35.4 17.4 0.7 3.2 3.9 5.3 1.7 0.1 - 2.6 7.0 14.3 .489 - - - 3.4 4.4 .771
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 %
Walt Frazier ------- --- ----------
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

Walt Frazier Bill Russell
Season 1977-781966-67
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Walt Frazier 51 32.6 16.2 1.1 3.0 4.1 4.1 1.5 0.3 2.2 2.4 6.6 14.0 .471 - - - 3.0 3.5 .850
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 %
Walt Frazier ------- --- ----------
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

Walt Frazier Bill Russell
Season 1978-791967-68
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston 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 %
Walt Frazier 12 23.3 10.8 0.6 1.1 1.7 2.7 1.1 0.2 1.8 1.8 4.5 10.2 .443 - - - 1.8 2.3 .778
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 %
Walt Frazier ------- --- ----------
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

Walt Frazier Bill Russell
Season 1979-801968-69
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First 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 %
Walt Frazier 3 9.0 3.3 0.3 0.7 1.0 2.7 0.7 0.3 1.3 0.7 1.3 3.7 .364 0.0 0.3 .000 0.7 0.7 1.000
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 %
Walt Frazier ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 18 46.1 10.8 - - 20.5 5.4 - - - 3.6 4.3 10.1 .423 - - - 2.3 4.5 .506