Bill Russell vs. Kenny Smith Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Kenny Smith 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.

Kenny Smith

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69
Kenny Smith: 1987-88 to 1996-97

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Bill Russell 11 Kenny Smith 2

NBA Seasons Bill Russell 13 Kenny Smith 10

Playoffs Played Bill Russell 13 Kenny Smith 5

All-Star Games Bill Russell 12 Kenny Smith 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Bill Russell 5 Kenny Smith 0

All-NBA First Team Bill Russell 3 Kenny Smith 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Bill Russell 11 Kenny Smith 0

All-Defensive 1st Team Bill Russell 1 * Kenny Smith 0

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Bill Russell 1 Kenny Smith 0

Rebounds Leader Bill Russell 4 Kenny Smith 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 Kenny Smith 12.8

Rebounds Per Game Bill Russell 22.5 Kenny Smith 2.0

Assists Per Game Bill Russell 4.3 Kenny Smith 5.5

Steals Per Game Bill Russell - n/a ** Kenny Smith 1.0

Blocks Per Game Bill Russell - n/a ** Kenny Smith 0.1

Totals Stats

Total Points Bill Russell 14,522 Kenny Smith 9,397

Total Rebounds Bill Russell 21,620 Kenny Smith 1,454

Total Assists Bill Russell 4,100 Kenny Smith 4,073

Total Steals Bill Russell - n/a ** Kenny Smith 759

Total Blocks Bill Russell - n/a ** Kenny Smith 65

Total Games Bill Russell 963 Kenny Smith 737

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Bill Russell .440 Kenny Smith .480

3-Point Percentage Bill Russell - n/a ** Kenny Smith .399

Free Throw Percentage Bill Russell .561 Kenny Smith .829

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Bill Russell 18.9 (1962) Kenny Smith 17.7 (1991)

Rebounds Per Game Bill Russell 24.7 (1964) Kenny Smith 2.8 (1989)

Assists Per Game Bill Russell 5.8 (1967) Kenny Smith 7.7 (1989)

Steals Per Game Bill Russell - n/a ** Kenny Smith 1.5 (1988)

Blocks Per Game Bill Russell - n/a ** Kenny Smith 0.1 (1991)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Bill Russell 16.2 Kenny Smith 11.5

Rebounds Per Game Bill Russell 24.9 Kenny Smith 2.2

Assists Per Game Bill Russell 4.7 Kenny Smith 4.5

Steals Per Game Bill Russell - n/a ** Kenny Smith 0.8

Blocks Per Game Bill Russell - n/a ** Kenny Smith 0.1

Totals Stats

Total Points Bill Russell 2,673 Kenny Smith 780

Total Rebounds Bill Russell 4,104 Kenny Smith 147

Total Assists Bill Russell 770 Kenny Smith 305

Total Steals Bill Russell - n/a ** Kenny Smith 54

Total Blocks Bill Russell - n/a ** Kenny Smith 9

Total Games Bill Russell 165 Kenny Smith 68

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Bill Russell .430 Kenny Smith .457

3-Point Percentage Bill Russell - n/a ** Kenny Smith .448

Free Throw Percentage Bill Russell .603 Kenny Smith .847

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Bill Russell 22.4 (1962) Kenny Smith 15.3 (1991)

Rebounds Per Game Bill Russell 29.9 (1961) Kenny Smith 2.7 (1991)

Assists Per Game Bill Russell 6.3 (1965) Kenny Smith 8.0 (1991)

Steals Per Game Bill Russell - n/a ** Kenny Smith 1.3 (1991)

Blocks Per Game Bill Russell - n/a ** Kenny Smith 0.3 (1991)

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.