Sean Elliott vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Sean Elliott, 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.

Sean Elliott played 12 years in the NBA, 1 less than Bill Russell, who played 13. Sean Elliott had the first of his seasons in 1989-90, 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
Sean Elliott 12 9 1989-90 to 2000-01
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

Sean Elliott Bill Russell
Season 1989-901956-57
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Sean Elliott 81 25.1 10.0 1.6 2.1 3.7 1.9 0.6 0.2 1.4 2.1 3.8 8.0 .481 0.0 0.1 .111 2.3 2.7 .866
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 %
Sean Elliott 10 29.1 12.7 1.1 3.0 4.1 1.8 0.9 0.6 1.5 3.7 5.3 9.6 .552 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 2.9 .724
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

Sean Elliott Bill Russell
Season 1990-911957-58
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sean Elliott 82 37.1 15.9 1.7 3.8 5.6 2.9 0.8 0.4 1.8 2.3 5.8 11.9 .490 0.2 0.8 .313 4.0 4.9 .808
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 %
Sean Elliott 4 33.0 14.8 2.0 3.5 5.5 4.0 1.0 0.3 2.3 2.3 4.3 10.0 .425 0.0 0.8 .000 6.3 8.0 .781
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

Sean Elliott Bill Russell
Season 1991-921958-59
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Sean Elliott 82 38.0 16.3 1.7 3.6 5.4 2.6 1.0 0.4 1.9 1.8 6.3 12.7 .494 0.3 1.0 .305 3.5 4.0 .861
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 %
Sean Elliott 3 45.7 19.7 1.3 3.0 4.3 2.7 1.0 1.3 2.0 2.0 6.3 13.3 .475 1.7 2.7 .625 5.3 6.0 .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

Sean Elliott Bill Russell
Season 1992-931959-60
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Sean Elliott 70 37.2 17.2 1.2 3.4 4.6 3.8 1.0 0.4 2.2 1.9 6.4 13.1 .491 0.5 1.5 .356 3.8 4.8 .795
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 %
Sean Elliott 10 38.1 15.8 0.8 4.0 4.8 3.6 0.8 0.3 2.2 2.2 5.9 12.5 .472 0.3 1.4 .214 3.7 4.0 .925
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

Sean Elliott Bill Russell
Season 1993-941960-61
Team Detroit PistonsBoston 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 %
Sean Elliott 73 33.0 12.1 0.9 2.7 3.6 2.7 0.7 0.4 1.8 2.4 4.9 10.8 .455 0.4 1.2 .299 1.9 2.4 .803
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 %
Sean Elliott ------- --- ----------
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

Sean Elliott Bill Russell
Season 1994-951961-62
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Sean Elliott 81 35.3 18.1 0.8 2.8 3.5 2.5 1.0 0.5 1.9 2.7 6.2 13.2 .468 1.7 4.1 .408 4.0 5.0 .807
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 %
Sean Elliott 15 38.3 17.3 1.5 3.3 4.8 2.7 0.7 0.5 1.8 2.5 5.8 13.3 .435 1.3 3.7 .364 4.4 5.7 .776
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

Sean Elliott Bill Russell
Season 1995-961962-63
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Sean Elliott 77 37.7 20.0 0.9 4.2 5.1 2.7 0.9 0.4 2.6 2.3 6.8 14.6 .466 2.1 5.1 .411 4.2 5.5 .771
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 %
Sean Elliott 10 38.9 15.5 1.1 2.8 3.9 2.5 1.1 0.4 3.0 2.4 4.7 11.7 .402 1.0 3.4 .294 5.1 6.4 .797
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

Sean Elliott Bill Russell
Season 1996-971963-64
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second 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 %
Sean Elliott 39 35.7 14.9 1.2 3.6 4.9 3.2 0.6 0.6 2.3 2.7 5.0 11.9 .422 1.1 3.2 .333 3.8 5.0 .755
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 %
Sean Elliott ------- --- ----------
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

Sean Elliott Bill Russell
Season 1997-981964-65
Team San Antonio SpursBoston 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 %
Sean Elliott 36 28.1 9.3 0.4 3.0 3.4 1.7 0.7 0.4 1.6 2.6 3.4 8.4 .403 0.9 2.5 .378 1.6 2.2 .718
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 %
Sean Elliott ------- --- ----------
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

Sean Elliott Bill Russell
Season 1998-991965-66
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second 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 %
Sean Elliott 50 30.2 11.2 0.7 3.6 4.3 2.3 0.5 0.3 1.4 2.1 4.2 10.1 .410 0.8 2.4 .328 2.1 2.8 .757
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 %
Sean Elliott 17 33.8 11.9 0.6 2.8 3.4 2.6 0.5 0.2 1.2 2.9 4.0 9.0 .444 1.3 3.2 .400 2.6 3.5 .763
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

Sean Elliott Bill Russell
Season 1999-001966-67
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Sean Elliott 19 20.6 6.0 0.3 2.2 2.5 1.5 0.6 0.1 1.0 1.8 2.0 5.6 .358 0.7 1.9 .351 1.3 1.7 .781
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 %
Sean Elliott 4 29.8 10.0 0.3 5.3 5.5 1.3 0.0 0.5 1.0 3.3 3.8 10.0 .375 1.3 3.3 .385 1.3 2.0 .625
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

Sean Elliott Bill Russell
Season 2000-011967-68
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Sean Elliott 52 23.6 7.9 0.3 2.9 3.3 1.6 0.4 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.8 6.5 .434 1.1 2.5 .426 1.2 1.6 .714
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 %
Sean Elliott 12 19.9 4.8 0.3 1.9 2.2 1.2 0.4 0.5 1.1 1.8 1.6 4.3 .373 0.7 1.8 .364 0.9 0.9 1.000
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

Sean Elliott 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 %
Sean Elliott ------- --- ----------
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 %
Sean Elliott ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 18 46.1 10.8 - - 20.5 5.4 - - - 3.6 4.3 10.1 .423 - - - 2.3 4.5 .506