Goran Dragic vs. Dirk Nowitzki Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dirk Nowitzki and Goran Dragic, 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 / 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.

Goran Dragic played 15 years in the NBA, 6 less than Dirk Nowitzki, who played 21. Goran Dragic had the first of his seasons in 2008-09, 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
Goran Dragic 15 7 2008-09 to 2022-23
Dirk Nowitzki 21 15 1998-99 to 2018-19

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15

Rookie Season

Goran Dragic Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2008-091998-99
Team Phoenix SunsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
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%
Goran Dragic 55 13.2 4.5 0.6 1.3 1.9 2.0 0.5 0.1 1.3 1.6 1.6 4.1 .393 0.4 1.0 .370 0.9 1.2 .769
difference:+8+7.2+3.7+0.3+1.3+1.5+1.0+0.1+0.5-0.3-0.6+1.3+3.0+.012+0.1+0.4+.164+1.2+1.5+.004
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 Goran Dragic nor Dirk Nowitzki played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Goran Dragic Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2009-101999-00
Team Phoenix SunsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsDid 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%
Goran Dragic 80 18.0 7.9 0.5 1.7 2.1 3.0 0.6 0.1 1.6 1.6 2.8 6.1 .452 0.9 2.4 .394 1.5 2.0 .736
difference:+2+17.8+9.6+0.7+3.5+4.4+0.5+0.2+0.7-0.1-1.5+3.5+7.5+.009+0.5+1.3+.015+2.0+2.2+.094
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%
Goran Dragic 16 14.8 7.6 0.6 1.2 1.8 2.3 0.3 0.1 1.0 1.1 2.7 6.3 .430 0.8 2.5 .325 1.4 1.9 .742
Dirk Nowitzki DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Goran Dragic Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2010-112000-01
Team Phoenix Suns, Houston RocketsDallas 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%
Goran Dragic 70 17.6 7.5 0.5 1.5 2.0 2.9 0.7 0.1 1.7 1.8 2.7 6.3 .435 0.8 2.2 .361 1.2 1.9 .624
difference:+12+20.5+14.3+1.0+6.2+7.2+0.8+0.3+1.1-0.2-1.2+4.5+8.9+.039+1.0+2.6+.026+4.3+4.7+.214
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%
Goran Dragic 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

Goran Dragic Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2011-122001-02
Team Houston RocketsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks 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%
Goran Dragic 66 26.5 11.7 0.8 1.7 2.5 5.3 1.3 0.2 2.4 2.5 4.2 9.1 .462 1.0 3.1 .337 2.3 2.9 .805
difference:+10+11.5+11.7+0.8+6.7+7.4+2.9+0.2+0.8-0.5-0.4+3.7+7.5+.015+0.8+1.5+.060+3.5+3.9+.048
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%
Goran Dragic DNP------ --- ----------
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

Goran Dragic Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2012-132002-03
Team Phoenix SunsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement 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%
Goran Dragic 77 33.5 14.7 0.8 2.3 3.1 7.4 1.6 0.3 2.8 2.8 5.2 11.8 .443 1.1 3.6 .319 3.2 4.2 .748
difference:+3+5.5+10.4+0.2+6.6+6.8+4.4+0.2+0.7-0.9-0.2+3.4+6.8+.020+0.8+1.3+.060+2.8+2.7+.133
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%
Goran Dragic 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

Goran Dragic Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2013-142003-04
Team Phoenix SunsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third TeamAchievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement Most Improved Player-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayMavericks 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%
Goran Dragic 76 35.1 20.3 0.9 2.3 3.2 5.9 1.4 0.3 2.8 2.7 7.3 14.4 .505 1.6 3.9 .408 4.2 5.5 .760
difference:+1+2.8+1.5+0.3+5.2+5.5+3.2+0.2+1.1-1.0-0.1+0.6+2.6+.043+0.3+0.1+.067+0.6+.117
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%
Goran Dragic DNP------ --- ----------
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

Goran Dragic Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2014-152004-05
Team Phoenix Suns, Miami HeatDallas 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%
Goran Dragic 78 33.8 16.3 1.0 2.5 3.5 4.5 1.0 0.2 2.2 2.5 6.4 12.8 .501 1.2 3.3 .347 2.3 3.0 .774
difference:+4.9+9.8+0.2+6.0+6.2+1.4+0.2+1.3-0.1-0.3+2.1+5.7+.042+0.4+.052+5.6+6.1+.095
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%
Goran Dragic 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

Goran Dragic Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2015-162005-06
Team Miami HeatDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf SemisMavericks 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%
Goran Dragic 72 32.8 14.1 0.8 3.1 3.8 5.8 1.0 0.2 2.6 2.6 5.8 12.2 .477 0.9 2.8 .312 1.7 2.3 .727
difference:+9+5.3+12.5+0.6+4.5+5.2+3.0+0.3+0.8-0.7-0.6+3.5+7.1+.003+0.5+0.5+.094+5.0+5.1+.174
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%
Goran Dragic 14 33.7 16.5 0.8 4.1 4.9 3.9 0.4 0.2 2.2 3.3 6.5 14.7 .442 1.1 3.3 .348 2.4 3.1 .767
difference:+9+9.0+10.5+1.2+5.5+6.8+1.0+0.7+0.4-0.1-0.5+2.0+3.5+.026+0.1+0.4+.005+6.5+6.9+.128
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

