Dirk Nowitzki vs. D'Angelo Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of D'Angelo Russell and Dirk Nowitzki, 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 / Stats Rankings / 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.

Dirk Nowitzki played 21 years in the NBA, 10 more than D'Angelo Russell, who played 11. Dirk Nowitzki had the first of his seasons in 1998-99, while D'Angelo Russell had his rookie season in 2015-16. 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
Dirk Nowitzki 21 15 1998-99 to 2018-19
D'Angelo Russell 11 4 2015-16 to 2025-26

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season
Dirk Nowitzki D'Angelo Russell
Season 1998-992015-16
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second 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%
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
difference:+33+7.8+5.0+0.3+0.2+2.3+0.6+0.4-0.9-0.4+2.0+4.9+.005+1.3+3.2+.145+0.3+0.3+.036
D'Angelo Russell 80 28.2 13.2 0.6 2.8 3.4 3.3 1.2 0.2 2.5 1.8 4.9 12.0 .410 1.6 4.6 .351 1.8 2.4 .737
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Dirk Nowitzki nor D'Angelo Russell played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2
Dirk Nowitzki D'Angelo Russell
Season 1999-002016-17
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did not playDid 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%
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
difference:+19+7.1+1.9+0.7+2.2+3.0+2.3+0.6+0.5-1.1-1.0+0.7+0.2+.056+0.7+2.4+.027+1.2+1.2+.048
D'Angelo Russell 63 28.7 15.6 0.5 3.0 3.5 4.8 1.4 0.3 2.8 2.1 5.6 13.8 .405 2.1 6.1 .352 2.3 3.0 .782
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Dirk Nowitzki nor D'Angelo Russell played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3
Dirk Nowitzki D'Angelo Russell
Season 2000-012017-18
Team Dallas MavericksBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisDid not play
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+34+12.4+6.3+0.9+4.4+5.3+3.1+0.2+0.8-1.2-1.1+1.4+1.2+.060+0.1+1.0+.063+3.5+3.9+.098
D'Angelo Russell 48 25.7 15.5 0.6 3.3 3.9 5.2 0.8 0.4 3.1 1.9 5.8 14.0 .414 1.9 5.8 .324 2.0 2.7 .740
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
D'Angelo Russell DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4
Dirk Nowitzki D'Angelo Russell
Season 2001-022018-19
Team Dallas MavericksBrooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisNets Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+5+7.8+2.3+0.9+5.2+6.0+4.6+0.1+0.8-1.2-1.2+0.2+2.1+.043+1.1+3.2+.028+3.8+4.3+.073
D'Angelo Russell 81 30.2 21.1 0.7 3.2 3.9 7.0 1.2 0.2 3.1 1.7 8.1 18.7 .434 2.9 7.8 .369 2.0 2.5 .780
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+3+15.0+9.0+1.7+7.8+9.5+1.3+0.6+0.6-1.0+1.7+0.1+.086+0.4+3.9+.247+5.9+6.7+.032
D'Angelo Russell 5 29.6 19.4 0.4 3.2 3.6 3.6 1.4 0.2 2.8 2.4 7.4 20.6 .359 2.4 7.4 .324 2.2 2.6 .846

Season 5
Dirk Nowitzki D'Angelo Russell
Season 2002-032019-20
Team Dallas MavericksGolden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf FinalsDid not play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+35+6.7+2.0+0.6+5.3+6.0+3.3+0.3+0.7-1.4-0.7+0.6+0.2+.037+1.6+4.7+.012+2.4+2.5+.072
D'Angelo Russell 45 32.3 23.1 0.4 3.6 3.9 6.3 1.1 0.3 3.3 1.9 8.0 18.8 .426 3.5 9.6 .367 3.6 4.4 .809
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
D'Angelo Russell DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6
Dirk Nowitzki D'Angelo Russell
Season 2003-042020-21
Team Dallas MavericksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdDid not play
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+35+9.4+2.8+0.8+5.2+6.1+3.1+0.1+1.0-0.9-1.2+1.2+1.5+.031+1.6+3.6+.046+2.1+2.0+.112
D'Angelo Russell 42 28.5 19.0 0.4 2.3 2.6 5.8 1.1 0.4 2.7 1.6 6.7 15.5 .431 2.9 7.4 .387 2.7 3.5 .765
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
D'Angelo Russell DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7
Dirk Nowitzki D'Angelo Russell
Season 2004-052021-22
Team Dallas MavericksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+13+6.7+8.0+0.8+5.6+6.4+4.0+0.2+1.2-0.2-0.8+2.3+3.5+.048+1.5+5.1+.059+4.9+5.4+.044
D'Angelo Russell 65 32.0 18.1 0.4 2.9 3.3 7.1 1.0 0.3 2.5 2.0 6.2 15.0 .411 2.7 8.0 .340 3.0 3.7 .825
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+7+9.8+11.7+1.9+5.7+7.6+3.4+0.1+1.6-0.3-0.4+3.9+7.7+.069+1.2+2.9+.054+5.1+5.8+.079
D'Angelo Russell 6 32.7 12.0 0.0 2.5 2.5 6.7 1.5 0.0 2.8 2.8 4.0 12.0 .333 2.0 5.2 .387 2.0 2.7 .750

Season 8
Dirk Nowitzki D'Angelo Russell
Season 2005-062022-23
Team Dallas MavericksMinnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Mavericks Lost NBA FinalsLakers Lost West Conf 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%
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
difference:+10+5.6+8.8+0.9+5.1+6.0+3.4+0.3+0.6-0.7+3.0+5.9+.011+1.3+3.6+.010+4.2+4.4+.072
D'Angelo Russell 71 32.5 17.8 0.5 2.5 3.0 6.2 1.0 0.4 2.6 2.0 6.3 13.4 .469 2.7 6.9 .396 2.5 3.0 .829
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+7+13.1+13.7+1.4+7.3+8.8+1.7+0.4+0.3-0.3-0.8+3.3+6.0+.042+0.7+2.5+.033+7.6+8.4+.126
D'Angelo Russell 16 29.6 13.3 0.6 2.3 2.9 4.6 0.7 0.3 1.8 2.0 5.2 12.2 .426 1.7 5.4 .310 1.3 1.6 .769

Season 9
Dirk Nowitzki D'Angelo Russell
Season 2006-072023-24
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
Others -NBA Cup NBA Cup Champion
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+2+3.5+6.6+1.2+4.6+5.8+2.9+0.2+0.3-0.1+2.1+3.0+.046+2.1+5.0+.001+4.3+4.6+.076
D'Angelo Russell 76 32.7 18.0 0.4 2.7 3.1 6.3 0.9 0.5 2.1 2.1 6.5 14.2 .456 3.0 7.2 .415 2.1 2.5 .828
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+1+2.8+5.5+4.0+4.6+8.5+1.9+1.0+1.1-0.5-2.1+0.4+1.1+.001+2.1+5.6+.107+6.8+7.9+.340
D'Angelo Russell 5 37.0 14.2 0.2 2.6 2.8 4.2 0.8 0.2 1.8 1.2 5.6 14.6 .384 2.8 8.8 .318 0.2 0.4 .500

Season 10
Dirk Nowitzki D'Angelo Russell
Season 2007-082024-25
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdDid not play
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+19+10.5+11.0+0.9+4.9+5.8+1.6+0.3+0.5-0.2-0.6+3.9+6.1+.089+0.9+3.3+.045+4.1+4.6+.045
D'Angelo Russell 58 25.5 12.6 0.3 2.4 2.8 5.1 1.0 0.4 1.9 2.0 4.3 11.0 .390 1.9 6.2 .314 2.1 2.5 .834
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
D'Angelo Russell DNP------ --- ----------

Season 11
Dirk Nowitzki D'Angelo Russell
Season 2008-092025-26
Team Dallas MavericksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisDid not play
(season in progress)
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+56+18.7+15.7+0.8+5.3+6.0+1.6+0.3+0.7-1.0+6.0+11.1+.074+0.5+2.3+.059+4.3+4.3+.173
D'Angelo Russell 25 19.0 10.2 0.3 2.0 2.4 4.0 0.5 0.1 1.9 1.2 3.6 8.9 .405 1.3 4.4 .300 1.7 2.4 .717
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
D'Angelo Russell DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Dirk Nowitzki played 10 seasons more than D'Angelo Russell in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 12 to 21, from 2010 to 2019—Dirk Nowitzki played in 6 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.

In those 10 extra years over D'Angelo Russell, Dirk Nowitzki got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Finals MVP
Achievement 2 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 6 All-Star Game
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