Larry Bird vs. Grant Hill Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Grant Hill 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 played 13 years in the NBA, 5 less than Grant Hill, who played 18. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Grant Hill had his rookie season in 1994-95. 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
Grant Hill 18 8 1994-95 to 2012-13

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Grant Hill
Season 1979-801994-95
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
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 GameAchievement 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
Grant Hill 70 38.3 19.9 1.8 4.6 6.4 5.0 1.8 0.9 2.9 2.9 7.3 15.2 .477 0.1 0.4 .148 5.3 7.3 .732
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
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Grant Hill
Season 1980-811995-96
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 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
Grant Hill 80 40.8 20.2 1.6 8.2 9.8 6.9 1.3 0.6 3.3 3.0 7.1 15.3 .462 0.1 0.3 .192 6.1 8.1 .751
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
Grant Hill 3 38.3 19.0 1.3 6.0 7.3 3.7 1.0 0.0 2.7 4.3 7.3 13.0 .564 0.3 0.7 .500 4.0 4.7 .857

Season 3

Larry Bird Grant Hill
Season 1981-821996-97
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 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 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
Grant Hill 80 39.3 21.4 1.5 7.5 9.0 7.3 1.8 0.6 3.2 2.3 7.8 15.7 .496 0.1 0.4 .303 5.6 7.9 .711
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
Grant Hill 5 40.8 23.6 2.6 4.2 6.8 5.4 0.8 1.0 3.8 2.8 9.0 20.6 .437 0.0 0.0 - 5.6 7.8 .718

Season 4

Larry Bird Grant Hill
Season 1982-831997-98
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 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
Grant Hill 81 40.7 21.1 1.1 6.5 7.7 6.8 1.8 0.7 3.5 2.4 7.6 16.8 .452 0.0 0.3 .143 5.9 8.0 .740
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
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Larry Bird Grant Hill
Season 1983-841998-99
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 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
Grant Hill 50 37.0 21.1 1.3 5.8 7.1 6.0 1.6 0.5 3.7 2.3 7.7 16.0 .479 0.0 0.3 .000 5.7 7.6 .752
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
Grant Hill 5 35.0 19.4 1.4 5.8 7.2 7.4 2.0 0.4 2.4 2.4 8.4 18.4 .457 0.0 0.2 .000 2.6 3.2 .813

Season 6

Larry Bird Grant Hill
Season 1984-851999-00
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 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
Grant Hill 74 37.5 25.8 1.3 5.3 6.6 5.2 1.4 0.6 3.2 2.6 9.4 19.2 .489 0.5 1.3 .347 6.5 8.2 .795
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
Grant Hill 2 28.0 11.0 0.0 5.5 5.5 4.5 0.5 0.0 5.0 3.5 3.0 8.0 .375 0.5 1.0 .500 4.5 5.0 .900

Season 7

Larry Bird Grant Hill
Season 1985-862000-01
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First 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 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
Grant Hill 4 33.3 13.8 2.0 4.3 6.3 6.3 1.3 0.5 2.8 2.3 4.8 10.8 .442 0.3 0.3 1.000 4.0 6.5 .615
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
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Larry Bird Grant Hill
Season 1986-872001-02
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
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
Grant Hill 14 36.6 16.8 2.1 6.9 8.9 4.6 0.6 0.3 2.6 2.9 5.9 13.9 .426 0.0 0.1 .000 4.9 5.7 .863
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
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Larry Bird Grant Hill
Season 1987-882002-03
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
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
Grant Hill 29 29.1 14.5 1.4 5.7 7.1 4.2 1.0 0.4 2.9 1.6 5.2 10.6 .492 0.0 0.1 .250 4.1 5.0 .819
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
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------

Note: Grant Hill didn't play in 2003-04.

Season 10

Larry Bird Grant Hill
Season 1988-892004-05
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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
Grant Hill 67 34.9 19.7 1.1 3.6 4.7 3.3 1.4 0.4 2.4 2.1 7.7 15.1 .509 0.0 0.2 .231 4.2 5.1 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Larry Bird Grant Hill
Season 1989-902005-06
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
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
Grant Hill 21 29.2 15.1 0.7 3.1 3.8 2.3 1.1 0.3 1.7 2.4 5.7 11.6 .490 0.1 0.4 .250 3.7 4.9 .765
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
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Larry Bird Grant Hill
Season 1990-912006-07
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisMagic 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 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
Grant Hill 65 30.9 14.4 0.8 2.8 3.6 2.1 0.9 0.4 2.2 2.2 5.3 10.2 .518 0.0 0.2 .167 3.8 5.0 .765
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
Grant Hill 4 35.8 15.0 0.5 5.0 5.5 3.8 0.5 0.3 2.5 2.0 4.8 9.5 .500 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 8.3 .667

Season 13

Larry Bird Grant Hill
Season 1991-922007-08
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisSuns 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 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
Grant Hill 70 31.7 13.1 1.1 4.0 5.0 2.9 0.9 0.8 1.4 2.2 5.1 10.2 .503 0.5 1.5 .317 2.4 2.8 .867
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
Grant Hill 3 22.7 3.7 1.0 4.3 5.3 1.0 0.7 0.3 0.0 1.0 1.7 3.7 .455 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 1.000

Season 14

Larry Bird Grant Hill
Season -2008-09
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 ------- --- ----------
Grant Hill 82 29.8 12.0 0.8 4.2 4.9 2.3 1.1 0.7 1.5 2.2 4.8 9.1 .523 0.3 0.9 .316 2.2 2.7 .808
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Larry Bird Grant Hill
Season -2009-10
Team -Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Suns 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 ------- --- ----------
Grant Hill 81 30.0 11.3 0.9 4.6 5.5 2.4 0.7 0.4 1.3 2.0 4.1 8.7 .478 0.4 1.0 .438 2.5 3.1 .817
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Grant Hill 16 28.3 9.6 0.8 5.1 5.8 2.3 0.8 0.6 1.2 2.9 3.7 7.7 .480 0.2 1.0 .188 2.1 2.4 .868

Season 16

Larry Bird Grant Hill
Season -2010-11
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 ------- --- ----------
Grant Hill 80 30.1 13.2 1.0 3.3 4.2 2.5 0.8 0.4 1.7 2.3 5.0 10.3 .484 0.6 1.4 .395 2.7 3.2 .829
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Larry Bird Grant Hill
Season -2011-12
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 ------- --- ----------
Grant Hill 49 28.1 10.2 0.6 2.9 3.5 2.2 0.8 0.6 1.3 1.8 4.1 9.2 .446 0.3 1.1 .264 1.7 2.2 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Grant Hill ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Larry Bird Grant Hill
Season -2012-13
Team -Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Clippers 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 ------- --- ----------
Grant Hill 29 15.1 3.2 0.2 1.5 1.7 0.9 0.4 0.2 0.9 1.3 1.3 3.4 .388 0.1 0.4 .273 0.5 0.8 .583
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Grant Hill 1 20.0 4.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 5.0 2.0 4.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -