Complete Stats Comparison of Bill Russell and Arvydas Sabonis

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Bill Russell and Arvydas Sabonis during their NBA careers. First we show you a summary of who had better numbers on each statistical category and then we compare in detail the performance of each of these stars in the regular season and the Playoffs, both in total stats and averages per game.

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

This in-depth comparison includes all the numbers, if you prefer a simplified version of this analysis with only the basic statistics, you will find it at the career comparison of these two NBA stars.

On this page we compare:

Who has better stats? Main stats / All stats
Regular Season: Averages / Totals / Pecentages
Playoffs: Averages / Totals / Pecentages

Main Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Bill Russell3
(points, rebounds, assists)		3
(points, rebounds, assists)		13
seasons
Arvydas Sabonis0
0
7
seasons
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Bill Russell3
(points, rebounds, assists)		3
(points, rebounds, assists)		13
Playoffs
Arvydas Sabonis0
0
7
Playoffs

- Stats for blocks and steals were not available during one of the players' career. They were not included on these tables.

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Bill Russell5
stats		7
stats		0
stats
Arvydas Sabonis0
stats		1
stat		2
stats
they are tied1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Bill Russell6
stats		7
stats		0
stats
Arvydas Sabonis0
stats		1
stat		2
stats

- Stats for defensive and offensive rebounds, blocks, steals, turnovers, and three-point shots were not available during one of the players' career. They were not included on these tables.

- "Better Career Total" includes games and years played as stats.

- Field goal, free-throw and three-point attempts are not included on these tables since it can't be said that higher is better.

Now, lets compare all their stats in detail, one by one...

Notes: Offensive and defensive rebounds, blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74. Turnovers started to be recorded in 1977-78. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80.
(n/a) = the stat was not available during his career.

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Bill Russell had better averages in points, rebounds and assists than Arvydas Sabonis.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Bill Russell had better averages in points (+3.1), field goals made (+1.5), free throws made (+0.5), total rebounds (+15.2) and assists (+2.2)
-
-
-
- Bill Russell had higher averages in field goals attempted (+4.5) and free throws attempted (+2.2)
-

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Bill Russell 15.1
+3.1
Arvydas Sabonis 12.0
Field Goals Made
Bill Russell 5.9
+1.5
Arvydas Sabonis 4.4
Field Goals Attempted
Bill Russell 13.4
+4.5
Arvydas Sabonis 8.9
3-Pointers Made
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 0.3
3-Pointers Attempted
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 0.9
Free Throws Made
Bill Russell 3.3
+0.5
Arvydas Sabonis 2.8
Free Throws Attempted
Bill Russell 5.8
+2.2
Arvydas Sabonis 3.6
Offensive Rebounds
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 1.6
Defensive Rebounds
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 5.7
Total Rebounds
Bill Russell 22.5
+15.2
Arvydas Sabonis 7.3
Assists
Bill Russell 4.3
+2.2
Arvydas Sabonis 2.1
Steals
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 0.8
Blocks
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 1.1
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 1.8
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Bill Russell 2.7
Arvydas Sabonis 2.7

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Bill Russell had more total points, rebounds and assists than Arvydas Sabonis.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Bill Russell played more years (+6) and games (+493), and had more points (+8,893), field goals made (+3,605), free throws made (+1,819), total rebounds (+18,184) and assists (+3,136)
-
- Bill Russell had more personal fouls (+1,302)
-
- Bill Russell had more field goals attempted (+8,770) and free throws attempted (+3,924)
-

