Shareef Abdur-Rahim vs. Larry Bird Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Larry Bird and Shareef Abdur-Rahim, 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.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim played 12 years in the NBA, 1 less than Larry Bird, who played 13. Shareef Abdur-Rahim had the first of his seasons in 1996-97, 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
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 12 1 1996-97 to 2007-08
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Larry Bird
Season 1996-971979-80
Team Vancouver GrizzliesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 80 35.0 18.7 2.7 4.2 6.9 2.2 1.0 1.0 2.8 2.5 6.9 15.2 .453 0.1 0.3 .259 4.8 6.5 .746
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Larry Bird
Season 1997-981980-81
Team Vancouver GrizzliesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 82 36.0 22.3 2.8 4.3 7.1 2.6 1.1 0.9 3.1 2.5 8.0 16.4 .485 0.3 0.6 .412 6.1 7.8 .784
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Larry Bird
Season 1998-991981-82
Team Vancouver GrizzliesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 50 40.4 23.0 2.3 5.2 7.5 3.4 1.4 1.1 3.7 2.7 7.7 17.9 .432 0.2 0.7 .306 7.4 8.8 .841
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Larry Bird
Season 1999-001982-83
Team Vancouver GrizzliesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 82 39.3 20.3 2.7 7.4 10.1 3.3 1.1 1.1 3.0 3.0 7.2 15.6 .465 0.4 1.2 .302 5.4 6.7 .809
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Larry Bird
Season 2000-011983-84
Team Vancouver GrizzliesBoston 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 81 40.0 20.5 2.2 6.9 9.1 3.1 1.1 1.0 2.9 2.9 7.5 15.8 .472 0.1 0.8 .188 5.5 6.6 .834
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Larry Bird
Season 2001-021984-85
Team Atlanta HawksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 77 38.7 21.2 2.6 6.5 9.0 3.1 1.3 1.1 3.2 2.8 7.8 16.8 .461 0.3 0.9 .300 5.4 6.8 .801
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Larry Bird
Season 2002-031985-86
Team Atlanta HawksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 81 38.1 19.9 2.2 6.2 8.4 3.0 1.1 0.5 2.6 3.0 7.0 14.6 .478 0.3 0.7 .350 5.6 6.7 .841
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Larry Bird
Season 2003-041986-87
Team Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail BlazersBoston 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 85 31.6 16.3 2.2 5.3 7.5 2.0 0.8 0.4 2.2 2.6 5.9 12.4 .475 0.1 0.4 .265 4.4 5.0 .869
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Larry Bird
Season 2004-051987-88
Team Portland Trail BlazersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 54 34.6 16.8 2.3 5.0 7.3 2.1 0.9 0.5 2.2 2.8 6.2 12.4 .503 0.3 0.7 .385 4.1 4.7 .866
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Larry Bird
Season 2005-061988-89
Team Sacramento KingsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Kings Lost West 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 72 27.2 12.3 1.5 3.5 5.0 2.1 0.7 0.6 1.5 3.2 4.6 8.8 .525 0.1 0.3 .227 3.0 3.9 .784
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 6 21.5 9.2 1.3 3.5 4.8 1.2 0.3 0.0 2.2 4.5 3.8 7.2 .535 0.0 0.5 .000 1.5 2.5 .600
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Larry Bird
Season 2006-071989-90
Team Sacramento KingsBoston 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 80 25.2 9.9 1.5 3.5 5.0 1.4 0.7 0.5 1.5 3.0 3.9 8.2 .474 0.0 0.3 .150 2.1 2.9 .726
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim Larry Bird
Season 2007-081990-91
Team Sacramento KingsBoston 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 6 8.5 1.7 1.0 0.7 1.7 0.7 0.2 0.0 0.2 1.5 0.5 2.3 .214 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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

Shareef Abdur-Rahim 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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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 %
Shareef Abdur-Rahim ------- --- ----------
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