Ray Allen vs. Larry Bird Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Larry Bird and Ray Allen, 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 / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings

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.

Ray Allen played 18 years in the NBA, 5 more than Larry Bird, who played 13. Ray Allen had the first of his seasons in 1996-97, 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 achievements, 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
Ray Allen 18 11 1996-97 to 2013-14
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

Ray Allen Larry Bird
Season 1996-971979-80
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 82 30.9 13.4 1.2 2.8 4.0 2.6 0.9 0.1 1.8 2.7 4.8 11.1 .430 1.4 3.6 .393 2.5 3.0 .823
difference:+5.1+7.9+1.4+5.0+6.4+1.9+0.8+0.5-1.4-0.7+3.7+6.7+.044+0.7+1.9+.013+1.2+1.4+.013
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen DNP------ --- ----------
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

Ray Allen Larry Bird
Season 1997-981980-81
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 82 40.1 19.5 1.5 3.4 4.9 4.3 1.4 0.1 3.2 3.0 6.9 16.0 .428 1.6 4.5 .364 4.2 4.8 .875
difference:+0.6+1.7+0.8+5.2+6.0+1.2+0.6+0.7-0.3-0.1+1.9+2.3+.050+1.4+3.6+.094+0.7+0.8+.012
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen DNP------ --- ----------
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

Ray Allen Larry Bird
Season 1998-991981-82
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 50 34.4 17.1 1.1 3.1 4.2 3.6 1.1 0.1 2.4 2.3 6.1 13.5 .450 1.5 4.2 .356 3.5 3.9 .903
difference:+27+3.6+5.8+1.5+5.2+6.7+2.2+0.8+0.8-0.9-0.9+3.1+4.9+.053+1.4+3.5+.144+0.8+1.0+.040
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 3 40.0 22.3 2.7 4.7 7.3 4.3 1.0 0.3 3.7 3.0 8.3 15.7 .532 3.0 6.3 .474 2.7 4.3 .615
difference:+9+0.8+4.5+0.1+5.1+5.2+1.3+0.9+1.1-0.5-0.6+1.0+1.5+.105+2.9+5.8+.307+0.4+0.5+.207
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

Ray Allen Larry Bird
Season 1999-001982-83
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 82 37.4 22.1 1.0 3.4 4.4 3.8 1.3 0.2 2.2 2.3 7.8 17.2 .455 2.1 5.0 .423 4.3 4.9 .887
difference:+3+0.3+1.5+1.4+5.2+6.6+2.0+0.6+0.7-0.8-0.2+1.7+1.5+.049+1.8+4.0+.137+0.1+0.4+.047
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 5 37.4 22.0 2.0 4.6 6.6 2.6 1.6 0.0 1.8 2.0 8.0 18.0 .444 2.0 5.2 .385 4.0 4.4 .909
difference:+1+2.6+1.5+1.3+4.6+5.9+4.2+0.6+0.5-1.4-0.5+0.2+1.3+.022+1.8+4.5+.135+0.4+.081
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

Ray Allen Larry Bird
Season 2000-011983-84
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 82 38.2 22.0 1.2 4.0 5.2 4.6 1.5 0.2 2.5 2.3 7.7 16.0 .480 2.5 5.7 .433 4.2 4.8 .888
difference:+3+0.1+2.2+1.1+3.8+4.9+2.0+0.3+0.7-0.5-0.2+1.9+3.5+.012+2.3+4.8+.186+0.5+0.5
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 18 42.7 25.1 1.1 3.1 4.1 6.0 1.3 0.6 2.4 2.4 8.8 18.4 .477 3.2 6.6 .479 4.4 4.8 .919
difference:+5+0.9+2.4+1.6+5.2+6.9+0.1+1.0+0.6-1.4-0.7+1.2+0.6+.047+2.9+5.9+.067+2.9+3.5+.040
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

Ray Allen Larry Bird
Season 2001-021984-85
Team Milwaukee BucksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 69 36.6 21.8 1.2 3.3 4.5 3.9 1.3 0.3 2.3 2.3 7.7 16.6 .462 3.3 7.7 .434 3.1 3.6 .873
difference:+11+2.9+6.9+0.9+5.2+6.0+2.7+0.3+0.9-0.8-0.3+3.8+5.4+.060+2.6+6.1+.007+1.9+2.1+.009
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen DNP------ --- ----------
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

Ray Allen Larry Bird
Season 2002-031985-86
Team Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 76 37.9 22.5 1.2 3.8 5.0 4.4 1.4 0.2 2.6 2.9 7.9 17.9 .439 2.6 7.0 .377 4.2 4.5 .916
difference:+6+0.1+3.3+1.1+3.7+4.8+2.4+0.6+0.4-0.6-0.7+1.8+1.7+.057+1.6+4.6+.046+1.2+1.5+.020
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen DNP------ --- ----------
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

Ray Allen Larry Bird
Season 2003-041986-87
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 56 38.4 23.0 1.2 3.9 5.1 4.8 1.3 0.2 2.8 2.4 8.0 18.2 .440 2.6 6.8 .392 4.4 4.8 .904
difference:+18+2.2+5.1+0.5+3.6+4.1+2.8+0.5+0.7-0.4-0.1+2.6+2.0+.085+1.4+3.8+.008+1.2+1.3+.006
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen DNP------ --- ----------
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

Ray Allen Larry Bird
Season 2004-051987-88
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 78 39.3 23.9 1.0 3.4 4.4 3.7 1.1 0.1 2.2 2.1 8.2 19.2 .428 2.7 7.1 .376 4.8 5.5 .883
difference:+2+0.3+6.0+0.4+4.4+4.9+2.4+0.5+0.7-0.6+3.4+2.8+.099+1.4+4.0+.038+0.7+0.5+.033
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 11 39.6 26.5 1.1 3.2 4.3 3.9 1.3 0.4 3.1 2.0 9.3 19.5 .474 2.8 7.5 .378 5.1 5.7 .889
difference:+6+5.3+2.0+0.6+3.9+4.5+2.9+0.8+0.4-0.2-0.6+0.4+0.4+.024+2.1+5.6+.003+0.8+0.9+.005
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

Ray Allen Larry Bird
Season 2005-061988-89
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 78 38.7 25.1 0.9 3.3 4.3 3.7 1.3 0.2 2.4 1.9 8.7 19.2 .454 3.4 8.4 .412 4.2 4.6 .903
difference:+72+7.2+5.8+0.7+2.7+1.9+1.1+0.3+0.6-0.6-1.1+0.5+1.9+.017+3.4+8.4+1.2+1.4+.044
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
* Neiher Ray Allen nor Larry Bird played in the postseason in their season 10

Season 11

Ray Allen Larry Bird
Season 2006-071989-90
Team Seattle SupersonicsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 55 40.3 26.4 1.0 3.5 4.5 4.1 1.5 0.2 2.8 2.1 9.2 21.0 .438 3.0 8.1 .372 5.1 5.6 .903
difference:+20+1.0+2.1+0.2+4.8+5.0+3.4+0.1+0.6-0.4-0.2+0.4+0.8+.035+2.1+5.5+.039+0.8+1.0+.027
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen DNP------ --- ----------
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

Ray Allen Larry Bird
Season 2007-081990-91
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 73 35.9 17.4 1.0 2.6 3.7 3.1 0.9 0.2 1.7 2.0 6.0 13.5 .445 2.5 6.2 .398 2.9 3.2 .907
difference:+13+2.1+2.0+0.1+5.0+4.8+4.1+0.9+0.8-1.4+1.7+3.5+.009+1.2+2.9+.009+0.2+0.1+.016
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 26 38.0 15.6 1.0 2.8 3.8 2.7 0.9 0.3 1.5 2.4 5.1 12.0 .428 2.1 5.3 .396 3.2 3.5 .913
difference:+16+1.6+1.5+0.2+3.6+3.4+3.8+0.4-0.4-0.4+1.1+3.2+.020+1.8+3.2+.253+1.2+1.6+.050
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

Ray Allen Larry Bird
Season 2008-091991-92
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 79 36.4 18.2 0.8 2.7 3.5 2.8 0.9 0.2 1.7 2.0 6.3 13.2 .480 2.5 6.2 .409 3.0 3.2 .952
difference:+34+0.5+2.0+0.2+5.9+6.1+4.0+0.5-1.1-0.2+1.5+3.6+.014+1.3+3.4+.003+0.3+0.4+.026
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ray Allen 14 40.4 18.3 0.9 3.0 3.9 2.6 1.1 0.4 1.8 2.5 5.9 14.7 .403 2.5 7.1 .350 3.9 4.1 .948
difference:+10+13.6+7.0+0.4+1.0+0.6+2.7+0.8+0.1-0.3-0.7+0.6+4.2+.097+2.5+5.8+.350+3.1+3.1+.198
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

Additional Years

* Ray Allen played 5 seasons more than Larry Bird in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 18, from 2010 to 2014—Ray Allen played in 5 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.

In those 5 extra years over Larry Bird, Ray Allen got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-Star Game