Larry Bird vs. Rick Mahorn Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rick Mahorn 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, 5 less than Rick Mahorn, who played 18. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Rick Mahorn had his rookie season in 1980-81. 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
Rick Mahorn 18 13 1980-81 to 1998-99

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 Rick Mahorn
Season 1979-801980-81
Team Boston CelticsWashington Bullets
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
Rick Mahorn 52 13.4 4.8 1.3 2.8 4.1 0.5 0.4 0.8 0.7 2.6 2.1 4.2 .507 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.8 .675
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
Rick Mahorn ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Rick Mahorn
Season 1980-811981-82
Team Boston CelticsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBullets 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 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
Rick Mahorn 80 33.3 12.2 1.9 6.9 8.8 1.9 0.7 1.7 2.0 4.4 5.2 10.2 .507 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 2.9 .632
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
Rick Mahorn 7 34.6 10.6 2.0 6.7 8.7 1.9 1.4 0.7 2.3 4.3 4.6 10.4 .438 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.0 .714

Season 3

Larry Bird Rick Mahorn
Season 1981-821982-83
Team Boston CelticsWashington Bullets
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
Rick Mahorn 82 36.9 11.0 2.1 7.4 9.5 1.4 1.0 1.8 2.1 4.1 4.6 9.4 .490 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 3.1 .575
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
Rick Mahorn ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Bird Rick Mahorn
Season 1982-831983-84
Team Boston CelticsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisBullets 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 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
Rick Mahorn 82 32.9 9.0 2.1 6.9 9.0 1.6 0.8 1.5 1.7 4.4 3.7 7.4 .507 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.3 .651
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
Rick Mahorn 4 38.5 9.5 1.8 9.0 10.8 1.5 0.3 1.5 1.5 4.8 3.8 6.3 .600 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 2.5 .800

Season 5

Larry Bird Rick Mahorn
Season 1983-841984-85
Team Boston CelticsWashington Bullets
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 ChampionBullets 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
Rick Mahorn 77 26.9 6.3 1.9 5.9 7.9 1.6 0.8 1.4 1.7 4.0 2.7 5.4 .499 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.4 .683
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
Rick Mahorn 4 10.3 3.0 0.5 1.3 1.8 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.3 2.3 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 6

Larry Bird Rick Mahorn
Season 1984-851985-86
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement 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
Rick Mahorn 80 18.0 4.9 1.5 3.6 5.2 0.8 0.5 0.8 1.4 3.3 2.0 4.3 .455 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.5 .681
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
Rick Mahorn 4 15.3 3.0 0.8 2.3 3.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.8 3.5 1.3 3.3 .385 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 7

Larry Bird Rick Mahorn
Season 1985-861986-87
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement 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
Rick Mahorn 63 20.3 6.1 1.5 4.5 6.0 0.6 0.5 0.8 1.2 3.5 2.3 5.1 .447 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 1.9 .821
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
Rick Mahorn 15 32.2 9.7 2.8 6.7 9.5 0.3 0.4 0.7 1.1 4.0 3.9 7.3 .541 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.3 .800

Season 8

Larry Bird Rick Mahorn
Season 1986-871987-88
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards 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 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
Rick Mahorn 67 29.3 10.7 2.4 6.1 8.4 0.9 0.6 0.6 1.8 3.9 4.1 7.2 .574 0.0 0.0 .500 2.4 3.2 .756
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
Rick Mahorn 23 17.8 3.3 0.8 3.0 3.9 0.6 0.2 0.4 0.7 2.8 1.3 3.9 .344 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .684

Season 9

Larry Bird Rick Mahorn
Season 1987-881988-89
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNBA 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 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
Rick Mahorn 72 24.9 7.3 2.0 4.9 6.9 0.8 0.6 0.9 1.3 2.9 2.8 5.5 .517 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.2 .748
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
Rick Mahorn 17 21.2 5.7 1.8 3.4 5.1 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.6 3.5 2.4 4.1 .580 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.5 .654

Season 10

Larry Bird Rick Mahorn
Season 1988-891989-90
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Did Not Play76ers 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 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
Rick Mahorn 75 30.3 10.8 2.2 5.3 7.6 1.3 0.6 1.4 1.4 3.3 4.2 8.4 .497 0.0 0.1 .222 2.4 3.4 .715
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn 10 34.2 9.4 1.8 5.2 7.0 1.0 0.7 0.8 1.3 4.1 3.7 8.6 .430 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 2.6 .769

Season 11

Larry Bird Rick Mahorn
Season 1989-901990-91
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st Rd76ers 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 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
Rick Mahorn 80 30.5 8.9 1.9 5.9 7.8 1.5 1.0 0.7 1.6 3.5 3.3 7.0 .467 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.0 .788
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
Rick Mahorn 8 26.0 6.4 0.9 4.4 5.3 1.8 0.3 0.5 1.0 3.1 2.5 4.5 .556 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.8 .786

Note: Rick Mahorn didn't play in 1991-92.

Season 12

Larry Bird Rick Mahorn
Season 1990-911992-93
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisNets 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
Rick Mahorn 74 14.6 3.9 1.3 2.5 3.8 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.8 2.1 1.4 2.9 .472 0.0 0.0 .333 1.2 1.5 .800
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
Rick Mahorn 4 15.8 2.0 1.0 2.3 3.3 0.8 0.0 0.5 0.3 2.3 1.0 2.5 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 13

Larry Bird Rick Mahorn
Season 1991-921993-94
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisNets 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
Rick Mahorn 28 8.1 2.1 0.6 1.4 1.9 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 1.4 0.8 1.7 .489 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.7 .650
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
Rick Mahorn 3 6.3 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 2.3 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 14

Larry Bird Rick Mahorn
Season -1994-95
Team -New Jersey Nets
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 ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn 58 10.9 3.4 0.8 2.0 2.8 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.6 1.6 1.4 2.6 .523 0.0 0.1 .333 0.7 0.8 .796
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Larry Bird Rick Mahorn
Season -1995-96
Team -New Jersey Nets
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 ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn 50 9.0 2.4 0.6 1.6 2.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.6 1.4 0.9 2.4 .352 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 0.9 .723
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Larry Bird Rick Mahorn
Season -1996-97
Team -Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pistons 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 ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn 22 9.9 2.5 0.9 1.5 2.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.5 1.5 0.9 2.5 .370 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 1.0 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn 2 9.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.5 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 17

Larry Bird Rick Mahorn
Season -1997-98
Team -Detroit Pistons
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 ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn 59 12.0 2.4 1.1 2.2 3.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.6 2.1 1.0 2.2 .457 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.6 .676
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Larry Bird Rick Mahorn
Season -1998-99
Team -Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -76ers 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 ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn 16 7.9 0.8 0.4 1.0 1.4 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.4 1.4 0.3 1.1 .278 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.5 .375
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Rick Mahorn 5 5.8 1.0 0.4 1.2 1.6 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 1.2 0.4 1.2 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.4 .500