Larry Bird vs. Harvey Catchings Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Harvey Catchings 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 Harvey Catchings, who played 11. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Harvey Catchings had his rookie season in 1974-75. 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
Harvey Catchings 11 9 1974-75 to 1984-85

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Harvey Catchings
Season 1979-801974-75
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
Harvey Catchings 37 14.3 2.6 1.3 2.8 4.1 0.6 0.3 1.6 - 2.2 1.1 2.0 .554 - - - 0.4 0.7 .640
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
Harvey Catchings ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Harvey Catchings
Season 1980-811975-76
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers 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 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
Harvey Catchings 75 23.1 3.5 2.5 4.4 6.9 0.8 0.3 2.2 - 3.5 1.4 3.2 .426 - - - 0.8 1.3 .604
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
Harvey Catchings 3 29.0 5.7 4.0 5.3 9.3 2.0 0.0 3.0 - 3.7 2.7 4.3 .615 - - - 0.3 1.0 .333

Season 3

Larry Bird Harvey Catchings
Season 1981-821976-77
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 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
Harvey Catchings 53 16.3 3.0 1.2 3.2 4.4 0.6 0.4 1.5 - 2.5 1.2 2.3 .504 - - - 0.6 0.9 .702
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
Harvey Catchings 8 6.8 0.5 0.6 0.9 1.5 0.1 0.0 0.5 - 1.1 0.3 0.6 .400 - - - 0.0 0.4 .000

Season 4

Larry Bird Harvey Catchings
Season 1982-831977-78
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 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 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
Harvey Catchings 61 12.3 2.9 1.7 2.4 4.1 0.6 0.3 1.1 0.7 2.0 1.1 2.9 .393 - - - 0.6 0.9 .618
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
Harvey Catchings 7 3.7 1.3 0.4 0.9 1.3 0.0 0.1 0.4 0.0 0.6 0.4 1.1 .375 - - - 0.4 0.6 .750

Season 5

Larry Bird Harvey Catchings
Season 1983-841978-79
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets
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 ChampionNets 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 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
Harvey Catchings 57 16.6 4.6 1.8 3.5 5.3 0.8 0.4 1.6 1.5 2.3 1.8 4.3 .420 - - - 1.1 1.4 .769
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
Harvey Catchings 2 13.0 1.0 2.5 1.5 4.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 2.0 0.5 3.0 .167 - - - 0.0 1.5 .000

Season 6

Larry Bird Harvey Catchings
Season 1984-851979-80
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsBucks 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
Harvey Catchings 72 19.0 3.2 2.3 3.4 5.7 1.1 0.3 2.3 0.9 2.7 1.3 3.4 .398 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.9 .629
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
Harvey Catchings 6 10.7 1.0 0.8 2.7 3.5 0.3 0.0 1.3 0.3 2.2 0.3 1.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.7 .500

Season 7

Larry Bird Harvey Catchings
Season 1985-861980-81
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBucks 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 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
Harvey Catchings 77 21.2 4.2 2.0 4.1 6.1 1.3 0.4 2.4 1.4 3.7 1.7 3.9 .447 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .641
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
Harvey Catchings 7 15.6 1.1 1.4 2.3 3.7 1.1 0.0 1.6 1.0 3.4 0.4 2.3 .188 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 1.000

Season 8

Larry Bird Harvey Catchings
Season 1986-871981-82
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsBucks 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 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
Harvey Catchings 80 20.0 2.9 1.6 2.8 4.5 1.2 0.5 1.7 1.2 3.0 1.2 2.8 .420 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.9 .594
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
Harvey Catchings 6 4.3 0.7 0.5 0.7 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.5 0.3 0.5 .667 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 9

Larry Bird Harvey Catchings
Season 1987-881982-83
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsBucks 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 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
Harvey Catchings 74 21.0 3.3 1.8 3.7 5.5 1.0 0.4 2.0 1.1 3.0 1.2 2.7 .457 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.2 .674
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
Harvey Catchings 9 15.4 2.3 1.7 2.6 4.2 0.4 0.2 1.1 0.2 2.0 1.0 2.1 .474 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 1.000

Season 10

Larry Bird Harvey Catchings
Season 1988-891983-84
Team Boston CelticsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBucks 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 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
Harvey Catchings 69 16.8 2.1 1.3 2.6 3.9 0.6 0.4 1.2 0.8 2.5 0.9 2.2 .399 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.6 .524
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Harvey Catchings 5 5.0 0.6 0.4 0.6 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.4 1.4 0.2 0.4 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.4 .500

Season 11

Larry Bird Harvey Catchings
Season 1989-901984-85
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Clippers
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
Harvey Catchings 70 15.0 2.9 1.3 2.5 3.7 0.2 0.2 0.8 0.8 2.3 1.0 2.1 .483 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.3 .663
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
Harvey Catchings ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Larry Bird Harvey Catchings
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
Harvey Catchings ------- --- ----------
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
Harvey Catchings ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Larry Bird Harvey Catchings
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
Harvey Catchings ------- --- ----------
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
Harvey Catchings ------- --- ----------