Larry Bird vs. Bob McAdoo Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bob McAdoo and Larry Bird, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Games against each other

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Larry Bird played 13 years in the NBA, 1 less than Bob McAdoo, who played 14. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Bob McAdoo had his rookie season in 1972-73. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player		 Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Larry Bird 13 12 1979-80 to 1991-92
Bob McAdoo 14 9 1972-73 to 1985-86

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season
Larry Bird Bob McAdoo
Season 1979-801972-73
Team Boston CelticsBuffalo Braves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the YearAchievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 82 36.0 21.3 2.6 7.8 10.4 4.5 1.7 0.6 3.2 3.4 8.5 17.8 .474 0.7 1.7 .406 3.7 4.4 .836
Bob McAdoo 80 32.0 18.0 - - 9.1 1.7 - - - 3.2 7.3 16.2 .452 - - - 3.4 4.4 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 9 41.3 21.3 2.4 8.8 11.2 4.7 1.6 0.9 3.7 3.3 9.2 19.7 .469 0.4 1.7 .267 2.4 2.8 .880
Bob McAdoo ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Larry Bird Bob McAdoo
Season 1980-811973-74
Team Boston CelticsBuffalo Braves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBraves Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 82 39.5 21.2 2.3 8.6 10.9 5.5 2.0 0.8 3.5 2.9 8.8 18.3 .478 0.2 0.9 .270 3.5 4.0 .863
Bob McAdoo 74 43.0 30.6 3.8 11.3 15.1 2.3 1.2 3.3 - 3.4 12.2 22.3 .547 - - - 6.2 7.8 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 17 44.1 21.9 2.9 11.1 14.0 6.1 2.3 1.0 3.6 3.1 8.6 18.4 .470 0.2 0.5 .375 4.5 5.0 .894
Bob McAdoo 6 45.2 31.7 2.3 11.3 13.7 1.5 1.0 2.2 - 4.2 12.7 26.5 .478 - - - 6.3 7.8 .809

Season 3
Larry Bird Bob McAdoo
Season 1981-821974-75
Team Boston CelticsBuffalo Braves
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsBraves Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 77 38.0 22.9 2.6 8.3 10.9 5.8 1.9 0.9 3.3 3.2 9.2 18.4 .503 0.1 0.7 .212 4.3 4.9 .863
Bob McAdoo 82 43.2 34.5 3.7 10.3 14.1 2.2 1.1 2.1 - 3.4 13.4 26.1 .512 - - - 7.8 9.7 .805
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 12 40.8 17.8 2.8 9.8 12.5 5.6 1.9 1.4 3.2 3.6 7.3 17.2 .427 0.1 0.5 .167 3.1 3.8 .822
Bob McAdoo 7 46.7 37.4 3.6 9.9 13.4 1.4 0.9 2.7 - 4.1 14.9 30.9 .481 - - - 7.7 10.4 .740

Season 4
Larry Bird Bob McAdoo
Season 1982-831975-76
Team Boston CelticsBuffalo Braves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisBraves Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 79 37.7 23.6 2.4 8.6 11.0 5.8 1.9 0.9 3.0 2.5 9.5 18.7 .504 0.3 1.0 .286 4.4 5.3 .840
Bob McAdoo 78 42.7 31.1 3.1 9.3 12.4 4.0 1.2 2.1 - 3.8 12.0 24.6 .487 - - - 7.2 9.4 .762
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 6 40.0 20.5 3.3 9.2 12.5 6.8 2.2 0.5 3.2 2.5 8.2 19.3 .422 0.2 0.7 .250 4.0 4.8 .828
Bob McAdoo 9 45.1 28.0 3.4 10.8 14.2 3.2 0.8 2.0 - 4.1 10.8 23.9 .451 - - - 6.4 9.1 .707

Season 5
Larry Bird Bob McAdoo
Season 1983-841976-77
Team Boston CelticsBuffalo Braves, New York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 79 38.3 24.2 2.3 7.8 10.1 6.6 1.8 0.9 3.0 2.5 9.6 19.5 .492 0.2 0.9 .247 4.7 5.3 .888
Bob McAdoo 72 38.9 25.8 2.8 10.1 12.9 2.8 1.1 1.4 - 3.6 10.3 20.1 .512 - - - 5.3 7.2 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 23 41.8 27.5 2.7 8.3 11.0 5.9 2.3 1.2 3.8 3.1 10.0 19.0 .524 0.3 0.7 .412 7.3 8.3 .879
Bob McAdoo ------- --- ----------

Season 6
Larry Bird Bob McAdoo
Season 1984-851977-78
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsKnicks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 80 39.5 28.7 2.1 8.5 10.5 6.6 1.6 1.2 3.1 2.6 11.5 22.0 .522 0.7 1.6 .427 5.0 5.7 .882
Bob McAdoo 79 40.3 26.5 3.0 9.8 12.8 3.8 1.3 1.6 4.4 3.8 10.3 19.8 .520 - - - 5.9 8.2 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 20 40.8 26.0 2.7 6.5 9.1 5.8 1.7 1.0 2.9 2.7 9.8 21.3 .461 0.4 1.3 .280 6.1 6.8 .890
Bob McAdoo 6 39.7 23.8 1.8 7.8 9.7 3.8 1.2 2.0 3.8 3.2 10.2 21.0 .484 - - - 3.5 5.8 .600

Season 7
Larry Bird Bob McAdoo
Season 1985-861978-79
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks, Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 82 38.0 25.8 2.3 7.5 9.8 6.8 2.0 0.6 3.2 2.2 9.7 19.6 .496 1.0 2.4 .423 5.4 6.0 .896
Bob McAdoo 60 37.2 24.8 2.2 6.5 8.7 2.8 1.2 1.1 3.6 3.2 9.9 18.8 .529 - - - 4.9 7.5 .656
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 18 42.8 25.9 1.9 7.4 9.3 8.2 2.1 0.6 2.6 3.1 9.5 18.4 .517 1.3 3.1 .411 5.6 6.1 .927
Bob McAdoo ------- --- ----------

Season 8
Larry Bird Bob McAdoo
Season 1986-871979-80
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 74 40.6 28.1 1.7 7.5 9.2 7.6 1.8 0.9 3.2 2.5 10.6 20.2 .525 1.2 3.0 .400 5.6 6.1 .910
Bob McAdoo 58 36.2 21.1 1.7 6.3 8.1 3.4 1.3 1.1 4.1 3.1 8.5 17.7 .480 0.1 0.4 .125 4.1 5.6 .730
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 23 44.1 27.0 1.8 8.3 10.0 7.2 1.2 0.8 3.1 2.4 9.4 19.7 .476 0.6 1.8 .341 7.7 8.4 .912
Bob McAdoo ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Larry Bird Bob McAdoo
Season 1987-881980-81
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons, New Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 76 39.0 29.9 1.4 7.8 9.3 6.1 1.6 0.8 2.8 2.1 11.6 22.0 .527 1.3 3.1 .414 5.5 6.0 .916
Bob McAdoo 16 20.1 10.3 1.1 3.1 4.2 1.9 1.1 0.8 2.0 2.4 4.3 9.8 .433 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.6 .707
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 17 44.9 24.5 1.7 7.1 8.8 6.8 2.1 0.8 2.9 2.6 8.9 19.9 .450 0.7 1.9 .375 5.9 6.6 .894
Bob McAdoo ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Larry Bird Bob McAdoo
Season 1988-891981-82
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 6 31.5 19.3 0.2 6.0 6.2 4.8 1.0 0.8 1.8 3.0 8.2 17.3 .471 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.2 .947
Bob McAdoo 41 18.2 9.6 1.1 2.8 3.9 0.8 0.5 0.9 1.2 2.7 3.7 8.0 .458 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 3.1 .714
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Bob McAdoo 14 27.7 16.7 1.5 5.3 6.8 1.6 0.7 1.5 2.5 3.1 7.2 12.8 .564 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.4 .681

Season 11
Larry Bird Bob McAdoo
Season 1989-901982-83
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 75 39.3 24.3 1.2 8.3 9.5 7.5 1.4 0.8 3.2 2.3 9.6 20.2 .473 0.9 2.6 .333 4.3 4.6 .930
Bob McAdoo 47 21.7 15.0 1.6 3.6 5.3 0.8 0.9 0.9 1.4 3.3 6.2 12.0 .520 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.5 .730
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 5 41.4 24.4 1.4 7.8 9.2 8.8 1.0 1.0 3.6 2.0 8.8 19.8 .444 1.0 3.8 .263 5.8 6.4 .906
Bob McAdoo 8 20.8 10.9 1.9 3.9 5.8 0.6 1.4 1.3 1.8 2.9 4.6 10.5 .440 0.3 0.8 .333 1.4 1.8 .786

Season 12
Larry Bird Bob McAdoo
Season 1990-911983-84
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 60 38.0 19.4 0.9 7.6 8.5 7.2 1.8 1.0 3.1 2.0 7.7 17.0 .454 1.3 3.3 .389 2.7 3.1 .891
Bob McAdoo 70 20.8 13.1 1.2 3.0 4.1 1.1 0.6 0.7 1.8 2.6 5.0 10.7 .471 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 3.8 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 10 39.6 17.1 0.8 6.4 7.2 6.5 1.3 0.3 1.9 2.8 6.2 15.2 .408 0.3 2.1 .143 4.4 5.1 .863
Bob McAdoo 20 22.4 14.0 1.5 3.9 5.4 0.6 0.6 1.4 2.0 3.2 5.6 10.8 .516 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 4.1 .704

Season 13
Larry Bird Bob McAdoo
Season 1991-921984-85
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 45 36.9 20.2 1.0 8.6 9.6 6.8 0.9 0.7 2.8 1.8 7.8 16.8 .466 1.2 2.8 .406 3.3 3.6 .926
Bob McAdoo 66 19.0 10.5 1.2 3.3 4.5 1.0 0.3 0.8 1.4 2.6 4.3 8.3 .520 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 2.5 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 4 26.8 11.3 0.5 4.0 4.5 5.3 0.3 0.5 1.5 1.8 5.3 10.5 .500 0.0 1.3 .000 0.8 1.0 .750
Bob McAdoo 19 20.9 11.4 1.3 3.2 4.5 0.8 0.5 1.4 1.7 3.5 4.8 10.2 .472 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.5 .745

Season 14
Larry Bird Bob McAdoo
Season -1985-86
Team -Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Bob McAdoo 29 21.0 10.1 0.9 2.7 3.6 1.2 0.3 0.6 1.7 2.2 4.0 8.7 .462 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.8 .765
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Bob McAdoo 5 14.6 10.8 1.6 1.2 2.8 0.4 0.8 1.0 0.4 2.6 4.0 7.2 .556 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.2 .875
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