Kevin McHale vs. Bill Russell: Celtics Rankings Comparison

Explore Bill Russell and Kevin McHale career statistics with the Boston Celtics and discover their all-time rankings in franchise history for both the regular season and the playoffs. See their standing side-by-side in key categories for both total numbers and per game averages, encompassing all games played with the team. Who ranks higher in franchise lore?

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Stats / Stats Rankings
Filter: Career Stats - Celtics

While the rankings of their overall NBA careers provide a broader context, here we zoom in on how Kevin McHale and Bill Russell truly stack up based solely on their time with the Boston Celtics. This in-depth analysis goes beyond basic career numbers to provide a unique look at where they stand among the franchise's all-time greats.

Considering Kevin McHale's 13 seasons (1981 to 1993) and Bill Russell's 13 seasons (1957 to 1969) played specifically for the team, delve into a precise breakdown of their standing across every key statistical category—from scoring, rebounding, and assists to steals, blocks, triple-doubles, and specific points thresholds—encompassing both regular season and their complete playoff runs with the franchise. Our detailed tables provide side-by-side rankings and comparative values, offering the definitive data needed to assess their historical impact on the franchise.

First, review a concise summary of how they rank in Celtics 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 franchise stats and their historical rankings within the team's record books.

Kevin McHale vs. Bill Russell:
Celtics Total Stats Rankings Summary

Celtics Totals
Season Playoffs
Kevin McHale Bill Russell Kevin McHale Bill Russell
Points
5th
8th
3rd
8th
Rebounds
6th
1st
5th
1st
Assists
22nd
6th
17th
5th
Steals
27th
n/a
16th
n/a
Blocks
2nd
n/a
2nd
n/a
Years13131313

Kevin McHale vs. Bill Russell:
Celtics Per Game Stats Rankings Summary

Celtics Per Game
Season Playoffs
Kevin McHale Bill Russell Kevin McHale Bill Russell
Points
19th
31st
15th
23rd
Rebounds
16th
1st
16th
1st
Assists
109th
26th
75th
17th
Steals
+150th
n/a
92nd
n/a
Blocks
2nd
n/a
5th
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

Celtics Totals,
Regular Season Rankings

Celtics

Stats Rankings:

Kevin McHale Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points
5th
8th
3 17,335 vs. 14,5222,813
Rebounds
6th
1st
5 7,122 vs. 21,62014,498
Assists
22nd
6th
16 1,670 vs. 4,1002,430
Steals
27th
n/a
344 vs. 0
Blocks
2nd
n/a
1,690 vs. 0
Offensive Rebounds
2nd
n/a
2,358 vs. 0
Defensive Rebounds
5th
n/a
4,764 vs. 0
Field Goals Made
5th
8th
3 6,830 vs. 5,6871,143
Field Goals Attempted
9th
7th
2 12,334 vs. 12,930596
3-Pointers Made
82nd
n/a
41 vs. 0
3-Pointers Attempted
73rd
n/a
157 vs. 0
Free Throws Made
5th
7th
2 3,634 vs. 3,148486
Free Throws Attempted
5th
4th
1 4,554 vs. 5,6141,060
Celtics

Games and Years:

Kevin McHale Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Games Played
4th
5th
1 971 vs. 9638
Seasons
4th
4th
0 13 vs. 130
Celtics

Rankings by Points Scored:

Kevin McHale Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
40+ point games
14th
-
2 vs. 02
50+ point games
3rd
-
1 vs. 01
60+ point games
-
-
0 vs. 00

Celtics Totals,
Playoffs Rankings

Celtics

Stats Rankings:

Kevin McHale Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points
3rd
8th
5 3,182 vs. 2,673509
Rebounds
5th
1st
4 1,253 vs. 4,1042,851
Assists
17th
5th
12 274 vs. 770496
Steals
16th
n/a
65 vs. 0
Blocks
2nd
n/a
281 vs. 0
Offensive Rebounds
2nd
n/a
456 vs. 0
Defensive Rebounds
4th
n/a
797 vs. 0
Field Goals Made
3rd
6th
3 1,204 vs. 1,003201
Field Goals Attempted
7th
4th
3 2,145 vs. 2,335190
3-Pointers Made
51st
n/a
8 vs. 0
3-Pointers Attempted
56th
n/a
21 vs. 0
Free Throws Made
4th
6th
2 766 vs. 66799
Free Throws Attempted
5th
1st
4 972 vs. 1,106134
Celtics

Games and Years:

Kevin McHale Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Games Played
2nd
4th
2 169 vs. 1654
Playoffs
1st
1st
0 13 vs. 130
Celtics

Rankings by Points Scored:

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

Celtics Per Game Averages,
Regular Season Rankings

Celtics

Stats Rankings:

Kevin McHale Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points per game
19th
31st
12 17.85 vs. 15.082.77
Rebounds per game
16th
1st
15 7.33 vs. 22.4515.12
Assists per game
109th
26th
83 1.72 vs. 4.262.54
Steals per game
+150th
n/a
0.35 vs. 0.00
Blocks per game
2nd
n/a
1.74 vs. 0.00
Offensive Rebounds per game
10th
n/a
2.43 vs. 0.00
Defensive Rebounds per game
15th
n/a
4.91 vs. 0.00
Field Goals Made per game
16th
29th
13 7.03 vs. 5.911.13
Field Goals Attempted per game
29th
26th
3 12.70 vs. 13.430.72
3-Pointers Made per game
133rd
n/a
0.04 vs. 0.00
3-Pointers Attempted per game
136th
n/a
0.16 vs. 0.00
Free Throws Made per game
16th
23rd
7 3.74 vs. 3.270.47
Free Throws Attempted per game
19th
6th
13 4.69 vs. 5.831.14

Celtics Per Game Averages,
Playoffs Rankings

Celtics

Stats Rankings:

Kevin McHale Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points per game
15th
23rd
8 18.83 vs. 16.202.63
Rebounds per game
16th
1st
15 7.41 vs. 24.8717.46
Assists per game
75th
17th
58 1.62 vs. 4.673.05
Steals per game
92nd
n/a
0.38 vs. 0.00
Blocks per game
5th
n/a
1.66 vs. 0.00
Offensive Rebounds per game
10th
n/a
2.70 vs. 0.00
Defensive Rebounds per game
17th
n/a
4.72 vs. 0.00
Field Goals Made per game
12th
24th
12 7.12 vs. 6.081.05
Field Goals Attempted per game
29th
21st
8 12.69 vs. 14.151.46
3-Pointers Made per game
97th
n/a
0.05 vs. 0.00
3-Pointers Attempted per game
123rd
n/a
0.12 vs. 0.00
Free Throws Made per game
13th
16th
3 4.53 vs. 4.040.49
Free Throws Attempted per game
13th
6th
7 5.75 vs. 6.700.95

Note: the per game rankings on this page are among players with a minimum of 40 games played with the Celtics franchise for season stats, and 3 games for Playoff stats.