Larry Bird vs. Herb Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Herb Williams 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, 5 less than Herb Williams, who played 18. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Herb Williams had his rookie season in 1981-82. 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
Herb Williams 18 8 1981-82 to 1998-99

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Herb Williams
Season 1979-801981-82
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 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
Herb Williams 82 27.8 11.5 2.1 5.2 7.4 1.7 0.6 2.2 1.7 2.4 5.0 10.4 .477 0.0 0.1 .286 1.5 2.3 .670
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Herb Williams
Season 1980-811982-83
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
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
Herb Williams 78 32.2 16.9 1.9 5.5 7.5 3.4 0.7 2.2 2.9 2.9 7.4 14.9 .499 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 2.8 .705
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Larry Bird Herb Williams
Season 1981-821983-84
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 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
Herb Williams 69 33.0 14.9 2.2 5.8 8.0 3.1 0.9 1.6 3.0 2.8 6.0 12.5 .478 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.3 .702
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Bird Herb Williams
Season 1982-831984-85
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 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
Herb Williams 75 34.1 18.3 2.1 6.4 8.5 3.4 0.7 1.8 3.5 2.9 7.7 16.1 .475 0.0 0.1 .111 3.0 4.5 .657
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Larry Bird Herb Williams
Season 1983-841985-86
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 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
Herb Williams 78 35.5 19.9 2.2 6.9 9.1 2.2 0.6 2.4 2.7 3.1 8.0 16.3 .492 0.0 0.2 .083 3.8 5.2 .730
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Larry Bird Herb Williams
Season 1984-851986-87
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA 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 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
Herb Williams 74 34.1 14.9 1.9 5.4 7.3 2.4 0.8 1.3 2.0 3.4 6.1 12.7 .480 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 3.6 .740
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
Herb Williams 4 33.5 11.8 0.8 4.3 5.0 1.8 0.0 0.3 2.8 3.0 5.0 8.5 .588 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.3 .538

Season 7

Larry Bird Herb Williams
Season 1985-861987-88
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 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 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
Herb Williams 75 26.2 10.0 1.5 4.7 6.3 1.3 0.5 1.9 1.6 3.3 4.1 9.8 .425 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 2.3 .737
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Larry Bird Herb Williams
Season 1986-871988-89
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards 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 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
Herb Williams 76 32.5 10.2 1.8 6.0 7.8 1.6 0.6 1.8 2.0 3.1 4.2 9.7 .436 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.6 .686
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Larry Bird Herb Williams
Season 1987-881989-90
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsMavericks 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 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
Herb Williams 81 27.1 8.6 0.9 3.9 4.8 1.5 0.6 1.3 1.3 3.0 3.6 8.2 .444 0.0 0.1 .222 1.3 2.0 .679
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
Herb Williams 3 27.0 13.7 1.3 3.0 4.3 1.7 0.3 0.7 1.0 5.3 4.7 7.7 .609 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 5.3 .813

Season 10

Larry Bird Herb Williams
Season 1988-891990-91
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
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
Herb Williams 60 30.5 12.5 1.4 4.5 6.0 1.6 0.5 1.5 1.9 3.3 5.5 10.9 .507 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.2 .638
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Larry Bird Herb Williams
Season 1989-901991-92
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
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
Herb Williams 75 27.2 11.5 1.4 4.6 6.1 1.3 0.5 1.3 1.5 2.5 4.9 11.3 .431 0.0 0.1 .167 1.7 2.3 .725
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
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Larry Bird Herb Williams
Season 1990-911992-93
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisKnicks 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 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
Herb Williams 55 10.4 2.9 0.8 1.9 2.7 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.4 1.4 1.3 3.2 .411 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .667
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
Herb Williams 7 9.9 2.0 0.7 1.3 2.0 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.3 1.9 0.7 2.0 .357 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.6 1.000

Season 13

Larry Bird Herb Williams
Season 1991-921993-94
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisKnicks 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 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
Herb Williams 70 11.1 3.3 0.8 1.8 2.6 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.6 1.5 1.5 3.3 .442 0.0 0.0 .000 0.4 0.6 .643
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
Herb Williams 19 6.7 1.5 0.5 0.5 1.1 0.2 0.2 0.6 0.4 1.0 0.7 1.6 .419 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.2 .667

Season 14

Larry Bird Herb Williams
Season -1994-95
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 56 13.3 3.3 0.4 1.9 2.4 0.5 0.2 0.8 0.7 1.9 1.5 3.2 .456 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.7 .622
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 8 6.9 1.0 0.4 0.5 0.9 0.0 0.6 0.6 0.1 1.6 0.4 1.6 .231 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 1.000

Season 15

Larry Bird Herb Williams
Season -1995-96
Team -New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 44 13.0 3.1 0.3 1.7 2.0 0.6 0.3 0.8 0.5 1.8 1.4 3.5 .408 0.0 0.1 .250 0.3 0.5 .650
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 5 6.6 1.8 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.6 1.0 .600 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .750

Season 16

Larry Bird Herb Williams
Season -1996-97
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 21 8.8 1.9 0.4 1.0 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.9 0.9 2.2 .391 0.0 0.0 .000 0.1 0.2 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 3 7.3 1.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.3 0.7 1.7 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 17

Larry Bird Herb Williams
Season -1997-98
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did 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 ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 27 6.6 1.4 0.2 0.9 1.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.2 1.3 0.7 1.6 .419 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.3 .125
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Larry Bird Herb Williams
Season -1998-99
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 6 5.7 1.7 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.3 .500 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 ------- --- ----------
Herb Williams 8 1.9 0.3 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.1 0.6 .200 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -