Larry Bird vs. Steve Francis Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Steve Francis 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.
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 more than Steve Francis, who played 9. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Steve Francis had his rookie season in 1999-00. 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 |
| Steve Francis |
9 |
1 |
1999-00 to 2007-08 |
Comparison Season by Season |
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Jump to season:
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Rookie Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +5 | +0.1 | +3.3 | +0.6 | +4.5 | +5.1 | +2.1 | +0.2 | +0.2 | -0.8 | -0.4 | +2.0 | +3.3 | +.029 | +0.7 | +2.3 | +.061 | | +0.3 | +.050 |
| Steve Francis |
77 |
36.1 |
18.0 |
2.0 |
3.3 |
5.3 |
6.6 |
1.5 |
0.4 |
4.0 |
3.0 |
6.5 |
14.5 |
.445 |
1.4 |
4.0 |
.345 |
3.7 |
4.7 |
.786 |
|
| 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 |
| Steve Francis |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +2 | +0.4 | +1.3 | +0.1 | +4.1 | +4.0 | +1.0 | +0.2 | +0.4 | -0.2 | -0.5 | +1.9 | +3.1 | +.027 | +1.5 | +3.3 | +.126 | +1.0 | +1.5 | +.046 |
| Steve Francis |
80 |
39.9 |
19.9 |
2.4 |
4.5 |
6.9 |
6.5 |
1.8 |
0.4 |
3.3 |
3.4 |
6.9 |
15.2 |
.451 |
1.7 |
4.2 |
.396 |
4.5 |
5.5 |
.817 |
|
| 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 |
| Steve Francis |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +20 | +3.1 | +1.3 | +0.8 | +3.1 | +3.9 | +0.6 | +0.7 | +0.5 | -0.6 | -0.2 | +1.8 | +0.7 | +.086 | +1.1 | +3.0 | +.112 | +1.4 | +2.5 | +.090 |
| Steve Francis |
57 |
41.1 |
21.6 |
1.8 |
5.2 |
7.0 |
6.4 |
1.2 |
0.4 |
3.9 |
3.0 |
7.4 |
17.7 |
.417 |
1.2 |
3.7 |
.324 |
5.7 |
7.4 |
.773 |
|
| 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 |
| Steve Francis |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +2 | +3.3 | +2.6 | +0.4 | +4.4 | +4.8 | +0.4 | +0.2 | +0.4 | -0.7 | -0.6 | +2.5 | +2.5 | +.069 | +0.7 | +2.0 | +.068 | +1.5 | +2.0 | +.040 |
| Steve Francis |
81 |
41.0 |
21.0 |
2.0 |
4.2 |
6.2 |
6.2 |
1.7 |
0.5 |
3.7 |
3.1 |
7.0 |
16.2 |
.435 |
1.0 |
3.0 |
.354 |
5.9 |
7.3 |
.800 |
|
| 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 |
| Steve Francis |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | | +2.1 | +7.6 | +0.8 | +3.8 | +4.6 | +0.4 | | +0.5 | -0.7 | -0.8 | +3.9 | +5.4 | +.089 | +0.7 | +2.3 | +.045 | +0.4 | +0.2 | +.113 |
| Steve Francis |
79 |
40.4 |
16.6 |
1.5 |
4.0 |
5.5 |
6.2 |
1.8 |
0.4 |
3.7 |
3.3 |
5.7 |
14.1 |
.403 |
0.9 |
3.2 |
.292 |
4.3 |
5.5 |
.775 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +18 | +2.8 | +8.3 | +1.5 | +1.1 | +2.6 | +1.7 | +0.9 | +1.0 | -0.4 | -0.5 | +4.0 | +5.0 | +.095 | +1.1 | +2.7 | | +1.5 | +0.3 | +.154 |
| Steve Francis |
5 |
44.6 |
19.2 |
1.2 |
7.2 |
8.4 |
7.6 |
1.4 |
0.2 |
4.2 |
3.6 |
6.0 |
14.0 |
.429 |
1.4 |
3.4 |
.412 |
5.8 |
8.0 |
.725 |
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +2 | +1.3 | +7.4 | +0.5 | +4.3 | +4.7 | +0.4 | +0.2 | +0.8 | -1.0 | -0.9 | +4.3 | +4.9 | +.099 | +0.2 | | +.128 | +1.4 | +2.1 | +.059 |
| Steve Francis |
78 |
38.2 |
21.3 |
1.6 |
4.2 |
5.8 |
7.0 |
1.4 |
0.4 |
4.1 |
3.5 |
7.2 |
17.1 |
.423 |
0.5 |
1.6 |
.299 |
6.4 |
7.8 |
.823 |
|
| 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 |
| Steve Francis |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +12 | +3.8 | +11.4 | +1.2 | +4.4 | +5.7 | +1.9 | +0.9 | +0.4 | -0.1 | -0.7 | +4.9 | +8.7 | +.061 | +0.6 | +1.2 | +.122 | +0.9 | +0.3 | +.109 |
| Steve Francis |
70 |
34.2 |
14.4 |
1.1 |
3.1 |
4.1 |
4.9 |
1.1 |
0.2 |
3.1 |
2.9 |
4.8 |
10.9 |
.435 |
0.4 |
1.2 |
.301 |
4.5 |
5.7 |
.787 |
|
| 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 |
| Steve Francis |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +30 | +12.5 | +16.8 | +0.9 | +4.7 | +5.6 | +3.7 | +0.9 | +0.6 | -0.9 | -0.4 | +7.4 | +12.4 | +.117 | +0.2 | +0.5 | +.022 | +1.6 | +1.3 | +.081 |
| Steve Francis |
44 |
28.1 |
11.3 |
0.8 |
2.8 |
3.6 |
3.9 |
0.9 |
0.3 |
2.3 |
2.9 |
3.2 |
7.8 |
.408 |
1.0 |
2.5 |
.378 |
4.0 |
4.8 |
.829 |
|
| 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 |
| Steve Francis |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +66 | +19.1 | +24.4 | +0.6 | +6.3 | +7.0 | +3.1 | +0.7 | +0.3 | -1.4 | -0.4 | +9.7 | +16.3 | +.194 | +0.9 | +1.4 | +.179 | +4.2 | +3.7 | +.351 |
| Steve Francis |
10 |
19.9 |
5.5 |
0.8 |
1.5 |
2.3 |
3.0 |
0.9 |
0.5 |
1.4 |
2.5 |
1.9 |
5.7 |
.333 |
0.4 |
1.7 |
.235 |
1.3 |
2.3 |
.565 |
|
| 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 |
| Steve Francis |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Additional Years |
* Larry Bird played 4 seasons more than Steve Francis in the NBA.
In that period—his seasons 10 to 13, from 1989 to 1992—Larry Bird played in 3 Playoffs. In those 4 extra years over Steve Francis, Larry Bird got these achievements: |
| Honors & Awards |  1 All-NBA Second Team
3 All-Star Game
|
NBA Champion