Larry Bird vs. Oscar Robertson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Oscar Robertson 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, 1 less than Oscar Robertson, who played 14. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Oscar Robertson had his rookie season in 1960-61. 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
Oscar Robertson 14 10 1960-61 to 1973-74

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 Oscar Robertson
Season 1979-801960-61
Team Boston CelticsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Rookie of the YearAchievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 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
Oscar Robertson 71 42.7 30.5 - - 10.1 9.7 - - - 3.1 10.6 22.5 .473 - - - 9.2 11.2 .822
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
Oscar Robertson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Oscar Robertson
Season 1980-811961-62
Team Boston CelticsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRoyals Lost West Div 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
Oscar Robertson 79 44.3 30.8 - - 12.5 11.4 - - - 3.3 11.0 22.9 .478 - - - 8.9 11.0 .803
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
Oscar Robertson 4 46.3 28.8 - - 11.0 11.0 - - - 4.5 10.5 20.3 .519 - - - 7.8 9.8 .795

Season 3

Larry Bird Oscar Robertson
Season 1981-821962-63
Team Boston CelticsCincinnati Royals
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 FinalsRoyals Lost East Div Finals
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
Oscar Robertson 80 44.0 28.3 - - 10.4 9.5 - - - 3.7 10.3 19.9 .518 - - - 7.7 9.5 .810
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
Oscar Robertson 12 47.5 31.8 - - 13.0 9.0 - - - 3.4 10.3 22.0 .470 - - - 11.1 12.8 .864

Season 4

Larry Bird Oscar Robertson
Season 1982-831963-64
Team Boston CelticsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisRoyals Lost East Div 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 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
Oscar Robertson 79 45.1 31.4 - - 9.9 11.0 - - - 3.5 10.6 22.0 .483 - - - 10.1 11.9 .853
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
Oscar Robertson 10 47.1 29.3 - - 8.9 8.4 - - - 3.0 9.2 20.2 .455 - - - 10.9 12.7 .858

Season 5

Larry Bird Oscar Robertson
Season 1983-841964-65
Team Boston CelticsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRoyals Lost East Div 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
Oscar Robertson 75 45.6 30.4 - - 9.0 11.5 - - - 2.7 10.8 22.4 .480 - - - 8.9 10.6 .839
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
Oscar Robertson 4 48.8 28.0 - - 4.8 12.0 - - - 3.5 9.5 22.3 .427 - - - 9.0 9.8 .923

Season 6

Larry Bird Oscar Robertson
Season 1984-851965-66
Team Boston CelticsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsRoyals Lost East Div 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
Oscar Robertson 76 46.0 31.3 - - 7.7 11.1 - - - 3.0 10.8 22.7 .475 - - - 9.8 11.6 .842
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
Oscar Robertson 5 44.8 31.8 - - 7.6 7.8 - - - 4.0 9.8 24.0 .408 - - - 12.2 13.6 .897

Season 7

Larry Bird Oscar Robertson
Season 1985-861966-67
Team Boston CelticsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRoyals Lost East Div 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
Oscar Robertson 79 43.9 30.5 - - 6.2 10.7 - - - 2.9 10.6 21.5 .493 - - - 9.3 10.7 .873
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
Oscar Robertson 4 45.8 24.8 - - 4.0 11.3 - - - 2.3 8.3 16.0 .516 - - - 8.3 9.3 .892

Season 8

Larry Bird Oscar Robertson
Season 1986-871967-68
Team Boston CelticsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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
Oscar Robertson 65 42.5 29.2 - - 6.0 9.7 - - - 3.1 10.2 20.3 .500 - - - 8.9 10.2 .873
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
Oscar Robertson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Larry Bird Oscar Robertson
Season 1987-881968-69
Team Boston CelticsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 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
Oscar Robertson 79 43.8 24.7 - - 6.4 9.8 - - - 2.9 8.3 17.1 .486 - - - 8.1 9.7 .838
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
Oscar Robertson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Larry Bird Oscar Robertson
Season 1988-891969-70
Team Boston CelticsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-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
Oscar Robertson 69 41.5 25.3 - - 6.1 8.1 - - - 2.5 9.4 18.4 .511 - - - 6.6 8.1 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Oscar Robertson ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Larry Bird Oscar Robertson
Season 1989-901970-71
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA 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 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
Oscar Robertson 81 39.4 19.4 - - 5.7 8.2 - - - 2.5 7.3 14.7 .496 - - - 4.8 5.6 .850
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
Oscar Robertson 14 37.1 18.3 - - 5.0 8.9 - - - 2.8 7.3 15.0 .486 - - - 3.7 4.9 .754

Season 12

Larry Bird Oscar Robertson
Season 1990-911971-72
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisBucks 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 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
Oscar Robertson 64 37.3 17.4 - - 5.0 7.7 - - - 1.8 6.5 13.9 .472 - - - 4.3 5.2 .836
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
Oscar Robertson 11 34.5 13.1 - - 5.8 7.5 - - - 2.6 5.2 12.7 .407 - - - 2.7 3.3 .833

Season 13

Larry Bird Oscar Robertson
Season 1991-921972-73
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisBucks 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 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
Oscar Robertson 73 37.5 15.5 - - 4.9 7.5 - - - 2.3 6.1 13.5 .454 - - - 3.3 3.8 .847
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
Oscar Robertson 6 42.7 21.2 - - 4.7 7.5 - - - 3.5 8.0 16.0 .500 - - - 5.2 5.7 .912

Season 14

Larry Bird Oscar Robertson
Season -1973-74
Team -Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bucks 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 ------- --- ----------
Oscar Robertson 70 35.4 12.7 1.0 3.0 4.0 6.4 1.1 0.1 - 1.9 4.8 11.0 .438 - - - 3.0 3.6 .835
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Oscar Robertson 16 43.1 14.0 0.9 2.4 3.4 9.3 0.9 0.3 - 2.9 5.6 12.5 .450 - - - 2.8 3.3 .846