Larry Bird vs. Anderson Varejao Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Anderson Varejao 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

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 Anderson Varejao, who played 14. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Anderson Varejao had his rookie season in 2004-05. 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 achivements, 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
Anderson Varejao 14 6 2004-05 to 2020-21

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Anderson Varejao
Season 1979-802004-05
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
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 >>
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
Anderson Varejao 54 16.0 4.9 2.0 2.7 4.8 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.5 2.3 1.8 3.6 .513 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 2.4 .535
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
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Anderson Varejao
Season 1980-812005-06
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
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
Anderson Varejao 48 15.8 4.6 1.6 3.3 4.9 0.4 0.6 0.4 0.6 2.5 1.6 3.1 .527 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 2.5 .513
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
Anderson Varejao 13 18.3 6.8 1.4 3.1 4.5 0.2 0.7 0.2 0.5 3.8 2.4 3.8 .620 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.8 .703

Season 3

Larry Bird Anderson Varejao
Season 1981-822006-07
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
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
Anderson Varejao 81 23.9 6.8 2.4 4.4 6.7 0.9 0.9 0.6 0.8 3.3 2.4 5.0 .476 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 3.3 .616
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
Anderson Varejao 20 22.4 6.0 2.3 3.7 6.0 0.6 1.1 0.6 1.0 2.7 2.3 4.5 .511 0.0 0.2 .000 1.4 2.4 .563

Season 4

Larry Bird Anderson Varejao
Season 1982-832007-08
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
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
Anderson Varejao 48 27.5 6.7 2.8 5.5 8.3 1.1 0.8 0.5 1.2 2.8 2.8 6.1 .461 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.7 .598
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
Anderson Varejao 13 18.5 4.1 1.5 3.6 5.2 0.7 0.6 0.1 0.7 2.3 1.7 4.2 .407 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.6 .429

Season 5

Larry Bird Anderson Varejao
Season 1983-842008-09
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
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 ChampionCavaliers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Anderson Varejao 81 28.5 8.6 2.0 5.1 7.2 1.0 0.9 0.8 1.0 3.0 3.3 6.2 .536 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 3.1 .616
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Anderson Varejao 14 30.0 6.9 2.9 3.5 6.4 0.6 1.3 1.1 1.1 3.5 2.9 5.9 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.6 .682

Season 6

Larry Bird Anderson Varejao
Season 1984-852009-10
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
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
Anderson Varejao 76 28.5 8.6 2.5 5.1 7.6 1.1 0.9 0.9 0.9 2.9 3.5 6.1 .572 0.0 0.1 .200 1.5 2.3 .663
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
Anderson Varejao 11 23.2 5.7 2.0 4.5 6.5 0.6 1.0 0.8 1.1 3.5 1.8 4.4 .417 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 2.8 .742

Season 7

Larry Bird Anderson Varejao
Season 1985-862010-11
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
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
Anderson Varejao 31 32.1 9.1 3.2 6.5 9.7 1.5 0.9 1.2 1.3 2.8 3.7 7.0 .528 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 2.6 .667
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
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Larry Bird Anderson Varejao
Season 1986-872011-12
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
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
Anderson Varejao 25 31.4 10.8 4.4 7.1 11.5 1.7 1.4 0.7 1.8 2.5 4.6 8.9 .514 0.0 0.2 .000 1.7 2.6 .672
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
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Larry Bird Anderson Varejao
Season 1987-882012-13
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
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
Anderson Varejao 25 36.0 14.1 5.5 8.9 14.4 3.4 1.5 0.6 1.8 2.7 5.5 11.6 .478 0.0 0.2 .000 3.1 4.1 .755
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
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Larry Bird Anderson Varejao
Season 1988-892013-14
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
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
Anderson Varejao 65 27.7 8.4 2.9 6.8 9.7 2.2 1.1 0.6 1.1 2.5 3.5 7.1 .495 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.1 .681
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Larry Bird Anderson Varejao
Season 1989-902014-15
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
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
Anderson Varejao 26 24.5 9.8 2.2 4.3 6.5 1.3 0.7 0.6 1.3 2.2 4.3 7.7 .555 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 1.7 .733
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
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Larry Bird Anderson Varejao
Season 1990-912015-16
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
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
Anderson Varejao 53 9.4 2.6 0.7 2.0 2.7 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.4 1.3 1.0 2.3 .427 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 0.9 .640
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
Anderson Varejao 17 5.5 1.2 0.7 0.5 1.2 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.1 1.0 0.3 0.8 .357 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.1 .526

Season 13

Larry Bird Anderson Varejao
Season 1991-922016-17
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
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
Anderson Varejao 14 6.6 1.3 0.9 1.1 1.9 0.7 0.2 0.2 0.6 1.1 0.4 1.0 .357 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .727
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
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Note: Anderson Varejao didn't play in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Season 14

Larry Bird Anderson Varejao
Season -2020-21
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao 5 7.2 2.6 1.4 2.6 4.0 0.6 0.0 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.8 3.2 .250 0.0 0.2 .000 1.0 1.8 .556
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------