Goran Dragic Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2016-172006-07
Team Miami HeatDallas 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%
Goran Dragic 73 33.7 20.3 0.8 3.0 3.8 5.8 1.2 0.2 2.9 2.7 7.3 15.4 .475 1.6 4.0 .405 4.1 5.2 .790
difference:+5+2.5+4.3+0.8+4.3+5.1+2.4+0.5+0.6-0.8-0.5+1.3+1.8+.027+0.7+1.8+.011+2.3+1.9+.114
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%
Goran Dragic 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

Goran Dragic Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2017-182007-08
Team Miami HeatDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat 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%
Goran Dragic 75 31.7 17.3 0.7 3.4 4.1 4.8 0.8 0.2 2.2 2.4 6.5 14.3 .450 1.5 4.0 .370 2.9 3.6 .801
difference:+2+4.3+6.3+0.5+3.9+4.5+1.3+0.1+0.7-0.1-0.2+1.7+2.8+.029+0.5+1.1+.011+3.3+3.5+.078
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%
Goran Dragic 5 31.2 18.6 0.6 2.0 2.6 4.6 1.0 0.0 3.0 3.0 7.0 15.0 .467 1.6 4.2 .381 3.0 4.4 .682
difference:+11.0+8.2+1.4+8.0+9.4+0.6+0.8+1.4-1.0-0.4+1.6+3.2+.006+0.4+0.6+.048+5.4+6.0+.126
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

Goran Dragic Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2018-192008-09
Team Miami HeatDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement 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%
Goran Dragic 36 27.5 13.7 0.6 2.5 3.1 4.8 0.8 0.1 2.0 2.3 5.0 12.0 .413 1.6 4.6 .348 2.2 2.8 .782
difference:+45+10.2+12.2+0.5+4.8+5.3+2.4+0.7-0.1-0.1+4.6+8.0+.066+0.8+2.5+.011+3.8+3.9+.108
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%
Goran Dragic 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

Goran Dragic Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2019-202009-10
Team Miami HeatDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat 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%
Goran Dragic 59 28.2 16.2 0.5 2.7 3.2 5.1 0.7 0.2 2.4 2.1 5.4 12.3 .441 2.1 5.7 .367 3.2 4.2 .776
difference:+22+9.3+8.8+0.5+4.0+4.5+2.4+0.2+0.8-0.6-0.5+3.5+6.2+.040+1.5+4.2+.054+3.4+3.0+.139
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%
Goran Dragic 17 32.5 19.1 0.8 3.3 4.1 4.4 1.0 0.1 2.3 2.9 7.0 15.8 .444 2.2 6.3 .346 2.9 3.6 .803
difference:+11+6.3+7.6+0.4+3.7+4.1+1.4+0.2+0.6-0.6-0.4+2.7+1.9+.103+1.5+5.1+.225+3.8+3.4+.149
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

Goran Dragic Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2020-212010-11
Team Miami HeatDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA 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%
Goran Dragic 50 26.7 13.4 0.5 2.9 3.4 4.4 0.7 0.2 2.4 2.3 4.8 11.1 .432 1.8 4.9 .373 2.0 2.4 .828
difference:+23+7.6+9.6+0.2+3.4+3.6+1.8+0.2+0.4-0.5-0.1+3.6+5.1+.085+0.9+2.6+.020+3.4+3.7+.064
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%
Goran Dragic 4 29.3 16.0 0.3 1.5 1.8 2.8 1.0 0.5 1.5 2.8 5.8 13.5 .426 2.3 6.5 .346 2.3 3.0 .750
difference:+17+10.0+11.7+0.3+6.1+6.3+0.3+0.4+0.1-1.6-0.6+3.3+5.4+.059+1.2+4.1+.114+6.0+5.9+.191
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

Goran Dragic Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2021-222011-12
Team Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn NetsDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdMavericks 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%
Goran Dragic 21 23.7 7.5 0.6 2.5 3.1 4.1 0.9 0.2 1.6 2.1 2.7 7.2 .377 0.8 3.0 .254 1.3 1.6 .818
difference:+41+9.8+14.1+0.1+3.5+3.6+1.9+0.2+0.3-0.3+4.9+9.5+.080+0.5+0.4+.114+3.8+4.1+.078
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%
Goran Dragic 4 19.8 10.5 1.5 3.0 4.5 1.5 0.8 0.0 1.3 2.8 4.5 8.0 .563 1.0 3.0 .333 0.5 0.5 1.000
difference:+18.7+16.3+0.7+2.5+1.8+0.3-1.2-0.5+4.0+11.3+.121+0.7+1.5+.166+9.0+10.0+.095
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

Season 15

Goran Dragic Dirk Nowitzki
Season 2022-232012-13
Team Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee BucksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
15th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Goran Dragic 58 15.0 6.3 0.3 1.1 1.4 2.6 0.2 0.1 1.1 1.1 2.4 5.8 .421 0.9 2.5 .359 0.5 0.8 .689
difference:+5+16.3+11.0+0.4+5.1+5.4+0.1+0.5+0.6-0.2-0.7+4.1+7.9+.050+0.3+0.5+.055+2.6+2.8+.171
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Goran Dragic 2 3.5 2.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 2.0 2.0 1.000
Dirk Nowitzki DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Dirk Nowitzki played 6 seasons more than Goran Dragic in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 16 to 21, from 2014 to 2019—Dirk Nowitzki played in 3 Playoffs.

In those 6 extra years over Goran Dragic, Dirk Nowitzki got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 3 All-Star Game