Gene James vs. Bill Russell Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Bill Russell and Gene James that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

Gene James

vs.

Bill Russell

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Gene James: 1948-49 to 1950-51
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Gene James 0 Bill Russell 11

NBA Seasons Gene James 3 Bill Russell 13

Playoffs Played Gene James 2 Bill Russell 13

All-Star Games Gene James 0 Bill Russell 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Gene James 0 * Bill Russell 5

All-NBA First Team Gene James 0 Bill Russell 3

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Gene James 0 Bill Russell 11

All-Defensive 1st Team Gene James 0 * Bill Russell 1 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Gene James 0 Bill Russell 1

Rebounds Leader Gene James 0 * Bill Russell 4

* Notes: Season MVP is awarded since 1955-56. Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69. Rebounds started to be recorded in 1950-51.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Gene James 3.4 Bill Russell 15.1

Rebounds Per Game Gene James 2.9 * Bill Russell 22.5

Assists Per Game Gene James 1.1 Bill Russell 4.3

Steals Per Game Gene James - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Gene James - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Gene James 296 Bill Russell 14,522

Total Rebounds Gene James 141 * Bill Russell 21,620

Total Assists Gene James 95 Bill Russell 4,100

Total Steals Gene James - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Gene James - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Gene James 88 Bill Russell 963

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Gene James .334 Bill Russell .440

3-Point Percentage Gene James - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Gene James .561 Bill Russell .561

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Gene James 4.2 (1951) Bill Russell 18.9 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Gene James 2.9 (1951) * Bill Russell 24.7 (1964)

Assists Per Game Gene James 1.5 (1951) Bill Russell 5.8 (1967)

Steals Per Game Gene James - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Gene James - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Gene James 1.0 Bill Russell 16.2

Rebounds Per Game Gene James - * Bill Russell 24.9

Assists Per Game Gene James 0.5 Bill Russell 4.7

Steals Per Game Gene James - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Gene James - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Gene James 4 Bill Russell 2,673

Total Rebounds Gene James 0 * Bill Russell 4,104

Total Assists Gene James 2 Bill Russell 770

Total Steals Gene James - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Gene James - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Gene James 4 Bill Russell 165

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Gene James .111 Bill Russell .430

3-Point Percentage Gene James - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Gene James .500 Bill Russell .603

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Gene James 2.0 (1950) Bill Russell 22.4 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Gene James - * Bill Russell 29.9 (1961)

Assists Per Game Gene James 0.7 (1949) Bill Russell 6.3 (1965)

Steals Per Game Gene James - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Gene James - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Notes: * Rebounds started to be recorded in 1950-51. Some years in this player's career don't have stats. ** Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74, this player has no data for the stat. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat.