Ryan Anderson vs. Larry Bird Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Larry Bird and Ryan Anderson, 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.

Ryan Anderson played 12 years in the NBA, 1 less than Larry Bird, who played 13. Ryan Anderson had the first of his seasons in 2008-09, while Larry Bird had his rookie season in 1979-80. 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
Ryan Anderson 12 6 2008-09 to 2019-20
Larry Bird 13 12 1979-80 to 1991-92

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Ryan Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2008-091979-80
Team New Jersey NetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Ryan Anderson 66 19.9 7.4 1.6 3.1 4.7 0.8 0.7 0.3 1.0 2.4 2.4 6.2 .393 1.0 2.9 .365 1.5 1.8 .845
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ryan Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Season 2

Ryan Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2009-101980-81
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic 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 %
Ryan Anderson 63 14.5 7.7 1.1 2.1 3.2 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.9 1.3 2.7 6.2 .436 1.2 3.3 .370 1.1 1.3 .866
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ryan Anderson 9 9.9 2.6 0.9 2.6 3.4 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.6 1.3 1.0 3.2 .310 0.4 1.6 .286 0.1 0.1 1.000
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

Season 3

Ryan Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2010-111981-82
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
Ryan Anderson 64 22.3 10.6 2.0 3.5 5.5 0.8 0.5 0.6 0.8 2.1 3.5 8.2 .430 2.1 5.3 .393 1.5 1.8 .812
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ryan Anderson 6 24.5 4.7 1.7 2.8 4.5 0.5 0.8 0.2 0.2 2.7 1.3 5.0 .267 1.0 3.3 .300 1.0 1.0 1.000
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

Season 4

Ryan Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2011-121982-83
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Most Improved Player-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
Ryan Anderson 61 32.2 16.1 3.7 4.0 7.7 0.9 0.8 0.4 0.9 2.4 5.4 12.4 .439 2.7 6.9 .393 2.5 2.8 .877
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ryan Anderson 5 34.4 9.6 1.8 2.8 4.6 0.8 0.6 0.4 1.8 4.4 3.0 8.8 .341 2.4 6.0 .400 1.2 1.4 .857
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

Season 5

Ryan Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2012-131983-84
Team New Orleans HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ryan Anderson 81 30.9 16.2 2.4 4.0 6.4 1.2 0.5 0.4 1.2 2.2 5.8 13.8 .423 2.6 6.9 .382 1.9 2.2 .844
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ryan Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Season 6

Ryan Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2013-141984-85
Team New Orleans PelicansBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ryan Anderson 22 36.1 19.8 3.0 3.5 6.5 0.8 0.5 0.3 0.9 2.1 7.0 16.1 .438 3.0 7.5 .409 2.7 2.8 .952
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ryan Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Season 7

Ryan Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2014-151985-86
Team New Orleans PelicansBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pelicans Lost West 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 %
Ryan Anderson 61 27.5 13.7 1.8 3.1 4.8 0.9 0.5 0.3 1.0 1.9 4.8 12.0 .399 2.0 5.9 .340 2.1 2.5 .854
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ryan Anderson 4 23.8 10.8 1.8 2.5 4.3 2.3 0.0 0.5 1.0 3.0 4.0 9.0 .444 1.3 3.0 .417 1.5 1.5 1.000
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

Season 8

Ryan Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2015-161986-87
Team New Orleans PelicansBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ryan Anderson 66 30.4 17.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 1.1 0.6 0.4 1.4 1.7 6.0 14.1 .427 2.0 5.4 .366 3.0 3.5 .873
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ryan Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Season 9

Ryan Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2016-171987-88
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisCeltics 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 %
Ryan Anderson 72 29.4 13.6 1.6 3.0 4.6 0.9 0.4 0.2 0.8 2.0 4.5 10.7 .418 2.8 7.0 .403 1.8 2.1 .860
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ryan Anderson 11 30.5 9.4 1.4 3.8 5.2 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.8 2.2 3.3 8.4 .391 1.5 5.5 .283 1.3 1.5 .875
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

Season 10

Ryan Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2017-181988-89
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West 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 %
Ryan Anderson 66 26.1 9.3 1.4 3.6 5.0 0.9 0.4 0.3 0.6 1.9 3.1 7.3 .431 2.0 5.1 .386 1.1 1.4 .774
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ryan Anderson 11 8.6 1.7 0.4 0.8 1.2 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.9 0.6 1.8 .350 0.5 1.4 .333 0.0 0.0 -
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Ryan Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2018-191989-90
Team Phoenix Suns, Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Ryan Anderson 25 12.8 2.5 0.7 1.4 2.2 0.8 0.2 0.0 0.6 1.0 0.8 2.8 .304 0.4 1.6 .225 0.5 0.6 .750
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ryan Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Season 12

Ryan Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2019-201990-91
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Ryan Anderson 2 7.0 2.5 0.0 3.5 3.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 3.5 .286 0.5 2.5 .200 0.0 0.0 -
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ryan Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Season 13

Ryan Anderson Larry Bird
Season -1991-92
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
Ryan Anderson ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Ryan Anderson ------- --- ----------
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