Larry Bird vs. Allen Iverson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Allen Iverson 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 / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings

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, 1 less than Allen Iverson, who played 14. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Allen Iverson had his rookie season in 1996-97. 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
Allen Iverson 14 8 1996-97 to 2009-10

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1979-801996-97
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the YearAchievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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:+6+4.1+2.2+1.1+5.2+6.3+3.0+0.4+0.3-1.2-0.3+0.3+2.0+.058+1.3+4.3+.065+1.3+2.8+.134
Allen Iverson 76 40.1 23.5 1.5 2.6 4.1 7.5 2.1 0.3 4.4 3.1 8.2 19.8 .416 2.0 6.0 .341 5.0 7.2 .702
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
Allen Iverson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1980-811997-98
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid 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%
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:+2+0.1+0.8+1.2+6.0+7.2+0.7+0.2+0.5-0.4-0.4+0.7+0.7+.017+0.7+2.0+.028+1.4+2.7+.134
Allen Iverson 80 39.4 22.0 1.1 2.6 3.7 6.2 2.2 0.3 3.1 2.5 8.1 17.6 .461 0.9 2.9 .298 4.9 6.7 .729
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
Allen Iverson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1981-821998-99
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Finals76ers Lost East Conf Semis
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:+29+3.5+3.9+1.2+4.8+6.0+1.2+0.4+0.8-0.2-1.2+0.1+3.6+.091+1.1+3.4+.079+3.1+5.0+.112
Allen Iverson 48 41.5 26.8 1.4 3.5 4.9 4.6 2.3 0.1 3.5 2.0 9.1 22.0 .412 1.2 4.1 .291 7.4 9.9 .751
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
difference:+4+4.2+10.7+1.0+7.4+8.4+0.7+0.6+1.1-0.2-1.2+3.7+9.6+.016+1.8+6.1+.116+1.5+2.7+.110
Allen Iverson 8 45.0 28.5 1.8 2.4 4.1 4.9 2.5 0.3 3.0 2.4 11.0 26.8 .411 1.9 6.6 .283 4.6 6.5 .712

Season 4

Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1982-831999-00
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Semis76ers Lost East Conf Semis
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:+9+3.1+4.8+1.4+5.8+7.2+1.1+0.2+0.8-0.3-0.2+0.9+6.1+.083+1.0+2.7+.055+1.9+3.6+.127
Allen Iverson 70 40.8 28.4 1.0 2.8 3.8 4.7 2.1 0.1 3.3 2.3 10.4 24.8 .421 1.3 3.7 .341 6.3 8.9 .713
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
difference:+4+4.4+5.7+1.9+6.6+8.5+2.3+1.0+0.4-0.1+0.9+4.4+.038+1.0+3.2+.058+2.8+4.4+.089
Allen Iverson 10 44.4 26.2 1.4 2.6 4.0 4.5 1.2 0.1 3.2 2.4 9.1 23.7 .384 1.2 3.9 .308 6.8 9.2 .739

Season 5

Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1983-842000-01
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVPAchievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers Lost NBA Finals
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:+8+3.7+6.9+1.6+4.7+6.3+2.0+0.7+0.6-0.3-0.4+1.1+6.0+.072+1.2+3.4+.073+3.5+4.8+.074
Allen Iverson 71 42.0 31.1 0.7 3.1 3.8 4.6 2.5 0.3 3.3 2.1 10.7 25.5 .420 1.4 4.3 .320 8.2 10.1 .814
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
difference:+1+4.7+5.4+2.0+4.3+6.3+0.2+0.1+0.9-0.9-0.6+1.7+11.0+.135+1.9+5.8+.074+1.2+.105
Allen Iverson 22 46.5 32.9 0.7 4.0 4.7 6.1 2.4 0.3 2.9 2.5 11.7 30.0 .389 2.2 6.5 .338 7.3 9.5 .774

Season 6

Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1984-852001-02
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA Finals76ers 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%
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:+20+4.2+2.7+1.4+4.7+6.0+1.1+1.2+1.0-0.9-0.9+0.4+5.8+.124+0.6+2.9+.136+2.9+4.1+.070
Allen Iverson 60 43.7 31.4 0.7 3.8 4.5 5.5 2.8 0.2 4.0 1.7 11.1 27.8 .398 1.3 4.5 .291 7.9 9.8 .812
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:+15+1.2+4.0+2.5+3.1+5.5+1.6+0.9+1.0-0.5-1.1+0.8+2.3+.080+1.4+4.1+.053+4.1+5.8+.080
Allen Iverson 5 42.0 30.0 0.2 3.4 3.6 4.2 2.6 0.0 2.4 1.6 9.0 23.6 .381 1.8 5.4 .333 10.2 12.6 .810

Season 7

Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1985-862002-03
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers Lost East 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:+4.5+1.8+1.5+4.1+5.6+1.3+0.7+0.4-0.3-0.4+0.1+4.1+.082+1.3+.146+1.6+3.0+.122
Allen Iverson 82 42.5 27.6 0.8 3.4 4.2 5.5 2.7 0.2 3.5 1.8 9.8 23.7 .414 1.0 3.7 .277 7.0 9.0 .774
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:+6+3.6+5.8+1.0+4.0+5.0+0.8+0.3+0.5-1.3-1.0+1.9+9.0+.101+0.3+1.5+.066+1.7+3.7+.190
Allen Iverson 12 46.4 31.7 0.9 3.4 4.3 7.4 2.4 0.1 3.9 2.1 11.4 27.4 .416 1.6 4.6 .345 7.3 9.8 .737

Season 8

Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1986-872003-04
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsDid 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%
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:+26+1.9+1.7+1.0+4.5+5.5+0.8+0.6+0.8-1.2-0.7+1.5+3.2+.138+1.1+.114+1.5+3.4+.165
Allen Iverson 48 42.5 26.4 0.7 3.0 3.7 6.8 2.4 0.1 4.4 1.8 9.1 23.4 .387 1.2 4.1 .286 7.1 9.5 .745
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
Allen Iverson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1987-882004-05
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Finals76ers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+1+3.3+0.8+0.7+4.5+5.3+1.8+0.8+0.7-1.8-0.2+1.3+2.2+.103+0.1+1.4+.106+3.2+4.5+.081
Allen Iverson 75 42.3 30.7 0.7 3.3 4.0 7.9 2.4 0.1 4.6 1.9 10.3 24.2 .424 1.4 4.5 .308 8.7 10.5 .835
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:+12+2.7+6.7+1.7+4.9+6.6+3.2+0.1+0.4-1.3-0.2+2.9+5.3+.018+1.7+3.9+.039+0.7+0.8+.003
Allen Iverson 5 47.6 31.2 0.0 2.2 2.2 10.0 2.0 0.4 4.2 2.4 11.8 25.2 .468 2.4 5.8 .414 5.2 5.8 .897

Season 10

Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1988-892005-06
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
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:+66+11.6+13.7+0.4+3.4+3.0+2.6+0.9+0.7-1.6-1.3+3.1+8.0+.024+1.0+3.1+6.4+8.3+.133
Allen Iverson 72 43.1 33.0 0.6 2.6 3.2 7.4 1.9 0.1 3.4 1.7 11.3 25.3 .447 1.0 3.1 .323 9.4 11.5 .814
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Larry Bird nor Allen Iverson played in the postseason in their season 10

Season 11

Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1989-902006-07
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers, Denver 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:+10+3.2+2.0+0.8+5.7+6.5+0.3+0.5+0.6-0.9-0.8+0.7+.031+0.1+0.4+.018+3.2+4.8+.135
Allen Iverson 65 42.5 26.3 0.4 2.6 3.0 7.2 1.9 0.2 4.1 1.5 8.9 20.2 .442 1.0 3.0 .315 7.5 9.4 .795
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:+3.2+1.6+1.4+7.2+8.6+3.0+0.4+1.0-0.6-0.2+0.4+3.0+.076+0.4+.031+0.8+0.2+.100
Allen Iverson 5 44.6 22.8 0.0 0.6 0.6 5.8 1.4 0.0 3.0 2.2 8.4 22.8 .368 1.0 3.4 .294 5.0 6.2 .806

Season 12

Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1990-912007-08
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 >>
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:+22+3.8+7.0+0.3+5.2+5.5+0.1+0.2+0.9-0.1-0.7+1.0+2.0+.004+0.1+0.1+.044+5.2+6.6+.082
Allen Iverson 82 41.8 26.4 0.6 2.4 3.0 7.1 2.0 0.1 3.0 1.3 8.7 19.0 .458 1.2 3.4 .345 7.9 9.7 .809
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:+6+0.1+7.4+0.2+4.4+4.2+2.0+0.3-0.1-2.0+2.8+5.6+.026+0.5+1.4+.071+1.4+3.2+.166
Allen Iverson 4 39.5 24.5 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.5 1.0 0.3 1.8 0.8 9.0 20.8 .434 0.8 3.5 .214 5.8 8.3 .697

Season 13

Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1991-922008-09
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
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:+12+0.2+2.7+0.5+6.1+6.6+1.8+0.6+0.6-0.2-0.3+1.7+2.2+.049+0.7+1.1+.123+1.5+2.5+.145
Allen Iverson 57 36.7 17.5 0.5 2.5 3.0 5.0 1.5 0.1 2.6 1.5 6.1 14.6 .417 0.5 1.7 .283 4.8 6.1 .781
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
Allen Iverson DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Allen Iverson played 1 season more than Larry Bird in the NBA.

In that period—his season 14 in 2010—Allen Iverson didn't play in the postseason.

In that extra year over Larry Bird, Allen Iverson got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-Star Game