Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Dirk Nowitzki Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dirk Nowitzki and Giannis Antetokounmpo, 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.

Giannis Antetokounmpo played 13 years in the NBA, 8 less than Dirk Nowitzki, who played 21. Giannis Antetokounmpo had the first of his seasons in 2013-14, 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
Giannis Antetokounmpo 13 9 2013-14 to 2025-26
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

Rookie Season

Giannis Antetokounmpo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2013-141998-99
Team Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 77 24.6 6.8 1.0 3.4 4.4 1.9 0.8 0.8 1.6 2.2 2.2 5.4 .414 0.5 1.5 .347 1.8 2.6 .683
difference:+30+4.2+1.4+0.1+0.8+1.0+0.9+0.2+0.2+0.7+1.7+.009+0.2+0.1+.141+0.3+0.1+.090
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 Giannis Antetokounmpo nor Dirk Nowitzki played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Giannis Antetokounmpo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2014-151999-00
Team Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdDid 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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 81 31.4 12.7 1.2 5.5 6.7 2.6 0.9 1.0 2.1 3.1 4.7 9.6 .491 0.1 0.5 .159 3.2 4.3 .741
difference:+1+4.4+4.8+0.3+0.2+0.1+0.1+0.2-0.4+1.6+4.0+.030+1.3+3.2+.220+0.3+0.1+.089
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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 6 33.5 11.5 2.0 5.0 7.0 2.7 0.5 1.5 1.8 3.0 4.3 11.8 .366 0.0 0.2 .000 2.8 3.8 .739
Dirk Nowitzki DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Giannis Antetokounmpo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2015-162000-01
Team Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks 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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 80 35.3 16.9 1.4 6.2 7.7 4.3 1.2 1.4 2.6 3.2 6.4 12.7 .506 0.4 1.4 .257 3.7 5.1 .724
difference:+2+2.8+4.9+0.1+1.5+1.5+2.2+0.2+0.2-0.7-0.2+0.8+2.5+.032+1.4+3.4+.130+1.8+1.5+.114
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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo DNP------ --- ----------
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

Giannis Antetokounmpo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2016-172001-02
Team Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Most Improved Player-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdMavericks 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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 80 35.6 22.9 1.8 7.0 8.8 5.4 1.6 1.9 2.9 3.1 8.2 15.7 .521 0.6 2.3 .272 5.9 7.7 .770
difference:+4+2.4+0.5+0.2+1.4+1.1+3.0+0.5+0.9-1.0-0.2+0.3+0.9+.044+1.2+2.3+.125+0.1+0.9+.083
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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 6 40.5 24.8 1.7 7.8 9.5 4.0 2.2 1.7 3.3 3.5 10.0 18.7 .536 0.7 1.7 .400 4.2 7.7 .543
difference:+2+4.1+3.6+0.4+3.2+3.6+1.7+0.2+0.9-0.5-0.1+0.9+1.8+.091+1.3+1.8+.171+3.9+1.6+.335
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

Giannis Antetokounmpo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2017-182002-03
Team Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second TeamAchievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdMavericks 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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 75 36.7 26.9 2.1 8.0 10.0 4.8 1.5 1.4 3.0 3.1 9.9 18.7 .529 0.6 1.9 .307 6.5 8.5 .760
difference:+5+2.3+1.8+1.1+0.9+0.1+1.8+0.1+0.4-1.1-0.5+1.3+0.1+.066+1.3+3.0+.072+0.5+1.6+.121
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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 7 40.0 25.7 1.1 8.4 9.6 6.3 1.4 0.9 2.4 4.0 9.9 17.3 .570 0.6 2.0 .286 5.4 7.9 .691
difference:+10+2.5+0.4+0.2+2.2+1.9+4.1+0.2-0.9+1.1+1.1+.091+1.0+1.6+.157+0.7+1.3+.221
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

Giannis Antetokounmpo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2018-192003-04
Team Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsMavericks 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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 72 32.8 27.7 2.2 10.3 12.5 5.9 1.3 1.5 3.7 3.2 10.0 17.3 .578 0.7 2.8 .256 6.9 9.5 .729
difference:+5+5.1+5.9+1.0+2.8+3.8+3.2+0.1+0.1-1.9-0.4+2.1+0.3+.116+0.6+1.0+.085+2.1+4.0+.148
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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 15 34.3 25.5 2.4 9.8 12.2 4.9 1.2 2.0 3.3 3.2 8.6 17.4 .494 1.2 3.7 .327 7.1 11.2 .637
difference:+10+7.9+1.1+0.2+0.6+0.4+3.5+0.2+0.6-2.1+0.4+2.6+.044+0.2+0.7+.140+0.1+2.8+.220
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

Giannis Antetokounmpo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2019-202004-05
Team Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisMavericks 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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 63 30.4 29.5 2.2 11.4 13.6 5.6 1.0 1.0 3.7 3.1 10.9 19.7 .553 1.4 4.7 .304 6.3 10.0 .633
difference:+15+8.3+3.4+1.0+2.9+3.9+2.5+0.2+0.5-1.4-0.3+2.4+1.2+.094+0.2+1.8+.095+1.6+0.9+.236
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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 9 30.8 26.7 3.0 10.8 13.8 5.7 0.7 0.9 3.3 3.4 10.0 17.9 .559 1.4 4.4 .325 5.2 9.0 .580
difference:+4+11.7+3.0+1.1+2.6+3.7+2.4+0.7+0.7-0.8-0.2+2.1+1.8+.157+0.6+2.1+.008+1.9+0.5+.249
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

