Larry Bird vs. Alex English Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Alex English 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.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / 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.

Larry Bird played 13 years in the NBA, 2 less than Alex English, who played 15. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Alex English 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
Alex English 15 10 1976-77 to 1990-91

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Alex English
Season 1979-801976-77
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid 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%
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:+22+25.2+16.1+1.5+6.1+7.6+4.1+1.4+0.3-2.1+6.3+13.2+.003+2.9+3.4+.069
Alex English 60 10.8 5.2 1.1 1.7 2.8 0.4 0.3 0.3 - 1.3 2.2 4.6 .477 - - - 0.8 1.0 .767
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Alex English DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Alex English
Season 1980-811977-78
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBucks Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+20.6+11.6+0.5+5.5+6.1+3.9+1.5+0.1-1.8-0.7+4.6+10.6+.064+2.2+2.3+.136
Alex English 82 18.9 9.6 1.8 3.1 4.8 1.6 0.5 0.7 1.7 2.2 4.2 7.7 .542 - - - 1.3 1.7 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+8+21.0+8.5+1.1+8.2+9.3+4.7+1.6+0.2-2.3-0.9+3.3+9.7+.145+1.7+1.4+.113
Alex English 9 23.1 13.4 1.8 2.9 4.7 1.4 0.7 0.8 1.3 2.2 5.3 8.7 .615 - - - 2.8 3.6 .781

Season 3

Larry Bird Alex English
Season 1981-821978-79
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid 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%
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:+4+4.7+6.9+0.5+3.3+2.8+2.5+1.0+0.1-0.9-0.6+2.2+4.8+.008+2.2+2.1+.111
Alex English 81 33.3 16.0 3.1 5.0 8.1 3.3 0.9 1.0 2.4 2.6 7.0 13.6 .511 - - - 2.1 2.8 .752
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Alex English DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Bird Alex English
Season 1982-831979-80
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+1+6.9+6.7+1.0+4.3+3.2+2.9+1.0+0.1-0.3-0.1+2.4+4.4+.007+0.3+0.9+.047+1.7+1.9+.051
Alex English 78 30.8 16.9 3.4 4.3 7.8 2.9 0.9 0.8 2.7 2.6 7.1 14.3 .497 0.0 0.1 .333 2.7 3.4 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Alex English DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

Larry Bird Alex English
Season 1983-841980-81
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+2+0.1+0.4+1.1+3.2+2.1+3.0+0.5+0.3-0.6+0.1+0.3+.002+0.2+0.8+.353+0.1+0.4+.038
Alex English 81 38.2 23.8 3.4 4.6 8.0 3.6 1.3 1.2 3.0 3.1 9.5 19.2 .494 0.0 0.1 .600 4.8 5.7 .850
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
Alex English DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Larry Bird Alex English
Season 1984-851981-82
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsNuggets Lost West 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%
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:+2+2.7+3.3+0.5+4.3+3.7+1.3+0.5+0.3-0.1-0.6+1.1+3.1+.029+0.7+1.5+.427+0.5+0.3+.042
Alex English 82 36.8 25.4 2.6 4.2 6.8 5.3 1.1 1.5 3.2 3.2 10.4 18.9 .551 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 5.4 .840
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+17+1.5+6.7+1.5+1.4+0.1+0.7-1.6-0.7+1.1+3.0+.012+0.4+1.3+4.1+4.5+.033
Alex English 3 39.3 19.3 2.7 5.0 7.7 5.7 1.0 1.0 1.3 2.0 8.7 18.3 .473 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.3 .857

Season 7

Larry Bird Alex English
Season 1985-861982-83
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNuggets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+1.6+2.6+0.9+3.4+2.5+2.0+0.6+0.9-0.7+2.0+3.0+.020+1.0+2.3+.256+0.4+.067
Alex English 82 36.4 28.4 3.2 4.1 7.3 4.8 1.4 1.5 3.2 2.9 11.7 22.6 .516 0.0 0.1 .167 5.0 6.0 .829
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+11+4.2+1.0+4.0+3.0+2.2+1.5+0.4-0.4-0.1+0.1+3.0+.070+1.3+2.8+.411+1.1+1.5+.040
Alex English 7 38.6 25.9 2.9 3.4 6.3 6.0 0.6 1.0 3.0 3.0 9.6 21.4 .447 0.0 0.3 .000 6.7 7.6 .887

Season 8

Larry Bird Alex English
Season 1986-871983-84
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+8+5.6+1.7+0.9+4.5+3.5+2.6+0.8+0.3-0.5-0.6+0.5+0.7+.004+1.2+2.9+.257+1.3+0.9+.086
Alex English 82 35.0 26.4 2.6 3.0 5.7 5.0 1.0 1.2 2.7 3.1 11.1 20.9 .529 0.0 0.1 .143 4.3 5.2 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+18+3.5+2.0+1.4+3.5+2.0+1.6+0.6+0.4-1.7-1.0+2.6+0.7+.112+0.6+1.6+.341+2.7+2.8+.019
Alex English 5 40.6 29.0 3.2 4.8 8.0 5.6 0.6 0.4 1.4 3.4 12.0 20.4 .588 0.0 0.2 .000 5.0 5.6 .893

Season 9

Larry Bird Alex English
Season 1987-881984-85
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNuggets Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+5+2.9+2.0+1.1+4.7+3.6+1.9+0.4+0.2-0.3-1.1+0.4+.009+1.3+3.0+.214+0.8+0.3+.087
Alex English 81 36.1 27.9 2.5 3.1 5.7 4.2 1.2 0.6 3.1 3.2 11.6 22.4 .518 0.0 0.1 .200 4.7 5.7 .829
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+3+6.6+5.7+0.9+3.1+2.2+2.3+0.9+0.4-0.8-0.3+2.7+1.8+.086+0.7+1.8+.375+1.0+1.2+.004
Alex English 14 38.3 30.2 2.6 4.0 6.6 4.5 1.2 0.4 2.1 2.9 11.6 21.7 .536 0.0 0.1 .000 6.9 7.8 .890

Season 10

Larry Bird Alex English
Season 1988-891985-86
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+75+5.8+10.5+2.2+3.4+1.2+0.8+0.1+0.4-1.3-0.1+3.5+6.0+.033+0.1+3.3+4.1+.085
Alex English 81 37.3 29.8 2.4 2.6 5.0 4.0 0.9 0.4 3.1 2.9 11.7 23.3 .504 0.0 0.1 .200 6.3 7.3 .862
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Larry Bird DNP------ --- ----------
Alex English 10 39.4 27.3 1.8 1.7 3.5 5.2 0.4 0.4 2.8 2.9 10.6 22.9 .463 0.0 0.1 .000 6.1 7.1 .859

Season 11

Larry Bird Alex English
Season 1989-901986-87
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+7+1.7+4.3+0.6+5.9+5.3+2.4+0.5+0.5-0.6-0.3+2.2+3.2+.030+0.9+2.4+.066+0.7+1.3+.086
Alex English 82 37.6 28.6 1.8 2.4 4.2 5.1 0.9 0.3 2.6 2.6 11.8 23.4 .503 0.0 0.2 .267 5.0 5.9 .844
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+2+16.1+5.7+1.9+6.5+4.5+5.5+1.0+1.0-0.9-1.0+0.5+3.5+.066+1.0+3.8+3.8+4.1+.049
Alex English 3 25.3 18.7 3.3 1.3 4.7 3.3 0.0 0.0 2.7 3.0 8.3 16.3 .510 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.3 .857

Season 12

Larry Bird Alex English
Season 1990-911987-88
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisNuggets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+20+2.8+5.6+1.2+5.0+3.8+2.5+0.9+0.7-0.8-0.4+2.8+4.3+.041+1.3+3.2+.389+1.2+1.6+.063
Alex English 80 35.2 25.0 2.1 2.6 4.7 4.7 0.9 0.3 2.3 2.4 10.5 21.3 .495 0.0 0.1 .000 3.9 4.7 .828
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+1+0.2+7.2+2.0+3.9+1.8+2.1+0.7-0.4-0.3+4.3+8.0+.047+0.3+1.8+.143+1.2+1.2+.049
Alex English 11 39.8 24.3 2.8 2.5 5.4 4.4 0.6 0.3 1.5 3.1 10.5 23.2 .455 0.0 0.3 .000 3.2 3.9 .814

Season 13

Larry Bird Alex English
Season 1991-921988-89
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+37+0.4+6.3+0.8+6.4+5.6+2.1+0.1+0.6-0.4-0.3+3.5+6.1+.025+1.2+2.7+.156+0.7+1.0+.068
Alex English 82 36.5 26.5 1.8 2.2 4.0 4.7 0.8 0.1 2.4 2.1 11.3 22.9 .491 0.0 0.1 .250 4.0 4.6 .858
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+1+9.2+14.7+2.2+2.3+0.2+1.6+0.5-3.2-0.2+5.4+10.2+.016+1.3+3.9+4.3+.125
Alex English 3 36.0 26.0 2.7 1.7 4.3 3.7 0.3 0.0 4.7 2.0 10.7 20.7 .516 0.0 0.0 - 4.7 5.3 .875

Additional Years

* Alex English played 2 seasons more than Larry Bird in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 15, from 1990 to 1991—Alex English played in one postseason.