Larry Bird vs. Mychal Thompson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Mychal Thompson 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, 1 more than Mychal Thompson, who played 12. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Mychal Thompson 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
Mychal Thompson 12 11 1978-79 to 1990-91

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Mychal Thompson
Season 1979-801978-79
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
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 FinalsTrail Blazers 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 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
Mychal Thompson 73 29.4 14.7 2.7 5.6 8.3 2.4 0.9 1.8 2.8 3.7 6.3 12.8 .490 - - - 2.1 3.7 .572
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
Mychal Thompson 3 40.3 19.7 3.0 7.3 10.3 2.0 0.7 1.7 1.7 3.7 9.0 18.0 .500 - - - 1.7 3.3 .500

Note: Mychal Thompson didn't play in 1979-80.

Season 2

Larry Bird Mychal Thompson
Season 1980-811980-81
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers 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 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
Mychal Thompson 79 35.3 17.0 2.8 5.9 8.7 3.6 0.8 2.2 3.1 3.3 7.2 14.6 .494 0.0 0.0 .000 2.6 4.1 .641
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
Mychal Thompson 3 44.0 25.0 1.7 6.0 7.7 1.3 1.0 3.0 2.3 3.3 10.3 17.0 .608 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.0 .722

Season 3

Larry Bird Mychal Thompson
Season 1981-821981-82
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
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
Mychal Thompson 79 39.6 20.8 3.3 8.4 11.7 4.0 0.9 1.4 3.1 2.9 8.6 16.5 .523 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 5.6 .628
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
Mychal Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Bird Mychal Thompson
Season 1982-831982-83
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisTrail Blazers 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 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
Mychal Thompson 80 37.7 15.7 2.3 7.1 9.4 4.8 0.9 1.4 3.5 2.7 6.3 12.9 .489 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 5.0 .621
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
Mychal Thompson 7 40.6 15.0 2.3 5.7 8.0 5.6 0.9 1.1 4.0 3.4 5.7 12.1 .471 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 5.4 .658

Season 5

Larry Bird Mychal Thompson
Season 1983-841983-84
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
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 ChampionTrail Blazers 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 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
Mychal Thompson 79 33.5 15.7 3.0 5.7 8.7 3.9 1.1 1.4 3.0 3.0 6.2 11.8 .524 0.0 0.0 .000 3.4 5.1 .667
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
Mychal Thompson 4 30.3 15.3 2.3 5.0 7.3 3.8 1.3 0.8 1.5 2.8 5.5 11.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 5.5 .773

Season 6

Larry Bird Mychal Thompson
Season 1984-851984-85
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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
Mychal Thompson 79 33.1 18.4 2.7 5.2 7.8 2.6 1.0 1.3 2.9 2.7 7.2 14.1 .515 0.0 0.0 - 3.9 5.7 .684
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
Mychal Thompson 9 27.8 14.8 2.8 5.2 8.0 1.6 0.8 1.3 2.1 3.6 5.6 11.3 .490 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.4 .673

Season 7

Larry Bird Mychal Thompson
Season 1985-861985-86
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTrail Blazers 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
Mychal Thompson 82 31.3 14.7 2.2 5.2 7.4 2.1 0.9 0.4 2.4 3.3 6.1 12.3 .498 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.8 .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
Mychal Thompson 4 35.0 19.0 2.8 5.5 8.3 3.5 0.3 0.8 2.5 3.3 7.8 13.5 .574 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 6.5 .538

Season 8

Larry Bird Mychal Thompson
Season 1986-871986-87
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsNBA 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 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
Mychal Thompson 82 23.0 11.4 1.7 3.3 5.0 1.4 0.5 0.9 1.6 2.5 4.4 9.7 .450 0.0 0.0 .500 2.7 3.6 .737
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
Mychal Thompson 18 22.3 8.8 1.6 3.3 4.9 0.5 0.4 0.9 0.9 2.8 3.4 7.6 .453 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.8 .680

Season 9

Larry Bird Mychal Thompson
Season 1987-881987-88
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNBA 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 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
Mychal Thompson 80 25.1 11.6 2.5 3.6 6.1 0.8 0.5 1.0 1.4 3.1 4.6 9.0 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.7 .634
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
Mychal Thompson 24 25.6 9.7 2.6 4.5 7.1 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.4 2.9 4.1 8.0 .513 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.6 .581

Season 10

Larry Bird Mychal Thompson
Season 1988-891988-89
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers 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 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
Mychal Thompson 80 24.9 9.2 2.0 3.9 5.8 0.6 0.7 0.7 1.2 2.8 3.6 6.5 .559 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.9 .678
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Mychal Thompson 15 25.1 11.4 2.6 2.5 5.1 0.7 0.4 0.8 0.9 3.5 4.3 8.5 .508 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 4.0 .683

Season 11

Larry Bird Mychal Thompson
Season 1989-901989-90
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers 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 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
Mychal Thompson 70 26.9 10.1 2.5 4.3 6.8 0.6 0.5 1.0 1.1 3.0 4.0 8.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.9 .706
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
Mychal Thompson 9 25.0 6.4 1.7 2.7 4.3 0.2 0.2 1.4 1.9 2.9 2.3 4.9 .477 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.9 .615

Season 12

Larry Bird Mychal Thompson
Season 1990-911990-91
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisLakers 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 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
Mychal Thompson 72 15.0 4.0 1.0 2.1 3.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.6 1.6 3.2 .496 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.2 .705
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
Mychal Thompson 8 5.3 0.5 0.4 0.8 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.1 1.3 0.3 0.9 .286 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 13

Larry Bird Mychal Thompson
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
Mychal Thompson ------- --- ----------
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
Mychal Thompson ------- --- ----------