Giannis Antetokounmpo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2020-212005-06
Team Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks 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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 61 33.0 28.1 1.6 9.4 11.0 5.9 1.2 1.2 3.4 2.8 10.3 18.0 .569 1.1 3.6 .303 6.5 9.5 .685
difference:+20+5.1+1.5+0.2+1.8+2.0+3.1+0.5+0.2-1.5-0.8+1.0+1.3+.089+0.3+0.3+.103+0.2+2.1+.216
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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 21 38.1 30.2 2.8 10.0 12.8 5.1 1.0 1.2 3.0 2.9 11.9 20.9 .569 0.6 3.3 .186 5.8 9.8 .587
difference:+2+4.6+3.2+0.8+0.4+1.1+2.2+0.1+0.6-0.9-0.1+3.4+2.7+.101+0.4+0.4+.157+3.1+0.2+.308
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

Giannis Antetokounmpo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2021-222006-07
Team Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisMavericks 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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 67 32.9 29.9 2.0 9.6 11.6 5.8 1.1 1.4 3.3 3.2 10.3 18.6 .553 1.1 3.6 .293 8.3 11.4 .722
difference:+11+3.3+5.3+0.4+2.3+2.7+2.4+0.4+0.6-1.2-1.0+1.7+1.4+.051+0.2+1.4+.123+1.9+4.3+.182
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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 12 37.3 31.7 2.2 12.0 14.2 6.8 0.7 1.3 4.5 3.6 11.7 23.8 .491 0.8 3.4 .220 7.6 11.2 .679
difference:+6+2.5+12.0+2.0+4.8+2.9+4.5+1.1-2.2-0.3+5.7+8.1+.108+0.1+0.2+.009+0.6+2.9+.161
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

Giannis Antetokounmpo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2022-232007-08
Team Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdMavericks 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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 63 32.1 31.1 2.2 9.6 11.8 5.7 0.8 0.8 3.9 3.1 11.2 20.3 .553 0.7 2.7 .275 7.9 12.3 .645
difference:+14+3.9+7.5+1.0+2.3+3.2+2.2+0.1+0.1-1.8-0.5+3.0+3.2+.074+0.3+0.2+.084+1.7+5.2+.234
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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 3 30.3 23.3 2.7 8.3 11.0 5.3 0.3 0.7 4.7 3.0 9.3 17.7 .528 0.0 1.0 .000 4.7 10.3 .452
difference:+2+11.9+3.5+0.7+1.7+1.0+1.3+0.1+0.7-2.7-0.4+0.7+0.5+.055+1.2+2.6+.333+3.7+0.1+.356
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

Giannis Antetokounmpo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2023-242008-09
Team Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Cup All-Tournament Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks 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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 73 35.2 30.4 2.7 8.8 11.5 6.5 1.2 1.1 3.4 2.9 11.5 18.8 .611 0.5 1.7 .274 7.0 10.7 .657
difference:+8+2.5+4.5+1.6+1.5+3.1+4.1+0.4+0.3-1.5-0.7+1.9+1.2+.132+0.3+0.4+.085+1.0+4.0+.233
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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo DNP------ --- ----------
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

Giannis Antetokounmpo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2024-252009-10
Team Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement Cup MVP-
Achievement Cup All-Tournament Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdMavericks Lost West Conf 1st Rd
Others NBA Cup NBA Cup 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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 67 34.2 30.4 2.2 9.7 11.9 6.5 0.9 1.2 3.1 2.3 11.8 19.7 .601 0.2 0.9 .222 6.5 10.6 .617
difference:+14+3.3+5.4+1.2+3.0+4.2+3.8+0.2-1.3-0.3+2.9+1.2+.120+0.4+0.6+.199+0.1+3.4+.298
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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 5 37.6 33.0 3.8 11.6 15.4 6.6 1.0 1.0 4.6 2.4 12.0 19.8 .606 0.2 1.0 .200 8.8 12.6 .698
difference:+1+1.2+6.3+2.6+4.6+7.2+3.6+0.2+0.3-2.9-0.1+2.3+2.1+.059+0.5+0.2+.371+2.1+5.6+.254
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

Giannis Antetokounmpo Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2025-262010-11
Team Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo 5 32.6 34.2 4.0 9.4 13.4 7.2 0.8 1.2 2.8 2.6 13.0 19.0 .684 1.0 1.6 .625 7.2 11.2 .643
difference:+68+1.7+11.2+3.3+3.1+6.4+4.6+0.3+0.6-0.9-0.2+4.6+2.8+.167+0.1+0.7+.232+1.8+5.1+.249
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%
Giannis Antetokounmpo DNP------ --- ----------
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

Additional Years

* Dirk Nowitzki played 8 seasons more than Giannis Antetokounmpo in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 21, from 2012 to 2019—Dirk Nowitzki played in 4 Playoffs.

In those 8 extra years over Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dirk Nowitzki got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 4 All-Star Game