Complete Stats Comparison of Larry Bird and George Gervin

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Larry Bird and George Gervin 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
Larry Bird3
(rebounds, assists, steals)		5
(points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)		13
seasons
George Gervin1
(points)		0
10
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
Larry Bird3
(rebounds, assists, steals)		5
(points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)		12
Playoffs
George Gervin1
(points)		0
9
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 Bird7
stats		12
stats		2
stats
George Gervin4
stats		2
stats		1
stat
they are tied1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Larry Bird8
stats		12
stats		2
stats
George Gervin3
stats		2
stats		1
stat
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...

Notes: Turnovers started to be recorded in 1977-78. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80.
(*) = some years in his career don't have the stat.

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 rebounds, assists and steals while George Gervin had better average in points. They are tied in blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Larry Bird had better averages in 3-pointers made (+0.6), offensive rebounds (+0.5), defensive rebounds (+4.9), total rebounds (+5.4), assists (+3.5) and steals (+0.5)
- George Gervin had better averages in points (+1.9), field goals made (+0.6) and free throws made (+1.3)
- Larry Bird had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.1)
- George Gervin had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.4)
- Larry Bird had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+1.4)
- George Gervin had higher averages in field goals attempted (+0.6) and free throws attempted (+1.8)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Larry Bird 24.3
George Gervin 26.2
+1.9
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 9.6
George Gervin 10.2
+0.6
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 19.3
George Gervin 19.9
+0.6
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 0.7
+0.6
George Gervin 0.1
*
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1.9
+1.4
George Gervin 0.5
*
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 4.4
George Gervin 5.7
+1.3
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 5.0
George Gervin 6.8
+1.8
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 2.0
+0.5
George Gervin 1.5
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 8.0
+4.9
George Gervin 3.1
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 10.0
+5.4
George Gervin 4.6
Assists
Larry Bird 6.3
+3.5
George Gervin 2.8
Steals
Larry Bird 1.7
+0.5
George Gervin 1.2
Blocks
Larry Bird 0.8
George Gervin 0.8
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 3.1
+0.1
George Gervin 3.0
*
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2.5
George Gervin 2.9
+0.4

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 George Gervin.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Larry Bird played more years (+3) and games (+106), and had more points (+1,083), field goals made (+546), 3-pointers made (+572), offensive rebounds (+571), defensive rebounds (+4,796), total rebounds (+5,367), assists (+3,481), steals (+615) and blocks (+85)
- George Gervin had more free throws made (+581)
- Larry Bird had more turnovers (+679)
- George Gervin had more personal fouls (+52)
- Larry Bird had more field goals attempted (+1,587) and 3-pointers attempted (+1,468)
- George Gervin had more free throws attempted (+912)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Larry Bird 13
+3
George Gervin 10
Games
Larry Bird 897
+106
George Gervin 791
Points
Larry Bird 21,791
+1,083
George Gervin 20,708
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 8,591
+546
George Gervin 8,045
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 17,334
+1,587
George Gervin 15,747
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 649
+572
George Gervin 77
*
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1,727
+1,468
George Gervin 259
*
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 3,960
George Gervin 4,541
+581
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 4,471
George Gervin 5,383
+912
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,757
+571
George Gervin 1,186
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 7,217
+4,796
George Gervin 2,421
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 8,974
+5,367
George Gervin 3,607
Assists
Larry Bird 5,695
+3,481
George Gervin 2,214
Steals
Larry Bird 1,556
+615
George Gervin 941
Blocks
Larry Bird 755
+85
George Gervin 670
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2,816
+679
George Gervin 2,137
*
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2,279
George Gervin 2,331
+52

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 George Gervin had better field goal percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Larry Bird 49.6%
George Gervin 51.1%
+1.5
3-Point Percentage
Larry Bird 37.6%
+7.9
George Gervin 29.7%
*
Free Throw Percentage
Larry Bird 88.6%
+4.2
George Gervin 84.4%

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 rebounds, assists and steals while George Gervin had better average in points. They are tied in blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Larry Bird had better averages in 3-pointers made (+0.5), offensive rebounds (+0.3), defensive rebounds (+4.2), total rebounds (+4.5), assists (+3.3) and steals (+0.6)
- George Gervin had better averages in points (+3.2), field goals made (+1.6) and free throws made (+0.4)
-
- George Gervin had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+0.2) and personal fouls (+0.7)
- Larry Bird had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+1.1)
- George Gervin had higher averages in field goals attempted (+2.0) and free throws attempted (+1.0)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Larry Bird 23.8
George Gervin 27.0
+3.2
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 8.9
George Gervin 10.5
+1.6
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 18.8
George Gervin 20.8
+2.0
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 0.5
+0.5
George Gervin 0.0
*
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1.5
+1.1
George Gervin 0.4
*
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 5.5
George Gervin 5.9
+0.4
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 6.2
George Gervin 7.2
+1.0
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 2.2
+0.3
George Gervin 1.9
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 8.1
+4.2
George Gervin 3.9
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 10.3
+4.5
George Gervin 5.8
Assists
Larry Bird 6.5
+3.3
George Gervin 3.2
Steals
Larry Bird 1.8
+0.6
George Gervin 1.2
Blocks
Larry Bird 0.9
George Gervin 0.9
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 3.1
George Gervin 3.3
+0.2 *
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2.8
George Gervin 3.5
+0.7

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 George Gervin.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Larry Bird played more years (+3) and games (+105), and had more points (+2,305), field goals made (+836), 3-pointers made (+80), free throws made (+553), offensive rebounds (+250), defensive rebounds (+1,092), total rebounds (+1,342), assists (+876), steals (+227) and blocks (+94)
-
- Larry Bird had more turnovers (+319) and personal fouls (+259)
-
- Larry Bird had more field goals attempted (+1,865), 3-pointers attempted (+236) and free throws attempted (+588)
-

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Larry Bird 12
+3
George Gervin 9
Games
Larry Bird 164
+105
George Gervin 59
Points
Larry Bird 3,897
+2,305
George Gervin 1,592
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 1,458
+836
George Gervin 622
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 3,090
+1,865
George Gervin 1,225
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 80
+80
George Gervin 0
*
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 249
+236
George Gervin 13
*
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 901
+553
George Gervin 348
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 1,012
+588
George Gervin 424
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 360
+250
George Gervin 110
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,323
+1,092
George Gervin 231
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,683
+1,342
George Gervin 341
Assists
Larry Bird 1,062
+876
George Gervin 186
Steals
Larry Bird 296
+227
George Gervin 69
Blocks
Larry Bird 145
+94
George Gervin 51
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 506
+319
George Gervin 187
*
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 466
+259
George Gervin 207

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 George Gervin had better field goal percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Larry Bird 47.2%
George Gervin 50.8%
+3.6
3-Point Percentage
Larry Bird 32.1%
+32.1
George Gervin 0.0%
*
Free Throw Percentage
Larry Bird 89.0%
+6.9
George Gervin 82.1%
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