Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. David Robinson: Career Scoring Comparison
We break down the scoring legacies of David Robinson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 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.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and David Robinson are among the all-time leaders in points in NBA history—combining for a total of 59,177 points—. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is also one of the all-time leaders in points per game. 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 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has better scoring stats than David Robinson in averages and totals, both in the regular season and Playoffs. 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.
On this page we compare: |
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Who has better scoring stats? Career Numbers |
Career Numbers
Who has the better scoring stats?
Points in the Regular Season
In his 20 NBA regular seasons played, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar averages 3.5 points more than David Robinson in his 14 seasons (24.6 points against 21.1), and he also scored a total of 17,597 points more (38,387 vs. 20,790).
Points Per Game | Seasons | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 24.6 | +3.5 | 20 |
| David Robinson | 21.1 | 14 | |
Total Points | Seasons | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 38,387 | +17,597 | 20 |
| David Robinson | 20,790 | 14 | |
Scoring Titles | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 2 |  +1 |
| David Robinson | 1 | |
Points in the Playoffs
Similar to what happens in the regular season, in the NBA postseason Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has a better career point average than David Robinson (+6.2 points per game) and he also scored more points (+3,541).
Points Per Game | Playoffs | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 24.3 | +6.2 | 18 |
| David Robinson | 18.1 | 12 | |
Total Points | Playoffs | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 5,762 | +3,541 | 18 |
| David Robinson | 2,221 | 12 | |
Points by Thresholds
Regular Season
70+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 0 | |||
| David Robinson | 1 | +1 | ||
60+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 0 | |||
| David Robinson | 1 | +1 | ||
20+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1,122 | +574 | ||
| David Robinson | 548 | |||
10+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1,509 | +620 | ||
| David Robinson | 889 | |||
1+ Point Games (games with points) | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1,559 | +574 | ||
| David Robinson | 985 | |||
0 Point Games (games without points) | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1 | |||
| David Robinson | 2 | +1 | ||
Playoffs
20+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 169 | +114 | ||
| David Robinson | 55 | |||
10+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 223 | +121 | ||
| David Robinson | 102 | |||
1+ Point Games (games with points) | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 237 | +117 | ||
| David Robinson | 120 | |||
0 Point Games (games without points) | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 0 | |||
| David Robinson | 3 | +3 | ||
Career Shooting Stats Comparison
Regular Season
Stats Per Game
| Pts | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | Yrs | Gms | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 24.6 | 10.2 | 18.1 | 55.9 | * 0.0 | * 0.0 | * 5.6 | 4.3 | 6.0 | 72.1 | 20 | 1,560 |
| difference: | +3.5 | +2.7 | +3.7 | +4.2 | +0.1 | +19.4 | +1.8 | +2.3 | +1.5 | +6 | +573 | |
| David Robinson | 21.1 | 7.5 | 14.4 | 51.8 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 25.0 | 6.1 | 8.3 | 73.6 | 14 | 987 |
Total Stats
| Pts | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | Yrs | Gms | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 38,387 | 15,837 | 28,307 | 55.9 | * 1 | * 18 | * 5.6 | 6,712 | 9,304 | 72.1 | 20 | 1,560 |
| difference: | +17,597 | +8,472 | +14,086 | +4.2 | +24 | +82 | +19.4 | +677 | +1,103 | +1.5 | +6 | +573 |
| David Robinson | 20,790 | 7,365 | 14,221 | 51.8 | 25 | 100 | 25.0 | 6,035 | 8,201 | 73.6 | 14 | 987 |
Notes: Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80.
* = some years in his career didn't have the stat.
