Larry Bird vs. Stephen Curry Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Stephen Curry 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 played 13 years in the NBA, 3 less than Stephen Curry, who played 16. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Stephen Curry had his rookie season in 2009-10. 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
Stephen Curry 16 10 2009-10 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Stephen Curry
Season 1979-802009-10
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
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 >>
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:+2+0.2+3.8+2.0+3.9+5.9+1.4+0.2+0.4-0.2-0.2+1.9+3.5+.012+1.4+3.1+.031+1.5+1.9+.049
Stephen Curry 80 36.2 17.5 0.6 3.9 4.5 5.9 1.9 0.2 3.0 3.2 6.6 14.3 .462 2.1 4.8 .437 2.2 2.5 .885
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
Stephen Curry DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Stephen Curry
Season 1980-812010-11
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
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:+8+5.9+2.6+1.6+5.4+7.0+0.3+0.5+0.5-0.4-0.2+2.0+4.1+.002+1.8+3.7+.172+0.6+0.9+.071
Stephen Curry 74 33.6 18.6 0.7 3.2 3.9 5.8 1.5 0.3 3.1 3.1 6.8 14.2 .480 2.0 4.6 .442 2.9 3.1 .934
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
Stephen Curry DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Larry Bird Stephen Curry
Season 1981-822011-12
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
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:+51+9.8+8.2+2.0+5.5+7.5+0.5+0.4+0.6-0.8-0.8+3.6+7.0+.013+2.0+4.0+.243+2.8+3.1+.054
Stephen Curry 26 28.2 14.7 0.6 2.8 3.4 5.3 1.5 0.3 2.5 2.4 5.6 11.4 .490 2.1 4.7 .455 1.5 1.8 .809
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
Stephen Curry DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Bird Stephen Curry
Season 1982-832012-13
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisWarriors 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:+1+0.5+0.7+1.6+5.3+7.0+1.1+0.3+0.7-0.1+1.5+0.9+.053+3.2+6.7+.167+1.0+1.6+.060
Stephen Curry 78 38.2 22.9 0.8 3.3 4.0 6.9 1.6 0.2 3.1 2.5 8.0 17.8 .451 3.5 7.7 .453 3.4 3.7 .900
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:+6+1.4+2.9+2.9+5.8+8.7+1.3+0.5+0.3-0.1-0.4+0.3+0.3+.012+3.3+8.1+.146+1.1+1.6+.093
Stephen Curry 12 41.4 23.4 0.4 3.4 3.8 8.1 1.7 0.2 3.3 2.9 8.5 19.6 .434 3.5 8.8 .396 2.9 3.2 .921

Season 5

Larry Bird Stephen Curry
Season 1983-842013-14
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+1+1.8+0.2+1.7+4.1+5.8+1.9+0.2+0.7-0.8+1.2+1.8+.021+3.1+7.0+.177+0.8+0.8+.003
Stephen Curry 78 36.5 24.0 0.6 3.7 4.3 8.5 1.6 0.2 3.8 2.5 8.4 17.7 .471 3.3 7.9 .424 3.9 4.5 .885
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:+16+0.5+4.5+2.1+5.3+7.4+2.5+0.6+1.1-0.1-0.5+2.7+2.4+.084+2.8+7.4+.026+2.0+2.3+.002
Stephen Curry 7 42.3 23.0 0.6 3.0 3.6 8.4 1.7 0.1 3.7 2.6 7.3 16.6 .440 3.1 8.1 .386 5.3 6.0 .881

Season 6

Larry Bird Stephen Curry
Season 1984-852014-15
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVPAchievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+6.8+4.9+1.4+4.9+6.2+1.1+0.4+1.0-0.6+3.3+5.2+.035+2.9+6.5+.016+1.1+1.5+.032
Stephen Curry 80 32.7 23.8 0.7 3.6 4.3 7.7 2.0 0.2 3.1 2.0 8.2 16.8 .487 3.6 8.1 .443 3.9 4.2 .914
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:+1+1.5+2.3+1.7+2.5+4.1+0.6+0.2+0.9-1.0-0.5+0.3+0.4+.005+4.3+9.7+.142+1.5+1.3+.055
Stephen Curry 21 39.3 28.3 1.0 4.0 5.0 6.4 1.9 0.1 3.9 2.2 9.5 20.9 .456 4.7 11.0 .422 4.6 5.5 .835

Season 7

Larry Bird Stephen Curry
Season 1985-862015-16
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVPAchievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors Lost NBA Finals
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:+3+3.8+4.3+1.4+2.9+4.4+0.1+0.1+0.4-0.1-0.2+0.5+0.6+.008+4.1+8.8+.031+0.8+0.9+.012
Stephen Curry 79 34.2 30.1 0.9 4.6 5.4 6.7 2.1 0.2 3.3 2.0 10.2 20.2 .504 5.1 11.2 .454 4.6 5.1 .908
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:+8.7+0.8+1.1+2.7+3.8+3.0+0.7+0.3-1.6-0.9+1.3+0.4+.079+3.1+7.9+.007+1.4+1.5+.011
Stephen Curry 18 34.1 25.1 0.8 4.7 5.5 5.2 1.4 0.3 4.2 2.2 8.2 18.8 .438 4.4 11.0 .404 4.2 4.6 .916

Season 8

Larry Bird Stephen Curry
Season 1986-872016-17
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+5+7.2+2.8+0.9+3.8+4.7+1.0+0.7-0.2-0.2+2.1+1.9+.057+2.9+7.0+.011+1.5+1.5+.012
Stephen Curry 79 33.4 25.3 0.8 3.7 4.5 6.6 1.8 0.2 3.0 2.3 8.5 18.3 .468 4.1 10.0 .411 4.1 4.6 .898
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:+6+8.7+1.1+0.5+3.4+3.8+0.5+0.8+0.6-0.3-0.2+0.5+1.3+.008+3.6+8.3+.078+1.6+1.7+.008
Stephen Curry 17 35.4 28.1 1.3 4.9 6.2 6.7 2.0 0.2 3.4 2.2 8.9 18.4 .484 4.2 10.1 .419 6.1 6.7 .904

Season 9

Larry Bird Stephen Curry
Season 1987-882017-18
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+25+7.0+3.5+0.7+3.4+4.2+0.6-0.2-0.1+3.2+5.1+.032+2.9+6.7+.009+0.1+.005
Stephen Curry 51 32.0 26.4 0.7 4.4 5.1 6.1 1.6 0.2 3.0 2.2 8.4 16.9 .495 4.2 9.8 .423 5.5 5.9 .921
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:+2+7.9+1.0+1.1+1.6+2.7+1.4+0.4+0.1-0.1+0.2+0.4+.001+3.6+8.9+.020+2.9+3.5+.063
Stephen Curry 15 37.0 25.5 0.6 5.5 6.1 5.4 1.7 0.7 2.9 2.5 9.1 20.3 .451 4.3 10.8 .395 3.0 3.1 .957

Season 10

Larry Bird Stephen Curry
Season 1988-892018-19
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost NBA Finals
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:+63+2.3+8.0+0.5+1.3+0.9+0.4+0.3+0.4-1.0-0.6+1.0+2.1+.001+5.1+11.7+0.8+1.0+.031
Stephen Curry 69 33.8 27.3 0.7 4.7 5.3 5.2 1.3 0.4 2.8 2.4 9.2 19.4 .472 5.1 11.7 .437 3.8 4.2 .916
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Larry Bird DNP------ --- ----------
Stephen Curry 22 38.5 28.2 0.8 5.2 6.0 5.7 1.1 0.2 3.0 3.1 8.6 19.6 .441 4.2 11.1 .377 6.7 7.1 .943

Season 11

Larry Bird Stephen Curry
Season 1989-902019-20
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
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:+70+11.5+3.5+0.4+3.9+4.3+0.9+0.4+0.4-0.1+3.0+3.8+.071+1.5+7.2+.088+0.9+0.6+.070
Stephen Curry 5 27.8 20.8 0.8 4.4 5.2 6.6 1.0 0.4 3.2 2.2 6.6 16.4 .402 2.4 9.8 .245 5.2 5.2 1.000
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
Stephen Curry DNP------ --- ----------

Season 12

Larry Bird Stephen Curry
Season 1990-912020-21
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
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:+3+3.8+12.6+0.4+2.6+3.0+1.4+0.6+0.9-0.3-0.1+2.7+4.7+.028+4.0+9.4+.032+3.0+3.2+.025
Stephen Curry 63 34.2 32.0 0.5 5.0 5.5 5.8 1.2 0.1 3.4 1.9 10.4 21.7 .482 5.3 12.7 .421 5.7 6.3 .916
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
Stephen Curry DNP------ --- ----------

Season 13

Larry Bird Stephen Curry
Season 1991-922021-22
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+19+2.4+5.3+0.5+3.9+4.4+0.5+0.4+0.3-0.4-0.2+0.6+2.3+.029+3.3+8.9+.026+1.0+1.1+.003
Stephen Curry 64 34.5 25.5 0.5 4.7 5.2 6.3 1.3 0.4 3.2 2.0 8.4 19.1 .437 4.5 11.7 .380 4.3 4.7 .923
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
difference:+18+7.9+16.1+0.7+0.7+0.6+1.0+0.1-1.1-0.9+3.9+9.5+.041+4.1+9.1+.397+4.1+4.9+.079
Stephen Curry 22 34.7 27.4 0.5 4.7 5.2 5.9 1.3 0.4 2.6 2.7 9.2 20.0 .459 4.1 10.4 .397 4.9 5.9 .829

Additional Years

* Stephen Curry played 3 seasons more than Larry Bird in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 16, from 2023 to 2025—Stephen Curry played in two Playoffs.

In those 3 extra years over Larry Bird, Stephen Curry got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 2 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 1 Clutch Player of the Year
Achievement 3 All-Star Game
Achievement 1 All-Star Game MVP