Bill Russell vs. Lou Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Lou Williams 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, 4 less than Lou Williams, who played 17. Bill Russell had the first of his seasons in 1956-57, while Lou Williams had his rookie season in 2005-06. 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
Lou Williams 17 10 2005-06 to 2021-22

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Bill Russell Lou Williams
Season 1956-572005-06
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
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
Lou Williams 30 4.8 1.9 0.1 0.5 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.7 .442 0.1 0.3 .222 0.3 0.4 .615
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
Lou Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Bill Russell Lou Williams
Season 1957-582006-07
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA 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 69 38.3 16.6 - - 22.7 2.9 - - - 2.6 6.6 15.0 .442 - - - 3.3 6.4 .519
Lou Williams 61 11.3 4.3 0.3 0.9 1.1 1.8 0.4 0.0 0.8 0.7 1.5 3.5 .441 0.2 0.6 .324 1.0 1.5 .696
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
Lou Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Bill Russell Lou Williams
Season 1958-592007-08
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers 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 70 42.6 16.7 - - 23.0 3.2 - - - 2.3 6.5 14.2 .457 - - - 3.7 6.1 .598
Lou Williams 80 23.3 11.5 0.5 1.6 2.1 3.2 1.0 0.2 1.6 1.6 4.0 9.4 .424 0.7 1.9 .359 2.8 3.6 .783
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
Lou Williams 6 22.5 12.0 0.5 1.5 2.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 1.2 1.8 4.0 10.0 .400 0.3 1.5 .222 3.7 5.0 .733

Season 4

Bill Russell Lou Williams
Season 1959-602008-09
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers 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 74 42.5 18.2 - - 24.0 3.7 - - - 2.8 7.5 16.1 .467 - - - 3.2 5.3 .612
Lou Williams 81 23.7 12.8 0.4 1.6 2.0 3.0 1.0 0.2 1.9 1.6 4.1 10.4 .398 0.8 2.7 .286 3.8 4.8 .790
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
Lou Williams 6 24.8 9.7 0.3 2.2 2.5 2.8 0.5 0.2 2.0 1.7 3.5 8.5 .412 1.0 2.7 .375 1.7 2.5 .667

Season 5

Bill Russell Lou Williams
Season 1960-612009-10
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
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
Lou Williams 64 29.9 14.0 0.4 2.5 2.9 4.2 1.3 0.2 1.7 1.7 5.0 10.6 .470 1.1 3.2 .340 3.0 3.6 .824
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
Lou Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Bill Russell Lou Williams
Season 1961-622010-11
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers 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
Lou Williams 75 23.3 13.7 0.4 1.6 2.0 3.4 0.6 0.2 1.4 1.7 4.3 10.6 .406 1.2 3.4 .348 3.9 4.7 .823
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
Lou Williams 5 26.0 10.8 0.0 1.6 1.6 3.0 1.0 0.0 0.8 1.2 3.4 10.4 .327 1.2 4.0 .300 2.8 3.8 .737

Season 7

Bill Russell Lou Williams
Season 1962-632011-12
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers 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 44.9 16.8 - - 23.6 4.5 - - - 2.4 6.6 15.2 .432 - - - 3.7 6.6 .555
Lou Williams 64 26.3 14.9 0.5 2.0 2.4 3.5 0.8 0.3 1.1 1.4 5.0 12.2 .407 1.3 3.6 .362 3.7 4.6 .812
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
Lou Williams 13 27.5 11.5 0.2 1.8 2.1 3.0 1.0 0.0 1.2 1.3 3.8 10.9 .352 0.6 3.7 .167 3.2 4.0 .788

Season 8

Bill Russell Lou Williams
Season 1963-642012-13
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
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 44.6 15.0 - - 24.7 4.7 - - - 2.4 6.0 13.8 .433 - - - 3.0 5.5 .550
Lou Williams 39 28.7 14.1 0.2 1.8 2.1 3.6 1.1 0.3 1.9 1.4 4.8 11.4 .422 1.8 5.0 .367 2.7 3.1 .868
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
Lou Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Bill Russell Lou Williams
Season 1964-652013-14
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 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 44.4 14.1 - - 24.1 5.3 - - - 2.6 5.5 12.6 .438 - - - 3.1 5.5 .573
Lou Williams 60 24.1 10.4 0.2 1.9 2.1 3.5 0.8 0.1 1.5 1.1 3.3 8.2 .400 1.3 3.9 .342 2.5 3.0 .849
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
Lou Williams 7 19.0 8.3 0.0 2.3 2.3 1.1 1.0 0.1 1.9 1.4 2.7 7.1 .380 0.7 2.3 .313 2.1 2.3 .938

