Deandre Ayton vs. Larry Bird Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Larry Bird and Deandre Ayton, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.
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.
Deandre Ayton played 8 years in the NBA, 5 less than Larry Bird, who played 13. Deandre Ayton had the first of his seasons in 2018-19, 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 achievements, 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 |
| Deandre Ayton |
8 |
3 |
2018-19 to 2025-26 |
| Larry Bird |
13 |
12 |
1979-80 to 1991-92 |
Comparison Season by Season |
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Jump to season:
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Rookie Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Deandre Ayton |
71 |
30.7 |
16.3 |
3.1 |
7.1 |
10.3 |
1.8 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
1.8 |
2.9 |
7.2 |
12.3 |
.585 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
.000 |
2.0 |
2.7 |
.746 |
| difference: | +11 | +5.3 | +5.0 | +0.5 | +0.7 | +0.1 | +2.7 | +0.8 | +0.3 | -1.4 | -0.5 | +1.3 | +5.5 | +.111 | +0.7 | +1.6 | +.406 | +1.7 | +1.7 | +.090 |
| 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 | % |
| Deandre Ayton |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
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2nd Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Deandre Ayton |
38 |
32.5 |
18.2 |
3.9 |
7.6 |
11.5 |
1.9 |
0.7 |
1.5 |
2.1 |
3.1 |
8.2 |
14.9 |
.546 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
.231 |
1.8 |
2.3 |
.753 |
| difference: | +44 | +7.0 | +3.0 | +1.6 | +1.0 | +0.6 | +3.6 | +1.3 | +0.7 | -1.4 | -0.2 | +0.6 | +3.4 | +.068 | +0.1 | +0.6 | +.039 | +1.7 | +1.7 | +.110 |
| 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 | % |
| Deandre Ayton |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
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3rd Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Deandre Ayton |
69 |
30.7 |
14.4 |
3.3 |
7.2 |
10.5 |
1.4 |
0.6 |
1.2 |
1.5 |
2.8 |
6.2 |
10.0 |
.626 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
.200 |
1.9 |
2.5 |
.769 |
| difference: | +8 | +7.3 | +8.5 | +0.7 | +1.1 | +0.4 | +4.4 | +1.3 | +0.3 | -1.8 | -0.4 | +3.0 | +8.4 | +.123 | | +0.4 | +.012 | +2.4 | +2.4 | +.094 |
| 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 | % |
| Deandre Ayton |
22 |
36.4 |
15.8 |
3.0 |
8.8 |
11.8 |
1.1 |
0.8 |
1.1 |
1.3 |
2.9 |
7.0 |
10.6 |
.658 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
1.8 |
2.4 |
.736 |
| difference: | +10 | +4.4 | +2.0 | +0.2 | +1.0 | +0.7 | +4.5 | +1.1 | +0.3 | -1.9 | -0.7 | +0.3 | +6.6 | +.231 | +0.1 | +0.5 | | +1.3 | +1.4 | +.086 |
| 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 |
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4th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Deandre Ayton |
58 |
29.5 |
17.2 |
2.6 |
7.7 |
10.2 |
1.4 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
1.6 |
2.4 |
7.6 |
12.0 |
.634 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
.368 |
1.8 |
2.4 |
.746 |
| difference: | +21 | +8.2 | +6.4 | +0.2 | +0.9 | +0.8 | +4.4 | +1.2 | +0.2 | -1.4 | -0.1 | +1.9 | +6.7 | +.130 | +0.2 | +0.7 | +.082 | +2.6 | +2.9 | +.094 |
| 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 | % |
| Deandre Ayton |
13 |
30.5 |
17.9 |
2.5 |
6.4 |
8.9 |
1.7 |
0.4 |
0.8 |
1.5 |
2.6 |
8.1 |
12.6 |
.640 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
.500 |
1.6 |
2.5 |
.636 |
| difference: | +7 | +9.5 | +2.6 | +0.8 | +2.8 | +3.6 | +5.1 | +1.8 | +0.3 | -1.7 | -0.1 | +0.1 | +6.7 | +.218 | | +0.4 | +.250 | +2.4 | +2.3 | +.192 |
| 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 |
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5th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Deandre Ayton |
67 |
30.4 |
18.0 |
2.6 |
7.4 |
10.0 |
1.7 |
0.6 |
0.8 |
1.8 |
2.8 |
7.8 |
13.2 |
.589 |
0.1 |
0.4 |
.292 |
2.3 |
3.0 |
.760 |
| difference: | +12 | +7.9 | +6.2 | +0.3 | +0.4 | +0.1 | +4.9 | +1.2 | +0.1 | -1.2 | -0.3 | +1.8 | +6.3 | +.097 | +0.1 | +0.5 | +.045 | +2.4 | +2.3 | +.128 |
| 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 | % |
| Deandre Ayton |
10 |
31.9 |
13.4 |
2.9 |
6.8 |
9.7 |
1.0 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
1.7 |
3.5 |
6.1 |
11.1 |
.550 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
1.2 |
2.3 |
.522 |
| difference: | +13 | +9.9 | +14.1 | +0.2 | +1.5 | +1.3 | +4.9 | +1.7 | +0.5 | -2.1 | -0.4 | +3.9 | +7.9 | +.026 | +0.3 | +0.7 | | +6.1 | +6.0 | +.357 |
| 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 |
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6th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Deandre Ayton |
55 |
32.4 |
16.7 |
3.2 |
7.9 |
11.1 |
1.6 |
1.0 |
0.8 |
1.8 |
2.0 |
7.8 |
13.6 |
.570 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
.100 |
1.2 |
1.4 |
.823 |
| difference: | +25 | +7.1 | +12.0 | +1.1 | +0.6 | +0.6 | +5.0 | +0.6 | +0.4 | -1.3 | -0.6 | +3.7 | +8.4 | +.048 | +0.7 | +1.4 | +.327 | +3.8 | +4.3 | +.059 |
| 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 | % |
| Deandre Ayton |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Deandre Ayton |
40 |
30.2 |
14.4 |
3.1 |
7.1 |
10.2 |
1.6 |
0.8 |
1.0 |
1.7 |
2.2 |
6.6 |
11.7 |
.566 |
0.2 |
0.8 |
.188 |
1.0 |
1.5 |
.667 |
| difference: | +42 | +7.8 | +11.4 | +0.8 | +0.4 | +0.4 | +5.2 | +1.2 | +0.4 | -1.5 | | +3.1 | +7.9 | +.070 | +0.8 | +1.6 | +.235 | +4.4 | +4.5 | +.229 |
| 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 | % |
| Deandre Ayton |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Deandre Ayton |
22 |
29.3 |
15.1 |
2.8 |
6.0 |
8.8 |
0.9 |
0.7 |
1.0 |
1.9 |
2.6 |
7.0 |
10.0 |
.700 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
1.1 |
1.6 |
.667 |
| difference: | +52 | +11.3 | +13.0 | +1.1 | +1.5 | +0.4 | +6.7 | +1.1 | +0.1 | -1.3 | -0.1 | +3.6 | +10.2 | +.175 | +1.2 | +3.0 | | +4.5 | +4.5 | +.243 |
| 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 | % |
| Deandre Ayton |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
|
Additional Years |
* Larry Bird played 5 seasons more than Deandre Ayton in the NBA.
In that period—his seasons 9 to 13, from 1988 to 1992—Larry Bird played in 4 Playoffs. In those 5 extra years over Deandre Ayton, Larry Bird got these achievements: |
| Honors & Awards |  1 All-NBA First Team
1 All-NBA Second Team
4 All-Star Game
|
NBA Champion