Otis Birdsong vs. Pau Gasol Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Pau Gasol and Otis Birdsong, 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.

Otis Birdsong played 12 years in the NBA, 6 less than Pau Gasol, who played 18. Otis Birdsong had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Pau Gasol had his rookie season in 2001-02. 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
Otis Birdsong 12 7 1977-78 to 1988-89
Pau Gasol 18 12 2001-02 to 2018-19

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18

Rookie Season

Otis Birdsong Pau Gasol
Season 1977-782001-02
Team Kansas City KingsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
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 %
Otis Birdsong 73 25.7 15.8 1.0 1.4 2.4 2.4 1.0 0.2 2.0 2.5 6.4 13.1 .492 - - - 3.0 4.2 .697
Pau Gasol 82 36.7 17.6 2.9 6.0 8.9 2.7 0.5 2.1 2.7 2.4 6.7 13.0 .518 0.0 0.1 .200 4.1 5.8 .709
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Otis Birdsong Pau Gasol
Season 1978-792002-03
Team Kansas City KingsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Kings Lost West 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 %
Otis Birdsong 82 34.6 21.7 2.1 2.2 4.3 3.4 1.5 0.2 2.4 3.1 9.0 17.8 .509 - - - 3.6 5.0 .725
Pau Gasol 82 36.0 19.0 2.3 6.4 8.8 2.8 0.4 1.8 2.6 2.7 6.9 13.6 .510 0.0 0.1 .100 5.1 6.9 .736
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 5 33.6 21.0 1.6 2.0 3.6 1.8 2.0 0.0 2.0 2.6 7.8 15.2 .513 - - - 5.4 7.6 .711
Pau Gasol ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Otis Birdsong Pau Gasol
Season 1979-802003-04
Team Kansas City KingsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf 1st RdGrizzlies 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 %
Otis Birdsong 82 35.2 22.7 2.1 2.0 4.0 2.5 1.7 0.3 2.2 2.8 9.5 18.9 .505 0.1 0.4 .278 3.5 5.0 .694
Pau Gasol 78 31.5 17.7 2.6 5.1 7.7 2.5 0.6 1.7 2.4 2.4 6.5 13.4 .482 0.1 0.2 .267 4.7 6.6 .714
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 3 37.3 22.0 3.7 4.0 7.7 2.3 1.3 0.0 2.0 1.7 10.0 20.7 .484 0.0 1.0 .000 2.0 4.7 .429
Pau Gasol 4 33.5 18.5 1.0 4.0 5.0 2.5 1.0 1.5 1.3 2.5 7.0 12.3 .571 0.0 0.0 - 4.5 5.0 .900

Season 4

Otis Birdsong Pau Gasol
Season 1980-812004-05
Team Kansas City KingsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf FinalsGrizzlies 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 %
Otis Birdsong 71 36.5 24.6 1.7 2.0 3.6 3.3 1.3 0.3 2.4 2.4 10.0 18.4 .544 0.1 0.5 .286 4.5 6.4 .697
Pau Gasol 56 32.0 17.8 2.3 5.0 7.3 2.4 0.7 1.7 2.4 2.6 6.4 12.4 .514 0.0 0.1 .167 5.0 6.6 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 8 29.3 15.5 1.0 1.6 2.6 3.4 1.5 0.0 2.5 1.6 7.0 12.3 .571 0.1 0.1 1.000 1.4 2.3 .611
Pau Gasol 4 33.0 21.3 3.8 3.8 7.5 2.5 0.5 1.8 1.8 3.0 9.8 20.0 .488 0.3 0.3 1.000 1.5 3.0 .500

Season 5

Otis Birdsong Pau Gasol
Season 1981-822005-06
Team New Jersey NetsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayGrizzlies 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 %
Otis Birdsong 37 27.7 14.2 0.8 1.8 2.6 3.4 0.8 0.1 1.7 2.0 6.1 13.0 .469 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 3.4 .583
Pau Gasol 80 39.2 20.4 2.4 6.5 8.9 4.6 0.6 1.9 2.9 2.3 7.5 14.9 .503 0.0 0.2 .250 5.3 7.7 .689
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 4 39.5 20.3 1.0 5.8 6.8 3.0 0.5 1.3 2.8 2.8 7.3 16.8 .433 0.0 0.3 .000 5.8 7.5 .767

Season 6

Otis Birdsong Pau Gasol
Season 1982-832006-07
Team New Jersey NetsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets 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 %
Otis Birdsong 62 30.4 15.1 0.9 1.6 2.4 3.9 1.4 0.3 1.8 2.5 6.9 13.5 .511 0.0 0.1 .333 1.3 2.3 .566
Pau Gasol 59 36.2 20.8 2.5 7.3 9.8 3.4 0.5 2.1 2.7 2.3 7.8 14.5 .538 0.1 0.2 .273 5.1 6.8 .748
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 2 18.5 6.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 4.5 1.5 0.0 0.5 1.5 3.0 8.0 .375 0.0 0.5 .000 0.5 1.0 .500
Pau Gasol ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Otis Birdsong Pau Gasol
Season 1983-842007-08
Team New Jersey NetsMemphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 69 31.4 19.8 1.1 1.4 2.5 3.9 1.2 0.2 2.5 2.6 8.4 16.6 .508 0.1 0.3 .250 2.8 4.6 .608
Pau Gasol 66 35.6 18.9 2.3 6.0 8.4 3.2 0.5 1.5 1.9 2.1 7.2 13.5 .534 0.1 0.2 .250 4.4 5.5 .807
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 11 35.2 15.2 0.6 1.7 2.4 3.7 1.8 0.1 2.0 3.5 6.5 15.5 .415 0.0 0.1 .000 2.3 4.4 .521
Pau Gasol 21 39.8 16.9 2.6 6.7 9.3 4.0 0.5 1.9 2.1 2.9 6.7 12.7 .530 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.0 .692

Season 8

Otis Birdsong Pau Gasol
Season 1984-852008-09
Team New Jersey NetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third 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 %
Otis Birdsong 56 32.9 20.6 1.1 1.6 2.6 4.1 1.5 0.1 2.1 2.6 8.8 17.3 .511 0.1 0.4 .190 2.9 4.6 .622
Pau Gasol 81 37.0 18.9 3.2 6.4 9.6 3.5 0.6 1.0 1.9 2.1 7.3 12.9 .567 0.0 0.0 .500 4.2 5.4 .781
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 23 40.5 18.3 3.0 7.9 10.8 2.5 0.8 2.0 1.9 3.0 7.0 12.0 .580 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.1 .714

Season 9

Otis Birdsong Pau Gasol
Season 1985-862009-10
Team New Jersey NetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets 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 %
Otis Birdsong 77 31.1 15.8 1.1 1.5 2.6 3.4 1.1 0.2 2.3 3.0 7.0 13.7 .513 0.1 0.3 .364 1.6 2.7 .581
Pau Gasol 65 37.0 18.3 3.7 7.6 11.3 3.4 0.6 1.7 2.2 2.3 7.0 13.0 .536 0.0 0.1 .000 4.4 5.6 .790
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 3 44.0 23.0 1.7 2.3 4.0 3.3 2.0 1.0 3.0 4.7 9.7 18.3 .527 0.0 1.0 .000 3.7 6.3 .579
Pau Gasol 23 39.7 19.6 4.0 7.1 11.1 3.5 0.4 2.1 1.9 2.7 7.2 13.3 .539 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 6.9 .759

Season 10

Otis Birdsong Pau Gasol
Season 1986-872010-11
Team New Jersey NetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 %
Otis Birdsong 7 18.1 6.3 0.4 0.6 1.0 2.4 0.4 0.0 1.3 2.3 2.7 6.0 .452 0.0 0.1 .000 0.9 1.3 .667
Pau Gasol 82 37.0 18.8 3.3 6.9 10.2 3.3 0.6 1.6 1.7 2.5 7.2 13.7 .529 0.0 0.0 .333 4.3 5.2 .823
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 10 35.8 13.1 3.2 4.6 7.8 3.8 0.4 1.7 1.7 3.3 4.7 11.2 .420 0.1 0.2 .500 3.6 4.5 .800

