Bill Russell vs Jerry West
1of 7 lines
6of 7 lines
Bill Russell and Jerry West compared on their NBA careers: Bill Russell played 13 seasons, 1956-57 to 1968-69, Jerry West 14 seasons, 1960-61 to 1973-74. Bill Russell averaged 15.1 points a game to Jerry West's 27. They have faced each other 106 times: Bill Russell's team won 66, Jerry West's 40. In the playoffs Bill Russell leads 24-14. Bill Russell won 11 titles, Jerry West won 1 title.
Who has the better career numbers?
Jerry West leads in 6 of the 7 lines, Bill Russell in 1. Bold marks the better figure; playing time — games, minutes, at-bats, innings — is not scored.
Bill Russell vs Jerry West head to head
They have faced each other 106 times: Bill Russell's team won 66, Jerry West's 40. In the playoffs Bill Russell leads 24-14.
Every game against each other
| May 5, 1969 |  BOS at LAL (playoffs) | W 108-106 | 6 PTS, 21 REB, 6 AST, 48 MIN | 42 PTS, 13 REB, 12 AST, 48 MIN |
| May 3, 1969 |  LAL at BOS (playoffs) | W 99-90 | 9 PTS, 19 REB, 2 AST, 48 MIN | 26 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 39 MIN |
| May 1, 1969 | BOS at LAL (playoffs) | L 117-104 | 7 PTS, 13 REB, 5 AST, 48 MIN | 39 PTS, 3 REB, 9 AST, 46 MIN |
| Apr 29, 1969 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | W 89-88 | 6 PTS, 29 REB, 2 AST, 48 MIN | 40 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST, 45 MIN |
| Apr 27, 1969 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | W 111-105 | 11 PTS, 18 REB, 3 AST, 48 MIN | 24 PTS, 1 REB, 6 AST, 42 MIN |
| Apr 25, 1969 | BOS at LAL (playoffs) | L 118-112 | 9 PTS, 21 REB, 13 AST, 48 MIN | 41 PTS, 3 REB, 8 AST, 41 MIN |
| Apr 23, 1969 | BOS at LAL (playoffs) | L 120-118 | 16 PTS, 27 REB, 5 AST, 48 MIN | 53 PTS, 3 REB, 10 AST, 46 MIN |
| Mar 16, 1969 | LAL at BOS | L 108-73 | 2 PTS, 8 REB, 2 AST, 29 MIN | 14 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 33 MIN |
| Mar 7, 1969 | BOS at LAL | L 105-99 | 11 PTS, 18 REB, 10 AST, 0 MIN | 25 PTS, 7 REB, 9 AST, 0 MIN |
| Nov 19, 1968 | BOS at LAL | L 116-106 | 6 PTS, 21 REB, 7 AST, 0 MIN | 29 PTS, 4 REB, 7 AST, 0 MIN |
| May 2, 1968 | BOS at LAL (playoffs) | W 124-109 | 12 PTS, 19 REB, 6 AST, 47 MIN | 22 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 42 MIN |
| Apr 30, 1968 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | W 120-117 | 22 PTS, 25 REB, 5 AST, 53 MIN | 35 PTS, 4 REB, 6 AST, 41 MIN |
| Apr 28, 1968 | BOS at LAL (playoffs) | L 118-105 | 11 PTS, 22 REB, 6 AST, 48 MIN | 38 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST, 44 MIN |
| Apr 26, 1968 | BOS at LAL (playoffs) | W 127-119 | 25 PTS, 16 REB, 9 AST, 48 MIN | 33 PTS, 7 REB, 9 AST, 44 MIN |
| Apr 24, 1968 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | L 123-113 | 15 PTS, 24 REB, 5 AST, 48 MIN | 35 PTS, 6 REB, 6 AST, 40 MIN |
| Apr 21, 1968 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | W 107-101 | 19 PTS, 25 REB, 3 AST, 48 MIN | 25 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST, 43 MIN |
