Larry Bird vs. Joe Johnson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Joe Johnson 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 / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings

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 Joe Johnson, who played 18. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Joe Johnson had his rookie season in 2001-02. 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
Joe Johnson 18 13 2001-02 to 2021-22

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Joe Johnson
Season 1979-802001-02
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics, Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
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:+5+11.1+13.8+1.6+5.4+7.1+2.2+0.9+0.3-2.3-1.9+5.2+10.2+.044+0.2+.114+3.2+3.7+.062
Joe Johnson 77 24.9 7.5 1.0 2.4 3.3 2.3 0.8 0.3 0.9 1.5 3.3 7.6 .430 0.5 1.7 .292 0.5 0.7 .774
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
Joe Johnson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Joe Johnson
Season 1980-812002-03
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns Lost West 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:+12.0+11.4+1.6+6.1+7.7+2.9+1.2+0.6-2.2-1.2+4.9+8.6+.081+0.7+1.6+.096+2.3+2.5+.089
Joe Johnson 82 27.5 9.8 0.7 2.5 3.2 2.6 0.8 0.2 1.3 1.7 3.9 9.7 .397 0.9 2.5 .366 1.2 1.5 .774
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:+11+16.8+16.6+1.9+7.8+9.7+4.8+1.6+0.7-1.6-0.6+6.3+9.9+.195+0.1+1.7+.221+4.2+4.2+.494
Joe Johnson 6 27.3 5.3 1.0 3.3 4.3 1.3 0.7 0.3 2.0 2.5 2.3 8.5 .275 0.3 2.2 .154 0.3 0.8 .400

Season 3

Larry Bird Joe Johnson
Season 1981-822003-04
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
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:+5+2.6+6.2+1.6+4.6+6.2+1.4+0.8+0.6-0.9-1.0+2.4+2.7+.073+0.9+2.6+.093+2.2+2.1+.113
Joe Johnson 82 40.6 16.7 1.0 3.7 4.7 4.4 1.1 0.3 2.4 2.2 6.8 15.7 .430 1.0 3.3 .305 2.1 2.8 .750
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
Joe Johnson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Bird Joe Johnson
Season 1982-832004-05
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisSuns Lost West Conf Finals
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:+3+1.8+6.5+0.9+4.9+5.9+2.3+0.9+0.6-1.2-0.5+2.9+4.3+.043+1.9+3.5+.192+2.8+3.1+.090
Joe Johnson 82 39.5 17.1 1.5 3.7 5.1 3.5 1.0 0.3 1.8 2.0 6.6 14.4 .461 2.2 4.5 .478 1.6 2.2 .750
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
difference:+3+0.7+1.7+2.5+5.6+8.2+3.5+1.1+0.1-2.1-0.5+1.2+5.4+.082+2.0+3.3+.306+1.4+1.1+.131
Joe Johnson 9 39.3 18.8 0.8 3.6 4.3 3.3 1.1 0.4 1.1 2.0 7.0 13.9 .504 2.2 4.0 .556 2.6 3.7 .697

Season 5

Larry Bird Joe Johnson
Season 1983-842005-06
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
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+2.4+4.0+1.1+4.9+6.0+0.1+0.5+0.5-0.3-0.2+1.9+2.5+.039+1.4+3.5+.109+1.5+1.3+.097
Joe Johnson 82 40.7 20.2 1.2 2.9 4.1 6.5 1.3 0.4 3.3 2.3 7.7 17.0 .453 1.6 4.4 .356 3.2 4.0 .791
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
Joe Johnson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Larry Bird Joe Johnson
Season 1984-852006-07
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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:+23+1.9+3.7+1.2+5.2+6.3+2.2+0.5+1.0-0.6+2.1+2.0+.051+1.4+3.9+.046+0.9+0.2+.134
Joe Johnson 57 41.4 25.0 0.9 3.3 4.2 4.4 1.1 0.2 3.1 2.0 9.4 20.0 .471 2.1 5.5 .381 4.1 5.5 .748
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
Joe Johnson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7

Larry Bird Joe Johnson
Season 1985-862007-08
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHawks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+2.8+4.1+1.3+4.0+5.3+1.0+1.0+0.4-0.5-0.2+1.8+1.3+.064+1.1+3.0+.042+1.5+1.4+.062
Joe Johnson 82 40.8 21.7 1.0 3.5 4.5 5.8 1.0 0.2 2.7 2.0 7.9 18.3 .432 2.1 5.4 .381 3.9 4.6 .834
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:+11+3.5+5.9+0.6+4.8+5.4+4.2+1.8+0.6-0.3-0.8+2.8+2.0+.108+1.0+2.0+.033+1.3+1.4+.018
Joe Johnson 7 39.3 20.0 1.3 2.6 3.9 4.0 0.3 0.0 2.3 2.3 6.7 16.4 .409 2.3 5.1 .444 4.3 4.7 .909

