Larry Bird vs. Kendrick Perkins Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kendrick Perkins 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, 1 less than Kendrick Perkins, who played 14. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Kendrick Perkins had his rookie season in 2003-04. 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
Kendrick Perkins 14 9 2003-04 to 2017-18

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Kendrick Perkins
Season 1979-802003-04
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
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 >>
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:+72+32.5+19.1+2.1+6.9+9.0+4.2+1.7+0.4-2.7-2.8+7.7+16.3+.059+0.7+1.7+3.1+3.5+.169
Kendrick Perkins 10 3.5 2.2 0.5 0.9 1.4 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.5 0.6 0.8 1.5 .533 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.9 .667
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
Kendrick Perkins DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Kendrick Perkins
Season 1980-812004-05
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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:+22+30.4+18.7+1.4+6.5+8.0+5.1+1.8+0.2-2.8-1.3+7.9+16.3+.007+0.2+0.9+2.9+3.0+.225
Kendrick Perkins 60 9.1 2.5 0.9 2.1 2.9 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.7 1.6 0.9 2.0 .471 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.0 .638
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+39.6+20.4+2.4+10.6+13.0+6.1+2.3+0.5-3.1-1.9+7.9+17.6+.330+0.2+0.5+4.3+4.5+.561
Kendrick Perkins 6 4.5 1.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.2 0.7 0.8 .800 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.5 .333

Season 3

Larry Bird Kendrick Perkins
Season 1981-822005-06
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
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:+9+18.4+17.7+0.5+4.4+5.0+4.8+1.6+0.6-1.7-0.3+7.2+14.5+.012+0.1+0.7+3.1+3.0+.248
Kendrick Perkins 68 19.6 5.2 2.1 3.9 5.9 1.0 0.3 1.5 1.6 2.9 2.0 3.9 .515 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.9 .615
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
Kendrick Perkins DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Bird Kendrick Perkins
Season 1982-832006-07
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
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:+7+15.8+19.1+0.8+5.0+5.8+4.5+1.6+0.4-1.4-0.5+7.7+15.0+.013+0.3+1.0+3.6+3.9+.240
Kendrick Perkins 72 21.9 4.5 1.6 3.6 5.2 1.3 0.3 1.3 1.6 3.0 1.8 3.7 .491 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.4 .600
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
Kendrick Perkins DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

Larry Bird Kendrick Perkins
Season 1983-842007-08
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
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 >>
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:+1+13.8+17.3+0.4+3.6+4.0+5.5+1.4+0.6-1.4-0.6+6.9+15.0+.123+0.2+0.9+3.2+3.0+.265
Kendrick Perkins 78 24.5 6.9 1.9 4.2 6.1 1.1 0.4 1.5 1.6 3.1 2.7 4.5 .615 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.3 .623
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
difference:+2+16.6+20.9+0.6+4.3+4.9+5.4+1.7+0.1-2.6-0.5+7.5+14.8+.061+0.3+0.7+5.7+5.9+.201
Kendrick Perkins 25 25.2 6.6 2.1 4.0 6.1 0.5 0.6 1.3 1.2 3.6 2.5 4.2 .585 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.4 .678

Season 6

Larry Bird Kendrick Perkins
Season 1984-852008-09
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
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:+4+9.9+20.2+0.6+3.0+2.4+5.3+1.3+0.8-0.9-0.7+7.9+15.7+.055+0.7+1.6+3.7+3.6+.282
Kendrick Perkins 76 29.6 8.5 2.7 5.5 8.1 1.3 0.3 2.0 2.2 3.3 3.6 6.3 .577 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 2.1 .600
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
difference:+6+4.2+14.1+0.9+1.4+2.5+4.4+1.3+1.6-0.5-0.9+4.6+12.2+.114+0.4+1.2+.280+4.7+4.7+.223
Kendrick Perkins 14 36.6 11.9 3.6 7.9 11.6 1.4 0.4 2.6 2.4 3.6 5.2 9.1 .575 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.1 .667

Season 7

Larry Bird Kendrick Perkins
Season 1985-862009-10
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost NBA Finals
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:+4+10.4+15.7+0.3+1.9+2.2+5.8+1.7+1.1-1.1-0.6+5.7+12.9+.106+1.0+2.4+3.3+2.4+.314
Kendrick Perkins 78 27.6 10.1 2.0 5.6 7.6 1.0 0.3 1.7 2.1 2.8 4.0 6.7 .602 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.6 .582
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:+5+17.8+20.2+0.1+3.0+3.1+7.2+1.7+0.8-0.7-0.3+7.4+14.2+.007+1.3+3.1+4.2+3.7+.327
Kendrick Perkins 23 25.0 5.7 1.8 4.4 6.2 1.0 0.4 1.4 1.9 3.4 2.1 4.2 .510 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.4 .600

