Larry Bird vs. Wayman Tisdale Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Wayman Tisdale 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 / Games against each other

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 Wayman Tisdale, who played 12. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Wayman Tisdale had his rookie season in 1985-86. 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
Wayman Tisdale 12 4 1985-86 to 1996-97

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Wayman Tisdale
Season 1979-801985-86
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement 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
Wayman Tisdale 81 28.1 14.7 2.4 4.9 7.2 1.0 0.4 0.5 2.3 3.6 6.4 12.4 .515 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.9 .684
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
Wayman Tisdale ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Wayman Tisdale
Season 1980-811986-87
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers 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
Wayman Tisdale 81 26.7 14.5 2.7 3.2 5.9 1.4 0.6 0.3 1.7 3.6 5.7 11.0 .513 0.0 0.0 .000 3.2 4.5 .709
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
Wayman Tisdale 4 27.0 12.8 1.3 2.8 4.0 2.3 0.3 0.0 1.3 4.3 4.8 7.8 .613 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 5.8 .565

Season 3

Larry Bird Wayman Tisdale
Season 1981-821987-88
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
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
Wayman Tisdale 79 30.1 16.1 2.1 4.1 6.2 1.3 0.7 0.4 1.8 3.5 6.5 12.6 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 4.0 .783
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
Wayman Tisdale ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Bird Wayman Tisdale
Season 1982-831988-89
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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
Wayman Tisdale 79 30.8 17.5 2.4 5.3 7.7 1.6 0.7 0.7 2.2 3.7 6.7 13.1 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 4.0 5.2 .773
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
Wayman Tisdale ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Larry Bird Wayman Tisdale
Season 1983-841989-90
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
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
Wayman Tisdale 79 37.2 22.3 2.3 5.2 7.5 1.4 0.7 0.7 1.9 3.2 9.2 17.5 .525 0.0 0.1 .000 3.9 4.9 .783
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
Wayman Tisdale ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Larry Bird Wayman Tisdale
Season 1984-851990-91
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
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
Wayman Tisdale 33 33.8 20.0 2.3 5.4 7.7 2.0 0.7 0.8 2.5 3.0 7.9 16.4 .483 0.0 0.0 .000 4.1 5.2 .800
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
Wayman Tisdale ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Larry Bird Wayman Tisdale
Season 1985-861991-92
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
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
Wayman Tisdale 72 35.0 16.6 1.9 4.6 6.5 1.5 0.8 1.1 1.7 3.4 7.3 14.5 .500 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 2.8 .763
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
Wayman Tisdale ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Larry Bird Wayman Tisdale
Season 1986-871992-93
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards 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 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
Wayman Tisdale 76 30.0 16.6 1.7 4.9 6.6 1.4 0.7 0.6 1.5 3.6 7.2 14.1 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.0 .758
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
Wayman Tisdale ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Larry Bird Wayman Tisdale
Season 1987-881993-94
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
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
Wayman Tisdale 79 32.4 16.7 2.0 5.1 7.1 1.8 0.5 0.7 1.6 3.7 7.0 13.9 .501 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.4 .808
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
Wayman Tisdale ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Larry Bird Wayman Tisdale
Season 1988-891994-95
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 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
Wayman Tisdale 65 19.6 10.0 1.3 2.5 3.8 0.7 0.4 0.4 1.0 2.9 4.3 8.8 .484 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.9 .770
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Wayman Tisdale 10 17.0 7.3 0.6 2.4 3.0 1.1 0.0 0.4 0.6 3.2 3.2 7.1 .451 0.0 0.1 .000 0.9 1.4 .643

Season 11

Larry Bird Wayman Tisdale
Season 1989-901995-96
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdSuns 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
Wayman Tisdale 63 18.3 10.7 0.9 2.5 3.4 0.9 0.2 0.6 1.0 3.0 4.4 9.0 .495 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.4 .765
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
Wayman Tisdale 4 16.8 5.3 0.8 0.3 1.0 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.3 1.8 2.5 7.5 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.5 .500

Season 12

Larry Bird Wayman Tisdale
Season 1990-911996-97
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisSuns 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 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
Wayman Tisdale 53 14.7 6.5 0.7 1.6 2.3 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.7 2.1 3.0 7.0 .426 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.9 .625
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
Wayman Tisdale 4 9.3 3.0 0.5 1.3 1.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.3 1.5 3.8 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 13

Larry Bird Wayman Tisdale
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
Wayman Tisdale ------- --- ----------
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
Wayman Tisdale ------- --- ----------