Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs Larry Bird
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs Larry Bird: head-to-head — careers, honours, key numbers and why the rivalry matters.
Why compare Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Larry Bird?
The rivalry between Abdul-Jabbar and Bird exemplified the fierce competition of the 1980s, with both players leading their teams to multiple championships and elevating the NBA's popularity.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Key numbers
- Career PointsOver 38,000
- Games Played1,560
- NBA Championships6
- NBA All-Star Selections19
- Total ReboundsOver 17,000
Top honours
- NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP)6 times
- NBA All-Star19 times
- NBA Championships6 as a player, 2 as an assistant coach
- NBA Finals MVP2 times
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of FameInducted
VS
Larry Bird
Key numbers
- Points per game24.3
- Rebounds per game10.0
- Assists per game6.3
- FG% (field goal percentage).490
- 3PT% (three-point percentage).366
Top honours
- NBA championships3 (1981, 1984, 1986)
- MVP awards3 (1984, 1985, 1986)
- NBA Finals MVP2 (1984, 1986)
- NBA All-Star12
- Naismith College Player of the Year1 (1979)