Bob McAdoo vs. Dirk Nowitzki Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dirk Nowitzki and Bob McAdoo, 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.

Bob McAdoo played 14 years in the NBA, 7 less than Dirk Nowitzki, who played 21. Bob McAdoo had the first of his seasons in 1972-73, while Dirk Nowitzki had his rookie season in 1998-99. 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 achievements, 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
Bob McAdoo 14 9 1972-73 to 1985-86
Dirk Nowitzki 21 15 1998-99 to 2018-19

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Bob McAdoo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1972-731998-99
Team Buffalo BravesDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 80 32.0 18.0 - - 9.1 1.7 - - - 3.2 7.3 16.2 .452 - - - 3.4 4.4 .774
difference:+33+11.6+9.8+5.7+0.7-1.0+4.4+9.1+.047+1.3+1.7+.001
Dirk Nowitzki 47 20.4 8.2 0.9 2.6 3.4 1.0 0.6 0.6 1.6 2.2 2.9 7.1 .405 0.3 1.4 .206 2.1 2.7 .773
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Bob McAdoo nor Dirk Nowitzki played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Bob McAdoo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1973-741999-00
Team Buffalo BravesDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Braves Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 74 43.0 30.6 3.8 11.3 15.1 2.3 1.2 3.3 - 3.4 12.2 22.3 .547 - - - 6.2 7.8 .793
difference:+8+7.2+13.1+2.6+6.1+8.6+0.2+0.4+2.5-0.3+5.9+8.7+.086+2.7+3.6+.037
Dirk Nowitzki 82 35.8 17.5 1.2 5.2 6.5 2.5 0.8 0.8 1.7 3.1 6.3 13.6 .461 1.4 3.7 .379 3.5 4.2 .830
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 6 45.2 31.7 2.3 11.3 13.7 1.5 1.0 2.2 - 4.2 12.7 26.5 .478 - - - 6.3 7.8 .809
Dirk Nowitzki DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Bob McAdoo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1974-752000-01
Team Buffalo BravesDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Braves Lost East Conf SemisMavericks Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 82 43.2 34.5 3.7 10.3 14.1 2.2 1.1 2.1 - 3.4 13.4 26.1 .512 - - - 7.8 9.7 .805
difference:+5.1+12.7+2.2+2.6+4.9+0.1+0.1+0.9-0.4+6.2+10.9+.038+2.3+3.1+.033
Dirk Nowitzki 82 38.1 21.8 1.5 7.7 9.2 2.1 1.0 1.2 1.9 3.0 7.2 15.2 .474 1.8 4.8 .387 5.5 6.6 .838
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 7 46.7 37.4 3.6 9.9 13.4 1.4 0.9 2.7 - 4.1 14.9 30.9 .481 - - - 7.7 10.4 .740
difference:+3+6.8+14.0+2.2+3.2+5.3+0.2+1.9-0.4+8.0+14.6+.058+0.6+1.0+.143
Dirk Nowitzki 10 39.9 23.4 1.4 6.7 8.1 1.4 1.1 0.8 1.4 3.7 6.9 16.3 .423 1.3 4.6 .283 8.3 9.4 .883

Season 4

Bob McAdoo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1975-762001-02
Team Buffalo BravesDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Braves Lost East Conf SemisMavericks Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 78 42.7 31.1 3.1 9.3 12.4 4.0 1.2 2.1 - 3.8 12.0 24.6 .487 - - - 7.2 9.4 .762
difference:+2+4.7+7.7+1.5+0.9+2.5+1.6+0.1+1.1-0.9+4.1+8.0+.010+1.4+2.6+.091
Dirk Nowitzki 76 38.0 23.4 1.6 8.4 9.9 2.4 1.1 1.0 1.9 2.9 7.9 16.6 .477 1.8 4.6 .397 5.8 6.8 .853
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 9 45.1 28.0 3.4 10.8 14.2 3.2 0.8 2.0 - 4.1 10.8 23.9 .451 - - - 6.4 9.1 .707
difference:+1+0.5+0.4+1.3+0.2+1.1+0.9+1.2+1.2-0.7+1.7+3.4+.006+1.7+0.2+.171
Dirk Nowitzki 8 44.6 28.4 2.1 11.0 13.1 2.3 2.0 0.8 2.8 3.4 9.1 20.5 .445 2.0 3.5 .571 8.1 9.3 .878

Season 5

Bob McAdoo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1976-772002-03
Team Buffalo Braves, New York KnicksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 72 38.9 25.8 2.8 10.1 12.9 2.8 1.1 1.4 - 3.6 10.3 20.1 .512 - - - 5.3 7.2 .738
difference:+8+0.1+0.7+1.8+1.2+3.0+0.2+0.3+0.4-1.0+1.7+1.5+.049+0.7+0.3+.143
Dirk Nowitzki 80 39.0 25.1 1.0 8.9 9.9 3.0 1.4 1.0 1.9 2.6 8.6 18.6 .463 1.9 4.9 .379 6.0 6.9 .881
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo DNP------ --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 17 42.5 25.3 0.9 10.6 11.5 2.2 1.2 0.9 2.4 3.1 8.8 18.4 .479 1.6 3.6 .443 6.1 6.6 .912

Season 6

Bob McAdoo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1977-782003-04
Team New York KnicksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisMavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 79 40.3 26.5 3.0 9.8 12.8 3.8 1.3 1.6 4.4 3.8 10.3 19.8 .520 - - - 5.9 8.2 .727
difference:+2+2.4+4.7+1.8+2.3+4.1+1.1+0.1+0.2-2.6-1.0+2.4+2.8+.058+1.1+2.7+.150
Dirk Nowitzki 77 37.9 21.8 1.2 7.5 8.7 2.7 1.2 1.4 1.8 2.8 7.9 17.0 .462 1.3 3.8 .341 4.8 5.5 .877
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 6 39.7 23.8 1.8 7.8 9.7 3.8 1.2 2.0 3.8 3.2 10.2 21.0 .484 - - - 3.5 5.8 .600
difference:+1+2.5+2.8+0.8+1.4+2.1+2.4+0.2+0.6-2.6+1.2+1.0+.034+3.7+2.6+.257
Dirk Nowitzki 5 42.2 26.6 2.6 9.2 11.8 1.4 1.4 2.6 1.2 3.2 9.0 20.0 .450 1.4 3.0 .467 7.2 8.4 .857

Season 7

Bob McAdoo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1978-792004-05
Team New York Knicks, Boston CelticsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 60 37.2 24.8 2.2 6.5 8.7 2.8 1.2 1.1 3.6 3.2 9.9 18.8 .529 - - - 4.9 7.5 .656
difference:+18+1.5+1.3+1.0+2.0+1.0+0.3+0.4-1.3-0.4+1.4+0.3+.070+3.0+1.6+.213
Dirk Nowitzki 78 38.7 26.1 1.2 8.5 9.7 3.1 1.2 1.5 2.3 2.8 8.5 18.5 .459 1.2 2.9 .399 7.9 9.1 .869
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo DNP------ --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 13 42.5 23.7 1.9 8.2 10.1 3.3 1.4 1.6 2.5 3.2 7.9 19.7 .402 0.8 2.3 .333 7.1 8.5 .829

