Alton Lister vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Alton Lister, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Alton Lister played 16 years in the NBA, 3 more than Bill Russell, who played 13. Alton Lister had the first of his seasons in 1981-82, while Bill Russell had his rookie season in 1956-57. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Alton Lister 16 11 1981-82 to 1997-98
Bill Russell 13 13 1956-57 to 1968-69

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Alton Lister Bill Russell
Season 1981-821956-57
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 80 14.8 4.5 1.4 3.5 4.8 1.1 0.2 1.5 1.6 3.0 1.9 3.6 .519 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .520
Bill Russell 48 35.3 14.7 - - 19.6 1.8 - - - 3.0 5.8 13.5 .427 - - - 3.2 6.4 .492
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 6 18.7 5.5 1.0 3.5 4.5 0.8 0.3 2.5 1.5 3.8 2.3 4.0 .583 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .714
Bill Russell 10 40.9 13.9 - - 24.4 3.2 - - - 4.1 5.4 14.8 .365 - - - 3.1 6.1 .508

Season 2

Alton Lister Bill Russell
Season 1982-831957-58
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 80 23.6 8.4 2.1 5.0 7.1 1.4 0.6 2.2 2.3 4.1 3.4 6.4 .529 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 3.0 .537
Bill Russell 69 38.3 16.6 - - 22.7 2.9 - - - 2.6 6.6 15.0 .442 - - - 3.3 6.4 .519
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 9 22.9 6.4 2.3 4.4 6.8 1.2 1.0 1.7 1.9 3.3 3.0 7.0 .429 0.0 0.1 .000 0.4 0.6 .800
Bill Russell 9 39.4 15.1 - - 24.6 2.7 - - - 2.7 5.3 14.8 .361 - - - 4.4 7.3 .606

Season 3

Alton Lister Bill Russell
Season 1983-841958-59
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 82 23.8 7.6 1.9 5.5 7.4 1.3 0.5 1.7 1.9 4.0 3.1 6.2 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.2 .626
Bill Russell 70 42.6 16.7 - - 23.0 3.2 - - - 2.3 6.5 14.2 .457 - - - 3.7 6.1 .598
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 16 23.0 6.8 1.6 4.4 6.0 0.6 0.3 1.5 1.7 3.9 2.4 4.9 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.0 .625
Bill Russell 11 45.1 15.5 - - 27.7 3.6 - - - 2.5 5.9 14.5 .409 - - - 3.7 6.1 .612

Season 4

Alton Lister Bill Russell
Season 1984-851959-60
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 81 25.8 9.9 2.7 5.3 8.0 1.6 0.6 2.1 2.3 3.5 4.0 7.4 .538 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 3.2 .588
Bill Russell 74 42.5 18.2 - - 24.0 3.7 - - - 2.8 7.5 16.1 .467 - - - 3.2 5.3 .612
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 8 25.4 8.6 3.4 4.4 7.8 1.9 0.8 1.9 2.0 4.5 3.4 7.5 .450 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 4.0 .469
Bill Russell 13 44.0 18.5 - - 25.8 2.9 - - - 2.9 7.2 15.8 .456 - - - 4.1 5.8 .707

Season 5

Alton Lister Bill Russell
Season 1985-861960-61
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 81 22.4 9.8 2.5 4.9 7.3 1.2 0.6 1.8 2.0 3.7 3.9 7.1 .551 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 3.3 .602
Bill Russell 78 44.3 16.9 - - 23.9 3.4 - - - 2.0 6.8 16.0 .426 - - - 3.3 6.0 .550
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 14 23.9 11.9 2.6 4.2 6.9 0.9 0.5 1.6 1.5 4.0 4.7 7.4 .641 0.0 0.1 .000 2.5 4.1 .603
Bill Russell 10 46.2 19.1 - - 29.9 4.8 - - - 2.4 7.3 17.1 .427 - - - 4.5 8.6 .523

Season 6

Alton Lister Bill Russell
Season 1986-871961-62
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 75 30.5 11.6 3.0 6.4 9.4 1.5 0.4 2.4 2.3 3.9 4.6 9.2 .504 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.5 .675
Bill Russell 76 45.2 18.9 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.7 7.6 16.6 .457 - - - 3.8 6.3 .595
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 9 22.9 6.0 3.2 3.0 6.2 0.8 0.8 1.4 1.1 4.1 2.2 5.6 .400 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.2 .700
Bill Russell 14 48.0 22.4 - - 26.4 5.0 - - - 3.5 8.3 18.1 .458 - - - 5.9 8.1 .726

