Kyrie Irving vs. Paul Pierce Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul Pierce and Kyrie Irving, 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 / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings / Games against each other

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.

Kyrie Irving played 14 years in the NBA, 5 less than Paul Pierce, who played 19. Kyrie Irving had the first of his seasons in 2011-12, 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
Kyrie Irving 14 7 2011-12 to 2024-25
Paul Pierce 19 14 1998-99 to 2016-17

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Kyrie Irving Paul Pierce
Season 2011-121998-99
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston 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%
Kyrie Irving 51 30.5 18.5 0.9 2.9 3.7 5.4 1.1 0.4 3.1 2.2 6.9 14.6 .469 1.4 3.6 .399 3.4 3.8 .872
difference:+3+3.5+2.0+1.5+1.1+2.7+3.0+0.6+0.6-0.7-0.7+1.0+1.1+.030+0.4+0.7+.013+0.5+0.3+.159
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 Kyrie Irving nor Paul Pierce played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Kyrie Irving Paul Pierce
Season 2012-131999-00
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Kyrie Irving 59 34.7 22.5 0.6 3.1 3.7 5.9 1.5 0.4 3.2 2.5 8.2 18.1 .452 1.8 4.7 .391 4.2 4.9 .855
difference:+14+0.7+3.0+0.5+1.2+1.7+2.9+0.6+0.4-0.8-0.7+1.5+3.0+.010+0.5+0.9+.048+0.7+1.3+.057
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
* Neiher Kyrie Irving nor Paul Pierce played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3

Kyrie Irving Paul Pierce
Season 2013-142000-01
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Kyrie Irving 71 35.2 20.8 0.7 2.9 3.6 6.1 1.5 0.3 2.7 2.3 7.5 17.4 .430 1.7 4.8 .358 4.1 4.8 .861
difference:+11+2.8+4.5+0.4+2.3+2.8+3.0+0.2+0.5-0.5-0.8+0.9+1.1+.024+0.1+0.1+.025+2.6+4.2+.116
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
* Neiher Kyrie Irving nor Paul Pierce played in the postseason in their season 3

Season 4

Kyrie Irving Paul Pierce
Season 2014-152001-02
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third TeamAchievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers 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%
Kyrie Irving 75 36.4 21.7 0.7 2.4 3.2 5.2 1.5 0.3 2.5 1.9 7.7 16.5 .468 2.1 5.0 .415 4.2 4.9 .863
difference:+7+3.9+4.4+0.3+3.5+3.7+2.0+0.4+0.7-0.4-1.0+0.9+3.0+.026+0.5+1.3+.011+2.1+2.9+.054
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%
Kyrie Irving 13 35.7 19.0 0.8 2.8 3.6 3.8 1.3 0.8 1.5 2.2 6.2 14.2 .438 2.1 4.6 .450 4.5 5.3 .841
difference:+3+6.3+5.6+0.9+4.1+5.0+0.3+0.4+0.5-2.3-1.1+1.4+4.7+.035+0.2+1.9+.162+3.0+4.5+.077
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

Kyrie Irving Paul Pierce
Season 2015-162002-03
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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%
Kyrie Irving 53 31.5 19.6 0.8 2.1 3.0 4.7 1.1 0.3 2.3 2.0 7.4 16.6 .448 1.6 4.9 .321 3.2 3.6 .885
difference:+26+7.7+6.3+0.5+3.9+4.3+0.3+0.7+0.5-1.3-0.9+1.0+3.6+.032+0.1+.019+4.4+5.9+.083
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%
Kyrie Irving 21 36.9 25.2 0.7 2.2 3.0 4.7 1.7 0.6 2.3 2.2 9.6 20.1 .475 2.4 5.5 .440 3.7 4.2 .875
difference:+11+7.6+1.9+0.4+5.7+6.0+2.0+0.4+0.2-2.1-1.6+1.9+0.8+.076+0.8+1.0+.084+6.4+7.5+.012
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

Kyrie Irving Paul Pierce
Season 2016-172003-04
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA FinalsCeltics 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%
Kyrie Irving 72 35.1 25.2 0.7 2.5 3.2 5.8 1.2 0.3 2.5 2.2 9.3 19.7 .473 2.5 6.1 .401 4.1 4.6 .905
difference:+8+3.6+2.2+0.2+3.2+3.3+0.7+0.4+0.4-1.3-0.7+1.8+1.0+.071+1.1+1.3+.102+2.4+3.3+.086
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%
Kyrie Irving 18 36.3 25.9 0.7 2.1 2.8 5.3 1.3 0.4 2.7 2.1 9.6 20.6 .468 2.4 6.6 .373 4.2 4.7 .905
difference:+14+4.5+5.1+0.8+5.2+6.0+2.8+0.6-3.6-0.9+3.1+1.6+.126+1.1+2.3+.079+2.3+3.1+.066
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

Kyrie Irving Paul Pierce
Season 2017-182004-05
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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%
Kyrie Irving 60 32.2 24.4 0.6 3.2 3.8 5.1 1.1 0.3 2.3 2.0 8.9 18.1 .491 2.8 6.8 .408 3.9 4.4 .889
difference:+22+3.9+2.8+0.4+2.4+2.8+0.9+0.5+0.2-0.5-1.1+2.1+3.2+.036+1.5+3.2+.038+2.8+3.7+.067
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%
Kyrie Irving DNP------ --- ----------
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

Kyrie Irving Paul Pierce
Season 2018-192005-06
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid 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%
Kyrie Irving 67 33.0 23.8 1.1 3.9 5.0 6.9 1.5 0.5 2.6 2.5 9.0 18.5 .487 2.6 6.5 .401 3.2 3.7 .873
difference:+12+6.0+3.0+0.1+1.8+1.7+2.2+0.1+0.1-0.9-0.3+0.3+.016+1.2+2.5+.047+4.7+6.6+.101
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%
Kyrie Irving 9 36.7 21.3 0.6 3.8 4.3 7.0 1.4 0.4 3.1 2.9 7.7 19.9 .385 2.0 6.4 .310 4.0 4.4 .900
Paul Pierce DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

Kyrie Irving Paul Pierce
Season 2019-202006-07
Team Brooklyn NetsBoston 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%
Kyrie Irving 20 32.9 27.4 1.1 4.1 5.2 6.4 1.4 0.5 2.6 2.7 10.0 20.8 .478 2.8 7.1 .394 4.7 5.1 .922
difference:+27+4.1+2.4+0.3+1.0+0.7+2.3+0.4+0.2-0.6-0.1+2.1+2.7+.039+0.5+1.2+.005+2.1+3.5+.126
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 Kyrie Irving nor Paul Pierce played in the postseason in their season 9

Season 10

Kyrie Irving Paul Pierce
Season 2020-212007-08
Team Brooklyn NetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-NBA Third TeamAchievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisNBA 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%
Kyrie Irving 54 34.9 26.9 1.0 3.8 4.8 6.0 1.4 0.7 2.4 2.6 10.2 20.1 .506 2.8 7.0 .402 3.7 4.0 .922
difference:+26+1.0+7.3+0.3+0.7+0.3+1.5+0.1+0.2-0.4-0.1+3.8+6.4+.042+1.0+2.4+.010+1.4+2.1+.079
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%
Kyrie Irving 9 36.1 22.7 1.3 4.4 5.8 3.4 1.0 0.6 1.2 2.1 8.6 18.1 .472 2.7 7.2 .369 2.9 3.1 .929
difference:+17+2.0+3.0+0.5+0.2+0.8+1.2+0.1+0.3-2.0-1.4+2.3+3.9+.031+1.0+2.6+.008+2.6+3.7+.127
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

Kyrie Irving Paul Pierce
Season 2021-222008-09
Team Brooklyn NetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics 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%
Kyrie Irving 29 37.6 27.4 0.6 3.8 4.4 5.8 1.4 0.6 2.5 2.8 10.0 21.2 .469 3.4 8.2 .418 4.1 4.4 .915
difference:+52+0.1+6.9+0.1+1.2+1.2+2.2+0.4+0.3-0.3-0.1+3.3+6.6+.012+1.9+4.4+.027+1.6+2.4+.085
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%
Kyrie Irving 4 42.5 21.3 1.5 3.8 5.3 5.3 1.8 1.3 2.3 3.3 7.0 15.8 .444 2.0 5.3 .381 5.3 5.3 1.000
difference:+10+2.8+0.3+1.2+1.7+0.5+2.2+0.7+0.9-0.1-0.2+0.2+.014+0.6+1.2+.048+0.8+1.9+.158
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

Kyrie Irving Paul Pierce
Season 2022-232009-10
Team Brooklyn Nets, Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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%
Kyrie Irving 60 37.3 27.1 1.0 4.1 5.1 5.5 1.1 0.8 2.1 2.8 9.9 20.1 .494 3.1 8.3 .379 4.1 4.6 .905
difference:+11+3.3+8.8+0.5+0.3+0.7+2.4+0.1+0.4-0.2+4.1+7.9+.022+1.6+4.6+.035+1.1+1.5+.053
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%
Kyrie Irving 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

Kyrie Irving Paul Pierce
Season 2023-242010-11
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost NBA FinalsCeltics 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%
Kyrie Irving 58 35.0 25.6 0.8 4.2 5.0 5.2 1.3 0.5 1.8 1.9 9.7 19.5 .497 3.0 7.3 .411 3.3 3.6 .905
difference:+22+0.3+6.7+0.4+0.8+0.4+1.9+0.3+0.1-0.3-1.0+3.4+6.7+1.6+3.6+.037+1.5+2.0+.045
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%
Kyrie Irving 22 40.0 22.1 1.0 2.7 3.7 5.1 1.0 0.3 2.3 2.8 8.5 18.1 .467 2.4 6.2 .390 2.8 3.3 .849
difference:+13+1.9+1.3+0.4+1.7+1.3+2.3+0.3+0.1-0.4-0.5+0.9+1.7+.008+0.1+1.0+.057+0.5+0.5+.033
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

Season 14

Kyrie Irving Paul Pierce
Season 2024-252011-12
Team Dallas MavericksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kyrie Irving 50 36.1 24.7 1.2 3.6 4.8 4.6 1.3 0.5 2.2 2.0 8.9 18.9 .473 2.9 7.2 .401 3.9 4.3 .916
difference:+11+2.1+5.3+0.6+1.0+0.4+0.1+0.2+0.1-0.6-0.4+2.4+4.3+.030+1.3+2.7+.035+0.9+1.3+.064
Paul Pierce 61 34.0 19.4 0.6 4.6 5.2 4.5 1.1 0.4 2.8 2.4 6.5 14.6 .443 1.6 4.5 .366 4.8 5.6 .852
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kyrie Irving DNP------ --- ----------
Paul Pierce 20 38.9 18.9 0.7 5.4 6.1 3.1 1.5 0.9 2.8 3.4 6.0 15.6 .386 1.4 4.4 .310 5.5 6.2 .894

Additional Years

* Paul Pierce played 5 seasons more than Kyrie Irving in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 19, from 2013 to 2017—Paul Pierce played in 5 Playoffs.