Joe Dumars vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Joe Dumars, 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.

Joe Dumars played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than Bill Russell, who played 13. Joe Dumars had the first of his seasons in 1985-86, 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
Joe Dumars 14 10 1985-86 to 1998-99
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

Rookie Season

Joe Dumars Bill Russell
Season 1985-861956-57
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Pistons Lost East 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 %
Joe Dumars 82 23.9 9.4 0.7 0.7 1.5 4.8 0.8 0.1 1.9 2.4 3.5 7.3 .481 0.1 0.2 .313 2.3 2.9 .798
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 %
Joe Dumars 4 36.8 15.0 1.5 1.8 3.3 6.3 1.0 0.0 1.8 4.0 6.3 10.3 .610 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.8 .667
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

Joe Dumars Bill Russell
Season 1986-871957-58
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Joe Dumars 79 30.9 11.8 0.6 1.5 2.1 4.5 1.1 0.1 2.2 2.5 4.7 9.5 .493 0.1 0.3 .409 2.3 3.1 .748
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 %
Joe Dumars 15 31.5 12.7 0.5 0.7 1.3 4.8 0.8 0.1 1.8 1.7 5.2 9.7 .538 0.1 0.2 .667 2.1 2.7 .780
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

Joe Dumars Bill Russell
Season 1987-881958-59
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost NBA 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 %
Joe Dumars 82 33.3 14.2 0.8 1.7 2.4 4.7 1.1 0.2 2.1 1.9 5.5 11.7 .472 0.0 0.2 .211 3.1 3.8 .815
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 %
Joe Dumars 23 35.0 12.3 0.8 1.4 2.2 4.9 0.6 0.1 1.7 2.2 4.9 10.7 .457 0.1 0.3 .333 2.4 2.7 .889
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

Joe Dumars Bill Russell
Season 1988-891959-60
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars 69 34.9 17.2 0.8 1.7 2.5 5.7 0.9 0.1 2.6 1.5 6.6 13.1 .505 0.2 0.4 .483 3.8 4.4 .850
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 %
Joe Dumars 17 36.5 17.6 0.6 1.9 2.6 5.6 0.7 0.1 1.8 1.8 6.2 13.7 .455 0.1 0.7 .083 5.1 5.9 .861
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

Joe Dumars Bill Russell
Season 1989-901960-61
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars 75 34.4 17.8 0.8 2.0 2.8 4.9 0.8 0.0 1.9 1.7 6.8 14.1 .480 0.3 0.7 .400 4.0 4.4 .900
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 %
Joe Dumars 20 37.7 18.2 0.9 1.3 2.2 4.8 1.1 0.0 2.7 1.9 6.5 14.2 .458 0.3 1.0 .263 5.0 5.7 .876
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

Joe Dumars Bill Russell
Season 1990-911961-62
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Joe Dumars 80 38.1 20.4 0.8 1.6 2.3 5.5 1.1 0.1 2.4 1.7 7.8 16.2 .481 0.2 0.6 .311 4.6 5.2 .890
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 %
Joe Dumars 15 39.2 20.6 1.4 1.9 3.3 4.1 1.1 0.1 1.1 2.2 7.0 16.3 .429 1.1 2.8 .405 5.5 6.5 .845
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

Joe Dumars Bill Russell
Season 1991-921962-63
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Pistons Lost East 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 %
Joe Dumars 82 38.9 19.9 1.0 1.3 2.3 4.6 0.9 0.1 2.4 1.8 7.2 16.0 .448 0.6 1.5 .408 5.0 5.8 .867
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 %
Joe Dumars 5 44.2 16.8 1.0 0.6 1.6 3.2 1.0 0.2 1.4 2.2 6.4 13.6 .471 1.0 2.0 .500 3.0 3.8 .789
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

Joe Dumars Bill Russell
Season 1992-931963-64
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Joe Dumars 77 40.2 23.5 0.8 1.1 1.9 4.0 1.0 0.1 1.8 1.8 8.8 18.9 .466 1.5 3.9 .375 4.5 5.2 .864
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 %
Joe Dumars ------- --- ----------
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

Joe Dumars Bill Russell
Season 1993-941964-65
Team Detroit PistonsBoston 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 %
Joe Dumars 69 37.6 20.4 0.5 1.7 2.2 3.8 0.9 0.1 2.3 1.7 7.3 16.2 .452 1.8 4.6 .388 4.0 4.8 .836
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 %
Joe Dumars ------- --- ----------
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

Joe Dumars Bill Russell
Season 1994-951965-66
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Joe Dumars 67 38.0 18.1 0.7 1.7 2.4 5.5 1.1 0.1 3.3 2.3 6.2 14.5 .430 1.5 5.0 .305 4.1 5.1 .805
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 %
Joe Dumars ------- --- ----------
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

Joe Dumars Bill Russell
Season 1995-961966-67
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East 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 %
Joe Dumars 67 32.7 11.8 0.4 1.6 2.1 4.0 0.6 0.0 1.4 1.6 3.8 8.9 .426 1.8 4.4 .406 2.4 2.9 .822
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 %
Joe Dumars 3 41.0 13.7 1.7 2.7 4.3 3.7 0.0 0.0 2.3 1.7 5.3 11.7 .457 1.7 4.7 .357 1.3 1.3 1.000
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

Joe Dumars Bill Russell
Season 1996-971967-68
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East 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 %
Joe Dumars 79 37.0 14.7 0.5 1.9 2.4 4.0 0.7 0.0 1.6 1.2 4.9 11.1 .440 2.1 4.9 .432 2.8 3.2 .867
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 %
Joe Dumars 5 42.6 13.8 0.4 1.4 1.8 2.0 1.0 0.0 1.2 1.8 4.4 12.2 .361 1.2 4.6 .261 3.8 4.0 .950
Bill Russell 19 45.7 14.4 - - 22.8 5.2 - - - 3.8 5.2 12.7 .409 - - - 4.0 6.8 .585

Season 13

Joe Dumars Bill Russell
Season 1997-981968-69
Team Detroit PistonsBoston 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 %
Joe Dumars 72 32.3 13.1 0.2 1.3 1.4 3.5 0.6 0.0 1.2 1.4 4.6 11.0 .416 2.2 5.9 .371 1.8 2.1 .825
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 %
Joe Dumars ------- --- ----------
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

Joe Dumars Bill Russell
Season 1998-99-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars 38 29.4 11.3 0.3 1.5 1.8 3.5 0.6 0.1 1.4 1.3 3.8 9.2 .411 2.3 5.8 .403 1.3 1.6 .836
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Joe Dumars 5 30.6 10.2 0.2 1.2 1.4 2.6 0.4 0.0 1.8 1.8 3.8 7.8 .487 2.0 3.8 .526 0.6 0.6 1.000
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------