Larry Bird vs. Rudy Gobert Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rudy Gobert 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 / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings

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 Rudy Gobert both played 13 years in the NBA. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Rudy Gobert had his rookie season in 2013-14. 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
Rudy Gobert 13 9 2013-14 to 2025-26

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Rudy Gobert
Season 1979-802013-14
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
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 >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+37+26.4+19.0+1.5+5.5+7.0+4.3+1.5+0.3-2.5-2.1+7.7+16.2+.012+0.7+1.7+3.0+3.0+.344
Rudy Gobert 45 9.6 2.3 1.1 2.3 3.4 0.2 0.2 0.9 0.7 1.3 0.8 1.6 .486 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.4 .492
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Rudy Gobert DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Rudy Gobert
Season 1980-812014-15
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+13.2+12.8+0.9+2.4+1.4+4.2+1.2+1.5-2.1-0.8+5.7+13.1+.126+0.2+0.9+1.4+0.7+.240
Rudy Gobert 82 26.3 8.4 3.2 6.2 9.5 1.3 0.8 2.3 1.4 2.1 3.1 5.2 .604 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.3 .623
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Rudy Gobert DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Larry Bird Rudy Gobert
Season 1981-822015-16
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+16+6.3+13.8+0.8+0.8+0.1+4.3+1.2+1.3-1.4-0.5+6.0+12.6+.056+0.1+0.7+1.7+0.3+.294
Rudy Gobert 61 31.7 9.1 3.4 7.5 11.0 1.5 0.7 2.2 1.9 2.7 3.2 5.8 .559 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 4.6 .569
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Rudy Gobert DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Bird Rudy Gobert
Season 1982-832016-17
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Blocks Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisJazz Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+2+3.8+9.6+1.5+0.3+1.8+4.6+1.3+1.7-1.2-0.5+4.4+11.0+.157+0.3+1.0+0.6+0.6+.187
Rudy Gobert 81 33.9 14.0 3.9 8.9 12.8 1.2 0.6 2.6 1.8 3.0 5.1 7.7 .661 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 5.9 .653
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+3+12.7+8.9+0.9+1.8+2.6+5.6+1.2+0.8-2.2-0.8+3.8+12.3+.213+0.2+0.7+1.3+0.8+.348
Rudy Gobert 9 27.3 11.6 2.4 7.4 9.9 1.2 1.0 1.3 1.0 3.3 4.4 7.0 .635 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 5.6 .480

Season 5

Larry Bird Rudy Gobert
Season 1983-842017-18
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionJazz Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+23+5.9+10.7+0.6+0.6+5.2+1.0+1.4-1.1-0.2+4.7+11.6+.130+0.2+0.9+1.1+.206
Rudy Gobert 56 32.4 13.5 2.9 7.8 10.7 1.4 0.8 2.3 1.9 2.7 4.9 7.9 .622 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 5.3 .682
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+12+7.0+14.3+1.2+1.5+0.3+4.9+1.4+1.1-1.9+5.0+11.4+.131+0.3+0.7+4.1+3.0+.276
Rudy Gobert 11 34.8 13.2 3.9 6.8 10.7 1.0 0.9 2.3 1.9 3.1 5.0 7.6 .655 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 5.3 .603

Season 6

Larry Bird Rudy Gobert
Season 1984-852018-19
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsJazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+1+7.7+12.8+1.7+0.5+2.4+4.6+0.8+1.1-1.5-0.3+5.6+13.2+.147+0.7+1.6+0.9+0.7+.246
Rudy Gobert 81 31.8 15.9 3.8 9.0 12.9 2.0 0.8 2.3 1.6 2.9 5.9 8.8 .669 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 6.4 .636
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+15+10.4+14.8+1.9+0.9+1.1+4.4+1.1+1.6-1.1-0.5+6.0+14.9+.133+0.4+1.3+2.5+2.2+.107
Rudy Gobert 5 30.4 11.2 4.6 5.6 10.2 1.4 0.6 2.6 1.8 3.2 3.8 6.4 .594 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 4.6 .783

Season 7

Larry Bird Rudy Gobert
Season 1985-862019-20
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionJazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+14+3.7+10.7+1.1+2.6+3.7+5.3+1.2+1.4-1.3-1.0+4.0+11.4+.197+1.0+2.4+1.7+0.1+.266
Rudy Gobert 68 34.3 15.1 3.4 10.1 13.5 1.5 0.8 2.0 1.9 3.2 5.7 8.2 .693 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.9 .630
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+11+4.2+9.0+1.5+0.6+2.1+7.1+1.5+0.8-1.3-0.6+2.6+7.8+.132+1.3+3.1+2.5+0.1+.403
Rudy Gobert 7 38.6 16.9 3.4 8.0 11.4 1.1 0.6 1.4 1.3 3.7 6.9 10.6 .649 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 6.0 .524

Season 8

Larry Bird Rudy Gobert
Season 1986-872020-21
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsJazz Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+3+9.8+13.8+1.7+2.6+4.3+6.3+1.2+1.8-1.5-0.2+5.1+12.0+.150+1.2+2.9+.400+2.3+0.8+.287
Rudy Gobert 71 30.8 14.3 3.4 10.1 13.5 1.3 0.6 2.7 1.7 2.3 5.5 8.2 .675 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 5.3 .623
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+12+9.9+12.3+2.1+0.1+2.3+6.4+0.7+1.3-1.6-1.8+3.9+12.3+.265+0.6+1.7+.341+3.9+2.4+.276
Rudy Gobert 11 34.2 14.7 3.9 8.4 12.3 0.8 0.5 2.1 1.5 4.2 5.5 7.4 .741 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 6.0 .636

Season 9

Larry Bird Rudy Gobert
Season 1987-882021-22
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsJazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+10+6.9+14.3+2.3+3.2+5.4+5.0+0.9+1.3-1.0-0.6+6.1+14.3+.186+1.3+3.0+.414+0.9+0.7+.226
Rudy Gobert 66 32.1 15.6 3.7 11.0 14.7 1.1 0.7 2.1 1.8 2.7 5.5 7.7 .713 0.0 0.1 .000 4.6 6.7 .690
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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:+11+12.1+12.5+1.8+2.6+4.4+6.3+1.9+0.2-1.6-0.6+5.4+14.4+.186+0.7+1.9+0.9+0.7+.212
Rudy Gobert 6 32.8 12.0 3.5 9.7 13.2 0.5 0.2 1.0 1.3 3.2 3.5 5.5 .636 0.0 0.0 - 5.0 7.3 .682

Season 10

Larry Bird Rudy Gobert
Season 1988-892022-23
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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+0.8+5.9+3.1+2.3+5.4+3.6+0.2+0.6-0.1+3.1+9.5+.188+0.1+1.7+.303
Rudy Gobert 70 30.7 13.4 3.3 8.3 11.6 1.2 0.8 1.4 1.7 3.0 5.1 7.8 .659 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 4.9 .644
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Larry Bird DNP------ --- ----------
Rudy Gobert 5 35.4 15.0 3.6 8.6 12.2 2.0 0.4 1.0 1.6 4.8 5.8 9.2 .630 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.4 .630

Season 11

Larry Bird Rudy Gobert
Season 1989-902023-24
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdTimberwolves Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+1+5.2+10.3+2.6+0.9+3.4+6.2+0.7+1.3-1.6-0.8+4.3+12.1+.188+0.9+2.6+1.0+0.5+.292
Rudy Gobert 76 34.1 14.0 3.8 9.2 12.9 1.3 0.7 2.1 1.6 3.1 5.3 8.1 .661 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 5.1 .638
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+10+7.3+12.3+1.3+0.7+0.6+7.2+0.1-2.1-1.7+4.5+12.9+.171+1.0+3.8+2.3+1.1+.235
Rudy Gobert 15 34.1 12.1 2.7 7.1 9.8 1.6 0.9 1.0 1.5 3.7 4.3 6.9 .615 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 5.3 .671

Season 12

Larry Bird Rudy Gobert
Season 1990-912024-25
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisTimberwolves Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+12+4.8+7.4+2.8+0.4+2.4+5.4+1.0+0.4-1.9-0.5+3.0+9.9+.215+1.3+3.3+0.1+0.7+.217
Rudy Gobert 72 33.2 12.0 3.7 7.2 10.9 1.8 0.8 1.4 1.2 2.5 4.7 7.1 .669 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.8 .674
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+5+12.2+9.2+2.3+0.9+1.4+5.8+0.8+0.9-1.0-0.3+3.1+9.9+.174+0.3+2.1+2.7+1.8+.343
Rudy Gobert 15 27.4 7.9 3.1 5.5 8.6 0.7 0.5 1.2 0.9 2.5 3.1 5.3 .582 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 3.3 .520

Season 13

Larry Bird Rudy Gobert
Season 1991-922025-26
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+20+5.4+8.6+2.6+1.9+0.6+5.0+0.4+0.7-1.4-1.2+3.0+10.4+.279+1.2+2.8+1.3+0.2+.383
Rudy Gobert 25 31.5 11.6 3.6 6.7 10.2 1.8 0.5 1.4 1.4 3.0 4.8 6.4 .745 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.8 .543
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Rudy Gobert DNP------ --- ----------