Larry Bird vs. Maurice Cheeks Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Maurice Cheeks 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 less than Maurice Cheeks, who played 15. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Maurice Cheeks had his rookie season in 1978-79. 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
Maurice Cheeks 15 13 1978-79 to 1992-93

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15

Rookie Season
Larry Bird Maurice Cheeks
Season 1979-801978-79
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 Finals76ers 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 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
Maurice Cheeks 82 29.4 8.4 0.8 2.3 3.1 5.3 2.1 0.1 2.4 2.4 3.6 7.0 .510 - - - 1.2 1.7 .721
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
Maurice Cheeks 9 36.7 18.8 1.4 2.4 3.9 7.0 4.1 0.4 3.2 3.2 7.3 13.4 .545 - - - 4.1 6.2 .661

Season 2
Larry Bird Maurice Cheeks
Season 1980-811979-80
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
Maurice Cheeks 79 33.2 11.4 0.9 2.5 3.5 7.0 2.3 0.4 2.7 2.5 4.5 8.4 .540 0.1 0.1 .444 2.3 2.9 .779
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
Maurice Cheeks 18 37.5 11.6 1.2 2.9 4.1 6.2 2.5 0.2 2.5 2.4 4.9 9.7 .511 0.1 0.3 .200 1.6 2.3 .707

Season 3
Larry Bird Maurice Cheeks
Season 1981-821980-81
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
Maurice Cheeks 81 29.8 9.4 0.8 2.2 3.0 6.9 2.4 0.5 2.1 2.9 3.8 7.2 .534 0.0 0.1 .375 1.7 2.2 .787
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
Maurice Cheeks 16 32.1 10.5 0.3 2.9 3.2 7.3 2.5 0.8 2.3 3.4 4.3 7.8 .544 0.0 0.2 .000 2.0 2.6 .762

Season 4
Larry Bird Maurice Cheeks
Season 1982-831981-82
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 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 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
Maurice Cheeks 79 31.6 11.2 0.6 2.5 3.1 8.4 2.6 0.4 2.3 3.1 4.5 8.6 .521 0.1 0.3 .273 2.2 2.8 .777
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
Maurice Cheeks 21 36.4 14.3 0.7 2.2 3.0 8.2 2.3 0.3 2.3 2.8 6.0 12.6 .472 0.0 0.4 .111 2.4 3.1 .769

Season 5
Larry Bird Maurice Cheeks
Season 1983-841982-83
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA 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 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
Maurice Cheeks 79 31.2 12.5 0.7 2.0 2.6 6.9 2.3 0.4 2.3 2.3 5.1 9.4 .542 0.0 0.1 .167 2.3 3.0 .754
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
Maurice Cheeks 13 37.2 16.3 0.8 2.2 3.0 7.0 2.0 0.2 2.6 1.8 6.4 12.7 .503 0.1 0.2 .500 3.5 4.9 .703

Season 6
Larry Bird Maurice Cheeks
Season 1984-851983-84
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA Finals76ers 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 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
Maurice Cheeks 75 33.3 12.7 0.6 2.1 2.7 6.4 2.3 0.3 2.4 2.6 5.1 9.4 .550 0.1 0.3 .400 2.3 3.1 .733
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
Maurice Cheeks 5 34.2 16.6 0.4 2.0 2.4 3.8 2.6 0.0 2.0 3.6 7.0 13.4 .522 0.0 0.2 .000 2.6 3.0 .867

Season 7
Larry Bird Maurice Cheeks
Season 1985-861984-85
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers 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 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
Maurice Cheeks 78 33.5 13.1 0.7 2.1 2.8 6.4 2.2 0.3 2.0 2.4 5.4 9.5 .570 0.1 0.3 .231 2.2 2.6 .879
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
Maurice Cheeks 13 37.2 15.2 0.9 2.6 3.5 5.2 2.4 0.4 2.6 2.2 6.2 11.8 .529 0.0 0.4 .000 2.8 3.2 .857

Season 8
Larry Bird Maurice Cheeks
Season 1986-871985-86
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA Finals76ers 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
Maurice Cheeks 82 39.9 15.4 0.7 2.2 2.9 9.2 2.5 0.3 2.9 2.0 6.0 11.1 .537 0.0 0.2 .235 3.4 4.1 .842
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
Maurice Cheeks 12 43.3 20.8 1.1 3.6 4.7 7.1 1.1 0.3 2.7 1.5 7.8 15.2 .516 0.0 0.6 .000 5.2 6.1 .849

Season 9
Larry Bird Maurice Cheeks
Season 1987-881986-87
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Finals76ers 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
Maurice Cheeks 68 38.6 15.6 0.7 2.5 3.2 7.9 2.6 0.2 2.5 1.6 6.1 11.6 .527 0.1 0.3 .235 3.3 4.3 .777
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
Maurice Cheeks 5 42.0 17.6 0.2 2.4 2.6 8.8 1.8 0.8 2.4 2.8 7.0 13.2 .530 0.0 0.2 .000 3.6 4.2 .857

Season 10
Larry Bird Maurice Cheeks
Season 1988-891987-88
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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
Maurice Cheeks 79 36.3 13.7 0.7 2.5 3.2 8.0 2.1 0.3 2.0 1.5 5.4 10.9 .495 0.0 0.3 .136 2.9 3.5 .825
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Maurice Cheeks ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Larry Bird Maurice Cheeks
Season 1989-901988-89
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st Rd76ers 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
Maurice Cheeks 71 32.4 11.6 0.5 2.0 2.6 7.8 1.5 0.2 1.6 1.6 4.7 9.8 .483 0.0 0.2 .077 2.1 2.7 .774
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
Maurice Cheeks 3 42.7 17.7 1.0 2.7 3.7 13.0 2.3 0.3 1.0 1.3 7.0 13.7 .512 0.0 0.3 .000 3.7 4.3 .846

Season 12
Larry Bird Maurice Cheeks
Season 1990-911989-90
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisKnicks 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
Maurice Cheeks 81 31.1 9.7 0.6 2.3 3.0 5.6 1.5 0.1 1.5 1.0 3.8 7.5 .504 0.0 0.2 .250 2.1 2.5 .847
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
Maurice Cheeks 10 38.8 12.8 1.2 2.7 3.9 8.5 1.7 0.2 1.9 2.1 5.0 10.4 .481 0.0 0.4 .000 2.8 3.1 .903

Season 13
Larry Bird Maurice Cheeks
Season 1991-921990-91
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisKnicks 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 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
Maurice Cheeks 76 28.3 7.8 0.3 2.0 2.3 5.7 1.7 0.1 1.4 1.8 3.2 6.4 .499 0.1 0.3 .250 1.4 1.7 .814
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
Maurice Cheeks 3 33.7 10.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 5.3 1.0 0.3 2.7 3.0 4.7 7.7 .609 0.3 1.0 .333 0.3 0.7 .500

Season 14
Larry Bird Maurice Cheeks
Season -1991-92
Team -Atlanta Hawks
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 ------- --- ----------
Maurice Cheeks 56 19.4 4.6 0.5 1.2 1.7 3.3 1.5 0.0 0.6 1.3 2.1 4.4 .462 0.1 0.1 .500 0.5 0.8 .605
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Maurice Cheeks ------- --- ----------

Season 15
Larry Bird Maurice Cheeks
Season -1992-93
Team -New Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Nets 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 ------- --- ----------
Maurice Cheeks 35 14.6 3.6 0.1 1.1 1.2 3.1 0.9 0.1 0.9 1.0 1.5 2.7 .548 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 0.8 .889
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Maurice Cheeks 5 16.4 4.4 0.6 0.6 1.2 2.8 1.2 0.2 1.4 0.6 2.2 4.6 .478 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.2 .000
Share: