Larry Bird vs. Nate McMillan Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate McMillan 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, 1 more than Nate McMillan, who played 12. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Nate McMillan had his rookie season in 1986-87. 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
Nate McMillan 12 11 1986-87 to 1997-98

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Larry Bird Nate McMillan
Season 1979-801986-87
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
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 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 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
Nate McMillan 71 27.8 5.3 1.4 3.2 4.7 8.2 1.8 0.6 2.2 3.4 2.0 4.2 .475 0.0 0.1 .000 1.2 2.0 .617
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
Nate McMillan 14 25.4 5.1 0.9 2.9 3.9 8.0 1.0 0.7 1.9 3.0 1.9 4.4 .435 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.7 .708

Season 2
Larry Bird Nate McMillan
Season 1980-811987-88
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards 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 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
Nate McMillan 82 29.9 7.6 1.4 2.7 4.1 8.6 2.1 0.6 2.3 2.9 2.9 6.0 .474 0.1 0.3 .375 1.8 2.5 .707
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
Nate McMillan 5 25.4 6.6 1.2 3.0 4.2 6.6 0.4 0.6 1.6 2.2 2.4 7.0 .343 0.0 0.2 .000 1.8 2.8 .643

Season 3
Larry Bird Nate McMillan
Season 1981-821988-89
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
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 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 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
Nate McMillan 75 31.2 7.1 1.9 3.3 5.2 9.3 2.1 0.6 2.8 3.1 2.7 6.5 .410 0.2 0.9 .214 1.6 2.5 .630
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
Nate McMillan 8 25.0 6.8 1.1 2.0 3.1 7.9 1.3 0.6 2.4 2.6 2.4 5.0 .475 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 3.1 .640

Season 4
Larry Bird Nate McMillan
Season 1982-831989-90
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
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 >>
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
Nate McMillan 82 28.5 6.4 1.5 3.4 4.9 7.3 1.7 0.5 2.3 3.5 2.5 5.3 .473 0.1 0.4 .355 1.2 1.9 .641
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
Nate McMillan ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Larry Bird Nate McMillan
Season 1983-841990-91
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 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 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
Nate McMillan 78 18.4 4.3 0.9 2.3 3.2 4.8 1.3 0.3 1.6 2.7 1.7 3.9 .433 0.2 0.6 .354 0.7 1.2 .613
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
Nate McMillan 5 19.0 2.8 1.2 2.4 3.6 4.4 1.2 0.2 0.6 3.0 1.2 4.6 .261 0.0 0.4 .000 0.4 0.8 .500

Season 6
Larry Bird Nate McMillan
Season 1984-851991-92
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
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 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
Nate McMillan 72 22.9 6.0 1.3 2.2 3.5 5.0 1.8 0.4 1.6 3.0 2.5 5.6 .437 0.4 1.4 .276 0.8 1.2 .643
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
Nate McMillan 9 27.3 9.6 1.6 2.1 3.7 7.0 1.8 0.3 2.4 3.9 3.9 9.2 .422 0.7 2.9 .231 1.1 1.6 .714

Season 7
Larry Bird Nate McMillan
Season 1985-861992-93
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 Finals
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
Nate McMillan 73 27.1 7.5 1.2 3.0 4.2 5.3 2.4 0.5 1.9 3.3 2.9 6.3 .464 0.3 0.9 .385 1.3 1.8 .709
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
Nate McMillan 19 21.8 4.8 1.1 2.4 3.5 5.4 2.1 0.6 1.3 2.8 1.8 5.4 .340 0.3 1.3 .208 0.8 1.6 .533

Season 8
Larry Bird Nate McMillan
Season 1986-871993-94
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsSupersonics 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 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
Nate McMillan 73 25.8 6.0 0.7 3.2 3.9 5.3 3.0 0.3 1.7 2.8 2.4 5.4 .447 0.7 1.8 .391 0.4 0.8 .564
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
Nate McMillan 5 21.8 4.2 1.2 2.0 3.2 2.0 1.2 0.2 1.0 3.6 1.6 5.0 .320 0.8 2.2 .364 0.2 0.8 .250

Season 9
Larry Bird Nate McMillan
Season 1987-881994-95
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsSupersonics 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 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
Nate McMillan 80 25.9 5.2 0.8 3.0 3.8 5.3 2.1 0.7 1.6 3.4 2.1 5.0 .418 0.7 1.9 .342 0.4 0.7 .586
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
Nate McMillan 4 28.3 4.8 1.8 2.8 4.5 7.3 2.5 0.5 1.8 3.3 2.0 5.8 .348 0.3 2.0 .125 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 10
Larry Bird Nate McMillan
Season 1988-891995-96
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySupersonics Lost NBA Finals
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
Nate McMillan 55 22.9 5.0 0.7 3.1 3.8 3.6 1.7 0.3 1.4 2.6 1.8 4.3 .420 0.8 2.2 .380 0.5 0.7 .707
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Nate McMillan 19 20.3 4.4 0.7 3.0 3.7 2.7 1.2 0.3 1.1 1.8 1.5 3.6 .406 1.0 2.1 .475 0.5 0.7 .643

Season 11
Larry Bird Nate McMillan
Season 1989-901996-97
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdSupersonics 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 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
Nate McMillan 37 21.6 4.6 0.4 2.8 3.2 3.8 1.6 0.2 0.9 2.1 1.6 4.0 .409 0.8 2.3 .333 0.5 0.8 .655
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
Nate McMillan 3 13.3 0.0 0.3 1.3 1.7 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.7 3.7 0.0 0.7 .000 0.0 0.7 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12
Larry Bird Nate McMillan
Season 1990-911997-98
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisSupersonics 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 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
Nate McMillan 18 15.5 3.4 0.7 1.5 2.2 3.1 0.8 0.2 0.7 2.3 1.3 3.7 .343 0.8 1.9 .441 0.1 0.1 1.000
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
Nate McMillan 7 14.1 2.3 0.3 2.0 2.3 2.1 0.4 0.3 0.3 2.4 0.9 2.6 .333 0.3 1.7 .167 0.3 0.3 1.000

Season 13
Larry Bird Nate McMillan
Season 1991-92-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics 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 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
Nate McMillan ------- --- ----------
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
Nate McMillan ------- --- ----------
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