Larry Bird vs. Nikola Vucevic Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nikola Vucevic 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 Nikola Vucevic both played 13 years in the NBA. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Nikola Vucevic had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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
Nikola Vucevic 13 4 2011-12 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Larry Bird Nikola Vucevic
Season 1979-802011-12
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
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 Finals76ers 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 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
Nikola Vucevic 51 15.9 5.5 1.7 3.1 4.8 0.6 0.4 0.7 0.6 2.2 2.6 5.7 .450 0.1 0.2 .375 0.4 0.7 .529
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
Nikola Vucevic 1 3.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.0 .500

Season 2
Larry Bird Nikola Vucevic
Season 1980-812012-13
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
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
Nikola Vucevic 77 33.2 13.1 3.5 8.4 11.9 1.9 0.8 1.0 1.8 2.8 6.0 11.5 .519 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.6 .683
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
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Larry Bird Nikola Vucevic
Season 1981-822013-14
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
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
Nikola Vucevic 57 31.8 14.2 3.2 7.7 11.0 1.8 1.1 0.8 2.0 3.0 6.2 12.2 .507 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.4 .766
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
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 4
Larry Bird Nikola Vucevic
Season 1982-832014-15
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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 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
Nikola Vucevic 74 34.2 19.3 3.2 7.7 10.9 2.0 0.7 0.7 2.0 3.0 8.5 16.3 .523 0.0 0.1 .333 2.2 2.9 .752
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
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Larry Bird Nikola Vucevic
Season 1983-842015-16
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 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
Nikola Vucevic 65 31.3 18.2 2.7 6.2 8.9 2.8 0.8 1.1 1.9 2.7 8.2 16.1 .510 0.0 0.1 .222 1.7 2.3 .753
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
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 6
Larry Bird Nikola Vucevic
Season 1984-852016-17
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
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 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
Nikola Vucevic 75 28.8 14.6 2.3 8.0 10.4 2.8 1.0 1.0 1.6 2.4 6.4 13.7 .468 0.3 1.0 .307 1.4 2.1 .669
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
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Larry Bird Nikola Vucevic
Season 1985-862017-18
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
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
Nikola Vucevic 57 29.5 16.5 1.8 7.4 9.2 3.4 1.0 1.1 1.9 2.5 7.0 14.7 .475 1.1 3.6 .314 1.4 1.6 .819
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
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 8
Larry Bird Nikola Vucevic
Season 1986-872018-19
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsMagic 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
Nikola Vucevic 80 31.4 20.8 2.8 9.2 12.0 3.8 1.0 1.1 2.0 2.0 8.8 16.9 .518 1.1 2.9 .364 2.2 2.8 .789
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
Nikola Vucevic 5 29.4 11.2 1.8 6.2 8.0 3.0 0.4 1.0 2.6 2.4 4.2 11.6 .362 0.6 2.6 .231 2.2 2.8 .786

Season 9
Larry Bird Nikola Vucevic
Season 1987-882019-20
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsMagic 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 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
Nikola Vucevic 62 32.2 19.6 2.3 8.6 10.9 3.6 0.9 0.8 1.4 2.2 8.0 16.7 .477 1.6 4.7 .339 2.1 2.7 .784
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
Nikola Vucevic 5 37.0 28.0 1.8 9.2 11.0 4.0 0.8 0.6 2.6 2.6 11.2 22.2 .505 3.6 8.8 .409 2.0 2.2 .909

Season 10
Larry Bird Nikola Vucevic
Season 1988-892020-21
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic, Chicago Bulls
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
Nikola Vucevic 70 33.5 23.4 2.1 9.6 11.7 3.8 0.9 0.7 1.8 2.0 9.5 19.9 .477 2.5 6.3 .400 1.9 2.2 .840
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Larry Bird Nikola Vucevic
Season 1989-902021-22
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdBulls 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
Nikola Vucevic 73 33.1 17.6 1.9 9.1 11.0 3.2 1.0 1.0 1.9 2.5 7.5 15.8 .473 1.4 4.5 .314 1.3 1.7 .760
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
Nikola Vucevic 5 36.2 19.4 2.8 9.6 12.4 3.2 0.4 1.2 1.6 2.8 8.0 18.2 .440 2.6 8.4 .310 0.8 1.0 .800

Season 12
Larry Bird Nikola Vucevic
Season 1990-912022-23
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
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
Nikola Vucevic 82 33.5 17.6 1.9 9.1 11.0 3.2 0.7 0.7 1.7 2.2 7.3 14.0 .520 1.5 4.2 .349 1.6 1.9 .835
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
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Larry Bird Nikola Vucevic
Season 1991-922023-24
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
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 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
Nikola Vucevic 76 34.3 18.0 2.8 7.8 10.5 3.3 0.7 0.8 1.6 2.5 7.7 15.9 .484 1.2 4.1 .294 1.4 1.7 .822
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
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------
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