DeMar DeRozan vs. Dirk Nowitzki: Career Scoring Comparison

We break down the scoring legacies of Dirk Nowitzki and DeMar DeRozan to determine who has the better numbers. Here you can compare their career totals, points per game, games of 40+ points, 50+, etc. and their year-by-year scoring averages side by side, both in the Regular Season and Playoffs.

Dirk Nowitzki and DeMar DeRozan are among the all-time leaders in points in NBA history—combining for a total of 57,454 points—. Here we compare their scoring stats.

By taking a look at their career numbers for points, the first conclusion one can arrive at is that Dirk Nowitzki scored more total points both in the regular season and Playoffs and also has a better playoff average while DeMar DeRozan has a better scoring average in the regular season. However, we won't stop there and we'll go into detail to analyze what these statistics are made up of, from how many games they had in each threshold (30+ points, 40+, 50+, etc.) to their season-by-season scoring averages.

Career Numbers
Who has the better scoring stats?

Points in the Regular Season

In his 17 NBA regular seasons played, DeMar DeRozan averages 0.5 points more than Dirk Nowitzki in his 21 seasons (21.2 points against 20.7). On the other hand Dirk Nowitzki scored a total of 5,666 points more than DeMar DeRozan (31,560 vs. 25,894).

Points Per Game

Seasons
DeMar DeRozan 21.2
+0.5
17
Dirk Nowitzki 20.7
21

Total Points

Seasons
DeMar DeRozan 25,894
17
Dirk Nowitzki 31,560
+5,666
21

Points in the Playoffs

In the NBA postseason Dirk Nowitzki has a better career point average than DeMar DeRozan (+3.5 points per game) and he also scored more points (+2,288).

Points Per Game

Playoffs
DeMar DeRozan 21.8
7
Dirk Nowitzki 25.3
+3.5
15

Total Points

Playoffs
DeMar DeRozan 1,375
7
Dirk Nowitzki 3,663
+2,288
15

Points by Thresholds

Regular Season

50+ Point Games

DeMar DeRozan 2
Dirk Nowitzki 2

40+ Point Games

DeMar DeRozan 26
+6
Dirk Nowitzki 20

30+ Point Games

DeMar DeRozan 210
Dirk Nowitzki 245
+35

20+ Point Games

DeMar DeRozan 705
Dirk Nowitzki 861
+156

10+ Point Games

DeMar DeRozan 1,104
Dirk Nowitzki 1,373
+269

1+ Point Games (games with points)

DeMar DeRozan 1,214
Dirk Nowitzki 1,509
+295

0 Point Games (games without points)

DeMar DeRozan 5
Dirk Nowitzki 13
+8

Playoffs

50+ Point Games

DeMar DeRozan 0
Dirk Nowitzki 1
+1

40+ Point Games

DeMar DeRozan 1
Dirk Nowitzki 7
+6

30+ Point Games

DeMar DeRozan 16
Dirk Nowitzki 46
+30

20+ Point Games

DeMar DeRozan 36
Dirk Nowitzki 109
+73

10+ Point Games

DeMar DeRozan 57
Dirk Nowitzki 142
+85

1+ Point Games (games with points)

DeMar DeRozan 63
Dirk Nowitzki 145
+82

0 Point Games (games without points)

DeMar DeRozan 0
Dirk Nowitzki 0

Career Shooting Stats Comparison

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Regular Season

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
DeMar DeRozan 21.2 7.6 16.2 47.0 0.5 1.7 30.3 5.5 6.5 84.3 17 1,219
difference:+0.5+0.3+0.6+0.1+0.8+1.7+7.7+0.7+1.1+3.6+4+303
Dirk Nowitzki 20.7 7.3 15.6 47.1 1.3 3.4 38.0 4.8 5.4 87.9 21 1,522

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
DeMar DeRozan 25,894 9,280 19,742 47.0 641 2,117 30.3 6,693 7,938 84.3 17 1,219
difference:+5,666+1,889+3,992+0.1+1,341+3,093+7.7+547+301+3.6+4+303
Dirk Nowitzki 31,560 11,169 23,734 47.1 1,982 5,210 38.0 7,240 8,239 87.9 21 1,522

