Fred Brown vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Fred Brown, 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.

Fred Brown and Bill Russell both played 13 years in the NBA. Fred Brown had the first of his seasons in 1971-72, 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
Fred Brown 13 8 1971-72 to 1983-84
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

Fred Brown Bill Russell
Season 1971-721956-57
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 %
Fred Brown 33 10.9 4.2 - - 1.1 1.8 - - - 1.3 1.8 5.5 .328 - - - 0.7 0.9 .759
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 %
Fred Brown ------- --- ----------
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

Fred Brown Bill Russell
Season 1972-731957-58
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston 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 %
Fred Brown 79 29.4 13.5 - - 4.0 5.5 - - - 2.9 6.0 13.1 .455 - - - 1.5 1.9 .818
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 %
Fred Brown ------- --- ----------
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

Fred Brown Bill Russell
Season 1973-741958-59
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-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 %
Fred Brown 82 30.5 16.5 1.4 3.5 4.9 5.0 1.7 0.2 - 3.4 7.0 15.0 .471 - - - 2.4 2.8 .863
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 %
Fred Brown ------- --- ----------
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

Fred Brown Bill Russell
Season 1974-751959-60
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Fred Brown 81 33.0 21.0 1.4 2.8 4.2 3.5 2.3 0.2 - 2.8 9.1 19.0 .480 - - - 2.8 3.4 .831
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 %
Fred Brown 8 30.0 20.6 1.5 3.0 4.5 2.9 2.1 0.1 - 2.4 8.6 17.4 .496 - - - 3.4 4.0 .844
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

Fred Brown Bill Russell
Season 1975-761960-61
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Fred Brown 76 33.1 23.1 1.5 2.7 4.2 2.7 1.9 0.2 - 2.4 9.8 20.0 .488 - - - 3.6 4.1 .869
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 %
Fred Brown 6 39.3 28.5 2.0 2.7 4.7 2.8 2.2 0.0 - 3.3 11.3 22.2 .511 - - - 5.8 7.3 .795
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

Fred Brown Bill Russell
Season 1976-771961-62
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-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 %
Fred Brown 72 29.1 17.2 0.9 2.3 3.2 2.4 1.7 0.3 - 1.9 7.4 15.5 .479 - - - 2.3 2.6 .884
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 %
Fred Brown ------- --- ----------
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

Fred Brown Bill Russell
Season 1977-781962-63
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Fred Brown 72 27.3 16.6 0.8 1.8 2.6 3.3 1.5 0.3 2.3 2.0 7.1 14.5 .488 - - - 2.4 2.7 .898
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 %
Fred Brown 22 26.1 17.3 0.7 1.4 2.1 2.4 1.0 0.1 1.4 2.1 7.0 15.5 .449 - - - 3.4 4.1 .833
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

Fred Brown Bill Russell
Season 1978-791963-64
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second 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 %
Fred Brown 77 25.5 14.0 0.5 1.7 2.2 3.4 1.5 0.3 2.1 1.8 5.8 12.4 .469 - - - 2.4 2.7 .888
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 %
Fred Brown 17 15.3 8.4 0.5 0.8 1.3 2.1 0.5 0.2 0.9 1.4 3.8 8.4 .451 - - - 0.8 1.0 .824
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

Fred Brown Bill Russell
Season 1979-801964-65
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Fred Brown 80 21.3 12.0 0.4 1.5 1.9 2.2 0.8 0.2 1.3 1.5 5.1 10.5 .479 0.5 1.1 .443 1.4 1.7 .837
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 %
Fred Brown 15 20.9 12.5 1.1 1.5 2.5 2.1 0.1 0.1 1.5 1.5 5.3 12.1 .440 0.7 2.3 .294 1.2 1.4 .857
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

Fred Brown Bill Russell
Season 1980-811965-66
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston 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 %
Fred Brown 78 25.5 15.5 0.7 1.6 2.2 3.0 1.1 0.2 1.7 1.8 6.5 13.3 .488 0.3 0.8 .359 2.2 2.7 .832
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 %
Fred Brown ------- --- ----------
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

Fred Brown Bill Russell
Season 1981-821966-67
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisCeltics 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 %
Fred Brown 82 21.8 11.2 0.5 1.2 1.7 2.9 0.8 0.0 1.2 1.4 4.8 10.5 .455 0.3 0.9 .325 1.4 1.6 .860
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 %
Fred Brown 8 19.8 11.9 0.8 1.1 1.9 2.3 0.6 0.0 1.1 0.6 5.4 11.1 .483 0.3 0.6 .400 0.9 1.3 .700
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

Fred Brown Bill Russell
Season 1982-831967-68
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Fred Brown 80 17.9 10.2 0.4 0.8 1.2 3.0 0.7 0.2 1.4 1.2 4.6 8.9 .520 0.2 0.4 .438 0.7 0.9 .806
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 %
Fred Brown 2 15.0 3.0 0.0 1.5 1.5 2.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 1.5 1.0 4.5 .222 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000
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

Fred Brown Bill Russell
Season 1983-841968-69
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Fred Brown 71 15.9 8.5 0.2 0.7 0.9 2.7 0.7 0.0 1.0 1.2 3.6 7.1 .510 0.1 0.5 .265 1.1 1.2 .895
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 %
Fred Brown 5 17.6 9.8 0.4 1.0 1.4 2.0 0.8 0.0 0.6 0.8 4.0 9.4 .426 0.2 0.6 .333 1.6 2.2 .727
Bill Russell 18 46.1 10.8 - - 20.5 5.4 - - - 3.6 4.3 10.1 .423 - - - 2.3 4.5 .506