Johnny Davis vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Johnny Davis, 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.

Johnny Davis played 10 years in the NBA, 3 less than Bill Russell, who played 13. Johnny Davis had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, 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
Johnny Davis 10 7 1976-77 to 1985-86
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

Rookie Season

Johnny Davis Bill Russell
Season 1976-771956-57
Team Portland Trail BlazersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 %
Johnny Davis 79 18.4 8.0 0.8 0.8 1.6 1.9 0.5 0.1 - 1.6 3.0 6.7 .441 - - - 2.1 2.6 .794
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 %
Johnny Davis 16 27.3 10.5 0.6 1.4 2.1 3.3 1.8 0.2 - 2.0 4.1 8.3 .489 - - - 2.4 3.3 .717
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

Johnny Davis Bill Russell
Season 1977-781957-58
Team Portland Trail BlazersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Johnny Davis 82 26.7 10.7 0.8 1.3 2.1 2.6 1.0 0.2 1.8 2.1 4.2 9.2 .454 - - - 2.3 2.8 .828
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 %
Johnny Davis 6 33.5 14.3 0.5 1.2 1.7 2.2 0.2 0.3 1.8 2.5 5.8 12.7 .461 - - - 2.7 3.8 .696
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

Johnny Davis Bill Russell
Season 1978-791958-59
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -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 %
Johnny Davis 79 37.6 18.3 0.9 1.5 2.4 5.7 1.2 0.3 2.7 2.2 7.2 15.7 .456 - - - 4.0 5.0 .793
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 %
Johnny Davis ------- --- ----------
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

Johnny Davis Bill Russell
Season 1979-801959-60
Team Indiana PacersBoston 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 %
Johnny Davis 82 35.5 15.9 1.2 1.5 2.8 5.4 1.3 0.3 2.5 2.2 6.0 14.1 .428 0.0 0.5 .095 3.7 4.3 .864
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 %
Johnny Davis ------- --- ----------
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

Johnny Davis Bill Russell
Season 1980-811960-61
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers 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 %
Johnny Davis 76 33.4 14.4 0.7 1.5 2.2 6.3 1.3 0.2 2.2 2.4 5.6 12.1 .465 0.1 0.4 .121 3.1 3.9 .796
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 %
Johnny Davis 2 37.0 20.0 1.0 3.0 4.0 5.5 1.0 0.0 0.5 3.0 7.0 17.5 .400 0.0 0.5 .000 6.0 6.5 .923
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

Johnny Davis Bill Russell
Season 1981-821961-62
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-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 %
Johnny Davis 82 32.5 17.0 0.9 1.3 2.2 4.2 0.9 0.1 2.3 2.1 6.6 14.1 .467 0.1 0.3 .185 3.8 4.8 .799
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 %
Johnny Davis ------- --- ----------
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

Johnny Davis Bill Russell
Season 1982-831962-63
Team Atlanta HawksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Johnny Davis 53 27.6 12.9 0.7 1.7 2.4 5.9 0.8 0.1 2.2 1.9 4.9 10.7 .455 0.1 0.3 .278 3.1 3.9 .796
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 %
Johnny Davis 3 37.7 17.0 0.3 1.3 1.7 9.0 0.0 0.0 1.7 2.0 7.0 17.3 .404 0.0 0.3 .000 3.0 3.3 .900
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

Johnny Davis Bill Russell
Season 1983-841963-64
Team Atlanta HawksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Johnny Davis 75 27.7 12.3 0.7 1.1 1.9 4.3 0.8 0.1 1.8 1.9 4.7 10.7 .443 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 3.4 .848
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 %
Johnny Davis 5 26.2 10.0 0.4 1.6 2.0 4.8 0.2 0.0 0.8 2.0 4.4 11.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.2 1.000
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

Johnny Davis Bill Russell
Season 1984-851964-65
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Johnny Davis 76 25.3 12.4 0.5 1.1 1.6 5.6 0.6 0.1 2.0 1.8 4.4 10.4 .426 0.2 0.6 .261 3.4 3.9 .850
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 %
Johnny Davis 3 16.7 9.3 0.3 1.7 2.0 5.0 1.7 0.0 0.7 1.7 4.0 5.3 .750 0.0 0.3 .000 1.3 1.7 .800
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

Johnny Davis Bill Russell
Season 1985-861965-66
Team Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta HawksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Johnny Davis 66 15.4 6.3 0.1 0.7 0.8 3.3 0.6 0.1 1.2 1.2 2.2 5.2 .430 0.0 0.2 .231 1.8 2.1 .855
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 %
Johnny Davis 8 8.1 2.8 0.3 0.5 0.8 1.9 0.3 0.0 0.6 0.8 1.1 3.1 .360 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.5 1.000
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

Johnny Davis Bill Russell
Season -1966-67
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
Johnny Davis ------- --- ----------
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 %
Johnny Davis ------- --- ----------
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

Johnny Davis Bill Russell
Season -1967-68
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -NBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Johnny Davis ------- --- ----------
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 %
Johnny Davis ------- --- ----------
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

Johnny Davis Bill Russell
Season -1968-69
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -NBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Johnny Davis ------- --- ----------
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 %
Johnny Davis ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 18 46.1 10.8 - - 20.5 5.4 - - - 3.6 4.3 10.1 .423 - - - 2.3 4.5 .506