Mel Bennett vs. Larry Bird Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Larry Bird and Mel Bennett, 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.
Mel Bennett played 4 years in the NBA, 9 less than Larry Bird, who played 13. Mel Bennett had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Larry Bird had his rookie season in 1979-80. 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 |
Mel Bennett |
4 |
0 |
1976-77 to 1981-82 |
Larry Bird |
13 |
12 |
1979-80 to 1991-92 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
67 |
13.6 |
4.7 |
1.6 |
1.9 |
3.5 |
1.0 |
0.6 |
0.5 |
- |
2.3 |
1.5 |
4.4 |
.344 |
- |
- |
- |
1.7 |
2.8 |
.599 |
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 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
31 |
9.2 |
2.4 |
1.6 |
1.4 |
3.0 |
0.7 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
1.0 |
1.7 |
0.7 |
2.6 |
.284 |
- |
- |
- |
0.9 |
1.5 |
.622 |
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 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
Note: Mel Bennett didn't play in 1978-79 and 1979-80.
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
28 |
11.2 |
3.8 |
1.2 |
2.1 |
3.3 |
0.5 |
0.1 |
0.4 |
1.1 |
2.0 |
0.9 |
2.1 |
.433 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
.000 |
1.9 |
2.9 |
.654 |
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 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
3 |
7.7 |
1.7 |
0.3 |
0.7 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
0.0 |
1.3 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
1.3 |
.500 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
0.3 |
2.0 |
.167 |
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 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Larry Bird |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
more >>
Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |
|
Playoffs Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO |
PF |
FGM / A |
% |
3PM / A |
% |
FTM / A |
% |
Mel Bennett |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 |