Complete Stats Comparison of James Harden and Bill Russell

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by James Harden and Bill Russell 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
James Harden2
(points, assists)
2
(points, assists)
17
seasons
Bill Russell1
(rebounds)
1
(rebounds)
13
seasons
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
James Harden2
(points, assists)
2
(points, assists)
16
Playoffs
Bill Russell1
(rebounds)
1
(rebounds)
13
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
James Harden5
stats
6
stats
1
stat
Bill Russell1
stat
2
stats
1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
James Harden5
stats
7
stats
1
stat
Bill Russell1
stat
1
stat
1
stat

- 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, out of the five main statistical categories, James Harden has better averages in points and assists while Bill Russell has better average in rebounds.

Who has higher averages in the Regular Season?

- James Harden has better averages in points (+9.0), field goals made (+1.2), free throws made (+3.8) and assists (+2.9)
- Bill Russell has better average in total rebounds (+16.9)
-
- Bill Russell has higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.2)
- James Harden has higher averages in field goals attempted (+2.8) and free throws attempted (+2.4)
-

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

James Harden 24.1
+9.0
Bill Russell 15.1
Field Goals Made
James Harden 7.1
+1.2
Bill Russell 5.9
Field Goals Attempted
James Harden 16.2
+2.8
Bill Russell 13.4
James Harden 2.8
Bill Russell -
n/a
3-Pointers Attempted
James Harden 7.6
Bill Russell -
n/a
Free Throws Made
James Harden 7.1
+3.8
Bill Russell 3.3
Free Throws Attempted
James Harden 8.2
+2.4
Bill Russell 5.8
Offensive Rebounds
James Harden 0.8
Bill Russell -
n/a
Defensive Rebounds
James Harden 4.9
Bill Russell -
n/a
James Harden 5.6
Bill Russell 22.5
+16.9
James Harden 7.2
+2.9
Bill Russell 4.3
James Harden 1.5
Bill Russell -
n/a
James Harden 0.6
Bill Russell -
n/a
Turnovers
(lower is better)
James Harden 3.7
Bill Russell -
n/a
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
James Harden 2.5
Bill Russell 2.7
+0.2

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, James Harden has more total points and assists while Bill Russell has more total rebounds.

Who has more total stats in the Regular Season?

- James Harden played more years (+4) and games (+207), and has more points (+13,691), field goals made (+2,636), free throws made (+5,173) and assists (+4,381)
- Bill Russell has more total rebounds (+15,035)
- James Harden has more personal fouls (+303)
-
- James Harden has more field goals attempted (+6,021) and free throws attempted (+4,037)
-

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

James Harden 17
+4
Bill Russell 13
James Harden 1,170
+207
Bill Russell 963
James Harden 28,213
+13,691
Bill Russell 14,522
Field Goals Made
James Harden 8,323
+2,636
Bill Russell 5,687
Field Goals Attempted
James Harden 18,951
+6,021
Bill Russell 12,930
James Harden 3,246
Bill Russell -
n/a
3-Pointers Attempted
James Harden 8,941
Bill Russell -
n/a
Free Throws Made
James Harden 8,321
+5,173
Bill Russell 3,148
Free Throws Attempted
James Harden 9,651
+4,037
Bill Russell 5,614
Offensive Rebounds
James Harden 883
Bill Russell -
n/a
Defensive Rebounds
James Harden 5,702
Bill Russell -
n/a
James Harden 6,585
Bill Russell 21,620
+15,035
James Harden 8,481
+4,381
Bill Russell 4,100
James Harden 1,735
Bill Russell -
n/a
James Harden 663
Bill Russell -
n/a
Turnovers
(lower is better)
James Harden 4,337
Bill Russell -
n/a
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
James Harden 2,895
+303
Bill Russell 2,592

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, James Harden has better free throw percentage while Bill Russell has better field goal percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
James Harden 43.9%
Bill Russell 44.0%
+0.1
3-Point Percentage
James Harden 36.3%
Bill Russell -
n/a
Free Throw Percentage
James Harden 86.2%
+30.1
Bill Russell 56.1%

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, James Harden has better averages in points and assists while Bill Russell has better average in rebounds.

Who has higher averages in the Playoffs?

- James Harden has better averages in points (+6.3), field goals made (+0.7), free throws made (+2.4) and assists (+1.8)
- Bill Russell has better average in total rebounds (+19.4)
-
- Bill Russell has higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.3)
- James Harden has higher averages in field goals attempted (+1.8) and free throws attempted (+0.7)
-

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

James Harden 22.5
+6.3
Bill Russell 16.2
Field Goals Made
James Harden 6.8
+0.7
Bill Russell 6.1
Field Goals Attempted
James Harden 16.0
+1.8
Bill Russell 14.2
James Harden 2.5
Bill Russell -
n/a
3-Pointers Attempted
James Harden 7.4
Bill Russell -
n/a
Free Throws Made
James Harden 6.4
+2.4
Bill Russell 4.0
Free Throws Attempted
James Harden 7.4
+0.7
Bill Russell 6.7
Offensive Rebounds
James Harden 0.7
Bill Russell -
n/a
Defensive Rebounds
James Harden 4.8
Bill Russell -
n/a
James Harden 5.5
Bill Russell 24.9
+19.4
James Harden 6.5
+1.8
Bill Russell 4.7
James Harden 1.6
Bill Russell -
n/a
James Harden 0.6
Bill Russell -
n/a
Turnovers
(lower is better)
James Harden 3.4
Bill Russell -
n/a
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
James Harden 3.0
Bill Russell 3.3
+0.3

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, James Harden has more total points and assists while Bill Russell has more total rebounds.

Who has more total stats in the Playoffs?

- James Harden played more years (+3) and games (+8), and has more points (+1,222), field goals made (+170), free throws made (+448) and assists (+355)
- Bill Russell has more total rebounds (+3,156)
-
- Bill Russell has more personal fouls (+34)
- James Harden has more field goals attempted (+425) and free throws attempted (+177)
-

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

James Harden 16
+3
Bill Russell 13
James Harden 173
+8
Bill Russell 165
James Harden 3,895
+1,222
Bill Russell 2,673
Field Goals Made
James Harden 1,173
+170
Bill Russell 1,003
Field Goals Attempted
James Harden 2,760
+425
Bill Russell 2,335
James Harden 434
Bill Russell -
n/a
3-Pointers Attempted
James Harden 1,275
Bill Russell -
n/a
Free Throws Made
James Harden 1,115
+448
Bill Russell 667
Free Throws Attempted
James Harden 1,283
+177
Bill Russell 1,106
Offensive Rebounds
James Harden 126
Bill Russell -
n/a
Defensive Rebounds
James Harden 822
Bill Russell -
n/a
James Harden 948
Bill Russell 4,104
+3,156
James Harden 1,125
+355
Bill Russell 770
James Harden 282
Bill Russell -
n/a
James Harden 98
Bill Russell -
n/a
Turnovers
(lower is better)
James Harden 590
Bill Russell -
n/a
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
James Harden 512
Bill Russell 546
+34

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, James Harden has better free throw percentage while Bill Russell has better field goal percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
James Harden 42.5%
Bill Russell 43.0%
+0.5
3-Point Percentage
James Harden 34.0%
Bill Russell -
n/a
Free Throw Percentage
James Harden 86.9%
+26.6
Bill Russell 60.3%