Complete Stats Comparison of Larry Bird and Julius Erving

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Larry Bird and Julius Erving 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, assists)		4
(points, rebounds, assists, steals)		13
seasons
Julius Erving2
(steals, blocks)		1
(blocks)		11
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)		4
(points, rebounds, assists, steals)		12
Playoffs
Julius Erving1
(blocks)		1
(blocks)		11
Playoffs

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		11
stats		2
stats
Julius Erving4
stats		3
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 Bird10
stats		10
stats		2
stats
Julius Erving2
stats		3
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 points, rebounds and assists while Julius Erving had better averages in steals and blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Larry Bird had better averages in points (+2.3), field goals made (+0.9), 3-pointers made (+0.6), defensive rebounds (+3.8), total rebounds (+3.3) and assists (+2.4)
- Julius Erving had better averages in free throws made (+0.2), offensive rebounds (+0.5), steals (+0.1) and blocks (+0.7)
-
- Julius Erving had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.2)
- Larry Bird had higher averages in field goals attempted (+2.2) and 3-pointers attempted (+1.6)
- Julius Erving had higher average in free throws attempted (+0.9)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Larry Bird 24.3
+2.3
Julius Erving 22.0
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 9.6
+0.9
Julius Erving 8.7
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 19.3
+2.2
Julius Erving 17.1
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 0.7
+0.6
Julius Erving 0.1
*
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1.9
+1.6
Julius Erving 0.3
*
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 4.4
Julius Erving 4.6
+0.2
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 5.0
Julius Erving 5.9
+0.9
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 2.0
Julius Erving 2.5
+0.5
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 8.0
+3.8
Julius Erving 4.2
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 10.0
+3.3
Julius Erving 6.7
Assists
Larry Bird 6.3
+2.4
Julius Erving 3.9
Steals
Larry Bird 1.7
Julius Erving 1.8
+0.1
Blocks
Larry Bird 0.8
Julius Erving 1.5
+0.7
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 3.1
Julius Erving 3.1
*
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2.5
Julius Erving 2.7
+0.2

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, assists and steals while Julius Erving had more total blocks.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Larry Bird played more years (+2) and games (+61), and had more points (+3,427), field goals made (+1,354), 3-pointers made (+603), free throws made (+116), defensive rebounds (+3,683), total rebounds (+3,373), assists (+2,471) and steals (+48)
- Julius Erving had more offensive rebounds (+310) and blocks (+538)
- Larry Bird had more turnovers (+493)
- Julius Erving had more personal fouls (+7)
- Larry Bird had more field goals attempted (+3,058) and 3-pointers attempted (+1,551)
- Julius Erving had more free throws attempted (+479)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Larry Bird 13
+2
Julius Erving 11
Games
Larry Bird 897
+61
Julius Erving 836
Points
Larry Bird 21,791
+3,427
Julius Erving 18,364
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 8,591
+1,354
Julius Erving 7,237
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 17,334
+3,058
Julius Erving 14,276
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 649
+603
Julius Erving 46
*
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1,727
+1,551
Julius Erving 176
*
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 3,960
+116
Julius Erving 3,844
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 4,471
Julius Erving 4,950
+479
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,757
Julius Erving 2,067
+310
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 7,217
+3,683
Julius Erving 3,534
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 8,974
+3,373
Julius Erving 5,601
Assists
Larry Bird 5,695
+2,471
Julius Erving 3,224
Steals
Larry Bird 1,556
+48
Julius Erving 1,508
Blocks
Larry Bird 755
Julius Erving 1,293
+538
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2,816
+493
Julius Erving 2,323
*
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2,279
Julius Erving 2,286
+7

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 Julius Erving had better field goal percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Larry Bird 49.6%
Julius Erving 50.7%
+1.1
3-Point Percentage
Larry Bird 37.6%
+11.5
Julius Erving 26.1%
*
Free Throw Percentage
Larry Bird 88.6%
+10.9
Julius Erving 77.7%

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, assists and steals while Julius Erving had better average in blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Larry Bird had better averages in points (+1.9), field goals made (+0.5), 3-pointers made (+0.4), free throws made (+0.5), defensive rebounds (+3.6), total rebounds (+3.3), assists (+2.3) and steals (+0.1)
- Julius Erving had better averages in offensive rebounds (+0.4) and blocks (+0.8)
-
- Julius Erving had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+0.1) and personal fouls (+0.1)
- Larry Bird had higher averages in field goals attempted (+1.5) and 3-pointers attempted (+1.2)
- Julius Erving had higher average in free throws attempted (+0.2)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Larry Bird 23.8
+1.9
Julius Erving 21.9
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 8.9
+0.5
Julius Erving 8.4
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 18.8
+1.5
Julius Erving 17.3
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 0.5
+0.4
Julius Erving 0.1
*
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1.5
+1.2
Julius Erving 0.3
*
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 5.5
+0.5
Julius Erving 5.0
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 6.2
Julius Erving 6.4
+0.2
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 2.2
Julius Erving 2.6
+0.4
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 8.1
+3.6
Julius Erving 4.5
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 10.3
+3.3
Julius Erving 7.0
Assists
Larry Bird 6.5
+2.3
Julius Erving 4.2
Steals
Larry Bird 1.8
+0.1
Julius Erving 1.7
Blocks
Larry Bird 0.9
Julius Erving 1.7
+0.8
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 3.1
Julius Erving 3.2
+0.1 *
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2.8
Julius Erving 2.9
+0.1

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Larry Bird had more total points, rebounds, assists and steals while Julius Erving had more total blocks.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Larry Bird played more years (+1) and games (+23), and had more points (+809), field goals made (+271), 3-pointers made (+73), free throws made (+194), defensive rebounds (+689), total rebounds (+689), assists (+468) and steals (+61)
- Julius Erving had more blocks (+94)
- Larry Bird had more turnovers (+110) and personal fouls (+63)
-
- Larry Bird had more field goals attempted (+649), 3-pointers attempted (+213) and free throws attempted (+104)
-

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Larry Bird 12
+1
Julius Erving 11
Games
Larry Bird 164
+23
Julius Erving 141
Points
Larry Bird 3,897
+809
Julius Erving 3,088
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 1,458
+271
Julius Erving 1,187
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 3,090
+649
Julius Erving 2,441
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 80
+73
Julius Erving 7
*
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 249
+213
Julius Erving 36
*
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 901
+194
Julius Erving 707
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 1,012
+104
Julius Erving 908
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 360
Julius Erving 360
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,323
+689
Julius Erving 634
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,683
+689
Julius Erving 994
Assists
Larry Bird 1,062
+468
Julius Erving 594
Steals
Larry Bird 296
+61
Julius Erving 235
Blocks
Larry Bird 145
Julius Erving 239
+94
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 506
+110
Julius Erving 396
*
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 466
+63
Julius Erving 403

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 Julius Erving had better field goal percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Larry Bird 47.2%
Julius Erving 48.6%
+1.4
3-Point Percentage
Larry Bird 32.1%
+12.7
Julius Erving 19.4%
*
Free Throw Percentage
Larry Bird 89.0%
+11.1
Julius Erving 77.9%
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