Larry Bird vs. Allen Iverson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Allen Iverson and Larry Bird, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Larry Bird played 13 years in the NBA, 1 less than Allen Iverson, who played 14. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Allen Iverson had his rookie season in 1996-97. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player		 Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Larry Bird 13 12 1979-80 to 1991-92
Allen Iverson 14 8 1996-97 to 2009-10

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season
Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1979-801996-97
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the YearAchievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 82 36.0 21.3 2.6 7.8 10.4 4.5 1.7 0.6 3.2 3.4 8.5 17.8 .474 0.7 1.7 .406 3.7 4.4 .836
Allen Iverson 76 40.1 23.5 1.5 2.6 4.1 7.5 2.1 0.3 4.4 3.1 8.2 19.8 .416 2.0 6.0 .341 5.0 7.2 .702
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 9 41.3 21.3 2.4 8.8 11.2 4.7 1.6 0.9 3.7 3.3 9.2 19.7 .469 0.4 1.7 .267 2.4 2.8 .880
Allen Iverson ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1980-811997-98
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 82 39.5 21.2 2.3 8.6 10.9 5.5 2.0 0.8 3.5 2.9 8.8 18.3 .478 0.2 0.9 .270 3.5 4.0 .863
Allen Iverson 80 39.4 22.0 1.1 2.6 3.7 6.2 2.2 0.3 3.1 2.5 8.1 17.6 .461 0.9 2.9 .298 4.9 6.7 .729
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 17 44.1 21.9 2.9 11.1 14.0 6.1 2.3 1.0 3.6 3.1 8.6 18.4 .470 0.2 0.5 .375 4.5 5.0 .894
Allen Iverson ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1981-821998-99
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Finals76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 77 38.0 22.9 2.6 8.3 10.9 5.8 1.9 0.9 3.3 3.2 9.2 18.4 .503 0.1 0.7 .212 4.3 4.9 .863
Allen Iverson 48 41.5 26.8 1.4 3.5 4.9 4.6 2.3 0.1 3.5 2.0 9.1 22.0 .412 1.2 4.1 .291 7.4 9.9 .751
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 12 40.8 17.8 2.8 9.8 12.5 5.6 1.9 1.4 3.2 3.6 7.3 17.2 .427 0.1 0.5 .167 3.1 3.8 .822
Allen Iverson 8 45.0 28.5 1.8 2.4 4.1 4.9 2.5 0.3 3.0 2.4 11.0 26.8 .411 1.9 6.6 .283 4.6 6.5 .712

Season 4
Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1982-831999-00
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Semis76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 79 37.7 23.6 2.4 8.6 11.0 5.8 1.9 0.9 3.0 2.5 9.5 18.7 .504 0.3 1.0 .286 4.4 5.3 .840
Allen Iverson 70 40.8 28.4 1.0 2.8 3.8 4.7 2.1 0.1 3.3 2.3 10.4 24.8 .421 1.3 3.7 .341 6.3 8.9 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 6 40.0 20.5 3.3 9.2 12.5 6.8 2.2 0.5 3.2 2.5 8.2 19.3 .422 0.2 0.7 .250 4.0 4.8 .828
Allen Iverson 10 44.4 26.2 1.4 2.6 4.0 4.5 1.2 0.1 3.2 2.4 9.1 23.7 .384 1.2 3.9 .308 6.8 9.2 .739

Season 5
Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1983-842000-01
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVPAchievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 79 38.3 24.2 2.3 7.8 10.1 6.6 1.8 0.9 3.0 2.5 9.6 19.5 .492 0.2 0.9 .247 4.7 5.3 .888
Allen Iverson 71 42.0 31.1 0.7 3.1 3.8 4.6 2.5 0.3 3.3 2.1 10.7 25.5 .420 1.4 4.3 .320 8.2 10.1 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 23 41.8 27.5 2.7 8.3 11.0 5.9 2.3 1.2 3.8 3.1 10.0 19.0 .524 0.3 0.7 .412 7.3 8.3 .879
Allen Iverson 22 46.5 32.9 0.7 4.0 4.7 6.1 2.4 0.3 2.9 2.5 11.7 30.0 .389 2.2 6.5 .338 7.3 9.5 .774

Season 6
Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1984-852001-02
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA Finals76ers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 80 39.5 28.7 2.1 8.5 10.5 6.6 1.6 1.2 3.1 2.6 11.5 22.0 .522 0.7 1.6 .427 5.0 5.7 .882
Allen Iverson 60 43.7 31.4 0.7 3.8 4.5 5.5 2.8 0.2 4.0 1.7 11.1 27.8 .398 1.3 4.5 .291 7.9 9.8 .812
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 20 40.8 26.0 2.7 6.5 9.1 5.8 1.7 1.0 2.9 2.7 9.8 21.3 .461 0.4 1.3 .280 6.1 6.8 .890
Allen Iverson 5 42.0 30.0 0.2 3.4 3.6 4.2 2.6 0.0 2.4 1.6 9.0 23.6 .381 1.8 5.4 .333 10.2 12.6 .810

Season 7
Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1985-862002-03
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 82 38.0 25.8 2.3 7.5 9.8 6.8 2.0 0.6 3.2 2.2 9.7 19.6 .496 1.0 2.4 .423 5.4 6.0 .896
Allen Iverson 82 42.5 27.6 0.8 3.4 4.2 5.5 2.7 0.2 3.5 1.8 9.8 23.7 .414 1.0 3.7 .277 7.0 9.0 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 18 42.8 25.9 1.9 7.4 9.3 8.2 2.1 0.6 2.6 3.1 9.5 18.4 .517 1.3 3.1 .411 5.6 6.1 .927
Allen Iverson 12 46.4 31.7 0.9 3.4 4.3 7.4 2.4 0.1 3.9 2.1 11.4 27.4 .416 1.6 4.6 .345 7.3 9.8 .737

Season 8
Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1986-872003-04
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 74 40.6 28.1 1.7 7.5 9.2 7.6 1.8 0.9 3.2 2.5 10.6 20.2 .525 1.2 3.0 .400 5.6 6.1 .910
Allen Iverson 48 42.5 26.4 0.7 3.0 3.7 6.8 2.4 0.1 4.4 1.8 9.1 23.4 .387 1.2 4.1 .286 7.1 9.5 .745
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 23 44.1 27.0 1.8 8.3 10.0 7.2 1.2 0.8 3.1 2.4 9.4 19.7 .476 0.6 1.8 .341 7.7 8.4 .912
Allen Iverson ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1987-882004-05
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Finals76ers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 76 39.0 29.9 1.4 7.8 9.3 6.1 1.6 0.8 2.8 2.1 11.6 22.0 .527 1.3 3.1 .414 5.5 6.0 .916
Allen Iverson 75 42.3 30.7 0.7 3.3 4.0 7.9 2.4 0.1 4.6 1.9 10.3 24.2 .424 1.4 4.5 .308 8.7 10.5 .835
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 17 44.9 24.5 1.7 7.1 8.8 6.8 2.1 0.8 2.9 2.6 8.9 19.9 .450 0.7 1.9 .375 5.9 6.6 .894
Allen Iverson 5 47.6 31.2 0.0 2.2 2.2 10.0 2.0 0.4 4.2 2.4 11.8 25.2 .468 2.4 5.8 .414 5.2 5.8 .897

Season 10
Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1988-892005-06
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 6 31.5 19.3 0.2 6.0 6.2 4.8 1.0 0.8 1.8 3.0 8.2 17.3 .471 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.2 .947
Allen Iverson 72 43.1 33.0 0.6 2.6 3.2 7.4 1.9 0.1 3.4 1.7 11.3 25.3 .447 1.0 3.1 .323 9.4 11.5 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Allen Iverson ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1989-902006-07
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 75 39.3 24.3 1.2 8.3 9.5 7.5 1.4 0.8 3.2 2.3 9.6 20.2 .473 0.9 2.6 .333 4.3 4.6 .930
Allen Iverson 65 42.5 26.3 0.4 2.6 3.0 7.2 1.9 0.2 4.1 1.5 8.9 20.2 .442 1.0 3.0 .315 7.5 9.4 .795
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 5 41.4 24.4 1.4 7.8 9.2 8.8 1.0 1.0 3.6 2.0 8.8 19.8 .444 1.0 3.8 .263 5.8 6.4 .906
Allen Iverson 5 44.6 22.8 0.0 0.6 0.6 5.8 1.4 0.0 3.0 2.2 8.4 22.8 .368 1.0 3.4 .294 5.0 6.2 .806

Season 12
Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1990-912007-08
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 60 38.0 19.4 0.9 7.6 8.5 7.2 1.8 1.0 3.1 2.0 7.7 17.0 .454 1.3 3.3 .389 2.7 3.1 .891
Allen Iverson 82 41.8 26.4 0.6 2.4 3.0 7.1 2.0 0.1 3.0 1.3 8.7 19.0 .458 1.2 3.4 .345 7.9 9.7 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 10 39.6 17.1 0.8 6.4 7.2 6.5 1.3 0.3 1.9 2.8 6.2 15.2 .408 0.3 2.1 .143 4.4 5.1 .863
Allen Iverson 4 39.5 24.5 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.5 1.0 0.3 1.8 0.8 9.0 20.8 .434 0.8 3.5 .214 5.8 8.3 .697

Season 13
Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season 1991-922008-09
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 45 36.9 20.2 1.0 8.6 9.6 6.8 0.9 0.7 2.8 1.8 7.8 16.8 .466 1.2 2.8 .406 3.3 3.6 .926
Allen Iverson 57 36.7 17.5 0.5 2.5 3.0 5.0 1.5 0.1 2.6 1.5 6.1 14.6 .417 0.5 1.7 .283 4.8 6.1 .781
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird 4 26.8 11.3 0.5 4.0 4.5 5.3 0.3 0.5 1.5 1.8 5.3 10.5 .500 0.0 1.3 .000 0.8 1.0 .750
Allen Iverson ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Larry Bird Allen Iverson
Season -2009-10
Team -Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Allen Iverson 28 30.9 13.8 0.6 2.3 2.8 4.0 0.7 0.1 2.3 1.7 4.9 11.3 .430 0.3 0.9 .360 3.7 4.7 .794
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Allen Iverson ------- --- ----------
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