Larry Bird vs. Nikola Jokic Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nikola Jokic 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.
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, 3 more than Nikola Jokic, who played 10. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Nikola Jokic had his rookie season in 2015-16. 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 |
| Nikola Jokic |
10 |
7 |
2015-16 to 2024-25 |
Comparison Season by Season |
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Jump to season:
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Rookie Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +2 | +14.3 | +11.3 | +0.3 | +3.1 | +3.4 | +2.1 | +0.7 | | -1.9 | -0.8 | +4.7 | +10.3 | +.038 | +0.3 | +0.6 | +.073 | +1.8 | +2.0 | +.025 |
| Nikola Jokic |
80 |
21.7 |
10.0 |
2.3 |
4.7 |
7.0 |
2.4 |
1.0 |
0.6 |
1.3 |
2.6 |
3.8 |
7.5 |
.512 |
0.4 |
1.1 |
.333 |
1.9 |
2.4 |
.811 |
|
| 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 |
| Nikola Jokic |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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2nd Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +9 | +11.6 | +4.5 | +0.6 | +1.7 | +1.1 | +0.6 | +1.2 | | -1.2 | | +2.0 | +6.6 | +.100 | +0.4 | +1.0 | +.054 | +0.9 | +0.9 | +.038 |
| Nikola Jokic |
73 |
27.9 |
16.7 |
2.9 |
6.9 |
9.8 |
4.9 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
2.3 |
2.9 |
6.8 |
11.7 |
.578 |
0.6 |
1.9 |
.324 |
2.6 |
3.1 |
.825 |
|
| 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 |
| Nikola Jokic |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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3rd Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +2 | +5.4 | +4.4 | | +0.2 | +0.2 | +0.3 | +0.7 | +0.1 | -0.5 | -0.4 | +2.5 | +4.9 | +.004 | +1.4 | +3.0 | +.184 | +0.8 | +0.7 | +.013 |
| Nikola Jokic |
75 |
32.6 |
18.5 |
2.6 |
8.1 |
10.7 |
6.1 |
1.2 |
0.8 |
2.8 |
2.8 |
6.7 |
13.5 |
.499 |
1.5 |
3.7 |
.396 |
3.5 |
4.2 |
.850 |
|
| 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 |
| Nikola Jokic |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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4th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +1 | +6.4 | +3.5 | +0.5 | +0.6 | +0.2 | +1.5 | +0.5 | +0.2 | -0.1 | -0.4 | +1.8 | +3.6 | +.007 | +0.7 | +2.4 | +.021 | +0.8 | +0.9 | +.019 |
| Nikola Jokic |
80 |
31.3 |
20.1 |
2.9 |
8.0 |
10.8 |
7.3 |
1.4 |
0.7 |
3.1 |
2.9 |
7.7 |
15.1 |
.511 |
1.0 |
3.4 |
.307 |
3.6 |
4.4 |
.821 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +8 | +0.2 | +4.6 | +0.6 | +0.1 | +0.5 | +1.6 | +1.1 | +0.4 | -0.6 | -1.4 | +1.2 | +0.7 | +.084 | +1.4 | +3.3 | +.143 | +0.7 | +0.8 | +.018 |
| Nikola Jokic |
14 |
39.8 |
25.1 |
3.9 |
9.1 |
13.0 |
8.4 |
1.1 |
0.9 |
2.6 |
3.9 |
9.4 |
18.6 |
.506 |
1.6 |
4.0 |
.393 |
4.7 |
5.6 |
.846 |
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +6 | +6.3 | +4.3 | | +0.3 | +0.4 | +0.4 | +0.6 | +0.3 | -0.1 | -0.5 | +1.9 | +4.8 | +.036 | +0.9 | +2.6 | +.067 | +1.3 | +1.2 | +.071 |
| Nikola Jokic |
73 |
32.0 |
19.9 |
2.3 |
7.5 |
9.7 |
7.0 |
1.2 |
0.6 |
3.1 |
3.0 |
7.7 |
14.7 |
.528 |
1.1 |
3.5 |
.314 |
3.4 |
4.1 |
.817 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +4 | +5.3 | +3.1 | +0.8 | +0.4 | +1.2 | +0.2 | +1.2 | +0.4 | -0.5 | -0.5 | +0.6 | +0.9 | +.005 | +1.9 | +4.5 | +.017 | +3.8 | +4.1 | +.044 |
| Nikola Jokic |
19 |
36.5 |
24.4 |
1.9 |
7.9 |
9.8 |
5.7 |
1.1 |
0.8 |
3.3 |
3.6 |
9.4 |
18.1 |
.519 |
2.2 |
5.2 |
.429 |
3.5 |
4.2 |
.835 |
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +8 | +4.9 | +2.3 | +0.7 | +0.5 | +0.3 | +1.7 | +0.3 | +0.5 | | -0.1 | +1.3 | +4.0 | +.044 | +0.6 | +1.7 | +.039 | +0.2 | +0.2 | +.014 |
| Nikola Jokic |
72 |
34.6 |
26.4 |
2.8 |
8.0 |
10.8 |
8.3 |
1.3 |
0.7 |
3.1 |
2.7 |
10.2 |
18.0 |
.566 |
1.3 |
3.3 |
.388 |
4.8 |
5.5 |
.868 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +10 | +6.3 | +3.8 | +1.0 | +1.4 | +2.5 | +0.8 | +1.1 | +0.1 | -0.5 | -0.4 | +1.8 | +1.5 | +.048 | +1.6 | +4.0 | +.097 | +1.5 | +1.3 | +.054 |
| Nikola Jokic |
10 |
34.5 |
29.8 |
3.7 |
7.9 |
11.6 |
5.0 |
0.6 |
0.9 |
2.4 |
2.3 |
11.6 |
22.8 |
.509 |
2.0 |
5.3 |
.377 |
4.6 |
5.5 |
.836 |
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +8 | +4.5 | +1.3 | +0.5 | +3.5 | +4.0 | +1.1 | +0.5 | +0.3 | -0.6 | -0.4 | +0.6 | +1.9 | +.087 | +0.3 | +1.5 | +.086 | +0.3 | +0.3 | +.086 |
| Nikola Jokic |
74 |
33.5 |
27.1 |
2.8 |
11.0 |
13.8 |
7.9 |
1.5 |
0.9 |
3.8 |
2.6 |
10.3 |
17.7 |
.583 |
1.3 |
3.9 |
.337 |
5.1 |
6.3 |
.810 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +13 | +8.6 | +5.1 | +1.5 | +2.4 | +3.9 | +2.4 | +0.5 | +0.4 | -2.2 | -0.9 | +2.7 | +2.8 | +.058 | +0.3 | +0.5 | +.133 | | +0.5 | +.079 |
| Nikola Jokic |
5 |
34.2 |
31.0 |
3.4 |
9.8 |
13.2 |
5.8 |
1.6 |
1.0 |
4.8 |
4.0 |
12.2 |
21.2 |
.575 |
1.0 |
3.6 |
.278 |
5.6 |
6.6 |
.848 |
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +5 | +6.9 | +3.6 | +0.7 | +1.9 | +2.6 | +2.2 | +0.5 | +0.2 | -0.4 | | +1.2 | +5.4 | +.107 | +0.4 | +0.8 | +.017 | +0.7 | +0.1 | +.088 |
| Nikola Jokic |
69 |
33.7 |
24.5 |
2.4 |
9.4 |
11.8 |
9.8 |
1.3 |
0.7 |
3.6 |
2.5 |
9.4 |
14.8 |
.632 |
0.8 |
2.2 |
.383 |
4.9 |
6.0 |
.822 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +3 | +4.6 | +3.0 | +1.7 | +1.7 | +3.5 | +2.3 | +0.1 | +0.2 | -0.4 | -1.1 | +2.0 | +1.0 | +.072 | +1.2 | +2.0 | +.120 | +2.1 | +1.4 | +.113 |
| Nikola Jokic |
20 |
39.5 |
30.0 |
3.5 |
10.0 |
13.5 |
9.5 |
1.1 |
1.0 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
11.4 |
20.7 |
.548 |
1.8 |
3.8 |
.461 |
5.6 |
7.0 |
.799 |
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +3 | +4.4 | +3.5 | +1.4 | +1.7 | +3.1 | +2.9 | +0.2 | +0.1 | -0.2 | -0.4 | +1.2 | +4.1 | +.056 | +0.2 | +0.2 | +.055 | +1.0 | +0.5 | +.099 |
| Nikola Jokic |
79 |
34.6 |
26.4 |
2.8 |
9.5 |
12.4 |
9.0 |
1.4 |
0.9 |
3.0 |
2.5 |
10.4 |
17.9 |
.583 |
1.1 |
2.9 |
.359 |
4.5 |
5.5 |
.817 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +5 | +4.7 | +4.2 | +1.9 | +2.7 | +4.6 | +1.9 | +0.7 | +0.1 | -0.4 | -0.1 | +2.2 | +0.4 | +.095 | +0.5 | +2.5 | +.111 | +0.6 | +0.7 | +.007 |
| Nikola Jokic |
12 |
40.2 |
28.7 |
3.6 |
9.8 |
13.4 |
8.7 |
1.4 |
0.7 |
3.3 |
2.7 |
11.1 |
20.3 |
.545 |
1.2 |
4.4 |
.264 |
5.3 |
5.9 |
.901 |
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +64 | +5.2 | +10.3 | +2.7 | +3.9 | +6.5 | +5.4 | +0.8 | +0.2 | -1.5 | -0.7 | +3.0 | +2.2 | +.105 | +2.0 | +4.7 | | +2.2 | +3.2 | +.147 |
| Nikola Jokic |
70 |
36.7 |
29.6 |
2.9 |
9.9 |
12.7 |
10.2 |
1.8 |
0.6 |
3.3 |
2.3 |
11.2 |
19.5 |
.576 |
2.0 |
4.7 |
.417 |
5.2 |
6.4 |
.800 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Larry Bird |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nikola Jokic |
14 |
40.2 |
26.2 |
2.1 |
10.6 |
12.7 |
8.0 |
2.0 |
0.9 |
3.9 |
3.4 |
9.4 |
19.1 |
.489 |
1.9 |
5.1 |
.380 |
5.6 |
7.2 |
.772 |
|
Additional Years |
* Larry Bird played 3 seasons more than Nikola Jokic in the NBA.
In that period—his seasons 11 to 13, from 1990 to 1992—Larry Bird played in 3 Playoffs. In those 3 extra years over Nikola Jokic, Larry Bird got these achievements: |
| Honors & Awards |  1 All-NBA Second Team
3 All-Star Game
|
NBA Champion