Larry Bird vs. Chris Mullin Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Chris Mullin 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, 3 less than Chris Mullin, who played 16. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Chris Mullin had his rookie season in 1985-86. 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
Chris Mullin 16 8 1985-86 to 2000-01

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Chris Mullin
Season 1979-801985-86
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
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 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
Chris Mullin 55 25.3 14.0 0.8 1.3 2.1 1.9 1.3 0.4 1.4 2.4 5.2 11.3 .463 0.1 0.5 .185 3.4 3.8 .896
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
Chris Mullin ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Chris Mullin
Season 1980-811986-87
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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 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
Chris Mullin 82 29.0 15.1 0.5 1.7 2.2 3.2 1.2 0.4 1.9 2.6 5.8 11.3 .514 0.2 0.8 .302 3.3 4.0 .825
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
Chris Mullin 10 26.2 11.3 0.2 1.3 1.5 2.3 0.9 0.2 1.6 3.1 4.9 9.8 .500 0.3 0.4 .750 1.2 1.6 .750

Season 3

Larry Bird Chris Mullin
Season 1981-821987-88
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
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
Chris Mullin 60 33.9 20.2 1.0 2.5 3.4 4.8 1.9 0.5 2.6 2.3 7.8 15.4 .508 0.6 1.6 .351 4.0 4.5 .885
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
Chris Mullin ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Bird Chris Mullin
Season 1982-831988-89
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisWarriors 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 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
Chris Mullin 82 37.7 26.5 1.9 4.0 5.9 5.1 2.1 0.5 3.6 2.2 10.1 19.9 .509 0.3 1.2 .230 6.0 6.7 .892
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
Chris Mullin 8 42.6 29.4 1.4 4.5 5.9 4.5 1.8 1.4 4.0 2.4 11.0 20.4 .540 0.1 1.0 .125 7.3 8.4 .866

Season 5

Larry Bird Chris Mullin
Season 1983-841989-90
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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
Chris Mullin 78 36.3 25.1 1.7 4.3 5.9 4.1 1.6 0.6 3.1 1.8 8.7 16.3 .536 1.1 3.0 .372 6.5 7.3 .889
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
Chris Mullin ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Larry Bird Chris Mullin
Season 1984-851990-91
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsWarriors 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 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
Chris Mullin 82 40.4 25.7 1.7 3.7 5.4 4.0 2.1 0.8 3.0 2.1 9.5 17.7 .536 0.5 1.6 .301 6.3 7.1 .884
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
Chris Mullin 8 45.8 23.8 1.1 6.1 7.3 2.9 1.9 1.5 3.1 2.9 8.6 16.4 .527 1.1 1.6 .692 5.4 6.3 .860

Season 7

Larry Bird Chris Mullin
Season 1985-861991-92
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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 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
Chris Mullin 81 41.3 25.6 1.6 4.0 5.6 3.5 2.1 0.8 2.5 2.1 10.2 19.6 .524 0.8 2.2 .366 4.3 5.2 .833
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
Chris Mullin 4 42.0 17.8 0.8 2.3 3.0 3.0 1.3 0.5 2.0 2.0 6.8 15.8 .429 1.0 3.0 .333 3.3 3.5 .929

Season 8

Larry Bird Chris Mullin
Season 1986-871992-93
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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
Chris Mullin 46 41.3 25.9 0.9 4.1 5.0 3.6 1.5 0.9 3.0 1.7 10.3 20.2 .510 1.3 2.9 .451 4.0 4.9 .810
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
Chris Mullin ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Larry Bird Chris Mullin
Season 1987-881993-94
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsWarriors 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 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
Chris Mullin 62 37.5 16.8 1.0 4.5 5.6 5.1 1.7 0.9 2.9 1.8 6.6 14.0 .472 0.9 2.4 .364 2.7 3.5 .753
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
Chris Mullin 3 45.0 25.3 1.3 3.3 4.7 3.7 0.0 1.7 2.3 1.3 10.0 17.0 .588 2.0 4.0 .500 3.3 3.7 .909

Season 10

Larry Bird Chris Mullin
Season 1988-891994-95
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
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
Chris Mullin 25 35.6 19.0 1.0 3.6 4.6 5.0 1.5 0.8 3.7 2.1 6.8 13.9 .489 1.7 3.7 .452 3.8 4.3 .879
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Chris Mullin ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Larry Bird Chris Mullin
Season 1989-901995-96
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
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
Chris Mullin 55 29.4 13.3 0.8 2.1 2.9 3.5 1.4 0.6 2.2 2.3 4.9 9.8 .499 1.1 2.7 .393 2.5 2.9 .856
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
Chris Mullin ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Larry Bird Chris Mullin
Season 1990-911996-97
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid 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 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
Chris Mullin 79 34.6 14.5 0.9 3.1 4.0 4.1 1.6 0.4 2.4 2.0 5.5 10.0 .553 1.1 2.6 .411 2.3 2.7 .864
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
Chris Mullin ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Larry Bird Chris Mullin
Season 1991-921997-98
Team Boston CelticsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisPacers 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 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
Chris Mullin 82 26.5 11.3 0.5 2.6 3.0 2.3 1.2 0.5 1.4 2.3 4.1 8.4 .481 1.3 3.0 .440 1.9 2.0 .939
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
Chris Mullin 16 25.8 8.9 0.8 2.8 3.6 1.4 0.9 0.6 1.5 2.0 3.3 7.1 .460 1.3 3.3 .385 1.1 1.3 .857

Season 14

Larry Bird Chris Mullin
Season -1998-99
Team -Indiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pacers 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 ------- --- ----------
Chris Mullin 50 23.6 10.1 0.5 2.7 3.2 1.6 0.9 0.3 1.2 2.0 3.5 7.4 .477 1.5 3.1 .465 1.6 1.8 .870
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Chris Mullin 13 21.8 9.5 0.2 1.4 1.5 1.2 0.8 0.2 1.5 1.6 3.2 7.7 .410 1.7 4.2 .400 1.5 1.8 .870

Season 15

Larry Bird Chris Mullin
Season -1999-00
Team -Indiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pacers 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 ------- --- ----------
Chris Mullin 47 12.4 5.1 0.3 1.3 1.6 0.8 0.6 0.2 0.6 1.3 1.7 4.0 .428 1.0 2.3 .409 0.8 0.9 .902
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Chris Mullin 9 10.1 3.4 0.2 1.3 1.6 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.4 0.8 1.1 2.3 .476 0.2 0.9 .250 1.0 1.2 .818

Season 16

Larry Bird Chris Mullin
Season -2000-01
Team -Golden State Warriors
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 %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Chris Mullin 20 18.7 5.8 0.5 1.6 2.1 1.0 0.8 0.5 1.0 1.4 1.8 5.3 .340 1.0 2.6 .365 1.2 1.4 .857
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Chris Mullin ------- --- ----------