Larry Bird vs. Patrick Ewing Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Patrick Ewing 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 Patrick Ewing, who played 17. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Patrick Ewing had his rookie season in 1985-86. 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
Patrick Ewing 17 14 1985-86 to 2001-02

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season
Larry Bird Patrick Ewing
Season 1979-801985-86
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the YearAchievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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
Patrick Ewing 50 35.4 20.0 2.5 6.5 9.0 2.0 1.1 2.1 3.4 3.8 7.7 16.3 .474 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 6.1 .739
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
Patrick Ewing ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Larry Bird Patrick Ewing
Season 1980-811986-87
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
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
Patrick Ewing 63 35.0 21.5 2.5 6.3 8.8 1.7 1.4 2.3 3.6 3.9 8.4 16.7 .503 0.0 0.1 .000 4.7 6.6 .713
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
Patrick Ewing ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Larry Bird Patrick Ewing
Season 1981-821987-88
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsKnicks 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 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
Patrick Ewing 82 31.0 20.2 3.0 5.3 8.2 1.5 1.3 3.0 3.5 4.0 8.0 14.4 .555 0.0 0.0 .000 4.2 5.8 .716
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
Patrick Ewing 4 38.3 18.8 4.0 8.8 12.8 2.5 1.5 3.3 2.8 4.3 7.0 14.3 .491 0.0 0.3 .000 4.8 5.5 .864

Season 4
Larry Bird Patrick Ewing
Season 1982-831988-89
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 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
Patrick Ewing 80 36.2 22.7 2.7 6.6 9.3 2.4 1.5 3.5 3.3 3.9 9.1 16.0 .567 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 6.1 .746
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
Patrick Ewing 9 37.8 19.9 2.6 7.4 10.0 2.2 1.0 2.0 1.7 3.9 7.8 16.0 .486 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 5.8 .750

Season 5
Larry Bird Patrick Ewing
Season 1983-841989-90
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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
Patrick Ewing 82 38.6 28.6 2.9 8.0 10.9 2.2 1.0 4.0 3.4 4.0 11.2 20.4 .551 0.0 0.0 .250 6.1 7.9 .775
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
Patrick Ewing 10 39.5 29.4 2.1 8.4 10.5 3.1 1.3 2.0 2.7 4.1 11.4 21.9 .521 0.1 0.2 .500 6.5 7.9 .823

Season 6
Larry Bird Patrick Ewing
Season 1984-851990-91
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsKnicks 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
Patrick Ewing 81 38.3 26.6 2.4 8.8 11.2 3.0 1.0 3.2 3.6 3.5 10.4 20.3 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 5.7 7.7 .745
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
Patrick Ewing 3 36.7 16.7 0.7 9.3 10.0 2.0 0.3 1.7 3.7 4.0 6.0 15.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 4.7 6.0 .778

Season 7
Larry Bird Patrick Ewing
Season 1985-861991-92
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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
Patrick Ewing 82 38.4 24.0 2.8 8.5 11.2 1.9 1.1 3.0 2.5 3.4 9.7 18.6 .522 0.0 0.1 .167 4.6 6.2 .738
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
Patrick Ewing 12 40.2 22.7 2.8 8.3 11.1 2.3 0.6 2.6 1.9 4.1 9.1 19.9 .456 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 6.1 .740

Season 8
Larry Bird Patrick Ewing
Season 1986-871992-93
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsKnicks 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 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
Patrick Ewing 81 37.1 24.2 2.4 9.7 12.1 1.9 0.9 2.0 3.3 3.5 9.6 19.1 .503 0.0 0.1 .143 4.9 6.9 .719
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
Patrick Ewing 15 40.3 25.5 2.9 8.1 10.9 2.4 1.1 2.1 2.6 4.0 11.0 21.5 .512 0.1 0.1 1.000 3.4 5.3 .638

Season 9
Larry Bird Patrick Ewing
Season 1987-881993-94
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsKnicks 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 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
Patrick Ewing 79 37.6 24.5 2.8 8.4 11.2 2.3 1.1 2.7 3.3 3.5 9.4 19.0 .496 0.1 0.2 .286 5.6 7.4 .765
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
Patrick Ewing 25 41.3 21.9 3.5 8.2 11.7 2.6 1.3 3.0 3.3 3.8 8.4 19.2 .437 0.2 0.4 .364 4.9 6.5 .755

Season 10
Larry Bird Patrick Ewing
Season 1988-891994-95
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks 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 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
Patrick Ewing 79 37.0 23.9 2.0 9.0 11.0 2.7 0.9 2.0 3.2 3.4 9.2 18.4 .503 0.1 0.3 .286 5.3 7.1 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Patrick Ewing 11 36.3 19.0 1.5 8.1 9.6 2.5 0.5 2.3 2.7 4.6 7.3 14.2 .513 0.1 0.3 .333 4.4 6.4 .686

Season 11
Larry Bird Patrick Ewing
Season 1989-901995-96
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdKnicks 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 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
Patrick Ewing 76 36.6 22.5 2.1 8.5 10.6 2.1 0.9 2.4 2.9 3.3 8.9 19.2 .466 0.1 0.4 .143 4.6 6.1 .761
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
Patrick Ewing 8 41.0 21.5 1.4 9.3 10.6 1.9 0.1 3.1 3.8 2.8 8.1 17.1 .474 0.1 0.3 .500 5.1 7.9 .651

Season 12
Larry Bird Patrick Ewing
Season 1990-911996-97
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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
Patrick Ewing 78 37.0 22.4 2.2 8.4 10.7 2.0 0.9 2.4 3.4 3.2 8.4 17.2 .488 0.0 0.1 .222 5.6 7.5 .754
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
Patrick Ewing 9 39.7 22.6 2.9 7.7 10.6 1.9 0.3 2.4 3.0 3.3 9.8 18.6 .527 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.7 .643

Season 13
Larry Bird Patrick Ewing
Season 1991-921997-98
Team Boston CelticsNew 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 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
Patrick Ewing 26 32.6 20.8 2.3 7.9 10.2 1.1 0.6 2.2 3.0 2.8 7.8 15.5 .504 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 7.2 .720
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
Patrick Ewing 4 33.3 14.0 2.3 5.8 8.0 1.3 0.8 1.3 2.5 4.0 5.0 14.0 .357 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 6.8 .593

Season 14
Larry Bird Patrick Ewing
Season -1998-99
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Patrick Ewing 38 34.2 17.3 1.9 8.0 9.9 1.1 0.8 2.6 2.6 2.8 6.5 14.9 .435 0.0 0.1 .000 4.3 6.1 .706
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Patrick Ewing 11 31.5 13.1 1.3 7.5 8.7 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.9 3.2 5.3 12.3 .430 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.3 .778

Season 15
Larry Bird Patrick Ewing
Season -1999-00
Team -New York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Knicks 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 ------- --- ----------
Patrick Ewing 62 32.8 15.0 2.3 7.5 9.7 0.9 0.6 1.4 2.3 3.2 5.8 12.5 .466 0.0 0.0 .000 3.3 4.6 .731
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Patrick Ewing 14 32.9 14.6 2.1 7.4 9.5 0.4 1.1 1.4 1.9 3.4 5.1 12.1 .418 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 6.4 .697

Season 16
Larry Bird Patrick Ewing
Season -2000-01
Team -Seattle Supersonics
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 ------- --- ----------
Patrick Ewing 79 26.7 9.6 1.6 5.8 7.4 1.2 0.7 1.2 1.9 2.9 3.7 8.7 .430 0.0 0.0 .000 2.2 3.2 .685
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Patrick Ewing ------- --- ----------

Season 17
Larry Bird Patrick Ewing
Season -2001-02
Team -Orlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Magic 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 ------- --- ----------
Patrick Ewing 65 13.9 6.0 0.9 3.1 4.0 0.5 0.3 0.7 1.0 2.0 2.3 5.1 .444 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.1 .701
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Patrick Ewing 4 17.0 6.5 1.3 4.3 5.5 1.0 0.3 1.0 0.5 3.0 2.0 6.3 .320 0.0 0.3 .000 2.5 4.3 .588
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