Larry Bird vs. Adrian Dantley Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Adrian Dantley and Larry Bird, 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.
Larry Bird played 13 years in the NBA, 2 less than Adrian Dantley, who played 15. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Adrian Dantley had his rookie season in 1976-77. 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 |
| Larry Bird |
13 |
12 |
1979-80 to 1991-92 |
| Adrian Dantley |
15 |
7 |
1976-77 to 1990-91 |
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 | % |
| 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 |
| difference: | +5 | +0.6 | +1.0 | +0.7 | +3.4 | +2.8 | +2.6 | +0.5 | +0.4 | | -0.6 | +1.4 | +4.2 | +.046 | | | | +2.5 | +3.2 | +.018 |
| Adrian Dantley |
77 |
36.6 |
20.3 |
3.3 |
4.4 |
7.6 |
1.9 |
1.2 |
0.2 |
- |
2.8 |
7.1 |
13.6 |
.520 |
- |
- |
- |
6.2 |
7.6 |
.818 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| Adrian Dantley |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| difference: | +3 | +2.4 | +0.3 | +1.1 | +4.1 | +3.1 | +2.3 | +0.5 | +0.5 | -0.6 | | +1.5 | +4.0 | +.034 | | | | +3.3 | +4.6 | +.067 |
| Adrian Dantley |
79 |
37.1 |
21.5 |
3.4 |
4.5 |
7.8 |
3.2 |
1.5 |
0.3 |
2.9 |
2.9 |
7.3 |
14.3 |
.512 |
- |
- |
- |
6.8 |
8.6 |
.796 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| difference: | +14 | +9.4 | +4.9 | +0.1 | +5.8 | +5.7 | +2.4 | +0.6 | | -1.6 | -0.1 | +1.9 | +6.7 | +.101 | | | | +0.8 | +0.7 | +.247 |
| Adrian Dantley |
3 |
34.7 |
17.0 |
3.0 |
5.3 |
8.3 |
3.7 |
1.7 |
1.0 |
2.0 |
3.0 |
6.7 |
11.7 |
.571 |
- |
- |
- |
3.7 |
5.7 |
.647 |
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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 | % |
| 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 |
| difference: | +17 | +8.4 | +5.6 | +0.4 | +4.8 | +5.2 | +3.5 | +0.8 | +0.7 | -0.7 | -0.5 | +3.0 | +6.2 | +.007 | | | | +0.6 | +0.8 | +.009 |
| Adrian Dantley |
60 |
29.6 |
17.3 |
2.2 |
3.5 |
5.7 |
2.3 |
1.1 |
0.2 |
2.6 |
2.7 |
6.2 |
12.2 |
.510 |
- |
- |
- |
4.9 |
5.7 |
.854 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| difference: | +4 | +11.3 | +0.2 | +1.5 | +6.9 | +8.4 | +4.2 | +1.1 | +1.3 | -0.8 | -0.6 | +1.0 | +6.1 | +.135 | | | | +2.0 | +2.7 | +.034 |
| Adrian Dantley |
8 |
29.5 |
17.6 |
1.3 |
2.9 |
4.1 |
1.4 |
0.8 |
0.1 |
2.4 |
3.0 |
6.3 |
11.1 |
.562 |
- |
- |
- |
5.1 |
6.5 |
.788 |
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| difference: | +11 | +1.6 | +4.4 | +0.3 | +3.7 | +3.4 | +3.0 | +0.5 | +0.7 | -0.4 | -0.6 | +1.2 | +0.1 | +.072 | +0.3 | +1.0 | | +2.1 | +2.4 | +.002 |
| Adrian Dantley |
68 |
39.3 |
28.0 |
2.7 |
4.9 |
7.6 |
2.8 |
1.4 |
0.2 |
3.4 |
3.1 |
10.7 |
18.6 |
.576 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
6.5 |
7.7 |
.842 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| Adrian Dantley |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| difference: | +1 | +0.3 | +1.6 | +0.8 | +5.0 | +4.2 | +2.6 | +0.4 | +1.0 | -0.6 | -0.5 | +0.3 | +2.4 | +.048 | +0.7 | +1.6 | | +3.0 | +4.4 | +.090 |
| Adrian Dantley |
81 |
39.8 |
30.3 |
2.9 |
3.5 |
6.3 |
4.0 |
1.2 |
0.2 |
3.7 |
3.1 |
11.2 |
19.6 |
.570 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
8.0 |
10.1 |
.792 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| Adrian Dantley |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 | % |
| 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 |
| difference: | +60 | +2.3 | +4.9 | +0.3 | +3.8 | +3.4 | +2.0 | +1.1 | +0.6 | -0.5 | -0.6 | +0.9 | +1.3 | +.084 | +1.0 | +2.4 | | +4.1 | +5.3 | +.049 |
| Adrian Dantley |
22 |
40.3 |
30.7 |
2.6 |
3.7 |
6.4 |
4.8 |
0.9 |
0.0 |
3.7 |
2.8 |
10.6 |
18.3 |
.580 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
9.5 |
11.3 |
.847 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| Adrian Dantley |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 | % |
| 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 |
| difference: | +5 | +2.8 | +2.5 | +0.6 | +4.1 | +3.5 | +3.7 | +1.0 | +0.8 | -0.1 | | +0.4 | +2.0 | +.033 | +1.2 | +2.9 | +.150 | +4.7 | +5.9 | +.051 |
| Adrian Dantley |
79 |
37.8 |
30.6 |
2.3 |
3.4 |
5.7 |
3.9 |
