Bill Russell vs. Deron Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Deron Williams and Bill Russell, 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 / Stats / Stats Rankings

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.

Bill Russell played 13 years in the NBA, 1 more than Deron Williams, who played 12. Bill Russell had the first of his seasons in 1956-57, while Deron Williams had his rookie season in 2005-06. 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 achievements, 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
Bill Russell 13 13 1956-57 to 1968-69
Deron Williams 12 9 2005-06 to 2016-17

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

Bill Russell Deron Williams
Season 1956-572005-06
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 48 35.3 14.7 - - 19.6 1.8 - - - 3.0 5.8 13.5 .427 - - - 3.2 6.4 .492
difference:+32+6.5+3.9+17.2+2.7-0.1+1.6+3.4+.006+2.0+4.7+.212
Deron Williams 80 28.8 10.8 0.4 2.0 2.4 4.5 0.8 0.2 1.8 2.9 4.2 10.1 .421 1.1 2.7 .416 1.2 1.7 .704
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 10 40.9 13.9 - - 24.4 3.2 - - - 4.1 5.4 14.8 .365 - - - 3.1 6.1 .508
Deron Williams DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Bill Russell Deron Williams
Season 1957-582006-07
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsJazz Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 69 38.3 16.6 - - 22.7 2.9 - - - 2.6 6.6 15.0 .442 - - - 3.3 6.4 .519
difference:+11+1.4+0.4+19.4+6.4-0.6+0.4+1.5+.014+0.5+2.7+.248
Deron Williams 80 36.9 16.2 0.5 2.8 3.3 9.3 1.0 0.2 3.1 3.2 6.2 13.5 .456 1.0 3.2 .322 2.8 3.7 .767
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 9 39.4 15.1 - - 24.6 2.7 - - - 2.7 5.3 14.8 .361 - - - 4.4 7.3 .606
difference:+8+0.8+4.1+20.3+5.9-0.2+1.9+1.1+.091+0.6+2.5+.184
Deron Williams 17 38.6 19.2 0.5 3.8 4.3 8.6 1.5 0.2 4.0 2.9 7.2 15.9 .452 1.1 3.4 .333 3.8 4.8 .790

Season 3

Bill Russell Deron Williams
Season 1958-592007-08
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionJazz Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 70 42.6 16.7 - - 23.0 3.2 - - - 2.3 6.5 14.2 .457 - - - 3.7 6.1 .598
difference:+12+5.3+2.1+20.0+7.3-0.1+0.4+0.6+.050+0.3+1.1+.205
Deron Williams 82 37.3 18.8 0.4 2.5 3.0 10.5 1.1 0.3 3.4 2.4 6.9 13.6 .507 1.0 2.6 .395 4.0 5.0 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 11 45.1 15.5 - - 27.7 3.6 - - - 2.5 5.9 14.5 .409 - - - 3.7 6.1 .612
difference:+1+2.3+6.1+24.1+6.4-0.4+1.6+0.8+.083+0.6+0.6+.161
Deron Williams 12 42.8 21.6 1.3 2.3 3.6 10.0 0.6 0.3 3.1 2.9 7.5 15.3 .492 2.3 4.7 .500 4.3 5.5 .773

Season 4

Bill Russell Deron Williams
Season 1959-602008-09
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionJazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 74 42.5 18.2 - - 24.0 3.7 - - - 2.8 7.5 16.1 .467 - - - 3.2 5.3 .612
difference:+6+5.7+1.2+21.1+7.0-0.8+0.7+1.6+.004+1.6+0.3+.237
Deron Williams 68 36.8 19.4 0.4 2.5 2.9 10.7 1.1 0.3 3.4 2.0 6.8 14.5 .471 1.0 3.3 .310 4.8 5.6 .849
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 13 44.0 18.5 - - 25.8 2.9 - - - 2.9 7.2 15.8 .456 - - - 4.1 5.8 .707
difference:+8+1.8+1.7+22.0+7.9-0.5+1.4+1.8+.042+2.7+2.4+.122
Deron Williams 5 42.2 20.2 0.8 3.0 3.8 10.8 1.8 0.4 4.2 3.4 5.8 14.0 .414 1.8 5.0 .360 6.8 8.2 .829

