Dirk Nowitzki vs. Shaquille O'Neal Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Shaquille O'Neal 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 / Scoring / Stats / 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, 2 more than Shaquille O'Neal, who played 19. Dirk Nowitzki had the first of his seasons in 1998-99, while Shaquille O'Neal had his rookie season in 1992-93. 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
Shaquille O'Neal	19	17	1992-93 to 2010-11

Comparison Season by Season
Jump to season: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19


Rookie Season
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	1998-99	1992-93
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Orlando Magic
Honors & Awards	-	Rookie of the Year
	-	All-Rookie First Team
	-	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Did not play	Did not play

more >>

Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+34	+17.5	+15.2	+3.3	+7.0	+10.5	+0.9	+0.1	+2.9	-2.2	-1.8	+6.1	+9.0	+.157	+0.3	+1.4		+3.2	+6.2	+.181
Shaquille O'Neal	81	37.9	23.4	4.2	9.6	13.9	1.9	0.7	3.5	3.8	4.0	9.0	16.1	.562	0.0	0.0	-	5.3	8.9	.592

Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Dirk Nowitzki nor Shaquille O'Neal played in the postseason in their season 1


Season 2
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	1999-00	1993-94
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Orlando Magic
Honors & Awards	-	All-NBA Third Team
Honors & Awards	-	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Did not play	Magic Lost East Conf 1st Rd

more >>

2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+1	+4.0	+11.8	+3.5	+3.3	+6.7	+0.1	+0.1	+2.1	-1.0	-0.4	+5.5	+6.0	+.138	+1.4	+3.7		+2.3	+6.3	+.276
Shaquille O'Neal	81	39.8	29.3	4.7	8.5	13.2	2.4	0.9	2.9	2.7	3.5	11.8	19.6	.599	0.0	0.0	-	5.8	10.5	.554

Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Dirk Nowitzki	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Shaquille O'Neal	3	42.0	20.7	5.7	7.7	13.3	2.3	0.7	3.0	3.3	4.3	7.7	15.0	.511	0.0	0.0	-	5.3	11.3	.471


Season 3
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	2000-01	1994-95
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Orlando Magic
Honors & Awards	-	All-NBA Second Team
	All-NBA Third Team	-
	-	Scoring Leader
	-	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Mavericks Lost West Conf Semis	Magic Lost NBA Finals

more >>

3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+3	+1.1	+7.5	+2.7	+0.4	+2.2	+0.6	+0.1	+1.2	-0.7	-0.3	+4.6	+5.0	+.109	+1.8	+4.7	+.387	+0.3	+4.2	+.305
Shaquille O'Neal	79	37.0	29.3	4.2	7.3	11.4	2.7	0.9	2.4	2.6	3.3	11.8	20.2	.583	0.0	0.1	.000	5.8	10.8	.533

Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+11	+1.6	+2.3	+3.1	+0.7	+3.8	+1.9	+0.2	+1.1	-2.1	-0.3	+2.4	+0.2	+.154	+1.3	+4.6		+1.2	+3.0	+.312
Shaquille O'Neal	21	38.3	25.7	4.5	7.4	11.9	3.3	0.9	1.9	3.5	4.0	9.3	16.1	.577	0.0	0.0	-	7.1	12.4	.571


Season 4
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	2001-02	1995-96
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Orlando Magic
Honors & Awards	All-NBA Second Team	-
	-	All-NBA Third Team
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Mavericks Lost West Conf Semis	Magic Lost East Conf Finals

more >>

4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+22	+2.0	+3.2	+1.8	+0.7	+1.1	+0.5	+0.5	+1.1	-1.0	-0.7	+3.1	+2.5	+.096	+1.8	+4.6		+1.2	+2.7	+.366
Shaquille O'Neal	54	36.0	26.6	3.4	7.7	11.0	2.9	0.6	2.1	2.9	3.6	11.0	19.1	.573	0.0	0.0	-	4.6	9.5	.487

Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+4	+6.3	+2.6	+2.0	+5.1	+3.1	+2.3	+1.2	+0.5	-0.9	-0.1	+1.8	+2.5	+.161	+2.0	+3.5		+4.1	+0.9	+.485
Shaquille O'Neal	12	38.3	25.8	4.1	5.9	10.0	4.6	0.8	1.3	3.7	3.3	10.9	18.0	.606	0.0	0.0	-	4.0	10.2	.393


