Larry Bird vs. Arvydas Sabonis Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Arvydas Sabonis 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, 6 more than Arvydas Sabonis, who played 7. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Arvydas Sabonis had his rookie season in 1995-96. 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 |
| Arvydas Sabonis |
7 |
7 |
1995-96 to 2002-03 |
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: | +9 | +12.2 | +6.8 | +0.6 | +1.8 | +2.3 | +2.7 | +0.8 | +0.5 | -1.1 | -0.5 | +3.1 | +7.9 | +.071 | +0.2 | +0.3 | +.031 | +0.5 | +0.2 | +.079 |
| Arvydas Sabonis |
73 |
23.8 |
14.5 |
2.0 |
6.0 |
8.1 |
1.8 |
0.9 |
1.1 |
2.1 |
2.9 |
5.4 |
9.9 |
.545 |
0.5 |
1.4 |
.375 |
3.2 |
4.2 |
.757 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +4 | +5.9 | +2.3 | | +1.0 | +1.0 | +2.9 | +0.8 | +0.3 | -1.7 | -0.1 | +2.2 | +3.5 | +.037 | +0.6 | +0.1 | +.289 | +6.2 | +9.2 | +.163 |
| Arvydas Sabonis |
5 |
35.4 |
23.6 |
2.4 |
7.8 |
10.2 |
1.8 |
0.8 |
0.6 |
2.0 |
3.4 |
7.0 |
16.2 |
.432 |
1.0 |
1.8 |
.556 |
8.6 |
12.0 |
.717 |
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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: | +13 | +14.0 | +7.8 | +0.6 | +2.3 | +3.0 | +3.4 | +1.1 | +0.4 | -1.3 | | +4.0 | +8.8 | +.020 | +0.5 | +1.0 | +.101 | +0.3 | +0.2 | +.086 |
| Arvydas Sabonis |
69 |
25.5 |
13.4 |
1.7 |
6.3 |
7.9 |
2.1 |
0.9 |
1.2 |
2.2 |
2.9 |
4.8 |
9.5 |
.498 |
0.7 |
1.9 |
.371 |
3.2 |
4.2 |
.777 |
|
| 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: | +13 | +17.3 | +10.6 | +0.9 | +6.6 | +7.5 | +3.8 | +1.5 | +0.2 | -1.3 | -1.7 | +4.1 | +7.9 | +.041 | +0.3 | +1.5 | +.125 | +2.7 | +3.0 | +.019 |
| Arvydas Sabonis |
4 |
26.8 |
11.3 |
2.0 |
4.5 |
6.5 |
2.3 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
2.3 |
4.8 |
4.5 |
10.5 |
.429 |
0.5 |
2.0 |
.250 |
1.8 |
2.0 |
.875 |
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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: | +4 | +6.0 | +6.9 | +0.6 | +0.4 | +0.9 | +2.8 | +1.0 | +0.2 | -0.7 | -0.5 | +3.6 | +7.1 | +.010 | +0.3 | +0.9 | +.049 | +0.1 | +0.6 | +.065 |
| Arvydas Sabonis |
73 |
32.0 |
16.0 |
2.0 |
7.9 |
10.0 |
3.0 |
0.9 |
1.1 |
2.6 |
3.7 |
5.6 |
11.3 |
.493 |
0.4 |
1.6 |
.261 |
4.4 |
5.5 |
.798 |
|
| 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: | +8 | +14.0 | +5.5 | +1.0 | +3.8 | +4.7 | +4.1 | +0.1 | +0.6 | -0.7 | -1.2 | +2.8 | +7.2 | +.023 | +0.2 | | +.333 | +0.1 | +0.3 | +.035 |
| Arvydas Sabonis |
4 |
26.8 |
12.3 |
1.8 |
6.0 |
7.8 |
1.5 |
1.8 |
0.8 |
2.5 |
4.8 |
4.5 |
10.0 |
.450 |
0.3 |
0.5 |
.500 |
3.0 |
3.5 |
.857 |
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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: | +29 | +10.7 | +11.5 | +0.6 | +2.5 | +3.1 | +3.4 | +1.2 | +0.4 | -1.3 | -0.4 | +4.9 | +9.1 | +.019 | +0.2 | +0.5 | +.006 | +1.7 | +1.8 | +.069 |
| Arvydas Sabonis |
50 |
27.0 |
12.1 |
1.8 |
6.1 |
7.9 |
2.4 |
0.7 |
1.3 |
1.7 |
2.9 |
4.6 |
9.6 |
.485 |
0.1 |
0.5 |
.292 |
2.7 |
3.5 |
.771 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +7 | +9.9 | +10.5 | +2.4 | +1.4 | +3.7 | +4.6 | +1.0 | +0.7 | -1.7 | -0.2 | +4.7 | +10.6 | +.024 | +0.1 | +0.3 | +.050 | +1.0 | +1.5 | +.079 |
| Arvydas Sabonis |
13 |
30.1 |
10.0 |
0.9 |
7.8 |
8.8 |
2.2 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
1.5 |
2.7 |
3.5 |
8.7 |
.398 |
0.1 |
0.4 |
.200 |
3.0 |
3.3 |
.907 |
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5th 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 |
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: | +13 | +12.7 | +12.4 | +0.8 | +1.5 | +2.3 | +4.8 | +1.1 | +0.3 | -1.5 | -0.3 | +5.0 | +10.4 | +.013 | +0.1 | +0.6 | +.121 | +2.2 | +2.3 | +.045 |
| Arvydas Sabonis |
66 |
25.6 |
11.8 |
1.5 |
6.3 |
7.8 |
1.8 |
0.7 |
1.2 |
1.5 |
2.8 |
4.6 |
9.1 |
.505 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
.368 |
2.5 |
3.0 |
.843 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +7 | +11.0 | +16.2 | +1.5 | +2.8 | +4.3 | +4.0 | +1.4 | +0.4 | -2.2 | -0.6 | +5.7 | +9.6 | +.071 | +0.1 | +0.6 | +.126 | +4.9 | +5.2 | +.083 |
| Arvydas Sabonis |
16 |
30.8 |
11.3 |
1.2 |
5.5 |
6.7 |
1.9 |
0.9 |
0.8 |
1.6 |
3.7 |
4.3 |
9.4 |
.453 |
0.4 |
1.3 |
.286 |
2.4 |
3.1 |
.796 |
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: | +19 | +18.2 | +18.6 | +1.3 | +3.9 | +5.1 | +5.1 | +0.9 | +0.2 | -1.7 | -0.4 | +7.5 | +13.5 | +.043 | +0.7 | +1.4 | +.360 | +3.0 | +3.1 | +.106 |
| Arvydas Sabonis |
61 |
21.3 |
10.1 |
0.8 |
4.6 |
5.4 |
1.5 |
0.7 |
1.0 |
1.4 |
2.2 |
4.0 |
8.5 |
.479 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
.067 |
2.0 |
2.6 |
.776 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +17 | +5.8 | +14.7 | | +0.8 | +0.8 | +3.1 | +1.4 | +1.3 | -2.2 | -1.3 | +5.1 | +11.6 | +.022 | +0.4 | +0.6 | +.280 | +4.1 | +4.1 | +.140 |
| Arvydas Sabonis |
3 |
35.0 |
11.3 |
2.7 |
5.7 |
8.3 |
2.7 |
0.3 |
2.3 |
0.7 |
4.0 |
4.7 |
9.7 |
.483 |
0.0 |
0.7 |
.000 |
2.0 |
2.7 |
.750 |
Note: Arvydas Sabonis didn't play in 2001-02.
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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: | +4 | +22.5 | +19.7 | +1.2 | +4.3 | +5.5 | +5.0 | +1.2 | | -2.2 | -0.4 | +7.5 | +15.0 | +.020 | +1.0 | +2.3 | +.077 | +3.7 | +3.9 | +.109 |
| Arvydas Sabonis |
78 |
15.5 |
6.1 |
1.1 |
3.2 |
4.3 |
1.8 |
0.8 |
0.6 |
1.0 |
1.8 |
2.2 |
4.6 |
.476 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
.500 |
1.7 |
2.1 |
.787 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +12 | +28.3 | +15.9 | +0.9 | +4.4 | +5.3 | +7.4 | +1.4 | +0.1 | -1.6 | -0.8 | +5.5 | +12.4 | +.150 | +1.3 | +3.1 | | +3.6 | +3.6 | +.127 |
| Arvydas Sabonis |
6 |
14.5 |
10.0 |
1.0 |
3.0 |
4.0 |
0.8 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
1.0 |
2.3 |
4.0 |
6.0 |
.667 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
2.0 |
2.5 |
.800 |
|
Additional Years |
* Larry Bird played 6 seasons more than Arvydas Sabonis in the NBA.
In that period—his seasons 8 to 13, from 1987 to 1992—Larry Bird played in 5 Playoffs. In those 6 extra years over Arvydas Sabonis, Larry Bird got these achievements: |
| Honors & Awards |  2 All-NBA First Team
1 All-NBA Second Team
5 All-Star Game
|
NBA Champion