Larry Bird vs. Bill Wennington Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Bill Wennington 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 / 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 and Bill Wennington both played 13 years in the NBA. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Bill Wennington had his rookie season in 1985-86. 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
Bill Wennington 13 8 1985-86 to 1999-00

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Bill Wennington
Season 1979-801985-86
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
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 FinalsMavericks Lost West 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 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
Bill Wennington 56 10.0 3.4 0.6 1.8 2.4 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.4 1.5 1.3 2.7 .471 0.0 0.1 .000 0.8 1.1 .726
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
Bill Wennington 6 3.0 1.2 0.7 0.2 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.3 1.0 .333 0.2 0.2 1.000 0.3 0.3 1.000

Season 2

Larry Bird Bill Wennington
Season 1980-811986-87
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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
Bill Wennington 58 9.7 2.7 0.9 1.3 2.2 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.7 1.6 1.0 2.3 .424 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.0 .750
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
Bill Wennington 4 11.8 3.8 1.0 1.5 2.5 1.0 0.0 0.8 0.8 2.3 1.5 3.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.3 .600

Season 3

Larry Bird Bill Wennington
Season 1981-821987-88
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
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 FinalsMavericks Lost West 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 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
Bill Wennington 30 4.2 2.1 0.5 0.8 1.3 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.3 1.1 0.8 1.6 .510 0.0 0.1 .500 0.4 0.6 .632
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
Bill Wennington 6 2.3 0.0 0.5 0.2 0.7 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.8 0.0 0.7 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 4

Larry Bird Bill Wennington
Season 1982-831988-89
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
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 >>
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
Bill Wennington 65 16.5 4.6 1.3 3.1 4.4 0.7 0.2 0.5 0.8 3.2 1.8 4.2 .433 0.0 0.1 .111 0.9 1.3 .744
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
Bill Wennington ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Larry Bird Bill Wennington
Season 1983-841989-90
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
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 ChampionMavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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
Bill Wennington 60 13.6 4.5 1.1 2.2 3.3 0.7 0.3 0.4 0.8 2.4 1.8 3.9 .449 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 1.3 .800
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
Bill Wennington 3 8.3 0.7 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.7 1.7 0.3 1.7 .200 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 6

Larry Bird Bill Wennington
Season 1984-851990-91
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
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 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
Bill Wennington 77 18.9 5.7 1.3 3.1 4.4 0.9 0.6 0.8 0.7 3.0 2.4 5.4 .436 0.0 0.1 .200 1.0 1.2 .787
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
Bill Wennington ------- --- ----------

Note: Bill Wennington didn't play in 1991-92 and 1992-93.

Season 7

Larry Bird Bill Wennington
Season 1985-861993-94
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBulls 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 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
Bill Wennington 76 18.0 7.1 1.5 3.1 4.6 0.9 0.6 0.4 1.0 2.8 3.1 6.3 .488 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.2 .818
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
Bill Wennington 7 6.7 1.1 0.6 0.4 1.0 0.6 0.0 0.1 0.1 2.0 0.4 0.9 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .667

Season 8

Larry Bird Bill Wennington
Season 1986-871994-95
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsBulls 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 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
Bill Wennington 73 13.1 5.0 0.9 1.7 2.6 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.5 2.7 2.1 4.3 .492 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 0.9 .810
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
Bill Wennington 10 13.3 4.8 1.2 1.6 2.8 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.8 3.2 2.1 5.1 .412 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.6 1.000

Season 9

Larry Bird Bill Wennington
Season 1987-881995-96
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
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
Bill Wennington 71 15.0 5.3 0.8 1.6 2.5 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.5 2.4 2.4 4.8 .493 0.0 0.0 1.000 0.5 0.6 .860
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
Bill Wennington 18 9.4 3.0 0.6 1.1 1.7 0.5 0.2 0.1 0.3 1.7 1.4 2.8 .520 0.0 0.1 .000 0.1 0.2 .500

Season 10

Larry Bird Bill Wennington
Season 1988-891996-97
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
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
Bill Wennington 61 12.8 4.6 0.8 1.4 2.1 0.7 0.2 0.2 0.5 2.2 1.9 3.9 .498 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 0.9 .830
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Bill Wennington ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Larry Bird Bill Wennington
Season 1989-901997-98
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
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
Bill Wennington 48 9.7 3.5 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.3 1.6 1.6 3.6 .436 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.4 .810
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
Bill Wennington 16 7.5 2.8 0.2 0.7 0.9 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.5 1.4 1.3 2.4 .526 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.5 .500

Season 12

Larry Bird Bill Wennington
Season 1990-911998-99
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
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 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
Bill Wennington 38 11.9 3.8 0.5 1.6 2.1 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.4 2.1 1.6 4.7 .348 0.0 0.0 1.000 0.5 0.6 .818
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
Bill Wennington ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Larry Bird Bill Wennington
Season 1991-921999-00
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
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
Bill Wennington 7 8.1 2.0 0.7 2.0 2.7 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.1 1.9 0.9 2.7 .316 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 1.000
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
Bill Wennington ------- --- ----------