Alvan Adams vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Alvan Adams, 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.

Alvan Adams and Bill Russell both played 13 years in the NBA. Alvan Adams had the first of his seasons in 1975-76, 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
Alvan Adams 13 9 1975-76 to 1987-88
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

Rookie Season

Alvan Adams Bill Russell
Season 1975-761956-57
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Alvan Adams 80 33.2 19.0 2.7 6.4 9.1 5.6 1.5 1.5 - 3.4 7.9 16.8 .469 - - - 3.3 4.4 .735
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 %
Alvan Adams 19 35.2 17.9 2.8 7.2 10.1 5.2 1.3 1.1 - 3.2 7.2 15.9 .452 - - - 3.5 4.3 .817
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

Alvan Adams Bill Russell
Season 1976-771957-58
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 72 31.6 18.0 2.5 6.6 9.1 4.5 1.3 1.2 - 3.6 7.3 15.3 .474 - - - 3.5 4.6 .754
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 %
Alvan Adams ------- --- ----------
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

Alvan Adams Bill Russell
Season 1977-781958-59
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Alvan Adams 70 27.3 15.5 2.3 5.8 8.1 3.2 1.2 0.9 3.3 3.5 6.2 12.8 .485 - - - 3.1 4.2 .730
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 %
Alvan Adams 2 35.5 16.0 4.0 4.0 8.0 2.0 1.0 0.5 4.5 4.0 7.5 16.5 .455 - - - 1.0 1.0 1.000
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

Alvan Adams Bill Russell
Season 1978-791959-60
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Alvan Adams 77 30.7 17.8 2.9 6.3 9.2 4.7 1.4 0.8 3.6 3.2 7.4 13.9 .530 - - - 3.0 3.8 .799
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 %
Alvan Adams 12 31.0 12.8 2.1 5.4 7.5 4.4 0.9 1.0 3.0 3.4 5.5 11.6 .475 - - - 1.8 2.6 .710
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

Alvan Adams Bill Russell
Season 1979-801960-61
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-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 %
Alvan Adams 75 28.9 14.9 2.1 6.0 8.1 4.3 1.4 0.7 2.9 3.2 6.2 11.7 .531 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.1 .797
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 %
Alvan Adams 8 31.4 16.1 2.3 7.4 9.6 5.8 0.9 1.3 3.0 3.0 7.0 12.4 .566 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.4 .895
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

Alvan Adams Bill Russell
Season 1980-811961-62
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-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 %
Alvan Adams 75 27.4 14.9 2.1 5.2 7.3 4.6 1.4 0.9 3.0 3.0 6.1 11.6 .526 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.5 .768
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 %
Alvan Adams 7 31.1 10.6 1.6 4.3 5.9 3.7 0.6 0.1 2.7 2.9 3.9 8.6 .450 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.0 .714
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

Alvan Adams Bill Russell
Season 1981-821962-63
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
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 %
Alvan Adams 79 30.3 15.1 1.7 5.7 7.4 4.5 1.4 1.0 2.5 3.4 6.4 13.0 .494 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 2.9 .781
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 %
Alvan Adams 7 33.3 16.9 2.7 4.6 7.3 3.7 2.0 1.4 3.0 3.1 6.9 13.1 .522 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 4.0 .786
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

Alvan Adams Bill Russell
Season 1982-831963-64
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Alvan Adams 80 30.6 14.2 2.0 4.8 6.9 4.7 1.4 0.9 3.0 3.6 6.0 12.3 .486 0.0 0.0 .333 2.3 2.7 .829
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 %
Alvan Adams 3 28.0 11.7 1.0 5.0 6.0 4.7 0.7 1.7 1.7 5.0 5.0 10.7 .469 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.3 .714
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

Alvan Adams Bill Russell
Season 1983-841964-65
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 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 %
Alvan Adams 70 20.7 9.6 1.7 2.9 4.6 3.1 1.0 0.4 1.7 2.8 3.8 8.3 .462 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.3 .825
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 %
Alvan Adams 17 18.4 8.4 1.6 3.5 5.1 2.5 1.0 0.6 2.0 3.1 3.1 7.4 .421 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.1 .679
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

Alvan Adams Bill Russell
Season 1984-851965-66
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Alvan Adams 82 26.0 14.7 1.9 4.2 6.1 3.8 1.4 0.6 2.4 3.1 5.8 11.2 .520 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.5 .883
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 %
Alvan Adams 3 26.3 17.0 1.3 4.3 5.7 3.7 2.3 0.3 2.0 2.7 7.7 15.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.0 .833
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

Alvan Adams Bill Russell
Season 1985-861966-67
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Alvan Adams 78 25.7 10.8 1.9 4.2 6.1 4.2 1.3 0.6 2.6 3.5 4.4 8.7 .502 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.6 .783
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 %
Alvan Adams ------- --- ----------
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

Alvan Adams Bill Russell
Season 1986-871967-68
Team Phoenix SunsBoston 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 %
Alvan Adams 68 24.9 11.1 1.3 3.6 5.0 3.3 0.9 0.5 2.0 3.0 4.6 9.1 .503 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.5 .788
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 %
Alvan Adams ------- --- ----------
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

Alvan Adams Bill Russell
Season 1987-881968-69
Team Phoenix SunsBoston 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 %
Alvan Adams 82 20.1 7.5 1.4 3.0 4.5 2.2 1.0 0.5 1.7 3.0 3.1 6.2 .496 0.0 0.0 .500 1.3 1.6 .844
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 %
Alvan Adams ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell 18 46.1 10.8 - - 20.5 5.4 - - - 3.6 4.3 10.1 .423 - - - 2.3 4.5 .506