Larry Bird vs. Drew Gooden Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Drew Gooden 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

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 Drew Gooden, who played 14. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Drew Gooden had his rookie season in 2002-03. 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
Drew Gooden 14 6 2002-03 to 2015-16

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 Drew Gooden
Season 1979-802002-03
Team Boston CelticsMemphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsMagic 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
Drew Gooden 70 26.8 12.5 2.3 4.2 6.5 1.2 0.8 0.5 2.1 2.5 5.1 11.1 .457 0.2 0.7 .292 2.2 3.0 .712
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
Drew Gooden 7 33.3 14.0 4.0 8.7 12.7 0.6 0.4 0.9 1.7 3.3 5.1 12.9 .400 0.0 0.4 .000 3.7 5.1 .722

Season 2
Larry Bird Drew Gooden
Season 1980-812003-04
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards 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 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
Drew Gooden 79 27.0 11.6 2.0 4.5 6.5 1.1 0.8 0.9 1.6 2.5 4.7 10.5 .445 0.1 0.5 .214 2.1 3.3 .637
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
Drew Gooden ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Larry Bird Drew Gooden
Season 1981-822004-05
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
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
Drew Gooden 82 30.8 14.4 2.5 6.7 9.2 1.6 0.9 0.9 1.6 2.8 5.7 11.5 .492 0.1 0.3 .179 3.1 3.8 .810
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
Drew Gooden ------- --- ----------

Season 4
Larry Bird Drew Gooden
Season 1982-832005-06
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisCavaliers 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
Drew Gooden 79 27.5 10.7 3.0 5.4 8.4 0.7 0.7 0.6 1.3 2.4 4.2 8.3 .512 0.0 0.0 .333 2.2 3.3 .682
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
Drew Gooden 13 21.6 8.2 2.4 5.2 7.5 0.6 0.2 0.2 1.4 3.1 3.5 6.5 .529 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.4 .944

Season 5
Larry Bird Drew Gooden
Season 1983-842006-07
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
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 ChampionCavaliers 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
Drew Gooden 80 28.0 11.1 3.3 5.2 8.5 1.1 0.9 0.4 1.4 2.6 4.6 9.8 .473 0.0 0.1 .167 1.8 2.5 .714
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
Drew Gooden 20 30.3 11.4 2.5 5.6 8.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 1.4 3.1 5.0 10.1 .493 0.0 0.1 .000 1.5 2.0 .769

Season 6
Larry Bird Drew Gooden
Season 1984-852007-08
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls
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
Drew Gooden 69 30.8 12.0 2.5 6.0 8.6 1.2 0.7 0.8 1.8 2.9 4.8 10.7 .449 0.0 0.1 .000 2.3 3.1 .753
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
Drew Gooden ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Larry Bird Drew Gooden
Season 1985-862008-09
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs 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
Drew Gooden 51 24.8 11.9 2.2 4.9 7.1 0.9 0.6 0.4 1.5 2.8 4.6 9.9 .468 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 3.1 .840
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
Drew Gooden 4 17.8 7.3 1.3 2.5 3.8 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.8 3.3 2.8 8.3 .333 0.0 0.5 .000 1.8 1.8 1.000

Season 8
Larry Bird Drew Gooden
Season 1986-872009-10
Team Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers
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
Drew Gooden 70 25.1 10.9 3.0 4.8 7.7 0.7 0.6 0.8 1.5 2.8 4.1 8.6 .478 0.0 0.1 .125 2.7 3.1 .861
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
Drew Gooden ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Larry Bird Drew Gooden
Season 1987-882010-11
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA 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 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
Drew Gooden 35 24.6 11.3 2.1 4.7 6.8 1.3 0.6 0.5 1.3 2.8 4.5 10.3 .431 0.1 0.6 .150 2.3 2.9 .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
Drew Gooden ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Larry Bird Drew Gooden
Season 1988-892011-12
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
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
Drew Gooden 56 26.2 13.7 2.3 4.2 6.5 2.6 0.8 0.6 1.9 2.0 5.1 11.7 .437 0.3 1.0 .291 3.1 3.7 .846
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Drew Gooden ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Larry Bird Drew Gooden
Season 1989-902012-13
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
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
Drew Gooden 16 9.4 3.3 0.8 1.1 1.9 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.6 1.3 1.3 3.8 .328 0.1 0.3 .200 0.7 1.0 .688
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
Drew Gooden ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Larry Bird Drew Gooden
Season 1990-912013-14
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisWizards 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 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
Drew Gooden 22 18.0 8.3 1.7 3.5 5.2 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.8 2.4 3.5 6.5 .531 0.3 0.8 .412 1.1 1.2 .889
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
Drew Gooden 10 14.6 3.4 2.0 2.2 4.2 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.4 3.0 1.4 3.8 .368 0.0 0.4 .000 0.6 0.8 .750

Season 13
Larry Bird Drew Gooden
Season 1991-922014-15
Team Boston CelticsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisWizards 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 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
Drew Gooden 51 16.9 5.4 1.4 3.0 4.4 1.0 0.4 0.2 0.5 1.8 2.2 5.4 .399 0.5 1.2 .390 0.7 0.9 .773
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
Drew Gooden 10 17.8 6.8 1.3 4.2 5.5 0.8 0.2 1.0 1.4 2.1 2.3 6.1 .377 1.2 2.6 .462 1.0 1.3 .769

Season 14
Larry Bird Drew Gooden
Season -2015-16
Team -Washington Wizards
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 ------- --- ----------
Drew Gooden 30 10.2 2.7 0.9 1.9 2.8 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.4 1.3 1.1 3.4 .320 0.2 1.4 .171 0.3 0.5 .643
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Drew Gooden ------- --- ----------
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