Bill Russell was an American professional basketball center and one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history.
Standing 6-foot-10, Russell spent his entire 13-year NBA career with the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1969.
He finished his NBA career with 14,522 points, 21,620 rebounds and 4,100 assists in 963 regular-season games.
Russell averaged 22.5 rebounds per game, making him one of the most dominant rebounders the league has ever produced.
He won 11 NBA championships, including eight consecutive titles from 1959 through 1966.
Russell also earned five NBA MVP awards, 12 All-Star selections and 11 All-NBA selections during his historic career.
Bill Russell Career Information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William Felton Russell |
| Date of Birth | February 12, 1934 |
| Nationality | American |
| Position | Center |
| Height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Last Team | Boston Celtics |
| Draft Year | 1956 |
| Draft Pick | 2nd Overall |
| Professional Career | 1956–1969 |
| Jersey Number | 6 |
Bill Russell NBA Career Stats
| Statistic | Career Total |
| Games | 963 |
| Minutes | 40,726 |
| Points | 14,522 |
| Rebounds | 21,620 |
| Assists | 4,100 |
| Personal Fouls | 2,592 |
Steals, blocks and several other advanced statistics were not officially tracked throughout Russell’s playing career, so they are omitted from the career totals rather than estimated.
Bill Russell Per Game Career Stats
| Statistic | Per Game |
| Points | 15.1 |
| Rebounds | 22.5 |
| Assists | 4.3 |
| Minutes | 42.3 |
Russell’s 22.5 rebounds per game remain one of the highest career rebounding averages in NBA history. He also averaged more than 20 rebounds per game in 10 different seasons.
Bill Russell Shooting Stats
| Statistic | Career Record |
| Field Goals Made | 5,687 |
| Field Goals Attempted | 12,930 |
| Field Goal Percentage | 44.0% |
| Free Throws Made | 3,148 |
| Free Throws Attempted | 5,614 |
| Free Throw Percentage | 56.1% |
| Effective FG Percentage | 44.0% |
The three-point line did not exist during Russell’s NBA career, so three-point statistics are not applicable.
Bill Russell Season-by-Season Stats
| Season | Team | Games | PPG | RPG | APG |
| 1956-57 | Boston Celtics | 48 | 14.7 | 19.6 | 1.8 |
| 1957-58 | Boston Celtics | 69 | 16.6 | 22.7 | 2.9 |
| 1958-59 | Boston Celtics | 70 | 16.7 | 23.0 | 3.2 |
| 1959-60 | Boston Celtics | 74 | 18.2 | 24.0 | 3.7 |
| 1960-61 | Boston Celtics | 78 | 16.9 | 23.9 | 3.4 |
| 1961-62 | Boston Celtics | 76 | 18.9 | 23.6 | 4.5 |
| 1962-63 | Boston Celtics | 78 | 16.8 | 23.6 | 4.5 |
| 1963-64 | Boston Celtics | 78 | 15.0 | 24.7 | 4.7 |
| 1964-65 | Boston Celtics | 78 | 14.1 | 24.1 | 5.3 |
| 1965-66 | Boston Celtics | 78 | 12.9 | 22.8 | 4.8 |
| 1966-67 | Boston Celtics | 81 | 13.3 | 21.0 | 5.8 |
| 1967-68 | Boston Celtics | 78 | 12.5 | 18.6 | 4.6 |
| 1968-69 | Boston Celtics | 77 | 9.9 | 19.3 | 4.9 |
Bill Russell Playoff Stats
| Statistic | Playoff Total |
| Games | 165 |
| Points | 2,673 |
| Rebounds | 4,104 |
| Assists | 770 |
Steals and blocks are omitted because they were not officially recorded during Russell’s playoff career.
Bill Russell Playoff Per Game Stats
| Statistic | Per Game |
| Points | 16.2 |
| Rebounds | 24.9 |
| Assists | 4.7 |
Russell’s 24.9 rebounds per game in the playoffs rank among the greatest postseason rebounding figures in NBA history. He appeared in 165 playoff games and won 11 NBA championships during his career.
Bill Russell International Stats
| Competition | Games | PPG | RPG | APG |
| 1956 Olympics | 8 | 14.1 | Not officially available | Not officially available |
Russell represented the United States at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne and won a gold medal. He scored 113 points across eight Olympic games, averaging 14.1 points per game.
Bill Russell Career Highs
| Statistic | Career High |
| Points | 37 |
| Rebounds | 51 |
| Assists | 13 |
Russell’s 51-rebound performance against the Syracuse Nationals in 1960 remains one of the most famous rebounding games in NBA history. His career scoring high was 37 points, while his career-high assist total was 13.
Bill Russell Awards & Achievements
| Achievement | Total |
| NBA Championships | 11 |
| MVP Awards | 5 |
| Finals MVP Awards | Award introduced after career |
| All-Star Selections | 12 |
| All-NBA Selections | 11 |
| Defensive Team Selections | 1 |
| Scoring Titles | 0 |
| Rookie of the Year | 0 |
| Olympic Medals | 1 Gold |
| Rebounding Titles | 4 |
| NBA All-Star Game MVP | 1 |
| Presidential Medal of Freedom | 1 |
| Hall of Fame Inductions | 1 |
Russell won 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons, making him the most decorated champion in NBA history as a player. He won five regular-season MVP awards and was selected to 12 All-Star Games.
The NBA Finals MVP trophy was renamed the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award in 2009 in recognition of his extraordinary postseason legacy.
Bill Russell Team Career
| Team | Seasons | Games | Points |
| Boston Celtics | 1956-1969 | 963 | 14,522 |
| Total | 13 Seasons | 963 | 14,522 |
Russell spent his entire NBA playing career with the Boston Celtics. He became the centerpiece of the franchise’s dominant 1960s dynasty and helped Boston win 11 championships.
Bill Russell Position-Specific Statistics
As a center, Russell’s most important statistical contributions came through rebounding, interior defense and efficient team play. His 22.5 career rebounds per game remain the defining number of his statistical profile.
| Category | Career Figure |
| Points Per Game | 15.1 |
| Rebounds Per Game | 22.5 |
| Assists Per Game | 4.3 |
| Field Goal Percentage | 44.0% |
| Free Throw Percentage | 56.1% |
| Career Rebounds | 21,620 |
| Playoff Rebounds | 4,104 |
| Rebounding Titles | 4 |
The NBA did not officially record blocked shots until after Russell retired. As a result, no official career block total is included, despite his reputation as one of the greatest defensive and shot-blocking centers in basketball history.
Bill Russell Career Records & Milestones
| Record | Achievement |
| NBA Championships | 11 |
| Consecutive Championships | 8 |
| Career Rebounds | 21,620 |
| Career Rebounds Per Game | 22.5 |
| Playoff Rebounds | 4,104 |
| Playoff Rebounds Per Game | 24.9 |
| Highest Scoring Game | 37 points |
| Highest Rebounding Game | 51 rebounds |
| Triple-Doubles | 23 |
| NBA Rebounding Titles | 4 |
| NBA Finals Series Record | 11-1 |
| Regular-Season Games | 963 |
| Playoff Games | 165 |
Russell won eight consecutive NBA championships from 1959 through 1966, a record that remains one of the most remarkable achievements in professional basketball. His 21,620 regular-season rebounds rank among the highest totals in NBA history, while his 4,104 playoff rebounds are also an all-time postseason benchmark.
Bill Russell Career Summary
Bill Russell finished his NBA career with 14,522 points, 21,620 rebounds and 4,100 assists in 963 regular-season games, averaging 15.1 points, 22.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. He shot 44.0% from the field and 56.1% from the free-throw line during an era without a three-point line. In 165 playoff games, Russell produced 2,673 points, 4,104 rebounds and 770 assists while averaging 16.2 points and an extraordinary 24.9 rebounds per game. His career included 11 NBA championships, five MVP awards, 12 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA selections and four rebounding titles, making Bill Russell’s career statistics and winning record among the most impressive in basketball history.
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