Marques Johnson vs. Bill Russell Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Bill Russell and Marques Johnson 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

Marques Johnson

vs.

Bill Russell

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Marques Johnson: 1977-78 to 1989-90
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Marques Johnson 0 Bill Russell 11

NBA Seasons Marques Johnson 11 Bill Russell 13

Playoffs Played Marques Johnson 6 Bill Russell 13

All-Star Games Marques Johnson 5 Bill Russell 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Marques Johnson 0 Bill Russell 5

All-NBA First Team Marques Johnson 1 Bill Russell 3

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Marques Johnson 3 Bill Russell 11

All-Defensive 1st Team Marques Johnson 0 Bill Russell 1 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Marques Johnson 0 Bill Russell 1

Rebounds Leader Marques Johnson 0 Bill Russell 4

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Marques Johnson 20.1 Bill Russell 15.1

Rebounds Per Game Marques Johnson 7.0 Bill Russell 22.5

Assists Per Game Marques Johnson 3.6 Bill Russell 4.3

Steals Per Game Marques Johnson 1.3 Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Marques Johnson 0.8 Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Marques Johnson 13,892 Bill Russell 14,522

Total Rebounds Marques Johnson 4,817 Bill Russell 21,620

Total Assists Marques Johnson 2,502 Bill Russell 4,100

Total Steals Marques Johnson 888 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Marques Johnson 525 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Marques Johnson 691 Bill Russell 963

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Marques Johnson .518 Bill Russell .440

3-Point Percentage Marques Johnson .152 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Marques Johnson .739 Bill Russell .561

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Marques Johnson 25.6 (1979) Bill Russell 18.9 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Marques Johnson 10.6 (1978) Bill Russell 24.7 (1964)

Assists Per Game Marques Johnson 4.6 (1981) Bill Russell 5.8 (1967)

Steals Per Game Marques Johnson 1.6 (1984) Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Marques Johnson 1.3 (1978) Bill Russell - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Marques Johnson 21.5 Bill Russell 16.2

Rebounds Per Game Marques Johnson 7.9 Bill Russell 24.9

Assists Per Game Marques Johnson 3.7 Bill Russell 4.7

Steals Per Game Marques Johnson 1.0 Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Marques Johnson 0.8 Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Marques Johnson 1,163 Bill Russell 2,673

Total Rebounds Marques Johnson 427 Bill Russell 4,104

Total Assists Marques Johnson 198 Bill Russell 770

Total Steals Marques Johnson 56 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Marques Johnson 45 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Marques Johnson 54 Bill Russell 165

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Marques Johnson .489 Bill Russell .430

3-Point Percentage Marques Johnson .231 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Marques Johnson .701 Bill Russell .603

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Marques Johnson 24.7 (1981) Bill Russell 22.4 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Marques Johnson 12.4 (1978) Bill Russell 29.9 (1961)

Assists Per Game Marques Johnson 4.9 (1981) Bill Russell 6.3 (1965)

Steals Per Game Marques Johnson 1.4 (1981) Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Marques Johnson 1.9 (1978) Bill Russell - n/a **

Notes: * Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80. 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.