Gilbert Arenas vs. Manu Ginobili: Career Scoring Comparison

We break down the scoring legacies of Manu Ginobili and Gilbert Arenas 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.

By taking a look at their career numbers for points, the first conclusion one can arrive at is that Gilbert Arenas has better scoring averages both in the regular season and Playoffs while Manu Ginobili scored more total points in both stages. 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 11 NBA regular seasons played, Gilbert Arenas averages 7.4 points more than Manu Ginobili in his 16 seasons (20.7 points against 13.3). On the other hand Manu Ginobili scored a total of 2,641 points more than Gilbert Arenas (14,043 vs. 11,402).

Points Per Game

Seasons
Gilbert Arenas 20.7
+7.4
11
Manu Ginobili 13.3
16

Total Points

Seasons
Gilbert Arenas 11,402
11
Manu Ginobili 14,043
+2,641
16

Points in the Playoffs

Similar to what happens in the regular season, in the NBA postseason Gilbert Arenas has a better career point average than Manu Ginobili (+3.1 points per game) while Manu Ginobili scored more points (+2,524).

Points Per Game

Playoffs
Gilbert Arenas 17.1
+3.1
5
Manu Ginobili 14.0
15

Total Points

Playoffs
Gilbert Arenas 530
5
Manu Ginobili 3,054
+2,524
15

Points by Thresholds

Regular Season

60+ Point Games

Gilbert Arenas 1
+1
Manu Ginobili 0

50+ Point Games

Gilbert Arenas 3
+3
Manu Ginobili 0

40+ Point Games

Gilbert Arenas 29
+23
Manu Ginobili 6

30+ Point Games

Gilbert Arenas 128
+96
Manu Ginobili 32

20+ Point Games

Gilbert Arenas 298
+93
Manu Ginobili 205

10+ Point Games

Gilbert Arenas 451
Manu Ginobili 698
+247

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Gilbert Arenas 537
Manu Ginobili 1,041
+504

0 Point Games (games without points)

Gilbert Arenas 15
Manu Ginobili 16
+1

Playoffs

40+ Point Games

Gilbert Arenas 1
+1
Manu Ginobili 0

30+ Point Games

Gilbert Arenas 7
Manu Ginobili 9
+2

20+ Point Games

Gilbert Arenas 15
Manu Ginobili 53
+38

10+ Point Games

Gilbert Arenas 18
Manu Ginobili 147
+129

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Gilbert Arenas 26
Manu Ginobili 211
+185

0 Point Games (games without points)

Gilbert Arenas 5
Manu Ginobili 7
+2

Career Shooting Stats Comparison

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Regular Season

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Gilbert Arenas 20.7 6.7 16.0 42.1 2.0 5.6 35.1 5.2 6.5 80.3 11 552
difference:+7.4+2.4+6.3+2.6+0.6+1.8+1.8+2.0+2.6+2.4+5+505
Manu Ginobili 13.3 4.3 9.7 44.7 1.4 3.8 36.9 3.2 3.9 82.7 16 1,057

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Gilbert Arenas 11,402 3,722 8,850 42.1 1,079 3,077 35.1 2,879 3,584 80.3 11 552
difference:+2,641+862+1,412+2.6+416+978+1.8+501+505+2.4+5+505
Manu Ginobili 14,043 4,584 10,262 44.7 1,495 4,055 36.9 3,380 4,089 82.7 16 1,057

Playoffs

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Gilbert Arenas 17.1 5.5 13.5 41.0 1.5 4.9 30.5 4.5 5.9 76.9 5 31
difference:+3.1+1.1+3.4+2.3+0.7+5.3+0.7+1.3+4.8+10+187
Manu Ginobili 14.0 4.4 10.1 43.3 1.5 4.2 35.8 3.8 4.6 81.7 15 218

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Gilbert Arenas 530 172 420 41.0 46 151 30.5 140 182 76.9 5 31
difference:+2,524+784+1,789+2.3+278+754+5.3+678+819+4.8+10+187
Manu Ginobili 3,054 956 2,209 43.3 324 905 35.8 818 1,001 81.7 15 218

Year by Year Points Average Comparison

NBA Champion = NBA Champion

Regular Season

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas 10.9
+3.3
200247
Manu Ginobili 7.6
2003NBA Champion69

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas 18.3
+5.5
200382
Manu Ginobili 12.8
200477

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas 19.6
+3.6
200455
Manu Ginobili 16.0
2005NBA Champion74

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas 25.5
+10.4
200580
Manu Ginobili 15.1
200665

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas 29.3
+12.8
200680
Manu Ginobili 16.5
2007NBA Champion75

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas 28.4
+8.9
200774
Manu Ginobili 19.5
200874

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas 19.4
+3.9
200813
Manu Ginobili 15.5
200944

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas 13.0
20092
Manu Ginobili 16.5
+3.5
201075

Season 9

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas 22.6
+5.2
201032
Manu Ginobili 17.4
201180

Season 10

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas 10.8
201170
Manu Ginobili 12.9
+2.1
201234

Season 11

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas 10.8
201170
Manu Ginobili 11.8
+1.0
201360

Season 12

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas 4.2
201217
Manu Ginobili 12.3
+8.1
2014NBA Champion68

Manu Ginobili's additional seasons:

* Manu Ginobili played 4 seasons more than Gilbert Arenas in the NBA.

In those years—his seasons 13 to 16, from 2015 to 2018—he averaged 9.1 points in a total of 262 regular season games. During that period, his highest average was 10.5 ppg and his lowest 7.5.

Playoffs

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas -
DNP
20020
Manu Ginobili 9.4
+9.4
2003NBA Champion24

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas -
DNP
20030
Manu Ginobili 13.0
+13.0
200410

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas -
DNP
20040
Manu Ginobili 20.8
+20.8
2005NBA Champion23

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas 23.6
+5.2
200510
Manu Ginobili 18.4
200613

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas 34.0
+17.3
20066
Manu Ginobili 16.7
2007NBA Champion20

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas -
DNP
20070
Manu Ginobili 17.8
+17.8
200817

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas 10.8
+10.8
20084
Manu Ginobili -
DNP
20090

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas -
DNP
20090
Manu Ginobili 19.4
+19.4
201010

Season 9

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas -
DNP
20100
Manu Ginobili 20.6
+20.6
20115

Season 10

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas 8.6
20115
Manu Ginobili 14.4
+5.8
201214

Season 11

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas 8.6
20115
Manu Ginobili 11.5
+2.9
201321

Season 12

Points per gameYearGames
Gilbert Arenas 0.7
20126
Manu Ginobili 14.3
+13.6
2014NBA Champion23

Manu Ginobili's additional Playoffs:

* During his 4 additional NBA seasons, Manu Ginobili played in 4 Playoffs. In those postseasons he averaged 7.2 points in a total of 38 games. His highest playoff average during that period was 9 ppg and his lowest 6.6.