Playoffs
Stats Per Game
| Pts | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | Yrs | Gms | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 24.3 | 9.9 | 18.7 | 53.3 | * 0.0 | * 0.0 | * 0.0 | 4.4 | 6.0 | 74.0 | 18 | 237 |
| difference: | +6.2 | +3.7 | +5.7 | +5.4 | +0.1 | +10.0 | +1.2 | +1.9 | +3.2 | +6 | +114 | |
| David Robinson | 18.1 | 6.2 | 13.0 | 47.9 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 10.0 | 5.6 | 7.9 | 70.8 | 12 | 123 |
Total Stats
| Pts | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | Yrs | Gms | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 5,762 | 2,356 | 4,422 | 53.3 | * 0 | * 4 | * 0.0 | 1,050 | 1,419 | 74.0 | 18 | 237 |
| difference: | +3,541 | +1,588 | +2,818 | +5.4 | +1 | +6 | +10.0 | +366 | +453 | +3.2 | +6 | +114 |
| David Robinson | 2,221 | 768 | 1,604 | 47.9 | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 684 | 966 | 70.8 | 12 | 123 |
Year by Year Points Average Comparison
= NBA Scoring Leader
= NBA ChampionRegular Season
Rookie Season | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 28.8 | +4.5 | 1970 | 82 |
| David Robinson | 24.3 | 1990 | 82 | |
Season 2 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 31.7 | +6.1 | 1971 | 82 |
| David Robinson | 25.6 | 1991 | 82 | |
Season 3 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 34.8 | +11.6 | 1972 | 81 |
| David Robinson | 23.2 | 1992 | 68 | |
Season 4 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 30.2 | +6.8 | 1973 | 76 |
| David Robinson | 23.4 | 1993 | 82 | |
Season 5 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 27.0 | 1974 | 81 | |
| David Robinson | 29.8 | +2.8 | 1994 | 80 |
Season 6 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 30.0 | +2.4 | 1975 | 65 |
| David Robinson | 27.6 | 1995 | 81 | |
Season 7 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 27.7 | +2.7 | 1976 | 82 |
| David Robinson | 25.0 | 1996 | 82 | |
Season 8 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 26.2 | +8.5 | 1977 | 82 |
| David Robinson | 17.7 | 1997 | 6 | |
Season 9 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 25.8 | +4.2 | 1978 | 62 |
| David Robinson | 21.6 | 1998 | 73 | |
Season 10 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 23.8 | +8.0 | 1979 | 80 |
| David Robinson | 15.8 | 1999 | 49 | |
Season 11 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 24.8 | +7.0 | 1980 | 82 |
| David Robinson | 17.8 | 2000 | 80 | |
Season 12 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 26.2 | +11.8 | 1981 | 80 |
| David Robinson | 14.4 | 2001 | 80 | |
Season 13 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 23.9 | +11.7 | 1982 | 76 |
| David Robinson | 12.2 | 2002 | 78 | |
Season 14 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 21.8 | +13.3 | 1983 | 79 |
| David Robinson | 8.5 | 2003 | 64 | |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's additional seasons: | ||||
* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played 6 seasons more than David Robinson in the NBA. In those years—his seasons 15 to 20, from 1984 to 1989—he averaged 18.2 points in a total of 470 regular season games. During that period, his highest average was 23.4 ppg and his lowest 10.1. |
Playoffs
Rookie Season | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 35.2 | +10.9 | 1970 | 10 |
| David Robinson | 24.3 | 1990 | 10 | |
Season 2 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 26.6 | +0.8 | 1971 | 14 |
| David Robinson | 25.8 | 1991 | 4 | |
Season 3 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 28.7 | +28.7 | 1972 | 11 |
| David Robinson | - | DNP | 1992 | 0 |
Season 4 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 22.8 | 1973 | 6 | |
| David Robinson | 23.1 | +0.3 | 1993 | 10 |
Season 5 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 32.2 | +12.2 | 1974 | 16 |
| David Robinson | 20.0 | 1994 | 4 | |
Season 6 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | - | DNP | 1975 | 0 |
| David Robinson | 25.3 | +25.3 | 1995 | 15 |
Season 7 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | - | DNP | 1976 | 0 |
| David Robinson | 23.6 | +23.6 | 1996 | 10 |
Season 8 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 34.6 | +34.6 | 1977 | 11 |
| David Robinson | - | DNP | 1997 | 0 |
Season 9 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 27.0 | +7.6 | 1978 | 3 |
| David Robinson | 19.4 | 1998 | 9 | |
Season 10 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 28.5 | +12.9 | 1979 | 8 |
| David Robinson | 15.6 | 1999 | 17 | |
Season 11 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 31.9 | +8.4 | 1980 | 15 |
| David Robinson | 23.5 | 2000 | 4 | |
Season 12 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 26.7 | +10.1 | 1981 | 3 |
| David Robinson | 16.6 | 2001 | 13 | |
Season 13 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 20.4 | +15.9 | 1982 | 14 |
| David Robinson | 4.5 | 2002 | 4 | |
Season 14 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 27.1 | +19.3 | 1983 | 15 |
| David Robinson | 7.8 | 2003 | 23 | |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's additional Playoffs: | ||||
* During his 6 additional NBA seasons, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in 6 Playoffs and won 3 NBA Championships. In those postseasons he averaged 19.2 points in a total of 111 games. His highest playoff average during that period was 25.9 ppg and his lowest 11.1. |