Larry Bird vs. Gus Williams Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gus Williams 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 more than Gus Williams, who played 11. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Gus Williams 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
Gus Williams 11 10 1975-76 to 1986-87

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Gus Williams
Season 1979-801975-76
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
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 FinalsWarriors 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 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
Gus Williams 77 22.4 11.7 0.8 1.3 2.1 3.1 1.8 0.3 - 1.9 4.7 11.1 .428 - - - 2.2 3.0 .742
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
Gus Williams 11 16.2 6.7 0.5 0.8 1.3 2.4 1.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.7 7.7 .353 - - - 1.3 1.9 .667

Season 2

Larry Bird Gus Williams
Season 1980-811976-77
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
Gus Williams 82 23.5 9.3 0.9 2.0 2.8 3.6 1.5 0.2 - 2.7 4.0 8.5 .464 - - - 1.4 1.8 .747
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
Gus Williams 10 18.4 8.8 0.9 0.6 1.5 2.5 0.8 0.1 - 3.0 3.5 7.0 .500 - - - 1.8 2.1 .857

Season 3

Larry Bird Gus Williams
Season 1981-821977-78
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
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 FinalsSupersonics 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 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
Gus Williams 79 32.6 18.1 1.1 2.2 3.2 3.7 2.3 0.5 2.4 2.5 7.6 16.9 .451 - - - 2.9 3.5 .817
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
Gus Williams 22 31.9 18.3 1.4 2.5 3.9 4.0 2.0 0.5 2.5 3.2 7.4 15.5 .477 - - - 3.5 4.8 .726

Season 4

Larry Bird Gus Williams
Season 1982-831978-79
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 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
Gus Williams 76 29.8 19.2 1.5 1.8 3.2 4.0 2.1 0.4 2.5 2.1 8.0 16.1 .495 - - - 3.2 4.2 .775
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
Gus Williams 17 36.4 26.6 2.1 2.0 4.1 3.7 2.0 0.6 2.5 2.5 10.7 22.5 .476 - - - 5.3 7.5 .709

Season 5

Larry Bird Gus Williams
Season 1983-841979-80
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
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 Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics 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 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
Gus Williams 82 36.2 22.1 1.5 1.8 3.4 4.8 2.4 0.5 2.2 2.0 9.0 18.7 .482 0.1 0.4 .194 4.0 5.1 .788
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
Gus Williams 15 37.6 23.7 2.0 2.0 4.0 5.6 2.3 0.5 3.1 2.5 9.7 18.9 .514 0.1 0.3 .200 4.1 5.7 .721

Note: Gus Williams didn't play in 1980-81.

Season 6

Larry Bird Gus Williams
Season 1984-851981-82
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsSupersonics 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
Gus Williams 80 36.0 23.4 1.2 1.9 3.1 6.9 2.2 0.5 2.5 2.0 9.7 19.9 .486 0.1 0.5 .225 4.0 5.5 .734
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
Gus Williams 8 39.4 26.3 1.5 1.8 3.3 8.1 1.6 0.6 2.3 1.6 10.3 23.3 .441 0.3 0.8 .333 5.5 7.0 .786

Season 7

Larry Bird Gus Williams
Season 1985-861982-83
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSupersonics 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
Gus Williams 80 34.5 20.0 0.9 1.7 2.6 8.0 2.3 0.3 2.9 1.5 8.3 17.3 .477 0.0 0.5 .047 3.5 4.6 .751
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
Gus Williams 2 40.5 32.5 2.0 1.5 3.5 4.0 2.5 0.0 3.0 2.5 13.0 23.5 .553 0.0 1.0 .000 6.5 7.5 .867

Season 8

Larry Bird Gus Williams
Season 1986-871983-84
Team Boston CelticsSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsSupersonics 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 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
Gus Williams 80 35.2 18.7 0.8 1.7 2.6 8.4 2.4 0.3 2.9 1.9 7.5 16.3 .458 0.1 0.3 .160 3.7 5.0 .750
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
Gus Williams 5 43.0 23.4 0.4 2.0 2.4 11.4 1.6 0.6 2.8 1.4 10.0 19.6 .510 0.4 1.2 .333 3.0 4.2 .714

Season 9

Larry Bird Gus Williams
Season 1987-881984-85
Team Boston CelticsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsBullets 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
Gus Williams 79 37.5 20.0 0.9 1.6 2.5 7.7 2.3 0.4 2.7 2.0 8.1 18.8 .430 0.6 2.2 .290 3.2 4.4 .725
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
Gus Williams 4 39.8 18.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 5.0 1.3 0.3 3.3 1.3 7.5 17.8 .423 0.8 2.5 .300 2.3 3.0 .750

Season 10

Larry Bird Gus Williams
Season 1988-891985-86
Team Boston CelticsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBullets 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
Gus Williams 77 29.7 13.5 0.7 1.5 2.2 5.9 1.2 0.2 2.1 1.5 5.6 13.2 .428 0.4 1.5 .259 1.8 2.4 .734
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Gus Williams 5 39.8 18.2 0.8 1.2 2.0 6.6 2.2 0.0 1.4 2.2 7.6 15.8 .481 0.2 2.0 .100 2.8 3.6 .778

Season 11

Larry Bird Gus Williams
Season 1989-901986-87
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
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
Gus Williams 33 14.6 4.2 0.2 1.0 1.2 4.2 0.5 0.2 1.6 1.6 1.6 4.4 .363 0.2 0.5 .278 0.8 1.2 .675
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
Gus Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Larry Bird Gus Williams
Season 1990-91-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics 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
Gus Williams ------- --- ----------
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
Gus Williams ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Larry Bird Gus Williams
Season 1991-92-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics 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
Gus Williams ------- --- ----------
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
Gus Williams ------- --- ----------