Larry Bird vs. Don Carlson Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Don Carlson and Larry Bird that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

Larry Bird

vs.

Don Carlson

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Larry Bird: 1979-80 to 1991-92
Don Carlson: 1946-47 to 1950-51

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Larry Bird 3 Don Carlson 2

NBA Seasons Larry Bird 13 Don Carlson 4

Playoffs Played Larry Bird 12 Don Carlson 3

All-Star Games Larry Bird 12 Don Carlson 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Larry Bird 3 Don Carlson 0 *

Finals MVP Larry Bird 2 Don Carlson 0 *

All-NBA First Team Larry Bird 9 Don Carlson 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Larry Bird 10 Don Carlson 0

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Larry Bird 3 Don Carlson 0

Rookie of The Year Larry Bird 1 Don Carlson 0 *

* Notes: Season MVP is awarded since 1955-56. Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69. Rookie of The Year is awarded since 1952-53.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Larry Bird 24.3 Don Carlson 8.0

Rebounds Per Game Larry Bird 10.0 Don Carlson 1.7 *

Assists Per Game Larry Bird 6.3 Don Carlson 1.8

Steals Per Game Larry Bird 1.7 Don Carlson - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Larry Bird 0.8 Don Carlson - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Larry Bird 21,791 Don Carlson 1,447

Total Rebounds Larry Bird 8,974 Don Carlson 15 *

Total Assists Larry Bird 5,695 Don Carlson 324

Total Steals Larry Bird 1,556 Don Carlson - n/a **

Total Blocks Larry Bird 755 Don Carlson - n/a **

Total Games Larry Bird 897 Don Carlson 180

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Larry Bird .496 Don Carlson .330

3-Point Percentage Larry Bird .376 Don Carlson - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Larry Bird .886 Don Carlson .623

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Larry Bird 29.9 (1988) Don Carlson 10.7 (1947)

Rebounds Per Game Larry Bird 11.0 (1983) Don Carlson 1.7 (1951) *

Assists Per Game Larry Bird 7.6 (1987) Don Carlson 3.1 (1949)

Steals Per Game Larry Bird 2.0 (1986) Don Carlson - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Larry Bird 1.2 (1985) Don Carlson - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Larry Bird 23.8 Don Carlson 8.0

Rebounds Per Game Larry Bird 10.3 Don Carlson - *

Assists Per Game Larry Bird 6.5 Don Carlson 1.5

Steals Per Game Larry Bird 1.8 Don Carlson - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Larry Bird 0.9 Don Carlson - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Larry Bird 3,897 Don Carlson 249

Total Rebounds Larry Bird 1,683 Don Carlson 0 *

Total Assists Larry Bird 1,062 Don Carlson 45

Total Steals Larry Bird 296 Don Carlson - n/a **

Total Blocks Larry Bird 145 Don Carlson - n/a **

Total Games Larry Bird 164 Don Carlson 31

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Larry Bird .472 Don Carlson .295

3-Point Percentage Larry Bird .321 Don Carlson - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Larry Bird .890 Don Carlson .631

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Larry Bird 27.5 (1984) Don Carlson 12.3 (1947)

Rebounds Per Game Larry Bird 14.0 (1981) Don Carlson - *

Assists Per Game Larry Bird 8.8 (1990) Don Carlson 2.8 (1949)

Steals Per Game Larry Bird 2.3 (1984) Don Carlson - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Larry Bird 1.4 (1982) Don Carlson - n/a **

Notes: * Rebounds started to be recorded in 1950-51. Some years in this player's career don't have stats. ** Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74, this player has no data for the stat. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat.