Serge Ibaka vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Serge Ibaka, 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.

Serge Ibaka played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than Bill Russell, who played 13. Serge Ibaka had the first of his seasons in 2009-10, 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
Serge Ibaka 14 12 2009-10 to 2022-23
Bill Russell 13 13 1956-57 to 1968-69

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Serge Ibaka Bill Russell
Season 2009-101956-57
Team Oklahoma City ThunderBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
Serge Ibaka 73 18.1 6.3 1.9 3.5 5.4 0.1 0.3 1.3 0.9 2.7 2.8 5.1 .543 0.0 0.0 .500 0.8 1.3 .630
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 %
Serge Ibaka 6 25.5 7.8 2.2 4.3 6.5 0.3 0.3 2.0 1.0 3.2 3.3 5.8 .571 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.7 .700
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

Serge Ibaka Bill Russell
Season 2010-111957-58
Team Oklahoma City ThunderBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Thunder Lost West 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 %
Serge Ibaka 82 27.0 9.9 2.6 5.0 7.6 0.3 0.4 2.4 0.9 3.3 4.1 7.5 .543 0.0 0.0 .000 1.7 2.2 .750
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 %
Serge Ibaka 17 28.8 9.8 2.8 4.5 7.3 0.2 0.2 3.1 1.2 3.8 3.9 8.5 .462 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.4 .825
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

Serge Ibaka Bill Russell
Season 2011-121958-59
Team Oklahoma City ThunderBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement Blocks Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
Serge Ibaka 66 27.2 9.1 2.9 4.6 7.5 0.4 0.5 3.7 1.2 2.7 4.0 7.4 .535 0.0 0.0 .333 1.2 1.8 .661
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 %
Serge Ibaka 20 28.5 9.8 2.4 3.4 5.8 0.6 0.6 3.0 0.6 2.9 4.2 8.0 .528 0.1 0.2 .250 1.3 1.8 .722
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

Serge Ibaka Bill Russell
Season 2012-131959-60
Team Oklahoma City ThunderBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
Serge Ibaka 80 31.1 13.2 2.8 4.9 7.7 0.5 0.4 3.0 1.6 2.7 5.6 9.7 .573 0.3 0.7 .351 1.8 2.4 .749
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 %
Serge Ibaka 11 33.3 12.8 3.5 4.8 8.4 0.7 0.0 3.0 0.6 3.5 5.4 12.3 .437 0.4 0.8 .444 1.7 2.2 .792
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

Serge Ibaka Bill Russell
Season 2013-141960-61
Team Oklahoma City ThunderBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
Serge Ibaka 81 32.9 15.1 2.8 6.0 8.8 1.0 0.5 2.7 1.5 2.9 6.5 12.1 .536 0.3 0.7 .383 1.9 2.5 .784
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 %
Serge Ibaka 17 34.2 12.1 1.8 5.0 6.8 0.7 0.6 2.5 1.2 3.2 5.1 8.6 .592 0.3 0.8 .385 1.5 2.0 .765
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

Serge Ibaka Bill Russell
Season 2014-151961-62
Team Oklahoma City ThunderBoston 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 %
Serge Ibaka 64 33.1 14.3 2.1 5.7 7.8 0.9 0.5 2.4 1.5 3.0 5.8 12.3 .476 1.2 3.2 .376 1.4 1.7 .836
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 %
Serge Ibaka ------- --- ----------
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

Serge Ibaka Bill Russell
Season 2015-161962-63
Team Oklahoma City ThunderBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Thunder 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 %
Serge Ibaka 78 32.1 12.6 1.8 5.0 6.8 0.8 0.5 1.9 1.4 2.7 5.3 11.1 .479 0.8 2.4 .326 1.2 1.6 .752
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 %
Serge Ibaka 18 33.4 12.0 1.3 5.0 6.3 0.6 0.8 1.3 0.5 2.8 4.7 9.1 .521 1.7 3.8 .449 0.8 1.1 .750
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

Serge Ibaka Bill Russell
Season 2016-171963-64
Team Orlando Magic, Toronto RaptorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Raptors 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 %
Serge Ibaka 79 30.7 14.8 1.6 5.2 6.8 0.9 0.5 1.6 1.3 2.7 6.0 12.4 .480 1.6 4.0 .391 1.4 1.6 .856
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 %
Serge Ibaka 10 30.7 14.3 0.9 5.6 6.5 1.4 0.4 1.7 1.1 3.7 6.0 13.0 .462 1.2 3.8 .316 1.1 1.3 .846
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

Serge Ibaka Bill Russell
Season 2017-181964-65
Team Toronto RaptorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Raptors 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 %
Serge Ibaka 76 27.5 12.6 1.0 5.3 6.3 0.8 0.4 1.3 1.2 2.8 5.0 10.3 .483 1.4 3.9 .360 1.2 1.6 .797
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 %
Serge Ibaka 10 26.0 8.7 1.3 4.6 5.9 1.1 0.1 1.3 1.6 2.1 3.0 7.2 .417 0.9 2.4 .375 1.8 2.2 .818
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

Serge Ibaka Bill Russell
Season 2018-191965-66
Team Toronto RaptorsBoston 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 %
Serge Ibaka 74 27.2 15.0 2.1 6.0 8.1 1.3 0.4 1.4 1.5 2.9 6.3 11.9 .529 0.7 2.3 .290 1.8 2.4 .763
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 %
Serge Ibaka 24 20.8 9.4 1.5 4.5 6.0 0.9 0.5 1.0 1.0 3.3 3.8 8.0 .477 0.4 1.6 .237 1.3 1.8 .762
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

Serge Ibaka Bill Russell
Season 2019-201966-67
Team Toronto RaptorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Raptors Lost East Conf SemisCeltics 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 %
Serge Ibaka 55 27.0 15.4 2.1 6.1 8.2 1.4 0.5 0.8 2.0 2.8 6.2 12.2 .512 1.3 3.3 .385 1.6 2.3 .718
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 %
Serge Ibaka 11 22.8 14.8 1.5 6.2 7.7 1.2 0.2 1.3 1.1 2.5 5.7 10.0 .573 2.1 4.1 .511 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

Serge Ibaka Bill Russell
Season 2020-211967-68
Team Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
Serge Ibaka 41 23.3 11.1 1.8 4.9 6.7 1.8 0.2 1.1 1.1 1.9 4.5 8.9 .510 1.0 2.8 .339 1.0 1.3 .811
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 %
Serge Ibaka 2 9.0 5.0 0.5 1.5 2.0 1.0 0.5 1.5 0.5 0.5 1.5 3.0 .500 0.0 1.0 .000 2.0 2.0 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

Serge Ibaka Bill Russell
Season 2021-221968-69
Team Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Serge Ibaka 54 16.3 6.8 1.1 3.5 4.6 0.9 0.2 0.6 0.8 1.9 2.7 5.5 .500 0.7 1.8 .374 0.6 0.8 .727
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 %
Serge Ibaka 6 3.7 1.5 0.3 1.3 1.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.2 0.7 2.7 .250 0.0 0.5 .000 0.2 0.3 .500
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

Serge Ibaka Bill Russell
Season 2022-23-
Team Milwaukee Bucks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Serge Ibaka 16 11.6 4.1 0.9 1.8 2.8 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.7 1.4 1.6 3.4 .481 0.4 1.1 .333 0.5 0.8 .615
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Serge Ibaka ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------