Larry Bird vs. Cedric Maxwell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Cedric Maxwell 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 played 13 years in the NBA, 2 more than Cedric Maxwell, who played 11. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Cedric Maxwell had his rookie season in 1977-78. 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
Cedric Maxwell 11 8 1977-78 to 1987-88

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Cedric Maxwell
Season 1979-801977-78
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
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
Cedric Maxwell 72 16.8 7.3 1.9 3.3 5.3 0.9 0.7 0.7 1.7 2.1 2.4 4.4 .538 - - - 2.6 3.5 .752
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
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Cedric Maxwell
Season 1980-811978-79
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards 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 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
Cedric Maxwell 80 37.1 19.0 3.4 6.5 9.9 2.9 1.2 0.9 3.4 3.3 5.9 10.1 .584 - - - 7.2 9.0 .802
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
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Larry Bird Cedric Maxwell
Season 1981-821979-80
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
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 FinalsCeltics 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 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
Cedric Maxwell 80 34.3 16.9 3.6 5.3 8.8 2.5 1.0 0.8 2.9 3.3 5.7 9.4 .609 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 6.9 .787
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
Cedric Maxwell 9 35.6 18.2 3.4 6.6 10.0 2.1 0.6 1.1 2.4 2.8 6.6 10.3 .634 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 6.8 .754

Season 4

Larry Bird Cedric Maxwell
Season 1982-831980-81
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisNBA 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 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
Cedric Maxwell 81 33.7 15.2 2.7 3.7 6.5 2.7 1.0 0.8 2.2 3.2 5.4 9.3 .588 0.0 0.0 .000 4.3 5.6 .782
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
Cedric Maxwell 17 35.2 16.1 3.6 3.8 7.4 2.7 0.7 0.9 2.5 3.1 5.9 10.2 .580 0.0 0.0 - 4.2 5.2 .818

Season 5

Larry Bird Cedric Maxwell
Season 1983-841981-82
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
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 ChampionCeltics 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
Cedric Maxwell 78 33.2 14.8 2.8 3.6 6.4 2.3 1.0 0.6 2.2 3.4 5.1 9.3 .548 0.0 0.0 .000 4.6 6.1 .747
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
Cedric Maxwell 12 32.1 14.5 3.1 4.2 7.3 2.2 1.5 0.9 2.0 3.3 5.2 10.0 .517 0.0 0.0 - 4.2 5.8 .714

Season 6

Larry Bird Cedric Maxwell
Season 1984-851982-83
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsCeltics 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
Cedric Maxwell 79 28.5 11.9 2.3 3.0 5.3 2.4 0.8 0.5 2.1 2.6 4.2 8.4 .499 0.0 0.0 .000 3.5 4.4 .812
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
Cedric Maxwell 7 35.1 12.9 3.3 4.0 7.3 3.3 0.6 0.6 2.7 2.6 4.1 7.9 .527 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 5.4 .842

Season 7

Larry Bird Cedric Maxwell
Season 1985-861983-84
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA 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 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
Cedric Maxwell 80 31.3 11.9 2.5 3.3 5.8 2.6 0.8 0.3 2.5 2.8 4.0 7.5 .532 0.0 0.1 .167 4.0 5.3 .753
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
Cedric Maxwell 23 32.7 11.9 2.3 2.9 5.2 2.4 1.0 0.3 2.0 3.3 3.7 7.3 .503 0.0 0.0 .000 4.6 5.9 .779

Season 8

Larry Bird Cedric Maxwell
Season 1986-871984-85
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsCeltics 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 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
Cedric Maxwell 57 26.2 11.1 1.7 2.5 4.2 1.8 0.6 0.3 1.7 2.5 3.5 6.6 .533 0.0 0.0 .000 4.1 4.9 .831
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
Cedric Maxwell 20 11.9 3.8 0.9 1.5 2.4 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.5 1.5 1.1 2.2 .488 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.2 .791

Season 9

Larry Bird Cedric Maxwell
Season 1987-881985-86
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Clippers
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
Cedric Maxwell 76 32.3 14.1 3.2 5.0 8.2 2.8 0.8 0.4 2.7 3.3 4.1 8.7 .475 0.0 0.0 .000 5.9 7.4 .795
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
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Larry Bird Cedric Maxwell
Season 1988-891986-87
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 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
Cedric Maxwell 81 24.3 10.0 2.2 3.2 5.4 2.4 0.5 0.2 1.7 2.2 3.1 5.9 .530 0.0 0.0 .000 3.7 4.8 .775
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Cedric Maxwell 10 17.7 6.2 1.1 2.2 3.3 1.7 0.4 0.0 0.8 1.7 1.8 3.4 .529 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 3.5 .743

Season 11

Larry Bird Cedric Maxwell
Season 1989-901987-88
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets 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 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
Cedric Maxwell 71 11.9 3.8 1.0 1.5 2.5 0.8 0.3 0.2 0.8 1.1 1.1 2.4 .468 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.0 .769
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
Cedric Maxwell 4 3.8 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.5 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

Larry Bird Cedric Maxwell
Season 1990-91-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics 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 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
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------
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
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Larry Bird Cedric Maxwell
Season 1991-92-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics 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 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
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------
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
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------