Season 11

Otis Birdsong Pau Gasol
Season 1987-882011-12
Team New Jersey NetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 %
Otis Birdsong 67 28.1 10.9 1.1 1.4 2.5 3.3 0.8 0.2 1.9 2.1 5.0 11.0 .458 0.1 0.4 .360 0.7 1.4 .511
Pau Gasol 65 37.4 17.4 2.8 7.6 10.4 3.6 0.6 1.4 2.2 2.0 7.1 14.1 .501 0.1 0.4 .259 3.1 4.0 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 12 37.0 12.5 3.2 6.3 9.5 3.7 0.5 2.1 1.7 3.0 5.2 11.9 .434 0.2 0.4 .400 2.0 2.4 .828

Season 12

Otis Birdsong Pau Gasol
Season 1988-892012-13
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
Otis Birdsong 13 8.3 2.8 0.3 0.7 1.0 0.7 0.2 0.1 0.9 0.8 1.4 2.8 .500 0.1 0.2 .333 0.0 0.2 .000
Pau Gasol 49 33.8 13.7 2.3 6.3 8.6 4.1 0.5 1.2 2.1 1.9 5.5 11.8 .466 0.2 0.6 .286 2.6 3.6 .702
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 3 6.7 0.7 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.3 0.3 1.0 1.0 0.3 1.7 .200 0.0 0.7 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Pau Gasol 4 36.5 14.0 1.8 9.8 11.5 6.5 0.5 0.8 3.3 1.0 6.3 13.0 .481 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.8 .545

Season 13

Otis Birdsong Pau Gasol
Season -2013-14
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
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 %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 60 31.4 17.4 2.1 7.6 9.7 3.4 0.5 1.5 2.4 2.1 7.1 14.8 .480 0.1 0.2 .286 3.1 4.2 .736
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Otis Birdsong Pau Gasol
Season -2014-15
Team -Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Bulls 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 %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 78 34.4 18.5 2.8 9.0 11.8 2.7 0.3 1.9 2.0 1.9 7.3 14.8 .494 0.2 0.3 .462 3.8 4.7 .803
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 10 31.7 14.4 1.7 7.7 9.4 3.1 0.5 2.1 2.1 1.8 5.6 11.5 .487 0.0 0.4 .000 3.2 4.2 .762

Season 15

Otis Birdsong Pau Gasol
Season -2015-16
Team -Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 72 31.8 16.5 2.2 8.9 11.0 4.1 0.6 2.0 2.3 2.1 6.5 13.8 .469 0.3 1.0 .348 3.2 4.0 .792
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Otis Birdsong Pau Gasol
Season -2016-17
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 64 25.4 12.4 1.7 6.2 7.8 2.3 0.4 1.1 1.3 1.7 4.7 9.4 .502 0.9 1.6 .538 2.0 2.9 .707
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 16 22.8 7.7 2.4 4.7 7.1 1.9 0.4 0.9 1.1 2.2 3.1 7.1 .439 0.4 1.1 .333 1.1 1.5 .708

Season 17

Otis Birdsong Pau Gasol
Season -2017-18
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 77 23.5 10.1 1.7 6.4 8.0 3.1 0.3 1.0 1.4 1.6 3.7 8.1 .458 0.6 1.6 .358 2.1 2.7 .756
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 5 18.0 6.0 0.4 4.4 4.8 2.8 0.0 0.2 1.2 1.0 2.0 4.0 .500 0.2 0.6 .333 1.8 2.0 .900

Season 18

Otis Birdsong Pau Gasol
Season -2018-19
Team -San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks
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 %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol 30 12.0 3.9 0.7 3.8 4.6 1.7 0.2 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.4 3.1 .447 0.2 0.4 .462 0.9 1.3 .700
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Pau Gasol ------- --- ----------