Larry Bird vs. Christian Laettner Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Christian Laettner 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

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 and Christian Laettner both played 13 years in the NBA. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Christian Laettner had his rookie season in 1992-93. 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
Christian Laettner 13 6 1992-93 to 2004-05

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Larry Bird Christian Laettner
Season 1979-801992-93
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement 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
Christian Laettner 81 34.9 18.2 2.1 6.6 8.7 2.8 1.3 1.0 3.4 3.6 6.2 13.1 .474 0.0 0.5 .100 5.7 6.8 .835
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
Christian Laettner ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Larry Bird Christian Laettner
Season 1980-811993-94
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards 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 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
Christian Laettner 70 34.7 16.8 2.3 6.3 8.6 4.4 1.2 1.2 3.7 3.8 5.7 12.6 .448 0.1 0.4 .240 5.4 6.8 .783
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
Christian Laettner ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Larry Bird Christian Laettner
Season 1981-821994-95
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
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 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
Christian Laettner 81 34.2 16.3 2.0 5.5 7.6 2.9 1.2 1.1 2.8 3.7 5.6 11.4 .489 0.2 0.5 .325 5.0 6.2 .818
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
Christian Laettner ------- --- ----------

Season 4
Larry Bird Christian Laettner
Season 1982-831995-96
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisHawks 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
Christian Laettner 74 33.7 16.4 2.5 4.8 7.3 2.7 1.0 1.0 2.5 3.7 6.0 12.3 .487 0.1 0.5 .231 4.4 5.4 .818
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
Christian Laettner 10 33.4 15.7 2.7 4.2 6.9 1.5 1.2 1.0 2.1 4.1 5.9 12.2 .484 0.1 0.3 .333 3.8 5.4 .704

Season 5
Larry Bird Christian Laettner
Season 1983-841996-97
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
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 ChampionHawks 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 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
Christian Laettner 82 38.3 18.1 2.6 6.2 8.8 2.7 1.2 0.8 2.7 3.4 6.7 13.8 .486 0.4 1.1 .352 4.4 5.4 .816
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
Christian Laettner 10 40.2 17.6 1.9 5.3 7.2 2.6 1.0 0.8 3.1 3.2 6.2 15.3 .405 0.4 2.1 .190 4.8 5.6 .857

Season 6
Larry Bird Christian Laettner
Season 1984-851997-98
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsHawks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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
Christian Laettner 74 30.8 13.8 1.9 4.7 6.6 2.6 1.0 1.0 2.5 3.3 4.8 9.9 .485 0.1 0.4 .222 4.1 4.8 .864
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
Christian Laettner 4 22.0 9.8 0.8 3.5 4.3 1.0 1.5 0.3 2.0 4.0 3.0 8.8 .343 0.0 0.8 .000 3.8 4.3 .882

Season 7
Larry Bird Christian Laettner
Season 1985-861998-99
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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
Christian Laettner 16 21.1 7.6 1.3 2.1 3.4 1.5 0.9 0.8 1.2 1.9 2.4 6.6 .358 0.1 0.2 .333 2.8 3.6 .772
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
Christian Laettner 5 24.6 10.2 1.2 1.6 2.8 2.2 0.8 0.2 0.6 2.8 4.0 9.4 .426 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 2.8 .786

Season 8
Larry Bird Christian Laettner
Season 1986-871999-00
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsPistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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
Christian Laettner 82 29.8 12.2 2.1 4.6 6.7 2.3 1.0 0.5 2.3 4.0 4.6 9.8 .473 0.1 0.3 .292 2.9 3.6 .812
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
Christian Laettner 3 25.0 6.7 0.7 4.3 5.0 2.0 0.0 0.3 1.0 4.7 2.3 5.7 .412 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.7 .750

Season 9
Larry Bird Christian Laettner
Season 1987-882000-01
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards
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
Christian Laettner 78 21.3 9.3 1.5 3.2 4.7 1.6 0.9 0.6 1.8 3.1 3.6 7.1 .503 0.1 0.2 .308 2.2 2.6 .833
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
Christian Laettner ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Larry Bird Christian Laettner
Season 1988-892001-02
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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 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
Christian Laettner 57 25.3 7.1 1.3 4.0 5.3 2.6 1.1 0.4 1.5 2.3 2.9 6.4 .464 0.0 0.2 .200 1.2 1.3 .868
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Christian Laettner ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Larry Bird Christian Laettner
Season 1989-902002-03
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdDid 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 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
Christian Laettner 76 29.1 8.3 1.5 5.1 6.6 3.1 1.1 0.5 1.1 2.7 3.4 6.8 .494 0.0 0.2 .125 1.6 1.9 .833
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
Christian Laettner ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Larry Bird Christian Laettner
Season 1990-912003-04
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid 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 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
Christian Laettner 48 20.5 5.9 1.0 3.8 4.8 1.9 0.8 0.6 0.9 2.1 2.5 5.3 .465 0.1 0.4 .286 0.8 1.0 .800
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
Christian Laettner ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Larry Bird Christian Laettner
Season 1991-922004-05
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisHeat Lost East Conf Finals
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
Christian Laettner 49 15.1 5.3 0.7 1.9 2.7 0.8 0.7 0.3 0.6 1.6 2.2 3.8 .582 0.0 0.1 .143 0.9 1.2 .763
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
Christian Laettner 13 10.2 2.2 0.2 1.7 1.9 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.5 1.3 0.9 1.8 .500 0.0 0.1 .000 0.4 0.5 .833
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