Willis Reed vs. Bill Russell Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Bill Russell and Willis Reed 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

Willis Reed

vs.

Bill Russell

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Willis Reed: 1964-65 to 1973-74
Bill Russell: 1956-57 to 1968-69

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Willis Reed 2 Bill Russell 11

NBA Seasons Willis Reed 10 Bill Russell 13

Playoffs Played Willis Reed 7 Bill Russell 13

All-Star Games Willis Reed 7 Bill Russell 12

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Willis Reed 1 Bill Russell 5

Finals MVP Willis Reed 2 * Bill Russell 0 *

All-NBA First Team Willis Reed 1 Bill Russell 3

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Willis Reed 5 Bill Russell 11

All-Defensive 1st Team Willis Reed 1 * Bill Russell 1 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Willis Reed 1 Bill Russell 1

Rebounds Leader Willis Reed 0 Bill Russell 4

Rookie of The Year Willis Reed 1 Bill Russell 0

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Willis Reed 18.7 Bill Russell 15.1

Rebounds Per Game Willis Reed 12.9 Bill Russell 22.5

Assists Per Game Willis Reed 1.8 Bill Russell 4.3

Steals Per Game Willis Reed 0.6 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Willis Reed 1.1 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Willis Reed 12,183 Bill Russell 14,522

Total Rebounds Willis Reed 8,414 Bill Russell 21,620

Total Assists Willis Reed 1,186 Bill Russell 4,100

Total Steals Willis Reed 12 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Willis Reed 21 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Willis Reed 650 Bill Russell 963

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Willis Reed .476 Bill Russell .440

3-Point Percentage Willis Reed - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Willis Reed .747 Bill Russell .561

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Willis Reed 21.7 (1970) Bill Russell 18.9 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Willis Reed 14.7 (1965) Bill Russell 24.7 (1964)

Assists Per Game Willis Reed 2.3 (1969) Bill Russell 5.8 (1967)

Steals Per Game Willis Reed 0.6 (1974) * Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Willis Reed 1.1 (1974) * Bill Russell - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Willis Reed 17.4 Bill Russell 16.2

Rebounds Per Game Willis Reed 10.3 Bill Russell 24.9

Assists Per Game Willis Reed 1.9 Bill Russell 4.7

Steals Per Game Willis Reed 0.2 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Willis Reed 0.0 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Willis Reed 1,358 Bill Russell 2,673

Total Rebounds Willis Reed 801 Bill Russell 4,104

Total Assists Willis Reed 149 Bill Russell 770

Total Steals Willis Reed 2 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Blocks Willis Reed 0 * Bill Russell - n/a **

Total Games Willis Reed 78 Bill Russell 165

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Willis Reed .474 Bill Russell .430

3-Point Percentage Willis Reed - n/a ** Bill Russell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Willis Reed .765 Bill Russell .603

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Willis Reed 27.5 (1967) Bill Russell 22.4 (1962)

Rebounds Per Game Willis Reed 14.1 (1969) Bill Russell 29.9 (1961)

Assists Per Game Willis Reed 2.8 (1970) Bill Russell 6.3 (1965)

Steals Per Game Willis Reed 0.2 (1974) * Bill Russell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Willis Reed 0.0 (1974) * Bill Russell - n/a **

Notes: * Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74. 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.