Alvan Adams vs. Larry Bird Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Larry Bird and Alvan Adams, 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.

Alvan Adams and Larry Bird both played 13 years in the NBA. Alvan Adams had the first of his seasons in 1975-76, while Larry Bird had his rookie season in 1979-80. 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
Alvan Adams 13 9 1975-76 to 1987-88
Larry Bird 13 12 1979-80 to 1991-92

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Alvan Adams Larry Bird
Season 1975-761979-80
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
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 GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost NBA FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 80 33.2 19.0 2.7 6.4 9.1 5.6 1.5 1.5 - 3.4 7.9 16.8 .469 - - - 3.3 4.4 .735
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 19 35.2 17.9 2.8 7.2 10.1 5.2 1.3 1.1 - 3.2 7.2 15.9 .452 - - - 3.5 4.3 .817
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

Season 2

Alvan Adams Larry Bird
Season 1976-771980-81
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 72 31.6 18.0 2.5 6.6 9.1 4.5 1.3 1.2 - 3.6 7.3 15.3 .474 - - - 3.5 4.6 .754
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams ------- --- ----------
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

Season 3

Alvan Adams Larry Bird
Season 1977-781981-82
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 70 27.3 15.5 2.3 5.8 8.1 3.2 1.2 0.9 3.3 3.5 6.2 12.8 .485 - - - 3.1 4.2 .730
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 2 35.5 16.0 4.0 4.0 8.0 2.0 1.0 0.5 4.5 4.0 7.5 16.5 .455 - - - 1.0 1.0 1.000
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

Season 4

Alvan Adams Larry Bird
Season 1978-791982-83
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics 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 %
Alvan Adams 77 30.7 17.8 2.9 6.3 9.2 4.7 1.4 0.8 3.6 3.2 7.4 13.9 .530 - - - 3.0 3.8 .799
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 12 31.0 12.8 2.1 5.4 7.5 4.4 0.9 1.0 3.0 3.4 5.5 11.6 .475 - - - 1.8 2.6 .710
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

Season 5

Alvan Adams Larry Bird
Season 1979-801983-84
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 75 28.9 14.9 2.1 6.0 8.1 4.3 1.4 0.7 2.9 3.2 6.2 11.7 .531 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.1 .797
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 8 31.4 16.1 2.3 7.4 9.6 5.8 0.9 1.3 3.0 3.0 7.0 12.4 .566 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.4 .895
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

Season 6

Alvan Adams Larry Bird
Season 1980-811984-85
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 75 27.4 14.9 2.1 5.2 7.3 4.6 1.4 0.9 3.0 3.0 6.1 11.6 .526 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.5 .768
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 7 31.1 10.6 1.6 4.3 5.9 3.7 0.6 0.1 2.7 2.9 3.9 8.6 .450 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.0 .714
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

Season 7

Alvan Adams Larry Bird
Season 1981-821985-86
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 79 30.3 15.1 1.7 5.7 7.4 4.5 1.4 1.0 2.5 3.4 6.4 13.0 .494 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 2.9 .781
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 7 33.3 16.9 2.7 4.6 7.3 3.7 2.0 1.4 3.0 3.1 6.9 13.1 .522 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 4.0 .786
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

Season 8

Alvan Adams Larry Bird
Season 1982-831986-87
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 80 30.6 14.2 2.0 4.8 6.9 4.7 1.4 0.9 3.0 3.6 6.0 12.3 .486 0.0 0.0 .333 2.3 2.7 .829
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 3 28.0 11.7 1.0 5.0 6.0 4.7 0.7 1.7 1.7 5.0 5.0 10.7 .469 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.3 .714
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

Season 9

Alvan Adams Larry Bird
Season 1983-841987-88
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 70 20.7 9.6 1.7 2.9 4.6 3.1 1.0 0.4 1.7 2.8 3.8 8.3 .462 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.3 .825
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 17 18.4 8.4 1.6 3.5 5.1 2.5 1.0 0.6 2.0 3.1 3.1 7.4 .421 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.1 .679
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

Season 10

Alvan Adams Larry Bird
Season 1984-851988-89
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 82 26.0 14.7 1.9 4.2 6.1 3.8 1.4 0.6 2.4 3.1 5.8 11.2 .520 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.5 .883
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams 3 26.3 17.0 1.3 4.3 5.7 3.7 2.3 0.3 2.0 2.7 7.7 15.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.0 .833
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Alvan Adams Larry Bird
Season 1985-861989-90
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Alvan Adams 78 25.7 10.8 1.9 4.2 6.1 4.2 1.3 0.6 2.6 3.5 4.4 8.7 .502 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.6 .783
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams ------- --- ----------
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

Season 12

Alvan Adams Larry Bird
Season 1986-871990-91
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Alvan Adams 68 24.9 11.1 1.3 3.6 5.0 3.3 0.9 0.5 2.0 3.0 4.6 9.1 .503 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.5 .788
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams ------- --- ----------
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

Season 13

Alvan Adams Larry Bird
Season 1987-881991-92
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Alvan Adams 82 20.1 7.5 1.4 3.0 4.5 2.2 1.0 0.5 1.7 3.0 3.1 6.2 .496 0.0 0.0 .500 1.3 1.6 .844
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Alvan Adams ------- --- ----------
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