Larry Bird vs. Buck Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Buck Williams 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, 4 less than Buck Williams, who played 17. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Buck Williams had his rookie season in 1981-82. 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
Buck Williams 17 14 1981-82 to 1997-98

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Buck Williams
Season 1979-801981-82
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
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 Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNets 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 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
Buck Williams 82 34.5 15.5 4.2 8.0 12.3 1.3 1.0 1.0 2.9 3.5 6.3 10.7 .582 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 4.7 .624
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
Buck Williams 2 39.5 17.5 5.5 5.0 10.5 1.5 0.5 1.0 2.0 3.5 7.0 13.0 .538 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 7.5 .467

Season 2

Larry Bird Buck Williams
Season 1980-811982-83
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 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
Buck Williams 82 36.1 17.0 4.5 8.1 12.5 1.5 1.1 1.3 3.0 3.3 6.5 11.1 .588 0.0 0.0 .000 4.0 6.4 .620
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
Buck Williams 2 42.5 19.0 4.5 7.0 11.5 2.0 1.0 1.0 2.5 6.0 5.5 11.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 8.0 10.0 .800

Season 3

Larry Bird Buck Williams
Season 1981-821983-84
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
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 FinalsNets 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 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
Buck Williams 81 37.1 15.7 4.4 8.0 12.3 1.6 1.0 1.5 2.9 3.7 6.1 11.4 .535 0.0 0.0 .000 3.5 6.1 .570
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
Buck Williams 11 43.0 15.5 5.2 8.9 14.1 1.5 1.4 1.5 2.6 4.0 5.7 11.8 .485 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 7.4 .556

Season 4

Larry Bird Buck Williams
Season 1982-831984-85
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisNets 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 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
Buck Williams 82 38.8 18.2 3.9 8.3 12.3 2.0 0.8 1.3 2.9 3.6 7.0 13.3 .530 0.0 0.0 .250 4.1 6.6 .625
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
Buck Williams 3 41.0 24.7 4.7 6.0 10.7 0.3 1.0 1.7 2.0 4.0 8.7 13.3 .650 0.0 0.0 - 7.3 10.0 .733

Season 5

Larry Bird Buck Williams
Season 1983-841985-86
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 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
Buck Williams 82 37.4 15.9 4.0 8.0 12.0 1.6 0.9 1.2 3.0 3.6 6.1 11.7 .523 0.0 0.0 .000 3.7 5.4 .676
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
Buck Williams 3 42.0 20.7 4.0 6.3 10.3 0.7 2.0 0.3 2.0 5.0 7.0 9.7 .724 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 8.7 .769

Season 6

Larry Bird Buck Williams
Season 1984-851986-87
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
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
Buck Williams 82 36.3 18.0 3.9 8.5 12.5 1.6 1.0 1.1 3.4 3.8 6.4 11.4 .557 0.0 0.0 .000 5.2 7.2 .731
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
Buck Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Larry Bird Buck Williams
Season 1985-861987-88
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
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 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
Buck Williams 70 37.7 18.3 4.3 7.7 11.9 1.6 1.0 0.6 2.7 3.8 6.7 11.9 .560 0.0 0.0 1.000 4.9 7.4 .668
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
Buck Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Larry Bird Buck Williams
Season 1986-871988-89
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
Buck Williams 74 33.1 13.0 3.4 6.0 9.4 1.1 0.8 0.5 1.9 3.0 5.0 9.5 .531 0.0 0.0 .000 2.9 4.3 .666
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
Buck Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Larry Bird Buck Williams
Season 1987-881989-90
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsTrail Blazers Lost NBA Finals
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
Buck Williams 82 34.2 13.6 3.0 6.7 9.8 1.4 0.8 0.5 2.0 3.5 5.0 9.2 .548 0.0 0.0 .000 3.5 5.0 .706
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
Buck Williams 21 37.0 13.0 3.2 6.0 9.2 1.9 0.6 0.3 2.0 3.5 4.8 9.5 .508 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.0 .676

Season 10

Larry Bird Buck Williams
Season 1988-891990-91
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers 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 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
Buck Williams 80 32.3 11.7 2.8 6.6 9.4 1.2 0.6 0.6 1.7 3.1 4.5 7.4 .602 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.9 .705
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 16 35.8 10.3 3.3 5.6 8.9 0.9 0.6 0.3 1.5 3.4 4.1 8.1 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.6 .603

Season 11

Larry Bird Buck Williams
Season 1989-901991-92
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdTrail Blazers Lost NBA Finals
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
Buck Williams 80 31.5 11.3 3.3 5.6 8.8 1.4 0.8 0.5 1.6 3.1 4.3 7.0 .604 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 3.7 .754
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
Buck Williams 21 36.1 9.6 2.9 5.6 8.5 1.0 1.3 0.8 2.1 3.5 3.1 6.2 .508 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.3 .758

Season 12

Larry Bird Buck Williams
Season 1990-911992-93
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisTrail Blazers Lost West 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
Buck Williams 82 30.5 8.3 2.8 5.6 8.4 0.9 1.0 0.7 1.2 3.3 3.3 6.4 .511 0.0 0.0 .000 1.7 2.6 .645
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
Buck Williams 4 29.8 8.8 3.0 4.3 7.3 0.3 0.3 0.8 1.5 3.0 2.8 5.8 .478 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.8 .684

Season 13

Larry Bird Buck Williams
Season 1991-921993-94
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisTrail Blazers Lost West 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 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
Buck Williams 81 32.5 9.7 3.9 6.5 10.4 1.0 0.7 0.6 1.4 3.0 3.6 6.5 .555 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.7 .679
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
Buck Williams 4 31.3 12.8 3.5 5.3 8.8 0.5 1.0 0.5 2.0 2.8 4.8 7.0 .679 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 3.8 .867

Season 14

Larry Bird Buck Williams
Season -1994-95
Team -Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Trail Blazers Lost West 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 ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 82 29.5 9.2 3.1 5.1 8.2 1.0 0.8 0.8 1.5 3.1 3.8 7.4 .512 0.0 0.0 .500 1.7 2.5 .673
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 3 34.3 8.3 2.7 3.7 6.3 0.3 1.3 0.7 1.3 4.7 3.0 5.0 .600 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.7 .636

Season 15

Larry Bird Buck Williams
Season -1995-96
Team -Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Trail Blazers Lost West 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 ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 70 23.9 7.3 2.3 3.5 5.8 0.6 0.6 0.7 1.3 2.7 2.7 5.5 .500 0.0 0.0 .667 1.8 2.7 .668
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 5 26.6 4.8 2.6 2.4 5.0 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.0 3.6 1.8 4.6 .391 0.2 0.4 .500 1.0 1.4 .714

Season 16

Larry Bird Buck Williams
Season -1996-97
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 74 20.2 6.3 2.2 3.1 5.4 0.7 0.5 0.5 1.1 2.8 2.4 4.4 .537 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.4 .642
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 10 19.2 4.3 1.3 2.7 4.0 0.6 0.3 0.4 0.4 3.4 1.7 3.5 .486 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.7 .529

Season 17

Larry Bird Buck Williams
Season -1997-98
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 41 18.0 4.9 1.9 2.6 4.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.9 2.3 1.8 3.6 .503 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.7 .732
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Buck Williams 3 15.0 4.7 2.3 3.0 5.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.7 1.3 3.0 .444 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.7 .750