Bam Adebayo vs. Larry Bird Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Larry Bird and Bam Adebayo, 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.

Bam Adebayo played 7 years in the NBA, 6 less than Larry Bird, who played 13. Bam Adebayo had the first of his seasons in 2017-18, 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
Bam Adebayo 7 6 2017-18 to 2023-24
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

Bam Adebayo Larry Bird
Season 2017-181979-80
Team Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Bam Adebayo 69 19.8 6.9 1.7 3.8 5.5 1.5 0.5 0.6 1.0 2.0 2.5 4.9 .512 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.6 .721
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 %
Bam Adebayo 5 15.4 3.4 1.8 2.2 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.4 1.6 1.4 3.0 .467 0.0 0.2 .000 0.6 2.8 .214
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

Bam Adebayo Larry Bird
Season 2018-191980-81
Team Miami HeatBoston 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 %
Bam Adebayo 82 23.3 8.9 2.0 5.3 7.3 2.2 0.9 0.8 1.5 2.5 3.4 5.9 .576 0.0 0.2 .200 2.0 2.8 .735
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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
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

Bam Adebayo Larry Bird
Season 2019-201981-82
Team Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Heat Lost NBA FinalsCeltics 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 %
Bam Adebayo 72 33.6 15.9 2.4 7.8 10.2 5.1 1.1 1.3 2.8 2.5 6.1 11.0 .557 0.0 0.2 .143 3.7 5.3 .691
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 %
Bam Adebayo 19 36.2 17.8 2.5 7.8 10.3 4.4 1.0 0.8 2.5 3.1 6.5 11.6 .564 0.0 0.1 .000 4.7 6.1 .783
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

Bam Adebayo Larry Bird
Season 2020-211982-83
Team Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Bam Adebayo 64 33.5 18.7 2.2 6.7 9.0 5.4 1.2 1.0 2.6 2.3 7.1 12.5 .570 0.0 0.1 .250 4.4 5.5 .799
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 %
Bam Adebayo 4 34.0 15.5 3.5 5.8 9.3 4.3 1.3 0.5 2.8 2.8 6.5 14.3 .456 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.3 .769
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

Bam Adebayo Larry Bird
Season 2021-221983-84
Team Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Bam Adebayo 56 32.6 19.1 2.4 7.6 10.1 3.4 1.4 0.8 2.6 3.1 7.3 13.0 .557 0.0 0.1 .000 4.6 6.1 .753
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 %
Bam Adebayo 18 34.1 14.8 2.1 5.9 8.0 2.7 1.0 0.7 2.1 3.1 5.8 9.7 .594 0.0 0.1 .000 3.2 4.2 .763
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

Bam Adebayo Larry Bird
Season 2022-231984-85
Team Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost NBA FinalsCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bam Adebayo 75 34.6 20.4 2.5 6.7 9.2 3.2 1.2 0.8 2.5 2.8 8.0 14.9 .540 0.0 0.2 .083 4.3 5.4 .806
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 %
Bam Adebayo 23 37.0 17.9 2.7 7.1 9.9 3.7 0.9 0.7 2.7 3.1 7.3 15.1 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.1 .821
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

Bam Adebayo Larry Bird
Season 2023-241985-86
Team Miami HeatBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East 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 %
Bam Adebayo 71 34.0 19.3 2.2 8.1 10.4 3.9 1.1 0.9 2.3 2.2 7.5 14.3 .521 0.2 0.6 .357 4.1 5.5 .755
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 %
Bam Adebayo 5 38.4 22.6 2.2 7.2 9.4 3.8 0.4 0.0 1.6 3.0 9.6 19.4 .495 0.4 2.0 .200 3.0 4.2 .714
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

Bam Adebayo Larry Bird
Season -1986-87
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Celtics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
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

Bam Adebayo Larry Bird
Season -1987-88
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
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

Bam Adebayo Larry Bird
Season -1988-89
Team -Boston Celtics
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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Bam Adebayo Larry Bird
Season -1989-90
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
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

Bam Adebayo Larry Bird
Season -1990-91
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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
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

Bam Adebayo 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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
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 %
Bam Adebayo ------- --- ----------
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