Otis Birdsong vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Otis Birdsong, 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.

Otis Birdsong played 12 years in the NBA, 6 more than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who played 6. Otis Birdsong had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had his rookie season in 2018-19. 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
Otis Birdsong 12 7 1977-78 to 1988-89
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 6 3 2018-19 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Otis Birdsong Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 1977-782018-19
Team Kansas City KingsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayClippers 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 %
Otis Birdsong 73 25.7 15.8 1.0 1.4 2.4 2.4 1.0 0.2 2.0 2.5 6.4 13.1 .492 - - - 3.0 4.2 .697
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 82 26.5 10.8 0.7 2.1 2.8 3.3 1.2 0.5 1.7 2.1 4.2 8.7 .476 0.6 1.7 .367 1.9 2.4 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 6 28.8 13.7 0.7 2.0 2.7 3.2 1.0 0.8 0.8 2.8 4.7 10.0 .467 1.5 3.0 .500 2.8 3.3 .850

Season 2

Otis Birdsong Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 1978-792019-20
Team Kansas City KingsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Kings Lost West Conf SemisThunder 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 %
Otis Birdsong 82 34.6 21.7 2.1 2.2 4.3 3.4 1.5 0.2 2.4 3.1 9.0 17.8 .509 - - - 3.6 5.0 .725
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 70 34.7 19.0 0.7 5.2 5.9 3.3 1.1 0.7 1.9 1.7 6.8 14.5 .471 1.2 3.6 .347 4.1 5.1 .807
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 5 33.6 21.0 1.6 2.0 3.6 1.8 2.0 0.0 2.0 2.6 7.8 15.2 .513 - - - 5.4 7.6 .711
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 7 39.9 16.3 0.4 4.9 5.3 4.1 1.0 0.4 2.1 2.4 5.6 12.9 .433 2.0 5.0 .400 3.1 3.3 .957

Season 3

Otis Birdsong Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 1979-802020-21
Team Kansas City KingsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Kings Lost West 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 %
Otis Birdsong 82 35.2 22.7 2.1 2.0 4.0 2.5 1.7 0.3 2.2 2.8 9.5 18.9 .505 0.1 0.4 .278 3.5 5.0 .694
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 35 33.7 23.7 0.5 4.2 4.7 5.9 0.8 0.7 3.0 2.0 8.2 16.1 .508 2.0 4.9 .418 5.3 6.5 .808
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 3 37.3 22.0 3.7 4.0 7.7 2.3 1.3 0.0 2.0 1.7 10.0 20.7 .484 0.0 1.0 .000 2.0 4.7 .429
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Otis Birdsong Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 1980-812021-22
Team Kansas City KingsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Kings Lost West 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 %
Otis Birdsong 71 36.5 24.6 1.7 2.0 3.6 3.3 1.3 0.3 2.4 2.4 10.0 18.4 .544 0.1 0.5 .286 4.5 6.4 .697
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 56 34.7 24.5 0.7 4.3 5.0 5.9 1.3 0.8 2.8 2.5 8.5 18.8 .453 1.6 5.3 .300 5.9 7.2 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 8 29.3 15.5 1.0 1.6 2.6 3.4 1.5 0.0 2.5 1.6 7.0 12.3 .571 0.1 0.1 1.000 1.4 2.3 .611
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Otis Birdsong Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 1981-822022-23
Team New Jersey NetsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Otis Birdsong 37 27.7 14.2 0.8 1.8 2.6 3.4 0.8 0.1 1.7 2.0 6.1 13.0 .469 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 3.4 .583
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 68 35.5 31.4 0.9 4.0 4.8 5.5 1.6 1.0 2.8 2.8 10.4 20.3 .510 0.9 2.5 .345 9.8 10.9 .905
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Otis Birdsong Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 1982-832023-24
Team New Jersey NetsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdThunder 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 %
Otis Birdsong 62 30.4 15.1 0.9 1.6 2.4 3.9 1.4 0.3 1.8 2.5 6.9 13.5 .511 0.0 0.1 .333 1.3 2.3 .566
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 75 34.0 30.1 0.9 4.7 5.5 6.2 2.0 0.9 2.2 2.5 10.6 19.8 .535 1.3 3.6 .353 7.6 8.7 .874
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 2 18.5 6.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 4.5 1.5 0.0 0.5 1.5 3.0 8.0 .375 0.0 0.5 .000 0.5 1.0 .500
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 10 39.9 30.2 0.8 6.4 7.2 6.4 1.3 1.7 2.2 3.1 11.1 22.4 .496 1.6 3.7 .432 6.4 8.1 .790

Season 7

Otis Birdsong Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 1983-84-
Team New Jersey Nets-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nets 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 %
Otis Birdsong 69 31.4 19.8 1.1 1.4 2.5 3.9 1.2 0.2 2.5 2.6 8.4 16.6 .508 0.1 0.3 .250 2.8 4.6 .608
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 11 35.2 15.2 0.6 1.7 2.4 3.7 1.8 0.1 2.0 3.5 6.5 15.5 .415 0.0 0.1 .000 2.3 4.4 .521
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Otis Birdsong Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 1984-85-
Team New Jersey Nets-
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 %
Otis Birdsong 56 32.9 20.6 1.1 1.6 2.6 4.1 1.5 0.1 2.1 2.6 8.8 17.3 .511 0.1 0.4 .190 2.9 4.6 .622
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Otis Birdsong Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 1985-86-
Team New Jersey Nets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets 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 %
Otis Birdsong 77 31.1 15.8 1.1 1.5 2.6 3.4 1.1 0.2 2.3 3.0 7.0 13.7 .513 0.1 0.3 .364 1.6 2.7 .581
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 3 44.0 23.0 1.7 2.3 4.0 3.3 2.0 1.0 3.0 4.7 9.7 18.3 .527 0.0 1.0 .000 3.7 6.3 .579
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Otis Birdsong Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 1986-87-
Team New Jersey Nets-
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 %
Otis Birdsong 7 18.1 6.3 0.4 0.6 1.0 2.4 0.4 0.0 1.3 2.3 2.7 6.0 .452 0.0 0.1 .000 0.9 1.3 .667
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Otis Birdsong Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 1987-88-
Team New Jersey Nets-
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 %
Otis Birdsong 67 28.1 10.9 1.1 1.4 2.5 3.3 0.8 0.2 1.9 2.1 5.0 11.0 .458 0.1 0.4 .360 0.7 1.4 .511
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong ------- --- ----------
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Otis Birdsong Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Season 1988-89-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Otis Birdsong 13 8.3 2.8 0.3 0.7 1.0 0.7 0.2 0.1 0.9 0.8 1.4 2.8 .500 0.1 0.2 .333 0.0 0.2 .000
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Otis Birdsong 3 6.7 0.7 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.3 0.3 1.0 1.0 0.3 1.7 .200 0.0 0.7 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ------- --- ----------