[Roberton3]

Per Wikipedia, the NBA all-defensive team first appeared in the 1968-69 season. Bill Russell retired in 1969, Chamberlain in 1973.

So, to make things more explicit: the all-defensive team only existed for the last year of Russell's career, and he was named to the first team that year.  It existed for five years of Chamberlain's career, and he was named to the team in two of those five years.  The one year both could have made the all-defensive team, Russell was first team and Chamberlain didn't make it.

This was all before my time, but everything I've heard from older fans suggests that Chamberlain was one of the greatest offensive players of all time, while Russell was one of the greatest defensive players of all time, and that it's hard to say which was more valuable overall.

[Roberton3]

Per Wikipedia, the NBA all-defensive team first appeared in the 1968-69 season. Bill Russell retired in 1969, Chamberlain in 1973.

So, to make things more explicit: the all-defensive team only existed for the last year of Russell's career, and he was named to the first team that year.  It existed for five years of Chamberlain's career, and he was named to the team in two of those five years.  The one year both could have made the all-defensive team, Russell was first team and Chamberlain didn't make it.

This was all before my time, but everything I've heard from older fans suggests that Chamberlain was one of the greatest offensive players of all time, while Russell was one of the greatest defensive players of all time, and that it's hard to say which was more valuable overall.