Billy Ray Bates vs. Kyrie Irving Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kyrie Irving and Billy Ray Bates, 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.

Billy Ray Bates played 4 years in the NBA, 9 less than Kyrie Irving, who played 13. Billy Ray Bates had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Kyrie Irving had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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
Billy Ray Bates 4 2 1979-80 to 1982-83
Kyrie Irving 13 7 2011-12 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Billy Ray Bates Kyrie Irving
Season 1979-802011-12
Team Portland Trail BlazersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Billy Ray Bates 16 14.7 11.3 0.8 1.0 1.8 1.9 0.9 0.1 1.3 1.6 4.5 9.1 .493 0.5 1.2 .421 1.8 2.4 .718
Kyrie Irving 51 30.5 18.5 0.9 2.9 3.7 5.4 1.1 0.4 3.1 2.2 6.9 14.6 .469 1.4 3.6 .399 3.4 3.8 .872
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Ray Bates 3 34.7 25.0 0.7 2.7 3.3 4.0 1.7 0.3 5.0 4.3 10.3 19.7 .525 0.7 2.3 .286 3.7 4.7 .786
Kyrie Irving ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Billy Ray Bates Kyrie Irving
Season 1980-812012-13
Team Portland Trail BlazersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Billy Ray Bates 77 20.3 13.8 0.9 1.1 2.0 2.5 1.1 0.1 1.9 1.6 5.7 11.7 .487 0.2 0.7 .259 2.2 2.6 .854
Kyrie Irving 59 34.7 22.5 0.6 3.1 3.7 5.9 1.5 0.4 3.2 2.5 8.2 18.1 .452 1.8 4.7 .391 4.2 4.9 .855
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Ray Bates 3 38.3 28.3 1.0 1.3 2.3 4.3 1.7 0.3 3.7 3.7 11.7 20.7 .565 0.3 0.3 1.000 4.7 5.7 .824
Kyrie Irving ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Billy Ray Bates Kyrie Irving
Season 1981-822013-14
Team Portland Trail BlazersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
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 %
Billy Ray Bates 75 16.4 11.1 0.7 0.7 1.4 1.5 0.5 0.1 1.2 1.3 4.4 9.2 .473 0.2 0.5 .293 2.2 2.8 .787
Kyrie Irving 71 35.2 20.8 0.7 2.9 3.6 6.1 1.5 0.3 2.7 2.3 7.5 17.4 .430 1.7 4.8 .358 4.1 4.8 .861
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Billy Ray Bates Kyrie Irving
Season 1982-832014-15
Team Washington Bullets, Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Ray Bates 19 16.0 6.5 0.6 0.4 1.0 0.7 0.7 0.2 0.6 1.0 2.9 7.6 .379 0.1 0.3 .400 0.6 1.2 .500
Kyrie Irving 75 36.4 21.7 0.7 2.4 3.2 5.2 1.5 0.3 2.5 1.9 7.7 16.5 .468 2.1 5.0 .415 4.2 4.9 .863
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving 13 35.7 19.0 0.8 2.8 3.6 3.8 1.3 0.8 1.5 2.2 6.2 14.2 .438 2.1 4.6 .450 4.5 5.3 .841

Season 5

Billy Ray Bates Kyrie Irving
Season -2015-16
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -NBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving 53 31.5 19.6 0.8 2.1 3.0 4.7 1.1 0.3 2.3 2.0 7.4 16.6 .448 1.6 4.9 .321 3.2 3.6 .885
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving 21 36.9 25.2 0.7 2.2 3.0 4.7 1.7 0.6 2.3 2.2 9.6 20.1 .475 2.4 5.5 .440 3.7 4.2 .875

Season 6

Billy Ray Bates Kyrie Irving
Season -2016-17
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Cavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving 72 35.1 25.2 0.7 2.5 3.2 5.8 1.2 0.3 2.5 2.2 9.3 19.7 .473 2.5 6.1 .401 4.1 4.6 .905
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving 18 36.3 25.9 0.7 2.1 2.8 5.3 1.3 0.4 2.7 2.1 9.6 20.6 .468 2.4 6.6 .373 4.2 4.7 .905

Season 7

Billy Ray Bates Kyrie Irving
Season -2017-18
Team -Boston Celtics
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 %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving 60 32.2 24.4 0.6 3.2 3.8 5.1 1.1 0.3 2.3 2.0 8.9 18.1 .491 2.8 6.8 .408 3.9 4.4 .889
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Billy Ray Bates Kyrie Irving
Season -2018-19
Team -Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Celtics 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 %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving 67 33.0 23.8 1.1 3.9 5.0 6.9 1.5 0.5 2.6 2.5 9.0 18.5 .487 2.6 6.5 .401 3.2 3.7 .873
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving 9 36.7 21.3 0.6 3.8 4.3 7.0 1.4 0.4 3.1 2.9 7.7 19.9 .385 2.0 6.4 .310 4.0 4.4 .900

Season 9

Billy Ray Bates Kyrie Irving
Season -2019-20
Team -Brooklyn Nets
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 %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving 20 32.9 27.4 1.1 4.1 5.2 6.4 1.4 0.5 2.6 2.7 10.0 20.8 .478 2.8 7.1 .394 4.7 5.1 .922
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Billy Ray Bates Kyrie Irving
Season -2020-21
Team -Brooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Nets 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 %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving 54 34.9 26.9 1.0 3.8 4.8 6.0 1.4 0.7 2.4 2.6 10.2 20.1 .506 2.8 7.0 .402 3.7 4.0 .922
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving 9 36.1 22.7 1.3 4.4 5.8 3.4 1.0 0.6 1.2 2.1 8.6 18.1 .472 2.7 7.2 .369 2.9 3.1 .929

Season 11

Billy Ray Bates Kyrie Irving
Season -2021-22
Team -Brooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Nets 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 %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving 29 37.6 27.4 0.6 3.8 4.4 5.8 1.4 0.6 2.5 2.8 10.0 21.2 .469 3.4 8.2 .418 4.1 4.4 .915
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving 4 42.5 21.3 1.5 3.8 5.3 5.3 1.8 1.3 2.3 3.3 7.0 15.8 .444 2.0 5.3 .381 5.3 5.3 1.000

Season 12

Billy Ray Bates Kyrie Irving
Season -2022-23
Team -Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks
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 %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving 60 37.3 27.1 1.0 4.1 5.1 5.5 1.1 0.8 2.1 2.8 9.9 20.1 .494 3.1 8.3 .379 4.1 4.6 .905
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Billy Ray Bates Kyrie Irving
Season -2023-24
Team -Dallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Mavericks TBD
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving 58 35.0 25.6 0.8 4.2 5.0 5.2 1.3 0.5 1.8 1.9 9.7 19.5 .497 3.0 7.3 .411 3.3 3.6 .905
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Billy Ray Bates ------- --- ----------
Kyrie Irving 9 39.9 23.3 1.3 3.4 4.8 5.4 1.8 0.7 2.7 3.1 8.4 16.7 .507 3.0 6.8 .443 3.4 4.0 .861