Jim Palmer vs. Bill Russell Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Bill Russell and Jim Palmer 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

Jim Palmer

vs.

Bill Russell

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Jim Palmer: 1958-59 to 1960-61
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Jim Palmer 0 Bill Russell 11

NBA Seasons Jim Palmer 3 Bill Russell 13

Playoffs Played Jim Palmer 0 Bill Russell 13

All-Star Games Jim Palmer 0 Bill Russell 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Jim Palmer 0 Bill Russell 5

All-NBA First Team Jim Palmer 0 Bill Russell 3

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Jim Palmer 0 Bill Russell 11

All-Defensive 1st Team Jim Palmer 0 * Bill Russell 1 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Jim Palmer 0 Bill Russell 1

Rebounds Leader Jim Palmer 0 Bill Russell 4

* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Jim Palmer 8.1 Bill Russell 15.1

Rebounds Per Game Jim Palmer 5.3 Bill Russell 22.5

Assists Per Game Jim Palmer 0.8 Bill Russell 4.3

Steals Per Game Jim Palmer - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Jim Palmer - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Jim Palmer 1,595 Bill Russell 14,522

Total Rebounds Jim Palmer 1,040 Bill Russell 21,620

Total Assists Jim Palmer 165 Bill Russell 4,100

Total Steals Jim Palmer - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Jim Palmer - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Jim Palmer 196 Bill Russell 963

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Jim Palmer .413 Bill Russell .440

3-Point Percentage Jim Palmer - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Jim Palmer .703 Bill Russell .561

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Jim Palmer 10.3 (1959) Bill Russell 18.9 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Jim Palmer 7.0 (1959) Bill Russell 24.7 (1964)

Assists Per Game Jim Palmer 1.0 (1959) Bill Russell 5.8 (1967)

Steals Per Game Jim Palmer - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Jim Palmer - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Jim Palmer - Bill Russell 16.2

Rebounds Per Game Jim Palmer - Bill Russell 24.9

Assists Per Game Jim Palmer - Bill Russell 4.7

Steals Per Game Jim Palmer - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Jim Palmer - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Jim Palmer - Bill Russell 2,673

Total Rebounds Jim Palmer - Bill Russell 4,104

Total Assists Jim Palmer - Bill Russell 770

Total Steals Jim Palmer - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Jim Palmer - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Jim Palmer 0 Bill Russell 165

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Jim Palmer - Bill Russell .430

3-Point Percentage Jim Palmer - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Jim Palmer - Bill Russell .603

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Jim Palmer - Bill Russell 22.4 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Jim Palmer - Bill Russell 29.9 (1961)

Assists Per Game Jim Palmer - Bill Russell 6.3 (1965)

Steals Per Game Jim Palmer - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Jim Palmer - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Notes: ** 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.