Kawhi Leonard vs. Bill Russell Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Bill Russell and Kawhi Leonard 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

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2025-26
Kawhi Leonard: 2011-12 to 2025-26
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Kawhi Leonard 2 Bill Russell 11

NBA Seasons Kawhi Leonard 14 Bill Russell 13

Playoffs Played Kawhi Leonard 12 Bill Russell 13

All-Star Games Kawhi Leonard 6 Bill Russell 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Kawhi Leonard 0 Bill Russell 5

Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard 2 Bill Russell 0 *

All-NBA First Team Kawhi Leonard 3 Bill Russell 3

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Kawhi Leonard 6 Bill Russell 11

All-Defensive 1st Team Kawhi Leonard 3 Bill Russell 1 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Kawhi Leonard 7 Bill Russell 1

Defensive Player of The Year Kawhi Leonard 2 Bill Russell 0 *

Rebounds Leader Kawhi Leonard 0 Bill Russell 4

Steals Leader Kawhi Leonard 1 Bill Russell 0 *

* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69. Defensive Player of The Year is awarded since 1982-83. Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Kawhi Leonard 20.2 Bill Russell 15.1

Rebounds Per Game Kawhi Leonard 6.3 Bill Russell 22.5

Assists Per Game Kawhi Leonard 3.0 Bill Russell 4.3

Steals Per Game Kawhi Leonard 1.7 Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Kawhi Leonard 0.6 Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Kawhi Leonard 14,987 Bill Russell 14,522

Total Rebounds Kawhi Leonard 4,715 Bill Russell 21,620

Total Assists Kawhi Leonard 2,265 Bill Russell 4,100

Total Steals Kawhi Leonard 1,275 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Kawhi Leonard 475 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Kawhi Leonard 743 Bill Russell 963

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Kawhi Leonard .499 Bill Russell .440

3-Point Percentage Kawhi Leonard .393 Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Kawhi Leonard .861 Bill Russell .561

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Kawhi Leonard 27.1 (2020) Bill Russell 18.9 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Kawhi Leonard 7.3 (2019) Bill Russell 24.7 (1964)

Assists Per Game Kawhi Leonard 5.2 (2021) Bill Russell 5.8 (1967)

Steals Per Game Kawhi Leonard 2.3 (2015) Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Kawhi Leonard 1.0 (2018) Bill Russell - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Kawhi Leonard 21.5 Bill Russell 16.2

Rebounds Per Game Kawhi Leonard 7.8 Bill Russell 24.9

Assists Per Game Kawhi Leonard 3.0 Bill Russell 4.7

Steals Per Game Kawhi Leonard 1.8 Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Kawhi Leonard 0.7 Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Kawhi Leonard 3,133 Bill Russell 2,673

Total Rebounds Kawhi Leonard 1,142 Bill Russell 4,104

Total Assists Kawhi Leonard 432 Bill Russell 770

Total Steals Kawhi Leonard 256 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Kawhi Leonard 99 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Kawhi Leonard 146 Bill Russell 165

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Kawhi Leonard .513 Bill Russell .430

3-Point Percentage Kawhi Leonard .399 Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Kawhi Leonard .841 Bill Russell .603

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Kawhi Leonard 34.5 (2023) Bill Russell 22.4 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Kawhi Leonard 9.3 (2020) Bill Russell 29.9 (1961)

Assists Per Game Kawhi Leonard 6.0 (2023) Bill Russell 6.3 (1965)

Steals Per Game Kawhi Leonard 2.6 (2016) Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Kawhi Leonard 1.4 (2016) 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.