Earl Monroe vs. Paul Pierce Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul Pierce and Earl Monroe, 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.

Earl Monroe played 13 years in the NBA, 6 less than Paul Pierce, who played 19. Earl Monroe had the first of his seasons in 1967-68, while Paul Pierce had his rookie season in 1998-99. 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
Earl Monroe 13 8 1967-68 to 1979-80
Paul Pierce 19 14 1998-99 to 2016-17

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season

Earl Monroe Paul Pierce
Season 1967-681998-99
Team Baltimore BulletsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 82 36.7 24.3 - - 5.7 4.3 - - - 3.4 9.0 20.0 .453 - - - 6.2 7.9 .781
difference:+34+2.7+7.8+0.7+1.9-0.5+3.1+6.5+.014+3.3+3.8+.068
Paul Pierce 48 34.0 16.5 2.4 4.0 6.4 2.4 1.7 1.0 2.4 2.9 5.9 13.5 .439 1.8 4.3 .412 2.9 4.1 .713
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Earl Monroe nor Paul Pierce played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Earl Monroe Paul Pierce
Season 1968-691999-00
Team Baltimore BulletsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 80 38.4 25.8 - - 3.5 4.9 - - - 3.3 10.1 23.0 .440 - - - 5.6 7.3 .768
difference:+7+3.0+6.3+1.9+1.9-0.1+3.4+7.9+.002+0.7+1.1+.030
Paul Pierce 73 35.4 19.5 1.1 4.3 5.4 3.0 2.1 0.8 2.4 3.2 6.7 15.1 .442 1.3 3.8 .343 4.9 6.2 .798
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 4 42.8 28.3 - - 5.3 4.0 - - - 2.5 11.0 28.5 .386 - - - 6.3 7.8 .806
Paul Pierce DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Earl Monroe Paul Pierce
Season 1969-702000-01
Team Baltimore BulletsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 82 37.2 23.4 - - 3.1 4.9 - - - 3.1 8.5 19.0 .446 - - - 6.5 7.8 .830
difference:+0.8+1.9+3.3+1.8+0.1+0.5+.008+0.2+1.2+.085
Paul Pierce 82 38.0 25.3 1.1 5.2 6.4 3.1 1.7 0.8 3.2 3.1 8.4 18.5 .454 1.8 4.7 .383 6.7 9.0 .745
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 7 42.7 28.0 - - 3.3 4.0 - - - 3.3 10.6 22.0 .481 - - - 6.9 8.6 .800
Paul Pierce DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Earl Monroe Paul Pierce
Season 1970-712001-02
Team Baltimore BulletsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets Lost NBA FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 81 35.1 21.4 - - 2.6 4.4 - - - 2.7 8.2 18.5 .442 - - - 5.0 6.2 .802
difference:+1+5.2+4.7+4.3+1.2-0.2+0.4+1.0+1.3+1.6+.007
Paul Pierce 82 40.3 26.1 1.0 5.9 6.9 3.2 1.9 1.0 2.9 2.9 8.6 19.5 .442 2.6 6.3 .404 6.3 7.8 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 18 37.3 22.1 - - 3.6 4.1 - - - 3.1 8.1 19.8 .407 - - - 5.9 7.5 .793
difference:+2+4.7+2.5+5.0-0.2+0.5+0.9+.004+1.6+2.3+.029
Paul Pierce 16 42.0 24.6 1.7 6.9 8.6 4.1 1.7 1.3 3.8 3.3 7.6 18.9 .403 1.9 6.5 .288 7.5 9.8 .764

Season 5

Earl Monroe Paul Pierce
Season 1971-722002-03
Team Baltimore Bullets, New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 63 21.2 11.9 - - 1.6 2.3 - - - 2.2 4.6 10.5 .434 - - - 2.8 3.6 .781
difference:+16+18.0+14.0+5.7+2.1-0.7+3.8+9.7+.018+4.8+5.9+.021
Paul Pierce 79 39.2 25.9 1.3 6.0 7.3 4.4 1.8 0.8 3.6 2.9 8.4 20.2 .416 1.5 4.9 .302 7.6 9.5 .802
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 16 26.8 12.3 - - 2.8 2.9 - - - 2.6 4.8 11.6 .411 - - - 2.8 3.6 .789
difference:+6+17.7+14.8+6.2+3.8-1.2+2.9+7.7+.012+7.3+8.1+.074
Paul Pierce 10 44.5 27.1 1.1 7.9 9.0 6.7 2.1 0.8 4.4 3.8 7.7 19.3 .399 1.6 4.5 .356 10.1 11.7 .863

Season 6

Earl Monroe Paul Pierce
Season 1972-732003-04
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 75 31.6 15.5 - - 3.3 3.8 - - - 2.6 6.6 13.5 .488 - - - 2.3 2.8 .822
difference:+5+7.1+7.5+3.2+1.3-0.3+0.9+5.2+.086+4.2+5.1+.003
Paul Pierce 80 38.7 23.0 0.9 5.7 6.5 5.1 1.6 0.7 3.8 2.9 7.5 18.7 .402 1.4 4.8 .299 6.5 7.9 .819
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 16 31.5 16.1 - - 3.2 3.2 - - - 2.4 6.9 13.2 .526 - - - 2.3 3.0 .750
difference:+12+9.3+4.7+5.6+0.7-0.6+0.4+5.8+.184+4.2+4.8+.089
Paul Pierce 4 40.8 20.8 1.5 7.3 8.8 2.5 1.3 1.0 6.3 3.0 6.5 19.0 .342 1.3 4.3 .294 6.5 7.8 .839

Season 7

Earl Monroe Paul Pierce
Season 1973-742004-05
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 41 29.1 14.0 0.5 2.4 3.0 2.7 0.8 0.5 - 2.4 5.9 12.5 .468 - - - 2.3 2.8 .823
difference:+41+7.0+7.6+0.5+3.2+3.6+1.5+0.8-0.7+0.9+2.4+.013+4.4+5.3+.001
Paul Pierce 82 36.1 21.6 1.0 5.6 6.6 4.2 1.6 0.5 2.8 3.1 6.8 14.9 .455 1.3 3.6 .370 6.7 8.1 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 12 33.9 17.4 0.7 3.3 4.0 2.1 0.7 0.8 - 2.2 6.8 13.8 .491 - - - 3.9 4.6 .855
difference:+5+5.8+5.5+0.3+3.4+3.7+2.5+1.2+0.6-0.4+0.1+0.5+.014+4.5+5.1+.013
Paul Pierce 7 39.7 22.9 1.0 6.7 7.7 4.6 1.9 1.4 2.7 2.6 6.7 13.3 .505 1.0 3.9 .259 8.4 9.7 .868

Season 8

Earl Monroe Paul Pierce
Season 1974-752005-06
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 78 36.1 20.9 0.7 3.5 4.2 3.5 1.4 0.4 - 2.6 8.6 18.7 .457 - - - 3.8 4.6 .827
difference:+1+2.9+5.9+0.3+2.2+2.5+1.2-0.2+0.1+0.2+.014+4.1+5.7+.055
Paul Pierce 79 39.0 26.8 1.0 5.7 6.7 4.7 1.4 0.4 3.5 2.8 8.7 18.5 .471 1.4 4.0 .354 7.9 10.3 .772
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 3 29.7 14.0 0.3 2.7 3.0 2.0 1.3 0.7 - 2.0 4.0 15.0 .267 - - - 6.0 7.3 .818
Paul Pierce DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

Earl Monroe Paul Pierce
Season 1975-762006-07
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 76 38.0 20.7 0.6 3.0 3.6 4.0 1.5 0.3 - 2.8 8.5 17.8 .478 - - - 3.7 4.7 .787
difference:+29+1.0+4.3+0.2+2.1+2.3+0.1+0.5-0.2+0.6+0.3+.039+3.1+3.9+.009
Paul Pierce 47 37.0 25.0 0.8 5.1 5.9 4.1 1.0 0.3 3.2 2.6 7.9 18.1 .439 2.3 5.9 .389 6.8 8.6 .796
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Earl Monroe nor Paul Pierce played in the postseason in their season 9

