Complete Stats Comparison of Charles Barkley and Larry Bird

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Charles Barkley and Larry Bird during their NBA careers. First we show you a summary of who had better numbers on each statistical category and then we compare in detail the performance of each of these stars in the regular season and the Playoffs, both in total stats and averages per game.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Stats / Stats Rankings / Games against each other

This in-depth comparison includes all the numbers, if you prefer a simplified version of this analysis with only the basic statistics, you will find it at the career comparison of these two NBA stars.

On this page we compare:

Who has better stats? Main stats / All stats
Regular Season: Averages / Totals / Pecentages
Playoffs: Averages / Totals / Pecentages

Main Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Charles Barkley1
(rebounds)		4
(points, rebounds, steals, blocks)		16
seasons
Larry Bird3
(points, assists, steals)		1
(assists)		13
seasons
they are tied1
(blocks)
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Charles Barkley1
(rebounds)		0
13
Playoffs
Larry Bird3
(points, assists, steals)		5
(points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)		12
Playoffs
they are tied1
(blocks)

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Charles Barkley3
stats		9
stats		1
stat
Larry Bird7
stats		5
stats		2
stats
they are tied2
stats
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Charles Barkley5
stats		4
stats		1
stat
Larry Bird5
stats		10
stats		2
stats
they are tied2
stats

- "Better Career Total" includes games and years played as stats.

- For turnovers and personal fouls, lower numbers are better.

- Field goal, free-throw and three-point attempts are not included on these tables since it can't be said that higher is better.

Now, lets compare all their stats in detail, one by one...

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, Larry Bird had better averages in points, assists and steals while Charles Barkley had better average in rebounds. They are tied in blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Charles Barkley had better averages in free throws made (+1.5), offensive rebounds (+2.0) and total rebounds (+1.7)
- Larry Bird had better averages in points (+2.2), field goals made (+1.7), 3-pointers made (+0.2), defensive rebounds (+0.3), assists (+2.4) and steals (+0.2)
- Charles Barkley had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.6)
-
- Charles Barkley had higher average in free throws attempted (+3.1)
- Larry Bird had higher average in field goals attempted (+4.8)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Charles Barkley 22.1
Larry Bird 24.3
+2.2
Field Goals Made
Charles Barkley 7.9
Larry Bird 9.6
+1.7
Field Goals Attempted
Charles Barkley 14.5
Larry Bird 19.3
+4.8
3-Pointers Made
Charles Barkley 0.5
Larry Bird 0.7
+0.2
3-Pointers Attempted
Charles Barkley 1.9
Larry Bird 1.9
Free Throws Made
Charles Barkley 5.9
+1.5
Larry Bird 4.4
Free Throws Attempted
Charles Barkley 8.1
+3.1
Larry Bird 5.0
Offensive Rebounds
Charles Barkley 4.0
+2.0
Larry Bird 2.0
Defensive Rebounds
Charles Barkley 7.7
Larry Bird 8.0
+0.3
Total Rebounds
Charles Barkley 11.7
+1.7
Larry Bird 10.0
Assists
Charles Barkley 3.9
Larry Bird 6.3
+2.4
Steals
Charles Barkley 1.5
Larry Bird 1.7
+0.2
Blocks
Charles Barkley 0.8
Larry Bird 0.8
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Charles Barkley 3.1
Larry Bird 3.1
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Charles Barkley 3.1
+0.6
Larry Bird 2.5

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, Charles Barkley had more total points, rebounds, steals and blocks while Larry Bird had more total assists.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Charles Barkley played more years (+3) and games (+176), and had more points (+1,966), free throws made (+2,389), offensive rebounds (+2,503), defensive rebounds (+1,069), total rebounds (+3,572), steals (+92) and blocks (+133)
- Larry Bird had more field goals made (+156), 3-pointers made (+111) and assists (+1,480)
- Charles Barkley had more turnovers (+560) and personal fouls (+1,008)
-
- Charles Barkley had more 3-pointers attempted (+293) and free throws attempted (+4,172)
- Larry Bird had more field goals attempted (+1,729)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Charles Barkley 16
+3
Larry Bird 13
Games
Charles Barkley 1,073
+176
Larry Bird 897
Points
Charles Barkley 23,757
+1,966
Larry Bird 21,791
Field Goals Made
Charles Barkley 8,435
Larry Bird 8,591
+156
Field Goals Attempted
Charles Barkley 15,605
Larry Bird 17,334
+1,729
3-Pointers Made
Charles Barkley 538
Larry Bird 649
+111
3-Pointers Attempted
Charles Barkley 2,020
+293
Larry Bird 1,727
Free Throws Made
Charles Barkley 6,349
+2,389
Larry Bird 3,960
Free Throws Attempted
Charles Barkley 8,643
+4,172
Larry Bird 4,471
Offensive Rebounds
Charles Barkley 4,260
+2,503
Larry Bird 1,757
Defensive Rebounds
Charles Barkley 8,286
+1,069
Larry Bird 7,217
Total Rebounds
Charles Barkley 12,546
+3,572
Larry Bird 8,974
Assists
Charles Barkley 4,215
Larry Bird 5,695
+1,480
Steals
Charles Barkley 1,648
+92
Larry Bird 1,556
Blocks
Charles Barkley 888
+133
Larry Bird 755
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Charles Barkley 3,376
+560
Larry Bird 2,816
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Charles Barkley 3,287
+1,008
Larry Bird 2,279