Season 8

Larry Bird Kendrick Perkins
Season 1986-872010-11
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsThunder Lost West Conf Finals
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:+45+15.0+22.1+0.4+1.6+1.2+6.7+1.5-1.3-0.6+8.3+15.7+.010+1.2+3.0+4.2+3.6+.354
Kendrick Perkins 29 25.6 6.0 2.1 5.9 8.0 0.9 0.3 0.9 1.9 3.1 2.3 4.5 .515 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.5 .556
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:+6+15.9+22.5+0.4+4.4+3.9+6.4+1.0-1.5-1.0+7.7+15.9+.023+0.6+1.8+6.6+6.5+.336
Kendrick Perkins 17 28.2 4.5 2.2 3.9 6.1 0.8 0.2 0.8 1.6 3.4 1.7 3.8 .453 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.9 .576

Season 9

Larry Bird Kendrick Perkins
Season 1987-882011-12
Team Boston CelticsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsThunder Lost NBA Finals
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:+11+12.2+24.8+0.4+3.1+2.7+4.9+1.2+0.3-1.0-0.8+9.6+18.0+.038+1.3+3.1+4.4+4.3+.264
Kendrick Perkins 65 26.8 5.1 1.8 4.7 6.6 1.2 0.4 1.1 1.8 2.9 2.0 4.0 .489 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.7 .652
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:+3+19.0+19.8+0.1+2.6+2.6+6.1+1.7+0.5-1.4-0.4+7.0+15.4+.034+0.7+1.9+4.9+5.3+.094
Kendrick Perkins 20 25.9 4.7 1.8 4.5 6.2 0.7 0.4 1.3 1.5 3.0 1.9 4.5 .416 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .800

Season 10

Larry Bird Kendrick Perkins
Season 1988-892012-13
Team Boston CelticsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder Lost West 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:+72+6.4+15.1+1.2+1.4+0.2+3.4+0.4+0.3-0.4-0.1+6.4+13.3+.014+2.4+2.3+.336
Kendrick Perkins 78 25.1 4.2 1.4 4.6 6.0 1.4 0.6 1.1 1.4 2.9 1.8 4.0 .457 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.9 .611
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Larry Bird DNP------ --- ----------
Kendrick Perkins 11 19.1 2.2 1.4 2.4 3.7 0.6 0.7 0.5 2.1 3.5 0.9 3.5 .263 0.0 0.1 .000 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 11

Larry Bird Kendrick Perkins
Season 1989-902013-14
Team Boston CelticsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdThunder Lost West Conf Finals
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:+13+19.8+20.9+0.1+4.7+4.6+6.4+1.0+0.3-1.7-0.6+8.2+17.1+.022+0.9+2.6+3.7+3.5+.378
Kendrick Perkins 62 19.5 3.4 1.3 3.6 4.9 1.1 0.4 0.5 1.5 2.9 1.4 3.1 .451 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.1 .552
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:+14+21.2+21.2+0.3+4.2+3.8+8.1+0.8+0.7-2.3-1.4+7.5+17.4+.089+1.0+3.8+5.2+5.6+.106
Kendrick Perkins 19 20.2 3.2 1.7 3.6 5.4 0.7 0.2 0.3 1.3 3.4 1.3 2.4 .533 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .800

Season 12

Larry Bird Kendrick Perkins
Season 1990-912014-15
Team Boston CelticsOklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
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+21.1+15.8+0.4+4.2+3.8+6.4+1.6+0.4-1.7-0.4+6.2+13.7+.005+1.3+3.3+2.1+1.9+.385
Kendrick Perkins 68 16.9 3.6 1.3 3.4 4.7 0.8 0.2 0.6 1.4 2.4 1.5 3.3 .449 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.2 .506
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:+2+35.5+15.8+0.5+5.5+6.1+6.5+1.3+0.1-1.4-2.0+5.9+14.2+.158+0.3+2.1+3.6+3.8+.263
Kendrick Perkins 8 4.1 1.3 0.3 0.9 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.3 1.0 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.3 .600

Season 13

Larry Bird Kendrick Perkins
Season 1991-922015-16
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans Pelicans
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
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:+8+22.3+17.7+0.3+5.8+6.1+6.0+0.6+0.4-1.7-0.1+6.7+14.8+.067+1.2+2.8+3.0+2.9+.486
Kendrick Perkins 37 14.6 2.5 0.7 2.8 3.5 0.8 0.3 0.3 1.1 1.7 1.1 2.0 .533 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.7 .440
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
Kendrick Perkins DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Kendrick Perkins played 1 season more than Larry Bird in the NBA.

In that period—his season 14 in 2018—Kendrick Perkins didn't play in the postseason.