Larry Bird vs. Tim Hardaway Jr. Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Tim Hardaway Jr. 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, 2 more than Tim Hardaway Jr., who played 11. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Tim Hardaway Jr. 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 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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 11 5 2013-14 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1979-802013-14
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
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 >>
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 81 23.1 10.2 0.2 1.3 1.5 0.8 0.5 0.1 0.6 1.8 3.6 8.5 .428 1.6 4.4 .363 1.3 1.6 .828
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1980-812014-15
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 70 24.0 11.5 0.2 2.1 2.2 1.8 0.3 0.2 1.2 1.7 4.0 10.2 .389 1.7 5.1 .342 1.8 2.2 .801
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Larry Bird Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1981-822015-16
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
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 FinalsHawks 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 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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 51 16.9 6.4 0.1 1.5 1.7 1.0 0.4 0.1 0.5 0.9 2.2 5.2 .430 0.9 2.8 .336 1.0 1.1 .893
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 9 9.7 2.2 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.8 2.9 .269 0.2 1.6 .143 0.4 0.7 .667

Season 4

Larry Bird Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1982-832016-17
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisHawks 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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 79 27.3 14.5 0.4 2.4 2.8 2.3 0.7 0.2 1.3 1.3 5.3 11.5 .455 1.9 5.3 .357 2.1 2.7 .766
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 6 33.3 12.8 0.5 2.2 2.7 1.2 0.5 0.0 1.7 2.2 4.5 13.7 .329 1.8 7.0 .262 2.0 3.2 .632

Season 5

Larry Bird Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1983-842017-18
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 57 33.1 17.5 0.6 3.4 3.9 2.7 1.1 0.2 1.6 2.2 6.3 15.0 .421 2.3 7.2 .317 2.6 3.1 .816
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Larry Bird Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1984-852018-19
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks, Dallas 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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 65 31.6 18.1 0.5 2.9 3.4 2.4 0.8 0.1 1.6 2.2 6.0 15.3 .393 2.5 7.3 .340 3.6 4.2 .841
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Larry Bird Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1985-862019-20
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 ChampionMavericks 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 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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 71 29.5 15.8 0.4 2.9 3.3 1.9 0.6 0.1 1.0 1.8 5.4 12.5 .434 2.9 7.2 .398 2.1 2.6 .819
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 6 34.0 17.8 0.5 3.0 3.5 1.8 0.3 0.0 0.5 2.7 6.7 15.8 .421 3.2 9.0 .352 1.3 1.8 .727

Season 8

Larry Bird Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1986-872020-21
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsMavericks 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 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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 70 28.4 16.6 0.3 3.0 3.3 1.8 0.4 0.2 0.9 1.6 5.8 13.0 .447 3.0 7.6 .391 2.0 2.5 .816
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 7 37.4 17.0 0.7 2.6 3.3 1.4 0.4 0.0 0.9 2.4 6.0 14.4 .416 3.3 8.1 .404 1.7 2.3 .750

Season 9

Larry Bird Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1987-882021-22
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 42 29.6 14.2 0.3 3.4 3.7 2.2 0.9 0.1 0.8 1.8 5.0 12.6 .394 2.4 7.2 .336 1.9 2.5 .757
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Larry Bird Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1988-892022-23
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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 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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 71 30.3 14.4 0.3 3.2 3.5 1.8 0.7 0.2 0.8 1.7 4.8 11.9 .401 3.0 7.7 .385 1.8 2.3 .770
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Larry Bird Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1989-902023-24
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdMavericks TBD
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 79 26.8 14.4 0.3 2.9 3.2 1.8 0.5 0.1 0.9 1.3 5.0 12.4 .402 2.7 7.6 .353 1.8 2.1 .852
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. 2 11.0 3.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 3.0 .333 0.5 1.5 .333 0.5 1.0 .500

Season 12

Larry Bird Tim Hardaway Jr.
Season 1990-91-
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 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
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Larry Bird Tim Hardaway Jr.
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------
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
Tim Hardaway Jr. ------- --- ----------