Larry Bird vs. Lou Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Lou Williams 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 / 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, 4 less than Lou Williams, who played 17. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Lou Williams had his rookie season in 2005-06. 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
Lou Williams 17 10 2005-06 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 Lou Williams
Season 1979-802005-06
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
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:+52+31.2+19.4+2.5+7.3+9.8+4.2+1.5+0.6-2.8-3.0+7.7+16.1+.032+0.6+1.4+.184+3.4+4.0+.221
Lou Williams 30 4.8 1.9 0.1 0.5 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.7 .442 0.1 0.3 .222 0.3 0.4 .615
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
Lou Williams DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Lou Williams
Season 1980-812006-07
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
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:+21+28.2+16.9+2.0+7.7+9.8+3.7+1.6+0.8-2.7-2.2+7.3+14.8+.037+0.3+.054+2.5+2.5+.167
Lou Williams 61 11.3 4.3 0.3 0.9 1.1 1.8 0.4 0.0 0.8 0.7 1.5 3.5 .441 0.2 0.6 .324 1.0 1.5 .696
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
Lou Williams DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Larry Bird Lou Williams
Season 1981-822007-08
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
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 Finals76ers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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+14.7+11.4+2.1+6.7+8.8+2.6+0.9+0.7-1.7-1.6+5.2+9.0+.079+0.6+1.2+.147+1.5+1.3+.080
Lou Williams 80 23.3 11.5 0.5 1.6 2.1 3.2 1.0 0.2 1.6 1.6 4.0 9.4 .424 0.7 1.9 .359 2.8 3.6 .783
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:+6+18.3+5.8+2.3+8.3+10.5+3.6+0.9+1.4-2.0-1.8+3.3+7.2+.027+0.2+1.0+.055+0.6+1.2+.089
Lou Williams 6 22.5 12.0 0.5 1.5 2.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 1.2 1.8 4.0 10.0 .400 0.3 1.5 .222 3.7 5.0 .733

Season 4

Larry Bird Lou Williams
Season 1982-832008-09
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Semis76ers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+2+14.0+10.8+2.0+7.0+9.0+2.8+0.9+0.7-1.1-0.9+5.4+8.3+.106+0.5+1.7+0.6+0.5+.050
Lou Williams 81 23.7 12.8 0.4 1.6 2.0 3.0 1.0 0.2 1.9 1.6 4.1 10.4 .398 0.8 2.7 .286 3.8 4.8 .790
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:+15.2+10.8+3.0+7.0+10.0+4.0+1.7+0.3-1.2-0.8+4.7+10.8+.010+0.8+2.0+.125+2.3+2.3+.161
Lou Williams 6 24.8 9.7 0.3 2.2 2.5 2.8 0.5 0.2 2.0 1.7 3.5 8.5 .412 1.0 2.7 .375 1.7 2.5 .667

Season 5

Larry Bird Lou Williams
Season 1983-842009-10
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
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:+15+8.4+10.2+1.9+5.3+7.2+2.4+0.5+0.7-1.3-0.8+4.6+8.9+.022+0.9+2.3+.093+1.7+1.7+.064
Lou Williams 64 29.9 14.0 0.4 2.5 2.9 4.2 1.3 0.2 1.7 1.7 5.0 10.6 .470 1.1 3.2 .340 3.0 3.6 .824
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
Lou Williams DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Larry Bird Lou Williams
Season 1984-852010-11
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA Finals76ers Lost East 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:+5+16.2+15.0+1.7+6.9+8.5+3.2+1.0+1.0-1.7-0.9+7.2+11.4+.116+0.5+1.8+.079+1.1+1.0+.059
Lou Williams 75 23.3 13.7 0.4 1.6 2.0 3.4 0.6 0.2 1.4 1.7 4.3 10.6 .406 1.2 3.4 .348 3.9 4.7 .823
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:+15+14.8+15.2+2.7+4.9+7.5+2.8+0.7+1.0-2.1-1.5+6.4+10.9+.134+0.8+2.7+.020+3.3+3.0+.153
Lou Williams 5 26.0 10.8 0.0 1.6 1.6 3.0 1.0 0.0 0.8 1.2 3.4 10.4 .327 1.2 4.0 .300 2.8 3.8 .737

Season 7

Larry Bird Lou Williams
Season 1985-862011-12
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers Lost East Conf Semis
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:+18+11.7+10.9+1.8+5.5+7.4+3.3+1.2+0.3-2.1-0.8+4.7+7.4+.089+0.3+1.2+.061+1.7+1.4+.084
Lou Williams 64 26.3 14.9 0.5 2.0 2.4 3.5 0.8 0.3 1.1 1.4 5.0 12.2 .407 1.3 3.6 .362 3.7 4.6 .812
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+15.3+14.4+1.7+5.6+7.2+5.2+1.1+0.6-1.4-1.8+5.7+7.5+.165+0.7+0.6+.244+2.4+2.1+.139
Lou Williams 13 27.5 11.5 0.2 1.8 2.1 3.0 1.0 0.0 1.2 1.3 3.8 10.9 .352 0.6 3.7 .167 3.2 4.0 .788

Season 8

Larry Bird Lou Williams
Season 1986-872012-13
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
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:+35+11.9+14.0+1.5+5.7+7.1+4.0+0.7+0.6-1.3-1.1+5.8+8.8+.103+0.6+2.0+.033+2.9+3.0+.042
Lou Williams 39 28.7 14.1 0.2 1.8 2.1 3.6 1.1 0.3 1.9 1.4 4.8 11.4 .422 1.8 5.0 .367 2.7 3.1 .868
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
Lou Williams DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

Larry Bird Lou Williams
Season 1987-882013-14
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsHawks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+16+14.9+19.5+1.2+5.9+7.2+2.6+0.8+0.7-1.3-1.0+8.3+13.8+.127+0.8+.072+3.0+3.0+.067
Lou Williams 60 24.1 10.4 0.2 1.9 2.1 3.5 0.8 0.1 1.5 1.1 3.3 8.2 .400 1.3 3.9 .342 2.5 3.0 .849
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:+10+25.9+16.2+1.7+4.8+6.5+5.7+1.1+0.7-1.0-1.2+6.2+12.8+.070+0.4+.062+3.8+4.3+.044
Lou Williams 7 19.0 8.3 0.0 2.3 2.3 1.1 1.0 0.1 1.9 1.4 2.7 7.1 .380 0.7 2.3 .313 2.1 2.3 .938

Season 10

Larry Bird Lou Williams
Season 1988-892014-15
Team Boston CelticsToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Did Not PlayRaptors Lost East 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:+74+6.3+3.8+0.1+4.4+4.3+2.7+0.1+0.7-0.5-1.7+3.5+5.7+.067+1.9+5.6+1.3+1.7+.086
Lou Williams 80 25.2 15.5 0.3 1.6 1.9 2.1 1.1 0.1 1.3 1.3 4.7 11.6 .404 1.9 5.6 .340 4.3 4.9 .861
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Larry Bird DNP------ --- ----------
Lou Williams 4 25.5 12.8 0.5 1.3 1.8 1.3 1.5 0.0 0.8 2.3 4.0 12.8 .314 1.0 5.3 .190 3.8 4.5 .833

Season 11

Larry Bird Lou Williams
Season 1989-902015-16
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
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:+8+10.8+9.0+0.7+6.2+7.0+5.0+0.5+0.5-1.6-0.7+5.4+9.9+.065+0.7+2.2+.011+1.0+1.7+.100
Lou Williams 67 28.5 15.3 0.5 2.1 2.5 2.5 0.9 0.3 1.6 1.6 4.2 10.3 .408 1.6 4.8 .344 5.3 6.3 .830
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
Lou Williams DNP------ --- ----------

Season 12

Larry Bird Lou Williams
Season 1990-912016-17
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisRockets 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:+21+13.4+1.9+0.6+5.4+6.0+4.2+0.8+0.8-1.1-0.9+2.4+4.7+.025+0.7+2.2+.024+2.3+2.5+.011
Lou Williams 81 24.6 17.5 0.3 2.2 2.5 3.0 1.0 0.2 2.0 1.1 5.3 12.3 .429 2.0 5.5 .365 5.0 5.6 .880
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+14.9+4.6+0.2+4.3+4.5+5.2+0.7+0.2-0.6-1.3+1.7+4.5+.016+0.8+1.4+.165+2.0+2.5+.034
Lou Williams 11 24.7 12.5 0.6 2.1 2.7 1.3 0.6 0.1 1.3 1.5 4.5 10.7 .424 1.1 3.5 .308 2.4 2.6 .897

Season 13

Larry Bird Lou Williams
Season 1991-922017-18
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
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:+34+4.1+2.4+0.5+6.6+7.1+1.5+0.2+0.5-0.2-0.5+0.4+0.1+.031+1.2+3.8+.047+2.2+2.6+.046
Lou Williams 79 32.8 22.6 0.5 2.0 2.5 5.3 1.1 0.2 3.0 1.3 7.4 16.9 .435 2.4 6.6 .359 5.5 6.2 .880
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
Lou Williams DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Lou Williams played 4 seasons more than Larry Bird in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 17, from 2019 to 2022—Lou Williams played in 3 Playoffs.

In those 4 extra years over Larry Bird, Lou Williams got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Sixth Man of the Year