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Larry Bird had better 3-point percentage and free throw percentage while Charles Barkley had better field goal percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Charles Barkley 54.1%
+4.5
Larry Bird 49.6%
3-Point Percentage
Charles Barkley 26.6%
Larry Bird 37.6%
+11.0
Free Throw Percentage
Charles Barkley 73.5%
Larry Bird 88.6%
+15.1

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Larry Bird had better averages in points, assists and steals while Charles Barkley had better average in rebounds. They are tied in blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Charles Barkley had better averages in free throws made (+0.6), offensive rebounds (+1.9), defensive rebounds (+0.6) and total rebounds (+2.6)
- Larry Bird had better averages in points (+0.8), field goals made (+0.7), assists (+2.6) and steals (+0.2)
- Charles Barkley had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.5)
- Larry Bird had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.2)
- Charles Barkley had higher averages in 3-pointers attempted (+0.5) and free throws attempted (+2.3)
- Larry Bird had higher average in field goals attempted (+2.8)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Charles Barkley 23.0
Larry Bird 23.8
+0.8
Field Goals Made
Charles Barkley 8.2
Larry Bird 8.9
+0.7
Field Goals Attempted
Charles Barkley 16.0
Larry Bird 18.8
+2.8
3-Pointers Made
Charles Barkley 0.5
Larry Bird 0.5
3-Pointers Attempted
Charles Barkley 2.0
+0.5
Larry Bird 1.5
Free Throws Made
Charles Barkley 6.1
+0.6
Larry Bird 5.5
Free Throws Attempted
Charles Barkley 8.5
+2.3
Larry Bird 6.2
Offensive Rebounds
Charles Barkley 4.1
+1.9
Larry Bird 2.2
Defensive Rebounds
Charles Barkley 8.7
+0.6
Larry Bird 8.1
Total Rebounds
Charles Barkley 12.9
+2.6
Larry Bird 10.3
Assists
Charles Barkley 3.9
Larry Bird 6.5
+2.6
Steals
Charles Barkley 1.6
Larry Bird 1.8
+0.2
Blocks
Charles Barkley 0.9
Larry Bird 0.9
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Charles Barkley 2.9
Larry Bird 3.1
+0.2
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Charles Barkley 3.3
+0.5
Larry Bird 2.8

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Larry Bird had more total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks than Charles Barkley.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Charles Barkley played more years (+1) and had more offensive rebounds (+150)
- Larry Bird played more games (+41) and had more points (+1,064), field goals made (+449), 3-pointers made (+16), free throws made (+150), defensive rebounds (+251), total rebounds (+101), assists (+580), steals (+103) and blocks (+37)
-
- Larry Bird had more turnovers (+153) and personal fouls (+58)
- Charles Barkley had more 3-pointers attempted (+2) and free throws attempted (+36)
- Larry Bird had more field goals attempted (+1,125)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Charles Barkley 13
+1
Larry Bird 12
Games
Charles Barkley 123
Larry Bird 164
+41
Points
Charles Barkley 2,833
Larry Bird 3,897
+1,064
Field Goals Made
Charles Barkley 1,009
Larry Bird 1,458
+449
Field Goals Attempted
Charles Barkley 1,965
Larry Bird 3,090
+1,125
3-Pointers Made
Charles Barkley 64
Larry Bird 80
+16
3-Pointers Attempted
Charles Barkley 251
+2
Larry Bird 249
Free Throws Made
Charles Barkley 751
Larry Bird 901
+150
Free Throws Attempted
Charles Barkley 1,048
+36
Larry Bird 1,012
Offensive Rebounds
Charles Barkley 510
+150
Larry Bird 360
Defensive Rebounds
Charles Barkley 1,072
Larry Bird 1,323
+251
Total Rebounds
Charles Barkley 1,582
Larry Bird 1,683
+101
Assists
Charles Barkley 482
Larry Bird 1,062
+580
Steals
Charles Barkley 193
Larry Bird 296
+103
Blocks
Charles Barkley 108
Larry Bird 145
+37
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Charles Barkley 353
Larry Bird 506
+153
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Charles Barkley 408
Larry Bird 466
+58

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Larry Bird had better 3-point percentage and free throw percentage while Charles Barkley had better field goal percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Charles Barkley 51.3%
+4.1
Larry Bird 47.2%
3-Point Percentage
Charles Barkley 25.5%
Larry Bird 32.1%
+6.6
Free Throw Percentage
Charles Barkley 71.7%
Larry Bird 89.0%
+17.3
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