Bill Russell or Damian Lillard? The NBA Stat Breakdown
This is as close as it gets. Bill Russell and Damian Lillard split the statistical categories evenly — 2 apiece — making this one of the most genuinely contested C comparisons in NBA history. When the numbers are this balanced, the debate comes down to which statistics matter most to you.
Bill Russell's Rebounds Per Game of 22.5 compared to Damian Lillard's 4.3 represents a 423.3% advantage — dramatically better than their counterpart in this critical category. Damian Lillard falls 45.6% below the career average of 7.9 in this category while Bill Russell exceeds it. It is the single most decisive number in this comparison and the clearest statistical argument for Bill Russell's edge.
The most competitive category in this matchup is Field Goal %, where Bill Russell posts 44.0% against Damian Lillard's 43.9% — virtually identical figures. Damian Lillard can point to this as evidence that the overall comparison is closer than the final 2-2 tally suggests. In any debate, Field Goal % is the statistical ammunition for the Damian Lillard side.
Centers have evolved dramatically across NBA eras — from dominant low-post scorers to modern stretch bigs. Career statistics must be evaluated with positional evolution and era context in mind.
With categories split evenly, this comparison ultimately comes down to which statistics matter most to you. Bill Russell claims the tiebreaker through Rebounds Per Game advantage — a 423.3% edge — but reasonable people can, and do, argue both sides of this NBA debate.
Who is better, Bill Russell or Damian Lillard?
Bill Russell holds the statistical edge, winning 2 of 4 categories in this career comparison. Bill Russell's Rebounds Per Game of 22.5 versus Damian Lillard's 4.3 is the most decisive factor — a 423.3% difference.
How do Bill Russell and Damian Lillard compare in Rebounds Per Game?
Bill Russell career Rebounds Per Game: 22.5. Damian Lillard career Rebounds Per Game: 4.3. Bill Russell leads by 423.3% — dramatically ahead in this key C metric.
Who had the better overall career, Bill Russell or Damian Lillard?
Based on career statistics, Bill Russell edges Damian Lillard 2-2 across key categories. Bill Russell's Rebounds Per Game of 22.5 leads Damian Lillard's 4.3 by 423.3%, providing the clearest statistical evidence of the career advantage.