0.8 |
0.1 |
3.3 |
2.5 |
10.2 |
18.2 |
.558 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
.250 |
10.3 |
12.0 |
.859 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| difference: | +12 | +2.8 | +5.2 | +1.6 | +4.1 | +2.5 | +3.0 | +0.3 | +0.7 | -0.4 | -0.3 | +1.2 | +1.4 | +.028 | +0.6 | +1.8 | | +3.2 | +4.2 | +.049 |
| Adrian Dantley |
11 |
41.3 |
32.2 |
3.4 |
4.2 |
7.5 |
4.2 |
0.9 |
0.1 |
3.5 |
2.7 |
10.6 |
21.1 |
.504 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
10.9 |
12.6 |
.863 |
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| difference: | +21 | +3.2 | +3.3 | +1.3 | +4.6 | +3.4 | +2.7 | +0.6 | +0.7 | -0.3 | -0.3 | +2.3 | +4.5 | +.004 | +1.3 | +3.1 | | +2.5 | +3.9 | +.112 |
| Adrian Dantley |
55 |
35.8 |
26.6 |
2.7 |
3.2 |
5.9 |
3.4 |
1.0 |
0.1 |
3.1 |
2.4 |
9.3 |
17.5 |
.531 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
8.0 |
9.9 |
.804 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| difference: | +7 | +5.1 | +0.8 | +0.8 | +2.1 | +1.3 | +4.8 | +0.5 | +0.8 | -0.7 | -1.3 | +1.0 | +4.8 | +.073 | +0.7 | +1.8 | +.375 | +3.6 | +5.6 | +.115 |
| Adrian Dantley |
10 |
39.8 |
25.3 |
2.5 |
5.0 |
7.5 |
2.0 |
1.6 |
0.0 |
3.6 |
3.9 |
7.9 |
15.1 |
.523 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
.000 |
9.5 |
12.2 |
.779 |
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| difference: | +70 | +4.6 | +10.5 | +2.1 | +3.1 | +1.0 | +1.3 | +0.2 | +0.7 | -1.2 | -0.3 | +2.6 | +1.8 | +.092 | | +0.1 | | +5.3 | +7.3 | +.156 |
| Adrian Dantley |
76 |
36.1 |
29.8 |
2.3 |
2.9 |
5.2 |
3.5 |
0.8 |
0.1 |
3.0 |
2.7 |
10.8 |
19.1 |
.563 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
.091 |
8.3 |
10.5 |
.791 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
| * Neiher Larry Bird nor Adrian Dantley played in the postseason in their season 10 |
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| difference: | +6 | +5.5 | +2.8 | +0.1 | +5.5 | +5.4 | +5.5 | +0.6 | +0.7 | -1.0 | -0.1 | +2.2 | +6.3 | +.061 | +0.9 | +2.5 | +.166 | +2.4 | +3.6 | +.118 |
| Adrian Dantley |
81 |
33.8 |
21.5 |
1.3 |
2.8 |
4.1 |
2.0 |
0.8 |
0.1 |
2.2 |
2.4 |
7.4 |
13.9 |
.534 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
.167 |
6.7 |
8.2 |
.812 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| difference: | +10 | +8.1 | +3.9 | +0.5 | +5.2 | +4.7 | +6.5 | +0.1 | +1.0 | -1.4 | -0.4 | +1.4 | +6.1 | +.095 | +1.0 | +3.8 | | +0.1 | +1.0 | +.131 |
| Adrian Dantley |
15 |
33.3 |
20.5 |
1.9 |
2.6 |
4.5 |
2.3 |
0.9 |
0.0 |
2.2 |
2.4 |
7.4 |
13.7 |
.539 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
5.7 |
7.4 |
.775 |
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| difference: | +9 | +6.9 | +0.6 | +0.3 | +5.5 | +5.2 | +4.7 | +1.2 | +0.9 | -1.1 | -0.1 | +1.3 | +4.5 | +.060 | +1.3 | +3.3 | | +4.4 | +5.2 | +.031 |
| Adrian Dantley |
69 |
31.1 |
20.0 |
1.2 |
2.1 |
3.3 |
2.5 |
0.6 |
0.1 |
2.0 |
2.1 |
6.4 |
12.5 |
.514 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
7.1 |
8.3 |
.860 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| difference: | +13 | +4.6 | +2.3 | +0.8 | +3.4 | +2.5 | +4.5 | +0.5 | +0.3 | -0.3 | -0.6 | +0.5 | +2.5 | +.116 | +0.3 | +2.0 | +.143 | +1.7 | +2.6 | +.076 |
| Adrian Dantley |
23 |
35.0 |
19.4 |
1.6 |
3.0 |
4.7 |
2.0 |
0.8 |
0.0 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
6.7 |
12.7 |
.524 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
.000 |
6.1 |
7.7 |
.787 |
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| difference: | +28 | +3.7 | +1.0 | +0.6 | +5.9 | +5.3 | +4.5 | +0.3 | +0.5 | -0.6 | -0.7 | +1.4 | +3.7 | +.027 | +1.2 | +2.8 | | +3.0 | +4.2 | +.116 |
| Adrian Dantley |
73 |
33.2 |
19.2 |
1.6 |
2.7 |
4.3 |
2.3 |
0.6 |
0.2 |
2.2 |
2.5 |
6.4 |
13.1 |
.493 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
6.3 |
7.8 |
.810 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| 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 |
| Adrian Dantley |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Additional Years |
* Adrian Dantley played 2 seasons more than Larry Bird in the NBA.
In that period—his seasons 14 to 15, from 1990 to 1991—Adrian Dantley played in one postseason. |