Bill Russell vs. Mel Thurston Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Mel Thurston 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.

Mel Thurston

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69
Mel Thurston: 1947-48 to 1947-48

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Bill Russell 11 Mel Thurston 0

NBA Seasons Bill Russell 13 Mel Thurston 1

Playoffs Played Bill Russell 13 Mel Thurston 0

All-Star Games Bill Russell 12 Mel Thurston 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Bill Russell 5 Mel Thurston 0 *

All-NBA First Team Bill Russell 3 Mel Thurston 0

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

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

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

Rebounds Leader Bill Russell 4 Mel Thurston 0 *

* Notes: Season MVP is awarded since 1955-56. Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69. Rebounds started to be recorded in 1950-51.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Bill Russell 15.1 Mel Thurston 5.6

Rebounds Per Game Bill Russell 22.5 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Bill Russell 4.3 Mel Thurston 0.3

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

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

Totals Stats

Total Points Bill Russell 14,522 Mel Thurston 78

Total Rebounds Bill Russell 21,620 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists Bill Russell 4,100 Mel Thurston 4

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

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

Total Games Bill Russell 963 Mel Thurston 14

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Bill Russell .440 Mel Thurston .283

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

Free Throw Percentage Bill Russell .561 Mel Thurston .500

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Bill Russell 18.9 (1962) Mel Thurston 5.6 (1948)

Rebounds Per Game Bill Russell 24.7 (1964) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Bill Russell 5.8 (1967) Mel Thurston 0.3 (1948)

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

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

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Bill Russell 16.2 Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game Bill Russell 24.9 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Bill Russell 4.7 Mel Thurston -

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

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

Totals Stats

Total Points Bill Russell 2,673 Mel Thurston -

Total Rebounds Bill Russell 4,104 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists Bill Russell 770 Mel Thurston -

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

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

Total Games Bill Russell 165 Mel Thurston 0

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Bill Russell .430 Mel Thurston -

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

Free Throw Percentage Bill Russell .603 Mel Thurston -

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Bill Russell 22.4 (1962) Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game Bill Russell 29.9 (1961) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Bill Russell 6.3 (1965) Mel Thurston -

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

Blocks Per Game Bill Russell - n/a ** Mel Thurston - 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. Rebounds started to be recorded in 1950-51, this player has no data for the stat.