| Feb 21, 1968 | BOS at LAL | L 122-117 | 24 PTS, 25 REB, 6 AST, 0 MIN | 34 PTS, 4 REB, 8 AST, 0 MIN |
| Feb 11, 1968 | LAL at BOS | L 141-104 | 4 PTS, 13 REB, 3 AST, 27 MIN | 24 PTS, 0 REB, 4 AST, 29 MIN |
| Jan 3, 1968 | BOS at LAL | W 113-103 | 7 PTS, 18 REB, 9 AST, 0 MIN | 27 PTS, 3 REB, 5 AST, 0 MIN |
| Dec 17, 1967 | BOS at LAL | W 123-117 | 37 PTS, 19 REB, 7 AST, 0 MIN | 28 PTS, 8 REB, 7 AST, 0 MIN |
| Dec 1, 1967 | LAL at BOS | W 123-119 | 25 PTS, 25 REB, 5 AST, 40 MIN | 27 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 40 MIN |
| Mar 5, 1967 | LAL at BOS | W 130-105 | 14 PTS, 20 REB, 3 AST, 33 MIN | 11 PTS, 4 REB, 0 AST, 34 MIN |
| Feb 17, 1967 | BOS at LAL | W 120-119 | 9 PTS, 15 REB, 3 AST, 0 MIN | 23 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST, 0 MIN |
| Feb 15, 1967 | BOS at LAL | L 124-114 | 16 PTS, 25 REB, 6 AST, 0 MIN | 33 PTS, 4 REB, 9 AST, 0 MIN |
| Jan 22, 1967 | LAL at BOS | W 121-120 | 28 PTS, 28 REB, 1 AST, 50 MIN | 25 PTS, 10 REB, 4 AST, 43 MIN |
| Jan 6, 1967 | BOS at LAL | L 102-99 | 11 PTS, 16 REB, 4 AST, 0 MIN | 22 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST, 0 MIN |
| Jan 1, 1967 | BOS at LAL | L 111-110 | 12 PTS, 19 REB, 9 AST, 0 MIN | 35 PTS, 0 REB, 6 AST, 0 MIN |
| Dec 26, 1966 | LAL at BOS | W 121-106 | 13 PTS, 21 REB, 10 AST, 41 MIN | 24 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST, 39 MIN |
| Dec 18, 1966 | BOS at LAL | L 127-125 | 15 PTS, 18 REB, 9 AST, 0 MIN | 35 PTS, 11 REB, 7 AST, 0 MIN |
| Apr 28, 1966 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | W 95-93 | 25 PTS, 32 REB, 1 AST, 48 MIN | 36 PTS, 10 REB, 3 AST, 48 MIN |
| Apr 26, 1966 | BOS at LAL (playoffs) | L 123-115 | 22 PTS, 23 REB, 5 AST, 48 MIN | 32 PTS, 3 REB, 7 AST, 45 MIN |
| Apr 24, 1966 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | L 121-117 | 32 PTS, 28 REB, 4 AST, 48 MIN | 31 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST, 46 MIN |
| Apr 22, 1966 | BOS at LAL (playoffs) | W 122-117 | 25 PTS, 18 REB, 4 AST, 48 MIN | 45 PTS, 4 REB, 10 AST, 47 MIN |
| Apr 20, 1966 | BOS at LAL (playoffs) | W 120-106 | 14 PTS, 19 REB, 3 AST, 48 MIN | 34 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 46 MIN |
| Apr 19, 1966 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | W 129-109 | 19 PTS, 24 REB, 4 AST, 42 MIN | 18 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST, 34 MIN |
| Apr 17, 1966 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | L 133-129 | 28 PTS, 26 REB, 5 AST, 53 MIN | 41 PTS, 8 REB, 2 AST, 51 MIN |
| Feb 21, 1966 | BOS at LAL | W 115-108 | 15 PTS, 14 REB, 5 AST, 0 MIN | 20 PTS, 4 REB, 5 AST, 0 MIN |
| Feb 19, 1966 | BOS at LAL | W 115-111 | 12 PTS, 19 REB, 2 AST, 0 MIN | 23 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 0 MIN |