Season 8

Larry Bird Joe Johnson
Season 1986-872008-09
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsHawks Lost East Conf Semis
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:+5+1.1+6.7+0.9+3.9+4.8+1.8+0.7+0.7-0.7-0.3+2.8+2.2+.088+0.7+2.2+.040+1.8+1.5+.084
Joe Johnson 79 39.5 21.4 0.8 3.6 4.4 5.8 1.1 0.2 2.5 2.2 7.8 18.0 .437 1.9 5.2 .360 3.8 4.6 .826
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
difference:+12+5.1+10.6+0.3+5.4+5.5+3.7+0.1+0.8-0.2-0.2+3.0+4.4+.059+0.5+1.4+.002+5.2+4.3+.290
Joe Johnson 11 39.0 16.4 1.5 2.9 4.5 3.5 1.3 0.0 2.9 2.2 6.4 15.3 .417 1.1 3.2 .343 2.5 4.1 .622

Season 9

Larry Bird Joe Johnson
Season 1987-882009-10
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsHawks Lost East Conf Semis
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:+1.0+8.6+0.4+4.1+4.7+1.2+0.5+0.7-0.9-0.2+3.2+3.8+.069+0.4+1.5+.045+2.6+2.5+.098
Joe Johnson 76 38.0 21.3 1.0 3.7 4.6 4.9 1.1 0.1 1.9 1.9 8.4 18.2 .458 1.7 4.6 .369 2.9 3.5 .818
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:+6+4.9+6.6+0.1+3.8+3.7+1.8+1.2+0.5-0.6-0.6+1.9+1.8+.063+0.1+1.8+.155+2.8+2.8+.084
Joe Johnson 11 40.0 17.9 1.8 3.3 5.1 5.0 0.9 0.3 2.3 2.0 7.0 18.1 .387 0.8 3.7 .220 3.1 3.8 .810

Season 10

Larry Bird Joe Johnson
Season 1988-892010-11
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost East Conf Semis
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:+66+4.0+1.1+0.6+2.8+2.2+0.1+0.3+0.7-0.2-1.2+1.1+1.2+.028+1.2+4.2+0.3+0.2+.145
Joe Johnson 72 35.5 18.2 0.8 3.2 4.0 4.7 0.7 0.1 2.0 1.8 7.1 16.1 .443 1.2 4.2 .297 2.7 3.4 .802
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Larry Bird DNP------ --- ----------
Joe Johnson 12 41.4 18.8 1.5 3.1 4.6 3.3 1.1 0.1 2.6 1.6 7.3 16.5 .439 1.5 3.5 .429 2.8 3.5 .810

Season 11

Larry Bird Joe Johnson
Season 1989-902011-12
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdHawks 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:+15+3.8+5.5+0.3+5.5+5.8+3.6+0.6+0.6-1.3-1.0+2.5+4.7+.019+1.2+2.8+.055+1.7+1.5+.081
Joe Johnson 60 35.5 18.8 0.9 2.8 3.7 3.9 0.8 0.2 1.9 1.3 7.1 15.5 .454 2.1 5.4 .388 2.6 3.1 .849
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:+1+0.9+7.2+0.4+5.3+5.7+5.3+0.3+0.8-0.9-0.2+2.5+2.8+.071+0.5+2.2+.013+2.8+2.4+.156
Joe Johnson 6 40.5 17.2 1.0 2.5 3.5 3.5 1.3 0.2 2.7 1.8 6.3 17.0 .373 1.5 6.0 .250 3.0 4.0 .750

Season 12

Larry Bird Joe Johnson
Season 1990-912012-13
Team Boston CelticsBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisNets Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+12+1.3+3.1+0.2+5.3+5.5+3.7+1.1+0.8-1.4-0.6+1.5+2.4+.031+0.8+2.2+.014+0.9+0.9+.071
Joe Johnson 72 36.7 16.3 0.7 2.3 3.0 3.5 0.7 0.2 1.7 1.4 6.2 14.6 .423 2.1 5.5 .375 1.8 2.2 .820
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:+3+0.9+2.2+0.2+3.8+4.1+3.8+0.2+0.3-0.2-0.9+0.1+0.5+.009+1.1+3.5+.113+3.3+3.8+.026
Joe Johnson 7 38.7 14.9 0.6 2.6 3.1 2.7 1.1 0.0 1.7 1.9 6.1 14.7 .417 1.4 5.6 .256 1.1 1.3 .889

Season 13

Larry Bird Joe Johnson
Season 1991-922013-14
Team Boston CelticsBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisNets Lost East Conf Semis
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:+34+4.3+4.4+0.4+5.8+6.2+4.1+0.3+0.6-1.3-0.2+2.0+3.9+.012+0.9+2.3+.005+1.3+1.1+.111
Joe Johnson 79 32.6 15.8 0.6 2.8 3.4 2.7 0.6 0.1 1.5 1.6 5.8 12.9 .454 2.1 5.1 .401 2.0 2.5 .815
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:+8+12.3+9.9+0.3+0.9+0.7+2.4+0.2+0.2-0.1-0.1+2.9+4.8+.033+1.8+3.1+.415+2.2+2.6+.087
Joe Johnson 12 39.1 21.2 0.8 3.1 3.8 2.9 0.5 0.3 1.6 1.7 8.2 15.3 .533 1.8 4.4 .415 3.0 3.6 .837

Additional Years

* Joe Johnson played 5 seasons more than Larry Bird in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 18, from 2015 to 2022—Joe Johnson played in 4 Playoffs.