Bill Russell vs. Arvydas Sabonis: NBA Rankings Comparison

The ultimate statistical showdown: compare Bill Russell and Arvydas Sabonis all-time NBA rankings. Explore their historical standing across total and per-game stats, regular season and playoffs. Who ranks higher?

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Stats / Stats Rankings

This in-depth analysis goes beyond basic career numbers to provide an unparalleled look at where Bill Russell, with a career spanning 13 seasons from 1957 to 1969, and Arvydas Sabonis, with 7 seasons played from 1996 to 2003, stand among the league's historical elite..

Dive into a meticulous breakdown of their positions in every major statistical category—from scoring and rebounding to assists, steals, and blocks—across both regular season and their entire playoff careers. Our comprehensive tables offer side-by-side rankings, value comparisons, and key differences, ensuring you have all the definitive data to assess their historical impact.

First, review a concise summary of how they rank in NBA history in the main categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks) for both total and per-game stats, and below, you can then explore in detail all their stats and their historical rankings.

Bill Russell vs. Arvydas Sabonis
Total Stats, Rankings Summary

Career Totals
Season Playoffs
Bill Russell Arvydas Sabonis Bill Russell Arvydas Sabonis
Points
175th
+300th
41st
+300th
Rebounds
2nd
+300th
1st
279th
Assists
121st
+300th
30th
+300th
Steals
n/a
+300th
n/a
+300th
Blocks
n/a
291st
n/a
190th
Years137137

Bill Russell vs. Arvydas Sabonis
Per Game Stats, Rankings Summary

Career Per Game
Season Playoffs
Bill Russell Arvydas Sabonis Bill Russell Arvydas Sabonis
Points
277th
+300th
196th
+300th
Rebounds
2nd
209th
1st
188th
Assists
200th
+300th
129th
+300th
Steals
n/a
+300th
n/a
+300th
Blocks
n/a
155th
n/a
169th

Steals, blocks, offensive and defensive rebounds started to be recorded in the 1973-74 season. The 3-point shot was implemented in the 1979-80 season.
n/a = The player doesn't have data for the stat.

Comparisons on this page:

Their rankings for:
Season Totals - Playoffs Totals /
Season Per Game - Playoffs Per Game

Note: per game rankings include players with a minimum of games played

Career Totals,
Regular Season Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Bill Russell Arvydas Sabonis Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points
175th
+300th
+125 14,522 vs. 5,6298,893
Rebounds
2nd
+300th
+298 21,620 vs. 3,43618,184
Assists
121st
+300th
+179 4,100 vs. 9643,136
Steals
n/a
+300th
0 vs. 370
Blocks
n/a
291st
0 vs. 494
Offensive Rebounds
n/a
+300th
0 vs. 734
Defensive Rebounds
n/a
+300th
0 vs. 2,702
Field Goals Made
162nd
+300th
+138 5,687 vs. 2,0823,605
Field Goals Attempted
130th
+300th
+170 12,930 vs. 4,1608,770
3-Pointers Made
n/a
+300th
0 vs. 136
3-Pointers Attempted
n/a
+300th
0 vs. 415
Free Throws Made
155th
+300th
+145 3,148 vs. 1,3291,819
Free Throws Attempted
62nd
+300th
+238 5,614 vs. 1,6903,924

Games and Years:

Bill Russell Arvydas Sabonis Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Games Played
195th
+300th
963 vs. 470493
Seasons
292nd
+300th
13 vs. 76

Rankings by Points Scored:

Bill Russell Arvydas Sabonis Rk Diff. Values Diff.
40+ point games
-
-
0 vs. 00

Career Totals,
Playoffs Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Bill Russell Arvydas Sabonis Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points
41st
+300th
+259 2,673 vs. 6172,056
Rebounds
1st
279th
278 4,104 vs. 3783,726
Assists
30th
+300th
+270 770 vs. 97673
Steals
n/a
+300th
0 vs. 48
Blocks
n/a
190th
0 vs. 48
Offensive Rebounds
n/a
+300th
0 vs. 72
Defensive Rebounds
n/a
197th
0 vs. 306
Field Goals Made
37th
+300th
+263 1,003 vs. 222781
Field Goals Attempted
30th
+300th
+270 2,335 vs. 4911,844
3-Pointers Made
n/a
+300th
0 vs. 15
3-Pointers Attempted
n/a
+300th
0 vs. 47
Free Throws Made
37th
+300th
+263 667 vs. 158509
Free Throws Attempted
15th
+300th
+285 1,106 vs. 197909

Games and Years:

Bill Russell Arvydas Sabonis Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Games Played
35th
+300th
165 vs. 51114
Playoffs
45th
+300th
13 vs. 76

Rankings by Points Scored:

Bill Russell Arvydas Sabonis Rk Diff. Values Diff.
40+ point games
-
-
0 vs. 00

Career Per Game Averages,
Regular Season Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Bill Russell Arvydas Sabonis Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points per game
277th
+300th
+23 15.08 vs. 11.983.10
Rebounds per game
2nd
209th
207 22.45 vs. 7.3115.14
Assists per game
200th
+300th
+100 4.26 vs. 2.052.21
Steals per game
n/a
+300th
0.00 vs. 0.79
Blocks per game
n/a
155th
0.00 vs. 1.05
Offensive Rebounds per game
n/a
+300th
0.00 vs. 1.56
Defensive Rebounds per game
n/a
93rd
0.00 vs. 5.75
Field Goals Made per game
251st
+300th
+49 5.91 vs. 4.431.48
Field Goals Attempted per game
208th
+300th
+92 13.43 vs. 8.854.58
3-Pointers Made per game
n/a
+300th
0.00 vs. 0.29
3-Pointers Attempted per game
n/a
+300th
0.00 vs. 0.88
Free Throws Made per game
218th
+300th
+82 3.27 vs. 2.830.44
Free Throws Attempted per game
84th
+300th
+216 5.83 vs. 3.602.23

Career Per Game Averages,
Playoffs Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Bill Russell Arvydas Sabonis Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points per game
196th
+300th
+104 16.20 vs. 12.104.10
Rebounds per game
1st
188th
187 24.87 vs. 7.4117.46
Assists per game
129th
+300th
+171 4.67 vs. 1.902.76
Steals per game
n/a
+300th
0.00 vs. 0.94
Blocks per game
n/a
169th
0.00 vs. 0.94
Offensive Rebounds per game
n/a
+300th
0.00 vs. 1.41
Defensive Rebounds per game
n/a
92nd
0.00 vs. 6.00
Field Goals Made per game
206th
+300th
+94 6.08 vs. 4.351.73
Field Goals Attempted per game
179th
+300th
+121 14.15 vs. 9.634.52
3-Pointers Made per game
n/a
+300th
0.00 vs. 0.29
3-Pointers Attempted per game
n/a
+300th
0.00 vs. 0.92
Free Throws Made per game
162nd
+300th
+138 4.04 vs. 3.100.94
Free Throws Attempted per game
69th
+300th
+231 6.70 vs. 3.862.84

Note: the per game rankings on this page respect the minimums usually applied by the NBA for all-time leaders, 400 games for regular season stats unless the player reached these thresholds before: 10,000 points; 4,000 rebounds; 2,000 assists; 625 steals; 500 blocks; 250 3-pointers made. Also 3 minimum games for the Playoffs are applied.