Complete Stats Comparison of Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas 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
(points, rebounds, blocks)		3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		13
seasons
Isiah Thomas2
(assists, steals)		2
(assists, steals)		13
seasons
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Larry Bird3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		5
(points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)		12
Playoffs
Isiah Thomas2
(assists, steals)		0
9
Playoffs

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		9
stats		3
stats
Isiah Thomas2
stats		4
stats		0
stats
they are tied1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Larry Bird9
stats		11
stats		2
stats
Isiah Thomas3
stats		3
stats		1
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 and blocks while Isiah Thomas had better averages in assists and steals.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Larry Bird had better averages in points (+5.1), field goals made (+2.3), 3-pointers made (+0.3), free throws made (+0.3), offensive rebounds (+1.0), defensive rebounds (+5.4), total rebounds (+6.4) and blocks (+0.5)
- Isiah Thomas had better averages in assists (+3.0) and steals (+0.2)
-
- Isiah Thomas had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+0.7) and personal fouls (+0.5)
- Larry Bird had higher averages in field goals attempted (+3.1) and 3-pointers attempted (+0.5)
- Isiah Thomas had higher average in free throws attempted (+0.4)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Larry Bird 24.3
+5.1
Isiah Thomas 19.2
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 9.6
+2.3
Isiah Thomas 7.3
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 19.3
+3.1
Isiah Thomas 16.2
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 0.7
+0.3
Isiah Thomas 0.4
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1.9
+0.5
Isiah Thomas 1.4
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 4.4
+0.3
Isiah Thomas 4.1
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 5.0
Isiah Thomas 5.4
+0.4
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 2.0
+1.0
Isiah Thomas 1.0
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 8.0
+5.4
Isiah Thomas 2.6
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 10.0
+6.4
Isiah Thomas 3.6
Assists
Larry Bird 6.3
Isiah Thomas 9.3
+3.0
Steals
Larry Bird 1.7
Isiah Thomas 1.9
+0.2
Blocks
Larry Bird 0.8
+0.5
Isiah Thomas 0.3
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 3.1
Isiah Thomas 3.8
+0.7
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2.5
Isiah Thomas 3.0
+0.5

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

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

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Larry Bird had more points (+2,969), field goals made (+1,397), 3-pointers made (+251), offensive rebounds (+806), defensive rebounds (+4,690), total rebounds (+5,496) and blocks (+506)
- Isiah Thomas played more games (+82) and had more free throws made (+76), assists (+3,366) and steals (+305)
-
- Isiah Thomas had more turnovers (+866) and personal fouls (+692)
- Larry Bird had more field goals attempted (+1,430) and 3-pointers attempted (+354)
- Isiah Thomas had more free throws attempted (+845)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Larry Bird 13
Isiah Thomas 13
Games
Larry Bird 897
Isiah Thomas 979
+82
Points
Larry Bird 21,791
+2,969
Isiah Thomas 18,822
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 8,591
+1,397
Isiah Thomas 7,194
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 17,334
+1,430
Isiah Thomas 15,904
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 649
+251
Isiah Thomas 398
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1,727
+354
Isiah Thomas 1,373
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 3,960
Isiah Thomas 4,036
+76
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 4,471
Isiah Thomas 5,316
+845
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,757
+806
Isiah Thomas 951
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 7,217
+4,690
Isiah Thomas 2,527
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 8,974
+5,496
Isiah Thomas 3,478
Assists
Larry Bird 5,695
Isiah Thomas 9,061
+3,366
Steals
Larry Bird 1,556
Isiah Thomas 1,861
+305
Blocks
Larry Bird 755
+506
Isiah Thomas 249
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2,816
Isiah Thomas 3,682
+866
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2,279
Isiah Thomas 2,971
+692

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Larry Bird had better field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and free throw percentage than Isiah Thomas.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Larry Bird 49.6%
+4.4
Isiah Thomas 45.2%
3-Point Percentage
Larry Bird 37.6%
+8.6
Isiah Thomas 29.0%
Free Throw Percentage
Larry Bird 88.6%
+12.7
Isiah Thomas 75.9%

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, rebounds and blocks while Isiah Thomas had better averages in assists and steals.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Larry Bird had better averages in points (+3.4), field goals made (+1.5), free throws made (+0.7), offensive rebounds (+1.0), defensive rebounds (+4.6), total rebounds (+5.6) and blocks (+0.6)
- Isiah Thomas had better averages in 3-pointers made (+0.2), assists (+2.4) and steals (+0.3)
-
- Isiah Thomas had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+0.2) and personal fouls (+0.5)
- Larry Bird had higher average in field goals attempted (+2.0)
- Isiah Thomas had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+0.6)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Larry Bird 23.8
+3.4
Isiah Thomas 20.4
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 8.9
+1.5
Isiah Thomas 7.4
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 18.8
+2.0
Isiah Thomas 16.8
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 0.5
Isiah Thomas 0.7
+0.2
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1.5
Isiah Thomas 2.1
+0.6
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 5.5
+0.7
Isiah Thomas 4.8
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 6.2
Isiah Thomas 6.2
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 2.2
+1.0
Isiah Thomas 1.2
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 8.1
+4.6
Isiah Thomas 3.5
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 10.3
+5.6
Isiah Thomas 4.7
Assists
Larry Bird 6.5
Isiah Thomas 8.9
+2.4
Steals
Larry Bird 1.8
Isiah Thomas 2.1
+0.3
Blocks
Larry Bird 0.9
+0.6
Isiah Thomas 0.3
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 3.1
Isiah Thomas 3.3
+0.2
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2.8
Isiah Thomas 3.3
+0.5

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 Isiah Thomas.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Larry Bird played more years (+3) and games (+53), and had more points (+1,636), field goals made (+633), free throws made (+371), offensive rebounds (+226), defensive rebounds (+933), total rebounds (+1,159), assists (+75), steals (+62) and blocks (+107)
- Isiah Thomas had more 3-pointers made (+1)
- Larry Bird had more turnovers (+137) and personal fouls (+103)
-
- Larry Bird had more field goals attempted (+1,221), 3-pointers attempted (+15) and free throws attempted (+323)
-

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Larry Bird 12
+3
Isiah Thomas 9
Games
Larry Bird 164
+53
Isiah Thomas 111
Points
Larry Bird 3,897
+1,636
Isiah Thomas 2,261
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 1,458
+633
Isiah Thomas 825
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 3,090
+1,221
Isiah Thomas 1,869
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 80
Isiah Thomas 81
+1
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 249
+15
Isiah Thomas 234
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 901
+371
Isiah Thomas 530
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 1,012
+323
Isiah Thomas 689
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 360
+226
Isiah Thomas 134
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,323
+933
Isiah Thomas 390
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,683
+1,159
Isiah Thomas 524
Assists
Larry Bird 1,062
+75
Isiah Thomas 987
Steals
Larry Bird 296
+62
Isiah Thomas 234
Blocks
Larry Bird 145
+107
Isiah Thomas 38
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 506
+137
Isiah Thomas 369
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 466
+103
Isiah Thomas 363

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

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

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Larry Bird 47.2%
+3.1
Isiah Thomas 44.1%
3-Point Percentage
Larry Bird 32.1%
Isiah Thomas 34.6%
+2.5
Free Throw Percentage
Larry Bird 89.0%
+12.1
Isiah Thomas 76.9%
Share: