Larry Bird vs. Glen Rice Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Glen Rice 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 / Games against each other

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, 2 less than Glen Rice, who played 15. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Glen Rice had his rookie season in 1989-90. 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
Glen Rice 15 7 1989-90 to 2003-04

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15

Rookie Season
Larry Bird Glen Rice
Season 1979-801989-90
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second 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
Glen Rice 77 30.0 13.6 1.3 3.3 4.6 1.8 0.9 0.4 1.5 2.6 6.1 13.9 .439 0.2 0.9 .246 1.2 1.6 .734
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
Glen Rice ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Larry Bird Glen Rice
Season 1980-811990-91
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
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
Glen Rice 77 34.4 17.4 1.1 3.8 4.9 2.5 1.3 0.3 2.2 2.8 7.1 15.5 .461 0.9 2.4 .386 2.2 2.7 .818
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
Glen Rice ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Larry Bird Glen Rice
Season 1981-821991-92
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsHeat 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 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
Glen Rice 79 38.1 22.3 1.1 3.9 5.0 2.3 1.1 0.4 1.8 2.2 8.5 18.1 .469 2.0 5.0 .391 3.4 4.0 .836
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
Glen Rice 3 39.7 19.0 1.0 2.3 3.3 1.7 0.7 0.0 2.0 2.3 8.0 21.3 .375 1.0 4.0 .250 2.0 2.3 .857

Season 4
Larry Bird Glen Rice
Season 1982-831992-93
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement 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 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
Glen Rice 82 37.6 19.0 1.1 4.0 5.2 2.2 1.1 0.3 1.9 2.5 7.1 16.1 .440 1.8 4.7 .383 3.0 3.6 .820
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
Glen Rice ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Larry Bird Glen Rice
Season 1983-841993-94
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHeat 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 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
Glen Rice 81 37.0 21.1 0.9 4.4 5.4 2.3 1.4 0.4 1.6 2.3 8.2 17.5 .467 1.6 4.3 .382 3.1 3.5 .880
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
Glen Rice 5 39.0 13.0 1.2 6.0 7.2 2.0 2.2 0.4 2.8 2.8 5.2 13.6 .382 1.4 4.6 .304 1.2 1.6 .750

Season 6
Larry Bird Glen Rice
Season 1984-851994-95
Team Boston CelticsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement 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 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
Glen Rice 82 36.8 22.3 1.2 3.4 4.6 2.3 1.4 0.2 1.9 2.5 8.1 17.1 .475 2.3 5.5 .410 3.8 4.5 .855
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
Glen Rice ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Larry Bird Glen Rice
Season 1985-861995-96
Team Boston CelticsCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 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
Glen Rice 79 39.8 21.6 1.1 3.7 4.8 2.9 1.2 0.2 2.1 2.7 7.7 16.4 .471 2.2 5.1 .424 4.0 4.8 .837
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
Glen Rice ------- --- ----------

Season 8
Larry Bird Glen Rice
Season 1986-871996-97
Team Boston CelticsCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsHornets 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 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
Glen Rice 79 42.6 26.8 0.8 3.2 4.0 2.0 0.9 0.3 2.2 2.4 9.1 19.2 .477 2.6 5.6 .470 5.9 6.8 .867
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
Glen Rice 3 45.7 27.7 0.3 3.3 3.7 3.7 1.3 0.3 1.3 3.7 9.3 19.0 .491 2.0 5.3 .375 7.0 7.7 .913

Season 9
Larry Bird Glen Rice
Season 1987-881997-98
Team Boston CelticsCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsHornets 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 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
Glen Rice 82 40.2 22.3 1.1 3.2 4.3 2.2 0.9 0.3 2.2 2.4 7.7 16.9 .457 1.6 3.7 .433 5.2 6.1 .849
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
Glen Rice 9 41.0 22.8 1.2 4.4 5.7 1.4 0.6 0.3 1.4 2.9 9.1 19.2 .474 1.2 4.0 .306 3.3 4.0 .833

Season 10
Larry Bird Glen Rice
Season 1988-891998-99
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West 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 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
Glen Rice 27 36.5 17.5 0.3 3.3 3.7 2.6 0.6 0.2 1.7 2.5 6.3 14.7 .432 2.0 5.0 .393 2.9 3.3 .856
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Glen Rice 7 43.7 18.3 0.6 3.3 3.9 1.6 0.7 0.1 1.3 2.1 6.4 14.4 .446 1.4 4.0 .357 4.0 4.1 .966

Season 11
Larry Bird Glen Rice
Season 1989-901999-00
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
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
Glen Rice 80 31.6 15.9 0.7 3.4 4.1 2.2 0.6 0.2 1.4 2.2 5.3 12.3 .430 1.1 2.9 .367 4.3 5.0 .874
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
Glen Rice 23 33.3 12.4 0.4 3.6 4.0 2.1 0.7 0.2 1.6 2.2 4.0 9.9 .408 1.2 2.9 .418 3.1 3.9 .798

Season 12
Larry Bird Glen Rice
Season 1990-912000-01
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisKnicks 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 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
Glen Rice 75 29.5 12.0 0.8 3.3 4.1 1.2 0.5 0.2 1.3 2.4 4.4 10.0 .440 1.1 2.8 .389 2.1 2.4 .852
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
Glen Rice 5 28.8 12.2 0.6 3.8 4.4 0.6 0.6 0.2 1.4 2.0 4.8 10.4 .462 1.2 2.8 .429 1.4 1.6 .875

Season 13
Larry Bird Glen Rice
Season 1991-922001-02
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement 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
Glen Rice 20 30.3 8.6 0.3 2.1 2.4 1.6 0.6 0.2 1.2 1.7 3.3 8.4 .389 0.9 3.2 .281 1.2 1.5 .800
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
Glen Rice ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Larry Bird Glen Rice
Season -2002-03
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
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 ------- --- ----------
Glen Rice 62 24.7 9.0 0.5 2.0 2.5 1.0 0.4 0.1 0.9 1.6 3.2 7.4 .429 1.6 4.1 .398 1.0 1.3 .759
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Glen Rice ------- --- ----------

Season 15
Larry Bird Glen Rice
Season -2003-04
Team -Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards
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 ------- --- ----------
Glen Rice 18 14.6 3.7 0.5 1.8 2.3 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.7 1.2 1.2 4.2 .289 0.3 1.6 .179 0.9 0.9 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Glen Rice ------- --- ----------
Share: