Larry Bird vs. Dell Curry Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dell Curry 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 Dell Curry, who played 16. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Dell Curry had his rookie season in 1986-87. 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
Dell Curry 16 10 1986-87 to 2001-02

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Dell Curry
Season 1979-801986-87
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
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 FinalsJazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+15+26.5+16.4+2.2+7.1+9.2+3.6+1.3+0.5-2.5-2.1+6.4+12.9+.048+0.4+0.8+.123+3.3+3.8+.047
Dell Curry 67 9.5 4.9 0.4 0.7 1.2 0.9 0.4 0.1 0.7 1.3 2.1 4.9 .426 0.3 0.9 .283 0.4 0.6 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+7+39.3+21.3+2.4+8.8+11.2+4.7+1.6+0.9-3.7-2.8+9.2+18.2+.469+0.4+1.2+.267+2.4+2.8
Dell Curry 2 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 1.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Larry Bird Dell Curry
Season 1980-811987-88
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+3+20.5+11.2+1.8+7.0+8.8+3.6+0.8+0.5-2.1-1.3+4.5+8.9+.020+0.2+0.1+.076+2.5+2.7+.081
Dell Curry 79 19.0 10.0 0.5 1.6 2.1 1.9 1.2 0.3 1.4 1.6 4.3 9.4 .458 0.4 1.0 .346 1.0 1.3 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+15+35.6+20.9+2.4+11.1+13.5+5.1+2.3+0.5-3.6-2.6+8.1+16.4+.220+0.2+.375+4.5+5.0
Dell Curry 2 8.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 0.5 2.0 .250 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 3

Larry Bird Dell Curry
Season 1981-821988-89
Team Boston CelticsCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+29+21.1+11.0+2.1+6.7+8.7+4.8+1.0+0.8-2.4-1.8+3.9+7.5+.012+0.3+0.4+.133+3.5+3.9+.007
Dell Curry 48 16.9 11.9 0.5 1.6 2.2 1.0 0.9 0.1 0.9 1.4 5.3 10.9 .491 0.4 1.1 .345 0.8 1.0 .870
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Dell Curry DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Bird Dell Curry
Season 1982-831989-90
Team Boston CelticsCharlotte Hornets
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 >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+12+9.9+7.6+1.9+6.6+8.5+3.4+0.4+0.5-1.5-0.3+2.6+3.9+.038+0.5+1.2+.068+3.0+3.7+.083
Dell Curry 67 27.8 16.0 0.5 2.0 2.5 2.4 1.5 0.4 1.5 2.2 6.9 14.8 .466 0.8 2.2 .354 1.4 1.6 .923
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Dell Curry DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

Larry Bird Dell Curry
Season 1983-841990-91
Team Boston CelticsCharlotte Hornets
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 ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+3+18.4+13.6+1.7+5.8+7.5+4.4+0.8+0.6-1.9-0.9+5.2+10.1+.021+0.2+0.2+.125+3.4+3.8+.046
Dell Curry 76 19.9 10.6 0.6 2.0 2.6 2.2 1.0 0.3 1.1 1.6 4.4 9.4 .471 0.4 1.1 .372 1.3 1.5 .842
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Dell Curry DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Larry Bird Dell Curry
Season 1984-851991-92
Team Boston CelticsCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+3+13.3+13.0+1.4+5.9+7.1+4.3+0.4+0.9-1.4-0.6+5.0+8.5+.036+0.3+0.8+.023+3.4+3.7+.046
Dell Curry 77 26.2 15.7 0.7 2.6 3.4 2.3 1.2 0.3 1.7 2.0 6.5 13.5 .486 1.0 2.4 .404 1.6 2.0 .836
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Dell Curry DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7

Larry Bird Dell Curry
Season 1985-861992-93
Team Boston CelticsCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHornets Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+2+11.8+10.5+1.7+4.6+6.2+4.5+0.9+0.3-1.6-0.3+3.5+5.8+.044+0.2+0.6+.022+3.7+4.0+.030
Dell Curry 80 26.2 15.3 0.6 2.9 3.6 2.3 1.1 0.3 1.6 1.9 6.2 13.8 .452 1.2 3.0 .401 1.7 2.0 .866
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+9+18.1+14.9+0.7+5.1+5.7+6.2+0.7+0.6-1.2-1.0+4.8+7.6+.084+0.6+0.8+.125+4.6+4.9+.109
Dell Curry 9 24.7 11.0 1.2 2.3 3.6 2.0 1.4 0.0 1.4 2.1 4.7 10.8 .433 0.7 2.3 .286 1.0 1.2 .818

