Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Larry Bird Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Larry Bird and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

NBA Timeline:
1946-47
2023-24
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar:
1969-70 to 1988-89
Larry Bird:
1979-80 to 1991-92

NBA Championships and Seasons

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar6
Larry Bird3
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar20
Larry Bird13
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar18
Larry Bird12
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar19
Larry Bird12

Honors and Awards

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar6
Larry Bird3
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar2
Larry Bird2
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar10
Larry Bird9
All-NBA Teams
(Total Selections)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar15
Larry Bird10
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar5
Larry Bird0
All-Defensive Teams
(Total Selections)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar11
Larry Bird3
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar2
Larry Bird0
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar1
Larry Bird0
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar4 *
Larry Bird0
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar1
Larry Bird1
* Notes: Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.6
Larry Bird 24.3

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 11.2
Larry Bird 10.0

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3.6
Larry Bird 6.3

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 0.9
*
Larry Bird 1.7

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2.6
*
Larry Bird 0.8

Totals Stats

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
Larry Bird 21,791

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 17,440
Larry Bird 8,974

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5,660
Larry Bird 5,695

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,160
*
Larry Bird 1,556

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3,189
*
Larry Bird 755

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,560
Larry Bird 897

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar .559
Larry Bird .496

3-Point Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar .056
*
Larry Bird .376

Free Throw Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar .721
Larry Bird .886

Best Season (no game minimum)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 34.8
(1972)
Larry Bird 29.9
(1988)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 16.9
(1976)
Larry Bird 11.0
(1983)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5.4
(1979)
Larry Bird 7.6
(1987)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1.7
(1978)
*
Larry Bird 2.0
(1986)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 4.1
(1976)
*
Larry Bird 1.2
(1985)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.3
Larry Bird 23.8

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 10.5
Larry Bird 10.3

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3.2
Larry Bird 6.5

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1.0
*
Larry Bird 1.8

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2.4
*
Larry Bird 0.9

Totals Stats

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5,762
Larry Bird 3,897

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2,481
Larry Bird 1,683

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 767
Larry Bird 1,062

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 189
*
Larry Bird 296

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 476
*
Larry Bird 145

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 237
Larry Bird 164

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar .533
Larry Bird .472

3-Point Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar .000
*
Larry Bird .321

Free Throw Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar .740
Larry Bird .890

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 35.2
(1970)
Larry Bird 27.5
(1984)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 18.2
(1972)
Larry Bird 14.0
(1981)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5.1
(1972)
Larry Bird 8.8
(1990)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1.7
(1977)
*
Larry Bird 2.3
(1984)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 4.1
(1979)
*
Larry Bird 1.4
(1982)

Notes: * Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74. Some years in this player's career don't have stats.
Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80. Some years in this player's career don't have stats.