A.C. Green vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and A.C. Green, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

A.C. Green played 16 years in the NBA, 3 more than Bill Russell, who played 13. A.C. Green had the first of his seasons in 1985-86, while Bill Russell had his rookie season in 1956-57. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
A.C. Green 16 13 1985-86 to 2000-01
Bill Russell 13 13 1956-57 to 1968-69

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

A.C. Green Bill Russell
Season 1985-861956-57
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 82 18.8 6.4 2.0 2.7 4.6 0.7 0.6 0.6 1.2 2.8 2.5 4.7 .539 0.0 0.1 .167 1.2 2.0 .611
Bill Russell 48 35.3 14.7 - - 19.6 1.8 - - - 3.0 5.8 13.5 .427 - - - 3.2 6.4 .492
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 9 11.8 2.4 0.3 1.4 1.8 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.4 1.4 1.0 1.9 .529 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 1.0 .444
Bill Russell 10 40.9 13.9 - - 24.4 3.2 - - - 4.1 5.4 14.8 .365 - - - 3.1 6.1 .508

Season 2

A.C. Green Bill Russell
Season 1986-871957-58
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 79 28.4 10.8 2.7 5.1 7.8 1.1 0.9 1.0 1.3 2.2 4.0 7.4 .538 0.0 0.1 .000 2.8 3.6 .780
Bill Russell 69 38.3 16.6 - - 22.7 2.9 - - - 2.6 6.6 15.0 .442 - - - 3.3 6.4 .519
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 18 28.1 11.5 3.0 4.9 7.9 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.9 2.6 3.9 7.2 .546 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 4.8 .747
Bill Russell 9 39.4 15.1 - - 24.6 2.7 - - - 2.7 5.3 14.8 .361 - - - 4.4 7.3 .606

Season 3

A.C. Green Bill Russell
Season 1987-881958-59
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 82 32.1 11.4 3.0 5.7 8.7 1.1 1.1 0.5 1.5 2.5 3.9 7.8 .503 0.0 0.0 .000 3.6 4.6 .773
Bill Russell 70 42.6 16.7 - - 23.0 3.2 - - - 2.3 6.5 14.2 .457 - - - 3.7 6.1 .598
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 24 30.3 10.0 2.4 4.9 7.3 0.8 0.5 0.5 1.1 2.5 3.8 7.0 .544 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.0 .753
Bill Russell 11 45.1 15.5 - - 27.7 3.6 - - - 2.5 5.9 14.5 .409 - - - 3.7 6.1 .612

Season 4

A.C. Green Bill Russell
Season 1988-891959-60
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 82 30.6 13.3 3.1 5.9 9.0 1.3 1.1 0.7 1.5 2.1 4.9 9.2 .529 0.0 0.2 .235 3.4 4.4 .786
Bill Russell 74 42.5 18.2 - - 24.0 3.7 - - - 2.8 7.5 16.1 .467 - - - 3.2 5.3 .612
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 15 33.5 10.1 2.5 6.6 9.1 1.2 1.1 0.4 1.5 2.5 3.1 7.6 .412 0.0 0.2 .000 3.9 5.1 .763
Bill Russell 13 44.0 18.5 - - 25.8 2.9 - - - 2.9 7.2 15.8 .456 - - - 4.1 5.8 .707

Season 5

A.C. Green Bill Russell
Season 1989-901960-61
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 82 33.0 12.9 3.2 5.5 8.7 1.1 0.8 0.6 1.4 2.5 4.7 9.8 .478 0.2 0.6 .283 3.4 4.5 .751
Bill Russell 78 44.3 16.9 - - 23.9 3.4 - - - 2.0 6.8 16.0 .426 - - - 3.3 6.0 .550
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 9 28.0 11.8 3.8 5.2 9.0 1.0 0.6 0.4 1.6 2.4 4.6 8.8 .519 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.6 .750
Bill Russell 10 46.2 19.1 - - 29.9 4.8 - - - 2.4 7.3 17.1 .427 - - - 4.5 8.6 .523

Season 6

A.C. Green Bill Russell
Season 1990-911961-62
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 82 26.4 9.1 2.5 3.8 6.3 0.9 0.7 0.3 1.2 1.4 3.1 6.6 .476 0.1 0.7 .200 2.7 3.7 .738
Bill Russell 76 45.2 18.9 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.7 7.6 16.6 .457 - - - 3.8 6.3 .595
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 19 21.1 6.5 2.4 2.9 5.4 0.5 0.6 0.2 1.0 1.9 2.2 5.1 .423 0.2 0.4 .500 2.0 2.8 .704
Bill Russell 14 48.0 22.4 - - 26.4 5.0 - - - 3.5 8.3 18.1 .458 - - - 5.9 8.1 .726

Season 7

A.C. Green Bill Russell
Season 1991-921962-63
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 82 35.4 13.6 3.7 5.6 9.3 1.4 1.1 0.4 1.4 1.7 4.7 9.8 .476 0.1 0.7 .214 4.1 5.6 .744
Bill Russell 78 44.9 16.8 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.4 6.6 15.2 .432 - - - 3.7 6.6 .555
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 4 38.3 12.8 3.8 5.3 9.0 1.8 1.8 0.0 1.3 2.5 4.0 9.8 .410 0.0 0.0 - 4.8 5.8 .826
Bill Russell 13 47.5 20.3 - - 25.1 5.1 - - - 2.8 7.4 16.3 .453 - - - 5.5 8.4 .661