| Feb 13, 1966 | LAL at BOS | L 120-110 | 13 PTS, 23 REB, 7 AST, 47 MIN | 22 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 47 MIN |
| Jan 5, 1966 | BOS at LAL | L 120-113 | 11 PTS, 25 REB, 3 AST, 0 MIN | 29 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST, 0 MIN |
| Jan 2, 1966 | BOS at LAL | W 124-113 | 11 PTS, 18 REB, 6 AST, 0 MIN | 29 PTS, 4 REB, 7 AST, 0 MIN |
| Dec 8, 1965 | LAL at BOS | W 108-106 | 0 PTS, 10 REB, 3 AST, 10 MIN | 17 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST, 43 MIN |
| Nov 27, 1965 | LAL at BOS | W 101-95 | 28 PTS, 35 REB, 3 AST, 48 MIN | 21 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST, 42 MIN |
| Nov 17, 1965 | BOS at LAL | L 125-115 | 13 PTS, 19 REB, 6 AST, 48 MIN | 46 PTS, 7 REB, 8 AST, 0 MIN |
| Oct 20, 1965 | LAL at BOS | W 100-96 | 10 PTS, 29 REB, 6 AST, 48 MIN | 24 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, 41 MIN |
| Apr 25, 1965 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | W 129-96 | 22 PTS, 30 REB, 4 AST, 42 MIN | 33 PTS, 4 REB, 0 AST, 42 MIN |
| Apr 23, 1965 | BOS at LAL (playoffs) | W 112-99 | 12 PTS, 23 REB, 5 AST, 48 MIN | 22 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, 43 MIN |
| Apr 21, 1965 | BOS at LAL (playoffs) | L 126-105 | 14 PTS, 19 REB, 4 AST, 45 MIN | 43 PTS, 12 REB, 7 AST, 44 MIN |
| Apr 19, 1965 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | W 129-123 | 23 PTS, 25 REB, 10 AST, 48 MIN | 45 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 45 MIN |
| Apr 18, 1965 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | W 142-110 | 18 PTS, 28 REB, 6 AST, 38 MIN | 26 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 36 MIN |
| Mar 3, 1965 | LAL at BOS | L 104-102 | 10 PTS, 38 REB, 5 AST, 48 MIN | 30 PTS, 6 REB, 6 AST, 43 MIN |
| Feb 24, 1965 | BOS at LAL | W 97-95 | 24 PTS, 24 REB, 5 AST, 0 MIN | 29 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST, 0 MIN |
| Feb 21, 1965 | BOS at LAL | L 129-114 | 4 PTS, 18 REB, 8 AST, 0 MIN | 47 PTS, 6 REB, 6 AST, 0 MIN |
| Feb 7, 1965 | LAL at BOS | W 101-97 | 7 PTS, 24 REB, 12 AST, 48 MIN | 36 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST, 44 MIN |
| Jan 24, 1965 | LAL at BOS | W 117-93 | 8 PTS, 31 REB, 6 AST, 42 MIN | 12 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 36 MIN |
| Jan 9, 1965 | BOS at LAL | W 107-103 | 20 PTS, 25 REB, 6 AST, 0 MIN | 33 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 0 MIN |
| Jan 7, 1965 | BOS at LAL | W 112-104 | 13 PTS, 23 REB, 6 AST, 0 MIN | 18 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST, 0 MIN |
| Dec 28, 1964 | LAL at BOS | W 133-112 | 17 PTS, 22 REB, 9 AST, 42 MIN | 12 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST, 33 MIN |
| Dec 8, 1964 | BOS at LAL | W 108-98 | 24 PTS, 23 REB, 8 AST, 0 MIN | 34 PTS, 9 REB, 1 AST, 0 MIN |
| Nov 13, 1964 | LAL at BOS | L 114-112 | 22 PTS, 30 REB, 7 AST, 48 MIN | 32 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 45 MIN |
