Otis Birdsong vs. Steve Nash Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Steve Nash 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 Steve Nash, who played 18. Otis Birdsong had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Steve Nash had his rookie season in 1996-97. 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
Steve Nash 18 12 1996-97 to 2013-14

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 Steve Nash
Season 1977-781996-97
Team Kansas City KingsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 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
Steve Nash 65 10.5 3.3 0.2 0.7 1.0 2.1 0.3 0.0 1.0 1.4 1.1 2.7 .423 0.4 0.8 .418 0.6 0.8 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Steve Nash 4 3.8 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 1.3 0.5 2.3 .222 0.3 1.0 .250 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Otis Birdsong Steve Nash
Season 1978-791997-98
Team Kansas City KingsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Kings Lost West 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 %
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
Steve Nash 76 21.9 9.1 0.4 1.7 2.1 3.4 0.8 0.1 1.3 1.9 3.5 7.7 .459 1.1 2.6 .415 1.0 1.1 .860
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
Steve Nash 4 12.8 5.5 0.5 2.0 2.5 1.8 0.5 0.0 0.8 1.8 2.0 4.5 .444 0.3 1.3 .200 1.3 2.0 .625

Season 3

Otis Birdsong Steve Nash
Season 1979-801998-99
Team Kansas City KingsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Kings Lost West 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 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
Steve Nash 40 31.7 7.9 0.8 2.1 2.9 5.5 0.9 0.1 2.1 2.5 2.9 7.9 .363 1.2 3.3 .374 1.0 1.2 .826
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
Steve Nash ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Otis Birdsong Steve Nash
Season 1980-811999-00
Team Kansas City KingsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Kings Lost West 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 %
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
Steve Nash 56 27.4 8.6 0.6 1.6 2.2 4.9 0.7 0.1 1.8 2.2 3.1 6.5 .477 1.1 2.7 .403 1.3 1.5 .882
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
Steve Nash ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Otis Birdsong Steve Nash
Season 1981-822000-01
Team New Jersey NetsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks 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 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
Steve Nash 70 34.1 15.6 0.7 2.5 3.2 7.3 1.0 0.1 2.9 2.3 5.5 11.3 .487 1.3 3.1 .406 3.3 3.7 .895
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Steve Nash 10 37.0 13.6 0.6 2.6 3.2 6.4 0.6 0.1 2.5 1.9 4.5 10.8 .417 1.6 3.9 .410 3.0 3.4 .882

Season 6

Otis Birdsong Steve Nash
Season 1982-832001-02
Team New Jersey NetsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdMavericks 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 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
Steve Nash 82 34.6 17.9 0.6 2.5 3.1 7.7 0.6 0.0 2.8 2.0 6.4 13.3 .483 1.9 4.2 .455 3.2 3.6 .887
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
Steve Nash 8 40.5 19.5 0.9 3.1 4.0 8.8 0.5 0.0 3.8 2.5 6.4 14.8 .432 2.5 5.6 .444 4.3 4.4 .971

Season 7

Otis Birdsong Steve Nash
Season 1983-842002-03
Team New Jersey NetsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisMavericks 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 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
Steve Nash 82 33.1 17.7 0.8 2.1 2.9 7.3 1.0 0.1 2.3 1.6 6.3 13.6 .465 1.4 3.3 .413 3.8 4.1 .909
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
Steve Nash 20 36.4 16.1 0.8 2.8 3.5 7.3 0.9 0.1 2.6 2.4 5.8 12.9 .447 1.9 3.8 .487 2.8 3.2 .873

Season 8

Otis Birdsong Steve Nash
Season 1984-852003-04
Team New Jersey NetsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks 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 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
Steve Nash 78 33.5 14.5 0.8 2.2 3.0 8.8 0.9 0.1 2.7 1.8 5.1 10.8 .470 1.3 3.3 .405 2.9 3.2 .916
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Steve Nash 5 39.2 13.6 1.2 4.0 5.2 9.0 0.8 0.0 2.4 2.8 5.4 14.0 .386 1.2 3.2 .375 1.6 1.8 .889

