Complete Stats Comparison of Larry Bird and Arvydas Sabonis

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Larry Bird and Arvydas Sabonis 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 / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings

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
Larry Bird4
(points, rebounds, assists, steals)		5
(points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)		13
seasons
Arvydas Sabonis1
(blocks)		0
7
seasons
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Larry Bird4
(points, rebounds, assists, steals)		5
(points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)		12
Playoffs
Arvydas Sabonis0
0
7
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
Larry Bird10
stats		12
stats		2
stats
Arvydas Sabonis2
stats		2
stats		1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Larry Bird10
stats		12
stats		3
stats
Arvydas Sabonis1
stat		2
stats		0
stats
they are tied1
stat

- "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, rebounds, assists and steals while Arvydas Sabonis had better average in blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Larry Bird had better averages in points (+12.3), field goals made (+5.2), 3-pointers made (+0.4), free throws made (+1.6), offensive rebounds (+0.4), defensive rebounds (+2.3), total rebounds (+2.7), assists (+4.2) and steals (+0.9)
- Arvydas Sabonis had better average in blocks (+0.3)
- Larry Bird had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+1.3)
- Arvydas Sabonis had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.2)
- Larry Bird had higher averages in field goals attempted (+10.4), 3-pointers attempted (+1.0) and free throws attempted (+1.4)
-

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Larry Bird 24.3
+12.3
Arvydas Sabonis 12.0
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 9.6
+5.2
Arvydas Sabonis 4.4
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 19.3
+10.4
Arvydas Sabonis 8.9
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 0.7
+0.4
Arvydas Sabonis 0.3
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1.9
+1.0
Arvydas Sabonis 0.9
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 4.4
+1.6
Arvydas Sabonis 2.8
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 5.0
+1.4
Arvydas Sabonis 3.6
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 2.0
+0.4
Arvydas Sabonis 1.6
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 8.0
+2.3
Arvydas Sabonis 5.7
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 10.0
+2.7
Arvydas Sabonis 7.3
Assists
Larry Bird 6.3
+4.2
Arvydas Sabonis 2.1
Steals
Larry Bird 1.7
+0.9
Arvydas Sabonis 0.8
Blocks
Larry Bird 0.8
Arvydas Sabonis 1.1
+0.3
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 3.1
+1.3
Arvydas Sabonis 1.8
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2.5
Arvydas Sabonis 2.7
+0.2

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Larry Bird had more total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks than Arvydas Sabonis.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Larry Bird played more years (+6) and games (+427), and had more points (+16,162), field goals made (+6,509), 3-pointers made (+513), free throws made (+2,631), offensive rebounds (+1,023), defensive rebounds (+4,515), total rebounds (+5,538), assists (+4,731), steals (+1,186) and blocks (+261)
-
- Larry Bird had more turnovers (+1,979) and personal fouls (+989)
-
- Larry Bird had more field goals attempted (+13,174), 3-pointers attempted (+1,312) and free throws attempted (+2,781)
-

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Larry Bird 13
+6
Arvydas Sabonis 7
Games
Larry Bird 897
+427
Arvydas Sabonis 470
Points
Larry Bird 21,791
+16,162
Arvydas Sabonis 5,629
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 8,591
+6,509
Arvydas Sabonis 2,082
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 17,334
+13,174
Arvydas Sabonis 4,160
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 649
+513
Arvydas Sabonis 136
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1,727
+1,312
Arvydas Sabonis 415
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 3,960
+2,631
Arvydas Sabonis 1,329
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 4,471
+2,781
Arvydas Sabonis 1,690
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,757
+1,023
Arvydas Sabonis 734
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 7,217
+4,515
Arvydas Sabonis 2,702
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 8,974
+5,538
Arvydas Sabonis 3,436
Assists
Larry Bird 5,695
+4,731
Arvydas Sabonis 964
Steals
Larry Bird 1,556
+1,186
Arvydas Sabonis 370
Blocks
Larry Bird 755
+261
Arvydas Sabonis 494
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2,816
+1,979
Arvydas Sabonis 837
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2,279
+989
Arvydas Sabonis 1,290

