Larry Bird vs. Arvydas Sabonis: NBA Rankings Comparison

The ultimate statistical showdown: compare Larry Bird and Arvydas Sabonis all-time NBA rankings. Explore their historical standing across total and per-game stats, regular season and playoffs. Who ranks higher?

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings

This in-depth analysis goes beyond basic career numbers to provide an unparalleled look at where Larry Bird, with a career spanning 13 seasons from 1980 to 1992, and Arvydas Sabonis, with 7 seasons played from 1996 to 2003, stand among the league's historical elite.

Dive into a meticulous breakdown of their positions in every major statistical category—from scoring and rebounding to assists, steals, and blocks—across both regular season and their entire playoff careers. Our comprehensive tables offer side-by-side rankings, value comparisons, and key differences, ensuring you have all the definitive data to assess their historical impact.

First, review a concise summary of how they rank in NBA history in the main categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks) for both total and per-game stats, and below, you can then explore in detail all their stats and their historical rankings.

Larry Bird vs. Arvydas Sabonis
Total Stats, Rankings Summary

Career Totals
Season Playoffs
Larry Bird Arvydas Sabonis Larry Bird Arvydas Sabonis
Points
40th
+300th
13th
+300th
Rebounds
59th
+300th
11th
279th
Assists
49th
+300th
9th
+300th
Steals
42nd
+300th
8th
+300th
Blocks
168th
292nd
41st
190th
Years137127

Larry Bird vs. Arvydas Sabonis
Per Game Stats, Rankings Summary

Career Per Game
Season Playoffs
Larry Bird Arvydas Sabonis Larry Bird Arvydas Sabonis
Points
23rd
+300th
41st
+300th
Rebounds
55th
210th
50th
188th
Assists
51st
+300th
40th
+300th
Steals
39th
+300th
25th
+300th
Blocks
228th
155th
195th
169th

Comparisons on this page:

Their rankings for:
Season Totals - Playoffs Totals /
Season Per Game - Playoffs Per Game

Note: per game rankings include players with a minimum of games played

Career Totals,
Regular Season Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Larry Bird Arvydas Sabonis Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points
40th
+300th
+260 21,791 vs. 5,62916,162
Rebounds
59th
+300th
+241 8,974 vs. 3,4365,538
Assists
49th
+300th
+251 5,695 vs. 9644,731
Steals
42nd
+300th
+258 1,556 vs. 3701,186
Blocks
168th
292nd
124 755 vs. 494261
Offensive Rebounds
159th
+300th
+141 1,757 vs. 7341,023
Defensive Rebounds
28th
+300th
+272 7,217 vs. 2,7024,515
Field Goals Made
30th
+300th
+270 8,591 vs. 2,0826,509
Field Goals Attempted
39th
+300th
+261 17,334 vs. 4,16013,174
3-Pointers Made
+300th
+300th
649 vs. 136513
3-Pointers Attempted
+300th
+300th
1,727 vs. 4151,312
Free Throws Made
84th
+300th
+216 3,960 vs. 1,3292,631
Free Throws Attempted
119th
+300th
+181 4,471 vs. 1,6902,781

Games and Years:

Larry Bird Arvydas Sabonis Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Games Played
275th
+300th
897 vs. 470427
Seasons
300th
+300th
13 vs. 76

Rankings by Points Scored:

Larry Bird Arvydas Sabonis Rk Diff. Values Diff.
40+ point games
24th
-
47 vs. 047
50+ point games
30th
-
4 vs. 04
60+ point games
11th
-
1 vs. 01
70+ point games
-
-
0 vs. 00

Career Totals,
Playoffs Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Larry Bird Arvydas Sabonis Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points
13th
+300th
+287 3,897 vs. 6173,280
Rebounds
11th
279th
268 1,683 vs. 3781,305
Assists
9th
+300th
+291 1,062 vs. 97965
Steals
8th
+300th
+292 296 vs. 48248
Blocks
41st
190th
149 145 vs. 4897
Offensive Rebounds
22nd
+300th
+278 360 vs. 72288
Defensive Rebounds
5th
197th
192 1,323 vs. 3061,017
Field Goals Made
12th
+300th
+288 1,458 vs. 2221,236
Field Goals Attempted
13th
+300th
+287 3,090 vs. 4912,599
3-Pointers Made
162nd
+300th
+138 80 vs. 1565
3-Pointers Attempted
140th
+300th
+160 249 vs. 47202
Free Throws Made
14th
+300th
+286 901 vs. 158743
Free Throws Attempted
22nd
+300th
+278 1,012 vs. 197815

Games and Years:

Larry Bird Arvydas Sabonis Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Games Played
36th
+300th
164 vs. 51113
Playoffs
76th
+300th
12 vs. 75

Rankings by Points Scored:

Larry Bird Arvydas Sabonis Rk Diff. Values Diff.
40+ point games
28th
-
5 vs. 05
50+ point games
-
-
0 vs. 00

Career Per Game Averages,
Regular Season Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Larry Bird Arvydas Sabonis Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points per game
23rd
+300th
+277 24.29 vs. 11.9812.32
Rebounds per game
55th
210th
155 10.00 vs. 7.312.69
Assists per game
51st
+300th
+249 6.35 vs. 2.054.30
Steals per game
39th
+300th
+261 1.73 vs. 0.790.95
Blocks per game
228th
155th
73 0.84 vs. 1.050.21
Offensive Rebounds per game
230th
+300th
+70 1.96 vs. 1.560.40
Defensive Rebounds per game
11th
94th
83 8.05 vs. 5.752.30
Field Goals Made per game
9th
+300th
+291 9.58 vs. 4.435.15
Field Goals Attempted per game
17th
+300th
+283 19.32 vs. 8.8510.47
3-Pointers Made per game
+300th
+300th
0.72 vs. 0.290.43
3-Pointers Attempted per game
+300th
+300th
1.93 vs. 0.881.04
Free Throws Made per game
90th
+300th
+210 4.41 vs. 2.831.59
Free Throws Attempted per game
139th
+300th
+161 4.98 vs. 3.601.39

Career Per Game Averages,
Playoffs Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Larry Bird Arvydas Sabonis Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points per game
41st
+300th
+259 23.76 vs. 12.1011.66
Rebounds per game
50th
188th
138 10.26 vs. 7.412.85
Assists per game
40th
+300th
+260 6.48 vs. 1.904.57
Steals per game
25th
+300th
+275 1.80 vs. 0.940.86
Blocks per game
195th
169th
26 0.88 vs. 0.940.06
Offensive Rebounds per game
172nd
+300th
+128 2.20 vs. 1.410.78
Defensive Rebounds per game
19th
92nd
73 8.07 vs. 6.002.07
Field Goals Made per game
37th
+300th
+263 8.89 vs. 4.354.54
Field Goals Attempted per game
47th
+300th
+253 18.84 vs. 9.639.21
3-Pointers Made per game
+300th
+300th
0.49 vs. 0.290.19
3-Pointers Attempted per game
+300th
+300th
1.52 vs. 0.920.60
Free Throws Made per game
56th
+300th
+244 5.49 vs. 3.102.40
Free Throws Attempted per game
93rd
+300th
+207 6.17 vs. 3.862.31

Note: the per game rankings on this page respect the minimums usually applied by the NBA for all-time leaders, this is 400 games for regular season stats unless the player reached these thresholds before: 10,000 points; 4,000 rebounds; 2,000 assists; 625 steals; 500 blocks; 250 3-pointers made. Also a minimum of 3 games is applied here for the Playoffs.