Complete Stats Comparison of Kobe Bryant and Bill Russell

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Kobe Bryant 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
Kobe Bryant2
(points, assists)		2
(points, assists)		20
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
Kobe Bryant1
(points)		2
(points, assists)		15
Playoffs
Bill Russell1
(rebounds)		1
(rebounds)		13
Playoffs
they are tied1
(assists)

- 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
Kobe Bryant5
stats		6
stats		2
stats
Bill Russell1
stat		2
stats		0
stats
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Kobe Bryant4
stats		6
stats		2
stats
Bill Russell1
stat		2
stats		0
stats
they are tied1
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, Kobe Bryant had better averages in points and assists while Bill Russell had better average in rebounds.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Kobe Bryant had better averages in points (+9.9), field goals made (+2.8), free throws made (+2.9) and assists (+0.4)
- Bill Russell had better average in total rebounds (+17.3)
-
- Bill Russell had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.2)
- Kobe Bryant had higher averages in field goals attempted (+6.1) and free throws attempted (+1.6)
-

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Kobe Bryant 25.0
+9.9
Bill Russell 15.1
Field Goals Made
Kobe Bryant 8.7
+2.8
Bill Russell 5.9
Field Goals Attempted
Kobe Bryant 19.5
+6.1
Bill Russell 13.4
3-Pointers Made
Kobe Bryant 1.4
Bill Russell -
n/a
3-Pointers Attempted
Kobe Bryant 4.1
Bill Russell -
n/a
Free Throws Made
Kobe Bryant 6.2
+2.9
Bill Russell 3.3
Free Throws Attempted
Kobe Bryant 7.4
+1.6
Bill Russell 5.8
Offensive Rebounds
Kobe Bryant 1.1
Bill Russell -
n/a
Defensive Rebounds
Kobe Bryant 4.1
Bill Russell -
n/a
Total Rebounds
Kobe Bryant 5.2
Bill Russell 22.5
+17.3
Assists
Kobe Bryant 4.7
+0.4
Bill Russell 4.3
Steals
Kobe Bryant 1.4
Bill Russell -
n/a
Blocks
Kobe Bryant 0.5
Bill Russell -
n/a
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Kobe Bryant 3.0
Bill Russell -
n/a
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Kobe Bryant 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, Kobe Bryant had more total points and assists while Bill Russell had more total rebounds.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Kobe Bryant played more years (+7) and games (+383), and had more points (+19,121), field goals made (+6,032), free throws made (+5,230) and assists (+2,206)
- Bill Russell had more total rebounds (+14,573)
- Kobe Bryant had more personal fouls (+761)
-
- Kobe Bryant had more field goals attempted (+13,270) and free throws attempted (+4,397)
-

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Kobe Bryant 20
+7
Bill Russell 13
Games
Kobe Bryant 1,346
+383
Bill Russell 963
Points
Kobe Bryant 33,643
+19,121
Bill Russell 14,522
Field Goals Made
Kobe Bryant 11,719
+6,032
Bill Russell 5,687
Field Goals Attempted
Kobe Bryant 26,200
+13,270
Bill Russell 12,930
3-Pointers Made
Kobe Bryant 1,827
Bill Russell -
n/a
3-Pointers Attempted
Kobe Bryant 5,546
Bill Russell -
n/a
Free Throws Made
Kobe Bryant 8,378
+5,230
Bill Russell 3,148
Free Throws Attempted
Kobe Bryant 10,011
+4,397
Bill Russell 5,614
Offensive Rebounds
Kobe Bryant 1,499
Bill Russell -
n/a
Defensive Rebounds
Kobe Bryant 5,548
Bill Russell -
n/a
Total Rebounds
Kobe Bryant 7,047
Bill Russell 21,620
+14,573
Assists
Kobe Bryant 6,306
+2,206
Bill Russell 4,100
Steals
Kobe Bryant 1,944
Bill Russell -
n/a
Blocks
Kobe Bryant 640
Bill Russell -
n/a
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Kobe Bryant 4,010
Bill Russell -
n/a
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Kobe Bryant 3,353
+761
Bill Russell 2,592

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

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

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Kobe Bryant 44.7%
+0.7
Bill Russell 44.0%
3-Point Percentage
Kobe Bryant 32.9%
Bill Russell -
n/a
Free Throw Percentage
Kobe Bryant 83.7%
+27.6
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, Kobe Bryant had better average in points while Bill Russell had better average in rebounds. They are tied in assists.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Kobe Bryant had better averages in points (+9.4), field goals made (+3.1) and free throws made (+2.0)
- Bill Russell had better average in total rebounds (+19.8)
-
- Bill Russell had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.3)
- Kobe Bryant had higher averages in field goals attempted (+6.3) and free throws attempted (+0.7)
-

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Kobe Bryant 25.6
+9.4
Bill Russell 16.2
Field Goals Made
Kobe Bryant 9.2
+3.1
Bill Russell 6.1
Field Goals Attempted
Kobe Bryant 20.5
+6.3
Bill Russell 14.2
3-Pointers Made
Kobe Bryant 1.3
Bill Russell -
n/a
3-Pointers Attempted
Kobe Bryant 4.0
Bill Russell -
n/a
Free Throws Made
Kobe Bryant 6.0
+2.0
Bill Russell 4.0
Free Throws Attempted
Kobe Bryant 7.4
+0.7
Bill Russell 6.7
Offensive Rebounds
Kobe Bryant 1.0
Bill Russell -
n/a
Defensive Rebounds
Kobe Bryant 4.0
Bill Russell -
n/a
Total Rebounds
Kobe Bryant 5.1
Bill Russell 24.9
+19.8
Assists
Kobe Bryant 4.7
Bill Russell 4.7
Steals
Kobe Bryant 1.4
Bill Russell -
n/a
Blocks
Kobe Bryant 0.7
Bill Russell -
n/a
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Kobe Bryant 2.9
Bill Russell -
n/a
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Kobe Bryant 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, Kobe Bryant had more total points and assists while Bill Russell had more total rebounds.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Kobe Bryant played more years (+2) and games (+55), and had more points (+2,967), field goals made (+1,011), free throws made (+653) and assists (+270)
- Bill Russell had more total rebounds (+2,985)
- Kobe Bryant had more personal fouls (+114)
-
- Kobe Bryant had more field goals attempted (+2,164) and free throws attempted (+511)
-

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Kobe Bryant 15
+2
Bill Russell 13
Games
Kobe Bryant 220
+55
Bill Russell 165
Points
Kobe Bryant 5,640
+2,967
Bill Russell 2,673
Field Goals Made
Kobe Bryant 2,014
+1,011
Bill Russell 1,003
Field Goals Attempted
Kobe Bryant 4,499
+2,164
Bill Russell 2,335
3-Pointers Made
Kobe Bryant 292
Bill Russell -
n/a
3-Pointers Attempted
Kobe Bryant 882
Bill Russell -
n/a
Free Throws Made
Kobe Bryant 1,320
+653
Bill Russell 667
Free Throws Attempted
Kobe Bryant 1,617
+511
Bill Russell 1,106
Offensive Rebounds
Kobe Bryant 230
Bill Russell -
n/a
Defensive Rebounds
Kobe Bryant 889
Bill Russell -
n/a
Total Rebounds
Kobe Bryant 1,119
Bill Russell 4,104
+2,985
Assists
Kobe Bryant 1,040
+270
Bill Russell 770
Steals
Kobe Bryant 310
Bill Russell -
n/a
Blocks
Kobe Bryant 144
Bill Russell -
n/a
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Kobe Bryant 647
Bill Russell -
n/a
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Kobe Bryant 660
+114
Bill Russell 546

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

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

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Kobe Bryant 44.8%
+1.8
Bill Russell 43.0%
3-Point Percentage
Kobe Bryant 33.1%
Bill Russell -
n/a
Free Throw Percentage
Kobe Bryant 81.6%
+21.3
Bill Russell 60.3%
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