Larry Bird vs. Clyde Drexler Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Clyde Drexler 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, 2 less than Clyde Drexler, who played 15. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Clyde Drexler had his rookie season in 1983-84. 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
Clyde Drexler 15 15 1983-84 to 1997-98

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season
Larry Bird Clyde Drexler
Season 1979-801983-84
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
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 FinalsTrail 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 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
Clyde Drexler 82 17.2 7.7 1.4 1.5 2.9 1.9 1.3 0.4 1.5 2.5 3.1 6.8 .451 0.0 0.0 .250 1.5 2.1 .728
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
Clyde Drexler 5 17.0 7.2 1.4 2.0 3.4 1.6 1.0 0.2 1.4 2.2 3.0 7.0 .429 0.0 0.2 .000 1.2 1.4 .857

Season 2
Larry Bird Clyde Drexler
Season 1980-811984-85
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers 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
Clyde Drexler 80 31.9 17.2 2.7 3.2 6.0 5.5 2.2 0.9 2.8 3.3 7.2 14.5 .494 0.1 0.5 .216 2.8 3.7 .759
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
Clyde Drexler 9 37.7 16.7 3.0 3.1 6.1 9.2 2.6 1.0 3.2 4.1 6.1 14.9 .410 0.2 0.8 .286 4.2 5.0 .844

Season 3
Larry Bird Clyde Drexler
Season 1981-821985-86
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
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 Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsTrail 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 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
Clyde Drexler 75 34.3 18.5 2.3 3.3 5.6 8.0 2.6 0.6 3.8 3.6 7.2 15.2 .475 0.2 0.8 .200 3.9 5.1 .769
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
Clyde Drexler 4 36.3 18.0 2.3 4.0 6.3 6.5 1.5 0.8 4.8 4.8 6.5 14.3 .456 0.5 1.3 .400 4.5 5.8 .783

Season 4
Larry Bird Clyde Drexler
Season 1982-831986-87
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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 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
Clyde Drexler 82 38.0 21.7 2.8 3.5 6.3 6.9 2.5 0.9 3.1 3.4 8.6 17.2 .502 0.1 0.6 .234 4.4 5.7 .760
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
Clyde Drexler 4 38.3 24.0 4.0 3.5 7.5 3.8 1.8 0.8 1.5 4.0 9.0 19.8 .456 0.3 1.0 .250 5.8 7.3 .793

Season 5
Larry Bird Clyde Drexler
Season 1983-841987-88
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail 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 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
Clyde Drexler 81 37.8 27.0 3.2 3.4 6.6 5.8 2.5 0.6 2.9 3.1 10.5 20.7 .506 0.1 0.6 .212 5.9 7.2 .811
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
Clyde Drexler 4 42.5 22.0 3.0 4.0 7.0 5.3 3.0 0.5 3.0 3.5 8.0 20.8 .386 0.8 1.5 .500 5.3 7.3 .724

Season 6
Larry Bird Clyde Drexler
Season 1984-851988-89
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsTrail 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 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
Clyde Drexler 78 39.3 27.2 3.7 4.2 7.9 5.8 2.7 0.7 3.2 3.4 10.6 21.4 .496 0.3 1.3 .260 5.6 7.0 .799
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
Clyde Drexler 3 42.7 27.7 4.3 2.3 6.7 8.3 2.0 0.7 4.0 3.7 11.7 23.7 .493 0.0 0.7 .000 4.3 5.7 .765

Season 7
Larry Bird Clyde Drexler
Season 1985-861989-90
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail 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 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
Clyde Drexler 73 36.8 23.3 2.8 4.1 6.9 5.9 2.0 0.7 2.6 3.0 9.2 18.6 .494 0.4 1.5 .283 4.6 5.9 .774
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
Clyde Drexler 21 40.6 21.4 3.0 4.2 7.2 7.1 2.5 0.9 3.2 3.4 8.2 18.6 .441 0.4 2.0 .220 4.6 5.9 .774

Season 8
Larry Bird Clyde Drexler
Season 1986-871990-91
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsTrail 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 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
Clyde Drexler 82 34.8 21.5 2.6 4.1 6.7 6.0 1.8 0.7 2.8 2.8 7.9 16.3 .482 0.7 2.3 .319 5.1 6.4 .794
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
Clyde Drexler 16 39.6 21.7 2.5 5.6 8.1 8.1 2.1 1.0 3.8 3.5 8.0 16.8 .476 0.9 3.5 .268 4.8 6.1 .776

Season 9
Larry Bird Clyde Drexler
Season 1987-881991-92
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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
Clyde Drexler 76 36.2 25.0 2.2 4.4 6.6 6.7 1.8 0.9 3.2 3.0 9.1 19.4 .470 1.5 4.4 .337 5.3 6.6 .794
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
Clyde Drexler 21 40.3 26.3 2.9 4.5 7.4 7.0 1.5 1.0 2.8 3.7 9.4 20.2 .466 0.9 3.9 .235 6.6 8.1 .807

Season 10
Larry Bird Clyde Drexler
Season 1988-891992-93
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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
Clyde Drexler 49 34.1 19.9 2.6 3.7 6.3 5.7 1.9 0.8 2.3 3.2 7.1 16.7 .429 0.6 2.7 .233 5.0 6.0 .839
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 3 38.7 19.0 2.7 3.7 6.3 4.7 1.7 1.0 1.0 3.0 6.0 14.3 .419 1.7 4.0 .417 5.3 6.7 .800

Season 11
Larry Bird Clyde Drexler
Season 1989-901993-94
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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
Clyde Drexler 68 34.3 19.2 2.3 4.3 6.5 4.9 1.4 0.5 2.5 3.0 7.0 16.3 .428 1.0 3.2 .324 4.2 5.4 .777
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
Clyde Drexler 4 39.3 21.0 2.5 7.8 10.3 5.5 2.0 0.5 2.3 1.8 7.8 18.3 .425 0.8 3.3 .231 4.8 5.8 .826

Season 12
Larry Bird Clyde Drexler
Season 1990-911994-95
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
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
Clyde Drexler 76 35.9 21.8 2.0 4.3 6.3 4.8 1.8 0.6 2.4 2.7 7.5 16.3 .461 1.9 5.4 .360 4.8 5.8 .824
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
Clyde Drexler 22 38.6 20.5 2.0 5.0 7.0 5.0 1.5 0.7 2.0 3.1 7.0 14.6 .481 1.4 4.5 .303 5.0 6.4 .786

Season 13
Larry Bird Clyde Drexler
Season 1991-921995-96
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisRockets 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
Clyde Drexler 52 38.4 19.3 1.9 5.3 7.2 5.8 2.0 0.5 2.6 2.9 6.4 14.7 .433 1.5 4.5 .332 5.1 6.5 .784
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
Clyde Drexler 8 36.5 16.6 1.9 5.9 7.8 5.0 2.6 0.5 2.5 2.8 6.1 14.8 .415 1.1 4.3 .265 3.3 4.3 .765

Season 14
Larry Bird Clyde Drexler
Season -1996-97
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Rockets 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 ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 62 36.6 18.0 1.9 4.1 6.0 5.7 1.9 0.6 2.5 2.4 6.4 14.5 .442 1.9 5.4 .355 3.2 4.3 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 16 39.1 18.1 1.6 4.0 5.6 4.8 1.6 0.4 2.3 3.3 6.6 15.1 .436 2.4 6.4 .373 2.6 3.4 .778

Season 15
Larry Bird Clyde Drexler
Season -1997-98
Team -Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Rockets 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 ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 70 35.3 18.4 1.5 3.4 4.9 5.5 1.8 0.6 2.7 2.8 6.5 15.1 .427 1.5 4.8 .317 4.0 4.9 .801
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Clyde Drexler 5 36.4 15.0 1.8 3.6 5.4 4.6 1.6 0.6 2.6 3.0 4.2 13.6 .309 1.0 5.2 .192 5.6 7.4 .757
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