Hal Greer vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Hal Greer, 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.

Hal Greer played 15 years in the NBA, 2 more than Bill Russell, who played 13. Hal Greer had the first of his seasons in 1958-59, 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
Hal Greer 15 13 1958-59 to 1972-73
Bill Russell 13 13 1956-57 to 1968-69

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Hal Greer Bill Russell
Season 1958-591956-57
Team Syracuse NationalsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 68 23.9 11.1 - - 2.9 1.5 - - - 2.8 4.5 10.0 .454 - - - 2.0 2.6 .778
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 %
Hal Greer 9 30.8 11.6 - - 5.2 2.2 - - - 3.9 4.3 10.3 .419 - - - 2.9 3.6 .813
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

Hal Greer Bill Russell
Season 1959-601957-58
Team Syracuse NationalsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hal Greer 70 28.3 13.2 - - 4.3 2.7 - - - 3.0 5.5 11.6 .476 - - - 2.1 2.7 .783
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 %
Hal Greer 3 28.0 15.7 - - 4.7 3.3 - - - 1.7 7.3 14.3 .512 - - - 1.0 1.3 .750
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

Hal Greer Bill Russell
Season 1960-611958-59
Team Syracuse NationalsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 79 35.0 19.6 - - 5.8 3.8 - - - 3.1 7.9 17.5 .451 - - - 3.9 5.0 .774
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 %
Hal Greer 8 29.0 14.4 - - 4.1 2.4 - - - 4.0 5.1 13.3 .387 - - - 4.1 5.0 .825
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

Hal Greer Bill Russell
Season 1961-621959-60
Team Syracuse NationalsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 71 38.1 22.8 - - 7.4 4.4 - - - 3.5 9.1 20.3 .447 - - - 4.7 5.7 .819
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 %
Hal Greer 1 5.0 0.0 - - 0 0.0 - - - 1.0 0.0 0.0 - - - - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Hal Greer Bill Russell
Season 1962-631960-61
Team Syracuse NationalsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 80 32.9 19.5 - - 5.7 3.4 - - - 3.6 7.5 16.2 .464 - - - 4.5 5.4 .834
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 %
Hal Greer 5 42.8 23.4 - - 5.4 4.2 - - - 4.2 8.8 17.4 .506 - - - 5.8 7.0 .829
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

Hal Greer Bill Russell
Season 1963-641961-62
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 80 39.5 23.3 - - 6.1 4.7 - - - 3.6 8.9 20.1 .444 - - - 5.4 6.6 .829
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 %
Hal Greer 5 42.2 21.4 - - 5.6 6.0 - - - 3.8 7.4 19.0 .389 - - - 6.6 7.8 .846
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

Hal Greer Bill Russell
Season 1964-651962-63
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 70 37.1 20.2 - - 5.1 4.5 - - - 3.6 7.7 17.8 .433 - - - 4.8 5.9 .811
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 %
Hal Greer 11 45.9 24.6 - - 7.4 5.0 - - - 4.1 9.2 20.2 .455 - - - 6.3 7.9 .793
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

Hal Greer Bill Russell
Season 1965-661963-64
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 80 41.6 22.7 - - 5.9 4.8 - - - 3.9 8.8 19.8 .445 - - - 5.2 6.4 .804
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 %
Hal Greer 5 45.2 16.4 - - 7.2 4.2 - - - 4.2 6.4 18.2 .352 - - - 3.6 4.6 .783
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

Hal Greer Bill Russell
Season 1966-671964-65
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Hal Greer 80 38.6 22.1 - - 5.3 3.8 - - - 3.8 8.7 19.1 .459 - - - 4.6 5.8 .788
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 %
Hal Greer 15 45.9 27.7 - - 5.9 5.3 - - - 3.7 10.7 25.0 .429 - - - 6.3 7.9 .797
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

Hal Greer Bill Russell
Season 1967-681965-66
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 82 39.8 24.1 - - 5.4 4.5 - - - 3.5 9.5 19.8 .478 - - - 5.1 6.7 .769
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 %
Hal Greer 13 42.5 25.8 - - 6.1 4.2 - - - 3.8 9.2 21.4 .432 - - - 7.3 8.5 .856
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

Hal Greer Bill Russell
Season 1968-691966-67
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 82 40.4 23.1 - - 5.3 5.0 - - - 3.6 8.9 19.5 .459 - - - 5.3 6.6 .796
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 %
Hal Greer 5 40.8 16.0 - - 6.0 4.6 - - - 4.6 5.2 16.2 .321 - - - 5.6 7.2 .778
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

Hal Greer Bill Russell
Season 1969-701967-68
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div 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 %
Hal Greer 80 37.8 22.0 - - 4.7 5.1 - - - 3.8 8.8 19.4 .455 - - - 4.4 5.4 .815
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 %
Hal Greer 5 35.6 15.4 - - 3.4 5.4 - - - 3.2 6.6 14.8 .446 - - - 2.2 2.6 .846
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

Hal Greer Bill Russell
Season 1970-711968-69
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East 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 %
Hal Greer 81 37.8 18.6 - - 4.5 4.6 - - - 3.6 7.3 16.9 .431 - - - 4.0 5.0 .805
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 %
Hal Greer 7 37.9 17.9 - - 3.6 4.7 - - - 5.0 7.0 16.0 .438 - - - 3.9 5.1 .750
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

Hal Greer Bill Russell
Season 1971-72-
Team Philadelphia 76ers-
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 %
Hal Greer 81 29.8 11.8 - - 3.3 3.9 - - - 3.3 4.8 10.7 .449 - - - 2.2 2.9 .774
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hal Greer ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Hal Greer Bill Russell
Season 1972-73-
Team Philadelphia 76ers-
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 %
Hal Greer 38 22.3 5.6 - - 2.8 2.9 - - - 2.0 2.4 6.1 .392 - - - 0.8 1.0 .821
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Hal Greer ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------