Season 10

Bill Russell Lou Williams
Season 1965-662014-15
Team Boston CelticsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRaptors 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 43.4 12.9 - - 22.8 4.8 - - - 2.8 5.0 12.1 .415 - - - 2.9 5.2 .551
Lou Williams 80 25.2 15.5 0.3 1.6 1.9 2.1 1.1 0.1 1.3 1.3 4.7 11.6 .404 1.9 5.6 .340 4.3 4.9 .861
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
Lou Williams 4 25.5 12.8 0.5 1.3 1.8 1.3 1.5 0.0 0.8 2.3 4.0 12.8 .314 1.0 5.3 .190 3.8 4.5 .833

Season 11

Bill Russell Lou Williams
Season 1966-672015-16
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
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
Lou Williams 67 28.5 15.3 0.5 2.1 2.5 2.5 0.9 0.3 1.6 1.6 4.2 10.3 .408 1.6 4.8 .344 5.3 6.3 .830
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
Lou Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Bill Russell Lou Williams
Season 1967-682016-17
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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 78 37.9 12.5 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.1 4.7 11.0 .425 - - - 3.2 5.9 .537
Lou Williams 81 24.6 17.5 0.3 2.2 2.5 3.0 1.0 0.2 2.0 1.1 5.3 12.3 .429 2.0 5.5 .365 5.0 5.6 .880
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
Lou Williams 11 24.7 12.5 0.6 2.1 2.7 1.3 0.6 0.1 1.3 1.5 4.5 10.7 .424 1.1 3.5 .308 2.4 2.6 .897

Season 13

Bill Russell Lou Williams
Season 1968-692017-18
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
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 77 42.7 9.9 - - 19.3 4.9 - - - 3.0 3.6 8.4 .433 - - - 2.6 5.0 .526
Lou Williams 79 32.8 22.6 0.5 2.0 2.5 5.3 1.1 0.2 3.0 1.3 7.4 16.9 .435 2.4 6.6 .359 5.5 6.2 .880
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
Lou Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Bill Russell Lou Williams
Season -2018-19
Team -Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs -Clippers 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 ------- --- ----------
Lou Williams 75 26.6 20.0 0.5 2.4 3.0 5.4 0.8 0.1 2.4 1.1 6.5 15.2 .425 1.4 3.9 .361 5.7 6.5 .876
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Lou Williams 6 29.3 21.7 1.0 1.8 2.8 7.7 0.8 0.2 3.0 2.3 7.5 17.3 .433 1.0 3.0 .333 5.7 6.8 .829

Season 15

Bill Russell Lou Williams
Season -2019-20
Team -Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Clippers 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 ------- --- ----------
Lou Williams 65 28.7 18.2 0.5 2.6 3.1 5.6 0.7 0.2 2.8 1.2 6.0 14.4 .418 1.7 4.8 .352 4.5 5.2 .861
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Lou Williams 13 26.2 12.8 0.5 2.6 3.2 4.2 0.8 0.2 1.6 1.4 4.8 11.2 .425 0.9 3.9 .235 2.3 2.8 .811

Season 16

Bill Russell Lou Williams
Season -2020-21
Team -Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Hawks Lost East 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 ------- --- ----------
Lou Williams 66 21.6 11.3 0.3 1.8 2.1 3.4 0.7 0.1 1.6 0.9 4.0 9.8 .410 1.0 2.6 .399 2.3 2.6 .867
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Lou Williams 18 15.4 7.7 0.1 1.3 1.4 2.2 0.7 0.1 1.2 0.9 2.8 6.1 .455 0.7 1.7 .433 1.4 1.5 .963

Season 17

Bill Russell Lou Williams
Season -2021-22
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 ------- --- ----------
Lou Williams 56 14.3 6.3 0.3 1.3 1.6 1.9 0.5 0.1 0.8 0.9 2.2 5.7 .391 0.7 1.8 .363 1.2 1.4 .859
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Russell ------- --- ----------
Lou Williams ------- --- ----------