Playoffs

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
DeMar DeRozan 21.8 7.8 18.8 41.8 0.4 1.8 21.4 5.8 6.8 85.2 7 63
difference:+3.5+0.6+0.6+4.4+0.6+1.0+15.1+1.6+1.5+4.0+8+82
Dirk Nowitzki 25.3 8.4 18.2 46.2 1.0 2.8 36.5 7.4 8.3 89.2 15 145

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
DeMar DeRozan 1,375 494 1,183 41.8 24 112 21.4 363 426 85.2 7 63
difference:+2,288+726+1,459+4.4+125+296+15.1+711+778+4.0+8+82
Dirk Nowitzki 3,663 1,220 2,642 46.2 149 408 36.5 1,074 1,204 89.2 15 145

Year by Year Points Average Comparison

NBA Champion = NBA Champion

Regular Season

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 8.6
+0.4
201077
Dirk Nowitzki 8.2
199947

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 17.2
201182
Dirk Nowitzki 17.5
+0.3
200082

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 16.7
201263
Dirk Nowitzki 21.8
+5.1
200182

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 18.1
201382
Dirk Nowitzki 23.4
+5.3
200276

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 22.7
201479
Dirk Nowitzki 25.1
+2.4
200380

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 20.1
201560
Dirk Nowitzki 21.8
+1.7
200477

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 23.5
201678
Dirk Nowitzki 26.1
+2.6
200578

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 27.3
+0.7
201774
Dirk Nowitzki 26.6
200681

Season 9

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 23.0
201880
Dirk Nowitzki 24.6
+1.6
200778

Season 10

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 21.2
201977
Dirk Nowitzki 23.6
+2.4
200877

Season 11

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 22.1
202068
Dirk Nowitzki 25.9
+3.8
200981

Season 12

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 21.6
202161
Dirk Nowitzki 25.0
+3.4
201081

Season 13

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 27.9
+4.9
202276
Dirk Nowitzki 23.0
2011NBA Champion73

Season 14

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 24.5
+2.9
202374
Dirk Nowitzki 21.6
201262

Season 15

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 24.0
+6.7
202479
Dirk Nowitzki 17.3
201353

Season 16

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 22.2
+0.5
202577
Dirk Nowitzki 21.7
201480

Season 17

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 18.8
+1.5
202632
Dirk Nowitzki 17.3
201577

Dirk Nowitzki's additional seasons:

- Dirk Nowitzki played 4 seasons more than DeMar DeRozan in the NBA.

In those years—his seasons 18 to 21, from 2016 to 2019—he averaged 13.4 points in a total of 257 regular season games. During that period, his highest average was 18.3 ppg and his lowest 7.3.

Playoffs

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan -
DNP
20100
Dirk Nowitzki -
DNP
19990

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan -
DNP
20110
Dirk Nowitzki -
DNP
20000

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan -
DNP
20120
Dirk Nowitzki 23.4
+23.4
200110

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan -
DNP
20130
Dirk Nowitzki 28.4
+28.4
20028

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 23.9
20147
Dirk Nowitzki 25.3
+1.4
200317

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 20.3
20154
Dirk Nowitzki 26.6
+6.3
20045

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 20.9
201620
Dirk Nowitzki 23.7
+2.8
200513

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 22.4
201710
Dirk Nowitzki 27.0
+4.6
200623

Season 9

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 22.7
+3.0
201810
Dirk Nowitzki 19.7
20076

Season 10

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 22.0
20197
Dirk Nowitzki 26.8
+4.8
20085

Season 11

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan -
DNP
20200
Dirk Nowitzki 26.8
+26.8
200910

Season 12

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan -
DNP
20210
Dirk Nowitzki 26.7
+26.7
20106

Season 13

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan 20.8
20225
Dirk Nowitzki 27.7
+6.9
2011NBA Champion21

Season 14

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan -
DNP
20230
Dirk Nowitzki 26.8
+26.8
20124

Season 15

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan -
DNP
20240
Dirk Nowitzki -
DNP
20130

Season 16

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan -
DNP
20250
Dirk Nowitzki 19.1
+19.1
20147

Season 17

Points per gameYearGames
DeMar DeRozan -
DNP *
20260
Dirk Nowitzki 21.2
+21.2
20155
* season in progress

Dirk Nowitzki's additional Playoffs:

- During his 4 additional NBA seasons, Dirk Nowitzki played in one postseason. In those postseasons he averaged 20.4 points in a total of 5 games. His highest playoff average during that period was 20.4 ppg and his lowest 20.4.