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Bill Russell 13
+6
Arvydas Sabonis 7
Games
Bill Russell 963
+493
Arvydas Sabonis 470
Points
Bill Russell 14,522
+8,893
Arvydas Sabonis 5,629
Field Goals Made
Bill Russell 5,687
+3,605
Arvydas Sabonis 2,082
Field Goals Attempted
Bill Russell 12,930
+8,770
Arvydas Sabonis 4,160
3-Pointers Made
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 136
3-Pointers Attempted
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 415
Free Throws Made
Bill Russell 3,148
+1,819
Arvydas Sabonis 1,329
Free Throws Attempted
Bill Russell 5,614
+3,924
Arvydas Sabonis 1,690
Offensive Rebounds
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 734
Defensive Rebounds
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 2,702
Total Rebounds
Bill Russell 21,620
+18,184
Arvydas Sabonis 3,436
Assists
Bill Russell 4,100
+3,136
Arvydas Sabonis 964
Steals
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 370
Blocks
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 494
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 837
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Bill Russell 2,592
+1,302
Arvydas Sabonis 1,290

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Arvydas Sabonis had better field goal percentage and free throw percentage than Bill Russell.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Bill Russell 44.0%
Arvydas Sabonis 50.0%
+6.0
3-Point Percentage
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 32.8%
Free Throw Percentage
Bill Russell 56.1%
Arvydas Sabonis 78.6%
+22.5

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Bill Russell had better averages in points, rebounds and assists than Arvydas Sabonis.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Bill Russell had better averages in points (+4.1), field goals made (+1.7), free throws made (+0.9), total rebounds (+17.5) and assists (+2.8)
-
-
- Arvydas Sabonis had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.1)
- Bill Russell had higher averages in field goals attempted (+4.6) and free throws attempted (+2.8)
-

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Bill Russell 16.2
+4.1
Arvydas Sabonis 12.1
Field Goals Made
Bill Russell 6.1
+1.7
Arvydas Sabonis 4.4
Field Goals Attempted
Bill Russell 14.2
+4.6
Arvydas Sabonis 9.6
3-Pointers Made
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 0.3
3-Pointers Attempted
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 0.9
Free Throws Made
Bill Russell 4.0
+0.9
Arvydas Sabonis 3.1
Free Throws Attempted
Bill Russell 6.7
+2.8
Arvydas Sabonis 3.9
Offensive Rebounds
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 1.4
Defensive Rebounds
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 6.0
Total Rebounds
Bill Russell 24.9
+17.5
Arvydas Sabonis 7.4
Assists
Bill Russell 4.7
+2.8
Arvydas Sabonis 1.9
Steals
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 0.9
Blocks
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 0.9
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 1.6
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Bill Russell 3.3
Arvydas Sabonis 3.4
+0.1

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Bill Russell had more total points, rebounds and assists than Arvydas Sabonis.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Bill Russell played more years (+6) and games (+114), and had more points (+2,056), field goals made (+781), free throws made (+509), total rebounds (+3,726) and assists (+673)
-
- Bill Russell had more personal fouls (+371)
-
- Bill Russell had more field goals attempted (+1,844) and free throws attempted (+909)
-

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Bill Russell 13
+6
Arvydas Sabonis 7
Games
Bill Russell 165
+114
Arvydas Sabonis 51
Points
Bill Russell 2,673
+2,056
Arvydas Sabonis 617
Field Goals Made
Bill Russell 1,003
+781
Arvydas Sabonis 222
Field Goals Attempted
Bill Russell 2,335
+1,844
Arvydas Sabonis 491
3-Pointers Made
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 15
3-Pointers Attempted
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 47
Free Throws Made
Bill Russell 667
+509
Arvydas Sabonis 158
Free Throws Attempted
Bill Russell 1,106
+909
Arvydas Sabonis 197
Offensive Rebounds
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 72
Defensive Rebounds
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 306
Total Rebounds
Bill Russell 4,104
+3,726
Arvydas Sabonis 378
Assists
Bill Russell 770
+673
Arvydas Sabonis 97
Steals
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 48
Blocks
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 48
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 82
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Bill Russell 546
+371
Arvydas Sabonis 175

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Arvydas Sabonis had better field goal percentage and free throw percentage than Bill Russell.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Bill Russell 43.0%
Arvydas Sabonis 45.2%
+2.2
3-Point Percentage
Bill Russell -
n/a
Arvydas Sabonis 31.9%
Free Throw Percentage
Bill Russell 60.3%
Arvydas Sabonis 80.2%
+19.9
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