Sam Bowie vs. Bill Russell Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Bill Russell and Sam Bowie 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

Sam Bowie

vs.

Bill Russell

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Sam Bowie: 1984-85 to 1994-95
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Sam Bowie 0 Bill Russell 11

NBA Seasons Sam Bowie 10 Bill Russell 13

Playoffs Played Sam Bowie 5 Bill Russell 13

All-Star Games Sam Bowie 0 Bill Russell 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Sam Bowie 0 Bill Russell 5

All-NBA First Team Sam Bowie 0 Bill Russell 3

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Sam Bowie 0 Bill Russell 11

All-Defensive 1st Team Sam Bowie 0 Bill Russell 1 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Sam Bowie 0 Bill Russell 1

Rebounds Leader Sam Bowie 0 Bill Russell 4

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Sam Bowie 10.9 Bill Russell 15.1

Rebounds Per Game Sam Bowie 7.5 Bill Russell 22.5

Assists Per Game Sam Bowie 2.1 Bill Russell 4.3

Steals Per Game Sam Bowie 0.5 Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Sam Bowie 1.8 Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Sam Bowie 5,564 Bill Russell 14,522

Total Rebounds Sam Bowie 3,845 Bill Russell 21,620

Total Assists Sam Bowie 1,075 Bill Russell 4,100

Total Steals Sam Bowie 263 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Sam Bowie 909 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Sam Bowie 511 Bill Russell 963

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Sam Bowie .452 Bill Russell .440

3-Point Percentage Sam Bowie .302 Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Sam Bowie .748 Bill Russell .561

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Sam Bowie 16.0 (1987) Bill Russell 18.9 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Sam Bowie 10.1 (1990) Bill Russell 24.7 (1964)

Assists Per Game Sam Bowie 2.8 (1985) Bill Russell 5.8 (1967)

Steals Per Game Sam Bowie 0.7 (1985) Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Sam Bowie 2.7 (1985) Bill Russell - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Sam Bowie 5.7 Bill Russell 16.2

Rebounds Per Game Sam Bowie 5.5 Bill Russell 24.9

Assists Per Game Sam Bowie 1.3 Bill Russell 4.7

Steals Per Game Sam Bowie 0.5 Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Sam Bowie 1.4 Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Sam Bowie 165 Bill Russell 2,673

Total Rebounds Sam Bowie 160 Bill Russell 4,104

Total Assists Sam Bowie 38 Bill Russell 770

Total Steals Sam Bowie 14 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Sam Bowie 41 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Sam Bowie 29 Bill Russell 165

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Sam Bowie .403 Bill Russell .430

3-Point Percentage Sam Bowie .500 Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Sam Bowie .673 Bill Russell .603

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Sam Bowie 10.3 (1989) Bill Russell 22.4 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Sam Bowie 8.4 (1985) Bill Russell 29.9 (1961)

Assists Per Game Sam Bowie 2.3 (1985) Bill Russell 6.3 (1965)

Steals Per Game Sam Bowie 2.0 (1993) Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Sam Bowie 2.3 (1989) 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.