Larry Bird vs. Thaddeus Young Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Thaddeus Young 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, 4 less than Thaddeus Young, who played 17. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Thaddeus Young had his rookie season in 2007-08. 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
Thaddeus Young 17 10 2007-08 to 2023-24

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 Thaddeus Young
Season 1979-802007-08
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 Finals76ers 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 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
Thaddeus Young 74 21.0 8.2 1.6 2.6 4.2 0.8 1.0 0.1 0.9 1.7 3.6 6.6 .539 0.1 0.3 .316 1.0 1.4 .738
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
Thaddeus Young 6 26.7 10.2 2.5 2.0 4.5 0.7 1.2 0.0 0.7 1.2 4.0 8.3 .480 0.2 0.8 .200 2.0 2.3 .857

Season 2

Larry Bird Thaddeus Young
Season 1980-812008-09
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers 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 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
Thaddeus Young 75 34.4 15.3 1.9 3.2 5.0 1.1 1.3 0.3 1.6 2.2 6.3 12.8 .495 0.7 2.2 .341 1.9 2.5 .735
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
Thaddeus Young 6 38.2 12.0 1.5 3.0 4.5 1.3 1.0 0.2 1.3 2.8 5.2 11.7 .443 0.8 2.0 .417 0.8 1.0 .833

Season 3

Larry Bird Thaddeus Young
Season 1981-822009-10
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
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
Thaddeus Young 67 32.0 13.8 1.9 3.3 5.2 1.4 1.2 0.2 1.9 2.0 5.7 12.1 .470 0.7 2.1 .348 1.7 2.5 .691
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
Thaddeus Young ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Bird Thaddeus Young
Season 1982-832010-11
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Semis76ers 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 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
Thaddeus Young 82 26.0 12.7 1.9 3.4 5.3 1.0 1.1 0.3 1.2 2.1 5.6 10.3 .541 0.1 0.3 .273 1.5 2.1 .707
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
Thaddeus Young 5 25.4 11.4 3.4 2.4 5.8 0.8 0.8 0.2 1.4 2.6 5.0 12.0 .417 0.0 0.2 .000 1.4 2.4 .583

Season 5

Larry Bird Thaddeus Young
Season 1983-842011-12
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
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 Champion76ers 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 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
Thaddeus Young 63 27.9 12.8 2.2 3.0 5.2 1.2 1.0 0.7 0.9 2.0 5.5 10.9 .507 0.0 0.1 .250 1.8 2.3 .771
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
Thaddeus Young 13 21.3 7.7 1.9 3.3 5.2 1.2 0.5 0.5 1.2 1.9 3.0 7.0 .429 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.4 .710

Season 6

Larry Bird Thaddeus Young
Season 1984-852012-13
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
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
Thaddeus Young 76 34.6 14.8 2.4 5.1 7.5 1.6 1.8 0.7 1.2 2.5 6.7 12.6 .531 0.0 0.1 .125 1.4 2.5 .574
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
Thaddeus Young ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Larry Bird Thaddeus Young
Season 1985-862013-14
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
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
Thaddeus Young 79 34.4 17.9 2.1 3.9 6.0 2.3 2.1 0.5 2.1 2.7 7.4 16.2 .454 1.1 3.7 .308 2.1 2.9 .712
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
Thaddeus Young ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Larry Bird Thaddeus Young
Season 1986-872014-15
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsNets 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 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
Thaddeus Young 76 32.0 14.1 1.7 3.7 5.4 2.3 1.6 0.3 1.5 2.3 5.9 12.7 .466 0.5 1.5 .330 1.7 2.6 .655
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
Thaddeus Young 6 31.7 10.5 2.8 4.3 7.2 2.7 0.8 0.2 2.3 2.5 4.8 11.0 .439 0.0 0.7 .000 0.8 2.0 .417

Season 9

Larry Bird Thaddeus Young
Season 1987-882015-16
Team Boston CelticsBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First 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 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
Thaddeus Young 73 33.0 15.1 2.4 6.6 9.0 1.9 1.5 0.5 1.9 2.5 6.8 13.2 .514 0.1 0.4 .233 1.4 2.2 .644
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
Thaddeus Young ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Larry Bird Thaddeus Young
Season 1988-892016-17
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPacers 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 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
Thaddeus Young 74 30.2 11.0 1.8 4.3 6.1 1.6 1.5 0.4 1.3 1.8 4.9 9.3 .527 0.6 1.6 .381 0.6 1.2 .523
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Thaddeus Young 4 35.0 12.0 5.5 3.5 9.0 2.5 2.0 0.3 1.5 2.8 5.3 9.8 .538 0.3 1.0 .250 1.3 2.5 .500

Season 11

Larry Bird Thaddeus Young
Season 1989-902017-18
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdPacers 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 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
Thaddeus Young 81 32.2 11.8 2.3 4.0 6.3 1.9 1.7 0.4 1.3 2.2 5.2 10.7 .487 0.7 2.2 .320 0.7 1.1 .598
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
Thaddeus Young 7 33.9 11.3 3.1 4.6 7.7 1.4 1.7 0.9 1.0 3.1 5.1 8.6 .600 0.3 1.0 .286 0.7 1.9 .385

Season 12

Larry Bird Thaddeus Young
Season 1990-912018-19
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisPacers 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 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
Thaddeus Young 81 30.7 12.6 2.4 4.1 6.5 2.5 1.5 0.4 1.5 2.4 5.5 10.4 .527 0.6 1.8 .349 1.1 1.7 .644
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
Thaddeus Young 4 32.5 10.5 2.3 4.8 7.0 3.8 2.8 0.8 1.3 2.5 4.5 10.5 .429 0.5 2.0 .250 1.0 1.8 .571

Season 13

Larry Bird Thaddeus Young
Season 1991-922019-20
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
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 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
Thaddeus Young 64 24.9 10.3 1.5 3.5 4.9 1.8 1.4 0.4 1.6 2.1 4.2 9.4 .448 1.2 3.5 .356 0.7 1.1 .583
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
Thaddeus Young ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Larry Bird Thaddeus Young
Season -2020-21
Team -Chicago Bulls
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 ------- --- ----------
Thaddeus Young 68 24.3 12.1 2.5 3.8 6.2 4.3 1.1 0.6 2.0 2.2 5.4 9.7 .559 0.2 0.7 .267 1.0 1.7 .628
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Thaddeus Young ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Larry Bird Thaddeus Young
Season -2021-22
Team -San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Raptors 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 ------- --- ----------
Thaddeus Young 52 16.3 6.2 1.5 2.5 4.0 2.0 1.0 0.3 1.0 1.6 2.7 5.2 .518 0.3 0.9 .354 0.4 0.9 .469
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Thaddeus Young 6 14.5 3.3 1.2 1.8 3.0 1.7 0.8 0.2 0.5 1.3 1.5 3.0 .500 0.2 1.2 .143 0.2 0.7 .250

Season 16

Larry Bird Thaddeus Young
Season -2022-23
Team -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 ------- --- ----------
Thaddeus Young 54 14.7 4.4 1.3 1.8 3.1 1.4 1.0 0.1 0.8 1.6 2.0 3.7 .545 0.1 0.6 .176 0.3 0.5 .692
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Thaddeus Young ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Larry Bird Thaddeus Young
Season -2023-24
Team -Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Suns 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 ------- --- ----------
Thaddeus Young 33 13.3 4.2 1.4 1.7 3.1 1.7 0.7 0.2 0.5 1.5 2.0 3.3 .602 0.0 0.2 .143 0.2 0.5 .400
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Thaddeus Young 1 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -