Yao Ming vs. Bill Russell Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Bill Russell and Yao Ming 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

Yao Ming

vs.

Bill Russell

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Yao Ming: 2002-03 to 2010-11
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Yao Ming 0 Bill Russell 11

NBA Seasons Yao Ming 8 Bill Russell 13

Playoffs Played Yao Ming 4 Bill Russell 13

All-Star Games Yao Ming 8 Bill Russell 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Yao Ming 0 Bill Russell 5

All-NBA First Team Yao Ming 0 Bill Russell 3

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Yao Ming 5 Bill Russell 11

All-Defensive 1st Team Yao Ming 0 Bill Russell 1 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Yao Ming 0 Bill Russell 1

Rebounds Leader Yao Ming 0 Bill Russell 4

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Yao Ming 19.0 Bill Russell 15.1

Rebounds Per Game Yao Ming 9.2 Bill Russell 22.5

Assists Per Game Yao Ming 1.6 Bill Russell 4.3

Steals Per Game Yao Ming 0.4 Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Yao Ming 1.9 Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Yao Ming 9,247 Bill Russell 14,522

Total Rebounds Yao Ming 4,494 Bill Russell 21,620

Total Assists Yao Ming 769 Bill Russell 4,100

Total Steals Yao Ming 189 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Yao Ming 920 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Yao Ming 486 Bill Russell 963

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Yao Ming .524 Bill Russell .440

3-Point Percentage Yao Ming .200 Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Yao Ming .833 Bill Russell .561

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Yao Ming 25.0 (2007) Bill Russell 18.9 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Yao Ming 10.8 (2008) Bill Russell 24.7 (1964)

Assists Per Game Yao Ming 2.3 (2008) Bill Russell 5.8 (1967)

Steals Per Game Yao Ming 0.5 (2006) Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Yao Ming 2.0 (2008) Bill Russell - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Yao Ming 19.8 Bill Russell 16.2

Rebounds Per Game Yao Ming 9.3 Bill Russell 24.9

Assists Per Game Yao Ming 1.0 Bill Russell 4.7

Steals Per Game Yao Ming 0.3 Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Yao Ming 1.5 Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Yao Ming 555 Bill Russell 2,673

Total Rebounds Yao Ming 261 Bill Russell 4,104

Total Assists Yao Ming 29 Bill Russell 770

Total Steals Yao Ming 9 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Yao Ming 42 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Yao Ming 28 Bill Russell 165

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Yao Ming .519 Bill Russell .430

3-Point Percentage Yao Ming - Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Yao Ming .833 Bill Russell .603

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Yao Ming 25.1 (2007) Bill Russell 22.4 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Yao Ming 10.9 (2009) Bill Russell 29.9 (1961)

Assists Per Game Yao Ming 1.8 (2004) Bill Russell 6.3 (1965)

Steals Per Game Yao Ming 0.4 (2009) Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Yao Ming 2.7 (2005) 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.