Larry Bird vs. Rasual Butler Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rasual Butler 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

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 and Rasual Butler both played 13 years in the NBA. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Rasual Butler had his rookie season in 2002-03. 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
Rasual Butler 13 6 2002-03 to 2015-16

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Rasual Butler
Season 1979-802002-03
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
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
Rasual Butler 72 21.0 7.5 0.4 2.2 2.6 1.3 0.3 0.6 1.1 1.5 2.9 7.9 .362 0.7 2.4 .292 1.1 1.4 .731
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
Rasual Butler ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Rasual Butler
Season 1980-812003-04
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHeat 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
Rasual Butler 45 15.0 6.8 0.1 1.3 1.4 0.5 0.2 0.3 0.6 1.6 2.6 5.6 .476 1.1 2.4 .463 0.4 0.5 .762
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
Rasual Butler 10 5.8 2.1 0.0 1.1 1.1 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 1.2 0.9 2.2 .409 0.3 0.9 .333 0.0 0.0 -

Season 3

Larry Bird Rasual Butler
Season 1981-822004-05
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
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 FinalsHeat Lost East 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 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
Rasual Butler 65 18.5 6.5 0.2 2.1 2.3 1.0 0.3 0.4 0.6 1.6 2.5 6.3 .399 0.9 2.4 .373 0.6 0.7 .771
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
Rasual Butler 12 14.9 4.7 0.1 1.4 1.5 0.6 0.1 0.1 0.2 1.8 1.8 4.9 .373 0.9 2.5 .367 0.1 0.3 .333

Season 4

Larry Bird Rasual Butler
Season 1982-832005-06
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
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
Rasual Butler 79 23.7 8.7 0.6 2.3 2.9 0.5 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.8 3.3 8.0 .406 1.2 3.1 .380 1.0 1.4 .693
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
Rasual Butler ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Larry Bird Rasual Butler
Season 1983-842006-07
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
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
Rasual Butler 81 27.4 10.1 0.5 2.6 3.2 0.8 0.5 0.7 0.8 1.8 3.9 9.7 .398 1.7 4.5 .369 0.7 1.1 .644
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
Rasual Butler ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Larry Bird Rasual Butler
Season 1984-852007-08
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans Hornets
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
Rasual Butler 51 17.2 4.9 0.3 1.6 2.0 0.7 0.3 0.4 0.2 1.3 1.8 5.1 .350 0.9 2.6 .331 0.5 0.6 .839
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
Rasual Butler ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Larry Bird Rasual Butler
Season 1985-862008-09
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHornets 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
Rasual Butler 82 31.9 11.2 0.6 2.7 3.3 0.9 0.6 0.7 0.7 1.9 4.2 9.8 .433 1.7 4.4 .390 1.0 1.3 .782
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
Rasual Butler 5 31.6 10.6 0.6 2.4 3.0 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.2 2.8 3.4 7.4 .459 2.0 3.8 .526 1.8 1.8 1.000

Season 8

Larry Bird Rasual Butler
Season 1986-872009-10
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards 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 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
Rasual Butler 82 33.0 11.9 0.5 2.5 2.9 1.4 0.4 0.8 1.0 1.5 4.3 10.6 .409 1.8 5.3 .336 1.5 1.8 .841
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
Rasual Butler ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Larry Bird Rasual Butler
Season 1987-882010-11
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsBulls Lost East 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
Rasual Butler 47 16.4 4.7 0.2 1.4 1.6 0.6 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.8 1.7 5.0 .333 1.0 2.9 .338 0.4 0.6 .667
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
Rasual Butler 3 2.3 1.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.000 0.3 0.3 1.000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 10

Larry Bird Rasual Butler
Season 1988-892011-12
Team Boston CelticsToronto Raptors
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
Rasual Butler 34 13.3 3.2 0.2 1.8 1.9 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.4 1.1 1.2 3.9 .308 0.6 2.3 .273 0.2 0.4 .583
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Rasual Butler ------- --- ----------

Note: Rasual Butler didn't play in 2012-13.

Season 11

Larry Bird Rasual Butler
Season 1989-902013-14
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdPacers Lost East 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 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
Rasual Butler 50 7.6 2.7 0.1 0.7 0.8 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.6 1.0 2.2 .464 0.5 1.2 .419 0.2 0.3 .571
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
Rasual Butler 11 6.4 1.7 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.5 1.4 .400 0.5 1.1 .417 0.2 0.2 1.000

Season 12

Larry Bird Rasual Butler
Season 1990-912014-15
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisWizards 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 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
Rasual Butler 75 20.1 7.7 0.4 2.3 2.6 0.8 0.4 0.3 0.6 1.3 2.9 6.9 .422 1.2 3.1 .387 0.7 0.9 .791
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
Rasual Butler 2 3.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 13

Larry Bird Rasual Butler
Season 1991-922015-16
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
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
Rasual Butler 46 9.4 2.7 0.1 1.2 1.2 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.2 0.2 1.1 2.3 .471 0.3 1.1 .306 0.2 0.3 .688
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
Rasual Butler ------- --- ----------