Bill Russell vs. Kevin Willis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kevin Willis and Bill Russell, 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.

Bill Russell played 13 years in the NBA, 8 less than Kevin Willis, who played 21. Bill Russell had the first of his seasons in 1956-57, while Kevin Willis had his rookie season in 1984-85. 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
Bill Russell 13 13 1956-57 to 1968-69
Kevin Willis 21 11 1984-85 to 2006-07

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21

Rookie Season

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season 1956-571984-85
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 48 35.3 14.7 - - 19.6 1.8 - - - 3.0 5.8 13.5 .427 - - - 3.2 6.4 .492
Kevin Willis 82 21.8 9.3 2.2 4.2 6.4 0.4 0.4 0.6 1.3 2.8 3.9 8.4 .467 0.0 0.1 .222 1.5 2.2 .657
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 10 40.9 13.9 - - 24.4 3.2 - - - 4.1 5.4 14.8 .365 - - - 3.1 6.1 .508
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season 1957-581985-86
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsHawks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 69 38.3 16.6 - - 22.7 2.9 - - - 2.6 6.6 15.0 .442 - - - 3.3 6.4 .519
Kevin Willis 82 28.0 12.3 3.0 5.6 8.6 0.5 0.8 0.5 2.2 3.6 5.1 9.9 .517 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 3.2 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 9 39.4 15.1 - - 24.6 2.7 - - - 2.7 5.3 14.8 .361 - - - 4.4 7.3 .606
Kevin Willis 9 31.1 13.9 3.4 3.8 7.2 0.6 0.8 0.9 1.7 4.2 6.1 10.9 .561 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.6 .652

Season 3

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season 1958-591986-87
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHawks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 70 42.6 16.7 - - 23.0 3.2 - - - 2.3 6.5 14.2 .457 - - - 3.7 6.1 .598
Kevin Willis 81 32.4 16.1 4.0 6.5 10.5 0.8 0.8 0.8 2.1 3.9 6.6 12.4 .536 0.0 0.0 .250 2.8 4.0 .709
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 11 45.1 15.5 - - 27.7 3.6 - - - 2.5 5.9 14.5 .409 - - - 3.7 6.1 .612
Kevin Willis 9 39.6 15.7 3.7 5.6 9.2 0.7 1.0 0.8 1.9 3.7 6.7 12.8 .522 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.4 .677

Season 4

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season 1959-601987-88
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHawks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 74 42.5 18.2 - - 24.0 3.7 - - - 2.8 7.5 16.1 .467 - - - 3.2 5.3 .612
Kevin Willis 75 27.9 11.6 3.1 4.2 7.3 0.4 0.9 0.5 1.8 3.2 4.7 9.2 .518 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.3 .649
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 13 44.0 18.5 - - 25.8 2.9 - - - 2.9 7.2 15.8 .456 - - - 4.1 5.8 .707
Kevin Willis 12 38.5 16.2 3.0 6.0 9.0 0.9 0.8 0.8 2.1 4.3 6.7 11.5 .580 0.0 0.1 .000 2.8 4.2 .680

Note: Kevin Willis didn't play in 1988-89.

Season 5

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season 1960-611989-90
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 78 44.3 16.9 - - 23.9 3.4 - - - 2.0 6.8 16.0 .426 - - - 3.3 6.0 .550
Kevin Willis 81 28.1 12.4 3.1 4.8 8.0 0.7 0.8 0.6 1.8 3.2 5.2 9.9 .519 0.0 0.1 .286 2.1 3.0 .683
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 10 46.2 19.1 - - 29.9 4.8 - - - 2.4 7.3 17.1 .427 - - - 4.5 8.6 .523
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season 1961-621990-91
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHawks 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 %
Bill Russell 76 45.2 18.9 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.7 7.6 16.6 .457 - - - 3.8 6.3 .595
Kevin Willis 80 29.7 13.1 3.2 5.6 8.8 1.2 0.8 0.5 1.9 2.9 5.6 11.0 .504 0.1 0.1 .400 2.0 3.0 .668
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 14 48.0 22.4 - - 26.4 5.0 - - - 3.5 8.3 18.1 .458 - - - 5.9 8.1 .726
Kevin Willis 5 31.8 15.4 3.6 5.4 9.0 1.0 0.6 0.2 0.4 4.4 5.4 13.4 .403 0.4 0.6 .667 4.2 6.0 .700

Season 7

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season 1962-631991-92
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 78 44.9 16.8 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.4 6.6 15.2 .432 - - - 3.7 6.6 .555
Kevin Willis 81 36.6 18.3 5.2 10.4 15.5 2.1 0.9 0.7 2.4 2.8 7.3 15.1 .483 0.1 0.5 .162 3.6 4.5 .804
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 13 47.5 20.3 - - 25.1 5.1 - - - 2.8 7.4 16.3 .453 - - - 5.5 8.4 .661
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season 1963-641992-93
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHawks 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 %
Bill Russell 78 44.6 15.0 - - 24.7 4.7 - - - 2.4 6.0 13.8 .433 - - - 3.0 5.5 .550
Kevin Willis 80 36.0 17.9 4.2 8.7 12.9 2.1 0.9 0.5 2.7 3.3 7.7 15.2 .506 0.1 0.4 .241 2.5 3.8 .653
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 10 45.1 13.1 - - 27.2 4.4 - - - 3.3 4.7 13.2 .356 - - - 3.7 6.7 .552
Kevin Willis 3 34.3 16.7 4.3 4.3 8.7 1.0 0.7 0.0 2.3 4.3 7.0 15.0 .467 0.0 0.3 .000 2.7 4.7 .571

