Larry Bird vs. Armen Gilliam Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Armen Gilliam 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 and Armen Gilliam both played 13 years in the NBA. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Armen Gilliam had his rookie season in 1987-88. 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
Armen Gilliam 13 5 1987-88 to 1999-00

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Armen Gilliam
Season 1979-801987-88
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement 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
Armen Gilliam 55 32.9 14.8 2.4 5.5 7.9 1.3 1.1 0.5 2.2 2.6 6.2 13.1 .475 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.5 .679
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
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Armen Gilliam
Season 1980-811988-89
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSuns Lost West Conf Finals
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
Armen Gilliam 74 28.6 15.9 2.2 5.1 7.3 0.7 0.7 0.4 1.9 2.4 6.3 12.6 .503 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 4.4 .743
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
Armen Gilliam 9 14.0 8.1 2.0 3.0 5.0 0.2 0.1 0.2 1.1 1.2 3.0 5.7 .529 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.4 .864

Season 3

Larry Bird Armen Gilliam
Season 1981-821989-90
Team Boston CelticsPhoenix Suns, Charlotte Hornets
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 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 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
Armen Gilliam 76 31.9 16.7 2.8 5.1 7.9 1.3 0.9 0.7 2.4 2.8 6.4 12.4 .515 0.0 0.0 .000 4.0 5.5 .723
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
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Bird Armen Gilliam
Season 1982-831990-91
Team Boston CelticsCharlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement 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
Armen Gilliam 75 35.3 16.6 2.9 5.0 8.0 1.4 0.9 0.7 2.3 2.5 6.5 13.3 .487 0.0 0.0 .000 3.6 4.4 .815
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
Armen Gilliam 8 35.9 16.9 1.8 4.8 6.5 1.3 0.6 0.8 1.9 2.0 6.0 13.0 .462 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 5.8 .848

Season 5

Larry Bird Armen Gilliam
Season 1983-841991-92
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
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 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 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
Armen Gilliam 81 34.2 16.9 2.9 5.3 8.1 1.5 0.6 1.0 2.0 2.2 6.3 12.4 .511 0.0 0.0 .000 4.2 5.2 .807
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
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Larry Bird Armen Gilliam
Season 1984-851992-93
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
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
Armen Gilliam 80 21.8 12.4 1.7 4.2 5.9 1.5 0.5 0.7 2.0 1.5 4.5 9.7 .464 0.0 0.0 .000 3.4 4.1 .843
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
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Larry Bird Armen Gilliam
Season 1985-861993-94
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNets 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 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
Armen Gilliam 82 24.0 11.8 2.4 3.7 6.1 0.8 0.5 0.7 1.3 1.6 4.2 8.3 .510 0.0 0.0 .000 3.3 4.4 .759
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
Armen Gilliam 4 28.0 10.5 0.3 6.0 6.3 0.3 0.5 1.8 0.8 1.8 3.8 8.5 .441 0.0 0.3 .000 3.0 4.0 .750

Season 8

Larry Bird Armen Gilliam
Season 1986-871994-95
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards 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 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
Armen Gilliam 82 30.1 14.8 2.3 5.1 7.5 1.2 0.8 1.1 1.9 2.1 5.5 11.0 .503 0.0 0.0 .000 3.7 4.8 .770
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
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Larry Bird Armen Gilliam
Season 1987-881995-96
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA 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 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
Armen Gilliam 78 36.6 18.3 3.1 6.1 9.1 1.8 0.9 0.7 2.3 2.3 7.4 15.6 .474 0.0 0.0 .000 3.6 4.5 .791
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
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Larry Bird Armen Gilliam
Season 1988-891996-97
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
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 %
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
Armen Gilliam 80 25.6 8.6 1.7 4.5 6.2 0.7 0.8 0.5 1.3 2.6 3.1 6.5 .471 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.2 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Larry Bird Armen Gilliam
Season 1989-901997-98
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East 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 %
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
Armen Gilliam 82 25.8 11.2 1.8 3.6 5.4 1.3 0.8 0.5 1.8 2.2 4.0 8.2 .484 0.0 0.0 .000 3.3 4.1 .802
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
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Larry Bird Armen Gilliam
Season 1990-911998-99
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisBucks 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
Armen Gilliam 34 19.6 8.3 1.0 2.7 3.7 0.6 0.6 0.4 1.1 1.4 3.0 6.6 .453 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.0 .782
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
Armen Gilliam 3 11.7 5.7 0.0 1.7 1.7 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.3 1.3 2.0 5.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 1.7 1.000

Season 13

Larry Bird Armen Gilliam
Season 1991-921999-00
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisJazz 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 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
Armen Gilliam 50 15.6 6.7 1.4 2.7 4.2 0.8 0.2 0.3 1.1 1.7 2.7 6.1 .436 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 1.7 .779
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
Armen Gilliam 10 13.2 3.5 0.6 2.3 2.9 0.4 0.4 0.4 1.1 1.5 1.5 4.6 .326 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.3 .385