Season 9

Otis Birdsong Steve Nash
Season 1985-862004-05
Team New Jersey NetsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdSuns 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 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
Steve Nash 75 34.3 15.5 0.8 2.6 3.3 11.5 1.0 0.1 3.3 1.8 5.7 11.4 .502 1.3 2.9 .431 2.8 3.2 .887
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
Steve Nash 15 40.7 23.9 0.6 4.2 4.8 11.3 0.9 0.2 4.7 2.4 9.3 17.9 .520 1.4 3.6 .389 3.8 4.1 .919

Season 10

Otis Birdsong Steve Nash
Season 1986-872005-06
Team New Jersey NetsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns 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 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
Steve Nash 79 35.4 18.8 0.6 3.6 4.2 10.5 0.8 0.2 3.5 1.5 6.8 13.4 .512 1.9 4.3 .439 3.3 3.5 .921
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Steve Nash 20 39.9 20.4 0.5 3.2 3.7 10.2 0.4 0.3 3.4 1.9 7.3 14.6 .502 1.6 4.4 .368 4.2 4.6 .912

Season 11

Otis Birdsong Steve Nash
Season 1987-882006-07
Team New Jersey NetsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
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
Steve Nash 76 35.3 18.6 0.4 3.1 3.5 11.6 0.8 0.1 3.8 1.5 6.8 12.8 .532 2.1 4.5 .455 2.9 3.3 .899
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Steve Nash 11 37.5 18.9 0.4 2.8 3.2 13.3 0.4 0.1 4.4 1.9 6.7 14.5 .463 1.7 3.5 .487 3.7 4.2 .891

Season 12

Otis Birdsong Steve Nash
Season 1988-892007-08
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 %
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
Steve Nash 81 34.3 16.9 0.3 3.1 3.5 11.1 0.7 0.1 3.6 1.4 6.0 11.9 .504 2.2 4.7 .470 2.7 3.0 .906
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 -
Steve Nash 5 36.6 16.2 0.2 2.6 2.8 7.8 0.4 0.2 2.4 2.0 6.4 14.0 .457 1.2 4.0 .300 2.2 2.4 .917

Season 13

Otis Birdsong Steve Nash
Season -2008-09
Team -Phoenix Suns
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 ------- --- ----------
Steve Nash 74 33.6 15.7 0.3 2.8 3.0 9.7 0.7 0.1 3.4 1.5 5.8 11.5 .503 1.5 3.3 .439 2.6 2.8 .933
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Steve Nash ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Otis Birdsong Steve Nash
Season -2009-10
Team -Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Suns 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 ------- --- ----------
Steve Nash 81 32.8 16.5 0.4 2.9 3.3 11.0 0.5 0.1 3.6 1.3 6.2 12.2 .507 1.5 3.6 .426 2.6 2.8 .938
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Steve Nash 16 33.7 17.8 0.4 2.9 3.3 10.1 0.3 0.1 3.8 1.3 6.2 11.9 .518 1.2 3.1 .380 4.2 4.7 .893

Season 15

Otis Birdsong Steve Nash
Season -2010-11
Team -Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards -Achievement Assists Leader
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 ------- --- ----------
Steve Nash 75 33.3 14.7 0.5 2.9 3.5 11.4 0.6 0.1 3.5 1.2 5.3 10.8 .492 1.1 2.7 .395 3.0 3.3 .912
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Steve Nash ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Otis Birdsong Steve Nash
Season -2011-12
Team -Phoenix Suns
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 ------- --- ----------
Steve Nash 62 31.6 12.5 0.4 2.6 3.0 10.7 0.6 0.1 3.7 0.9 4.8 9.0 .532 0.9 2.3 .390 2.0 2.3 .894
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Steve Nash ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Otis Birdsong Steve Nash
Season -2012-13
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Lakers 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 ------- --- ----------
Steve Nash 50 32.5 12.7 0.5 2.3 2.8 6.7 0.6 0.1 2.5 1.4 4.7 9.5 .497 1.1 2.6 .438 2.1 2.3 .922
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Steve Nash 2 30.5 12.5 1.0 1.5 2.5 4.5 0.0 0.0 1.5 1.0 5.0 11.5 .435 0.0 1.5 .000 2.5 2.5 1.000

Season 18

Otis Birdsong Steve Nash
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 ------- --- ----------
Steve Nash 15 20.9 6.8 0.3 1.7 1.9 5.7 0.5 0.1 2.1 1.2 2.4 6.3 .383 0.5 1.6 .333 1.5 1.6 .917
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Steve Nash ------- --- ----------