Dirk Nowitzki vs. Jerry West Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jerry West 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 / Stats Rankings

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, 7 more than Jerry West, who played 14. Dirk Nowitzki had the first of his seasons in 1998-99, while Jerry West had his rookie season in 1960-61. 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
Jerry West 14 13 1960-61 to 1973-74

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Dirk Nowitzki Jerry West
Season 1998-991960-61
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Div Finals
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:+32+15.0+9.4+4.3+3.2-0.5+3.8+8.9+.014+2.1+3.6+.107
Jerry West 79 35.4 17.6 - - 7.7 4.2 - - - 2.7 6.7 16.0 .419 - - - 4.2 6.3 .666
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dirk Nowitzki DNP------ --- ----------
Jerry West 12 38.4 22.9 - - 8.7 5.3 - - - 3.3 8.3 16.8 .490 - - - 6.4 8.8 .726

Season 2

Dirk Nowitzki Jerry West
Season 1999-001961-62
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
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:+7+5.4+13.3+1.4+2.9-0.8+4.4+10.3+.016+6.0+8.1+.061
Jerry West 75 41.2 30.8 - - 7.9 5.4 - - - 2.3 10.7 23.9 .445 - - - 9.5 12.3 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dirk Nowitzki DNP------ --- ----------
Jerry West 13 42.8 31.5 - - 6.8 4.4 - - - 2.9 11.1 23.8 .465 - - - 9.3 11.5 .807

Season 3

Dirk Nowitzki Jerry West
Season 2000-011962-63
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisLakers Lost NBA Finals
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:+27+1.2+5.3+2.2+3.5-0.3+3.0+6.9+.013+1.2+2.1+.060
Jerry West 55 39.3 27.1 - - 7.0 5.6 - - - 2.7 10.2 22.1 .461 - - - 6.7 8.7 .778
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
difference:+3+1.5+4.4+0.1+3.3-1.1+4.2+5.7+.080+2.6+1.7+.143
Jerry West 13 41.4 27.8 - - 8.2 4.7 - - - 2.6 11.1 22.0 .503 - - - 5.7 7.7 .740

Season 4

Dirk Nowitzki Jerry West
Season 2001-021963-64
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisLakers Lost West Div 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%
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:+4+2.4+5.3+3.9+3.2-0.1+2.4+4.6+.007+2.3+3.0+.021
Jerry West 72 40.4 28.7 - - 6.0 5.6 - - - 2.8 10.3 21.2 .484 - - - 8.1 9.8 .832
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+3.4+2.8+5.9+1.1-0.6+2.3+2.5+.051+0.3+1.3+.086
Jerry West 5 41.2 31.2 - - 7.2 3.4 - - - 4.0 11.4 23.0 .496 - - - 8.4 10.6 .792

Season 5

Dirk Nowitzki Jerry West
Season 2002-031964-65
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf FinalsLakers Lost NBA 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%
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:+6+2.4+5.9+3.9+1.9-0.4+2.5+3.8+.034+2.8+3.8+.060
Jerry West 74 41.4 31.0 - - 6.0 4.9 - - - 3.0 11.1 22.4 .497 - - - 8.8 10.7 .821
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
difference:+6+0.2+15.3+5.8+3.1-0.3+5.3+13.5+.037+6.4+7.4+.022
Jerry West 11 42.7 40.6 - - 5.7 5.3 - - - 3.4 14.1 31.9 .442 - - - 12.5 14.0 .890

Season 6

Dirk Nowitzki Jerry West
Season 2003-041965-66
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
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:+2+2.8+9.5+1.6+3.4-0.3+2.5+4.9+.011+5.8+6.9+.017
Jerry West 79 40.7 31.3 - - 7.1 6.1 - - - 3.1 10.4 21.9 .473 - - - 10.6 12.4 .860
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
difference:+9+2.0+7.6+5.5+4.2-0.3+4.2+5.5+.068+0.6+0.5+.015
Jerry West 14 44.2 34.2 - - 6.3 5.6 - - - 2.9 13.2 25.5 .518 - - - 7.8 8.9 .872

Season 7

Dirk Nowitzki Jerry West
Season 2004-051966-67
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisLakers Lost West Div 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%
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:+12+1.8+2.6+3.8+3.7-0.4+1.3+2.5+.005+1.2+1.3+.009
Jerry West 66 40.5 28.7 - - 5.9 6.8 - - - 2.4 9.8 21.0 .464 - - - 9.1 10.4 .878
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:+12+41.5+23.7+9.1+3.3-3.2+7.9+19.7+7.1+8.5
Jerry West 1 1.0 0.0 - - 1.0 0.0 - - - 0.0 0.0 0.0 - - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 8

