Kenny Anderson vs. Larry Bird Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Larry Bird and Kenny Anderson, 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.

Kenny Anderson played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than Larry Bird, who played 13. Kenny Anderson had the first of his seasons in 1991-92, 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
Kenny Anderson 14 6 1991-92 to 2004-05
Larry Bird 13 12 1979-80 to 1991-92

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Kenny Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1991-921979-80
Team New Jersey NetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East 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 %
Kenny Anderson 64 17.0 7.0 0.6 1.4 2.0 3.2 1.0 0.1 1.5 1.1 2.9 7.5 .390 0.0 0.2 .231 1.1 1.5 .745
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 %
Kenny Anderson 3 8.0 2.7 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.0 3.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000
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

Kenny Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1992-931980-81
Team New Jersey NetsBoston 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 %
Kenny Anderson 55 36.5 16.9 0.9 3.2 4.1 8.2 1.7 0.2 2.8 2.5 6.7 15.5 .435 0.1 0.5 .280 3.3 4.2 .776
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 %
Kenny Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Kenny Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1993-941981-82
Team New Jersey NetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Nets Lost East 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 %
Kenny Anderson 82 38.2 18.8 1.1 2.8 3.9 9.6 1.9 0.2 3.2 2.5 7.0 16.8 .417 0.5 1.6 .303 4.2 5.2 .818
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 %
Kenny Anderson 4 45.3 15.8 0.5 2.5 3.0 6.8 2.3 0.0 2.3 2.8 4.8 13.5 .352 0.8 2.5 .300 5.5 8.3 .667
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

Kenny Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1994-951982-83
Team New Jersey NetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-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 %
Kenny Anderson 72 37.3 17.6 1.0 2.5 3.5 9.4 1.4 0.2 3.1 2.6 5.7 14.3 .399 1.3 4.1 .330 4.8 5.8 .841
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 %
Kenny Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Kenny Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1995-961983-84
Team New Jersey Nets, Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 %
Kenny Anderson 69 34.0 15.2 0.9 2.0 2.9 8.3 1.6 0.2 2.1 2.6 5.1 12.1 .418 1.3 3.7 .359 3.8 4.9 .769
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 %
Kenny Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Kenny Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1996-971984-85
Team Portland Trail BlazersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Kenny Anderson 82 37.6 17.5 1.1 3.3 4.4 7.1 2.0 0.2 2.4 2.7 5.9 13.9 .427 1.6 4.5 .361 4.1 5.3 .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 %
Kenny Anderson 4 42.3 17.0 0.5 3.8 4.3 4.8 1.8 0.3 2.8 2.5 5.5 11.5 .478 1.3 4.8 .263 4.8 5.0 .950
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

Kenny Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1997-981985-86
Team Portland Trail Blazers, Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement Season MVP
-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 %
Kenny Anderson 61 30.5 12.2 0.6 2.2 2.8 5.7 1.4 0.0 2.3 2.2 4.4 11.0 .398 0.9 2.6 .356 2.5 3.2 .789
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 %
Kenny Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Kenny Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1998-991986-87
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kenny Anderson 34 29.7 12.1 0.7 2.3 3.0 5.7 1.0 0.1 2.1 2.3 4.7 10.5 .451 0.2 0.7 .250 2.5 3.0 .832
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 %
Kenny Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Kenny Anderson Larry Bird
Season 1999-001987-88
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Kenny Anderson 82 31.6 14.0 0.7 2.1 2.7 5.1 1.7 0.1 1.6 2.8 5.3 12.0 .440 1.0 2.7 .386 2.4 3.1 .775
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 %
Kenny Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Kenny Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2000-011988-89
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 %
Kenny Anderson 33 25.7 7.5 0.5 1.7 2.2 4.1 1.3 0.1 1.6 1.9 2.7 6.9 .388 0.3 1.0 .333 1.8 2.2 .831
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 %
Kenny Anderson ------- --- ----------
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Kenny Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2001-021989-90
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsCeltics 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 %
Kenny Anderson 76 32.0 9.6 0.8 2.9 3.6 5.3 1.9 0.1 1.6 2.8 4.1 9.4 .436 0.1 0.4 .273 1.3 1.7 .742
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 %
Kenny Anderson 16 34.9 12.0 0.8 2.3 3.1 4.8 1.3 0.0 1.8 3.6 5.1 12.3 .416 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.2 .800
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

Kenny Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2002-031990-91
Team Seattle Supersonics, New Orleans HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hornets Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
Kenny Anderson 61 18.6 6.1 0.5 1.7 2.2 3.2 1.0 0.1 1.2 1.7 2.7 6.3 .427 0.0 0.1 .143 0.7 0.9 .789
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 %
Kenny Anderson 5 10.4 2.2 0.0 0.4 0.4 1.8 0.6 0.0 0.8 1.2 0.8 2.4 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.6 1.000
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

Kenny Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2003-041991-92
Team Indiana PacersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East 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 %
Kenny Anderson 44 20.6 6.0 0.4 1.4 1.8 2.8 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.7 2.6 5.8 .441 0.0 0.1 .250 0.8 1.1 .729
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 %
Kenny Anderson 4 4.8 1.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 1.3 0.8 0.5 1.8 .286 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Season 14

Kenny Anderson Larry Bird
Season 2004-05-
Team Atlanta Hawks, 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 %
Kenny Anderson 43 17.3 4.7 0.6 1.5 2.0 2.4 0.8 0.0 1.1 2.0 2.0 4.7 .423 0.1 0.3 .462 0.6 0.9 .730
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kenny Anderson ------- --- ----------
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------