Season 7

Alton Lister Bill Russell
Season 1987-881962-63
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 82 22.1 5.6 2.4 5.2 7.6 0.7 0.3 1.7 1.1 3.9 2.1 4.2 .504 0.0 0.0 .500 1.4 2.3 .606
Bill Russell 78 44.9 16.8 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.4 6.6 15.2 .432 - - - 3.7 6.6 .555
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 5 15.4 5.6 1.8 4.0 5.8 1.0 0.2 1.0 0.8 3.4 2.4 3.4 .706 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.0 .800
Bill Russell 13 47.5 20.3 - - 25.1 5.1 - - - 2.8 7.4 16.3 .453 - - - 5.5 8.4 .661

Season 8

Alton Lister Bill Russell
Season 1988-891963-64
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 82 22.0 8.0 2.5 4.1 6.6 0.7 0.3 2.2 1.4 3.8 3.3 6.6 .499 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.2 .646
Bill Russell 78 44.6 15.0 - - 24.7 4.7 - - - 2.4 6.0 13.8 .433 - - - 3.0 5.5 .550
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 8 20.0 7.0 1.6 3.1 4.8 0.3 0.3 2.6 1.1 3.5 2.1 4.9 .436 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.3 .846
Bill Russell 10 45.1 13.1 - - 27.2 4.4 - - - 3.3 4.7 13.2 .356 - - - 3.7 6.7 .552

Season 9

Alton Lister Bill Russell
Season 1989-901964-65
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 3 13.3 4.0 1.7 1.0 2.7 0.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 2.7 1.3 2.7 .500 0.0 0.3 .000 1.3 2.3 .571
Bill Russell 78 44.4 14.1 - - 24.1 5.3 - - - 2.6 5.5 12.6 .438 - - - 3.1 5.5 .573
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 12 46.8 16.5 - - 25.2 6.3 - - - 3.6 6.6 12.5 .527 - - - 3.3 6.3 .526

Season 10

Alton Lister Bill Russell
Season 1990-911965-66
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 77 20.2 6.4 1.6 4.7 6.3 1.2 0.3 1.2 1.4 3.7 2.4 5.1 .478 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.6 .569
Bill Russell 78 43.4 12.9 - - 22.8 4.8 - - - 2.8 5.0 12.1 .415 - - - 2.9 5.2 .551
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 6 12.0 4.3 1.2 3.5 4.7 0.3 0.0 1.2 1.3 2.5 2.0 4.2 .480 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.8 .400
Bill Russell 17 47.9 19.1 - - 25.2 5.0 - - - 3.5 7.3 15.4 .475 - - - 4.5 7.2 .618

Season 11

Alton Lister Bill Russell
Season 1991-921966-67
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 26 11.3 3.9 0.8 2.7 3.5 0.5 0.2 0.6 0.8 2.3 1.7 3.0 .557 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.3 .424
Bill Russell 81 40.7 13.3 - - 21.0 5.8 - - - 3.2 4.9 10.7 .454 - - - 3.5 5.8 .610
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 4 11.8 4.0 0.8 2.0 2.8 0.3 0.0 1.0 0.8 2.3 1.5 3.8 .400 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .800
Bill Russell 9 43.3 10.6 - - 22.0 5.6 - - - 3.6 3.4 9.6 .360 - - - 3.7 5.8 .635

Season 12

Alton Lister Bill Russell
Season 1992-931967-68
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 20 8.7 2.3 0.8 1.5 2.2 0.3 0.0 0.5 0.9 2.0 1.0 2.1 .452 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.7 .538
Bill Russell 78 37.9 12.5 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.1 4.7 11.0 .425 - - - 3.2 5.9 .537
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 19 45.7 14.4 - - 22.8 5.2 - - - 3.8 5.2 12.7 .409 - - - 4.0 6.8 .585

Note: Alton Lister didn't play in 1993-94.

Season 13

Alton Lister Bill Russell
Season 1994-951968-69
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 60 12.9 2.8 1.1 2.8 3.9 0.2 0.3 1.0 0.6 2.4 1.1 2.2 .493 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.2 .500
Bill Russell 77 42.7 9.9 - - 19.3 4.9 - - - 3.0 3.6 8.4 .433 - - - 2.6 5.0 .526
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 18 46.1 10.8 - - 20.5 5.4 - - - 3.6 4.3 10.1 .423 - - - 2.3 4.5 .506

Season 14

Alton Lister Bill Russell
Season 1995-96-
Team Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 64 11.5 2.2 1.0 3.3 4.4 0.3 0.1 0.7 0.8 2.1 0.8 1.6 .486 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.0 .641
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Alton Lister Bill Russell
Season 1996-97-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 53 9.7 1.6 1.2 1.9 3.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.6 1.8 0.6 1.5 .416 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.6 .742
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Alton Lister Bill Russell
Season 1997-98-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 7 6.3 0.9 0.3 1.3 1.6 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 1.7 0.4 1.1 .375 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alton Lister 2 5.5 1.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 2.5 0.5 1.5 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------