| Feb 16, 1964 | BOS at LAL | W 92-90 | 14 PTS, 23 REB, 7 AST, 0 MIN | 14 PTS, 2 REB, 4 AST, 0 MIN |
| Feb 12, 1964 | BOS at LAL | W 104-97 | 17 PTS, 20 REB, 0 MIN | 31 PTS, 12 REB, 4 AST, 0 MIN |
| Feb 11, 1964 | LAL at BOS | L 113-109 | 26 PTS, 34 REB, 3 AST, 48 MIN | 40 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST, 43 MIN |
| Jan 17, 1964 | LAL at BOS | W 99-79 | 10 PTS, 31 REB, 7 AST, 44 MIN | 15 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 30 MIN |
| Jan 5, 1964 | BOS at LAL | L 97-95 | 17 PTS, 21 REB, 0 MIN | 36 PTS, 7 REB, 0 MIN |
| Jan 4, 1964 | BOS at LAL | L 125-118 | 2 PTS, 16 REB, 5 AST, 0 MIN | 29 PTS, 3 REB, 0 MIN |
| Dec 26, 1963 | LAL at BOS | W 126-110 | 12 PTS, 20 REB, 5 AST, 39 MIN | 22 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST, 38 MIN |
| Nov 27, 1963 | LAL at BOS | W 114-78 | 14 PTS, 24 REB, 38 MIN | 16 PTS, 5 REB, 36 MIN |
| Nov 13, 1963 | LAL at BOS | W 114-110 | 12 PTS, 31 REB, 8 AST, 48 MIN | 35 PTS, 9 REB, 6 AST, 42 MIN |
| Apr 24, 1963 | BOS at LAL (playoffs) | W 112-109 | 12 PTS, 24 REB, 9 AST, 48 MIN | 32 PTS, 7 REB, 9 AST, 44 MIN |
| Apr 21, 1963 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | L 126-119 | 24 PTS, 27 REB, 5 AST, 48 MIN | 32 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST, 43 MIN |
| Apr 19, 1963 | BOS at LAL (playoffs) | W 108-105 | 22 PTS, 19 REB, 4 AST, 48 MIN | 18 PTS, 3 REB, 5 AST, 43 MIN |
| Apr 17, 1963 | BOS at LAL (playoffs) | L 119-99 | 21 PTS, 19 REB, 5 AST, 48 MIN | 42 PTS, 8 REB, 1 AST, 46 MIN |
| Apr 16, 1963 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | W 113-106 | 16 PTS, 38 REB, 6 AST, 48 MIN | 28 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 44 MIN |
| Apr 14, 1963 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | W 117-114 | 25 PTS, 29 REB, 3 AST, 47 MIN | 25 PTS, 10 REB, 3 AST, 44 MIN |
| Jan 20, 1963 | LAL at BOS | W 133-121 | 29 PTS, 43 REB, 3 AST, 48 MIN | 14 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST, 27 MIN |
| Jan 5, 1963 | BOS at LAL | L 106-104 | 12 PTS, 29 REB, 0 MIN | 27 PTS, 7 REB, 0 MIN |
| Jan 4, 1963 | BOS at LAL | L 125-123 | 21 PTS, 15 REB, 0 MIN | 21 PTS, 8 REB, 0 MIN |
| Dec 7, 1962 | LAL at BOS | W 126-112 | 24 PTS, 31 REB, 6 AST, 47 MIN | 23 PTS, 6 REB, 6 AST, 42 MIN |
| Nov 9, 1962 | LAL at BOS | L 133-120 | 17 PTS, 28 REB, 4 AST, 48 MIN | 27 PTS, 5 AST, 43 MIN |
| Apr 18, 1962 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | W 110-107 | 30 PTS, 40 REB, 4 AST, 53 MIN | 35 PTS, 6 REB, 0 AST, 53 MIN |
| Apr 16, 1962 | BOS at LAL (playoffs) | W 119-105 | 19 PTS, 24 REB, 10 AST, 48 MIN | 34 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 46 MIN |
| Apr 14, 1962 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | L 126-121 | 26 PTS, 29 REB, 3 AST, 48 MIN | 24 PTS, 4 REB, 0 AST, 47 MIN |
