Larry Bird vs. Dale Davis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dale Davis 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, 3 less than Dale Davis, who played 16. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Dale Davis had his rookie season in 1991-92. 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
Dale Davis 16 14 1991-92 to 2006-07

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Dale Davis
Season 1979-801991-92
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
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 FinalsPacers Lost East 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 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
Dale Davis 64 20.3 6.2 2.5 3.9 6.4 0.5 0.4 1.2 0.8 3.0 2.4 4.4 .552 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.4 .572
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
Dale Davis 3 23.0 2.7 1.7 4.7 6.3 0.7 0.0 1.7 0.3 2.7 1.3 3.3 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Larry Bird Dale Davis
Season 1980-811992-93
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers Lost East 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
Dale Davis 82 27.6 8.9 3.5 5.3 8.8 0.8 0.8 1.8 1.0 3.3 3.7 6.5 .568 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.7 .529
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
Dale Davis 4 29.3 4.3 1.0 7.0 8.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.8 3.8 2.0 3.0 .667 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 1.0 .250

Season 3

Larry Bird Dale Davis
Season 1981-821993-94
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
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 FinalsPacers 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
Dale Davis 66 34.7 11.7 4.2 6.6 10.9 1.5 0.7 1.6 1.5 3.2 4.7 8.8 .529 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 4.5 .527
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
Dale Davis 16 36.1 7.7 3.9 6.0 9.9 0.7 1.1 1.1 1.9 3.3 3.5 6.6 .528 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 2.3 .306

Season 4

Larry Bird Dale Davis
Season 1982-831994-95
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisPacers 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 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
Dale Davis 74 31.7 10.6 3.5 5.9 9.4 0.8 1.0 1.6 1.7 3.0 4.4 7.8 .563 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 3.5 .533
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
Dale Davis 17 28.8 7.9 3.1 4.9 8.0 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.3 3.3 3.3 6.2 .533 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.8 .489

Season 5

Larry Bird Dale Davis
Season 1983-841995-96
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
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 ChampionPacers Lost East 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
Dale Davis 78 33.6 10.3 3.2 5.9 9.1 1.0 0.7 1.4 1.5 3.1 4.3 7.7 .558 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 3.7 .467
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
Dale Davis 5 36.8 7.2 4.0 7.2 11.2 0.8 0.6 1.2 2.0 3.2 3.2 6.2 .516 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 2.2 .364

Season 6

Larry Bird Dale Davis
Season 1984-851996-97
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
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
Dale Davis 80 32.4 10.4 3.8 5.9 9.7 0.7 0.8 1.0 1.4 2.9 4.6 8.6 .538 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 2.7 .428
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
Dale Davis ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Larry Bird Dale Davis
Season 1985-861997-98
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers 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 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
Dale Davis 78 27.9 8.0 3.0 4.8 7.8 0.9 0.7 1.1 0.9 2.7 3.5 6.4 .548 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.2 .465
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
Dale Davis 16 29.2 8.8 2.8 4.8 7.5 0.8 0.3 1.1 1.3 2.6 3.5 5.4 .651 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 4.0 .453

Season 8

Larry Bird Dale Davis
Season 1986-871998-99
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsPacers 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 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
Dale Davis 50 27.5 8.0 3.1 5.2 8.3 0.4 0.4 1.1 0.9 2.3 3.2 6.0 .533 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.5 .618
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
Dale Davis 13 30.3 9.1 3.5 6.7 10.2 0.8 0.8 1.4 1.6 3.2 3.5 5.9 .584 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.8 .560

Season 9

Larry Bird Dale Davis
Season 1987-881999-00
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsPacers 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 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
Dale Davis 74 28.7 10.0 3.5 6.4 9.9 0.9 0.7 1.3 1.2 2.7 4.1 8.1 .502 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.7 .685
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
Dale Davis 23 31.1 8.3 3.6 7.8 11.4 0.7 0.5 1.3 0.8 3.6 3.4 6.6 .523 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.6 .542

Season 10

Larry Bird Dale Davis
Season 1988-892000-01
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers 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 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
Dale Davis 81 26.7 7.2 2.9 4.6 7.5 1.3 0.5 0.9 0.8 2.5 3.0 6.0 .497 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 1.9 .632
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Dale Davis 2 10.0 0.5 1.5 0.5 2.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 3.5 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.5 1.0 .500

Season 11

Larry Bird Dale Davis
Season 1989-902001-02
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers 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
Dale Davis 78 31.4 9.5 3.4 5.5 8.8 1.2 0.8 1.1 0.8 2.5 3.8 7.4 .510 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.7 .708
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
Dale Davis 3 23.7 2.3 2.0 4.7 6.7 1.3 1.3 1.0 0.7 5.3 1.0 3.7 .273 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.7 .500

Season 12

Larry Bird Dale Davis
Season 1990-912002-03
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisTrail Blazers 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 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
Dale Davis 78 29.3 7.4 3.0 4.2 7.2 1.2 0.7 0.9 0.9 2.4 3.0 5.6 .541 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 2.1 .633
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
Dale Davis 6 26.8 7.5 3.3 4.7 8.0 1.5 0.8 0.3 1.7 1.8 2.3 4.0 .583 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 4.3 .654

Season 13

Larry Bird Dale Davis
Season 1991-922003-04
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
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
Dale Davis 76 22.1 4.4 2.1 3.2 5.2 0.9 0.6 0.8 0.5 2.0 1.8 3.7 .473 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.4 .613
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
Dale Davis ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Larry Bird Dale Davis
Season -2004-05
Team -Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pacers 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 ------- --- ----------
Dale Davis 61 21.4 4.7 2.5 3.7 6.1 0.8 0.5 1.1 0.7 2.7 1.8 3.8 .479 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.6 .606
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Dale Davis 13 24.2 5.3 2.8 3.4 6.2 0.4 0.7 0.5 0.7 2.7 2.0 4.5 .448 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.9 .680

Season 15

Larry Bird Dale Davis
Season -2005-06
Team -Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pistons 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 ------- --- ----------
Dale Davis 28 6.4 0.9 0.8 1.1 1.9 0.2 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.8 0.3 0.9 .375 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.5 .533
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Dale Davis 8 4.5 0.3 0.1 1.0 1.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.4 1.4 0.0 0.8 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.5 .500

Season 16

Larry Bird Dale Davis
Season -2006-07
Team -Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pistons 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 ------- --- ----------
Dale Davis 46 10.1 1.8 1.3 1.7 3.0 0.3 0.2 0.7 0.3 1.3 0.7 1.6 .446 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.6 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Dale Davis 8 6.4 1.0 0.6 0.9 1.5 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.3 1.8 0.4 1.0 .375 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.5 .500