Larry Bird vs. Darryl Dawkins Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Darryl Dawkins 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 Darryl Dawkins, who played 14. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Darryl Dawkins had his rookie season in 1975-76. 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
Darryl Dawkins 14 10 1975-76 to 1988-89

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 Darryl Dawkins
Season 1979-801975-76
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 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
Darryl Dawkins 37 4.5 2.4 0.4 0.9 1.3 0.1 0.1 0.2 - 1.1 1.1 2.2 .500 - - - 0.2 0.6 .333
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
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Darryl Dawkins
Season 1980-811976-77
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers 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 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
Darryl Dawkins 59 11.6 5.3 1.0 2.9 3.9 0.4 0.2 0.8 - 2.2 2.3 3.6 .628 - - - 0.7 1.3 .506
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
Darryl Dawkins 18 18.4 7.3 0.5 4.9 5.4 0.9 0.4 1.0 - 2.6 2.8 5.3 .526 - - - 1.7 2.6 .660

Season 3

Larry Bird Darryl Dawkins
Season 1981-821977-78
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 Finals
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
Darryl Dawkins 70 24.6 11.7 1.7 6.3 7.9 1.2 0.5 1.8 1.8 3.8 4.7 8.2 .575 - - - 2.2 3.1 .709
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
Darryl Dawkins 10 18.0 6.3 0.6 5.1 5.7 1.0 0.3 1.5 1.4 3.4 2.7 5.3 .509 - - - 0.9 1.7 .529

Season 4

Larry Bird Darryl Dawkins
Season 1982-831978-79
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 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
Darryl Dawkins 78 26.1 13.1 1.6 6.5 8.1 1.6 0.4 1.8 2.5 3.8 5.5 10.7 .517 - - - 2.0 3.0 .672
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
Darryl Dawkins 9 28.3 16.0 2.3 6.8 9.1 1.3 0.2 1.8 1.9 4.7 6.2 11.8 .528 - - - 3.6 5.2 .681

Season 5

Larry Bird Darryl Dawkins
Season 1983-841979-80
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 Champion76ers 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 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
Darryl Dawkins 80 31.8 14.7 2.5 6.2 8.7 1.9 0.6 1.8 2.9 4.1 6.2 11.8 .522 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.6 .653
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
Darryl Dawkins 18 33.7 17.3 2.4 5.2 7.6 1.8 0.7 2.3 2.6 4.2 7.0 13.2 .529 0.0 0.2 .000 3.3 5.2 .645

Season 6

Larry Bird Darryl Dawkins
Season 1984-851980-81
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA Finals76ers 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 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
Darryl Dawkins 76 27.5 14.0 1.4 5.8 7.2 1.4 0.5 1.5 2.9 4.2 5.6 9.2 .607 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.0 .720
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
Darryl Dawkins 16 26.3 13.8 1.8 4.4 6.1 0.9 0.2 1.0 2.3 4.4 5.4 9.6 .562 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 4.3 .721

Season 7

Larry Bird Darryl Dawkins
Season 1985-861981-82
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers 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
Darryl Dawkins 48 23.4 11.0 1.4 4.9 6.4 1.1 0.4 1.1 2.0 4.0 4.3 7.6 .564 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.4 .695
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
Darryl Dawkins 21 21.9 11.0 1.1 3.6 4.7 0.5 0.3 1.7 1.8 4.5 4.7 8.5 .556 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.4 .660

Season 8

Larry Bird Darryl Dawkins
Season 1986-871982-83
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA 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 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
Darryl Dawkins 81 25.8 12.0 1.6 3.6 5.2 1.4 0.8 1.9 3.5 4.7 5.0 8.3 .599 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.2 .646
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
Darryl Dawkins 2 29.5 18.0 1.0 4.0 5.0 1.0 2.0 2.5 4.0 3.5 8.5 11.0 .773 0.0 0.5 .000 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 9

Larry Bird Darryl Dawkins
Season 1987-881983-84
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 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
Darryl Dawkins 81 29.8 16.8 2.0 4.7 6.7 1.5 0.7 1.7 2.9 4.8 6.3 10.6 .593 0.0 0.1 .400 4.2 5.7 .735
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
Darryl Dawkins 11 30.9 18.4 2.0 4.2 6.2 1.2 0.5 0.9 2.9 4.7 6.0 10.7 .559 0.0 0.3 .000 6.4 7.5 .843

Season 10

Larry Bird Darryl Dawkins
Season 1988-891984-85
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNets 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 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
Darryl Dawkins 39 24.9 13.5 1.4 3.2 4.6 1.2 0.4 0.9 2.4 4.4 4.9 8.7 .566 0.0 0.0 .000 3.7 5.2 .711
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Darryl Dawkins 3 21.3 8.3 1.3 3.3 4.7 1.3 0.7 2.0 2.3 4.3 3.7 7.7 .478 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.3 .750

Season 11

Larry Bird Darryl Dawkins
Season 1989-901985-86
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdNets 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 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
Darryl Dawkins 51 23.7 15.3 1.7 3.3 4.9 1.5 0.3 1.2 2.4 4.5 5.6 8.6 .644 0.0 0.0 .000 4.1 5.8 .707
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
Darryl Dawkins 1 17.0 10.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 4.0 6.0 .667 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.0 .667

Season 12

Larry Bird Darryl Dawkins
Season 1990-911986-87
Team Boston CelticsNew Jersey Nets
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
Darryl Dawkins 6 17.7 9.5 1.5 1.7 3.2 0.3 0.3 0.5 2.5 4.2 3.3 5.3 .625 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 4.0 .708
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
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Larry Bird Darryl Dawkins
Season 1991-921987-88
Team Boston CelticsUtah Jazz, Detroit Pistons
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 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
Darryl Dawkins 6 5.5 1.7 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.2 2.3 0.3 1.5 .222 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.5 .400
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
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Larry Bird Darryl Dawkins
Season -1988-89
Team -Detroit Pistons
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 ------- --- ----------
Darryl Dawkins 14 3.4 1.9 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.9 0.6 1.4 .474 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.3 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Darryl Dawkins ------- --- ----------