Scottie Pippen vs. Bill Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Russell and Scottie Pippen, 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.

Scottie Pippen played 17 years in the NBA, 4 more than Bill Russell, who played 13. Scottie Pippen had the first of his seasons in 1987-88, 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
Scottie Pippen 17 16 1987-88 to 2003-04
Bill Russell 13 13 1956-57 to 1968-69

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season
Scottie Pippen Bill Russell
Season 1987-881956-57
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Scottie Pippen 79 20.9 7.9 1.5 2.3 3.8 2.1 1.2 0.7 1.7 2.7 3.3 7.1 .463 0.1 0.3 .174 1.3 2.2 .576
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 %
Scottie Pippen 10 29.4 10.0 2.4 2.8 5.2 2.4 0.8 0.8 2.6 3.3 4.6 9.9 .465 0.3 0.6 .500 0.5 0.7 .714
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
Scottie Pippen Bill Russell
Season 1988-891957-58
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf FinalsCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Scottie Pippen 73 33.1 14.4 1.9 4.2 6.1 3.5 1.9 0.8 2.7 3.6 5.7 11.9 .476 0.3 1.1 .273 2.8 4.1 .668
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 %
Scottie Pippen 17 36.4 13.1 2.0 5.6 7.6 3.9 1.4 0.9 2.4 3.7 4.9 10.7 .462 1.3 3.3 .393 1.9 2.9 .640
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
Scottie Pippen Bill Russell
Season 1989-901958-59
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls Lost East 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 %
Scottie Pippen 82 38.4 16.5 1.8 4.8 6.7 5.4 2.6 1.2 3.4 3.6 6.9 14.0 .489 0.3 1.4 .250 2.4 3.6 .675
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 %
Scottie Pippen 15 40.8 19.3 2.2 5.0 7.2 5.5 2.1 1.3 3.3 4.1 6.9 14.0 .495 0.7 2.1 .323 4.7 6.7 .710
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
Scottie Pippen Bill Russell
Season 1990-911959-60
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-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 %
Scottie Pippen 82 36.8 17.8 2.0 5.3 7.3 6.2 2.4 1.1 2.8 3.3 7.3 14.1 .520 0.3 0.8 .309 2.9 4.1 .706
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 %
Scottie Pippen 17 41.4 21.6 2.2 6.7 8.9 5.8 2.5 1.1 3.2 3.4 8.4 16.6 .504 0.2 1.0 .235 4.7 5.9 .792
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
Scottie Pippen Bill Russell
Season 1991-921960-61
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
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 %
Scottie Pippen 82 38.6 21.0 2.3 5.4 7.7 7.0 1.9 1.1 3.1 3.0 8.4 16.6 .506 0.2 1.0 .200 4.0 5.3 .760
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 %
Scottie Pippen 22 40.9 19.5 2.7 6.1 8.8 6.7 1.9 1.1 3.2 3.3 6.9 14.8 .468 0.3 1.1 .250 5.4 7.0 .761
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
Scottie Pippen Bill Russell
Season 1992-931961-62
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
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 %
Scottie Pippen 81 38.6 18.6 2.5 5.2 7.7 6.3 2.1 0.9 3.0 2.7 7.8 16.4 .473 0.3 1.1 .237 2.9 4.3 .663
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 %
Scottie Pippen 19 41.5 20.1 1.9 5.0 6.9 5.6 2.2 0.7 3.7 3.3 8.0 17.2 .465 0.2 0.9 .176 3.9 6.1 .638
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
Scottie Pippen Bill Russell
Season 1993-941962-63
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVPAchievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Scottie Pippen 72 38.3 22.0 2.4 6.3 8.7 5.6 2.9 0.8 3.2 3.2 8.7 17.8 .491 0.9 2.7 .320 3.8 5.7 .660
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 %
Scottie Pippen 10 38.4 22.8 1.7 6.6 8.3 4.6 2.4 0.7 3.7 3.3 8.5 19.6 .434 1.2 4.5 .267 4.6 5.2 .885
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
Scottie Pippen Bill Russell
Season 1994-951963-64
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Scottie Pippen 79 38.2 21.4 2.2 5.9 8.1 5.2 2.9 1.1 3.4 3.0 8.0 16.7 .480 1.4 4.0 .345 4.0 5.6 .716
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 %
