Larry Bird vs. Caldwell Jones Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Caldwell Jones 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, 1 less than Caldwell Jones, who played 14. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Caldwell Jones had his rookie season in 1976-77. 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
Caldwell Jones 14 12 1976-77 to 1989-90

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Caldwell Jones
Season 1979-801976-77
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Finals76ers 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 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
Caldwell Jones 82 24.7 6.0 2.3 5.8 8.1 1.1 0.5 2.4 - 3.7 2.6 5.2 .507 - - - 0.8 1.4 .552
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
Caldwell Jones 19 27.0 4.8 2.0 5.9 7.9 1.1 0.5 2.1 - 4.3 1.9 3.8 .507 - - - 0.9 1.6 .600

Season 2

Larry Bird Caldwell Jones
Season 1980-811977-78
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers 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 %
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
Caldwell Jones 80 20.5 5.4 2.1 5.1 7.1 1.2 0.3 1.6 1.6 3.5 2.1 4.5 .471 - - - 1.2 1.9 .627
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
Caldwell Jones 10 30.1 6.4 2.2 8.4 10.6 1.4 0.5 3.0 1.9 3.6 2.8 5.6 .500 - - - 0.8 1.0 .800

Season 3

Larry Bird Caldwell Jones
Season 1981-821978-79
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
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 Finals76ers 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
Caldwell Jones 78 27.8 9.3 2.3 7.3 9.6 1.9 0.5 2.0 2.0 3.9 3.9 8.2 .474 - - - 1.6 2.1 .747
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
Caldwell Jones 9 35.6 12.7 4.1 9.3 13.4 2.3 0.4 2.4 2.3 4.0 4.8 9.9 .483 - - - 3.1 4.0 .778

Season 4

Larry Bird Caldwell Jones
Season 1982-831979-80
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Semis76ers 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 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
Caldwell Jones 80 34.6 7.4 2.7 9.1 11.9 2.1 0.5 2.0 2.7 3.7 2.9 6.7 .436 0.0 0.0 .000 1.6 2.2 .697
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
Caldwell Jones 18 35.5 8.8 2.8 7.5 10.3 1.9 0.7 2.1 2.1 4.2 3.2 7.2 .450 0.0 0.2 .000 2.3 2.9 .808

Season 5

Larry Bird Caldwell Jones
Season 1983-841980-81
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers 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 %
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
Caldwell Jones 81 32.6 7.2 2.5 7.6 10.0 1.5 0.7 1.7 2.1 3.3 2.7 6.0 .449 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.4 .767
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
Caldwell Jones 16 36.3 8.7 2.3 7.4 9.7 1.7 0.4 1.9 2.1 3.3 3.4 5.9 .568 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.6 .738

Season 6

Larry Bird Caldwell Jones
Season 1984-851981-82
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA Finals76ers 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 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
Caldwell Jones 81 30.2 7.9 2.0 6.7 8.7 1.2 0.5 1.8 1.9 3.7 2.9 5.7 .497 0.0 0.0 .000 2.2 2.7 .817
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
Caldwell Jones 21 32.3 8.7 2.5 6.5 9.0 0.9 0.5 1.9 1.4 3.7 3.5 7.6 .463 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.0 .854

Season 7

Larry Bird Caldwell Jones
Season 1985-861982-83
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First 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
Caldwell Jones 82 29.8 9.5 2.7 5.4 8.1 1.7 0.6 1.6 2.1 3.4 3.7 8.3 .453 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.5 .786
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
Caldwell Jones ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Larry Bird Caldwell Jones
Season 1986-871983-84
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
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
Caldwell Jones 81 30.9 9.9 2.1 5.1 7.2 1.9 0.6 1.0 2.0 4.1 3.9 7.8 .502 0.0 0.0 .333 2.0 2.4 .837
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
Caldwell Jones ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Larry Bird Caldwell Jones
Season 1987-881984-85
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsBulls 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 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
Caldwell Jones 42 21.1 3.4 1.2 3.9 5.0 0.8 0.3 0.7 1.0 3.0 1.3 2.7 .461 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.1 .766
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
Caldwell Jones 2 9.0 5.0 0.5 2.0 2.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 3.5 2.5 3.0 .833 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -

Season 10

Larry Bird Caldwell Jones
Season 1988-891985-86
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail 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 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
Caldwell Jones 80 18.0 4.7 1.3 3.1 4.4 0.9 0.5 0.8 1.3 3.1 1.6 3.2 .496 0.0 0.1 .000 1.6 1.9 .827
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Caldwell Jones 4 18.3 3.5 2.3 2.5 4.8 0.8 0.0 0.5 1.0 3.3 1.5 4.3 .353 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.0 .500

Season 11

Larry Bird Caldwell Jones
Season 1989-901986-87
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdTrail 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 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
Caldwell Jones 78 20.2 4.1 1.5 4.4 5.8 0.8 0.3 1.0 1.1 2.9 1.4 2.9 .496 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 1.6 .782
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
Caldwell Jones 4 32.3 3.8 2.3 5.5 7.8 1.5 0.0 1.5 1.3 3.8 1.3 3.0 .417 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.5 .833

Season 12

Larry Bird Caldwell Jones
Season 1990-911987-88
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
Caldwell Jones 79 22.5 4.2 1.3 3.8 5.2 1.0 0.4 1.3 1.0 3.2 1.6 3.3 .487 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 1.3 .736
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
Caldwell Jones 4 24.5 3.3 1.0 3.3 4.3 0.3 0.5 2.0 0.5 4.3 1.5 4.0 .375 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.5 .500

Season 13

Larry Bird Caldwell Jones
Season 1991-921988-89
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
Caldwell Jones 72 17.8 2.8 1.2 2.9 4.2 0.8 0.3 1.2 1.2 2.3 1.1 2.5 .421 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 0.8 .787
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
Caldwell Jones 3 16.7 1.3 0.7 2.0 2.7 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 0.7 1.0 .667 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 14

Larry Bird Caldwell Jones
Season -1989-90
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 ------- --- ----------
Caldwell Jones 72 12.3 2.4 1.1 2.1 3.2 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.7 2.0 0.9 2.0 .465 0.0 0.1 .200 0.5 0.8 .704
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Caldwell Jones 9 7.3 0.9 0.7 0.8 1.4 0.2 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.1 0.4 1.0 .444 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.1 .000