Paul Arizin vs. Otis Birdsong Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Otis Birdsong and Paul Arizin, 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.

Paul Arizin played 10 years in the NBA, 2 less than Otis Birdsong, who played 12. Paul Arizin had the first of his seasons in 1950-51, while Otis Birdsong had his rookie season in 1977-78. 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
Paul Arizin 10 8 1950-51 to 1961-62
Otis Birdsong 12 7 1977-78 to 1988-89

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Paul Arizin Otis Birdsong
Season 1950-511977-78
Team Philadelphia WarriorsKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Paul Arizin 65 - 17.2 - - 9.8 2.1 - - - 4.4 5.4 13.3 .407 - - - 6.4 8.1 .793
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Paul Arizin 2 - 20.5 - - 10.0 1.5 - - - 5.0 7.0 13.5 .519 - - - 6.5 8.0 .813
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Paul Arizin Otis Birdsong
Season 1951-521978-79
Team Philadelphia WarriorsKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisKings 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 %
Paul Arizin 66 44.5 25.4 - - 11.3 2.6 - - - 3.8 8.3 18.5 .448 - - - 8.8 10.7 .818
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Paul Arizin 3 40.0 25.7 - - 12.7 2.7 - - - 5.7 8.0 17.7 .453 - - - 9.7 11.0 .879
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

Note: Paul Arizin didn't play in 1952-53 and 1953-54.

Season 3

Paul Arizin Otis Birdsong
Season 1954-551979-80
Team Philadelphia WarriorsKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayKings 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 %
Paul Arizin 72 41.0 21.0 - - 9.4 2.9 - - - 3.8 7.3 18.4 .399 - - - 6.3 8.1 .776
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Paul Arizin ------- --- ----------
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

Season 4

Paul Arizin Otis Birdsong
Season 1955-561980-81
Team Philadelphia WarriorsKansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKings 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 %
Paul Arizin 72 37.8 24.2 - - 7.5 2.6 - - - 3.9 8.6 19.1 .448 - - - 7.0 8.7 .810
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Paul Arizin 10 40.9 28.9 - - 8.4 2.9 - - - 3.1 10.3 22.9 .450 - - - 8.3 9.9 .838
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

Season 5

Paul Arizin Otis Birdsong
Season 1956-571981-82
Team Philadelphia WarriorsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Paul Arizin 71 39.0 25.6 - - 7.9 2.1 - - - 3.9 8.6 20.4 .422 - - - 8.3 10.0 .829
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Paul Arizin 2 11.0 4.5 - - 4.0 0.5 - - - 1.5 1.5 4.0 .375 - - - 1.5 2.5 .600
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Paul Arizin Otis Birdsong
Season 1957-581982-83
Team Philadelphia WarriorsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div FinalsNets 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 %
Paul Arizin 68 35.0 20.7 - - 7.4 2.0 - - - 3.5 7.1 18.1 .393 - - - 6.5 8.0 .809
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Paul Arizin 8 38.6 23.5 - - 7.8 2.0 - - - 3.3 8.3 21.1 .391 - - - 7.0 9.0 .778
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

Season 7

Paul Arizin Otis Birdsong
Season 1958-591983-84
Team Philadelphia WarriorsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets 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 %
Paul Arizin 70 40.0 26.4 - - 9.1 1.7 - - - 3.8 9.0 20.9 .431 - - - 8.4 10.3 .813
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Paul Arizin ------- --- ----------
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

Season 8

Paul Arizin Otis Birdsong
Season 1959-601984-85
Team Philadelphia WarriorsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Paul Arizin 72 36.4 22.3 - - 8.6 2.3 - - - 3.7 8.2 19.4 .424 - - - 5.8 7.3 .798
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Paul Arizin 9 41.2 26.3 - - 9.6 3.7 - - - 3.2 9.3 21.7 .431 - - - 7.7 8.8 .873
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Paul Arizin Otis Birdsong
Season 1960-611985-86
Team Philadelphia WarriorsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisNets 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 %
Paul Arizin 79 37.2 23.2 - - 8.6 2.4 - - - 4.2 8.2 19.4 .425 - - - 6.7 8.1 .833
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Paul Arizin 3 41.7 22.3 - - 8.7 4.0 - - - 5.7 7.3 22.3 .328 - - - 7.7 11.0 .697
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

Season 10

Paul Arizin Otis Birdsong
Season 1961-621986-87
Team Philadelphia WarriorsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Paul Arizin 78 35.7 21.9 - - 6.8 2.6 - - - 3.9 7.8 19.1 .410 - - - 6.2 7.7 .805
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Paul Arizin 12 38.3 23.2 - - 6.7 2.2 - - - 3.7 7.9 21.1 .375 - - - 7.3 8.5 .863
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Paul Arizin Otis Birdsong
Season -1987-88
Team -New Jersey Nets
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 %
Paul Arizin ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Paul Arizin ------- --- ----------
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Paul Arizin Otis Birdsong
Season -1988-89
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
Paul Arizin ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Paul Arizin ------- --- ----------
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 -