Larry Bird vs. Theo Ratliff Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Theo Ratliff 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, 3 less than Theo Ratliff, who played 16. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Theo Ratliff had his rookie season in 1995-96. 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
Theo Ratliff 16 8 1995-96 to 2010-11

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Larry Bird Theo Ratliff
Season 1979-801995-96
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
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 FinalsPistons 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
Theo Ratliff 75 17.4 4.5 1.5 2.5 4.0 0.2 0.2 1.5 0.7 1.9 1.7 3.1 .557 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.6 .708
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
Theo Ratliff 1 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Larry Bird Theo Ratliff
Season 1980-811996-97
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 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
Theo Ratliff 76 17.0 5.8 1.4 1.9 3.4 0.2 0.4 1.5 0.7 2.4 2.4 4.4 .531 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.5 .698
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
Theo Ratliff 3 5.7 2.7 0.7 0.7 1.3 0.3 0.3 1.3 1.0 1.7 1.0 1.3 .750 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.3 .500

Season 3

Larry Bird Theo Ratliff
Season 1981-821997-98
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons, Philadelphia 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 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
Theo Ratliff 82 29.8 9.9 2.7 4.0 6.7 0.7 0.6 3.1 1.4 3.6 3.7 7.3 .513 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.4 .701
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
Theo Ratliff ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Bird Theo Ratliff
Season 1982-831998-99
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Semis76ers 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
Theo Ratliff 50 32.5 11.2 2.8 5.4 8.1 0.6 0.9 3.0 1.8 3.6 3.9 8.4 .470 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.6 .725
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
Theo Ratliff 7 29.1 7.3 3.3 4.0 7.3 0.9 0.7 2.6 1.0 2.7 2.9 6.1 .465 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.7 .579

Season 5

Larry Bird Theo Ratliff
Season 1983-841999-00
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
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 Champion76ers 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
Theo Ratliff 57 31.5 11.9 2.5 5.2 7.6 0.6 0.6 3.0 1.9 3.2 4.3 8.6 .503 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 4.1 .771
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
Theo Ratliff 10 37.6 13.0 2.8 5.1 7.9 0.9 1.0 3.0 1.7 3.5 4.8 10.1 .475 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 4.7 .723

Season 6

Larry Bird Theo Ratliff
Season 1984-852000-01
Team Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement Blocks Leader
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 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
Theo Ratliff 50 36.0 12.4 2.5 5.8 8.3 1.2 0.6 3.7 2.5 3.3 4.6 9.1 .499 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.3 .760
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
Theo Ratliff ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Larry Bird Theo Ratliff
Season 1985-862001-02
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
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
Theo Ratliff 3 27.3 8.7 1.7 3.7 5.3 0.3 0.3 2.7 2.3 2.7 3.3 6.7 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.7 .545
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
Theo Ratliff ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Larry Bird Theo Ratliff
Season 1986-872002-03
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement 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
Theo Ratliff 81 31.1 8.7 1.9 5.6 7.5 0.9 0.7 3.2 1.7 3.3 3.4 7.3 .464 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.6 .720
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
Theo Ratliff ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Larry Bird Theo Ratliff
Season 1987-882003-04
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Blocks Leader
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 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
Theo Ratliff 85 31.3 7.9 2.3 4.9 7.2 0.8 0.6 3.6 1.4 3.5 3.1 6.5 .485 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.6 .645
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
Theo Ratliff ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Larry Bird Theo Ratliff
Season 1988-892004-05
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
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
Theo Ratliff 63 27.5 4.8 1.8 3.5 5.3 0.5 0.4 2.5 0.9 2.9 1.8 4.1 .447 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.7 .692
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Theo Ratliff ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Larry Bird Theo Ratliff
Season 1989-902005-06
Team Boston CelticsPortland Trail Blazers
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
Theo Ratliff 55 23.7 4.9 1.6 3.5 5.1 0.5 0.3 1.6 0.9 2.6 2.0 3.4 .571 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.5 .651
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
Theo Ratliff ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Larry Bird Theo Ratliff
Season 1990-912006-07
Team Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
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 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
Theo Ratliff 2 22.0 2.5 1.0 2.5 3.5 0.0 0.5 1.5 0.5 3.0 0.5 1.5 .333 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.0 .750
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
Theo Ratliff ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Larry Bird Theo Ratliff
Season 1991-922007-08
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisPistons 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 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
Theo Ratliff 26 16.8 4.3 1.2 2.2 3.4 0.5 0.3 1.4 0.8 2.3 1.6 3.3 .482 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.7 .674
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
Theo Ratliff 12 10.9 1.3 1.2 1.1 2.3 0.1 0.1 0.9 0.3 1.9 0.5 1.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.7 .500

Season 14

Larry Bird Theo Ratliff
Season -2008-09
Team -Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -76ers 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 ------- --- ----------
Theo Ratliff 46 12.6 1.9 1.0 1.8 2.8 0.2 0.4 1.0 0.3 1.7 0.7 1.4 .531 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.8 .600
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Theo Ratliff 6 15.7 3.3 1.0 2.8 3.8 0.0 0.2 0.7 0.7 4.0 1.5 1.8 .818 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.7 .500

Season 15

Larry Bird Theo Ratliff
Season -2009-10
Team -San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Bobcats
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bobcats 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 ------- --- ----------
Theo Ratliff 49 16.5 3.6 1.2 2.0 3.2 0.5 0.2 1.2 0.8 1.8 1.4 3.1 .461 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.0 .760
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Theo Ratliff 4 11.8 1.8 0.0 0.8 0.8 0.3 0.5 0.0 0.5 3.8 0.8 2.0 .375 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.5 .500

Season 16

Larry Bird Theo Ratliff
Season -2010-11
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Lakers 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 ------- --- ----------
Theo Ratliff 10 7.1 0.2 0.6 0.7 1.3 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.3 0.7 0.1 0.6 .167 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.2 .000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Theo Ratliff 1 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -