Complete Stats Comparison of Julius Erving and Bill Russell

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Julius Erving 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
Julius Erving1
(points)
1
(points)
11
seasons
Bill Russell2
(rebounds, assists)
2
(rebounds, assists)
13
seasons
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Julius Erving1
(points)
1
(points)
11
Playoffs
Bill Russell2
(rebounds, assists)
2
(rebounds, assists)
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
Julius Erving3
stats
4
stats
2
stats
Bill Russell2
stats
4
stats
0
stats
they are tied1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Julius Erving4
stats
4
stats
2
stats
Bill Russell2
stats
4
stats
0
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.
(*) = some years in his career don't have the stat.
(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, Bill Russell had better averages in rebounds and assists while Julius Erving had better average in points.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Julius Erving had better averages in points (+6.9), field goals made (+2.8) and free throws made (+1.3)
- Bill Russell had better averages in total rebounds (+15.8) and assists (+0.4)
-
-
- Julius Erving had higher averages in field goals attempted (+3.7) and free throws attempted (+0.1)
-

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Julius Erving 22.0
+6.9
Bill Russell 15.1
Field Goals Made
Julius Erving 8.7
+2.8
Bill Russell 5.9
Field Goals Attempted
Julius Erving 17.1
+3.7
Bill Russell 13.4
Julius Erving 0.1
*
Bill Russell -
n/a
3-Pointers Attempted
Julius Erving 0.3
*
Bill Russell -
n/a
Free Throws Made
Julius Erving 4.6
+1.3
Bill Russell 3.3
Free Throws Attempted
Julius Erving 5.9
+0.1
Bill Russell 5.8
Offensive Rebounds
Julius Erving 2.5
Bill Russell -
n/a
Defensive Rebounds
Julius Erving 4.2
Bill Russell -
n/a
Julius Erving 6.7
Bill Russell 22.5
+15.8
Julius Erving 3.9
Bill Russell 4.3
+0.4
Julius Erving 1.8
Bill Russell -
n/a
Julius Erving 1.5
Bill Russell -
n/a
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Julius Erving 3.1
*
Bill Russell -
n/a
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Julius Erving 2.7
Bill Russell 2.7

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, Bill Russell had more total rebounds and assists while Julius Erving had more total points.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Julius Erving had more points (+3,842), field goals made (+1,550) and free throws made (+696)
- Bill Russell played more years (+2) and games (+127), and had more total rebounds (+16,019) and assists (+876)
-
- Bill Russell had more personal fouls (+306)
- Julius Erving had more field goals attempted (+1,346)
- Bill Russell had more free throws attempted (+664)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Julius Erving 11
Bill Russell 13
+2
Julius Erving 836
Bill Russell 963
+127
Julius Erving 18,364
+3,842
Bill Russell 14,522
Field Goals Made
Julius Erving 7,237
+1,550
Bill Russell 5,687
Field Goals Attempted
Julius Erving 14,276
+1,346
Bill Russell 12,930
Julius Erving 46
*
Bill Russell -
n/a
3-Pointers Attempted
Julius Erving 176
*
Bill Russell -
n/a
Free Throws Made
Julius Erving 3,844
+696
Bill Russell 3,148
Free Throws Attempted
Julius Erving 4,950
Bill Russell 5,614
+664
Offensive Rebounds
Julius Erving 2,067
Bill Russell -
n/a
Defensive Rebounds
Julius Erving 3,534
Bill Russell -
n/a
Julius Erving 5,601
Bill Russell 21,620
+16,019
Julius Erving 3,224
Bill Russell 4,100
+876
Julius Erving 1,508
Bill Russell -
n/a
Julius Erving 1,293
Bill Russell -
n/a
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Julius Erving 2,323
*
Bill Russell -
n/a
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Julius Erving 2,286
Bill Russell 2,592
+306

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

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

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Julius Erving 50.7%
+6.7
Bill Russell 44.0%
3-Point Percentage
Julius Erving 26.1%
*
Bill Russell -
n/a
Free Throw Percentage
Julius Erving 77.7%
+21.6
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, Bill Russell had better averages in rebounds and assists while Julius Erving had better average in points.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Julius Erving had better averages in points (+5.7), field goals made (+2.3) and free throws made (+1.0)
- Bill Russell had better averages in total rebounds (+17.9) and assists (+0.5)
-
- Bill Russell had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.4)
- Julius Erving had higher average in field goals attempted (+3.1)
- Bill Russell had higher average in free throws attempted (+0.3)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Julius Erving 21.9
+5.7
Bill Russell 16.2
Field Goals Made
Julius Erving 8.4
+2.3
Bill Russell 6.1
Field Goals Attempted
Julius Erving 17.3
+3.1
Bill Russell 14.2
Julius Erving 0.1
*
Bill Russell -
n/a
3-Pointers Attempted
Julius Erving 0.3
*
Bill Russell -
n/a
Free Throws Made
Julius Erving 5.0
+1.0
Bill Russell 4.0
Free Throws Attempted
Julius Erving 6.4
Bill Russell 6.7
+0.3
Offensive Rebounds
Julius Erving 2.6
Bill Russell -
n/a
Defensive Rebounds
Julius Erving 4.5
Bill Russell -
n/a
Julius Erving 7.0
Bill Russell 24.9
+17.9
Julius Erving 4.2
Bill Russell 4.7
+0.5
Julius Erving 1.7
Bill Russell -
n/a
Julius Erving 1.7
Bill Russell -
n/a
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Julius Erving 3.2
*
Bill Russell -
n/a
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Julius Erving 2.9
Bill Russell 3.3
+0.4

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Bill Russell had more total rebounds and assists while Julius Erving had more total points.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Julius Erving had more points (+415), field goals made (+184) and free throws made (+40)
- Bill Russell played more years (+2) and games (+24), and had more total rebounds (+3,110) and assists (+176)
-
- Bill Russell had more personal fouls (+143)
- Julius Erving had more field goals attempted (+106)
- Bill Russell had more free throws attempted (+198)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Julius Erving 11
Bill Russell 13
+2
Julius Erving 141
Bill Russell 165
+24
Julius Erving 3,088
+415
Bill Russell 2,673
Field Goals Made
Julius Erving 1,187
+184
Bill Russell 1,003
Field Goals Attempted
Julius Erving 2,441
+106
Bill Russell 2,335
Julius Erving 7
*
Bill Russell -
n/a
3-Pointers Attempted
Julius Erving 36
*
Bill Russell -
n/a
Free Throws Made
Julius Erving 707
+40
Bill Russell 667
Free Throws Attempted
Julius Erving 908
Bill Russell 1,106
+198
Offensive Rebounds
Julius Erving 360
Bill Russell -
n/a
Defensive Rebounds
Julius Erving 634
Bill Russell -
n/a
Julius Erving 994
Bill Russell 4,104
+3,110
Julius Erving 594
Bill Russell 770
+176
Julius Erving 235
Bill Russell -
n/a
Julius Erving 239
Bill Russell -
n/a
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Julius Erving 396
*
Bill Russell -
n/a
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Julius Erving 403
Bill Russell 546
+143

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

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

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Julius Erving 48.6%
+5.6
Bill Russell 43.0%
3-Point Percentage
Julius Erving 19.4%
*
Bill Russell -
n/a
Free Throw Percentage
Julius Erving 77.9%
+17.6
Bill Russell 60.3%