Larry Bird vs. Mel Nowell Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Mel Nowell 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.

Mel Nowell

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Larry Bird: 1979-80 to 1991-92
Mel Nowell: 1962-63 to 1962-63

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Larry Bird 3 Mel Nowell 0

NBA Seasons Larry Bird 13 Mel Nowell 1

Playoffs Played Larry Bird 12 Mel Nowell 0

All-Star Games Larry Bird 12 Mel Nowell 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Larry Bird 3 Mel Nowell 0

Finals MVP Larry Bird 2 Mel Nowell 0 *

All-NBA First Team Larry Bird 9 Mel Nowell 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Larry Bird 10 Mel Nowell 0

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Larry Bird 3 Mel Nowell 0

Rookie of The Year Larry Bird 1 Mel Nowell 0

* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Larry Bird 24.3 Mel Nowell 5.9

Rebounds Per Game Larry Bird 10.0 Mel Nowell 1.7

Assists Per Game Larry Bird 6.3 Mel Nowell 2.2

Steals Per Game Larry Bird 1.7 Mel Nowell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Larry Bird 0.8 Mel Nowell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Larry Bird 21,791 Mel Nowell 232

Total Rebounds Larry Bird 8,974 Mel Nowell 67

Total Assists Larry Bird 5,695 Mel Nowell 84

Total Steals Larry Bird 1,556 Mel Nowell - n/a **

Total Blocks Larry Bird 755 Mel Nowell - n/a **

Total Games Larry Bird 897 Mel Nowell 39

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Larry Bird .496 Mel Nowell .388

3-Point Percentage Larry Bird .376 Mel Nowell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Larry Bird .886 Mel Nowell .727

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Larry Bird 29.9 (1988) Mel Nowell 5.9 (1963)

Rebounds Per Game Larry Bird 11.0 (1983) Mel Nowell 1.7 (1963)

Assists Per Game Larry Bird 7.6 (1987) Mel Nowell 2.2 (1963)

Steals Per Game Larry Bird 2.0 (1986) Mel Nowell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Larry Bird 1.2 (1985) Mel Nowell - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Larry Bird 23.8 Mel Nowell -

Rebounds Per Game Larry Bird 10.3 Mel Nowell -

Assists Per Game Larry Bird 6.5 Mel Nowell -

Steals Per Game Larry Bird 1.8 Mel Nowell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Larry Bird 0.9 Mel Nowell - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Larry Bird 3,897 Mel Nowell -

Total Rebounds Larry Bird 1,683 Mel Nowell -

Total Assists Larry Bird 1,062 Mel Nowell -

Total Steals Larry Bird 296 Mel Nowell - n/a **

Total Blocks Larry Bird 145 Mel Nowell - n/a **

Total Games Larry Bird 164 Mel Nowell 0

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Larry Bird .472 Mel Nowell -

3-Point Percentage Larry Bird .321 Mel Nowell - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Larry Bird .890 Mel Nowell -

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Larry Bird 27.5 (1984) Mel Nowell -

Rebounds Per Game Larry Bird 14.0 (1981) Mel Nowell -

Assists Per Game Larry Bird 8.8 (1990) Mel Nowell -

Steals Per Game Larry Bird 2.3 (1984) Mel Nowell - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Larry Bird 1.4 (1982) Mel Nowell - n/a **

Notes: ** 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.