| Apr 11, 1962 | BOS at LAL (playoffs) | W 115-103 | 21 PTS, 22 REB, 6 AST, 48 MIN | 26 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 40 MIN |
| Apr 10, 1962 | BOS at LAL (playoffs) | L 117-115 | 26 PTS, 23 REB, 6 AST, 48 MIN | 36 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 41 MIN |
| Apr 8, 1962 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | L 129-122 | 23 PTS, 23 REB, 5 AST, 48 MIN | 40 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 45 MIN |
| Apr 7, 1962 | LAL at BOS (playoffs) | W 122-108 | 15 PTS, 28 REB, 6 AST, 45 MIN | 21 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 43 MIN |
| Mar 11, 1962 | LAL at BOS | W 119-105 | 18 PTS, 33 REB, 3 AST, 47 MIN | 31 PTS, 3 AST, 43 MIN |
| Feb 20, 1962 | BOS at LAL | W 115-96 | 20 PTS, 20 REB, 48 MIN | 19 PTS, 5 REB, 0 MIN |
| Feb 18, 1962 | BOS at LAL | L 125-99 | 18 PTS, 19 REB, 0 MIN | 30 PTS, 6 REB, 0 MIN |
| Feb 1, 1962 | LAL at BOS | W 130-115 | 8 PTS, 24 REB, 41 MIN | 22 PTS, 0 MIN |
| Jan 23, 1962 | LAL at BOS | W 118-103 | 22 PTS, 28 REB, 0 MIN | 32 PTS, 0 MIN |
| Jan 7, 1962 | BOS at LAL | W 118-95 | 3 PTS, 18 REB, 0 MIN | 31 PTS, 5 REB, 0 MIN |
| Dec 26, 1961 | LAL at BOS | W 129-117 | 22 PTS, 32 REB, 7 AST, 48 MIN | 21 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST, 34 MIN |
| Dec 19, 1961 | BOS at LAL | L 104-101 | 15 PTS, 21 REB, 48 MIN | 29 PTS, 6 REB, 9 AST, 0 MIN |
| Nov 18, 1961 | LAL at BOS | L 103-101 | 17 PTS, 34 REB, 4 AST, 48 MIN | 20 PTS, 12 REB, 4 AST, 35 MIN |
| Feb 22, 1961 | BOS at LAL | L 105-93 | 21 PTS, 18 REB, 48 MIN | 4 PTS, 11 REB, 6 AST, 0 MIN |
| Feb 14, 1961 | LAL at BOS | W 113-93 | 9 PTS, 17 REB, 32 MIN | 21 PTS, 8 REB, 29 MIN |
| Feb 7, 1961 | LAL at BOS | W 96-95 | 26 PTS, 27 REB, 0 MIN | 29 PTS, 0 MIN |
| Jan 19, 1961 | LAL at BOS | W 106-103 | 16 PTS, 29 REB, 4 AST, 0 MIN | 10 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 0 MIN |
| Jan 3, 1961 | BOS at LAL | W 102-96 | 20 PTS, 18 REB, 0 MIN | 18 PTS, 4 REB, 0 MIN |
| Dec 17, 1960 | LAL at BOS | W 140-112 | 20 PTS, 0 REB, 2 AST, 44 MIN | 28 PTS, 1 AST, 36 MIN |
| Dec 5, 1960 | BOS at LAL | W 123-101 | 23 PTS, 22 REB, 0 AST, 0 MIN | 9 PTS, 0 MIN |
| Dec 4, 1960 | BOS at LAL | W 113-103 | 20 PTS, 21 REB, 0 AST, 0 MIN | 7 PTS, 7 REB, 0 MIN |
| Dec 2, 1960 | LAL at BOS | L 120-117 | 13 PTS, 26 REB, 5 AST, 45 MIN | 19 PTS, 0 AST, 21 MIN |
| Nov 12, 1960 | LAL at BOS | W 131-124 | 11 PTS, 37 REB, 0 MIN | 27 PTS, 0 MIN |
Games both played on opposite sides, from the game logs on file; the record is their teams’.
Career totals
How do they compare in the playoffs?
Where each stands all time
Among the NBA players with a career line on file, regular season, counting stats only — the same lists the records pages run on.
Titles and awards
Awards come from the league’s published winner lists; a championship counts a season played for the club that won it.
Season by season
Lined up by career year, not by calendar: each row is the players’ nth season.