Larry Bird vs. Rik Smits Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rik Smits 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 Rik Smits, who played 12. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Rik Smits had his rookie season in 1988-89. 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
Rik Smits 12 10 1988-89 to 1999-00

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Larry Bird Rik Smits
Season 1979-801988-89
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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
Rik Smits 82 24.9 11.7 2.3 3.8 6.1 0.9 0.5 1.8 1.6 3.8 4.7 9.1 .517 0.0 0.0 .000 2.2 3.1 .722
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
Rik Smits ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Larry Bird Rik Smits
Season 1980-811989-90
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers 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 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
Rik Smits 82 29.3 15.5 1.6 4.6 6.2 1.7 0.5 2.1 1.7 4.0 6.3 11.8 .533 0.0 0.0 .000 2.9 3.6 .811
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
Rik Smits 3 32.0 12.3 1.3 4.0 5.3 1.0 0.7 1.3 1.7 4.0 4.7 9.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.7 .818

Season 3
Larry Bird Rik Smits
Season 1981-821990-91
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
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 FinalsPacers 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 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
Rik Smits 76 22.2 10.9 1.5 3.2 4.7 1.1 0.3 1.5 1.1 3.2 4.5 9.3 .485 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.5 .762
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
Rik Smits 5 17.6 9.8 0.8 2.8 3.6 0.4 0.2 1.4 1.0 4.6 4.2 7.4 .568 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.6 .875

Season 4
Larry Bird Rik Smits
Season 1982-831991-92
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisPacers 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 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
Rik Smits 74 23.9 13.8 1.7 4.0 5.6 1.6 0.4 1.4 1.8 3.1 5.9 11.6 .510 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 2.6 .788
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
Rik Smits 3 9.3 3.3 1.0 1.0 2.0 0.0 0.7 0.3 1.0 2.3 1.3 3.7 .364 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000

Season 5
Larry Bird Rik Smits
Season 1983-841992-93
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
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 ChampionPacers 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 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
Rik Smits 81 25.6 14.3 1.6 3.8 5.3 1.5 0.3 0.9 1.8 3.5 6.1 12.6 .486 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.8 .732
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
Rik Smits 4 35.8 22.5 3.3 4.8 8.0 1.8 1.3 1.0 2.0 4.5 9.3 16.0 .578 0.0 0.3 .000 4.0 5.5 .727

Season 6
Larry Bird Rik Smits
Season 1984-851993-94
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsPacers 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 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
Rik Smits 78 27.1 15.7 1.7 4.5 6.2 2.0 0.6 1.1 1.9 3.6 6.3 11.8 .534 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 3.8 .793
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
Rik Smits 16 28.1 16.0 1.4 3.8 5.3 1.9 0.6 0.6 2.7 4.0 6.4 13.6 .472 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 3.9 .806

Season 7
Larry Bird Rik Smits
Season 1985-861994-95
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers 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 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
Rik Smits 78 30.5 17.9 2.5 5.2 7.7 1.4 0.5 1.0 2.4 3.6 7.2 13.6 .526 0.0 0.0 .000 3.6 4.8 .753
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
Rik Smits 17 32.1 20.1 1.9 5.1 7.0 2.0 0.3 0.8 2.0 4.3 7.5 13.6 .547 0.1 0.1 1.000 5.1 6.3 .804

Season 8
Larry Bird Rik Smits
Season 1986-871995-96
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsPacers 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 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
Rik Smits 63 30.2 18.5 1.9 5.0 6.9 1.7 0.3 0.7 2.5 3.6 7.4 14.2 .521 0.0 0.1 .200 3.7 4.7 .788
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
Rik Smits 5 33.2 19.0 2.6 4.8 7.4 1.6 0.4 0.4 2.8 4.0 8.4 15.4 .545 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 2.8 .786

Season 9
Larry Bird Rik Smits
Season 1987-881996-97
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA 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 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
Rik Smits 52 29.2 17.1 2.0 4.9 6.9 1.3 0.4 1.1 2.4 3.4 6.8 14.1 .486 0.0 0.2 .250 3.3 4.2 .797
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
Rik Smits ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Larry Bird Rik Smits
Season 1988-891997-98
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPacers 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 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
Rik Smits 73 28.6 16.7 1.7 5.2 6.9 1.4 0.5 1.2 1.8 3.3 7.0 14.2 .495 0.0 0.0 .000 2.6 3.3 .783
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Rik Smits 16 29.8 16.6 1.1 4.3 5.3 1.3 0.5 0.9 1.3 4.2 6.6 13.1 .502 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.0 .859

Season 11
Larry Bird Rik Smits
Season 1989-901998-99
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
Rik Smits 49 25.9 14.9 1.5 4.1 5.6 1.1 0.4 1.1 1.5 3.2 6.3 12.9 .490 0.0 0.0 .000 2.2 2.7 .818
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
Rik Smits 13 22.5 11.8 1.2 3.8 5.0 0.7 0.5 1.2 1.9 3.9 5.2 11.3 .456 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 1.5 .950

Season 12
Larry Bird Rik Smits
Season 1990-911999-00
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisPacers 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 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
Rik Smits 79 23.4 12.9 1.2 3.9 5.1 1.1 0.3 1.3 1.4 3.2 5.5 11.3 .484 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.7 .739
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
Rik Smits 22 20.9 11.0 1.1 2.5 3.5 1.0 0.5 0.9 1.2 3.8 4.7 9.4 .498 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 1.8 .875

Season 13
Larry Bird Rik Smits
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
Rik Smits ------- --- ----------
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
Rik Smits ------- --- ----------
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