Larry Bird vs. Shawn Bradley Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Shawn Bradley 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 played 13 years in the NBA, 1 more than Shawn Bradley, who played 12. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Shawn Bradley had his rookie season in 1993-94. 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
Shawn Bradley 12 5 1993-94 to 2004-05

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Shawn Bradley
Season 1979-801993-94
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
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 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
Shawn Bradley 49 28.3 10.3 2.0 4.2 6.2 2.0 0.9 3.0 3.0 3.5 4.1 10.0 .409 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 3.4 .607
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
Shawn Bradley ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Shawn Bradley
Season 1980-811994-95
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First 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 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
Shawn Bradley 82 28.8 9.5 3.0 5.1 8.0 0.6 0.7 3.3 1.7 4.1 3.8 8.5 .455 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 2.8 .638
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
Shawn Bradley ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Larry Bird Shawn Bradley
Season 1981-821995-96
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets
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 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 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
Shawn Bradley 79 29.5 11.9 2.8 5.3 8.1 0.8 0.6 3.6 2.3 3.6 4.9 11.1 .443 0.0 0.1 .250 2.1 3.1 .687
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
Shawn Bradley ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Bird Shawn Bradley
Season 1982-831996-97
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets, Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Blocks Leader
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
Shawn Bradley 73 31.3 13.2 3.0 5.3 8.4 0.7 0.5 3.4 1.8 3.2 5.6 12.4 .449 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 3.1 .654
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
Shawn Bradley ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Larry Bird Shawn Bradley
Season 1983-841997-98
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
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
Shawn Bradley 64 28.5 11.4 2.6 5.5 8.1 0.9 0.8 3.3 1.5 3.3 4.7 11.1 .422 0.0 0.0 .333 2.0 2.8 .722
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
Shawn Bradley ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Larry Bird Shawn Bradley
Season 1984-851998-99
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
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
Shawn Bradley 49 26.4 8.6 2.7 5.3 8.0 0.8 0.7 3.2 1.1 3.1 3.4 7.1 .480 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.3 .748
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
Shawn Bradley ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Larry Bird Shawn Bradley
Season 1985-861999-00
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First 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 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
Shawn Bradley 77 24.7 8.4 2.1 4.4 6.5 0.8 0.9 2.5 1.0 3.4 3.5 7.2 .479 0.0 0.1 .200 1.5 1.9 .765
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
Shawn Bradley ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Larry Bird Shawn Bradley
Season 1986-872000-01
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsMavericks 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 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
Shawn Bradley 82 24.4 7.1 2.0 5.5 7.4 0.5 0.4 2.8 1.1 3.1 2.7 5.5 .490 0.0 0.1 .167 1.7 2.2 .787
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
Shawn Bradley 10 25.6 6.4 2.4 4.7 7.1 0.5 0.4 3.0 1.0 3.7 2.7 5.1 .529 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .769

Season 9

Larry Bird Shawn Bradley
Season 1987-882001-02
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsMavericks 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 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
Shawn Bradley 53 14.3 4.1 1.0 2.3 3.3 0.4 0.5 1.2 0.5 2.4 1.5 3.1 .479 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.2 .922
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
Shawn Bradley 7 3.6 0.9 0.1 0.6 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 1.3 0.4 0.9 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 10

Larry Bird Shawn Bradley
Season 1988-892002-03
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks Lost West 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
Shawn Bradley 81 21.4 6.7 1.9 4.0 5.9 0.7 0.8 2.1 0.8 3.0 2.5 4.6 .536 0.0 0.0 .000 1.7 2.2 .806
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Shawn Bradley 17 14.4 2.9 1.4 2.5 3.8 0.3 0.2 0.8 0.9 2.8 1.2 2.9 .400 0.0 0.1 .000 0.5 0.7 .750

Season 11

Larry Bird Shawn Bradley
Season 1989-902003-04
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdMavericks 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 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
Shawn Bradley 66 11.7 3.3 1.1 1.5 2.6 0.3 0.5 1.1 0.3 2.0 1.3 2.8 .473 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 0.7 .837
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
Shawn Bradley 2 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

Larry Bird Shawn Bradley
Season 1990-912004-05
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisMavericks 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 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
Shawn Bradley 77 11.5 2.7 0.9 1.9 2.8 0.2 0.3 0.8 0.4 2.0 1.1 2.4 .452 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .683
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
Shawn Bradley 7 3.7 1.3 0.6 0.3 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 1.0 0.6 0.9 .667 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.3 .500

Season 13

Larry Bird Shawn Bradley
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
Shawn Bradley ------- --- ----------
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
Shawn Bradley ------- --- ----------