Larry Bird vs. Taj Gibson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Taj Gibson 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 played 13 years in the NBA, 2 less than Taj Gibson, who played 15. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Taj Gibson had his rookie season in 2009-10. 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
Taj Gibson 15 9 2009-10 to 2023-24

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 Taj Gibson
Season 1979-802009-10
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
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 FinalsBulls 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 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
Taj Gibson 82 26.9 9.0 2.8 4.7 7.5 0.9 0.6 1.3 1.4 3.4 3.8 7.7 .494 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.1 .646
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
Taj Gibson 5 29.0 7.6 1.8 5.2 7.0 0.6 0.2 0.6 0.4 3.4 3.2 7.6 .421 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 2.2 .545

Season 2

Larry Bird Taj Gibson
Season 1980-812010-11
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBulls 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 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
Taj Gibson 80 21.8 7.1 2.0 3.7 5.7 0.7 0.5 1.3 0.9 2.5 2.9 6.3 .466 0.0 0.1 .125 1.3 1.9 .676
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
Taj Gibson 16 17.8 5.9 1.6 2.5 4.1 0.6 0.3 1.4 0.9 2.0 2.7 4.8 .566 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 0.9 .600

Season 3

Larry Bird Taj Gibson
Season 1981-822011-12
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
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 FinalsBulls 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
Taj Gibson 63 20.4 7.7 2.1 3.1 5.3 0.7 0.4 1.3 1.0 2.1 3.2 6.4 .495 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 2.1 .622
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
Taj Gibson 6 22.8 9.5 2.5 4.0 6.5 0.7 0.7 1.7 0.5 3.2 3.5 7.7 .457 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.7 .682

Season 4

Larry Bird Taj Gibson
Season 1982-832012-13
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisBulls 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
Taj Gibson 65 22.4 8.0 1.9 3.4 5.3 0.9 0.4 1.4 1.2 2.6 3.3 6.8 .485 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.0 .679
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
Taj Gibson 12 17.2 6.5 1.3 1.8 3.0 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.8 3.1 2.6 5.5 .470 0.0 0.2 .000 1.3 1.8 .727

Season 5

Larry Bird Taj Gibson
Season 1983-842013-14
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
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 ChampionBulls 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 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
Taj Gibson 82 28.7 13.0 2.4 4.4 6.8 1.1 0.5 1.4 1.8 2.5 5.2 10.9 .479 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 3.4 .751
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
Taj Gibson 5 30.8 18.2 4.2 2.0 6.2 0.4 0.4 2.4 1.6 2.4 6.4 11.4 .561 0.0 0.0 - 5.4 7.2 .750

Season 6

Larry Bird Taj Gibson
Season 1984-852014-15
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsBulls 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
Taj Gibson 62 27.3 10.3 2.6 3.8 6.4 1.1 0.6 1.2 1.2 2.6 4.1 8.2 .502 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.0 .717
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
Taj Gibson 12 23.0 7.4 2.1 3.4 5.5 1.0 0.3 1.0 0.9 2.1 2.8 6.0 .472 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.5 .700

Season 7

Larry Bird Taj Gibson
Season 1985-862015-16
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
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 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
Taj Gibson 73 26.5 8.6 2.8 4.1 6.9 1.5 0.6 1.1 1.1 2.5 3.6 6.8 .526 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.0 .692
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
Taj Gibson ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Larry Bird Taj Gibson
Season 1986-872016-17
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsThunder 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 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
Taj Gibson 78 25.5 10.8 2.0 4.2 6.2 0.9 0.5 0.8 1.3 2.1 4.7 9.1 .515 0.0 0.2 .231 1.4 2.0 .715
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
Taj Gibson 5 23.6 9.8 0.6 3.0 3.6 0.6 0.2 0.0 1.6 2.6 4.2 7.0 .600 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.6 .875

Season 9

Larry Bird Taj Gibson
Season 1987-882017-18
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsTimberwolves 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 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
Taj Gibson 82 33.2 12.2 2.4 4.8 7.1 1.2 0.8 0.7 1.1 2.7 5.2 9.0 .577 0.1 0.4 .200 1.7 2.3 .768
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
Taj Gibson 5 24.6 6.2 1.4 2.6 4.0 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.8 1.6 2.8 4.4 .636 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.6 1.000

Season 10

Larry Bird Taj Gibson
Season 1988-892018-19
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
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
Taj Gibson 70 24.1 10.8 2.5 4.1 6.5 1.2 0.8 0.6 1.0 2.7 4.3 7.7 .566 0.2 0.5 .324 1.9 2.5 .757
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Taj Gibson ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Larry Bird Taj Gibson
Season 1989-902019-20
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdDid 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 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
Taj Gibson 62 16.5 6.1 1.8 2.5 4.3 0.8 0.4 0.5 0.8 2.0 2.7 4.6 .584 0.1 0.2 .286 0.7 0.9 .732
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
Taj Gibson ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Larry Bird Taj Gibson
Season 1990-912020-21
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 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
Taj Gibson 45 20.8 5.4 2.2 3.4 5.6 0.8 0.7 1.1 0.5 2.2 2.2 3.5 .627 0.1 0.3 .200 0.9 1.2 .727
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
Taj Gibson 5 27.6 5.0 3.2 3.8 7.0 0.8 1.6 1.0 0.6 2.6 2.4 4.0 .600 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 1.000

Season 13

Larry Bird Taj Gibson
Season 1991-922021-22
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
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
Taj Gibson 52 18.2 4.4 1.7 2.7 4.4 0.6 0.4 0.8 0.5 2.6 1.7 3.2 .518 0.3 0.7 .395 0.8 1.0 .808
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
Taj Gibson ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Larry Bird Taj Gibson
Season -2022-23
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 ------- --- ----------
Taj Gibson 49 9.8 3.4 0.7 1.2 1.9 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.5 1.7 1.3 2.6 .520 0.2 0.5 .333 0.6 0.9 .714
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Taj Gibson ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Larry Bird Taj Gibson
Season -2023-24
Team -New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons
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 ------- --- ----------
Taj Gibson 20 10.3 1.7 0.6 1.3 1.9 0.6 0.2 0.4 0.3 1.6 0.8 1.9 .405 0.1 0.5 .200 0.1 0.1 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Taj Gibson ------- --- ----------