Last Updated on June 20, 2025 by Mat Diekhake
Bill Russell played in 12 NBA Finals during his legendary career (1957–1969), all with the Boston Celtics. Here’s a breakdown of the teams he faced and the years:
Bill Russell’s NBA Finals Opponents
| Year | Opponent | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | St. Louis Hawks | Won (4–3) | Russell’s rookie year |
| 1958 | St. Louis Hawks | Lost (2–4) | Only Finals loss of his career |
| 1959 | Minneapolis Lakers | Won (4–0) | Celtics’ first sweep |
| 1960 | St. Louis Hawks | Won (4–3) | Third Finals vs Hawks |
| 1961 | St. Louis Hawks | Won (4–1) | Fourth and final time vs Hawks |
| 1962 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won (4–3) | First Finals vs LA Lakers |
| 1963 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won (4–2) | |
| 1964 | San Francisco Warriors | Won (4–1) | Faced Wilt Chamberlain |
| 1965 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won (4–1) | |
| 1966 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won (4–3) | Russell’s first as player-coach |
| 1968 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won (4–2) | Avenged 1967 loss to 76ers in East Finals |
| 1969 | Los Angeles Lakers | Won (4–3) | Russell’s final game — upset win as underdog |
Summary:
Bill Russell faced:
- St. Louis Hawks – 4 times (1957, 1958, 1960, 1961)
- Los Angeles Lakers – 6 times (1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969)
- Minneapolis Lakers – 1 time (1959)
- San Francisco Warriors – 1 time (1964)
Fun Fact: Russell defeated the Lakers 7 times in the Finals — the most one player has ever beaten a single team in the Finals.