Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Bill Russell Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Bill Russell and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 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

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

vs.

Bill Russell

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
S. Gilgeous-Alexander: 2018-19 to 2023-24
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships S. Gilgeous-Alexander 0 Bill Russell 11

NBA Seasons S. Gilgeous-Alexander 6 Bill Russell 13

Playoffs Played S. Gilgeous-Alexander 3 Bill Russell 13

All-Star Games S. Gilgeous-Alexander 2 Bill Russell 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP S. Gilgeous-Alexander 0 Bill Russell 5

All-NBA First Team S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1 Bill Russell 3

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1 Bill Russell 11

All-Defensive 1st Team S. Gilgeous-Alexander 0 Bill Russell 1 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) S. Gilgeous-Alexander 0 Bill Russell 1

Rebounds Leader S. Gilgeous-Alexander 0 Bill Russell 4

Steals Leader S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1 Bill Russell 0 *

* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69. Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 22.8 Bill Russell 15.1

Rebounds Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 4.7 Bill Russell 22.5

Assists Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 4.9 Bill Russell 4.3

Steals Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1.4 Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 0.8 Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points S. Gilgeous-Alexander 8,810 Bill Russell 14,522

Total Rebounds S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1,832 Bill Russell 21,620

Total Assists S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1,876 Bill Russell 4,100

Total Steals S. Gilgeous-Alexander 535 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks S. Gilgeous-Alexander 293 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games S. Gilgeous-Alexander 386 Bill Russell 963

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage S. Gilgeous-Alexander .496 Bill Russell .440

3-Point Percentage S. Gilgeous-Alexander .349 Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage S. Gilgeous-Alexander .852 Bill Russell .561

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 31.4 (2023) Bill Russell 18.9 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 5.9 (2020) Bill Russell 24.7 (1964)

Assists Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 6.2 (2024) Bill Russell 5.8 (1967)

Steals Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 2.0 (2024) Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1.0 (2023) Bill Russell - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 17.9 Bill Russell 16.2

Rebounds Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 4.5 Bill Russell 24.9

Assists Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 4.0 Bill Russell 4.7

Steals Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1.1 Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 0.6 Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points S. Gilgeous-Alexander 305 Bill Russell 2,673

Total Rebounds S. Gilgeous-Alexander 77 Bill Russell 4,104

Total Assists S. Gilgeous-Alexander 68 Bill Russell 770

Total Steals S. Gilgeous-Alexander 19 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks S. Gilgeous-Alexander 11 Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games S. Gilgeous-Alexander 17 Bill Russell 165

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage S. Gilgeous-Alexander .457 Bill Russell .430

3-Point Percentage S. Gilgeous-Alexander .400 Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage S. Gilgeous-Alexander .829 Bill Russell .603

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 27.3 (2024) Bill Russell 22.4 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 6.0 (2024) Bill Russell 29.9 (1961)

Assists Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 5.0 (2024) Bill Russell 6.3 (1965)

Steals Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 1.5 (2024) Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game S. Gilgeous-Alexander 0.8 (2019) 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.