Season 5

Bill Russell Deron Williams
Season 1960-612009-10
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionJazz Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 78 44.3 16.9 - - 23.9 3.4 - - - 2.0 6.8 16.0 .426 - - - 3.3 6.0 .550
difference:+2+7.4+1.8+19.9+7.1-0.7+0.3+2.1+.043+1.1+0.5+.251
Deron Williams 76 36.9 18.7 0.7 3.3 4.0 10.5 1.3 0.2 3.3 2.7 6.5 13.9 .469 1.3 3.4 .371 4.4 5.5 .801
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 10 46.2 19.1 - - 29.9 4.8 - - - 2.4 7.3 17.1 .427 - - - 4.5 8.6 .523
difference:+6.4+5.2+27.2+5.4-1.3+0.6+2.2+.023+4.4+2.5+.279
Deron Williams 10 39.8 24.3 0.4 2.3 2.7 10.2 1.0 0.4 3.0 3.7 6.7 14.9 .450 2.0 5.1 .392 8.9 11.1 .802

Season 6

Bill Russell Deron Williams
Season 1961-622010-11
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz, New Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 76 45.2 18.9 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.7 7.6 16.6 .457 - - - 3.8 6.3 .595
difference:+11+7.3+1.2+19.6+5.8-0.2+1.0+1.6+.018+1.6+.250
Deron Williams 65 37.9 20.1 0.6 3.4 4.0 10.3 1.2 0.2 3.5 2.9 6.6 15.0 .439 1.6 4.9 .331 5.4 6.3 .845
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 14 48.0 22.4 - - 26.4 5.0 - - - 3.5 8.3 18.1 .458 - - - 5.9 8.1 .726
Deron Williams DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7

Bill Russell Deron Williams
Season 1962-632011-12
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 78 44.9 16.8 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.4 6.6 15.2 .432 - - - 3.7 6.6 .555
difference:+23+8.6+4.2+20.3+4.2-0.2+0.5+2.3+.025+1.0+1.1+.288
Deron Williams 55 36.3 21.0 0.4 2.9 3.3 8.7 1.2 0.4 4.0 2.2 7.1 17.5 .407 2.1 6.2 .336 4.7 5.5 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 13 47.5 20.3 - - 25.1 5.1 - - - 2.8 7.4 16.3 .453 - - - 5.5 8.4 .661
Deron Williams DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Bill Russell Deron Williams
Season 1963-642012-13
Team Boston CelticsBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNets Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 78 44.6 15.0 - - 24.7 4.7 - - - 2.4 6.0 13.8 .433 - - - 3.0 5.5 .550
difference:+8.2+3.9+21.7+3.0-0.1+0.3+0.6+.007+1.1+0.8+.309
Deron Williams 78 36.4 18.9 0.4 2.6 3.0 7.7 1.0 0.4 2.8 2.5 6.3 14.4 .440 2.2 5.7 .378 4.1 4.7 .859
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 10 45.1 13.1 - - 27.2 4.4 - - - 3.3 4.7 13.2 .356 - - - 3.7 6.7 .552
difference:+3+3.4+7.5+24.1+4.0-0.9+1.7+1.9+.069+1.6+0.3+.270
Deron Williams 7 41.7 20.6 0.1 3.0 3.1 8.4 1.0 0.6 3.0 2.4 6.4 15.1 .425 2.4 6.1 .395 5.3 6.4 .822