Season 8

Bob McAdoo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1979-802005-06
Team Detroit PistonsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks Lost NBA Finals
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 58 36.2 21.1 1.7 6.3 8.1 3.4 1.3 1.1 4.1 3.1 8.5 17.7 .480 0.1 0.4 .125 4.1 5.6 .730
difference:+23+1.9+5.5+0.3+1.3+0.9+0.6+0.6+0.1-2.2-1.1+0.8+1.6+1.3+2.9+.281+2.6+1.8+.171
Dirk Nowitzki 81 38.1 26.6 1.4 7.6 9.0 2.8 0.7 1.0 1.9 2.0 9.3 19.3 .480 1.4 3.3 .406 6.7 7.4 .901
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo DNP------ --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 23 42.7 27.0 2.0 9.6 11.7 2.9 1.1 0.6 2.1 2.8 8.5 18.2 .468 1.0 2.9 .343 8.9 10.0 .895

Season 9

Bob McAdoo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1980-812006-07
Team Detroit Pistons, New Jersey NetsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 16 20.1 10.3 1.1 3.1 4.2 1.9 1.1 0.8 2.0 2.4 4.3 9.8 .433 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.6 .707
difference:+62+16.1+14.3+0.5+4.2+4.7+1.5+0.4-0.1-0.2+4.3+7.4+.069+0.9+2.1+.416+4.6+4.5+.197
Dirk Nowitzki 78 36.2 24.6 1.6 7.3 8.9 3.4 0.7 0.8 2.1 2.2 8.6 17.2 .502 0.9 2.2 .416 6.4 7.1 .904
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo DNP------ --- ----------
Dirk Nowitzki 6 39.8 19.7 4.2 7.2 11.3 2.3 1.8 1.3 2.3 3.3 6.0 15.7 .383 0.7 3.2 .211 7.0 8.3 .840

Season 10

Bob McAdoo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1981-822007-08
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 41 18.2 9.6 1.1 2.8 3.9 0.8 0.5 0.9 1.2 2.7 3.7 8.0 .458 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 3.1 .714
difference:+36+17.8+14.0+0.1+4.5+4.7+2.7+0.2-0.9-0.1+4.5+9.1+.021+1.0+2.8+.359+4.0+4.0+.165
Dirk Nowitzki 77 36.0 23.6 1.2 7.3 8.6 3.5 0.7 0.9 2.1 2.6 8.2 17.1 .479 1.0 2.9 .359 6.2 7.1 .879
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 14 27.7 16.7 1.5 5.3 6.8 1.6 0.7 1.5 2.5 3.1 7.2 12.8 .564 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.4 .681
difference:+9+14.5+10.1+0.5+4.7+5.2+2.4+0.5+0.1-0.5-0.5+1.4+5.4+.091+1.2+3.6+6.1+7.0+.127
Dirk Nowitzki 5 42.2 26.8 2.0 10.0 12.0 4.0 0.2 1.4 2.0 2.6 8.6 18.2 .473 1.2 3.6 .333 8.4 10.4 .808

Season 11

Bob McAdoo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1982-832008-09
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsMavericks Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 47 21.7 15.0 1.6 3.6 5.3 0.8 0.9 0.9 1.4 3.3 6.2 12.0 .520 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.5 .730
difference:+34+16.0+10.9+0.5+3.7+3.1+1.6+0.1+0.1-0.5-1.1+3.4+8.0+.041+0.8+2.1+3.5+3.2+.160
Dirk Nowitzki 81 37.7 25.9 1.1 7.3 8.4 2.4 0.8 0.8 1.9 2.2 9.6 20.0 .479 0.8 2.1 .359 6.0 6.7 .890
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 8 20.8 10.9 1.9 3.9 5.8 0.6 1.4 1.3 1.8 2.9 4.6 10.5 .440 0.3 0.8 .333 1.4 1.8 .786
difference:+2+18.6+15.9+0.7+5.0+4.3+2.5+0.5+0.5-0.5-0.8+4.2+6.5+.078+0.3+1.3+.047+7.2+7.5+.139
Dirk Nowitzki 10 39.4 26.8 1.2 8.9 10.1 3.1 0.9 0.8 2.3 2.1 8.8 17.0 .518 0.6 2.1 .286 8.6 9.3 .925

