Larry Bird vs. Earl Boykins Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Earl Boykins 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

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 Earl Boykins both played 13 years in the NBA. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Earl Boykins had his rookie season in 1998-99. 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
Earl Boykins 13 3 1998-99 to 2011-12

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Larry Bird Earl Boykins
Season 1979-801998-99
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers
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
Earl Boykins 22 10.0 3.0 0.3 0.5 0.8 1.5 0.3 0.0 0.9 0.9 1.4 3.6 .380 0.1 0.8 .167 0.1 0.1 .667
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
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Larry Bird Earl Boykins
Season 1980-811999-00
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers
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
Earl Boykins 26 10.0 5.3 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.8 0.5 0.0 0.7 0.9 2.2 4.5 .483 0.3 0.8 .400 0.7 0.9 .783
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
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Larry Bird Earl Boykins
Season 1981-822000-01
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Clippers
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 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 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
Earl Boykins 10 14.9 6.5 0.4 0.7 1.1 3.2 0.5 0.0 0.9 0.9 2.5 6.3 .397 0.1 0.8 .125 1.4 1.7 .824
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
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------

Season 4
Larry Bird Earl Boykins
Season 1982-832001-02
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Clippers
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
Earl Boykins 68 11.2 4.1 0.4 0.4 0.8 2.1 0.3 0.0 0.6 0.6 1.6 4.0 .400 0.2 0.6 .310 0.7 0.9 .770
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
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Larry Bird Earl Boykins
Season 1983-842002-03
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
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 >>
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
Earl Boykins 68 19.4 8.8 0.5 0.8 1.3 3.3 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.1 2.9 6.8 .429 0.4 1.1 .377 2.5 2.9 .865
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
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------

Season 6
Larry Bird Earl Boykins
Season 1984-852003-04
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsNuggets 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 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
Earl Boykins 82 22.5 10.2 0.5 1.2 1.7 3.6 0.6 0.0 1.2 1.0 3.9 9.3 .419 0.7 2.1 .322 1.7 2.0 .877
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
Earl Boykins 5 24.0 13.4 1.2 1.2 2.4 3.8 1.0 0.2 1.2 1.2 5.6 12.6 .444 1.0 2.8 .357 1.2 1.4 .857

Season 7
Larry Bird Earl Boykins
Season 1985-862004-05
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNuggets 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 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
Earl Boykins 82 26.4 12.4 0.5 1.3 1.7 4.5 1.0 0.1 1.5 1.5 4.1 10.0 .413 0.7 2.0 .337 3.4 3.7 .921
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
Earl Boykins 5 30.4 14.2 0.4 0.6 1.0 3.8 0.8 0.2 1.8 2.6 5.4 13.6 .397 0.0 1.4 .000 3.4 3.8 .895

Season 8
Larry Bird Earl Boykins
Season 1986-872005-06
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsNuggets 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 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
Earl Boykins 60 25.7 12.6 0.4 1.0 1.4 3.8 0.8 0.1 1.4 1.2 4.5 11.0 .410 1.0 3.0 .346 2.5 2.9 .874
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
Earl Boykins 5 28.0 11.0 0.6 0.8 1.4 4.0 0.8 0.0 0.6 1.2 3.8 11.8 .322 0.8 3.8 .211 2.6 3.4 .765

Season 9
Larry Bird Earl Boykins
Season 1987-882006-07
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks
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
Earl Boykins 66 30.8 14.6 0.7 1.4 2.1 4.4 0.8 0.0 1.8 1.4 4.9 11.7 .420 1.4 3.6 .397 3.3 3.7 .898
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
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Larry Bird Earl Boykins
Season 1988-892007-08
Team Boston CelticsCharlotte Bobcats
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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 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
Earl Boykins 36 16.0 5.1 0.3 0.7 0.9 2.7 0.4 0.0 1.1 0.6 1.7 4.8 .355 0.4 1.2 .318 1.4 1.6 .831
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------

Note: Earl Boykins didn't play in 2008-09.

Season 11
Larry Bird Earl Boykins
Season 1989-902009-10
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdDid 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 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
Earl Boykins 67 16.7 6.6 0.3 0.9 1.1 2.6 0.4 0.0 1.0 0.7 2.6 6.0 .427 0.3 0.9 .317 1.1 1.3 .865
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
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Larry Bird Earl Boykins
Season 1990-912010-11
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
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
Earl Boykins 57 15.1 7.2 0.3 0.7 1.0 2.5 0.7 0.1 0.9 0.8 2.7 6.2 .443 0.5 1.2 .380 1.2 1.4 .841
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
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Larry Bird Earl Boykins
Season 1991-922011-12
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
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
Earl Boykins 8 13.9 4.9 0.0 1.4 1.4 2.1 0.1 0.0 0.9 0.6 1.5 4.5 .333 0.3 1.1 .222 1.6 1.9 .867
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
Earl Boykins ------- --- ----------
Share: