Larry Bird vs. Michael Cage Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Michael Cage 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, 2 less than Michael Cage, who played 15. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Michael Cage 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
Michael Cage 15 7 1984-85 to 1999-00

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Michael Cage
Season 1979-801984-85
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Clippers
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
Michael Cage 75 21.5 7.1 1.7 3.5 5.2 0.7 0.5 0.4 1.1 2.2 2.9 5.3 .543 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.8 .737
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
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Michael Cage
Season 1980-811985-86
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First 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 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
Michael Cage 78 20.1 6.7 2.2 3.2 5.3 1.0 0.8 0.4 1.4 2.3 2.6 5.5 .479 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.2 .649
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
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Larry Bird Michael Cage
Season 1981-821986-87
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Clippers
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 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 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
Michael Cage 80 36.5 15.7 4.4 7.1 11.5 1.6 1.2 0.8 2.1 2.8 5.7 11.0 .521 0.0 0.0 .000 4.3 5.8 .730
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
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Bird Michael Cage
Season 1982-831987-88
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid 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 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
Michael Cage 72 36.9 14.5 5.2 7.9 13.0 1.5 1.3 0.8 2.2 2.7 5.0 10.6 .470 0.0 0.0 .000 4.5 6.6 .688
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
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Larry Bird Michael Cage
Season 1983-841988-89
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
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 ChampionSupersonics 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 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
Michael Cage 80 31.7 10.3 3.5 6.1 9.6 1.6 1.2 0.7 1.6 2.3 3.9 7.9 .498 0.0 0.1 .000 2.5 3.3 .743
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
Michael Cage 8 21.9 7.1 2.8 3.0 5.8 0.6 0.9 0.4 1.0 1.8 3.0 5.0 .600 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 2.8 .409

Season 6

Larry Bird Michael Cage
Season 1984-851989-90
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA 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 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
Michael Cage 82 31.6 9.7 3.7 6.3 10.0 0.9 1.0 0.5 1.1 2.8 4.0 7.9 .504 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.6 .698
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
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Larry Bird Michael Cage
Season 1985-861990-91
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics 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 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
Michael Cage 82 26.1 6.4 2.2 4.6 6.8 1.1 1.0 0.7 1.0 2.4 2.8 5.4 .508 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.4 .625
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
Michael Cage 5 16.0 5.0 1.8 2.4 4.2 0.4 0.6 0.4 0.6 2.4 1.2 2.8 .429 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.4 .765

Season 8

Larry Bird Michael Cage
Season 1986-871991-92
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsSupersonics 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 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
Michael Cage 82 30.0 8.8 3.2 5.6 8.9 1.1 1.2 0.7 1.0 2.9 3.7 6.6 .566 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 2.1 .620
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
Michael Cage 9 21.9 4.3 2.0 3.7 5.7 0.4 0.7 0.9 0.9 2.4 2.1 3.8 .559 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.1 1.000

Season 9

Larry Bird Michael Cage
Season 1987-881992-93
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsSupersonics 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 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
Michael Cage 82 26.3 6.1 3.3 4.8 8.0 0.8 0.9 0.6 0.7 2.2 2.7 5.1 .526 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 1.6 .469
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
Michael Cage 19 19.9 4.8 2.5 3.4 5.8 0.5 0.7 0.4 0.8 2.3 2.2 4.2 .525 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.9 .389

Season 10

Larry Bird Michael Cage
Season 1988-891993-94
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics 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 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
Michael Cage 82 20.8 4.6 2.0 3.4 5.4 0.5 0.9 0.5 0.6 2.2 2.1 3.8 .545 0.0 0.0 .000 0.4 0.9 .486
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Michael Cage 5 18.6 2.8 2.0 3.4 5.4 0.8 0.8 1.0 0.6 3.0 1.2 3.2 .375 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 1.2 .333

Season 11

Larry Bird Michael Cage
Season 1989-901994-95
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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 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
Michael Cage 82 24.9 5.0 2.5 4.4 6.9 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.7 1.8 2.2 4.1 .521 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.1 .602
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
Michael Cage 4 20.3 4.0 2.0 2.5 4.5 0.8 0.5 1.0 0.3 2.3 2.0 4.5 .444 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.5 .000

Season 12

Larry Bird Michael Cage
Season 1990-911995-96
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisCavaliers 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 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
Michael Cage 82 32.1 6.0 3.5 5.4 8.9 0.6 1.1 1.0 0.7 2.6 2.7 4.8 .556 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.1 .543
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
Michael Cage 3 33.7 6.3 4.3 5.0 9.3 0.7 0.7 1.7 0.0 1.7 2.7 4.7 .571 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.7 .600

Season 13

Larry Bird Michael Cage
Season 1991-921996-97
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid 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 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
Michael Cage 82 15.2 1.8 1.4 2.5 3.9 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.2 1.4 0.8 1.7 .468 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.5 .463
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
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Larry Bird Michael Cage
Season -1997-98
Team -New Jersey Nets
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 ------- --- ----------
Michael Cage 79 15.2 1.3 1.5 2.4 3.9 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.3 1.3 0.5 1.1 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.5 .556
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------

Note: Michael Cage didn't play in 1998-99.

Season 15

Larry Bird Michael Cage
Season -1999-00
Team -New Jersey Nets
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 ------- --- ----------
Michael Cage 20 12.1 1.4 1.7 2.4 4.1 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.2 1.5 0.6 1.2 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------