Larry Bird vs. Tracy McGrady Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Tracy McGrady 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 Tracy McGrady, who played 16. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Tracy McGrady had his rookie season in 1997-98. 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
Tracy McGrady 16 9 1997-98 to 2012-13

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 Tracy McGrady
Season 1979-801997-98
Team Boston CelticsToronto Raptors
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
Tracy McGrady 64 18.4 7.0 1.6 2.6 4.2 1.5 0.8 1.0 1.0 1.3 2.8 6.2 .450 0.2 0.6 .341 1.2 1.7 .712
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
Tracy McGrady ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Larry Bird Tracy McGrady
Season 1980-811998-99
Team Boston CelticsToronto Raptors
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
Tracy McGrady 49 22.6 9.3 2.4 3.2 5.7 2.3 1.1 1.3 1.6 1.9 3.4 7.9 .436 0.2 0.7 .229 2.3 3.2 .726
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
Tracy McGrady ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Larry Bird Tracy McGrady
Season 1981-821999-00
Team Boston CelticsToronto Raptors
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 FinalsRaptors 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
Tracy McGrady 79 31.2 15.4 2.4 4.0 6.3 3.3 1.1 1.9 2.0 2.5 5.8 12.9 .451 0.2 0.8 .277 3.5 5.0 .707
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
Tracy McGrady 3 37.0 16.7 3.3 3.7 7.0 3.0 1.0 1.0 3.3 3.3 5.7 14.7 .386 0.7 2.3 .286 4.7 5.3 .875

Season 4
Larry Bird Tracy McGrady
Season 1982-832000-01
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Most Improved Player
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisMagic 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 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
Tracy McGrady 77 40.1 26.8 2.5 5.0 7.5 4.6 1.5 1.5 2.6 2.1 10.2 22.4 .457 0.8 2.2 .355 5.6 7.6 .733
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
Tracy McGrady 4 44.3 33.8 1.5 5.0 6.5 8.3 1.8 1.3 2.0 2.8 12.8 30.8 .415 0.5 2.5 .200 7.8 9.5 .816

Season 5
Larry Bird Tracy McGrady
Season 1983-842001-02
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
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 ChampionMagic 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
Tracy McGrady 76 38.3 25.6 2.0 5.9 7.9 5.3 1.6 1.0 2.5 1.8 9.4 20.9 .451 1.4 3.7 .364 5.5 7.3 .748
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
Tracy McGrady 4 44.5 30.8 1.5 4.8 6.3 5.5 0.5 1.8 3.3 2.8 10.5 22.8 .462 1.3 4.0 .313 8.5 11.5 .739

Season 6
Larry Bird Tracy McGrady
Season 1984-852002-03
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsMagic 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
Tracy McGrady 75 39.4 32.1 1.6 4.9 6.5 5.5 1.7 0.8 2.6 2.1 11.1 24.2 .457 2.3 6.0 .386 7.7 9.7 .793
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
Tracy McGrady 7 44.1 31.7 1.4 5.3 6.7 4.7 2.0 0.9 3.7 2.3 10.6 23.6 .448 2.3 6.7 .340 8.3 10.7 .773

Season 7
Larry Bird Tracy McGrady
Season 1985-862003-04
Team Boston CelticsOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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
Tracy McGrady 67 39.9 28.0 1.4 4.6 6.0 5.5 1.4 0.6 2.7 1.9 9.7 23.4 .417 2.6 7.7 .339 5.9 7.5 .796
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
Tracy McGrady ------- --- ----------

Season 8
Larry Bird Tracy McGrady
Season 1986-872004-05
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 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
Tracy McGrady 78 40.8 25.7 0.9 5.3 6.2 5.7 1.7 0.7 2.6 2.1 9.2 21.3 .431 1.8 5.6 .326 5.5 7.1 .774
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
Tracy McGrady 7 43.1 30.7 1.7 5.7 7.4 6.7 1.6 1.4 3.7 2.9 11.1 24.4 .456 2.4 6.6 .370 6.0 7.3 .824

Season 9
Larry Bird Tracy McGrady
Season 1987-882005-06
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA 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 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
Tracy McGrady 47 37.1 24.4 1.0 5.6 6.5 4.8 1.3 0.9 2.6 1.9 8.7 21.5 .406 1.6 5.0 .312 5.4 7.2 .747
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
Tracy McGrady ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Larry Bird Tracy McGrady
Season 1988-892006-07
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 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
Tracy McGrady 71 35.8 24.6 0.8 4.5 5.3 6.5 1.3 0.5 3.0 1.9 9.0 20.8 .431 1.8 5.4 .331 4.9 6.9 .707
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Tracy McGrady 7 40.0 25.3 0.7 5.1 5.9 7.3 0.7 0.9 3.0 1.7 9.0 22.9 .394 1.3 5.1 .250 6.0 8.1 .737

Season 11
Larry Bird Tracy McGrady
Season 1989-902007-08
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets 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
Tracy McGrady 66 37.0 21.6 0.6 4.5 5.1 5.9 1.0 0.5 2.4 1.4 8.3 19.8 .419 1.3 4.5 .292 3.7 5.4 .684
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
Tracy McGrady 6 41.2 27.0 1.2 7.0 8.2 6.8 1.5 0.8 3.0 1.3 10.3 24.3 .425 0.8 4.0 .208 5.5 8.8 .623

Season 12
Larry Bird Tracy McGrady
Season 1990-912008-09
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
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
Tracy McGrady 35 33.7 15.6 0.6 3.8 4.4 5.0 1.2 0.4 2.0 1.1 5.4 13.9 .388 1.3 3.3 .376 3.6 4.5 .801
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
Tracy McGrady ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Larry Bird Tracy McGrady
Season 1991-922009-10
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets, New 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
Tracy McGrady 30 22.4 8.2 0.7 2.4 3.1 3.3 0.5 0.5 1.5 1.3 3.0 7.8 .387 0.5 2.1 .250 1.6 2.1 .746
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
Tracy McGrady ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Larry Bird Tracy McGrady
Season -2010-11
Team -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 ------- --- ----------
Tracy McGrady 72 23.4 8.0 0.7 2.8 3.5 3.5 0.9 0.5 1.4 1.4 3.2 7.1 .442 0.4 1.2 .341 1.3 1.8 .698
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Tracy McGrady ------- --- ----------

Season 15
Larry Bird Tracy McGrady
Season -2011-12
Team -Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Hawks 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 ------- --- ----------
Tracy McGrady 52 16.1 5.3 0.4 2.5 3.0 2.1 0.3 0.3 1.0 0.7 1.9 4.4 .437 0.3 0.6 .455 1.1 1.6 .675
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Tracy McGrady 6 15.0 4.2 1.0 1.8 2.8 1.0 0.0 0.3 1.7 0.7 1.7 4.3 .385 0.0 0.7 .000 0.8 1.0 .833

Season 16
Larry Bird Tracy McGrady
Season -2012-13
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 ------- --- ----------
Tracy McGrady ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Tracy McGrady 6 5.2 0.0 0.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.0 1.2 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -
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