Otis Birdsong vs. Bill Russell Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Bill Russell and Otis Birdsong 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

Otis Birdsong

vs.

Bill Russell

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Otis Birdsong: 1977-78 to 1988-89
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Otis Birdsong 0 Bill Russell 11

NBA Seasons Otis Birdsong 12 Bill Russell 13

Playoffs Played Otis Birdsong 7 Bill Russell 13

All-Star Games Otis Birdsong 4 Bill Russell 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Otis Birdsong 0 Bill Russell 5

All-NBA First Team Otis Birdsong 0 Bill Russell 3

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Otis Birdsong 1 Bill Russell 11

All-Defensive 1st Team Otis Birdsong 0 Bill Russell 1 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Otis Birdsong 0 Bill Russell 1

Rebounds Leader Otis Birdsong 0 Bill Russell 4

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Otis Birdsong 18.0 Bill Russell 15.1

Rebounds Per Game Otis Birdsong 3.0 Bill Russell 22.5

Assists Per Game Otis Birdsong 3.2 Bill Russell 4.3

Steals Per Game Otis Birdsong 1.2 Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Otis Birdsong 0.2 Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Otis Birdsong 12,544 Bill Russell 14,522

Total Rebounds Otis Birdsong 2,072 Bill Russell 21,620

Total Assists Otis Birdsong 2,260 Bill Russell 4,100

Total Steals Otis Birdsong 858 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Otis Birdsong 143 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Otis Birdsong 696 Bill Russell 963

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Otis Birdsong .506 Bill Russell .440

3-Point Percentage Otis Birdsong .274 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Otis Birdsong .655 Bill Russell .561

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Otis Birdsong 24.6 (1981) Bill Russell 18.9 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Otis Birdsong 4.3 (1979) Bill Russell 24.7 (1964)

Assists Per Game Otis Birdsong 4.1 (1985) Bill Russell 5.8 (1967)

Steals Per Game Otis Birdsong 1.7 (1980) Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Otis Birdsong 0.3 (1980) Bill Russell - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Otis Birdsong 15.6 Bill Russell 16.2

Rebounds Per Game Otis Birdsong 3.0 Bill Russell 24.9

Assists Per Game Otis Birdsong 3.0 Bill Russell 4.7

Steals Per Game Otis Birdsong 1.6 Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Otis Birdsong 0.1 Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Otis Birdsong 546 Bill Russell 2,673

Total Rebounds Otis Birdsong 104 Bill Russell 4,104

Total Assists Otis Birdsong 104 Bill Russell 770

Total Steals Otis Birdsong 56 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Otis Birdsong 5 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Otis Birdsong 35 Bill Russell 165

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Otis Birdsong .480 Bill Russell .430

3-Point Percentage Otis Birdsong .091 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Otis Birdsong .583 Bill Russell .603

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Otis Birdsong 23.0 (1986) Bill Russell 22.4 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Otis Birdsong 7.7 (1980) Bill Russell 29.9 (1961)

Assists Per Game Otis Birdsong 4.5 (1983) Bill Russell 6.3 (1965)

Steals Per Game Otis Birdsong 2.0 (1986) Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Otis Birdsong 1.0 (1986) 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.