Season 12

Bob McAdoo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1983-842009-10
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsMavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 70 20.8 13.1 1.2 3.0 4.1 1.1 0.6 0.7 1.8 2.6 5.0 10.7 .471 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 3.8 .803
difference:+11+16.7+11.9+0.2+3.7+3.6+1.6+0.3+0.3+3.9+7.8+.010+0.6+1.4+.421+3.6+3.4+.112
Dirk Nowitzki 81 37.5 25.0 1.0 6.7 7.7 2.7 0.9 1.0 1.8 2.6 8.9 18.5 .481 0.6 1.5 .421 6.6 7.2 .915
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 20 22.4 14.0 1.5 3.9 5.4 0.6 0.6 1.4 2.0 3.2 5.6 10.8 .516 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 4.1 .704
difference:+14+16.4+12.7+0.3+3.1+2.8+2.4+0.2+0.7-0.3-0.7+4.1+6.9+.031+0.7+1.1+.571+3.8+2.9+.248
Dirk Nowitzki 6 38.8 26.7 1.2 7.0 8.2 3.0 0.8 0.7 1.7 2.5 9.7 17.7 .547 0.7 1.2 .571 6.7 7.0 .952

Season 13

Bob McAdoo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1984-852010-11
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 66 19.0 10.5 1.2 3.3 4.5 1.0 0.3 0.8 1.4 2.6 4.3 8.3 .520 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.5 .753
difference:+7+15.3+12.5+0.5+3.0+2.5+1.6+0.2+0.2-0.5-0.2+4.1+7.9+.003+0.9+2.3+3.6+3.6+.139
Dirk Nowitzki 73 34.3 23.0 0.7 6.3 7.0 2.6 0.5 0.6 1.9 2.4 8.4 16.2 .517 0.9 2.3 .393 5.4 6.1 .892
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 19 20.9 11.4 1.3 3.2 4.5 0.8 0.5 1.4 1.7 3.5 4.8 10.2 .472 0.0 0.1 .000 1.8 2.5 .745
difference:+2+18.4+16.3+0.7+4.4+3.6+1.7+0.1+0.8-1.4-1.3+4.3+8.7+.013+1.1+2.3+.460+6.5+6.4+.196
Dirk Nowitzki 21 39.3 27.7 0.6 7.6 8.1 2.5 0.6 0.6 3.1 2.2 9.1 18.9 .485 1.1 2.4 .460 8.3 8.9 .941

Season 14

Bob McAdoo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 1985-862011-12
Team Philadelphia 76ersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisMavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 29 21.0 10.1 0.9 2.7 3.6 1.2 0.3 0.6 1.7 2.2 4.0 8.7 .462 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.8 .765
difference:+33+12.5+11.5+0.2+3.3+3.1+1.0+0.4+0.1-0.2-0.1+3.6+8.0+.005+1.3+3.4+3.0+2.9+.131
Dirk Nowitzki 62 33.5 21.6 0.7 6.0 6.7 2.2 0.7 0.5 1.9 2.1 7.6 16.7 .457 1.3 3.4 .368 5.1 5.7 .896
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bob McAdoo 5 14.6 10.8 1.6 1.2 2.8 0.4 0.8 1.0 0.4 2.6 4.0 7.2 .556 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.2 .875
difference:+1+23.9+16.0+0.8+4.3+3.5+1.4+1.0-2.1-0.3+4.5+12.1+.114+0.3+1.5+6.7+7.3+.030
Dirk Nowitzki 4 38.5 26.8 0.8 5.5 6.3 1.8 0.8 0.0 2.5 2.3 8.5 19.3 .442 0.3 1.5 .167 9.5 10.5 .905

Additional Years

* Dirk Nowitzki played 7 seasons more than Bob McAdoo in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 21, from 2013 to 2019—Dirk Nowitzki played in 3 Playoffs.

In those 7 extra years over Bob McAdoo, Dirk Nowitzki got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 3 All-Star Game