Kevin McHale vs. Bill Russell: NBA Rankings Comparison

The ultimate statistical showdown: compare Kevin McHale and Bill Russell 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
Filter: Career Stats - Celtics

This in-depth analysis goes beyond basic career numbers to provide an unparalleled look at where Kevin McHale, with a career spanning 13 seasons from 1981 to 1993, and Bill Russell, with 13 seasons played from 1957 to 1969, 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.

Kevin McHale vs. Bill Russell
Total Stats, Rankings Summary

Career Totals
Season Playoffs
Kevin McHale Bill Russell Kevin McHale Bill Russell
Points
97th
175th
22nd
41st
Rebounds
114th
2nd
34th
1st
Assists
+300th
122nd
164th
30th
Steals
+300th
n/a
226th
n/a
Blocks
32nd
n/a
10th
n/a
Years13131313

Kevin McHale vs. Bill Russell
Per Game Stats, Rankings Summary

Career Per Game
Season Playoffs
Kevin McHale Bill Russell Kevin McHale Bill Russell
Points
143rd
278th
123rd
196th
Rebounds
207th
2nd
188th
1st
Assists
+300th
200th
+300th
129th
Steals
+300th
n/a
+300th
n/a
Blocks
39th
n/a
49th
n/a

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:

Kevin McHale Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points
97th
175th
78 17,335 vs. 14,5222,813
Rebounds
114th
2nd
112 7,122 vs. 21,62014,498
Assists
+300th
122nd
+178 1,670 vs. 4,1002,430
Steals
+300th
n/a
344 vs. 0
Blocks
32nd
n/a
1,690 vs. 0
Offensive Rebounds
60th
n/a
2,358 vs. 0
Defensive Rebounds
111st
n/a
4,764 vs. 0
Field Goals Made
87th
162nd
75 6,830 vs. 5,6871,143
Field Goals Attempted
155th
130th
25 12,334 vs. 12,930596
3-Pointers Made
+300th
n/a
41 vs. 0
3-Pointers Attempted
+300th
n/a
157 vs. 0
Free Throws Made
102nd
155th
53 3,634 vs. 3,148486
Free Throws Attempted
110th
62nd
48 4,554 vs. 5,6141,060

Games and Years:

Kevin McHale Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Games Played
185th
195th
10 971 vs. 9638
Seasons
300th
300th
0 13 vs. 130

Rankings by Points Scored:

Kevin McHale Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
40+ point games
277th
-
2 vs. 02
50+ point games
76th
-
1 vs. 01
60+ point games
-
-
0 vs. 00

Career Totals,
Playoffs Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Kevin McHale Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points
22nd
41st
19 3,182 vs. 2,673509
Rebounds
34th
1st
33 1,253 vs. 4,1042,851
Assists
164th
30th
134 274 vs. 770496
Steals
226th
n/a
65 vs. 0
Blocks
10th
n/a
281 vs. 0
Offensive Rebounds
14th
n/a
456 vs. 0
Defensive Rebounds
37th
n/a
797 vs. 0
Field Goals Made
22nd
37th
15 1,204 vs. 1,003201
Field Goals Attempted
39th
30th
9 2,145 vs. 2,335190
3-Pointers Made
+300th
n/a
8 vs. 0
3-Pointers Attempted
+300th
n/a
21 vs. 0
Free Throws Made
22nd
37th
15 766 vs. 66799
Free Throws Attempted
25th
15th
10 972 vs. 1,106134

Games and Years:

Kevin McHale Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Games Played
29th
35th
6 169 vs. 1654
Playoffs
45th
45th
0 13 vs. 130

Rankings by Points Scored:

Kevin McHale Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
40+ point games
-
-
0 vs. 00

Career Per Game Averages,
Regular Season Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Kevin McHale Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points per game
143rd
278th
135 17.85 vs. 15.082.77
Rebounds per game
207th
2nd
205 7.33 vs. 22.4515.12
Assists per game
+300th
200th
+100 1.72 vs. 4.262.54
Steals per game
+300th
n/a
0.35 vs. 0.00
Blocks per game
39th
n/a
1.74 vs. 0.00
Offensive Rebounds per game
108th
n/a
2.43 vs. 0.00
Defensive Rebounds per game
161st
n/a
4.91 vs. 0.00
Field Goals Made per game
117th
252nd
135 7.03 vs. 5.911.13
Field Goals Attempted per game
262nd
208th
54 12.70 vs. 13.430.72
3-Pointers Made per game
+300th
n/a
0.04 vs. 0.00
3-Pointers Attempted per game
+300th
n/a
0.16 vs. 0.00
Free Throws Made per game
159th
218th
59 3.74 vs. 3.270.47
Free Throws Attempted per game
163rd
84th
79 4.69 vs. 5.831.14

Career Per Game Averages,
Playoffs Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Kevin McHale Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points per game
123rd
196th
73 18.83 vs. 16.202.63
Rebounds per game
188th
1st
187 7.41 vs. 24.8717.46
Assists per game
+300th
129th
+171 1.62 vs. 4.673.05
Steals per game
+300th
n/a
0.38 vs. 0.00
Blocks per game
49th
n/a
1.66 vs. 0.00
Offensive Rebounds per game
89th
n/a
2.70 vs. 0.00
Defensive Rebounds per game
185th
n/a
4.72 vs. 0.00
Field Goals Made per game
119th
206th
87 7.12 vs. 6.081.05
Field Goals Attempted per game
260th
179th
81 12.69 vs. 14.151.46
3-Pointers Made per game
+300th
n/a
0.05 vs. 0.00
3-Pointers Attempted per game
+300th
n/a
0.12 vs. 0.00
Free Throws Made per game
109th
162nd
53 4.53 vs. 4.040.49
Free Throws Attempted per game
121st
69th
52 5.75 vs. 6.700.95

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.