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 Arvydas Sabonis had better field goal percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Larry Bird 49.6%
Arvydas Sabonis 50.0%
+0.4
3-Point Percentage
Larry Bird 37.6%
+4.8
Arvydas Sabonis 32.8%
Free Throw Percentage
Larry Bird 88.6%
+10.0
Arvydas Sabonis 78.6%

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Larry Bird had better averages in points, rebounds, assists and steals than Arvydas Sabonis. They are tied in blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Larry Bird had better averages in points (+11.7), field goals made (+4.5), 3-pointers made (+0.2), free throws made (+2.4), offensive rebounds (+0.8), defensive rebounds (+2.1), total rebounds (+2.9), assists (+4.6) and steals (+0.9)
-
- Larry Bird had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+1.5)
- Arvydas Sabonis had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.6)
- Larry Bird had higher averages in field goals attempted (+9.2), 3-pointers attempted (+0.6) and free throws attempted (+2.3)
-

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Larry Bird 23.8
+11.7
Arvydas Sabonis 12.1
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 8.9
+4.5
Arvydas Sabonis 4.4
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 18.8
+9.2
Arvydas Sabonis 9.6
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 0.5
+0.2
Arvydas Sabonis 0.3
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1.5
+0.6
Arvydas Sabonis 0.9
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 5.5
+2.4
Arvydas Sabonis 3.1
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 6.2
+2.3
Arvydas Sabonis 3.9
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 2.2
+0.8
Arvydas Sabonis 1.4
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 8.1
+2.1
Arvydas Sabonis 6.0
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 10.3
+2.9
Arvydas Sabonis 7.4
Assists
Larry Bird 6.5
+4.6
Arvydas Sabonis 1.9
Steals
Larry Bird 1.8
+0.9
Arvydas Sabonis 0.9
Blocks
Larry Bird 0.9
Arvydas Sabonis 0.9
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 3.1
+1.5
Arvydas Sabonis 1.6
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2.8
Arvydas Sabonis 3.4
+0.6

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 Arvydas Sabonis.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Larry Bird played more years (+5) and games (+113), and had more points (+3,280), field goals made (+1,236), 3-pointers made (+65), free throws made (+743), offensive rebounds (+288), defensive rebounds (+1,017), total rebounds (+1,305), assists (+965), steals (+248) and blocks (+97)
-
- Larry Bird had more turnovers (+424) and personal fouls (+291)
-
- Larry Bird had more field goals attempted (+2,599), 3-pointers attempted (+202) and free throws attempted (+815)
-

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Larry Bird 12
+5
Arvydas Sabonis 7
Games
Larry Bird 164
+113
Arvydas Sabonis 51
Points
Larry Bird 3,897
+3,280
Arvydas Sabonis 617
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 1,458
+1,236
Arvydas Sabonis 222
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 3,090
+2,599
Arvydas Sabonis 491
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 80
+65
Arvydas Sabonis 15
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 249
+202
Arvydas Sabonis 47
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 901
+743
Arvydas Sabonis 158
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 1,012
+815
Arvydas Sabonis 197
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 360
+288
Arvydas Sabonis 72
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,323
+1,017
Arvydas Sabonis 306
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,683
+1,305
Arvydas Sabonis 378
Assists
Larry Bird 1,062
+965
Arvydas Sabonis 97
Steals
Larry Bird 296
+248
Arvydas Sabonis 48
Blocks
Larry Bird 145
+97
Arvydas Sabonis 48
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 506
+424
Arvydas Sabonis 82
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 466
+291
Arvydas Sabonis 175

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Larry Bird had better field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and free throw percentage than Arvydas Sabonis.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Larry Bird 47.2%
+2.0
Arvydas Sabonis 45.2%
3-Point Percentage
Larry Bird 32.1%
+0.2
Arvydas Sabonis 31.9%
Free Throw Percentage
Larry Bird 89.0%
+8.8
Arvydas Sabonis 80.2%
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