Season 10

Earl Monroe Paul Pierce
Season 1976-772007-08
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 77 34.5 19.9 0.6 2.3 2.9 4.8 1.2 0.3 - 2.6 8.0 15.4 .517 - - - 4.0 4.8 .839
difference:+3+1.4+0.3+0.1+2.2+2.2+0.3+0.1+0.2-0.1+1.6+1.7+.053+1.1+1.3+.004
Paul Pierce 80 35.9 19.6 0.7 4.5 5.1 4.5 1.3 0.5 2.8 2.5 6.4 13.7 .464 1.8 4.6 .392 5.1 6.1 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe DNP------ --- ----------
Paul Pierce 26 38.1 19.7 0.8 4.2 5.0 4.6 1.1 0.3 3.2 3.5 6.3 14.2 .441 1.7 4.6 .361 5.5 6.8 .802

Season 11

Earl Monroe Paul Pierce
Season 1977-782008-09
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 76 31.2 17.8 0.6 1.8 2.4 4.8 0.8 0.3 2.4 2.5 7.3 14.8 .495 - - - 3.2 3.8 .832
difference:+5+6.3+2.7+0.1+3.2+3.2+1.2+0.2-0.4-0.2+0.6+0.2+.038+2.5+3.0+.002
Paul Pierce 81 37.5 20.5 0.7 5.0 5.6 3.6 1.0 0.3 2.8 2.7 6.7 14.6 .457 1.5 3.8 .391 5.7 6.8 .830
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 6 24.2 9.8 0.2 0.7 0.8 2.8 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.5 4.0 10.3 .387 - - - 1.8 3.0 .611
difference:+8+15.5+11.2+0.1+4.8+5.0+0.3+0.1+0.4-1.4-0.6+2.8+5.5+.043+4.3+4.2+.231
Paul Pierce 14 39.7 21.0 0.3 5.5 5.8 3.1 1.1 0.4 2.4 3.1 6.8 15.8 .430 1.4 4.1 .333 6.1 7.2 .842

Season 12

Earl Monroe Paul Pierce
Season 1978-792009-10
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 64 21.8 12.3 0.4 0.8 1.2 3.0 0.8 0.1 1.5 1.9 5.1 10.9 .471 - - - 2.0 2.4 .838
difference:+7+12.2+6.0+0.1+3.0+3.2+0.1+0.4+0.3-0.8-0.9+0.7+1.3+.001+3.2+3.7+.014
Paul Pierce 71 34.0 18.3 0.5 3.8 4.4 3.1 1.2 0.4 2.3 2.8 5.8 12.2 .472 1.5 3.7 .414 5.2 6.1 .852
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe DNP------ --- ----------
Paul Pierce 24 38.8 18.8 0.8 5.1 6.0 3.4 1.0 0.6 2.7 3.3 6.1 14.0 .438 1.7 4.3 .392 4.9 5.9 .824

Season 13

Earl Monroe Paul Pierce
Season 1979-802010-11
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 51 12.4 7.4 0.3 0.4 0.7 1.3 0.4 0.1 0.5 0.9 3.2 6.9 .457 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.3 .875
difference:+29+22.3+11.5+0.1+4.6+4.7+2.0+0.6+0.5-1.6-2.0+3.1+5.9+.040+1.4+3.7+3.7+4.3+.015
Paul Pierce 80 34.7 18.9 0.4 5.0 5.4 3.3 1.0 0.6 2.1 2.9 6.3 12.8 .497 1.4 3.7 .374 4.8 5.6 .860
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe DNP------ --- ----------
Paul Pierce 9 38.1 20.8 0.6 4.4 5.0 2.8 1.3 0.4 2.7 3.3 7.6 16.4 .459 2.3 5.2 .447 3.3 3.8 .882

Additional Years

* Paul Pierce played 6 seasons more than Earl Monroe in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 19, from 2012 to 2017—Paul Pierce played in 6 Playoffs.

In those 6 extra years over Earl Monroe, Paul Pierce got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-Star Game