Season 8

A.C. Green Bill Russell
Season 1992-931963-64
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 82 34.4 12.8 3.5 5.2 8.7 1.4 1.1 0.5 1.4 1.8 4.6 8.6 .537 0.2 0.6 .348 3.4 4.6 .739
Bill Russell 78 44.6 15.0 - - 24.7 4.7 - - - 2.4 6.0 13.8 .433 - - - 3.0 5.5 .550
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 5 44.0 9.8 5.2 9.4 14.6 2.6 1.4 0.6 1.8 2.8 3.6 8.4 .429 0.0 1.0 .000 2.6 4.2 .619
Bill Russell 10 45.1 13.1 - - 27.2 4.4 - - - 3.3 4.7 13.2 .356 - - - 3.7 6.7 .552

Season 9

A.C. Green Bill Russell
Season 1993-941964-65
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 82 34.5 14.7 3.4 5.8 9.2 1.7 0.9 0.5 1.2 1.7 5.7 11.3 .502 0.1 0.4 .229 3.2 4.4 .735
Bill Russell 78 44.4 14.1 - - 24.1 5.3 - - - 2.6 5.5 12.6 .438 - - - 3.1 5.5 .573
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 10 35.0 12.5 2.9 5.5 8.4 1.3 1.0 0.2 0.7 2.2 4.0 8.3 .482 0.7 1.7 .412 3.8 6.2 .613
Bill Russell 12 46.8 16.5 - - 25.2 6.3 - - - 3.6 6.6 12.5 .527 - - - 3.3 6.3 .526

Season 10

A.C. Green Bill Russell
Season 1994-951965-66
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 82 32.8 11.2 2.4 5.8 8.2 1.5 0.7 0.4 1.4 1.8 3.8 7.5 .504 0.5 1.5 .339 3.1 4.2 .732
Bill Russell 78 43.4 12.9 - - 22.8 4.8 - - - 2.8 5.0 12.1 .415 - - - 2.9 5.2 .551
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 10 36.8 12.8 3.8 8.2 12.0 1.3 0.6 0.2 1.0 2.2 3.6 7.8 .462 0.1 1.2 .083 5.5 6.3 .873
Bill Russell 17 47.9 19.1 - - 25.2 5.0 - - - 3.5 7.3 15.4 .475 - - - 4.5 7.2 .618

Season 11

A.C. Green Bill Russell
Season 1995-961966-67
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 82 25.8 7.5 2.0 4.7 6.8 0.9 0.5 0.3 1.0 1.7 2.6 5.4 .484 0.2 0.6 .269 2.0 2.9 .709
Bill Russell 81 40.7 13.3 - - 21.0 5.8 - - - 3.2 4.9 10.7 .454 - - - 3.5 5.8 .610
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 4 21.8 4.8 1.5 3.0 4.5 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.5 1.8 1.5 4.3 .353 0.0 0.8 .000 1.8 2.0 .875
Bill Russell 9 43.3 10.6 - - 22.0 5.6 - - - 3.6 3.4 9.6 .360 - - - 3.7 5.8 .635

Season 12

A.C. Green Bill Russell
Season 1996-971967-68
Team Phoenix Suns, Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 83 30.0 7.2 2.7 5.2 7.9 0.8 0.8 0.2 0.9 1.7 2.8 5.8 .483 0.0 0.2 .050 1.5 2.4 .650
Bill Russell 78 37.9 12.5 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.1 4.7 11.0 .425 - - - 3.2 5.9 .537
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 19 45.7 14.4 - - 22.8 5.2 - - - 3.8 5.2 12.7 .409 - - - 4.0 6.8 .585

Season 13

A.C. Green Bill Russell
Season 1997-981968-69
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 82 32.3 7.3 2.7 5.5 8.1 1.5 1.0 0.3 0.8 1.9 3.0 6.5 .453 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.0 .716
Bill Russell 77 42.7 9.9 - - 19.3 4.9 - - - 3.0 3.6 8.4 .433 - - - 2.6 5.0 .526
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 18 46.1 10.8 - - 20.5 5.4 - - - 3.6 4.3 10.1 .423 - - - 2.3 4.5 .506

Season 14

A.C. Green Bill Russell
Season 1998-99-
Team Dallas Mavericks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 50 18.5 4.9 1.6 2.9 4.6 0.5 0.6 0.2 0.4 1.4 2.2 5.1 .422 0.0 0.2 .000 0.6 1.0 .577
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 15

A.C. Green Bill Russell
Season 1999-00-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 82 23.5 5.0 2.0 4.0 5.9 1.0 0.6 0.2 0.6 1.5 2.1 4.7 .447 0.0 0.0 .250 0.8 1.2 .695
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 23 18.7 3.9 1.9 2.3 4.2 0.6 0.6 0.1 0.4 1.9 1.6 3.9 .411 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.0 .696
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 16

A.C. Green Bill Russell
Season 2000-01-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 82 17.2 4.5 1.3 2.5 3.8 0.5 0.4 0.1 0.5 1.5 1.8 4.0 .444 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 1.4 .712
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
A.C. Green 3 7.0 1.0 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.7 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.3 0.3 1.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 1.000
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------