Wilt Chamberlain vs Bill Russell

Who is taller, Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell?

Wilt Chamberlain is taller than Bill Russell by 8 cm — Wilt Chamberlain is 2.16 m and Bill Russell is 2.08 m. Wilt Chamberlain is taller by 8 cm (0'3") — about 4% taller than Bill Russell. Add more people or objects to the chart above to extend the comparison, or switch between centimetres and feet with the unit toggle.

Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell side by side, to scale

What the numbers say

• Bill Russell reaches 96.3% of Wilt Chamberlain's height. To match Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell would need to be 8 cm (3.1 in) taller.
• Wilt Chamberlain is 41 cm (16.1 in) taller than the average adult man (175 cm) and 54 cm (21.3 in) taller than the average adult woman (162 cm).
• Bill Russell is 33 cm (13.0 in) taller than the average adult man (175 cm) and 46 cm (18.1 in) taller than the average adult woman (162 cm).

Who else is close in height?

• Close to Wilt Chamberlain (2.16 m): Shaquille O'Neal (2.16 m).
• Close to Bill Russell (2.08 m): Kevin Durant (2.08 m).

Heights are the figures listed on each person's page and may differ by a centimetre or two between sources.