Bob Pettit vs. Bill Russell Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Bill Russell and Bob Pettit 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

Bob Pettit

vs.

Bill Russell

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Bob Pettit: 1954-55 to 1964-65
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Bob Pettit 1 Bill Russell 11

NBA Seasons Bob Pettit 11 Bill Russell 13

Playoffs Played Bob Pettit 9 Bill Russell 13

All-Star Games Bob Pettit 11 Bill Russell 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Bob Pettit 2 * Bill Russell 5

All-NBA First Team Bob Pettit 10 Bill Russell 3

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Bob Pettit 11 Bill Russell 11

All-Defensive 1st Team Bob Pettit 0 * Bill Russell 1 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Bob Pettit 0 Bill Russell 1

Scoring Leader Bob Pettit 2 Bill Russell 0

Rebounds Leader Bob Pettit 1 Bill Russell 4

Rookie of The Year Bob Pettit 1 Bill Russell 0

* Notes: Season MVP is awarded since 1955-56. Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Bob Pettit 26.4 Bill Russell 15.1

Rebounds Per Game Bob Pettit 16.2 Bill Russell 22.5

Assists Per Game Bob Pettit 3.0 Bill Russell 4.3

Steals Per Game Bob Pettit - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Bob Pettit - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Bob Pettit 20,880 Bill Russell 14,522

Total Rebounds Bob Pettit 12,849 Bill Russell 21,620

Total Assists Bob Pettit 2,369 Bill Russell 4,100

Total Steals Bob Pettit - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Bob Pettit - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Bob Pettit 792 Bill Russell 963

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Bob Pettit .436 Bill Russell .440

3-Point Percentage Bob Pettit - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Bob Pettit .761 Bill Russell .561

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Bob Pettit 31.1 (1962) Bill Russell 18.9 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Bob Pettit 20.3 (1961) Bill Russell 24.7 (1964)

Assists Per Game Bob Pettit 3.7 (1962) Bill Russell 5.8 (1967)

Steals Per Game Bob Pettit - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Bob Pettit - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Bob Pettit 25.5 Bill Russell 16.2

Rebounds Per Game Bob Pettit 14.8 Bill Russell 24.9

Assists Per Game Bob Pettit 2.7 Bill Russell 4.7

Steals Per Game Bob Pettit - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Bob Pettit - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Bob Pettit 2,240 Bill Russell 2,673

Total Rebounds Bob Pettit 1,304 Bill Russell 4,104

Total Assists Bob Pettit 241 Bill Russell 770

Total Steals Bob Pettit - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Bob Pettit - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Bob Pettit 88 Bill Russell 165

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Bob Pettit .418 Bill Russell .430

3-Point Percentage Bob Pettit - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Bob Pettit .774 Bill Russell .603

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Bob Pettit 31.8 (1963) Bill Russell 22.4 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Bob Pettit 17.6 (1961) Bill Russell 29.9 (1961)

Assists Per Game Bob Pettit 3.7 (1960) Bill Russell 6.3 (1965)

Steals Per Game Bob Pettit - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Bob Pettit - n/a ** 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.