Larry Bird vs. Kenyon Martin Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kenyon Martin 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, 2 less than Kenyon Martin, who played 15. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Kenyon Martin had his rookie season in 2000-01. 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
Kenyon Martin 15 11 2000-01 to 2014-15

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Kenyon Martin
Season 1979-802000-01
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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:+14+2.6+9.3+0.6+2.4+3.0+2.6+0.6+1.1-1.2-0.7+3.4+6.4+.029+0.7+1.5+.315+1.9+1.6+.206
Kenyon Martin 68 33.4 12.0 2.0 5.4 7.4 1.9 1.1 1.7 2.0 4.1 5.1 11.4 .445 0.0 0.2 .091 1.8 2.8 .630
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
Kenyon Martin DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Kenyon Martin
Season 1980-812001-02
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNets Lost NBA Finals
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:+9+5.2+6.3+0.8+4.8+5.6+2.9+0.8+0.9-1.1-0.7+2.7+5.1+.015+.046+1.0+0.3+.185
Kenyon Martin 73 34.3 14.9 1.5 3.8 5.3 2.6 1.2 1.7 2.4 3.6 6.1 13.2 .463 0.2 0.9 .224 2.5 3.7 .678
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:+3+6.6+5.1+1.4+6.8+8.2+3.2+1.1+0.3-1.0-1.2+2.1+3.2+.046+0.1+.153+0.7+0.5+.203
Kenyon Martin 20 37.5 16.8 1.5 4.3 5.8 2.9 1.2 1.3 2.6 4.3 6.5 15.2 .424 0.1 0.5 .222 3.8 5.5 .691

Season 3

Larry Bird Kenyon Martin
Season 1981-822002-03
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
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 FinalsNets Lost NBA Finals
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:+3.9+6.2+0.5+2.1+2.6+3.4+0.6-0.8-0.6+2.6+4.3+.033+0.1+.003+1.0+0.2+.210
Kenyon Martin 77 34.1 16.7 2.1 6.2 8.3 2.4 1.3 0.9 2.5 3.8 6.6 14.1 .470 0.1 0.6 .209 3.3 5.1 .653
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
difference:+8+2.0+1.1+0.3+2.9+3.1+2.7+0.4+0.2-0.3-1.0+0.2+0.7+.026+0.1+.076+0.9+1.9+.129
Kenyon Martin 20 38.8 18.9 2.5 6.9 9.4 2.9 1.5 1.6 2.9 4.6 7.5 16.5 .453 0.1 0.6 .091 4.0 5.7 .693

Season 4

Larry Bird Kenyon Martin
Season 1982-832003-04
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisNets Lost East Conf Semis
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:+14+3.1+6.9+0.4+1.2+1.5+3.3+0.4+0.4-0.4-1.0+2.7+4.9+.016+0.2+0.6+.006+1.3+0.8+.156
Kenyon Martin 65 34.6 16.7 2.0 7.4 9.5 2.5 1.5 1.3 2.6 3.5 6.8 13.8 .488 0.1 0.4 .280 3.1 4.5 .684
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:+5+2.9+1.4+1.0+0.5+1.5+5.7+1.0+0.8-0.3-2.0+0.8+5.5+.111+0.2+0.3+.250+0.4+1.0+.078
Kenyon Martin 11 37.1 19.1 2.3 8.7 11.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 2.9 4.5 7.4 13.8 .533 0.0 0.4 .000 4.4 5.8 .750

Season 5

Larry Bird Kenyon Martin
Season 1983-842004-05
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
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 ChampionNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+9+5.8+8.7+0.2+2.6+2.8+4.2+0.4+0.2-0.9-0.8+3.3+6.5+.002+0.2+0.7+.247+1.9+0.9+.242
Kenyon Martin 70 32.5 15.5 2.1 5.2 7.3 2.4 1.4 1.1 2.1 3.3 6.3 13.0 .490 0.0 0.2 .000 2.8 4.4 .646
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:+18+9.0+15.1+1.3+4.1+5.4+4.7+1.3+0.2-2.4-1.3+4.6+7.4+.058+0.3+0.5+.412+5.7+5.7+.264
Kenyon Martin 5 32.8 12.4 1.4 4.2 5.6 1.2 1.0 1.0 1.4 4.4 5.4 11.6 .466 0.0 0.2 .000 1.6 2.6 .615

Season 6

Larry Bird Kenyon Martin
Season 1984-852005-06
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 >>
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:+24+11.9+15.8+0.4+3.9+4.2+5.2+0.8+0.3-1.8-0.5+6.2+11.3+.027+0.6+1.2+.200+2.8+2.7+.170
Kenyon Martin 56 27.6 12.9 1.7 4.6 6.3 1.4 0.8 0.9 1.3 3.1 5.3 10.7 .495 0.1 0.4 .227 2.2 3.0 .712
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:+18+23.3+21.5+0.3+5.0+4.6+5.3+0.3-1.4-0.2+7.8+14.8+.153+0.4+1.3+5.6+5.8+.390
Kenyon Martin 2 17.5 4.5 3.0 1.5 4.5 0.5 2.0 1.0 1.5 2.5 2.0 6.5 .308 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.0 .500

