Complete Stats Comparison of Larry Bird and Tim Duncan

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Larry Bird and Tim Duncan 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 Bird3
(points, assists, steals)		2
(assists, steals)		13
seasons
Tim Duncan2
(rebounds, blocks)		3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		19
seasons
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Larry Bird3
(points, assists, steals)		2
(assists, steals)		12
Playoffs
Tim Duncan2
(rebounds, blocks)		3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		18
Playoffs

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Larry Bird6
stats		5
stats		2
stats
Tim Duncan6
stats		9
stats		1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Larry Bird6
stats		5
stats		2
stats
Tim Duncan5
stats		9
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...

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, assists and steals while Tim Duncan had better averages in rebounds and blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Larry Bird had better averages in points (+5.3), field goals made (+2.2), 3-pointers made (+0.7), free throws made (+0.2), assists (+3.3) and steals (+1.0)
- Tim Duncan had better averages in offensive rebounds (+0.8), defensive rebounds (+0.1), total rebounds (+0.8) and blocks (+1.4)
- Larry Bird had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+0.7) and personal fouls (+0.1)
-
- Larry Bird had higher averages in field goals attempted (+4.7) and 3-pointers attempted (+1.8)
- Tim Duncan had higher average in free throws attempted (+1.1)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Larry Bird 24.3
+5.3
Tim Duncan 19.0
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 9.6
+2.2
Tim Duncan 7.4
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 19.3
+4.7
Tim Duncan 14.6
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 0.7
+0.7
Tim Duncan 0.0
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1.9
+1.8
Tim Duncan 0.1
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 4.4
+0.2
Tim Duncan 4.2
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 5.0
Tim Duncan 6.1
+1.1
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 2.0
Tim Duncan 2.8
+0.8
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 8.0
Tim Duncan 8.1
+0.1
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 10.0
Tim Duncan 10.8
+0.8
Assists
Larry Bird 6.3
+3.3
Tim Duncan 3.0
Steals
Larry Bird 1.7
+1.0
Tim Duncan 0.7
Blocks
Larry Bird 0.8
Tim Duncan 2.2
+1.4
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 3.1
+0.7
Tim Duncan 2.4
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2.5
+0.1
Tim Duncan 2.4

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

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

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Larry Bird had more 3-pointers made (+619), assists (+1,470) and steals (+531)
- Tim Duncan played more years (+6) and games (+495), and had more points (+4,705), field goals made (+1,694), free throws made (+1,936), offensive rebounds (+2,102), defensive rebounds (+4,015), total rebounds (+6,117) and blocks (+2,265)
-
- Tim Duncan had more turnovers (+565) and personal fouls (+1,025)
- Larry Bird had more 3-pointers attempted (+1,559)
- Tim Duncan had more field goals attempted (+3,000) and free throws attempted (+3,997)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Larry Bird 13
Tim Duncan 19
+6
Games
Larry Bird 897
Tim Duncan 1,392
+495
Points
Larry Bird 21,791
Tim Duncan 26,496
+4,705
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 8,591
Tim Duncan 10,285
+1,694
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 17,334
Tim Duncan 20,334
+3,000
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 649
+619
Tim Duncan 30
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1,727
+1,559
Tim Duncan 168
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 3,960
Tim Duncan 5,896
+1,936
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 4,471
Tim Duncan 8,468
+3,997
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,757
Tim Duncan 3,859
+2,102
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 7,217
Tim Duncan 11,232
+4,015
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 8,974
Tim Duncan 15,091
+6,117
Assists
Larry Bird 5,695
+1,470
Tim Duncan 4,225
Steals
Larry Bird 1,556
+531
Tim Duncan 1,025
Blocks
Larry Bird 755
Tim Duncan 3,020
+2,265
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2,816
Tim Duncan 3,381
+565
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2,279
Tim Duncan 3,304
+1,025

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 Tim Duncan had better field goal percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Larry Bird 49.6%
Tim Duncan 50.6%
+1.0
3-Point Percentage
Larry Bird 37.6%
+19.7
Tim Duncan 17.9%
Free Throw Percentage
Larry Bird 88.6%
+19.0
Tim Duncan 69.6%

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, assists and steals while Tim Duncan had better averages in rebounds and blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Larry Bird had better averages in points (+3.2), field goals made (+1.0), 3-pointers made (+0.5), free throws made (+0.7), assists (+3.5) and steals (+1.1)
- Tim Duncan had better averages in offensive rebounds (+0.9), defensive rebounds (+0.2), total rebounds (+1.1) and blocks (+1.4)
- Larry Bird had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.6)
-
- Larry Bird had higher averages in field goals attempted (+3.1) and 3-pointers attempted (+1.4)
- Tim Duncan had higher average in free throws attempted (+0.8)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Larry Bird 23.8
+3.2
Tim Duncan 20.6
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 8.9
+1.0
Tim Duncan 7.9
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 18.8
+3.1
Tim Duncan 15.7
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 0.5
+0.5
Tim Duncan 0.0
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1.5
+1.4
Tim Duncan 0.1
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 5.5
+0.7
Tim Duncan 4.8
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 6.2
Tim Duncan 7.0
+0.8
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 2.2
Tim Duncan 3.1
+0.9
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 8.1
Tim Duncan 8.3
+0.2
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 10.3
Tim Duncan 11.4
+1.1
Assists
Larry Bird 6.5
+3.5
Tim Duncan 3.0
Steals
Larry Bird 1.8
+1.1
Tim Duncan 0.7
Blocks
Larry Bird 0.9
Tim Duncan 2.3
+1.4
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 3.1
+0.6
Tim Duncan 2.5
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2.8
Tim Duncan 2.8

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

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

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Larry Bird had more 3-pointers made (+75), assists (+298) and steals (+128)
- Tim Duncan played more years (+6) and games (+87), and had more points (+1,275), field goals made (+517), free throws made (+316), offensive rebounds (+418), defensive rebounds (+758), total rebounds (+1,176) and blocks (+423)
-
- Tim Duncan had more turnovers (+127) and personal fouls (+235)
- Larry Bird had more 3-pointers attempted (+214)
- Tim Duncan had more field goals attempted (+849) and free throws attempted (+754)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Larry Bird 12
Tim Duncan 18
+6
Games
Larry Bird 164
Tim Duncan 251
+87
Points
Larry Bird 3,897
Tim Duncan 5,172
+1,275
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 1,458
Tim Duncan 1,975
+517
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 3,090
Tim Duncan 3,939
+849
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 80
+75
Tim Duncan 5
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 249
+214
Tim Duncan 35
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 901
Tim Duncan 1,217
+316
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 1,012
Tim Duncan 1,766
+754
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 360
Tim Duncan 778
+418
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,323
Tim Duncan 2,081
+758
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,683
Tim Duncan 2,859
+1,176
Assists
Larry Bird 1,062
+298
Tim Duncan 764
Steals
Larry Bird 296
+128
Tim Duncan 168
Blocks
Larry Bird 145
Tim Duncan 568
+423
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 506
Tim Duncan 633
+127
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 466
Tim Duncan 701
+235

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 Tim Duncan had better field goal percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Larry Bird 47.2%
Tim Duncan 50.1%
+2.9
3-Point Percentage
Larry Bird 32.1%
+17.8
Tim Duncan 14.3%
Free Throw Percentage
Larry Bird 89.0%
+20.1
Tim Duncan 68.9%
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