Billy Ray Bates vs. Bill Russell Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Bill Russell and Billy Ray Bates 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

Billy Ray Bates

vs.

Bill Russell

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Billy Ray Bates: 1979-80 to 1982-83
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Billy Ray Bates 0 Bill Russell 11

NBA Seasons Billy Ray Bates 4 Bill Russell 13

Playoffs Played Billy Ray Bates 2 Bill Russell 13

All-Star Games Billy Ray Bates 0 Bill Russell 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Billy Ray Bates 0 Bill Russell 5

All-NBA First Team Billy Ray Bates 0 Bill Russell 3

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Billy Ray Bates 0 Bill Russell 11

All-Defensive 1st Team Billy Ray Bates 0 Bill Russell 1 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Billy Ray Bates 0 Bill Russell 1

Rebounds Leader Billy Ray Bates 0 Bill Russell 4

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Billy Ray Bates 11.7 Bill Russell 15.1

Rebounds Per Game Billy Ray Bates 1.7 Bill Russell 22.5

Assists Per Game Billy Ray Bates 1.9 Bill Russell 4.3

Steals Per Game Billy Ray Bates 0.8 Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Billy Ray Bates 0.1 Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Billy Ray Bates 2,197 Bill Russell 14,522

Total Rebounds Billy Ray Bates 313 Bill Russell 21,620

Total Assists Billy Ray Bates 352 Bill Russell 4,100

Total Steals Billy Ray Bates 151 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Billy Ray Bates 16 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Billy Ray Bates 187 Bill Russell 963

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Billy Ray Bates .474 Bill Russell .440

3-Point Percentage Billy Ray Bates .303 Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Billy Ray Bates .796 Bill Russell .561

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Billy Ray Bates 13.8 (1981) Bill Russell 18.9 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Billy Ray Bates 2.0 (1981) Bill Russell 24.7 (1964)

Assists Per Game Billy Ray Bates 2.5 (1981) Bill Russell 5.8 (1967)

Steals Per Game Billy Ray Bates 1.1 (1981) Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Billy Ray Bates 0.2 (1983) Bill Russell - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Billy Ray Bates 26.7 Bill Russell 16.2

Rebounds Per Game Billy Ray Bates 2.8 Bill Russell 24.9

Assists Per Game Billy Ray Bates 4.2 Bill Russell 4.7

Steals Per Game Billy Ray Bates 1.7 Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Billy Ray Bates 0.3 Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Billy Ray Bates 160 Bill Russell 2,673

Total Rebounds Billy Ray Bates 17 Bill Russell 4,104

Total Assists Billy Ray Bates 25 Bill Russell 770

Total Steals Billy Ray Bates 10 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Billy Ray Bates 2 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Billy Ray Bates 6 Bill Russell 165

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Billy Ray Bates .545 Bill Russell .430

3-Point Percentage Billy Ray Bates .375 Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Billy Ray Bates .806 Bill Russell .603

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Billy Ray Bates 28.3 (1981) Bill Russell 22.4 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Billy Ray Bates 3.3 (1980) Bill Russell 29.9 (1961)

Assists Per Game Billy Ray Bates 4.3 (1981) Bill Russell 6.3 (1965)

Steals Per Game Billy Ray Bates 1.7 (1981) Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Billy Ray Bates 0.3 (1981) Bill Russell - 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.