Larry Bird vs. Kevin Willis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kevin Willis 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, 8 less than Kevin Willis, who played 21. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Kevin Willis had his rookie season in 1984-85. 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
Kevin Willis 21 11 1984-85 to 2006-07

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season 1979-801984-85
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
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
Kevin Willis 82 21.8 9.3 2.2 4.2 6.4 0.4 0.4 0.6 1.3 2.8 3.9 8.4 .467 0.0 0.1 .222 1.5 2.2 .657
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
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season 1980-811985-86
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHawks 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 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
Kevin Willis 82 28.0 12.3 3.0 5.6 8.6 0.5 0.8 0.5 2.2 3.6 5.1 9.9 .517 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 3.2 .654
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
Kevin Willis 9 31.1 13.9 3.4 3.8 7.2 0.6 0.8 0.9 1.7 4.2 6.1 10.9 .561 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.6 .652

Season 3

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season 1981-821986-87
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
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 FinalsHawks 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 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
Kevin Willis 81 32.4 16.1 4.0 6.5 10.5 0.8 0.8 0.8 2.1 3.9 6.6 12.4 .536 0.0 0.0 .250 2.8 4.0 .709
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
Kevin Willis 9 39.6 15.7 3.7 5.6 9.2 0.7 1.0 0.8 1.9 3.7 6.7 12.8 .522 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.4 .677

Season 4

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season 1982-831987-88
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisHawks 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 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
Kevin Willis 75 27.9 11.6 3.1 4.2 7.3 0.4 0.9 0.5 1.8 3.2 4.7 9.2 .518 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.3 .649
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
Kevin Willis 12 38.5 16.2 3.0 6.0 9.0 0.9 0.8 0.8 2.1 4.3 6.7 11.5 .580 0.0 0.1 .000 2.8 4.2 .680

Note: Kevin Willis didn't play in 1988-89.

Season 5

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season 1983-841989-90
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 >>
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
Kevin Willis 81 28.1 12.4 3.1 4.8 8.0 0.7 0.8 0.6 1.8 3.2 5.2 9.9 .519 0.0 0.1 .286 2.1 3.0 .683
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
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season 1984-851990-91
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsHawks 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
Kevin Willis 80 29.7 13.1 3.2 5.6 8.8 1.2 0.8 0.5 1.9 2.9 5.6 11.0 .504 0.1 0.1 .400 2.0 3.0 .668
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
Kevin Willis 5 31.8 15.4 3.6 5.4 9.0 1.0 0.6 0.2 0.4 4.4 5.4 13.4 .403 0.4 0.6 .667 4.2 6.0 .700

Season 7

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season 1985-861991-92
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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
Kevin Willis 81 36.6 18.3 5.2 10.4 15.5 2.1 0.9 0.7 2.4 2.8 7.3 15.1 .483 0.1 0.5 .162 3.6 4.5 .804
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
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season 1986-871992-93
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsHawks 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 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
Kevin Willis 80 36.0 17.9 4.2 8.7 12.9 2.1 0.9 0.5 2.7 3.3 7.7 15.2 .506 0.1 0.4 .241 2.5 3.8 .653
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
Kevin Willis 3 34.3 16.7 4.3 4.3 8.7 1.0 0.7 0.0 2.3 4.3 7.0 15.0 .467 0.0 0.3 .000 2.7 4.7 .571

Season 9

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season 1987-881993-94
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsHawks 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 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
Kevin Willis 80 35.8 19.1 4.2 7.9 12.0 1.9 1.0 0.5 2.4 3.1 7.8 15.7 .499 0.1 0.3 .375 3.4 4.7 .713
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
Kevin Willis 11 32.9 12.2 3.5 7.4 10.8 1.0 0.7 0.5 1.7 3.4 5.4 11.7 .457 0.0 0.5 .000 1.5 1.9 .762

Season 10

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season 1988-891994-95
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks, Miami Heat
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
Kevin Willis 67 35.7 17.2 3.4 7.5 10.9 1.3 0.9 0.5 2.4 3.2 7.1 15.1 .466 0.0 0.2 .200 3.1 4.4 .690
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season 1989-901995-96
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat, Golden State Warriors
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
Kevin Willis 75 28.5 10.6 2.8 5.7 8.5 0.7 0.4 0.5 2.1 3.4 4.3 9.5 .456 0.0 0.1 .111 1.9 2.7 .708
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
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season 1990-911996-97
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisRockets Lost West 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
Kevin Willis 75 26.2 11.2 1.9 5.5 7.5 0.9 0.6 0.4 1.6 2.9 4.7 9.7 .481 0.0 0.2 .143 1.9 2.7 .693
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
Kevin Willis 16 18.3 6.4 1.4 3.3 4.7 0.7 0.6 0.3 1.4 2.9 2.4 5.9 .400 0.0 0.1 .000 1.6 2.4 .684

Season 13

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season 1991-921997-98
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisRockets 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
Kevin Willis 81 31.2 16.1 2.9 5.5 8.4 1.0 0.7 0.5 2.1 2.9 6.6 12.9 .510 0.0 0.1 .143 3.0 3.8 .793
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
Kevin Willis 5 33.6 11.2 3.6 7.0 10.6 1.0 1.6 0.6 2.4 4.2 4.4 11.0 .400 0.0 0.2 .000 2.4 3.2 .750

Season 14

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season -1998-99
Team -Toronto Raptors
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 ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 42 29.0 12.0 2.6 5.7 8.3 1.6 0.7 0.7 2.0 3.2 4.5 10.6 .418 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 3.7 .839
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season -1999-00
Team -Toronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Raptors 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 ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 79 21.3 7.6 2.5 3.6 6.1 0.6 0.5 0.6 1.2 3.2 3.0 7.2 .415 0.0 0.0 .333 1.7 2.1 .799
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 3 25.7 13.0 2.0 6.7 8.7 0.3 0.7 0.0 0.7 3.7 4.0 11.0 .364 0.0 0.0 - 5.0 6.7 .750

Season 16

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season -2000-01
Team -Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets
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 ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 78 23.5 9.3 2.3 4.6 6.8 0.6 0.7 0.7 1.1 2.8 3.9 8.8 .441 0.0 0.1 .167 1.4 1.9 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season -2001-02
Team -Houston Rockets
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 ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 52 16.6 6.1 2.0 3.7 5.8 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.8 1.9 2.4 5.5 .440 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 1.7 .747
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season -2002-03
Team -San Antonio Spurs
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 ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 71 11.8 4.2 1.2 2.0 3.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.8 1.7 1.7 3.6 .479 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 1.2 .614
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 18 5.0 2.6 1.1 0.7 1.7 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.9 1.2 2.2 .525 0.1 0.1 1.000 0.2 0.2 1.000

Season 19

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season -2003-04
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs Lost West 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 ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 48 7.8 3.4 0.8 1.3 2.0 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.7 1.3 1.5 3.1 .467 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.8 .615
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 7 3.4 0.9 0.0 0.9 0.9 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.4 1.1 .375 0.0 0.1 .000 0.0 0.1 .000

Season 20

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season -2004-05
Team -Atlanta Hawks
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 ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 29 11.9 3.0 1.0 1.6 2.6 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.5 1.8 1.2 3.1 .389 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 0.8 .739
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------

Note: Kevin Willis didn't play in 2005-06.

Season 21

Larry Bird Kevin Willis
Season -2006-07
Team -Dallas Mavericks
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 ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis 5 8.6 2.4 0.4 1.2 1.6 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.4 2.2 1.0 2.6 .385 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.4 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Kevin Willis ------- --- ----------