Paul Pierce vs. Bill Russell: Celtics Rankings Comparison

Explore Bill Russell and Paul Pierce 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 Paul Pierce 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 Paul Pierce's 15 seasons (1999 to 2013) 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.

Paul Pierce vs. Bill Russell:
Celtics Total Stats Rankings Summary

Celtics Totals
Season Playoffs
Paul Pierce Bill Russell Paul Pierce Bill Russell
Points
2nd
8th
6th
8th
Rebounds
7th
1st
10th
1st
Assists
5th
6th
8th
5th
Steals
1st
n/a
3rd
n/a
Blocks
4th
n/a
7th
n/a
Years15131013

Paul Pierce vs. Bill Russell:
Celtics Per Game Stats Rankings Summary

Celtics Per Game
Season Playoffs
Paul Pierce Bill Russell Paul Pierce Bill Russell
Points
5th
31st
7th
23rd
Rebounds
36th
1st
27th
1st
Assists
31st
26th
24th
17th
Steals
9th
n/a
8th
n/a
Blocks
40th
n/a
25th
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:

Paul Pierce Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points
2nd
8th
6 24,021 vs. 14,5229,499
Rebounds
7th
1st
6 6,651 vs. 21,62014,969
Assists
5th
6th
1 4,305 vs. 4,100205
Steals
1st
n/a
1,583 vs. 0
Blocks
4th
n/a
668 vs. 0
Offensive Rebounds
8th
n/a
1,008 vs. 0
Defensive Rebounds
3rd
n/a
5,643 vs. 0
Field Goals Made
3rd
8th
5 7,882 vs. 5,6872,195
Field Goals Attempted
2nd
7th
5 17,630 vs. 12,9304,700
3-Pointers Made
1st
n/a
1,823 vs. 0
3-Pointers Attempted
1st
n/a
4,928 vs. 0
Free Throws Made
1st
7th
6 6,434 vs. 3,1483,286
Free Throws Attempted
1st
4th
3 7,979 vs. 5,6142,365
Celtics

Games and Years:

Paul Pierce Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Games Played
3rd
5th
2 1,102 vs. 963139
Seasons
2nd
4th
2 15 vs. 132
Celtics

Rankings by Points Scored:

Paul Pierce Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
40+ point games
3rd
-
21 vs. 021
50+ point games
3rd
-
1 vs. 01
60+ point games
-
-
0 vs. 00

Celtics Totals,
Playoffs Rankings

Celtics

Stats Rankings:

Paul Pierce Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points
6th
8th
2 2,843 vs. 2,673170
Rebounds
10th
1st
9 869 vs. 4,1043,235
Assists
8th
5th
3 538 vs. 770232
Steals
3rd
n/a
180 vs. 0
Blocks
7th
n/a
94 vs. 0
Offensive Rebounds
13th
n/a
119 vs. 0
Defensive Rebounds
5th
n/a
750 vs. 0
Field Goals Made
9th
6th
3 904 vs. 1,00399
Field Goals Attempted
6th
4th
2 2,157 vs. 2,335178
3-Pointers Made
3rd
n/a
219 vs. 0
3-Pointers Attempted
3rd
n/a
646 vs. 0
Free Throws Made
3rd
6th
3 816 vs. 667149
Free Throws Attempted
4th
1st
3 979 vs. 1,106127
Celtics

Games and Years:

Paul Pierce Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Games Played
7th
4th
3 136 vs. 16529
Playoffs
9th
1st
8 10 vs. 133
Celtics

Rankings by Points Scored:

Paul Pierce Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
40+ point games
5th
-
3 vs. 03
50+ point games
-
-
0 vs. 00

Celtics Per Game Averages,
Regular Season Rankings

Celtics

Stats Rankings:

Paul Pierce Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points per game
5th
31st
26 21.80 vs. 15.086.72
Rebounds per game
36th
1st
35 6.04 vs. 22.4516.42
Assists per game
31st
26th
5 3.91 vs. 4.260.35
Steals per game
9th
n/a
1.44 vs. 0.00
Blocks per game
40th
n/a
0.61 vs. 0.00
Offensive Rebounds per game
85th
n/a
0.91 vs. 0.00
Defensive Rebounds per game
12th
n/a
5.12 vs. 0.00
Field Goals Made per game
13th
29th
16 7.15 vs. 5.911.25
Field Goals Attempted per game
13th
26th
13 16.00 vs. 13.432.57
3-Pointers Made per game
15th
n/a
1.65 vs. 0.00
3-Pointers Attempted per game
16th
n/a
4.47 vs. 0.00
Free Throws Made per game
4th
23rd
19 5.84 vs. 3.272.57
Free Throws Attempted per game
4th
6th
2 7.24 vs. 5.831.41

Celtics Per Game Averages,
Playoffs Rankings

Celtics

Stats Rankings:

Paul Pierce Bill Russell Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points per game
7th
23rd
16 20.90 vs. 16.204.70
Rebounds per game
27th
1st
26 6.39 vs. 24.8718.48
Assists per game
24th
17th
7 3.96 vs. 4.670.71
Steals per game
8th
n/a
1.32 vs. 0.00
Blocks per game
25th
n/a
0.69 vs. 0.00
Offensive Rebounds per game
64th
n/a
0.88 vs. 0.00
Defensive Rebounds per game
12th
n/a
5.51 vs. 0.00
Field Goals Made per game
16th
24th
8 6.65 vs. 6.080.57
Field Goals Attempted per game
14th
21st
7 15.86 vs. 14.151.71
3-Pointers Made per game
17th
n/a
1.61 vs. 0.00
3-Pointers Attempted per game
13th
n/a
4.75 vs. 0.00
Free Throws Made per game
3rd
16th
13 6.00 vs. 4.041.96
Free Throws Attempted per game
4th
6th
2 7.20 vs. 6.700.50

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.