Larry Bird vs. Dan Majerle Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dan Majerle 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 Dan Majerle, who played 14. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Dan Majerle had his rookie season in 1988-89. 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
Dan Majerle 14 13 1988-89 to 2001-02

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 Dan Majerle
Season 1979-801988-89
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsSuns Lost West 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 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
Dan Majerle 54 25.1 8.6 1.1 2.7 3.9 2.4 1.2 0.3 0.9 2.6 3.4 8.0 .419 0.5 1.5 .329 1.4 2.4 .614
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
Dan Majerle 12 29.3 14.3 1.8 2.9 4.8 1.2 1.1 0.3 1.3 2.3 5.3 12.0 .438 0.7 2.3 .286 3.2 4.0 .792

Season 2
Larry Bird Dan Majerle
Season 1980-811989-90
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns Lost West 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 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
Dan Majerle 73 30.7 11.1 2.0 3.9 5.9 2.6 1.4 0.4 1.1 2.4 4.1 9.6 .424 0.3 1.1 .238 2.7 3.6 .762
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
Dan Majerle 16 29.9 12.6 1.9 3.2 5.1 2.1 1.3 0.1 1.1 2.1 4.6 9.4 .487 0.3 0.8 .333 3.2 4.1 .785

Season 3
Larry Bird Dan Majerle
Season 1981-821990-91
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsSuns Lost West 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 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
Dan Majerle 77 29.6 13.6 2.2 3.2 5.4 2.8 1.4 0.5 1.5 2.1 5.2 10.7 .484 0.4 1.1 .349 2.9 3.9 .762
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
Dan Majerle 4 27.5 10.5 1.5 2.3 3.8 1.8 1.3 0.3 0.5 3.0 3.0 8.0 .375 1.0 2.8 .364 3.5 4.8 .737

Season 4
Larry Bird Dan Majerle
Season 1982-831991-92
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisSuns Lost West 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
Dan Majerle 82 34.8 17.3 1.8 4.1 5.9 3.3 1.6 0.5 1.2 1.9 6.7 14.1 .478 1.1 2.8 .382 2.8 3.7 .756
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
Dan Majerle 7 38.0 18.6 1.9 4.4 6.3 2.9 1.4 0.0 1.3 1.6 6.9 15.9 .432 1.3 4.7 .273 3.6 3.7 .962

Season 5
Larry Bird Dan Majerle
Season 1983-841992-93
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns 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 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
Dan Majerle 82 39.0 16.9 1.5 3.2 4.7 3.8 1.7 0.4 1.6 2.2 6.2 13.4 .464 2.0 5.3 .381 2.5 3.2 .778
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
Dan Majerle 24 44.6 15.4 1.2 4.6 5.8 3.7 1.4 1.2 1.3 2.4 5.6 13.0 .431 2.3 5.7 .394 2.0 2.9 .696

Season 6
Larry Bird Dan Majerle
Season 1984-851993-94
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsSuns Lost West 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
Dan Majerle 80 40.1 16.5 1.5 2.9 4.4 3.4 1.6 0.5 1.7 1.9 6.0 14.2 .418 2.4 6.3 .382 2.2 3.0 .739
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
Dan Majerle 10 41.0 12.3 1.5 2.8 4.3 2.4 1.1 0.4 1.0 2.3 4.6 12.7 .362 2.0 5.9 .339 1.1 1.6 .688

Season 7
Larry Bird Dan Majerle
Season 1985-861994-95
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns Lost West 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 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
Dan Majerle 82 37.7 15.6 1.3 3.3 4.6 4.1 1.2 0.5 1.3 1.9 5.3 12.6 .425 2.4 6.7 .363 2.5 3.4 .730
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
Dan Majerle 10 30.7 8.2 0.8 2.3 3.1 1.7 1.4 0.3 0.9 2.4 2.7 7.3 .370 1.6 4.4 .364 1.2 1.7 .706

Season 8
Larry Bird Dan Majerle
Season 1986-871995-96
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers 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
Dan Majerle 82 28.9 10.6 0.9 2.9 3.7 2.6 1.0 0.4 1.1 1.6 3.7 9.1 .405 1.8 5.0 .353 1.5 2.1 .710
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
Dan Majerle 3 30.3 16.7 0.7 3.3 4.0 3.0 1.3 0.7 1.0 2.0 5.3 12.0 .444 3.3 7.7 .435 2.7 3.0 .889

Season 9
Larry Bird Dan Majerle
Season 1987-881996-97
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsHeat 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 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
Dan Majerle 36 35.1 10.8 1.3 3.3 4.5 3.2 1.5 0.4 1.4 2.1 3.9 9.6 .406 1.9 5.6 .338 1.1 1.6 .678
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
Dan Majerle 17 29.2 8.0 0.9 3.3 4.2 2.5 1.2 0.2 0.8 1.8 2.7 6.9 .393 1.5 4.4 .338 1.1 1.6 .679

Season 10
Larry Bird Dan Majerle
Season 1988-891997-98
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayHeat 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 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
Dan Majerle 72 26.8 7.2 0.7 3.1 3.7 2.2 0.9 0.2 0.9 1.9 2.6 6.1 .419 1.5 4.1 .376 0.6 0.7 .784
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Dan Majerle 2 31.0 4.5 0.5 2.0 2.5 2.5 2.0 0.5 0.5 1.5 1.5 4.0 .375 1.0 3.0 .333 0.5 1.0 .500

Season 11
Larry Bird Dan Majerle
Season 1989-901998-99
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdHeat 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 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
Dan Majerle 48 33.8 7.0 0.4 3.9 4.3 3.1 0.8 0.1 1.1 2.1 2.5 6.2 .396 1.4 4.2 .335 0.7 1.0 .717
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
Dan Majerle 5 30.2 4.0 0.6 5.2 5.8 1.2 1.0 0.4 0.6 3.0 1.0 5.2 .192 1.0 4.4 .227 1.0 1.4 .714

Season 12
Larry Bird Dan Majerle
Season 1990-911999-00
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisHeat 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 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
Dan Majerle 69 33.4 7.3 0.4 4.4 4.8 3.0 1.3 0.2 0.9 2.3 2.5 6.1 .403 1.6 4.4 .362 0.8 1.0 .812
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
Dan Majerle 10 37.0 9.0 0.5 6.5 7.0 3.2 2.1 0.1 1.1 3.4 3.0 7.1 .423 2.0 5.0 .400 1.0 1.4 .714

Season 13
Larry Bird Dan Majerle
Season 1991-922000-01
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisHeat 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 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
Dan Majerle 53 24.6 5.0 0.4 2.8 3.1 1.7 1.0 0.3 0.7 1.8 1.6 4.9 .336 1.1 3.4 .315 0.7 0.8 .818
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
Dan Majerle 3 23.7 5.3 1.0 2.3 3.3 1.7 1.0 0.0 0.7 2.3 1.7 5.3 .313 1.3 4.7 .286 0.7 1.3 .500

Season 14
Larry Bird Dan Majerle
Season -2001-02
Team -Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did 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 ------- --- ----------
Dan Majerle 65 18.2 4.6 0.4 2.3 2.7 1.4 0.7 0.2 0.5 1.6 1.5 4.4 .343 1.2 3.6 .336 0.4 0.6 .590
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Dan Majerle ------- --- ----------
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