Scottie Pippen 10 39.6 17.8 2.4 6.2 8.6 5.8 1.4 1.0 2.7 4.0 5.8 13.1 .443 1.4 3.8 .368 4.8 7.1 .676
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
Scottie Pippen Bill Russell
Season 1995-961964-65
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First 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 %
Scottie Pippen 77 36.7 19.4 2.0 4.5 6.4 5.9 1.7 0.7 2.7 2.6 7.3 15.8 .463 1.9 5.2 .374 2.9 4.2 .679
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 %
Scottie Pippen 18 41.2 16.9 3.4 5.1 8.5 5.9 2.6 0.9 2.3 2.8 6.2 15.9 .390 1.7 5.8 .286 2.8 4.4 .638
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
Scottie Pippen Bill Russell
Season 1996-971965-66
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
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 %
Scottie Pippen 82 37.7 20.2 2.0 4.5 6.5 5.7 1.9 0.5 2.6 2.6 7.9 16.7 .474 1.9 5.2 .368 2.5 3.5 .701
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 %
Scottie Pippen 19 39.6 19.2 1.9 4.9 6.8 3.8 1.5 0.9 2.9 2.6 6.8 16.3 .417 2.1 5.9 .345 3.6 4.5 .791
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
Scottie Pippen Bill Russell
Season 1997-981966-67
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 %
Scottie Pippen 44 37.5 19.1 1.2 4.0 5.2 5.8 1.8 1.0 2.5 2.6 7.2 16.0 .447 1.4 4.4 .318 3.4 4.4 .777
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 %
Scottie Pippen 21 39.9 16.8 2.3 4.8 7.1 5.2 2.1 1.0 2.4 3.1 5.8 14.0 .415 0.9 3.8 .228 4.3 6.4 .679
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
Scottie Pippen Bill Russell
Season 1998-991967-68
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Scottie Pippen 50 40.2 14.5 1.3 5.2 6.5 5.9 2.0 0.7 3.2 2.4 5.2 12.1 .432 1.4 4.2 .340 2.6 3.7 .721
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 %
Scottie Pippen 4 43.0 18.3 5.0 6.8 11.8 5.5 1.8 0.8 3.3 3.3 5.8 17.5 .329 1.5 5.5 .273 5.3 6.5 .808
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
Scottie Pippen Bill Russell
Season 1999-001968-69
Team Portland Trail BlazersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Scottie Pippen 82 33.5 12.5 1.4 4.9 6.3 5.0 1.4 0.5 2.5 2.5 4.7 10.5 .451 1.0 3.2 .327 2.0 2.7 .717
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 %
Scottie Pippen 16 38.4 14.9 1.4 5.8 7.1 4.3 2.0 0.4 2.3 3.1 5.2 12.4 .419 1.3 4.4 .300 3.3 4.4 .743
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
Scottie Pippen Bill Russell
Season 2000-01-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Scottie Pippen 64 33.3 11.3 1.1 4.1 5.2 4.6 1.5 0.5 2.4 2.5 4.2 9.3 .451 1.0 2.9 .344 1.9 2.5 .739
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Scottie Pippen 3 39.0 13.7 0.7 5.0 5.7 2.3 2.7 0.7 4.0 4.7 5.3 12.7 .421 1.0 5.7 .176 2.0 3.0 .667
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 15
Scottie Pippen Bill Russell
Season 2001-02-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Scottie Pippen 62 32.2 10.6 1.2 3.9 5.2 5.9 1.6 0.6 2.8 2.6 4.0 9.7 .411 0.9 2.9 .305 1.8 2.4 .774
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Scottie Pippen 3 33.0 16.3 2.7 6.7 9.3 5.7 1.3 0.7 3.3 4.7 6.0 13.0 .462 2.0 3.7 .545 2.3 2.7 .875
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 16
Scottie Pippen Bill Russell
Season 2002-03-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Scottie Pippen 64 29.9 10.8 0.9 3.5 4.3 4.5 1.6 0.4 2.6 2.3 4.1 9.3 .444 0.6 2.1 .286 1.9 2.3 .818
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Scottie Pippen 4 18.5 5.8 0.5 2.3 2.8 3.3 0.0 0.0 1.8 2.0 2.3 5.5 .409 0.8 2.3 .333 0.5 0.5 1.000
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 17
Scottie Pippen Bill Russell
Season 2003-04-
Team Chicago Bulls-
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 %
Scottie Pippen 23 17.9 5.9 0.9 2.1 3.0 2.2 0.9 0.4 1.3 1.7 2.3 6.1 .379 0.6 2.1 .271 0.7 1.2 .630
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Scottie Pippen ------- --- ----------
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
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