Don Nelson vs. Bill Russell Comparison

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

vs.

Bill Russell

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Don Nelson: 1962-63 to 1975-76
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Don Nelson 5 Bill Russell 11

NBA Seasons Don Nelson 14 Bill Russell 13

Playoffs Played Don Nelson 11 Bill Russell 13

All-Star Games Don Nelson 0 Bill Russell 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Don Nelson 0 Bill Russell 5

All-NBA First Team Don Nelson 0 Bill Russell 3

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

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

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

Rebounds Leader Don Nelson 0 Bill Russell 4

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Don Nelson 10.3 Bill Russell 15.1

Rebounds Per Game Don Nelson 4.9 Bill Russell 22.5

Assists Per Game Don Nelson 1.4 Bill Russell 4.3

Steals Per Game Don Nelson 0.3 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Don Nelson 0.1 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Don Nelson 10,898 Bill Russell 14,522

Total Rebounds Don Nelson 5,192 Bill Russell 21,620

Total Assists Don Nelson 1,526 Bill Russell 4,100

Total Steals Don Nelson 65 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Don Nelson 35 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Don Nelson 1,053 Bill Russell 963

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Don Nelson .480 Bill Russell .440

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

Free Throw Percentage Don Nelson .765 Bill Russell .561

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Don Nelson 15.4 (1970) Bill Russell 18.9 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Don Nelson 7.3 (1970) Bill Russell 24.7 (1964)

Assists Per Game Don Nelson 2.3 (1972) Bill Russell 5.8 (1967)

Steals Per Game Don Nelson 0.4 (1975) * Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Don Nelson 0.2 (1975) * Bill Russell - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Don Nelson 10.5 Bill Russell 16.2

Rebounds Per Game Don Nelson 4.8 Bill Russell 24.9

Assists Per Game Don Nelson 1.4 Bill Russell 4.7

Steals Per Game Don Nelson 0.3 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Don Nelson 0.1 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Don Nelson 1,577 Bill Russell 2,673

Total Rebounds Don Nelson 719 Bill Russell 4,104

Total Assists Don Nelson 210 Bill Russell 770

Total Steals Don Nelson 13 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Don Nelson 7 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Don Nelson 150 Bill Russell 165

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Don Nelson .498 Bill Russell .430

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

Free Throw Percentage Don Nelson .817 Bill Russell .603

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Don Nelson 15.4 (1975) Bill Russell 22.4 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Don Nelson 7.5 (1968) Bill Russell 29.9 (1961)

Assists Per Game Don Nelson 2.4 (1975) Bill Russell 6.3 (1965)

Steals Per Game Don Nelson 0.4 (1974) * Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Don Nelson 0.2 (1975) * Bill Russell - n/a **

Notes: * Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74. 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.