Larry Bird vs. Josh Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Josh Smith 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 and Josh Smith both played 13 years in the NBA. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Josh Smith had his rookie season in 2004-05. 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
Josh Smith 13 8 2004-05 to 2017-18

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Larry Bird Josh Smith
Season 1979-802004-05
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second 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
Josh Smith 74 27.7 9.7 2.0 4.2 6.2 1.7 0.8 1.9 1.8 2.1 3.7 8.1 .455 0.1 0.3 .174 2.2 3.2 .688
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
Josh Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Larry Bird Josh Smith
Season 1980-812005-06
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
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
Josh Smith 80 32.0 11.3 2.2 4.4 6.6 2.4 0.8 2.6 2.0 3.3 4.1 9.7 .425 0.4 1.4 .309 2.6 3.7 .719
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
Josh Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Larry Bird Josh Smith
Season 1981-822006-07
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
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
Josh Smith 72 36.8 16.4 2.3 6.3 8.6 3.3 1.4 2.9 3.2 3.3 6.1 13.8 .439 0.5 2.1 .250 3.7 5.4 .693
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
Josh Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 4
Larry Bird Josh Smith
Season 1982-832007-08
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisHawks 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 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
Josh Smith 81 35.5 17.2 2.0 6.2 8.2 3.4 1.5 2.8 3.0 3.3 6.4 14.0 .457 0.3 1.2 .253 4.1 5.8 .710
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
Josh Smith 7 33.9 15.7 1.0 5.4 6.4 2.9 1.7 2.9 3.7 3.7 5.0 12.6 .398 0.4 2.6 .167 5.3 6.3 .841

Season 5
Larry Bird Josh Smith
Season 1983-842008-09
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
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 ChampionHawks 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 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
Josh Smith 69 35.1 15.6 1.9 5.3 7.2 2.4 1.4 1.6 2.3 2.7 6.1 12.3 .492 0.4 1.3 .299 3.1 5.2 .588
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
Josh Smith 11 37.3 17.1 2.2 5.3 7.5 2.2 1.1 1.5 1.9 3.3 6.1 14.5 .421 0.2 1.4 .133 4.7 6.5 .732

Season 6
Larry Bird Josh Smith
Season 1984-852009-10
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsHawks 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 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
Josh Smith 81 35.4 15.7 2.8 6.0 8.7 4.2 1.6 2.1 2.4 3.0 6.2 12.3 .505 0.0 0.1 .000 3.2 5.2 .618
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
Josh Smith 11 35.6 14.1 3.4 5.6 9.0 2.6 1.2 1.7 1.5 2.7 5.6 11.7 .481 0.2 0.5 .333 2.6 4.0 .659

Season 7
Larry Bird Josh Smith
Season 1985-862010-11
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHawks 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
Josh Smith 77 34.4 16.5 1.7 6.8 8.5 3.3 1.3 1.6 2.6 2.8 6.5 13.5 .477 0.7 2.0 .331 3.0 4.1 .725
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
Josh Smith 12 36.5 15.1 1.5 7.0 8.5 2.9 1.1 2.1 2.2 3.3 5.8 14.3 .404 0.3 2.0 .125 3.3 5.6 .597

Season 8
Larry Bird Josh Smith
Season 1986-872011-12
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsHawks 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
Josh Smith 66 35.3 18.8 2.1 7.5 9.6 3.9 1.4 1.7 2.5 2.6 7.6 16.7 .458 0.4 1.7 .257 3.1 4.9 .630
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
Josh Smith 5 39.2 16.8 2.0 11.6 13.6 4.8 0.6 1.0 3.0 2.8 6.8 17.6 .386 0.0 0.8 .000 3.2 4.2 .762

Season 9
Larry Bird Josh Smith
Season 1987-882012-13
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsHawks 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
Josh Smith 76 35.3 17.5 1.8 6.7 8.4 4.2 1.2 1.8 3.0 2.3 7.2 15.6 .465 0.8 2.6 .303 2.2 4.2 .517
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
Josh Smith 6 33.2 17.0 1.7 5.8 7.5 3.5 1.8 0.5 2.7 3.5 6.5 15.0 .433 0.8 3.3 .250 3.2 6.0 .528

Season 10
Larry Bird Josh Smith
Season 1988-892013-14
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
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
Josh Smith 77 35.5 16.4 1.3 5.4 6.8 3.3 1.4 1.4 2.6 2.6 6.7 16.0 .419 0.9 3.4 .264 2.1 3.9 .532
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Josh Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Larry Bird Josh Smith
Season 1989-902014-15
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets 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 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
Josh Smith 83 27.7 12.4 1.8 4.6 6.4 3.3 1.0 1.4 2.5 2.7 5.0 11.9 .419 0.9 2.7 .316 1.5 3.1 .498
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
Josh Smith 17 23.3 13.5 1.5 4.1 5.6 2.7 0.5 1.0 2.2 2.4 5.0 11.4 .438 1.6 4.2 .380 1.9 4.4 .432

Season 12
Larry Bird Josh Smith
Season 1990-912015-16
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisRockets 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 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
Josh Smith 55 16.0 6.0 0.9 2.6 3.5 1.6 0.6 0.9 1.4 2.1 2.3 6.3 .364 0.7 2.6 .287 0.7 1.2 .552
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
Josh Smith 4 9.5 4.0 0.3 0.3 0.5 1.0 0.3 0.3 1.3 1.8 1.5 3.3 .462 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 0.5 .000

Note: Josh Smith didn't play in 2016-17.

Season 13
Larry Bird Josh Smith
Season 1991-922017-18
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans Pelicans
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
Josh Smith 3 4.0 0.7 1.0 0.3 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.3 1.3 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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
Josh Smith ------- --- ----------
Share: