Larry Bird vs. Richard Hamilton Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Richard Hamilton 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 Richard Hamilton, who played 14. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Richard Hamilton had his rookie season in 1999-00. 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
Richard Hamilton 14 9 1999-00 to 2012-13

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 Richard Hamilton
Season 1979-801999-00
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards
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 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
Richard Hamilton 71 19.3 9.0 0.5 1.3 1.8 1.5 0.4 0.1 1.2 2.0 3.6 8.5 .420 0.4 1.1 .364 1.5 1.9 .774
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
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Richard Hamilton
Season 1980-812000-01
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards
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
Richard Hamilton 78 32.3 18.1 1.0 2.1 3.1 2.9 1.0 0.1 2.6 2.6 7.0 16.0 .438 0.5 1.9 .274 3.6 4.1 .868
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
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Larry Bird Richard Hamilton
Season 1981-822001-02
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards
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
Richard Hamilton 63 35.0 20.0 1.2 2.3 3.4 2.7 0.6 0.2 2.1 2.2 7.5 17.2 .435 0.3 0.7 .381 4.8 5.3 .890
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
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Bird Richard Hamilton
Season 1982-832002-03
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisPistons 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 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
Richard Hamilton 82 32.2 19.7 1.1 2.8 3.9 2.5 0.8 0.2 2.4 3.0 7.0 15.7 .443 0.4 1.5 .269 5.4 6.4 .833
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
Richard Hamilton 17 38.7 22.5 1.1 2.8 3.9 2.6 0.8 0.1 3.4 3.0 7.9 17.8 .442 0.5 1.6 .333 6.2 6.9 .906

Season 5

Larry Bird Richard Hamilton
Season 1983-842003-04
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
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 ChampionNBA 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 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
Richard Hamilton 78 35.5 17.6 1.0 2.6 3.6 4.0 1.3 0.2 2.7 2.8 6.8 14.9 .455 0.2 0.9 .265 3.8 4.4 .868
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
Richard Hamilton 23 40.6 21.5 1.4 3.2 4.6 4.2 1.2 0.0 3.1 3.1 7.9 17.6 .447 0.7 1.7 .385 5.1 6.0 .848

Season 6

Larry Bird Richard Hamilton
Season 1984-852004-05
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsPistons 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 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
Richard Hamilton 76 38.5 18.7 1.0 2.9 3.9 4.9 1.0 0.2 2.9 3.1 6.7 15.3 .440 0.5 1.6 .305 4.8 5.6 .858
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
Richard Hamilton 25 43.2 20.0 1.2 3.1 4.3 4.3 0.8 0.1 3.1 3.2 7.9 17.5 .453 0.4 1.4 .294 3.8 4.8 .798

Season 7

Larry Bird Richard Hamilton
Season 1985-862005-06
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 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
Richard Hamilton 80 35.3 20.1 1.1 2.2 3.2 3.4 0.7 0.2 2.2 2.6 8.1 16.5 .491 0.7 1.5 .458 3.2 3.8 .845
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
Richard Hamilton 18 38.3 20.4 0.9 2.0 2.9 2.7 0.9 0.3 2.2 3.3 7.1 17.2 .413 0.8 2.2 .350 5.4 6.3 .851

Season 8

Larry Bird Richard Hamilton
Season 1986-872006-07
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsPistons 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 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
Richard Hamilton 75 36.8 19.8 1.0 2.8 3.8 3.8 0.8 0.2 2.1 3.1 7.3 15.6 .468 0.6 1.7 .341 4.6 5.4 .861
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
Richard Hamilton 16 39.9 18.8 2.0 2.3 4.3 3.8 0.9 0.1 1.9 3.8 6.8 15.8 .429 0.5 1.3 .400 4.8 5.6 .865

Season 9

Larry Bird Richard Hamilton
Season 1987-882007-08
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsPistons 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
Richard Hamilton 72 33.7 17.3 1.0 2.2 3.3 4.2 1.0 0.1 1.8 2.4 6.9 14.3 .484 0.9 2.0 .440 2.6 3.1 .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
Richard Hamilton 17 38.6 21.6 1.1 3.1 4.2 3.9 1.4 0.5 2.8 2.8 7.9 16.8 .470 0.5 1.5 .308 5.4 5.9 .911

Season 10

Larry Bird Richard Hamilton
Season 1988-892008-09
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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
Richard Hamilton 67 34.0 18.3 0.7 2.4 3.1 4.4 0.6 0.1 2.0 2.6 7.0 15.6 .447 1.0 2.8 .368 3.3 3.9 .848
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Richard Hamilton 4 38.5 13.3 0.5 2.3 2.8 5.0 1.3 0.3 2.5 3.0 5.3 14.8 .356 0.5 2.5 .200 2.3 2.5 .900

Season 11

Larry Bird Richard Hamilton
Season 1989-902009-10
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
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
Richard Hamilton 46 33.7 18.1 0.7 2.0 2.7 4.4 0.7 0.1 2.5 2.5 6.4 15.6 .409 0.9 3.0 .297 4.4 5.2 .846
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
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Larry Bird Richard Hamilton
Season 1990-912010-11
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
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
Richard Hamilton 55 27.2 14.1 0.4 1.9 2.3 3.1 0.7 0.1 1.6 1.7 5.2 12.2 .429 1.0 2.6 .382 2.7 3.1 .849
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
Richard Hamilton ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Larry Bird Richard Hamilton
Season 1991-922011-12
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisBulls 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
Richard Hamilton 28 24.9 11.6 0.7 1.6 2.4 3.0 0.4 0.0 1.8 2.0 5.0 11.1 .452 0.6 1.6 .370 1.0 1.3 .784
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
Richard Hamilton 6 28.5 13.0 1.3 1.8 3.2 3.0 0.2 0.0 1.3 2.5 4.8 11.7 .414 0.3 1.0 .333 3.0 3.7 .818

Season 14

Larry Bird Richard Hamilton
Season -2012-13
Team -Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bulls 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 ------- --- ----------
Richard Hamilton 50 21.8 9.8 0.3 1.3 1.7 2.4 0.5 0.1 1.7 1.9 4.1 9.5 .429 0.3 1.0 .308 1.3 1.5 .857
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Richard Hamilton 4 17.0 6.5 0.0 0.8 0.8 1.3 0.3 0.5 1.3 1.3 2.5 6.8 .370 0.8 1.8 .429 0.8 1.0 .750