Penny Hardaway vs. Bill Russell Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Bill Russell and Penny Hardaway 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
2023-24
Penny Hardaway:
1993-94 to 2007-08
Bill Russell:
1956-57 to 1968-69

NBA Championships and Seasons

Penny Hardaway0
Bill Russell11
Penny Hardaway14
Bill Russell13
Penny Hardaway8
Bill Russell13
Penny Hardaway4
Bill Russell12

Honors and Awards

Penny Hardaway0
Bill Russell5
Penny Hardaway2
Bill Russell3
All-NBA Teams
(Total Selections)
Penny Hardaway3
Bill Russell11
Penny Hardaway0
Bill Russell1
*
All-Defensive Teams
(Total Selections)
Penny Hardaway0
Bill Russell1
Penny Hardaway0
Bill Russell4
* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Penny Hardaway 15.2
Bill Russell 15.1

Penny Hardaway 4.5
Bill Russell 22.5

Penny Hardaway 5.0
Bill Russell 4.3

Penny Hardaway 1.6
Bill Russell -

n/a **
Penny Hardaway 0.4
Bill Russell -

n/a **

Totals Stats

Penny Hardaway 10,684
Bill Russell 14,522

Penny Hardaway 3,146
Bill Russell 21,620

Penny Hardaway 3,525
Bill Russell 4,100

Penny Hardaway 1,125
Bill Russell -

n/a **
Penny Hardaway 312
Bill Russell -

n/a **
Penny Hardaway 704
Bill Russell 963

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Penny Hardaway .458
Bill Russell .440

3-Point Percentage
Penny Hardaway .316
Bill Russell -

n/a **
Free Throw Percentage
Penny Hardaway .774
Bill Russell .561

Best Season (no game minimum)

Penny Hardaway 21.7
(1996)
Bill Russell 18.9
(1962)

Penny Hardaway 5.8
(2000)
Bill Russell 24.7
(1964)

Penny Hardaway 7.2
(1995)
Bill Russell 5.8
(1967)

Penny Hardaway 2.3
(1994)
Bill Russell -

n/a **
Penny Hardaway 0.8
(1998)
Bill Russell -

n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Penny Hardaway 20.4
Bill Russell 16.2

Penny Hardaway 4.7
Bill Russell 24.9

Penny Hardaway 6.2
Bill Russell 4.7

Penny Hardaway 1.9
Bill Russell -

n/a **
Penny Hardaway 0.8
Bill Russell -

n/a **

Totals Stats

Penny Hardaway 1,304
Bill Russell 2,673

Penny Hardaway 303
Bill Russell 4,104

Penny Hardaway 394
Bill Russell 770

Penny Hardaway 119
Bill Russell -

n/a **
Penny Hardaway 48
Bill Russell -

n/a **
Penny Hardaway 64
Bill Russell 165

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Penny Hardaway .448
Bill Russell .430

3-Point Percentage
Penny Hardaway .380
Bill Russell -

n/a **
Free Throw Percentage
Penny Hardaway .746
Bill Russell .603

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Penny Hardaway 31.0
(1997)
Bill Russell 22.4
(1962)

Penny Hardaway 6.7
(1994)
Bill Russell 29.9
(1961)

Penny Hardaway 7.7
(1995)
Bill Russell 6.3
(1965)

Penny Hardaway 2.4
(1997)
Bill Russell -

n/a **
Penny Hardaway 2.0
(1994)
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.