Season 9

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season 1964-651993-94
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHawks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 78 44.4 14.1 - - 24.1 5.3 - - - 2.6 5.5 12.6 .438 - - - 3.1 5.5 .573
Kevin Willis 80 35.8 19.1 4.2 7.9 12.0 1.9 1.0 0.5 2.4 3.1 7.8 15.7 .499 0.1 0.3 .375 3.4 4.7 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 12 46.8 16.5 - - 25.2 6.3 - - - 3.6 6.6 12.5 .527 - - - 3.3 6.3 .526
Kevin Willis 11 32.9 12.2 3.5 7.4 10.8 1.0 0.7 0.5 1.7 3.4 5.4 11.7 .457 0.0 0.5 .000 1.5 1.9 .762

Season 10

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season 1965-661994-95
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks, Miami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 78 43.4 12.9 - - 22.8 4.8 - - - 2.8 5.0 12.1 .415 - - - 2.9 5.2 .551
Kevin Willis 67 35.7 17.2 3.4 7.5 10.9 1.3 0.9 0.5 2.4 3.2 7.1 15.1 .466 0.0 0.2 .200 3.1 4.4 .690
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 17 47.9 19.1 - - 25.2 5.0 - - - 3.5 7.3 15.4 .475 - - - 4.5 7.2 .618
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season 1966-671995-96
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat, Golden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 81 40.7 13.3 - - 21.0 5.8 - - - 3.2 4.9 10.7 .454 - - - 3.5 5.8 .610
Kevin Willis 75 28.5 10.6 2.8 5.7 8.5 0.7 0.4 0.5 2.1 3.4 4.3 9.5 .456 0.0 0.1 .111 1.9 2.7 .708
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 9 43.3 10.6 - - 22.0 5.6 - - - 3.6 3.4 9.6 .360 - - - 3.7 5.8 .635
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season 1967-681996-97
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 78 37.9 12.5 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.1 4.7 11.0 .425 - - - 3.2 5.9 .537
Kevin Willis 75 26.2 11.2 1.9 5.5 7.5 0.9 0.6 0.4 1.6 2.9 4.7 9.7 .481 0.0 0.2 .143 1.9 2.7 .693
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 19 45.7 14.4 - - 22.8 5.2 - - - 3.8 5.2 12.7 .409 - - - 4.0 6.8 .585
Kevin Willis 16 18.3 6.4 1.4 3.3 4.7 0.7 0.6 0.3 1.4 2.9 2.4 5.9 .400 0.0 0.1 .000 1.6 2.4 .684

Season 13

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season 1968-691997-98
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 77 42.7 9.9 - - 19.3 4.9 - - - 3.0 3.6 8.4 .433 - - - 2.6 5.0 .526
Kevin Willis 81 31.2 16.1 2.9 5.5 8.4 1.0 0.7 0.5 2.1 2.9 6.6 12.9 .510 0.0 0.1 .143 3.0 3.8 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell 18 46.1 10.8 - - 20.5 5.4 - - - 3.6 4.3 10.1 .423 - - - 2.3 4.5 .506
Kevin Willis 5 33.6 11.2 3.6 7.0 10.6 1.0 1.6 0.6 2.4 4.2 4.4 11.0 .400 0.0 0.2 .000 2.4 3.2 .750

Season 14

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season -1998-99
Team -Toronto Raptors
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 %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 42 29.0 12.0 2.6 5.7 8.3 1.6 0.7 0.7 2.0 3.2 4.5 10.6 .418 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 3.7 .839
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season -1999-00
Team -Toronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Raptors 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 %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 79 21.3 7.6 2.5 3.6 6.1 0.6 0.5 0.6 1.2 3.2 3.0 7.2 .415 0.0 0.0 .333 1.7 2.1 .799
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 3 25.7 13.0 2.0 6.7 8.7 0.3 0.7 0.0 0.7 3.7 4.0 11.0 .364 0.0 0.0 - 5.0 6.7 .750

Season 16

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season -2000-01
Team -Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets
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 %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 78 23.5 9.3 2.3 4.6 6.8 0.6 0.7 0.7 1.1 2.8 3.9 8.8 .441 0.0 0.1 .167 1.4 1.9 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season -2001-02
Team -Houston Rockets
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 %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 52 16.6 6.1 2.0 3.7 5.8 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.8 1.9 2.4 5.5 .440 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 1.7 .747
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season -2002-03
Team -San Antonio Spurs
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 %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 71 11.8 4.2 1.2 2.0 3.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.8 1.7 1.7 3.6 .479 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 1.2 .614
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 18 5.0 2.6 1.1 0.7 1.7 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.9 1.2 2.2 .525 0.1 0.1 1.000 0.2 0.2 1.000

Season 19

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season -2003-04
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 48 7.8 3.4 0.8 1.3 2.0 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.7 1.3 1.5 3.1 .467 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.8 .615
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 7 3.4 0.9 0.0 0.9 0.9 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.4 1.1 .375 0.0 0.1 .000 0.0 0.1 .000

Season 20

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season -2004-05
Team -Atlanta Hawks
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 %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 29 11.9 3.0 1.0 1.6 2.6 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.5 1.8 1.2 3.1 .389 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 0.8 .739
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Note: Kevin Willis didn't play in 2005-06.

Season 21

Bill Russell Kevin Willis
Season -2006-07
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 %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 5 8.6 2.4 0.4 1.2 1.6 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.4 2.2 1.0 2.6 .385 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.4 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------