Nick Anderson vs. Larry Bird Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Larry Bird and Nick Anderson, 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.

Nick Anderson and Larry Bird both played 13 years in the NBA. Nick Anderson had the first of his seasons in 1989-90, 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
Nick Anderson 13 6 1989-90 to 2001-02
Larry Bird 13 12 1979-80 to 1991-92

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Nick Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1989-901979-80
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nick Anderson 81 22.0 11.5 1.3 2.6 3.9 1.5 0.9 0.4 1.7 1.7 4.6 9.3 .494 0.0 0.2 .059 2.3 3.3 .705
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 %
Nick Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Season 2

Nick Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1990-911980-81
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nick Anderson 70 28.2 14.1 1.3 4.2 5.5 1.5 1.1 0.6 1.6 2.1 5.7 12.2 .467 0.2 0.8 .293 2.5 3.7 .668
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 %
Nick Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Season 3

Nick Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1991-921981-82
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nick Anderson 60 36.7 19.9 1.6 4.8 6.4 2.7 1.6 0.6 2.1 2.2 8.0 17.4 .463 0.5 1.4 .353 3.4 5.1 .667
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 %
Nick Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Season 4

Nick Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1992-931982-83
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Nick Anderson 79 37.0 19.9 1.5 4.5 6.0 3.4 1.6 0.7 2.1 2.5 7.5 16.8 .449 1.1 3.2 .353 3.8 5.1 .741
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 %
Nick Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Season 5

Nick Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1993-941983-84
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nick Anderson 81 34.7 15.8 1.4 4.5 5.9 3.6 1.7 0.4 2.0 1.8 6.2 13.0 .478 1.2 3.9 .322 2.1 3.1 .672
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 %
Nick Anderson 3 40.0 14.3 0.7 2.7 3.3 3.3 1.7 0.7 1.7 2.7 4.3 11.3 .382 2.7 6.7 .400 3.0 4.0 .750
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

Season 6

Nick Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1994-951984-85
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost NBA FinalsCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nick Anderson 76 34.1 15.8 1.1 3.3 4.4 4.1 1.6 0.3 1.9 1.6 5.8 12.1 .476 2.4 5.7 .415 1.9 2.7 .704
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 %
Nick Anderson 21 38.8 14.2 1.0 3.8 4.8 3.1 1.6 0.5 1.4 2.3 5.1 11.4 .448 2.0 5.1 .383 2.0 3.0 .683
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

Season 7

Nick Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1995-961985-86
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nick Anderson 77 35.3 14.7 1.2 4.2 5.4 3.6 1.6 0.6 1.8 1.8 5.2 11.7 .442 2.2 5.6 .391 2.2 3.1 .692
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 %
Nick Anderson 11 38.0 14.2 1.5 3.5 5.0 1.9 1.9 0.5 1.9 2.0 5.0 11.5 .433 1.6 5.7 .286 2.5 4.1 .622
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

Season 8

Nick Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1996-971986-87
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nick Anderson 63 34.3 12.0 1.0 3.8 4.8 2.9 1.9 0.5 1.4 2.5 4.6 11.5 .397 2.3 6.4 .353 0.6 1.5 .404
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 %
Nick Anderson 5 26.0 5.6 0.6 5.2 5.8 0.6 0.6 1.8 1.2 1.6 2.4 7.2 .333 0.8 3.0 .267 0.0 0.4 .000
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

Season 9

Nick Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1997-981987-88
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nick Anderson 58 29.3 15.3 1.7 3.4 5.1 2.1 1.2 0.4 1.5 1.7 5.9 13.0 .455 1.3 3.7 .360 2.2 3.4 .638
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 %
Nick Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Season 10

Nick Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1998-991988-89
Team Orlando MagicBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nick Anderson 47 33.6 14.9 1.1 4.8 5.9 1.9 1.4 0.3 1.8 1.5 5.4 13.6 .395 2.0 5.9 .347 2.1 3.4 .611
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 %
Nick Anderson 4 37.8 20.8 1.8 5.0 6.8 2.3 2.3 0.0 2.5 3.0 7.3 19.8 .367 2.8 10.5 .262 3.5 4.8 .737
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Nick Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1999-001989-90
Team Sacramento KingsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
Nick Anderson 72 29.1 10.8 1.2 3.6 4.7 1.7 1.3 0.2 1.3 1.6 4.3 10.9 .391 1.8 5.5 .332 0.5 1.1 .487
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 %
Nick Anderson 5 26.4 7.2 0.8 2.6 3.4 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.8 1.8 2.2 6.8 .324 1.4 4.0 .350 1.4 1.6 .875
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

Season 12

Nick Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2000-011990-91
Team Sacramento KingsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Nick Anderson 21 8.0 1.8 0.1 1.0 1.2 0.6 0.5 0.2 0.3 0.6 0.7 2.7 .246 0.5 1.9 .256 0.0 0.0 -
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 %
Nick Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Season 13

Nick Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2001-021991-92
Team Memphis GrizzliesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Nick Anderson 15 14.6 4.0 0.1 2.1 2.2 0.9 0.4 0.4 0.9 1.1 1.4 5.1 .276 0.9 3.2 .271 0.3 0.6 .556
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 %
Nick Anderson ------- --- ----------
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