Season 9

Bill Russell Deron Williams
Season 1964-652013-14
Team Boston CelticsBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNets Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 78 44.4 14.1 - - 24.1 5.3 - - - 2.6 5.5 12.6 .438 - - - 3.1 5.5 .573
difference:+14+12.2+0.2+21.5+0.8-0.3+0.5+1.4+.012+0.4+2.1+.228
Deron Williams 64 32.2 14.3 0.2 2.4 2.6 6.1 1.5 0.2 2.2 2.3 5.0 11.2 .450 1.5 4.2 .366 2.7 3.4 .801
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 12 46.8 16.5 - - 25.2 6.3 - - - 3.6 6.6 12.5 .527 - - - 3.3 6.3 .526
difference:+11.1+2.0+22.0+0.5-1.0+1.6+0.2+.132+0.3+2.5+.274
Deron Williams 12 35.7 14.5 0.6 2.6 3.2 5.8 1.1 0.2 2.3 2.6 5.0 12.7 .395 1.5 4.4 .340 3.0 3.8 .800

Season 10

Bill Russell Deron Williams
Season 1965-662014-15
Team Boston CelticsBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNets Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 78 43.4 12.9 - - 22.8 4.8 - - - 2.8 5.0 12.1 .415 - - - 2.9 5.2 .551
difference:+10+12.3+0.1+19.3+1.8-0.5+0.6+0.8+.028+0.1+1.7+.283
Deron Williams 68 31.1 13.0 0.4 3.1 3.5 6.6 0.9 0.3 2.3 2.3 4.4 11.3 .387 1.3 3.5 .367 3.0 3.5 .834
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 17 47.9 19.1 - - 25.2 5.0 - - - 3.5 7.3 15.4 .475 - - - 4.5 7.2 .618
difference:+11+15.9+7.3+19.0+0.5-0.5+2.8+3.9+.084+3.5+6.0+.239
Deron Williams 6 32.0 11.8 0.5 5.7 6.2 5.5 1.3 0.0 2.7 3.0 4.5 11.5 .391 1.8 4.3 .423 1.0 1.2 .857

Season 11

Bill Russell Deron Williams
Season 1966-672015-16
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Div FinalsMavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 81 40.7 13.3 - - 21.0 5.8 - - - 3.2 4.9 10.7 .454 - - - 3.5 5.8 .610
difference:+16+8.3+0.8+18.1-0.8+1.2+.040+0.7+2.6+.259
Deron Williams 65 32.4 14.1 0.3 2.6 2.9 5.8 0.9 0.2 2.3 2.4 4.9 11.9 .414 1.5 4.3 .344 2.8 3.2 .869
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 9 43.3 10.6 - - 22.0 5.6 - - - 3.6 3.4 9.6 .360 - - - 3.7 5.8 .635
difference:+6+27.0+5.6+21.3+2.9-1.6+1.4+3.6+.027+3.7+5.8
Deron Williams 3 16.3 5.0 0.0 0.7 0.7 2.7 0.3 0.0 2.3 2.0 2.0 6.0 .333 1.0 2.3 .429 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

Bill Russell Deron Williams
Season 1967-682016-17
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 78 37.9 12.5 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.1 4.7 11.0 .425 - - - 3.2 5.9 .537
difference:+14+12.0+1.5+16.3+1.0-0.9+0.6+1.6+.013+1.8+4.2+.289
Deron Williams 64 25.9 11.0 0.2 2.1 2.3 5.6 0.5 0.1 2.2 2.2 4.1 9.4 .438 1.3 3.7 .363 1.4 1.7 .826
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 19 45.7 14.4 - - 22.8 5.2 - - - 3.8 5.2 12.7 .409 - - - 4.0 6.8 .585
difference:+1+31.1+10.1+21.5+3.1-2.2+3.6+9.1+.029+3.4+6.2+.324
Deron Williams 18 14.6 4.3 0.2 1.1 1.3 2.1 0.6 0.1 0.9 1.6 1.6 3.6 .438 0.7 1.7 .387 0.6 0.6 .909

Additional Years

* Bill Russell played 1 season more than Deron Williams in the NBA.

In that period—his season 13 in 1969—Bill Russell played in the Playoffs and won the NBA Championship.

In that extra year over Deron Williams, Bill Russell got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 1 All-Star Game