Rick Barry vs. Paul Pierce Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul Pierce and Rick Barry, 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.

Rick Barry played 10 years in the NBA, 9 less than Paul Pierce, who played 19. Rick Barry had the first of his seasons in 1965-66, while Paul Pierce had his rookie season in 1998-99. 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
Rick Barry 10 7 1965-66 to 1979-80
Paul Pierce 19 14 1998-99 to 2016-17

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10

Rookie Season

Rick Barry Paul Pierce
Season 1965-661998-99
Team San Francisco WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 80 37.4 25.7 - - 10.6 2.2 - - - 3.7 9.3 21.2 .439 - - - 7.1 8.3 .862
difference:+32+3.4+9.2+4.2+0.2-0.8+3.4+7.7+4.2+4.2+.149
Paul Pierce 48 34.0 16.5 2.4 4.0 6.4 2.4 1.7 1.0 2.4 2.9 5.9 13.5 .439 1.8 4.3 .412 2.9 4.1 .713
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Rick Barry nor Paul Pierce played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Rick Barry Paul Pierce
Season 1966-671999-00
Team San Francisco WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 78 40.7 35.6 - - 9.2 3.6 - - - 3.3 13.0 28.7 .451 - - - 9.7 10.9 .884
difference:+5+5.3+16.1+3.8+0.6-0.1+6.3+13.6+.009+4.8+4.7+.086
Paul Pierce 73 35.4 19.5 1.1 4.3 5.4 3.0 2.1 0.8 2.4 3.2 6.7 15.1 .442 1.3 3.8 .343 4.9 6.2 .798
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 15 40.9 34.7 - - 7.5 3.9 - - - 3.3 13.1 32.6 .403 - - - 8.5 10.5 .809
Paul Pierce DNP------ --- ----------

Note: Rick Barry didn't play in 1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1970-71 and 1971-72.

Season 3

Rick Barry Paul Pierce
Season 1972-732000-01
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 82 37.5 22.3 - - 8.9 4.9 - - - 3.0 9.0 19.9 .452 - - - 4.4 4.8 .902
difference:+0.5+3.0+2.5+1.8-0.1+0.6+1.4+.002+2.3+4.2+.157
Paul Pierce 82 38.0 25.3 1.1 5.2 6.4 3.1 1.7 0.8 3.2 3.1 8.4 18.5 .454 1.8 4.7 .383 6.7 9.0 .745
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 11 26.5 16.4 - - 4.9 2.2 - - - 3.7 5.9 14.9 .396 - - - 4.5 5.0 .909
Paul Pierce DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Rick Barry Paul Pierce
Season 1973-742001-02
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 80 36.5 25.1 1.3 5.5 6.8 6.1 2.1 0.5 - 3.3 10.0 21.8 .456 - - - 5.2 5.8 .899
difference:+2+3.8+1.0+0.3+0.4+0.1+2.9+0.2+0.5-0.4+1.4+2.3+.014+1.1+2.0+.090
Paul Pierce 82 40.3 26.1 1.0 5.9 6.9 3.2 1.9 1.0 2.9 2.9 8.6 19.5 .442 2.6 6.3 .404 6.3 7.8 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry DNP------ --- ----------
Paul Pierce 16 42.0 24.6 1.7 6.9 8.6 4.1 1.7 1.3 3.8 3.3 7.6 18.9 .403 1.9 6.5 .288 7.5 9.8 .764

Season 5

Rick Barry Paul Pierce
Season 1974-752002-03
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 80 40.4 30.6 1.2 4.6 5.7 6.2 2.9 0.4 - 2.8 12.9 27.7 .464 - - - 4.9 5.5 .904
difference:+1+1.2+4.7+0.1+1.4+1.6+1.8+1.1+0.4-0.1+4.5+7.5+.048+2.7+4.0+.102
Paul Pierce 79 39.2 25.9 1.3 6.0 7.3 4.4 1.8 0.8 3.6 2.9 8.4 20.2 .416 1.5 4.9 .302 7.6 9.5 .802
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 17 42.7 28.2 1.3 4.2 5.5 6.1 2.9 0.9 - 3.0 11.1 25.1 .444 - - - 5.9 6.5 .918
difference:+7+1.8+1.1+0.2+3.7+3.5+0.6+0.8+0.1-0.8+3.4+5.8+.045+4.2+5.2+.055
Paul Pierce 10 44.5 27.1 1.1 7.9 9.0 6.7 2.1 0.8 4.4 3.8 7.7 19.3 .399 1.6 4.5 .356 10.1 11.7 .863

Season 6

Rick Barry Paul Pierce
Season 1975-762003-04
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 81 38.5 21.0 0.9 5.2 6.1 6.1 2.5 0.3 - 2.7 8.7 20.0 .435 - - - 3.5 3.8 .923
difference:+1+0.2+2.0+0.5+0.4+1.0+0.9+0.4-0.2+1.2+1.3+.033+3.0+4.1+.104
Paul Pierce 80 38.7 23.0 0.9 5.7 6.5 5.1 1.6 0.7 3.8 2.9 7.5 18.7 .402 1.4 4.8 .299 6.5 7.9 .819
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 13 40.9 24.0 1.5 4.9 6.5 6.5 2.9 1.1 - 3.1 9.7 22.2 .436 - - - 4.6 5.2 .882
difference:+9+0.1+3.2+2.4+2.3+4.0+1.6+0.1-0.1+3.2+3.2+.094+1.9+2.6+.043
Paul Pierce 4 40.8 20.8 1.5 7.3 8.8 2.5 1.3 1.0 6.3 3.0 6.5 19.0 .342 1.3 4.3 .294 6.5 7.8 .839

Season 7

Rick Barry Paul Pierce
Season 1976-772004-05
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 79 36.8 21.8 0.9 4.4 5.3 6.0 2.2 0.7 - 2.5 8.6 19.6 .440 - - - 4.5 5.0 .916
difference:+3+0.7+0.2+0.1+1.2+1.3+1.8+0.6+0.2-0.6+1.8+4.7+.015+2.2+3.1+.094
Paul Pierce 82 36.1 21.6 1.0 5.6 6.6 4.2 1.6 0.5 2.8 3.1 6.8 14.9 .455 1.3 3.6 .370 6.7 8.1 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 10 41.5 28.4 2.5 3.4 5.9 4.7 1.7 0.7 - 3.2 12.2 26.2 .466 - - - 4.0 4.4 .909
difference:+3+1.8+5.5+1.5+3.3+1.8+0.1+0.2+0.7-0.6+5.5+12.9+.039+4.4+5.3+.041
Paul Pierce 7 39.7 22.9 1.0 6.7 7.7 4.6 1.9 1.4 2.7 2.6 6.7 13.3 .505 1.0 3.9 .259 8.4 9.7 .868

Season 8

Rick Barry Paul Pierce
Season 1977-782005-06
Team Golden State WarriorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 82 36.9 23.1 0.9 4.6 5.5 5.4 1.9 0.5 2.7 2.3 9.3 20.6 .451 - - - 4.6 5.0 .924
difference:+3+2.1+3.7+0.1+1.1+1.2+0.7+0.5+0.1-0.8-0.5+0.6+2.1+.020+3.3+5.3+.152
Paul Pierce 79 39.0 26.8 1.0 5.7 6.7 4.7 1.4 0.4 3.5 2.8 8.7 18.5 .471 1.4 4.0 .354 7.9 10.3 .772
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Rick Barry nor Paul Pierce played in the postseason in their season 8

Season 9

Rick Barry Paul Pierce
Season 1978-792006-07
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 80 32.1 13.5 0.5 3.0 3.5 6.3 1.2 0.5 2.5 2.4 5.8 12.5 .461 - - - 2.0 2.1 .947
difference:+33+4.9+11.5+0.3+2.1+2.4+2.2+0.2+0.2-0.7-0.2+2.1+5.6+.022+4.8+6.5+.151
Paul Pierce 47 37.0 25.0 0.8 5.1 5.9 4.1 1.0 0.3 3.2 2.6 7.9 18.1 .439 2.3 5.9 .389 6.8 8.6 .796
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 2 32.5 12.0 1.0 3.0 4.0 4.5 0.0 1.0 1.0 4.0 4.0 12.5 .320 - - - 4.0 4.0 1.000
Paul Pierce DNP------ --- ----------

Season 10

Rick Barry Paul Pierce
Season 1979-802007-08
Team Houston RocketsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 72 25.2 12.0 0.7 2.5 3.3 3.7 1.1 0.4 2.1 2.5 4.5 10.7 .422 1.0 3.1 .330 2.0 2.1 .935
difference:+8+10.7+7.6+2.0+1.8+0.8+0.2+0.1-0.7+1.9+3.0+.042+0.8+1.5+.062+3.1+4.0+.092
Paul Pierce 80 35.9 19.6 0.7 4.5 5.1 4.5 1.3 0.5 2.8 2.5 6.4 13.7 .464 1.8 4.6 .392 5.1 6.1 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 6 13.2 5.5 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.5 0.2 0.2 1.7 1.8 2.0 5.5 .364 0.5 2.0 .250 1.0 1.0 1.000
difference:+20+24.9+14.2+0.8+3.2+4.0+2.1+0.9+0.1-1.5-1.7+4.3+8.7+.077+1.2+2.6+.111+4.5+5.8+.198
Paul Pierce 26 38.1 19.7 0.8 4.2 5.0 4.6 1.1 0.3 3.2 3.5 6.3 14.2 .441 1.7 4.6 .361 5.5 6.8 .802

Additional Years

* Paul Pierce played 9 seasons more than Rick Barry in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 11 to 19, from 2009 to 2017—Paul Pierce played in 9 Playoffs.

In those 9 extra years over Rick Barry, Paul Pierce got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 4 All-Star Game