Season 5
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	2002-03	1996-97
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	All-NBA Second Team	-
	-	All-NBA Third Team
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Mavericks Lost West Conf Finals	Lakers Lost West Conf Semis

more >>

5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+29	+0.9	+1.1	+2.8	+0.2	+2.6	+0.1	+0.5	+1.9	-1.0	-0.9	+2.2	+0.8	+.094	+1.9	+4.8	+.379	+1.5	+2.5	+.397
Shaquille O'Neal	51	38.1	26.2	3.8	8.7	12.5	3.1	0.9	2.9	2.9	3.5	10.8	19.4	.557	0.0	0.1	.000	4.5	9.4	.484

Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+8	+6.3	+1.6	+3.3	+4.3	+0.9	+1.0	+0.6	+1.0		-1.0	+1.1	+0.8	+.035	+1.6	+3.6		+1.0	+5.1	+.302
Shaquille O'Neal	9	36.2	26.9	4.2	6.3	10.6	3.2	0.6	1.9	2.4	4.1	9.9	19.2	.514	0.0	0.0	-	7.1	11.7	.610


Season 6
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	2003-04	1997-98
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	-	All-NBA First Team
	All-NBA Third Team	-
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd	Lakers Lost West Conf Finals

more >>

6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+17	+1.6	+6.5	+2.3	+0.4	+2.7	+0.3	+0.5	+1.0	-1.1	-0.4	+3.3	+2.1	+.122	+1.3	+3.8		+1.2	+5.9	+.350
Shaquille O'Neal	60	36.3	28.3	3.5	7.9	11.4	2.4	0.7	2.4	2.9	3.2	11.2	19.1	.584	0.0	0.0	-	6.0	11.4	.527

Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+8	+3.7	+3.9	+1.1	+2.7	+1.6	+1.5	+0.9		-2.1		+3.2	+0.2	+.162	+1.4	+3.0		+1.0	+3.8	+.354
Shaquille O'Neal	13	38.5	30.5	3.7	6.5	10.2	2.9	0.5	2.6	3.3	3.2	12.2	19.8	.612	0.0	0.0	-	6.2	12.2	.503


Season 7
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	2004-05	1998-99
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	All-NBA First Team	-
	-	All-NBA Second Team
	All-Star Game	-
Playoffs	Mavericks Lost West Conf Semis	Lakers Lost West Conf Semis

more >>

7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+29	+3.9	+0.2	+2.6	+1.6	+1.0	+0.8	+0.5	+0.2	-0.2	-0.4	+1.9	+0.4	+.117	+1.2	+2.9		+2.4	+1.1	+.329
Shaquille O'Neal	49	34.8	26.3	3.8	6.9	10.7	2.3	0.7	1.7	2.5	3.2	10.4	18.1	.576	0.0	0.0	-	5.5	10.2	.540

Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+5	+3.1	+2.9	+3.6	+2.1	+1.5	+1.0	+0.5	+1.3	-0.2	-0.4	+2.0	+0.3	+.108	+0.8	+2.3		+0.2	+6.3	+.363
Shaquille O'Neal	8	39.4	26.6	5.5	6.1	11.6	2.3	0.9	2.9	2.3	3.6	9.9	19.4	.510	0.0	0.0	-	6.9	14.8	.466


Season 8
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	2005-06	1999-00
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	-	Finals MVP
	-	Season MVP
	All-NBA First Team	All-NBA First Team
	-	All-Defensive Second Team
	-	Scoring Leader
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
	-	All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs	Mavericks Lost NBA Finals	NBA Champion

more >>

8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+2	+1.9	+3.1	+2.9	+1.8	+4.6	+1.0	+0.2	+2.0	-0.9	-1.2	+2.8	+1.8	+.094	+1.4	+3.3		+1.2	+3.0	+.377
Shaquille O'Neal	79	40.0	29.7	4.3	9.4	13.6	3.8	0.5	3.0	2.8	3.2	12.1	21.1	.574	0.0	0.0	-	5.5	10.4	.524

Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:		+0.8	+3.7	+3.2	+0.7	+3.7	+0.2	+0.5	+1.8	-0.3	-0.1	+3.9	+3.8	+.098	+1.0	+2.9		+3.0	+2.9	+.439
Shaquille O'Neal	23	43.5	30.7	5.2	10.3	15.4	3.1	0.6	2.4	2.4	2.9	12.4	22.0	.566	0.0	0.0	-	5.9	12.9	.456


Season 9
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	2006-07	2000-01
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	-	Finals MVP
	Season MVP	-
	All-NBA First Team	All-NBA First Team
	-	All-Defensive Second Team
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd	NBA Champion

more >>

9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+4	+3.3	+4.1	+2.3	+1.5	+3.8	+0.3	+0.1	+2.0	-0.8	-1.3	+2.4	+2.0	+.070	+0.9	+2.2		+0.3	+6.0	+.391
Shaquille O'Neal	74	39.5	28.7	3.9	8.8	12.7	3.7	0.6	2.8	2.9	3.5	11.0	19.2	.572	0.0	0.0	-	6.7	13.1	.513

Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+10	+2.5	+10.7	+1.5	+2.6	+4.1	+0.9	+1.4	+1.1	-1.3	-0.1	+5.9	+5.8	+.172	+0.7	+3.2		+0.4	+4.2	+.315
Shaquille O'Neal	16	42.3	30.4	5.7	9.8	15.4	3.2	0.4	2.4	3.6	3.4	11.9	21.5	.555	0.0	0.0	-	6.6	12.5	.525


Season 10
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	2007-08	2001-02
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	-	Finals MVP
	-	All-NBA First Team
	All-NBA Second Team	-
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd	NBA Champion

more >>

10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+10	+0.1	+3.6	+2.3	+0.1	+2.1	+0.5	+0.1	+1.1	-0.5	-0.4	+2.4	+1.2	+.100	+1.0	+2.9		+0.3	+3.6	+.324
Shaquille O'Neal	67	36.1	27.2	3.5	7.2	10.7	3.0	0.6	2.0	2.6	3.0	10.6	18.3	.579	0.0	0.0	-	5.9	10.7	.555

Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+14	+1.4	+1.7	+1.5	+0.9	+0.6	+1.2	+0.3	+1.1	-1.3	-0.7	+2.1	+2.0	+.056	+1.2	+3.6		+1.3	+0.5	+.159
Shaquille O'Neal	19	40.8	28.5	3.5	9.1	12.6	2.8	0.5	2.5	3.3	3.3	10.7	20.2	.529	0.0	0.0	-	7.1	10.9	.649


Season 11
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	2008-09	2002-03
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	All-NBA First Team	All-NBA First Team
	-	All-Defensive Second Team
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Mavericks Lost West Conf Semis	Lakers Lost West Conf Semis

more >>

11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+14	+0.1	+1.6	+2.8	+0.1	+2.7	+0.7	+0.2	+1.6	-1.0	-1.2	+0.8	+1.9	+.095	+0.8	+2.1		+0.7	+4.1	+.268
Shaquille O'Neal	67	37.8	27.5	3.9	7.2	11.1	3.1	0.6	2.4	2.9	3.4	10.4	18.1	.574	0.0	0.0	-	6.7	10.8	.622

Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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
difference:	+2	+0.7	+0.2	+4.1	+0.7	+4.7	+0.6	+0.3	+2.0	-0.6	-0.7	+1.3	+1.8	+.017	+0.6	+2.1		+1.8	+1.7	+.304
Shaquille O'Neal	12	40.1	27.0	5.3	9.6	14.8	3.7	0.6	2.8	2.9	2.8	10.1	18.8	.535	0.0	0.0	-	6.8	11.0	.621


Season 12
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	2009-10	2003-04
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards	-	All-NBA First Team
	All-NBA Second Team	-
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
	-	All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs	Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd	Lakers Lost NBA Finals

more >>

12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+14	+0.7	+3.5	+2.7	+1.1	+3.8	+0.2	+0.4	+1.5	-1.1	-0.8	+0.6	+4.4	+.103	+0.6	+1.5		+1.7	+2.9	+.425
Shaquille O'Neal	67	36.8	21.5	3.7	7.8	11.5	2.9	0.5	2.5	2.9	3.4	8.3	14.1	.584	0.0	0.0	-	4.9	10.1	.490

Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+16	+3.1	+5.2	+2.9	+2.1	+5.0	+0.5	+0.5	+2.1	-0.8	-1.6	+1.4	+3.7	+.046	+0.7	+1.2		+1.7	+4.5	+.523
Shaquille O'Neal	22	41.9	21.5	4.1	9.1	13.2	2.5	0.3	2.8	2.5	4.1	8.3	14.0	.593	0.0	0.0	-	5.0	11.5	.429


Season 13
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	2010-11	2004-05
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Miami Heat
Honors & Awards	Finals MVP	-
	-	All-NBA First Team
	All-NBA Second Team	-
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	NBA Champion	Heat Lost East Conf Finals

more >>

13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:		+0.2	+0.1	+2.8	+0.6	+3.4	+0.1		+1.7	-0.9	-1.2	+0.6	+1.2	+.084	+0.9	+2.3		+0.6	+4.4	+.431
Shaquille O'Neal	73	34.1	22.9	3.5	6.9	10.4	2.7	0.5	2.3	2.8	3.6	9.0	15.0	.601	0.0	0.0	-	4.8	10.5	.461

Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+8	+6.3	+8.3	+0.9	+1.2	+0.3	+0.6	+0.2	+0.9	-0.1	-1.8	+1.3	+5.0	+.073	+1.1	+2.4		+4.5	+0.7	+.469
Shaquille O'Neal	13	33.0	19.4	1.5	6.4	7.8	1.9	0.4	1.5	3.2	4.0	7.8	13.9	.558	0.0	0.0	-	3.8	8.2	.472


Season 14
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	2011-12	2005-06
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Miami Heat
Honors & Awards	-	All-NBA First Team
	All-NBA Third Team	-
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd	NBA Champion

more >>

14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+3	+2.9	+1.6	+2.2	+0.3	+2.5	+0.3	+0.3	+1.3	-0.9	-1.8	+0.5	+3.1	+.143	+1.3	+3.4		+1.4	+2.3	+.427
Shaquille O'Neal	59	30.6	20.0	2.9	6.3	9.2	1.9	0.4	1.8	2.8	3.9	8.1	13.6	.600	0.0	0.0	-	3.7	8.0	.469

Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	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:	+19	+5.5	+8.4	+2.5	+1.0	+3.5	+0.1	+0.3	+1.5	-1.2	-1.4	+0.8	+6.6	+.170	+0.3	+1.5		+6.5	+2.6	+.531
Shaquille O'Neal	23	33.0	18.4	3.3	6.5	9.8	1.7	0.5	1.5	3.7	3.7	7.7	12.7	.612	0.0	0.0	-	3.0	7.9	.374


Season 15
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	2012-13	2006-07
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Miami Heat
Honors & Awards	-	All-Star Game
Playoffs	Did not play	Heat Lost East Conf 1st Rd

more >>

15th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Dirk Nowitzki	53	31.3	17.3	0.7	6.2	6.8	2.5	0.7	0.7	1.3	1.8	6.5	13.7	.471	1.2	3.0	.414	3.1	3.6	.860
difference:	+13	+2.9		+1.7	+1.2	+0.6	+0.5	+0.5	+0.7	-1.1	-1.7	+0.6	+1.7	+.120	+1.2	+3.0			+3.8	+.438
Shaquille O'Neal	40	28.4	17.3	2.4	5.0	7.4	2.0	0.2	1.4	2.4	3.5	7.1	12.0	.591	0.0	0.0	-	3.1	7.4	.422

Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Dirk Nowitzki	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Shaquille O'Neal	4	30.3	18.8	4.0	4.5	8.5	1.3	0.3	1.5	3.5	3.8	8.3	14.8	.559	0.0	0.0	-	2.3	6.8	.333


Season 16
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	2013-14	2007-08
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards	All-Star Game	-
Playoffs	Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd	Suns Lost West Conf 1st Rd

more >>

16th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Dirk Nowitzki	80	32.9	21.7	0.5	5.7	6.2	2.7	0.9	0.6	1.5	2.1	7.9	15.9	.497	1.6	4.1	.398	4.2	4.7	.899
difference:	+19	+4.2	+8.1	+2.2	+0.7	+2.9	+1.2	+0.4	+0.8	-1.5	-1.6	+2.5	+6.8	+.096	+1.6	+4.1		+1.4	+0.8	+.396
Shaquille O'Neal	61	28.7	13.6	2.7	6.4	9.1	1.5	0.5	1.4	3.0	3.7	5.4	9.1	.593	0.0	0.0	-	2.8	5.5	.503

Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Dirk Nowitzki	7	37.6	19.1	0.7	7.3	8.0	1.6	0.9	0.9	2.1	2.9	7.7	18.0	.429	0.1	1.7	.083	3.6	4.4	.806
difference:	+2	+7.6	+3.9	+1.9	+0.7	+1.2	+0.6	+0.1	+1.7	-0.3	-1.3	+3.3	+8.0	+.011	+0.1	+1.7		+2.8	+8.4	+.306
Shaquille O'Neal	5	30.0	15.2	2.6	6.6	9.2	1.0	1.0	2.6	1.8	4.2	4.4	10.0	.440	0.0	0.0	-	6.4	12.8	.500


Season 17
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	2014-15	2008-09
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Phoenix Suns
Honors & Awards	-	All-NBA Third Team
	All-Star Game	All-Star Game
	-	All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs	Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd	Did not play

more >>

17th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Dirk Nowitzki	77	29.6	17.3	0.6	5.4	5.9	1.9	0.5	0.4	1.1	2.1	6.3	13.8	.459	1.4	3.6	.380	3.3	3.8	.882
difference:	+2	+0.4	+0.5	+1.9	+0.5	+2.5	+0.2	+0.2	+1.0	-1.1	-1.3	+0.5	+2.6	+.150	+1.4	+3.6		+0.8	+3.1	+.287
Shaquille O'Neal	75	30.0	17.8	2.5	5.9	8.4	1.7	0.7	1.4	2.2	3.4	6.8	11.2	.609	0.0	0.0	-	4.1	6.9	.595

Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Dirk Nowitzki	5	36.2	21.2	0.8	9.6	10.4	2.4	0.4	0.4	2.0	3.2	7.6	16.8	.452	0.8	3.4	.235	5.2	5.6	.929
Shaquille O'Neal	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-


Season 18
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	2015-16	2009-10
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs	Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd	Cavaliers Lost East Conf Semis

more >>

18th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Dirk Nowitzki	75	31.5	18.3	0.7	5.8	6.5	1.8	0.7	0.7	1.1	2.1	6.6	14.8	.448	1.7	4.6	.368	3.3	3.7	.893
difference:	+22	+8.1	+6.3	+1.1	+0.9	+0.2	+0.3	+0.4	+0.5	-0.9	-1.1	+1.7	+6.1	+.118	+1.7	+4.6		+1.2	+0.6	+.397
Shaquille O'Neal	53	23.4	12.0	1.8	4.9	6.7	1.5	0.3	1.2	2.0	3.2	4.9	8.7	.566	0.0	0.0	-	2.1	4.3	.496

Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Dirk Nowitzki	5	34.0	20.4	0.6	4.2	4.8	1.6	0.4	0.6	1.4	1.8	8.2	16.6	.494	0.8	2.2	.364	3.2	3.4	.941
difference:	+6	+11.9	+8.9	+1.3	+0.6	+0.7	+0.2	+0.2	+0.6	-0.8	-1.9	+3.8	+8.1	+.022	+0.8	+2.2		+0.4	+0.9	+.281
Shaquille O'Neal	11	22.1	11.5	1.9	3.6	5.5	1.4	0.2	1.2	2.2	3.7	4.4	8.5	.516	0.0	0.0	-	2.8	4.3	.660


Season 19
	Dirk Nowitzki	Shaquille O'Neal
Season	2016-17	2010-11
Team	Dallas Mavericks	Boston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs	Did not play	Celtics Lost East Conf Semis

more >>

19th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Dirk Nowitzki	54	26.4	14.2	0.4	6.1	6.5	1.5	0.6	0.7	0.9	2.1	5.5	12.6	.437	1.5	3.9	.378	1.8	2.1	.875
difference:	+17	+6.1	+5.0	+0.9	+2.6	+1.7	+0.8	+0.2	+0.4	-0.6	-1.1	+1.9	+7.2	+.230	+1.5	+3.9		+0.2	+1.4	+.318
Shaquille O'Neal	37	20.3	9.2	1.3	3.5	4.8	0.7	0.4	1.1	1.5	3.2	3.6	5.4	.667	0.0	0.0	-	2.0	3.5	.557

Playoffs Stats
	G	Min	Pts	ORb	DRb	Reb	Ast	Stl	Blk	TO	PF	FGM / A		%	3PM / A		%	FTM / A		%
Dirk Nowitzki	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Shaquille O'Neal	2	6.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0	0.5	0.5	0.0	0.0	2.0	0.5	1.0	.500	0.0	0.0	-	0.0	1.0	.000


Additional Years
* Dirk Nowitzki played 2 seasons more than Shaquille O'Neal in the NBA. In that period—his seasons 20 to 21, from 2018 to 2019—Dirk Nowitzki didn't play in the postseason. In those 2 extra years over Shaquille O'Neal, Dirk Nowitzki got these achievements:
Honors & Awards	1 All-Star Game

Dirk Nowitzki vs. Shaquille O'Neal Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Shaquille O'Neal 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.

Their Careers

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Rookie Season Stats Comparison

Season 2

2nd Season Stats Comparison

Season 3

3rd Season Stats Comparison

Season 4

4th Season Stats Comparison

Season 5

5th Season Stats Comparison

Season 6

6th Season Stats Comparison

Season 7

7th Season Stats Comparison

Season 8

8th Season Stats Comparison

Season 9

9th Season Stats Comparison

Season 10

10th Season Stats Comparison

Season 11

11th Season Stats Comparison

Season 12

12th Season Stats Comparison

Season 13

13th Season Stats Comparison

Season 14

14th Season Stats Comparison

Season 15

15th Season Stats Comparison

Season 16

16th Season Stats Comparison

Season 17

17th Season Stats Comparison

Season 18

18th Season Stats Comparison

Season 19

19th Season Stats Comparison

Additional Years