Complete Stats Comparison of Larry Bird and Steve Nash

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Larry Bird and Steve Nash 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, steals, blocks)		4
(points, rebounds, steals, blocks)		13
seasons
Steve Nash1
(assists)		1
(assists)		18
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, steals, blocks)		5
(points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)		12
Playoffs
Steve Nash1
(assists)		0
12
Playoffs

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Larry Bird8
stats		9
stats		1
stat
Steve Nash4
stats		5
stats		2
stats
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Larry Bird9
stats		10
stats		0
stats
Steve Nash3
stats		3
stats		3
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, steals and blocks while Steve Nash had better average in assists.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Larry Bird had better averages in points (+10.0), field goals made (+4.4), free throws made (+1.9), offensive rebounds (+1.5), defensive rebounds (+5.5), total rebounds (+7.0), steals (+1.0) and blocks (+0.7)
- Steve Nash had better averages in 3-pointers made (+0.7) and assists (+2.2)
- Larry Bird had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+0.2) and personal fouls (+0.9)
-
- Larry Bird had higher averages in field goals attempted (+8.7) and free throws attempted (+2.2)
- Steve Nash had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+1.3)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Larry Bird 24.3
+10.0
Steve Nash 14.3
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 9.6
+4.4
Steve Nash 5.2
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 19.3
+8.7
Steve Nash 10.6
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 0.7
Steve Nash 1.4
+0.7
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1.9
Steve Nash 3.2
+1.3
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 4.4
+1.9
Steve Nash 2.5
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 5.0
+2.2
Steve Nash 2.8
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 2.0
+1.5
Steve Nash 0.5
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 8.0
+5.5
Steve Nash 2.5
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 10.0
+7.0
Steve Nash 3.0
Assists
Larry Bird 6.3
Steve Nash 8.5
+2.2
Steals
Larry Bird 1.7
+1.0
Steve Nash 0.7
Blocks
Larry Bird 0.8
+0.7
Steve Nash 0.1
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 3.1
+0.2
Steve Nash 2.9
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2.5
+0.9
Steve Nash 1.6

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, steals and blocks while Steve Nash had more total assists.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Larry Bird had more points (+4,404), field goals made (+2,270), free throws made (+900), offensive rebounds (+1,114), defensive rebounds (+4,218), total rebounds (+5,332), steals (+657) and blocks (+653)
- Steve Nash played more years (+5) and games (+320), and had more 3-pointers made (+1,036) and assists (+4,640)
- Larry Bird had more personal fouls (+297)
- Steve Nash had more turnovers (+662)
- Larry Bird had more field goals attempted (+4,442) and free throws attempted (+1,087)
- Steve Nash had more 3-pointers attempted (+2,212)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Larry Bird 13
Steve Nash 18
+5
Games
Larry Bird 897
Steve Nash 1,217
+320
Points
Larry Bird 21,791
+4,404
Steve Nash 17,387
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 8,591
+2,270
Steve Nash 6,321
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 17,334
+4,442
Steve Nash 12,892
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 649
Steve Nash 1,685
+1,036
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1,727
Steve Nash 3,939
+2,212
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 3,960
+900
Steve Nash 3,060
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 4,471
+1,087
Steve Nash 3,384
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,757
+1,114
Steve Nash 643
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 7,217
+4,218
Steve Nash 2,999
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 8,974
+5,332
Steve Nash 3,642
Assists
Larry Bird 5,695
Steve Nash 10,335
+4,640
Steals
Larry Bird 1,556
+657
Steve Nash 899
Blocks
Larry Bird 755
+653
Steve Nash 102
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2,816
Steve Nash 3,478
+662
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2,279
+297
Steve Nash 1,982

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

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

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Larry Bird 49.6%
+0.6
Steve Nash 49.0%
3-Point Percentage
Larry Bird 37.6%
Steve Nash 42.8%
+5.2
Free Throw Percentage
Larry Bird 88.6%
Steve Nash 90.4%
+1.8

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, steals and blocks while Steve Nash had better average in assists.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Larry Bird had better averages in points (+6.5), field goals made (+2.7), free throws made (+2.2), offensive rebounds (+1.6), defensive rebounds (+5.1), total rebounds (+6.8), steals (+1.2) and blocks (+0.8)
- Steve Nash had better averages in 3-pointers made (+1.0) and assists (+2.3)
- Larry Bird had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.8)
- Steve Nash had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.1)
- Larry Bird had higher averages in field goals attempted (+5.6) and free throws attempted (+2.5)
- Steve Nash had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+2.2)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Larry Bird 23.8
+6.5
Steve Nash 17.3
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 8.9
+2.7
Steve Nash 6.2
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 18.8
+5.6
Steve Nash 13.2
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 0.5
Steve Nash 1.5
+1.0
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1.5
Steve Nash 3.7
+2.2
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 5.5
+2.2
Steve Nash 3.3
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 6.2
+2.5
Steve Nash 3.7
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 2.2
+1.6
Steve Nash 0.6
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 8.1
+5.1
Steve Nash 3.0
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 10.3
+6.8
Steve Nash 3.5
Assists
Larry Bird 6.5
Steve Nash 8.8
+2.3
Steals
Larry Bird 1.8
+1.2
Steve Nash 0.6
Blocks
Larry Bird 0.9
+0.8
Steve Nash 0.1
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 3.1
Steve Nash 3.2
+0.1
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2.8
+0.8
Steve Nash 2.0

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 Steve Nash.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Larry Bird played more games (+44) and had more points (+1,825), field goals made (+709), free throws made (+505), offensive rebounds (+292), defensive rebounds (+969), total rebounds (+1,261), assists (+1), steals (+230) and blocks (+131)
- Steve Nash had more 3-pointers made (+98)
- Larry Bird had more turnovers (+123) and personal fouls (+227)
-
- Larry Bird had more field goals attempted (+1,506) and free throws attempted (+572)
- Steve Nash had more 3-pointers attempted (+189)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Larry Bird 12
Steve Nash 12
Games
Larry Bird 164
+44
Steve Nash 120
Points
Larry Bird 3,897
+1,825
Steve Nash 2,072
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 1,458
+709
Steve Nash 749
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 3,090
+1,506
Steve Nash 1,584
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 80
Steve Nash 178
+98
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 249
Steve Nash 438
+189
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 901
+505
Steve Nash 396
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 1,012
+572
Steve Nash 440
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 360
+292
Steve Nash 68
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,323
+969
Steve Nash 354
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,683
+1,261
Steve Nash 422
Assists
Larry Bird 1,062
+1
Steve Nash 1,061
Steals
Larry Bird 296
+230
Steve Nash 66
Blocks
Larry Bird 145
+131
Steve Nash 14
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 506
+123
Steve Nash 383
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 466
+227
Steve Nash 239

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

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

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Larry Bird 47.2%
Steve Nash 47.3%
+0.1
3-Point Percentage
Larry Bird 32.1%
Steve Nash 40.6%
+8.5
Free Throw Percentage
Larry Bird 89.0%
Steve Nash 90.0%
+1.0
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