Season 8

Larry Bird Dell Curry
Season 1986-871993-94
Team Boston CelticsCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+8+14.1+11.8+0.8+5.2+6.0+4.9+0.6+0.6-1.7-0.5+4.1+5.9+.070+0.7+1.6+.002+4.2+4.5+.037
Dell Curry 82 26.5 16.3 0.9 2.3 3.2 2.7 1.2 0.3 1.5 2.0 6.5 14.3 .455 1.9 4.6 .402 1.4 1.6 .873
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Dell Curry DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

Larry Bird Dell Curry
Season 1987-881994-95
Team Boston CelticsCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsHornets Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+7+14.1+16.3+0.8+6.0+6.9+4.5+0.8+0.5-1.4+6.6+10.7+.086+0.9+2.1+.013+4.1+4.4+.060
Dell Curry 69 24.9 13.6 0.6 1.8 2.4 1.6 0.8 0.3 1.4 2.1 5.0 11.3 .441 2.2 5.2 .427 1.4 1.6 .856
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+13+18.1+11.7+0.4+6.1+6.5+5.3+2.1+0.8-1.4-0.2+4.9+11.4+.021+1.6+3.4+.054+3.4+3.8+.015
Dell Curry 4 26.8 12.8 1.3 1.0 2.3 1.5 0.0 0.0 1.5 2.8 4.0 8.5 .471 2.3 5.3 .429 2.5 2.8 .909

Season 10

Larry Bird Dell Curry
Season 1988-891995-96
Team Boston CelticsCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+76+2.6+4.8+0.6+3.6+3.0+2.7+0.3+0.5-0.2-0.9+2.8+5.4+.018+2.0+5.0+1.2+1.1+.093
Dell Curry 82 28.9 14.5 0.8 2.4 3.2 2.1 1.3 0.3 1.6 2.1 5.4 11.9 .453 2.0 5.0 .404 1.8 2.1 .854
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Larry Bird nor Dell Curry played in the postseason in their season 10

Season 11

Larry Bird Dell Curry
Season 1989-901996-97
Team Boston CelticsCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdHornets Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+7+8.7+9.5+0.6+5.8+6.4+5.8+0.5+0.6-1.8-0.1+4.0+7.9+.014+1.0+1.8+.093+2.6+2.5+.127
Dell Curry 68 30.6 14.8 0.6 2.5 3.1 1.7 0.9 0.2 1.4 2.2 5.6 12.3 .459 1.9 4.4 .426 1.7 2.1 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+2+24.4+19.7+1.1+7.8+8.9+7.1+0.3+1.0-3.3-0.3+7.1+14.1+.150+0.7+2.5+.013+4.8+5.4+.094
Dell Curry 3 17.0 4.7 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.7 1.3 0.0 0.3 1.7 1.7 5.7 .294 0.3 1.3 .250 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 12

Larry Bird Dell Curry
Season 1990-911997-98
Team Boston CelticsCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisHornets Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+8+19.3+10.0+0.4+6.2+6.6+5.9+1.2+0.9-2.1-0.4+4.0+8.7+.007+0.1+0.5+.032+1.9+2.1+.103
Dell Curry 52 18.7 9.4 0.5 1.4 1.9 1.3 0.6 0.1 1.0 1.6 3.7 8.3 .447 1.2 2.8 .421 0.8 1.0 .788
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+1+20.8+11.3+0.1+5.0+5.1+5.4+0.5-1.3-0.5+3.9+9.4+.004+0.1+0.3+.107+3.7+4.3+.006
Dell Curry 9 18.8 5.8 0.7 1.4 2.1 1.1 0.8 0.3 0.6 2.3 2.3 5.8 .404 0.4 1.8 .250 0.7 0.8 .857

Season 13

Larry Bird Dell Curry
Season 1991-921998-99
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisBucks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+3+16.3+10.1+0.6+7.0+7.6+5.7+0.6-1.7-0.8+3.9+8.8+.019+0.4+0.7+.070+2.6+2.8+.102
Dell Curry 42 20.6 10.1 0.4 1.6 2.0 1.1 0.9 0.1 1.1 1.0 3.9 8.0 .485 1.6 3.5 .476 0.7 0.8 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+1+10.5+8.3+0.5+2.7+3.2+5.0+0.7+0.5-1.5-0.1+4.6+5.5+.367+0.3+1.4+.125+0.5+0.3+.250
Dell Curry 3 16.3 3.0 0.0 1.3 1.3 0.3 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.7 0.7 5.0 .133 0.3 2.7 .125 1.3 1.3 1.000

Additional Years

* Dell Curry played 3 seasons more than Larry Bird in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 16, from 2000 to 2002—Dell Curry played in 3 Playoffs.