Season 7

Larry Bird Kenyon Martin
Season 1985-862006-07
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 ChampionDid Not Play
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:+80+6.5+16.3+0.7+0.5+0.2+6.3+2.0+0.6-0.7-2.8+5.7+11.6+.004+1.0+1.9+.423+3.9+.646
Kenyon Martin 2 31.5 9.5 3.0 7.0 10.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 2.5 5.0 4.0 8.0 .500 0.0 0.5 .000 1.5 6.0 .250
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
Kenyon Martin DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Larry Bird Kenyon Martin
Season 1986-872007-08
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 >>
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:+3+10.2+15.7+0.2+2.5+2.7+6.3+0.6+0.3-1.9-0.8+5.3+10.4+.013+1.2+2.8+.218+3.9+3.1+.330
Kenyon Martin 71 30.4 12.4 1.5 5.0 6.5 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.3 3.3 5.3 9.8 .538 0.0 0.2 .182 1.7 3.0 .580
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:+19+14.6+18.2+1.5+5.3+3.7+5.9+0.2+0.3-0.8-2.6+5.6+11.2+.035+0.6+1.8+6.4+6.4+.287
Kenyon Martin 4 29.5 8.8 3.3 3.0 6.3 1.3 1.0 0.5 2.3 5.0 3.8 8.5 .441 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 2.0 .625

Season 9

Larry Bird Kenyon Martin
Season 1987-882008-09
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNuggets Lost West Conf 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:+10+7.0+18.2+0.2+3.0+3.3+4.1+0.1+0.3-1.2-0.9+6.8+12.2+.036+1.1+2.5+.046+3.7+3.0+.312
Kenyon Martin 66 32.0 11.7 1.2 4.8 6.0 2.0 1.5 1.1 1.6 3.0 4.8 9.8 .491 0.2 0.6 .368 1.8 3.0 .604
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:+1+11.3+13.6+0.2+2.7+2.9+4.7+1.0+0.1-1.3-1.2+4.2+10.5+.047+0.6+1.6+.175+4.5+4.4+.237
Kenyon Martin 16 33.6 10.9 1.5 4.4 5.9 2.1 1.1 0.9 1.6 3.8 4.7 9.4 .497 0.1 0.3 .200 1.4 2.2 .657

Season 10

Larry Bird Kenyon Martin
Season 1988-892009-10
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+52+2.7+7.8+2.2+1.0+3.2+2.9+0.2+0.3-0.2-0.2+3.3+6.6+.015+0.1+0.5+1.4+0.3+.390
Kenyon Martin 58 34.2 11.5 2.4 7.0 9.4 1.9 1.2 1.1 1.6 3.2 4.9 10.7 .456 0.1 0.5 .276 1.6 2.9 .557
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Larry Bird DNP------ --- ----------
Kenyon Martin 6 34.2 10.0 2.3 6.0 8.3 1.3 1.5 1.2 1.8 4.5 4.0 8.3 .480 0.0 0.2 .000 2.0 3.2 .632

Season 11

Larry Bird Kenyon Martin
Season 1989-902010-11
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdNuggets Lost West 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:+27+13.6+15.7+0.2+3.5+3.3+5.2+0.5+0.1-2.0-0.5+5.7+12.7+.038+0.9+2.4+.111+3.4+3.1+.347
Kenyon Martin 48 25.7 8.6 1.4 4.8 6.2 2.3 0.9 0.7 1.2 2.8 3.9 7.5 .511 0.0 0.2 .222 0.9 1.5 .583
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:+11.8+12.6+0.2+1.2+1.4+7.2+0.6+0.6-2.2-1.6+4.0+9.8+.036+1.0+3.8+3.6+2.8+.295
Kenyon Martin 5 29.6 11.8 1.2 6.6 7.8 1.6 0.4 0.4 1.4 3.6 4.8 10.0 .480 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.6 .611

Season 12

Larry Bird Kenyon Martin
Season 1990-912011-12
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisClippers Lost West Conf Semis
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:+18+15.6+14.2+0.3+4.5+4.2+6.8+0.8-2.3-0.5+5.4+11.8+.013+1.2+3.0+.158+2.2+1.8+.521
Kenyon Martin 42 22.4 5.2 1.2 3.1 4.3 0.4 1.0 1.0 0.8 2.5 2.3 5.2 .441 0.1 0.3 .231 0.5 1.3 .370
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:+1+22.1+12.6+0.2+4.2+4.0+6.2+0.9+1.4-1.5-0.5+4.2+11.4+.116+0.3+2.1+3.9+4.4+.238
Kenyon Martin 11 17.5 4.5 1.0 2.2 3.2 0.3 0.4 1.7 0.4 3.3 2.0 3.8 .524 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.7 .625

Season 13

Larry Bird Kenyon Martin
Season 1991-922012-13
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisKnicks 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:+27+13.0+13.0+0.9+5.2+4.3+6.4+0.2-1.9-1.8+4.7+11.6+.136+1.2+2.8+2.4+1.4+.501
Kenyon Martin 18 23.9 7.2 1.9 3.4 5.3 0.4 0.9 0.9 0.9 3.6 3.1 5.2 .602 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 2.2 .425
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+5.7+5.5+0.8+0.8+4.4+0.5+0.9-0.8-1.7+2.9+6.3+.080+1.3+0.1+0.7+.200
Kenyon Martin 12 21.1 5.8 1.3 3.2 4.5 0.9 0.8 1.4 0.7 3.5 2.4 4.2 .580 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.7 .550

Additional Years

* Kenyon Martin played 2 seasons more than Larry Bird in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 15, from 2014 to 2015—Kenyon Martin didn't play in the postseason.