Bill Russell is one of the most dominant and influential players in NBA history, and his legacy as a Boston Celtic is unmatched. Playing for the Celtics from 1956 to 1969, Russell led the team to 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons—a record that remains untouched. Known for his elite defense, shot-blocking, and rebounding, Russell revolutionized the center position and became the cornerstone of the Celtics dynasty during the late 1950s and 1960s.
Selected second overall in the 1956 NBA Draft, Russell brought a new level of intensity and intelligence to the game. He was a five-time league MVP and a 12-time All-Star, despite averaging a modest 15.1 points per game. His true impact came on the defensive end, where his ability to alter shots and anchor the Celtics’ defense made him the most valuable player on the court.
Beyond his stats, Russell was a fierce competitor and natural leader, often elevating his play in high-stakes moments. In 1966, he became the first Black head coach in major U.S. sports history while still playing for the Celtics. His influence extended beyond basketball, making him both a sports icon and a civil rights pioneer. His number 6 jersey is retired league-wide.
Bill Russell Regular Season Stats
| Season | GP | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | BLK | STL | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TOV | OREB | DREB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1956-57 | 48 | 35:26 | 14.7 | 19.1 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.8 | 10.3 | 55.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.2 | 6.5 | 49.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1957-58 | 69 | 38:15 | 16.6 | 22.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.6 | 11.2 | 58.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.4 | 6.4 | 52.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1958-59 | 70 | 43:44 | 16.7 | 22.5 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.5 | 10.3 | 63.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.7 | 6.1 | 59.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1959-60 | 74 | 42:42 | 18.2 | 23.8 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.5 | 12.7 | 59.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.2 | 5.3 | 61.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1960-61 | 78 | 45:08 | 16.9 | 23.9 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.8 | 10.9 | 62.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.3 | 6.0 | 54.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1961-62 | 76 | 45:29 | 18.9 | 23.6 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.6 | 12.3 | 61.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.8 | 6.3 | 59.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1962-63 | 78 | 45:51 | 16.8 | 23.7 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.6 | 11.9 | 55.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.7 | 6.7 | 55.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1963-64 | 78 | 44:21 | 15.0 | 24.4 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.0 | 11.2 | 53.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 5.5 | 55.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1964-65 | 78 | 44:39 | 14.1 | 24.1 | 4.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.5 | 10.4 | 52.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.1 | 5.4 | 57.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1965-66 | 78 | 42:56 | 12.9 | 22.6 | 4.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.0 | 10.3 | 48.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.9 | 5.1 | 56.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1966-67 | 81 | 41:01 | 13.3 | 21.0 | 5.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.9 | 9.5 | 51.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 5.8 | 60.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1967-68 | 78 | 38:19 | 12.5 | 18.6 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.7 | 9.8 | 47.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.2 | 5.9 | 53.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1968-69 | 77 | 43:00 | 9.9 | 19.2 | 4.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.6 | 7.5 | 48.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.6 | 5.0 | 53.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 963 | 42:36 | 15.1 | 22.3 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.9 | 10.6 | 55.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.3 | 5.8 | 56.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 963 | 42:36 | 15.1 | 22.3 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.9 | 10.6 | 55.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.3 | 5.8 | 56.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Bill Russell Playoff Stats
| Season | GP | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | BLK | STL | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TOV | OREB | DREB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956-57 | 10 | 40:54 | 13.9 | 24.4 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.4 | 14.8 | 36.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.1 | 6.1 | 50.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1957-58 | 9 | 39:00 | 15.1 | 24.6 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.3 | 14.8 | 36.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.4 | 7.3 | 60.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1958-59 | 11 | 45:05 | 15.5 | 27.7 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.9 | 14.5 | 40.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.7 | 6.0 | 62.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1959-60 | 13 | 44:00 | 18.5 | 25.8 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.2 | 15.8 | 45.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.1 | 5.8 | 70.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1960-61 | 10 | 46:12 | 19.1 | 29.9 | 4.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.3 | 17.1 | 42.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.5 | 8.9 | 50.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1961-62 | 14 | 48:00 | 22.4 | 26.4 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8.3 | 18.1 | 45.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.9 | 8.1 | 72.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1962-63 | 13 | 47:27 | 20.3 | 25.1 | 5.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.4 | 16.3 | 45.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.5 | 8.3 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1963-64 | 10 | 45:06 | 13.1 | 27.2 | 4.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.7 | 13.2 | 35.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.7 | 6.5 | 56.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1964-65 | 12 | 46:45 | 16.5 | 25.2 | 6.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.6 | 12.5 | 52.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.3 | 6.3 | 52.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1965-66 | 17 | 47:52 | 19.1 | 25.2 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.3 | 15.4 | 47.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.5 | 7.2 | 61.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1966-67 | 9 | 43:20 | 10.6 | 22.0 | 5.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.4 | 9.6 | 36.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.7 | 5.8 | 63.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1967-68 | 19 | 45:44 | 14.4 | 22.8 | 5.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.2 | 12.7 | 40.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 6.8 | 58.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1968-69 | 18 | 46:03 | 10.8 | 20.5 | 5.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.3 | 10.1 | 42.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 4.4 | 51.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 165 | 45:24 | 16.2 | 24.9 | 4.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.1 | 14.2 | 43.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 6.7 | 60.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| 165 | 45:24 | 16.2 | 24.9 | 4.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.1 | 14.2 | 43.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 6.7 | 60.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Bill Russell Best Ten Games (Points)
| Date | Opponent | MIN | PTS | AST | REB | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TOV | OREB | DREB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 05, 1961 | Philadelphia Warriors (W) | 48:00 | 37 | 4 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 34 | 0.50 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 3 | 3 | 1.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 17, 1967 | Los Angeles Lakers (W) | 39:00 | 37 | 7 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 23 | 0.74 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 3 | 9 | 0.33 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 14, 1961 | St. Louis Hawks (W) | 48:00 | 35 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 18 | 0.72 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 9 | 16 | 0.56 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 11, 1968 | Cincinnati Royals (L) | 48:00 | 34 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 25 | 0.48 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 10 | 15 | 0.67 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 31, 1958 | Philadelphia Warriors (L) | 42:00 | 32 | 1 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 | 0.67 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 4 | 7 | 0.57 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 17, 1959 | Cincinnati Royals (W) | 45:00 | 32 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 15 | 0.80 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 8 | 13 | 0.62 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 25, 1958 | New York Knicks (W) | 48:00 | 32 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 14 | 19 | 0.74 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 24, 1966 | Los Angeles Lakers (L) | 48:00 | 32 | 4 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 23 | 0.57 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 6 | 7 | 0.86 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 09, 1958 | Detroit Pistons (L) | 48:00 | 32 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 12 | 15 | 0.80 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 04, 1960 | Syracuse Nationals (W) | 48:00 | 32 | 4 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 30 | 0.47 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 4 | 7 | 0.57 | 0 | 0 | 0 |