Larry Bird vs. Dirk Nowitzki Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Dirk Nowitzki and Larry Bird that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Player comparisons: / /

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

NBA Timeline:
1946-47
2023-24
Larry Bird:
1979-80 to 1991-92
Dirk Nowitzki:
1998-99 to 2018-19

NBA Championships and Seasons

Larry Bird3
Dirk Nowitzki1
Larry Bird13
Dirk Nowitzki21
Larry Bird12
Dirk Nowitzki15
Larry Bird12
Dirk Nowitzki14

Honors and Awards

Larry Bird3
Dirk Nowitzki1
Larry Bird2
Dirk Nowitzki1
Larry Bird9
Dirk Nowitzki4
All-NBA Teams
(Total Selections)
Larry Bird10
Dirk Nowitzki12
All-Defensive Teams
(Total Selections)
Larry Bird3
Dirk Nowitzki0
Larry Bird1
Dirk Nowitzki0

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Larry Bird 24.3
Dirk Nowitzki 20.7

Larry Bird 10.0
Dirk Nowitzki 7.5

Larry Bird 6.3
Dirk Nowitzki 2.4

Larry Bird 1.7
Dirk Nowitzki 0.8

Larry Bird 0.8
Dirk Nowitzki 0.8

Totals Stats

Larry Bird 21,791
Dirk Nowitzki 31,560

Larry Bird 8,974
Dirk Nowitzki 11,489

Larry Bird 5,695
Dirk Nowitzki 3,651

Larry Bird 1,556
Dirk Nowitzki 1,210

Larry Bird 755
Dirk Nowitzki 1,281

Larry Bird 897
Dirk Nowitzki 1,522

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Larry Bird .496
Dirk Nowitzki .471

3-Point Percentage
Larry Bird .376
Dirk Nowitzki .380

Free Throw Percentage
Larry Bird .886
Dirk Nowitzki .879

Best Season (no game minimum)

Larry Bird 29.9
(1988)
Dirk Nowitzki 26.6
(2006)

Larry Bird 11.0
(1983)
Dirk Nowitzki 9.9
(2002)

Larry Bird 7.6
(1987)
Dirk Nowitzki 3.5
(2008)

Larry Bird 2.0
(1986)
Dirk Nowitzki 1.4
(2003)

Larry Bird 1.2
(1985)
Dirk Nowitzki 1.5
(2005)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Larry Bird 23.8
Dirk Nowitzki 25.3

Larry Bird 10.3
Dirk Nowitzki 10.0

Larry Bird 6.5
Dirk Nowitzki 2.5

Larry Bird 1.8
Dirk Nowitzki 1.0

Larry Bird 0.9
Dirk Nowitzki 0.9

Totals Stats

Larry Bird 3,897
Dirk Nowitzki 3,663

Larry Bird 1,683
Dirk Nowitzki 1,446

Larry Bird 1,062
Dirk Nowitzki 360

Larry Bird 296
Dirk Nowitzki 149

Larry Bird 145
Dirk Nowitzki 129

Larry Bird 164
Dirk Nowitzki 145

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Larry Bird .472
Dirk Nowitzki .462

3-Point Percentage
Larry Bird .321
Dirk Nowitzki .365

Free Throw Percentage
Larry Bird .890
Dirk Nowitzki .892

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Larry Bird 27.5
(1984)
Dirk Nowitzki 28.4
(2002)

Larry Bird 14.0
(1981)
Dirk Nowitzki 13.1
(2002)

Larry Bird 8.8
(1990)
Dirk Nowitzki 4.0
(2008)

Larry Bird 2.3
(1984)
Dirk Nowitzki 2.0
(2002)

Larry Bird 1.4
(1982)
Dirk Nowitzki 2.6
(2004)