Bill Russell vs. Rasheed Wallace Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rasheed Wallace 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, 3 less than Rasheed Wallace, who played 16. Bill Russell had the first of his seasons in 1956-57, while Rasheed Wallace had his rookie season in 1995-96. 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
Rasheed Wallace 16 14 1995-96 to 2012-13

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season

Bill Russell Rasheed Wallace
Season 1956-571995-96
Team Boston CelticsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second 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:+17+7.8+4.6+14.9+0.5-0.2+1.6+4.8+.060+2.0+4.6+.158
Rasheed Wallace 65 27.5 10.1 1.4 3.2 4.7 1.3 0.6 0.8 1.6 3.2 4.2 8.7 .487 0.4 1.3 .329 1.2 1.8 .650
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
Rasheed Wallace DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Bill Russell Rasheed Wallace
Season 1957-581996-97
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+7+7.8+1.5+15.9+1.7-0.6+0.5+4.0+.116+0.6+2.1+.119
Rasheed Wallace 62 30.5 15.1 2.0 4.8 6.8 1.2 0.8 1.0 1.8 3.2 6.1 11.0 .558 0.1 0.5 .273 2.7 4.3 .638
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:+5+2.1+4.7+18.6+1.2-1.6+3.0+0.8+.228+1.6+2.3+.056
Rasheed Wallace 4 37.3 19.8 2.0 4.0 6.0 1.5 0.5 0.5 1.5 4.3 8.3 14.0 .589 0.5 1.3 .400 2.8 5.0 .550

Season 3

Bill Russell Rasheed Wallace
Season 1958-591997-98
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+7+5.0+2.1+16.8+0.7-1.2+0.4+2.8+.076+1.3+2.5+.064
Rasheed Wallace 77 37.6 14.6 1.7 4.5 6.2 2.5 1.0 1.1 2.2 3.5 6.1 11.4 .533 0.1 0.5 .205 2.4 3.6 .662
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:+7+5.6+1.0+22.9+0.8-1.5+0.1+2.7+.080+1.7+2.1+.112
Rasheed Wallace 4 39.5 14.5 1.8 3.0 4.8 2.8 0.5 0.5 1.3 4.0 5.8 11.8 .489 1.0 1.3 .800 2.0 4.0 .500

Season 4

Bill Russell Rasheed Wallace
Season 1959-601998-99
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers Lost West Conf Finals
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:+25+13.6+5.4+19.1+2.5-0.8+2.6+6.4+.041+0.5+1.6+.120
Rasheed Wallace 49 28.9 12.8 1.2 3.8 4.9 1.2 1.0 1.1 1.6 3.6 4.9 9.7 .508 0.3 0.6 .419 2.7 3.7 .732
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:+8.0+3.7+21.0+1.4-0.9+1.4+4.6+.058+0.9+1.3+.017
Rasheed Wallace 13 36.0 14.8 1.3 3.5 4.8 1.5 1.5 0.8 1.2 3.8 5.8 11.2 .514 0.1 0.7 .111 3.2 4.5 .724

Season 5

Bill Russell Rasheed Wallace
Season 1960-611999-00
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers Lost West Conf Finals
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:+3+9.2+0.5+16.9+1.6-0.7+0.1+3.1+.093+0.4+1.9+.154
Rasheed Wallace 81 35.1 16.4 1.6 5.4 7.0 1.8 1.1 1.3 1.9 2.7 6.7 12.9 .519 0.1 0.6 .160 2.9 4.1 .704
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+8.3+1.2+23.5+3.0-0.9+0.4+3.0+.062+0.9+3.9+.250
Rasheed Wallace 16 37.9 17.9 1.9 4.5 6.4 1.8 0.9 1.3 1.4 3.3 6.9 14.1 .489 0.5 0.8 .615 3.6 4.7 .773

Season 6

Bill Russell Rasheed Wallace
Season 1961-622000-01
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+1+7.0+0.3+15.8+1.7+0.1+1.3+.044+0.6+2.1+.171
Rasheed Wallace 77 38.2 19.2 1.9 5.9 7.8 2.8 1.2 1.8 2.1 2.7 7.7 15.3 .501 0.7 2.1 .321 3.2 4.2 .766
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
difference:+11+5.3+5.7+18.4+2.7-0.5+2.0+1.1+.085+3.2+3.4+.155
Rasheed Wallace 3 42.7 16.7 1.7 6.3 8.0 2.3 0.3 1.0 1.3 3.0 6.3 17.0 .373 1.3 3.7 .364 2.7 4.7 .571

Season 7

Bill Russell Rasheed Wallace
Season 1962-632001-02
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+1+7.4+2.5+15.4+2.6-0.3+1.0+1.1+.037+1.2+3.1+.179
Rasheed Wallace 79 37.5 19.3 1.7 6.4 8.2 1.9 1.3 1.3 1.7 2.7 7.6 16.3 .469 1.4 4.0 .360 2.5 3.5 .734
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
difference:+10+5.8+5.0+12.8+3.4-1.2+1.9+6.7+.047+1.2+3.1+.152
Rasheed Wallace 3 41.7 25.3 3.3 9.0 12.3 1.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 4.0 9.3 23.0 .406 2.3 5.7 .412 4.3 5.3 .813

Season 8

Bill Russell Rasheed Wallace
Season 1963-642002-03
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers Lost West 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:+4+8.3+3.1+17.3+2.6-0.6+1.0+1.0+.038+0.3+1.8+.185
Rasheed Wallace 74 36.3 18.1 1.5 5.9 7.4 2.1 0.9 1.0 1.9 3.0 7.0 14.8 .471 1.5 4.1 .358 2.7 3.7 .735
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+8.0+4.3+22.1+1.8-0.4+1.6+0.7+.098+0.8+2.7+.162
Rasheed Wallace 7 37.1 17.4 1.4 3.7 5.1 2.6 0.6 0.7 0.9 3.7 6.3 13.9 .454 2.0 5.0 .400 2.9 4.0 .714

Season 9

Bill Russell Rasheed Wallace
Season 1964-652003-04
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+10+9.3+1.9+17.3+3.0-0.2+0.8+1.7+.002+0.8+2.4+.163
Rasheed Wallace 68 35.1 16.0 1.5 5.3 6.8 2.3 0.9 1.8 1.8 2.8 6.3 14.3 .436 1.2 3.6 .331 2.3 3.1 .736
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+11.8+3.5+17.4+4.7-0.2+1.5+0.1+.114+1.3+3.7+.241
Rasheed Wallace 23 35.0 13.0 2.0 5.7 7.8 1.6 0.6 2.0 1.9 3.4 5.1 12.4 .413 0.7 3.0 .243 2.0 2.6 .767

Season 10

Bill Russell Rasheed Wallace
Season 1965-662004-05
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons Lost NBA Finals
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:+1+9.4+1.6+14.6+3.0-0.2+0.9+1.3+.025+1.2+2.7+.146
Rasheed Wallace 79 34.0 14.5 2.2 5.9 8.2 1.8 0.8 1.5 1.6 3.0 5.9 13.4 .440 0.9 3.0 .318 1.7 2.5 .697
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:+8+14.9+5.5+18.3+3.7-0.3+1.9+3.0+.036+2.9+5.0+.123
Rasheed Wallace 25 33.0 13.6 1.6 5.4 6.9 1.3 1.0 1.8 1.5 3.8 5.4 12.4 .439 1.2 3.4 .337 1.6 2.2 .741

Season 11

Bill Russell Rasheed Wallace
Season 1966-672005-06
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Div FinalsPistons Lost East Conf Finals
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:+1+5.9+1.8+14.2+3.5-0.3+0.8+2.6+.024+1.8+3.5+.133
Rasheed Wallace 80 34.8 15.1 1.1 5.7 6.8 2.3 1.0 1.6 1.1 2.9 5.7 13.3 .430 1.9 5.4 .357 1.7 2.3 .743
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:+9+8.4+3.5+15.7+3.8+1.9+2.8+.070+2.1+2.7+.108
Rasheed Wallace 18 34.9 14.1 0.9 5.4 6.3 1.8 0.6 0.8 1.4 3.6 5.3 12.4 .430 1.8 4.4 .405 1.6 3.1 .527

Season 12

Bill Russell Rasheed Wallace
Season 1967-682006-07
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons Lost East Conf 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:+3+5.6+0.2+11.4+2.9-0.1+0.1+0.2+.002+1.8+4.1+.251
Rasheed Wallace 75 32.3 12.3 1.2 6.0 7.2 1.7 1.0 1.6 1.3 3.0 4.8 11.2 .423 1.4 3.9 .351 1.4 1.8 .788
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:+3+9.9+0.1+15.1+3.4-0.2+0.2+0.4+.028+2.0+4.4+.257
Rasheed Wallace 16 35.8 14.3 1.2 6.5 7.7 1.8 1.2 1.8 1.2 4.0 5.4 12.3 .437 1.6 4.5 .347 2.0 2.4 .842

Season 13

Bill Russell Rasheed Wallace
Season 1968-692007-08
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 77 42.7 9.9 - - 19.3 4.9 - - - 3.0 3.6 8.4 .433 - - - 2.6 5.0 .526
difference:+12.2+2.8+12.7+3.1-0.2+1.3+2.9+.001+1.1+3.1+.241
Rasheed Wallace 77 30.5 12.7 1.1 5.5 6.6 1.8 1.2 1.7 1.1 2.8 4.9 11.3 .432 1.5 4.1 .356 1.5 1.9 .767
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bill Russell 18 46.1 10.8 - - 20.5 5.4 - - - 3.6 4.3 10.1 .423 - - - 2.3 4.5 .506
difference:+1+11.7+2.4+14.1+3.8-0.3+0.8+1.8+.001+0.6+2.2+.238
Rasheed Wallace 17 34.4 13.2 1.1 5.2 6.4 1.6 1.1 1.9 1.7 3.9 5.1 11.9 .424 1.4 4.4 .320 1.7 2.3 .744

Additional Years

* Rasheed Wallace played 3 seasons more than Bill Russell in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 16, from 2009 to 2013—Rasheed Wallace played in two Playoffs.