Dirk Nowitzki Jerry West
Season 2005-061967-68
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost NBA FinalsLakers 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%
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:+30+0.5+0.3+3.2+3.3-1.0+1.1+.034+1.0+2.1+.090
Jerry West 51 37.6 26.3 - - 5.8 6.1 - - - 3.0 9.3 18.2 .514 - - - 7.7 9.5 .811
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:+8+1.2+3.8+6.3+2.6-0.3+2.5+2.7+.059+0.1+1.3+.114
Jerry West 15 41.5 30.8 - - 5.4 5.5 - - - 3.1 11.0 20.9 .527 - - - 8.8 11.3 .781

Season 9

Dirk Nowitzki Jerry West
Season 2006-071968-69
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
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:+17+3.0+1.3+4.6+3.5-0.4+0.3+1.8+.031+1.6+2.7+.083
Jerry West 61 39.2 25.9 - - 4.3 6.9 - - - 2.6 8.9 19.0 .471 - - - 8.0 9.8 .821
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:+12+2.3+11.2+7.4+5.2-0.4+4.9+7.8+.080+2.1+3.0+.036
Jerry West 18 42.1 30.9 - - 3.9 7.5 - - - 2.9 10.9 23.5 .463 - - - 9.1 11.3 .804

Season 10

Dirk Nowitzki Jerry West
Season 2007-081969-70
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
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:+3+6.0+7.6+4.0+4.0-0.4+3.0+5.5+.018+2.5+3.5+.055
Jerry West 74 42.0 31.2 - - 4.6 7.5 - - - 2.2 11.2 22.6 .497 - - - 8.7 10.6 .824
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
difference:+13+3.9+4.4+8.3+4.4-0.5+2.3+5.0+.004+1.0+1.4+.006
Jerry West 18 46.1 31.2 - - 3.7 8.4 - - - 3.1 10.9 23.2 .469 - - - 9.4 11.8 .802

Season 11

Dirk Nowitzki Jerry West
Season 2008-091970-71
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
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:+12+3.5+1.0+3.8+7.1-0.4+0.1+0.4+.015+1.6+2.4+.058
Jerry West 69 41.2 26.9 - - 4.6 9.5 - - - 2.6 9.7 19.6 .494 - - - 7.6 9.1 .832
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
Jerry West DNP------ --- ----------

Season 12

Dirk Nowitzki Jerry West
Season 2009-101971-72
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
12th 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 37.5 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
difference:+4+1.1+0.8+3.5+7.0-0.1+0.6+1.5+.004+0.1+1.0+.101
Jerry West 77 38.6 25.8 - - 4.2 9.7 - - - 2.7 9.5 20.0 .477 - - - 6.7 8.2 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+9+1.7+3.8+3.3+5.9-0.1+1.2+5.0+.171+0.8+0.1+.122
Jerry West 15 40.5 22.9 - - 4.9 8.9 - - - 2.6 8.5 22.7 .376 - - - 5.9 7.1 .830

Season 13

Dirk Nowitzki Jerry West
Season 2010-111972-73
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+4+1.4+0.2+2.8+6.2-0.4+0.6+2.5+.038+0.5+.087
Jerry West 69 35.7 22.8 - - 4.2 8.8 - - - 2.0 9.0 18.7 .479 - - - 4.9 6.1 .805
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+4+1.8+4.1+3.6+5.3-0.7+0.2+0.9+.036+2.5+1.4+.161
Jerry West 17 37.5 23.6 - - 4.5 7.8 - - - 2.9 8.9 19.8 .449 - - - 5.8 7.5 .780

Season 14

Dirk Nowitzki Jerry West
Season 2011-121973-74
Team Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+31+2.3+1.3+0.3+3.2+3.0+4.4+1.9+0.2-0.5+0.1+.010+0.2+0.7+.063
Jerry West 31 31.2 20.3 1.0 2.8 3.7 6.6 2.6 0.7 - 2.6 7.5 16.7 .447 - - - 5.3 6.4 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+3+24.5+22.8+0.8+3.5+4.3+0.8+0.8-1.3+6.5+10.3+.220+9.5+10.5
Jerry West 1 14.0 4.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.0 9.0 .222 - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Additional Years

* Dirk Nowitzki played 7 seasons more than Jerry West 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 Jerry West, Dirk Nowitzki got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 3 All-Star Game