Larry Bird vs. Rod Strickland Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rod Strickland 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, 4 less than Rod Strickland, who played 17. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Rod Strickland 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
Rod Strickland 17 11 1988-89 to 2004-05

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Rod Strickland
Season 1979-801988-89
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsKnicks 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 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
Rod Strickland 81 16.8 8.9 0.6 1.3 2.0 3.9 1.2 0.0 1.8 1.8 3.3 7.0 .467 0.2 0.7 .322 2.1 2.9 .745
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
Rod Strickland 9 12.3 6.0 0.7 0.8 1.4 2.8 0.4 0.1 1.4 2.3 2.4 5.4 .449 0.1 0.1 1.000 1.0 1.9 .529

Season 2

Larry Bird Rod Strickland
Season 1980-811989-90
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs 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 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
Rod Strickland 82 26.1 10.6 1.1 2.1 3.2 5.7 1.5 0.2 2.1 2.0 4.2 9.2 .454 0.1 0.4 .267 2.1 3.4 .626
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
Rod Strickland 10 38.4 12.3 2.2 3.1 5.3 11.2 1.4 0.0 3.4 3.0 5.4 12.7 .425 0.0 0.7 .000 1.5 2.7 .556

Season 3

Larry Bird Rod Strickland
Season 1981-821990-91
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
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 FinalsSpurs 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 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
Rod Strickland 58 35.8 13.8 1.0 2.8 3.8 8.0 2.0 0.2 2.7 2.2 5.4 11.2 .482 0.2 0.6 .333 2.8 3.6 .763
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
Rod Strickland 4 42.0 18.8 1.3 4.0 5.3 8.8 2.3 0.0 3.3 3.5 7.3 16.8 .433 0.0 1.5 .000 4.3 5.3 .810

Season 4

Larry Bird Rod Strickland
Season 1982-831991-92
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisSpurs 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 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
Rod Strickland 57 36.0 13.8 1.6 3.0 4.6 8.6 2.1 0.3 2.8 2.1 5.3 11.6 .455 0.1 0.3 .333 3.2 4.6 .687
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
Rod Strickland 2 40.0 15.5 0.0 3.5 3.5 9.5 1.5 1.0 3.0 4.0 6.5 11.0 .591 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 4.0 .625

Season 5

Larry Bird Rod Strickland
Season 1983-841992-93
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
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 ChampionTrail Blazers 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
Rod Strickland 78 31.7 13.7 1.5 2.8 4.3 7.2 1.7 0.3 2.6 2.0 5.1 10.5 .485 0.1 0.4 .133 3.5 4.9 .717
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
Rod Strickland 4 39.0 13.5 2.3 4.3 6.5 9.3 1.3 0.5 1.8 2.5 5.5 13.0 .423 0.0 0.3 .000 2.5 3.0 .833

Season 6

Larry Bird Rod Strickland
Season 1984-851993-94
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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 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
Rod Strickland 82 35.2 17.2 1.5 3.0 4.5 9.0 1.8 0.3 3.1 2.1 6.4 13.3 .483 0.0 0.1 .200 4.3 5.7 .749
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
Rod Strickland 4 38.5 23.5 0.8 3.3 4.0 9.8 1.0 0.5 2.5 3.3 9.0 18.0 .500 0.0 0.3 .000 5.5 6.8 .815

Season 7

Larry Bird Rod Strickland
Season 1985-861994-95
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers 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
Rod Strickland 64 35.4 18.9 1.1 3.8 5.0 8.8 1.9 0.1 3.3 1.8 6.9 14.8 .466 0.7 1.9 .374 4.4 5.9 .745
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
Rod Strickland 3 42.0 23.3 0.3 3.7 4.0 12.3 1.0 0.7 3.3 3.7 9.0 21.7 .415 0.7 1.7 .400 4.7 6.0 .778

Season 8

Larry Bird Rod Strickland
Season 1986-871995-96
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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
Rod Strickland 67 37.7 18.7 1.3 3.1 4.4 9.6 1.4 0.2 3.8 2.0 7.0 15.3 .460 0.6 1.7 .342 4.1 6.3 .652
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
Rod Strickland 5 40.4 20.6 2.4 3.8 6.2 8.4 1.0 0.0 2.4 2.8 7.4 16.8 .440 1.2 2.4 .500 4.6 7.2 .639

Season 9

Larry Bird Rod Strickland
Season 1987-881996-97
Team Boston CelticsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsBullets 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 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
Rod Strickland 82 36.5 17.2 1.2 2.9 4.1 8.9 1.7 0.2 3.3 2.0 6.3 13.5 .466 0.2 0.9 .169 4.5 6.1 .738
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
Rod Strickland 3 41.3 19.7 1.7 4.3 6.0 8.3 1.0 0.0 3.7 2.7 7.3 17.3 .423 0.3 0.7 .500 4.7 6.3 .737

Season 10

Larry Bird Rod Strickland
Season 1988-891997-98
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
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
Rod Strickland 76 39.7 17.8 1.5 3.9 5.3 10.5 1.7 0.3 3.5 2.4 6.4 14.9 .434 0.2 0.6 .250 4.7 6.5 .726
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Rod Strickland ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Larry Bird Rod Strickland
Season 1989-901998-99
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdDid 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 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
Rod Strickland 44 37.1 15.7 1.3 3.5 4.8 9.9 1.7 0.1 3.2 2.1 5.7 13.7 .416 0.3 1.0 .286 4.0 5.4 .746
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
Rod Strickland ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Larry Bird Rod Strickland
Season 1990-911999-00
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards
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 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
Rod Strickland 69 31.7 12.6 1.1 2.7 3.8 7.5 1.4 0.3 2.7 2.1 4.7 11.0 .429 0.0 0.3 .048 3.1 4.4 .702
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
Rod Strickland ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Larry Bird Rod Strickland
Season 1991-922000-01
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards, Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisTrail Blazers 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 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
Rod Strickland 54 25.4 9.2 0.7 1.9 2.6 5.6 1.0 0.1 2.0 1.4 3.4 7.9 .424 0.1 0.3 .235 2.4 3.2 .751
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
Rod Strickland 2 10.0 4.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 3.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.0 .667

Season 14

Larry Bird Rod Strickland
Season -2001-02
Team -Miami Heat
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 ------- --- ----------
Rod Strickland 76 30.2 10.4 0.6 2.4 3.1 6.1 1.1 0.1 2.1 1.5 4.2 9.4 .443 0.1 0.3 .308 2.0 2.6 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Rod Strickland ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Larry Bird Rod Strickland
Season -2002-03
Team -Minnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Timberwolves 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 ------- --- ----------
Rod Strickland 47 20.3 6.8 0.4 1.6 2.0 4.6 1.0 0.1 1.6 1.2 2.6 5.9 .432 0.0 0.2 .091 1.7 2.3 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Rod Strickland 6 12.3 4.7 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.8 0.7 0.3 1.3 0.8 1.8 3.5 .524 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 16

Larry Bird Rod Strickland
Season -2003-04
Team -Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors
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 ------- --- ----------
Rod Strickland 61 19.6 6.3 0.6 2.0 2.5 4.0 0.6 0.2 1.4 1.2 2.5 5.8 .425 0.2 0.6 .278 1.2 1.6 .735
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Rod Strickland ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Larry Bird Rod Strickland
Season -2004-05
Team -Houston Rockets
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 ------- --- ----------
Rod Strickland 16 12.3 1.8 0.2 1.5 1.7 2.4 0.2 0.1 1.0 0.9 0.6 2.7 .209 0.1 0.1 .500 0.6 0.6 .900
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Rod Strickland ------- --- ----------