Don Carlson vs. Bill Russell Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Bill Russell and Don Carlson 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

Don Carlson

vs.

Bill Russell

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Don Carlson: 1946-47 to 1950-51
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Don Carlson 2 Bill Russell 11

NBA Seasons Don Carlson 4 Bill Russell 13

Playoffs Played Don Carlson 3 Bill Russell 13

All-Star Games Don Carlson 0 Bill Russell 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Don Carlson 0 * Bill Russell 5

All-NBA First Team Don Carlson 0 Bill Russell 3

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Don Carlson 0 Bill Russell 11

All-Defensive 1st Team Don Carlson 0 * Bill Russell 1 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Don Carlson 0 Bill Russell 1

Rebounds Leader Don Carlson 0 * Bill Russell 4

* 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 Don Carlson 8.0 Bill Russell 15.1

Rebounds Per Game Don Carlson 1.7 * Bill Russell 22.5

Assists Per Game Don Carlson 1.8 Bill Russell 4.3

Steals Per Game Don Carlson - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Don Carlson - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Don Carlson 1,447 Bill Russell 14,522

Total Rebounds Don Carlson 15 * Bill Russell 21,620

Total Assists Don Carlson 324 Bill Russell 4,100

Total Steals Don Carlson - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Don Carlson - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Don Carlson 180 Bill Russell 963

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Don Carlson .330 Bill Russell .440

3-Point Percentage Don Carlson - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Don Carlson .623 Bill Russell .561

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Don Carlson 10.7 (1947) Bill Russell 18.9 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Don Carlson 1.7 (1951) * Bill Russell 24.7 (1964)

Assists Per Game Don Carlson 3.1 (1949) Bill Russell 5.8 (1967)

Steals Per Game Don Carlson - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Don Carlson - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Don Carlson 8.0 Bill Russell 16.2

Rebounds Per Game Don Carlson - * Bill Russell 24.9

Assists Per Game Don Carlson 1.5 Bill Russell 4.7

Steals Per Game Don Carlson - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Don Carlson - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Don Carlson 249 Bill Russell 2,673

Total Rebounds Don Carlson 0 * Bill Russell 4,104

Total Assists Don Carlson 45 Bill Russell 770

Total Steals Don Carlson - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Don Carlson - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Don Carlson 31 Bill Russell 165

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Don Carlson .295 Bill Russell .430

3-Point Percentage Don Carlson - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Don Carlson .631 Bill Russell .603

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Don Carlson 12.3 (1947) Bill Russell 22.4 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Don Carlson - * Bill Russell 29.9 (1961)

Assists Per Game Don Carlson 2.8 (1949) Bill Russell 6.3 (1965)

Steals Per Game Don Carlson - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Don Carlson - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Notes: * Rebounds started to be recorded in 1950-51. Some years in this player's career don't have stats. ** 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.