Vern Gardner vs. Nikola Jokic Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nikola Jokic and Vern Gardner that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

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 2025-26
Vern Gardner: 1949-50 to 1951-52
Nikola Jokic: 2015-16 to 2025-26

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Vern Gardner 0 Nikola Jokic 1

NBA Seasons Vern Gardner 3 Nikola Jokic 11

Playoffs Played Vern Gardner 3 Nikola Jokic 7

All-Star Games Vern Gardner 0 Nikola Jokic 7

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Vern Gardner 0 * Nikola Jokic 3

Finals MVP Vern Gardner 0 * Nikola Jokic 1

All-NBA First Team Vern Gardner 0 Nikola Jokic 5

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Vern Gardner 0 Nikola Jokic 7

* Notes: Season MVP is awarded since 1955-56. Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Vern Gardner 8.9 Nikola Jokic 22.0

Rebounds Per Game Vern Gardner 4.0 * Nikola Jokic 11.0

Assists Per Game Vern Gardner 1.6 Nikola Jokic 7.3

Steals Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Nikola Jokic 1.3

Blocks Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Nikola Jokic 0.7

Totals Stats

Total Points Vern Gardner 1,339 Nikola Jokic 16,917

Total Rebounds Vern Gardner 349 * Nikola Jokic 8,435

Total Assists Vern Gardner 245 Nikola Jokic 5,644

Total Steals Vern Gardner - n/a ** Nikola Jokic 982

Total Blocks Vern Gardner - n/a ** Nikola Jokic 554

Total Games Vern Gardner 151 Nikola Jokic 769

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Vern Gardner .344 Nikola Jokic .562

3-Point Percentage Vern Gardner - n/a ** Nikola Jokic .363

Free Throw Percentage Vern Gardner .748 Nikola Jokic .825

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Vern Gardner 13.5 (1950) Nikola Jokic 29.6 (2025)

Rebounds Per Game Vern Gardner 4.1 (1952) * Nikola Jokic 13.8 (2022)

Assists Per Game Vern Gardner 1.9 (1950) Nikola Jokic 10.9 (2026)

Steals Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Nikola Jokic 1.8 (2025)

Blocks Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Nikola Jokic 0.9 (2024)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Vern Gardner 10.1 Nikola Jokic 27.4

Rebounds Per Game Vern Gardner 3.6 * Nikola Jokic 12.3

Assists Per Game Vern Gardner 0.7 Nikola Jokic 7.6

Steals Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Nikola Jokic 1.2

Blocks Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Nikola Jokic 0.9

Totals Stats

Total Points Vern Gardner 71 Nikola Jokic 2,580

Total Rebounds Vern Gardner 18 * Nikola Jokic 1,159

Total Assists Vern Gardner 5 Nikola Jokic 712

Total Steals Vern Gardner - n/a ** Nikola Jokic 116

Total Blocks Vern Gardner - n/a ** Nikola Jokic 82

Total Games Vern Gardner 7 Nikola Jokic 94

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Vern Gardner .366 Nikola Jokic .525

3-Point Percentage Vern Gardner - n/a ** Nikola Jokic .388

Free Throw Percentage Vern Gardner .826 Nikola Jokic .826

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Vern Gardner 18.0 (1950) Nikola Jokic 31.0 (2022)

Rebounds Per Game Vern Gardner 4.7 (1952) * Nikola Jokic 13.5 (2023)

Assists Per Game Vern Gardner 1.0 (1952) Nikola Jokic 9.5 (2023)

Steals Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Nikola Jokic 2.0 (2025)

Blocks Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Nikola Jokic 1.0 (2023)

Notes: * Rebounds started to be recorded in 1950-51. Some years in this player's career don't have stats. ** Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74, this player has no data for the stat. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat.