Larry Bird vs. Otis Thorpe Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Otis Thorpe 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, 4 less than Otis Thorpe, who played 17. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Otis Thorpe had his rookie season in 1984-85. 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
Otis Thorpe 17 11 1984-85 to 2000-01

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Otis Thorpe
Season 1979-801984-85
Team Boston CelticsKansas City Kings
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
Otis Thorpe 82 23.4 12.8 2.3 4.5 6.8 1.4 0.4 0.5 2.3 3.1 5.0 8.4 .600 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 4.5 .620
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
Otis Thorpe ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Bird Otis Thorpe
Season 1980-811985-86
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKings 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
Otis Thorpe 75 22.3 9.9 1.8 3.8 5.6 1.1 0.5 0.5 1.6 3.1 3.9 6.6 .587 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.3 .661
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
Otis Thorpe 3 11.7 4.0 2.7 1.3 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.3 1.0 4.3 .231 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 4.3 .462

Season 3

Larry Bird Otis Thorpe
Season 1981-821986-87
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
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
Otis Thorpe 82 36.0 18.9 3.2 6.8 10.0 2.5 0.6 0.7 2.3 3.6 6.9 12.8 .540 0.0 0.0 .000 5.0 6.6 .761
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
Otis Thorpe ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Bird Otis Thorpe
Season 1982-831987-88
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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 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
Otis Thorpe 82 37.5 20.8 3.4 6.8 10.2 3.2 0.8 0.7 2.8 3.2 7.6 15.0 .507 0.0 0.1 .000 5.6 7.4 .755
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
Otis Thorpe ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Larry Bird Otis Thorpe
Season 1983-841988-89
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
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 ChampionRockets 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
Otis Thorpe 82 38.2 16.7 3.3 6.3 9.6 2.5 1.0 0.5 2.7 3.2 6.4 11.7 .542 0.0 0.0 .000 4.0 5.5 .729
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
Otis Thorpe 4 38.0 16.0 1.5 3.5 5.0 3.0 1.3 0.3 3.8 4.3 6.0 9.3 .649 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 5.3 .762

Season 6

Larry Bird Otis Thorpe
Season 1984-851989-90
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsRockets 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 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
Otis Thorpe 82 35.9 17.1 3.1 5.8 9.0 3.2 0.8 0.3 2.8 3.3 6.7 12.2 .548 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 5.4 .688
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
Otis Thorpe 4 41.0 20.0 3.5 4.8 8.3 1.8 1.3 0.0 2.3 3.0 6.8 11.3 .600 0.0 0.0 - 6.5 9.5 .684

Season 7

Larry Bird Otis Thorpe
Season 1985-861990-91
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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
Otis Thorpe 82 37.1 17.5 3.5 6.8 10.3 2.4 0.9 0.2 2.6 3.4 6.7 12.0 .556 0.0 0.1 .429 4.1 5.9 .696
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
Otis Thorpe 3 38.7 15.7 2.3 6.0 8.3 2.7 0.7 0.0 2.0 2.7 7.3 12.7 .579 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.0 .500

Season 8

Larry Bird Otis Thorpe
Season 1986-871991-92
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA 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 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
Otis Thorpe 82 37.3 17.3 3.5 7.0 10.5 3.0 0.6 0.5 2.9 3.7 6.8 11.5 .592 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 5.6 .657
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
Otis Thorpe ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Larry Bird Otis Thorpe
Season 1987-881992-93
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsRockets 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 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
Otis Thorpe 72 32.7 12.8 3.0 5.1 8.2 2.5 0.6 0.3 2.1 3.3 5.3 9.6 .558 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.6 .598
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
Otis Thorpe 12 34.9 14.5 3.0 5.6 8.6 2.6 0.5 0.1 1.4 2.9 6.1 9.6 .635 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.6 .651

Season 10

Larry Bird Otis Thorpe
Season 1988-891993-94
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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 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
Otis Thorpe 82 35.5 14.0 3.3 7.3 10.6 2.3 0.8 0.3 2.3 3.1 5.5 9.8 .561 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 4.7 .657
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 23 37.1 11.3 3.0 7.0 9.9 2.3 0.6 0.4 1.6 3.7 4.8 8.4 .572 0.0 0.1 .500 1.7 2.9 .567

Season 11

Larry Bird Otis Thorpe
Season 1989-901994-95
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdTrail 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 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
Otis Thorpe 70 29.9 13.4 2.9 5.1 8.0 1.6 0.6 0.4 1.9 3.2 5.5 9.7 .565 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 4.0 .594
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
Otis Thorpe 3 22.0 10.3 1.7 2.7 4.3 0.7 0.0 0.0 1.0 4.0 4.0 7.0 .571 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.3 .700

Season 12

Larry Bird Otis Thorpe
Season 1990-911995-96
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisPistons 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 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
Otis Thorpe 82 34.6 14.2 2.6 5.8 8.4 1.9 0.6 0.5 2.4 3.7 5.5 10.4 .530 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 4.4 .710
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
Otis Thorpe 3 33.7 11.7 4.7 7.0 11.7 2.3 0.0 0.0 2.3 3.0 4.3 8.0 .542 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.0 .750

Season 13

Larry Bird Otis Thorpe
Season 1991-921996-97
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisPistons 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
Otis Thorpe 79 33.7 13.1 2.9 5.0 7.9 1.7 0.7 0.2 1.8 3.8 5.3 10.0 .532 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.8 .653
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
Otis Thorpe 5 30.2 9.8 2.4 4.0 6.4 0.8 0.4 0.0 1.8 4.2 4.2 8.2 .512 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.8 .778

Season 14

Larry Bird Otis Thorpe
Season -1997-98
Team -Vancouver Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings
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 ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 74 29.7 10.2 2.0 5.2 7.3 3.0 0.6 0.4 2.1 3.2 4.0 8.4 .471 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 3.2 .683
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Larry Bird Otis Thorpe
Season -1998-99
Team -Washington Wizards
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 ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 49 31.4 11.3 2.0 4.9 6.8 2.1 0.9 0.4 1.8 4.0 4.9 9.0 .545 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.2 .698
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Larry Bird Otis Thorpe
Season -1999-00
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Heat 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 ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 51 15.2 5.5 1.1 2.2 3.3 0.6 0.5 0.2 1.2 2.7 2.5 4.8 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 0.9 .604
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 10 13.6 3.3 0.6 2.3 2.9 0.3 0.0 0.2 1.1 2.9 1.3 2.7 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 1.4 .500

Season 17

Larry Bird Otis Thorpe
Season -2000-01
Team -Charlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Hornets 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 ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 49 13.2 2.8 1.0 1.9 3.0 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.7 2.2 1.2 2.7 .450 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.5 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Otis Thorpe 8 7.3 0.5 0.8 1.4 2.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.0 0.3 1.1 .222 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -