Larry Bird vs. Joe Dumars Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Joe Dumars 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, 1 less than Joe Dumars, who played 14. Larry Bird had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Joe Dumars 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
Joe Dumars 14 10 1985-86 to 1998-99

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Larry Bird Joe Dumars
Season 1979-801985-86
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
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 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
Joe Dumars 82 23.9 9.4 0.7 0.7 1.5 4.8 0.8 0.1 1.9 2.4 3.5 7.3 .481 0.1 0.2 .313 2.3 2.9 .798
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
Joe Dumars 4 36.8 15.0 1.5 1.8 3.3 6.3 1.0 0.0 1.8 4.0 6.3 10.3 .610 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.8 .667

Season 2
Larry Bird Joe Dumars
Season 1980-811986-87
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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
Joe Dumars 79 30.9 11.8 0.6 1.5 2.1 4.5 1.1 0.1 2.2 2.5 4.7 9.5 .493 0.1 0.3 .409 2.3 3.1 .748
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
Joe Dumars 15 31.5 12.7 0.5 0.7 1.3 4.8 0.8 0.1 1.8 1.7 5.2 9.7 .538 0.1 0.2 .667 2.1 2.7 .780

Season 3
Larry Bird Joe Dumars
Season 1981-821987-88
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
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 FinalsPistons 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 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
Joe Dumars 82 33.3 14.2 0.8 1.7 2.4 4.7 1.1 0.2 2.1 1.9 5.5 11.7 .472 0.0 0.2 .211 3.1 3.8 .815
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
Joe Dumars 23 35.0 12.3 0.8 1.4 2.2 4.9 0.6 0.1 1.7 2.2 4.9 10.7 .457 0.1 0.3 .333 2.4 2.7 .889

Season 4
Larry Bird Joe Dumars
Season 1982-831988-89
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
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
Joe Dumars 69 34.9 17.2 0.8 1.7 2.5 5.7 0.9 0.1 2.6 1.5 6.6 13.1 .505 0.2 0.4 .483 3.8 4.4 .850
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
Joe Dumars 17 36.5 17.6 0.6 1.9 2.6 5.6 0.7 0.1 1.8 1.8 6.2 13.7 .455 0.1 0.7 .083 5.1 5.9 .861

Season 5
Larry Bird Joe Dumars
Season 1983-841989-90
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
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
Joe Dumars 75 34.4 17.8 0.8 2.0 2.8 4.9 0.8 0.0 1.9 1.7 6.8 14.1 .480 0.3 0.7 .400 4.0 4.4 .900
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
Joe Dumars 20 37.7 18.2 0.9 1.3 2.2 4.8 1.1 0.0 2.7 1.9 6.5 14.2 .458 0.3 1.0 .263 5.0 5.7 .876

Season 6
Larry Bird Joe Dumars
Season 1984-851990-91
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsPistons 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 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
Joe Dumars 80 38.1 20.4 0.8 1.6 2.3 5.5 1.1 0.1 2.4 1.7 7.8 16.2 .481 0.2 0.6 .311 4.6 5.2 .890
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
Joe Dumars 15 39.2 20.6 1.4 1.9 3.3 4.1 1.1 0.1 1.1 2.2 7.0 16.3 .429 1.1 2.8 .405 5.5 6.5 .845

Season 7
Larry Bird Joe Dumars
Season 1985-861991-92
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 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
Joe Dumars 82 38.9 19.9 1.0 1.3 2.3 4.6 0.9 0.1 2.4 1.8 7.2 16.0 .448 0.6 1.5 .408 5.0 5.8 .867
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
Joe Dumars 5 44.2 16.8 1.0 0.6 1.6 3.2 1.0 0.2 1.4 2.2 6.4 13.6 .471 1.0 2.0 .500 3.0 3.8 .789

Season 8
Larry Bird Joe Dumars
Season 1986-871992-93
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
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 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
Joe Dumars 77 40.2 23.5 0.8 1.1 1.9 4.0 1.0 0.1 1.8 1.8 8.8 18.9 .466 1.5 3.9 .375 4.5 5.2 .864
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
Joe Dumars ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Larry Bird Joe Dumars
Season 1987-881993-94
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA 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 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
Joe Dumars 69 37.6 20.4 0.5 1.7 2.2 3.8 0.9 0.1 2.3 1.7 7.3 16.2 .452 1.8 4.6 .388 4.0 4.8 .836
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
Joe Dumars ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Larry Bird Joe Dumars
Season 1988-891994-95
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -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 %
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
Joe Dumars 67 38.0 18.1 0.7 1.7 2.4 5.5 1.1 0.1 3.3 2.3 6.2 14.5 .430 1.5 5.0 .305 4.1 5.1 .805
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Joe Dumars ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Larry Bird Joe Dumars
Season 1989-901995-96
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdPistons 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 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
Joe Dumars 67 32.7 11.8 0.4 1.6 2.1 4.0 0.6 0.0 1.4 1.6 3.8 8.9 .426 1.8 4.4 .406 2.4 2.9 .822
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
Joe Dumars 3 41.0 13.7 1.7 2.7 4.3 3.7 0.0 0.0 2.3 1.7 5.3 11.7 .457 1.7 4.7 .357 1.3 1.3 1.000

Season 12
Larry Bird Joe Dumars
Season 1990-911996-97
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisPistons 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
Joe Dumars 79 37.0 14.7 0.5 1.9 2.4 4.0 0.7 0.0 1.6 1.2 4.9 11.1 .440 2.1 4.9 .432 2.8 3.2 .867
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
Joe Dumars 5 42.6 13.8 0.4 1.4 1.8 2.0 1.0 0.0 1.2 1.8 4.4 12.2 .361 1.2 4.6 .261 3.8 4.0 .950

Season 13
Larry Bird Joe Dumars
Season 1991-921997-98
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
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
Joe Dumars 72 32.3 13.1 0.2 1.3 1.4 3.5 0.6 0.0 1.2 1.4 4.6 11.0 .416 2.2 5.9 .371 1.8 2.1 .825
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
Joe Dumars ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Larry Bird Joe Dumars
Season -1998-99
Team -Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Pistons 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 ------- --- ----------
Joe Dumars 38 29.4 11.3 0.3 1.5 1.8 3.5 0.6 0.1 1.4 1.3 3.8 9.2 .411 2.3 5.8 .403 1.3 1.6 .836
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Bird ------- --- ----------
Joe Dumars 5 30.6 10.2 0.2 1.2 1.4 2.6 0.4 0.0 1.8 1.8 3.8 7.8 .487 2.0 3.8 .526 0.6 0.6 1.000
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