Larry Bird vs. Horace Grant Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Horace Grant 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, 4 less than Horace Grant, who played 17. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Horace Grant had his rookie season in 1987-88. 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
Horace Grant 17 13 1987-88 to 2003-04

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Horace Grant
Season 1979-801987-88
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
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 FinalsBulls 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 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
Horace Grant 81 22.6 7.7 1.9 3.6 5.5 1.1 0.6 0.7 1.1 2.7 3.1 6.3 .501 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.2 .626
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
Horace Grant 10 29.9 10.1 2.5 4.5 7.0 1.6 1.4 0.2 0.7 3.5 4.6 8.1 .568 0.0 0.1 .000 0.9 1.5 .600

Season 2

Larry Bird Horace Grant
Season 1980-811988-89
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBulls 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 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
Horace Grant 79 35.6 12.0 3.0 5.6 8.6 2.1 1.1 0.8 1.6 3.2 5.1 9.9 .519 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.5 .704
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
Horace Grant 17 36.8 10.8 3.1 6.7 9.8 2.1 0.6 0.9 1.8 4.0 4.2 8.2 .518 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 2.9 .800

Season 3

Larry Bird Horace Grant
Season 1981-821989-90
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
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 FinalsBulls 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
Horace Grant 80 34.4 13.4 3.0 4.9 7.9 2.8 1.2 1.1 1.4 2.9 5.6 10.7 .523 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.2 .699
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
Horace Grant 16 38.5 12.2 4.6 5.4 9.9 2.5 1.1 1.1 1.6 3.2 5.1 9.9 .509 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 3.3 .623

Season 4

Larry Bird Horace Grant
Season 1982-831990-91
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards 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
Horace Grant 78 33.9 12.8 3.4 5.0 8.4 2.3 1.2 0.9 1.2 2.6 5.1 9.4 .547 0.0 0.1 .167 2.5 3.6 .711
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
Horace Grant 17 39.2 13.3 3.3 4.8 8.1 2.2 0.9 0.4 1.2 2.6 5.4 9.2 .583 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.5 .733

Season 5

Larry Bird Horace Grant
Season 1983-841991-92
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
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 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 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
Horace Grant 81 35.3 14.2 4.2 5.7 10.0 2.7 1.2 1.6 1.2 2.4 5.6 9.8 .578 0.0 0.0 .000 2.9 3.9 .741
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
Horace Grant 22 38.9 11.3 3.5 5.4 8.8 3.0 1.1 1.8 1.0 3.1 4.5 8.3 .541 0.0 0.1 .000 2.3 3.5 .671

Season 6

Larry Bird Horace Grant
Season 1984-851992-93
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsNBA 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 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
Horace Grant 77 35.6 13.2 4.4 5.0 9.5 2.6 1.2 1.2 1.4 2.8 5.5 10.8 .508 0.0 0.1 .200 2.3 3.6 .619
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
Horace Grant 19 34.3 10.7 3.2 5.0 8.2 2.3 1.2 1.2 0.9 3.2 4.4 8.0 .546 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.8 .685

Season 7

Larry Bird Horace Grant
Season 1985-861993-94
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBulls 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 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
Horace Grant 70 36.7 15.1 4.4 6.6 11.0 3.4 1.1 1.2 1.6 2.3 6.6 12.5 .524 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 3.3 .596
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
Horace Grant 10 39.3 16.2 3.0 4.4 7.4 2.6 1.0 1.8 1.0 2.3 6.5 12.0 .542 0.1 0.1 1.000 3.1 4.2 .738

Season 8

Larry Bird Horace Grant
Season 1986-871994-95
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsMagic 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
Horace Grant 74 36.4 12.8 3.0 6.6 9.7 2.3 1.0 1.2 1.1 2.7 5.4 9.6 .567 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 2.9 .692
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
Horace Grant 21 41.4 13.7 3.5 6.9 10.4 1.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 3.2 5.8 10.7 .540 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 2.8 .763

Season 9

Larry Bird Horace Grant
Season 1987-881995-96
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsMagic 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 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
Horace Grant 63 36.3 13.4 2.8 6.4 9.2 2.7 1.0 1.2 1.0 2.3 5.5 10.7 .513 0.0 0.1 .167 2.4 3.3 .734
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
Horace Grant 9 37.1 15.0 3.4 7.0 10.4 1.4 0.8 0.7 0.7 2.6 6.8 10.4 .649 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.7 .867

Season 10

Larry Bird Horace Grant
Season 1988-891996-97
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
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
Horace Grant 67 37.3 12.6 3.1 5.9 9.0 2.4 1.5 1.0 1.5 2.3 5.3 10.4 .515 0.0 0.1 .167 1.9 2.7 .715
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Horace Grant ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Larry Bird Horace Grant
Season 1989-901997-98
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
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
Horace Grant 76 36.9 12.1 3.0 5.1 8.1 2.3 1.1 1.0 1.2 2.4 5.2 11.3 .459 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.6 .678
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
Horace Grant ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Larry Bird Horace Grant
Season 1990-911998-99
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisMagic 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 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
Horace Grant 50 33.2 8.9 2.3 4.7 7.0 1.8 0.9 1.2 0.9 2.0 4.0 9.1 .434 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.4 .671
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
Horace Grant 4 32.0 6.8 3.5 3.5 7.0 1.3 0.5 0.5 0.5 3.0 2.8 7.5 .367 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 2.0 .625

Season 13

Larry Bird Horace Grant
Season 1991-921999-00
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisSupersonics 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 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
Horace Grant 76 35.4 8.1 2.2 5.6 7.8 2.5 0.7 0.8 0.8 2.5 3.5 7.9 .444 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.5 .721
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
Horace Grant 5 37.0 4.8 1.6 4.6 6.2 2.0 1.6 1.0 0.2 2.4 2.2 5.4 .407 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.8 .500

Season 14

Larry Bird Horace Grant
Season -2000-01
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -NBA 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 ------- --- ----------
Horace Grant 77 31.0 8.5 2.9 4.2 7.1 1.6 0.7 0.8 0.6 2.4 3.4 7.4 .462 0.0 0.0 .000 1.7 2.2 .775
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Horace Grant 16 26.6 6.0 2.5 3.5 6.0 1.2 0.9 0.8 0.9 2.7 2.3 6.0 .385 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.9 .733

Season 15

Larry Bird Horace Grant
Season -2001-02
Team -Orlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Magic 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 ------- --- ----------
Horace Grant 76 29.1 8.0 2.1 4.2 6.3 1.4 0.8 0.6 0.7 1.6 3.5 6.8 .513 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.5 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Horace Grant 4 31.8 4.5 2.0 5.8 7.8 2.3 0.8 0.3 0.5 1.8 2.0 5.5 .364 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 16

Larry Bird Horace Grant
Season -2002-03
Team -Orlando Magic
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 ------- --- ----------
Horace Grant 5 17.0 5.2 0.4 1.2 1.6 1.4 0.6 0.0 0.2 1.0 2.6 5.0 .520 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Horace Grant ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Larry Bird Horace Grant
Season -2003-04
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
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 ------- --- ----------
Horace Grant 55 20.1 4.1 1.4 2.8 4.2 1.3 0.4 0.4 0.5 1.3 1.7 4.1 .411 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 1.0 .722
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Horace Grant ------- --- ----------