Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Dirk Nowitzki: Career Scoring Comparison

We break down the scoring legacies of Dirk Nowitzki 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.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Dirk Nowitzki are among the all-time leaders in points in NBA history—combining for a total of 69,947 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 scored more points both in the regular season and Playoffs and also has better season average while Dirk Nowitzki has a better scoring average in the postseason. 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:

Who has better scoring stats? Career Numbers
Games of 30+ points, 40+, 50+, etc
Shooting Stats
Points Year by Year

Career Numbers
Who has the better scoring stats?

Points in the Regular Season

In his 20 NBA regular seasons played, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar averages 3.9 points more than Dirk Nowitzki in his 21 seasons (24.6 points against 20.7), and he also scored a total of 6,827 points more (38,387 vs. 31,560).

Points Per Game

Seasons
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.6
+3.9
20
Dirk Nowitzki 20.7
21

Total Points

Seasons
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
+6,827
20
Dirk Nowitzki 31,560
21

Scoring Titles

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2
Scoring leaderScoring leader
+2
Dirk Nowitzki 0

Points in the Playoffs

In the NBA postseason Dirk Nowitzki has a better career point average than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (+1 point per game) while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored more points (+2,099).

Points Per Game

Playoffs
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.3
18
Dirk Nowitzki 25.3
+1.0
15

Total Points

Playoffs
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5,762
+2,099
18
Dirk Nowitzki 3,663
15

Points by Thresholds

Regular Season

50+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 10
+8
Dirk Nowitzki 2

40+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 70
+50
Dirk Nowitzki 20

30+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 429
+184
Dirk Nowitzki 245

20+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,122
+261
Dirk Nowitzki 861

10+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,509
+136
Dirk Nowitzki 1,373

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,559
+50
Dirk Nowitzki 1,509

0 Point Games (games without points)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1
Dirk Nowitzki 13
+12

Playoffs

50+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 0
Dirk Nowitzki 1
+1

40+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 9
+2
Dirk Nowitzki 7

30+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 75
+29
Dirk Nowitzki 46

20+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 169
+60
Dirk Nowitzki 109

10+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 223
+81
Dirk Nowitzki 142

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 237
+92
Dirk Nowitzki 145

0 Point Games (games without points)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 0
Dirk Nowitzki 0

Career Shooting Stats Comparison

more >>

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:+3.9+2.9+2.5+8.9+1.3+3.4+32.4+0.5+0.6+15.8+1+38
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
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:+6,827+4,668+4,573+8.9+1,981+5,192+32.4+528+1,065+15.8+1+38
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

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:+1.0+1.5+0.5+7.1+1.0+2.8+36.5+3.0+2.3+15.2+3+92
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
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5,762 2,356 4,422 53.3 * 0 * 4 * 0.0 1,050 1,419 74.0 18 237
difference:+2,099+1,136+1,780+7.1+149+404+36.5+24+215+15.2+3+92
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

Scoring leader= NBA Scoring Leader
NBA Champion = NBA Champion

Regular Season

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 28.8
+20.6
197082
Dirk Nowitzki 8.2
199947

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Scoring leader31.7
+14.2
1971NBA Champion82
Dirk Nowitzki 17.5
200082

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Scoring leader34.8
+13.0
197281
Dirk Nowitzki 21.8
200182

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 30.2
+6.8
197376
Dirk Nowitzki 23.4
200276

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 27.0
+1.9
197481
Dirk Nowitzki 25.1
200380

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 30.0
+8.2
197565
Dirk Nowitzki 21.8
200477

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 27.7
+1.6
197682
Dirk Nowitzki 26.1
200578

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 26.2
197782
Dirk Nowitzki 26.6
+0.4
200681

Season 9

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 25.8
+1.2
197862
Dirk Nowitzki 24.6
200778

Season 10

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 23.8
+0.2
197980
Dirk Nowitzki 23.6
200877

Season 11

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.8
1980NBA Champion82
Dirk Nowitzki 25.9
+1.1
200981

Season 12

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 26.2
+1.2
198180
Dirk Nowitzki 25.0
201081

Season 13

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 23.9
+0.9
1982NBA Champion76
Dirk Nowitzki 23.0
2011NBA Champion73

Season 14

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 21.8
+0.2
198379
Dirk Nowitzki 21.6
201262

Season 15

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 21.5
+4.2
198480
Dirk Nowitzki 17.3
201353

Season 16

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 22.0
+0.3
1985NBA Champion79
Dirk Nowitzki 21.7
201480

Season 17

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 23.4
+6.1
198679
Dirk Nowitzki 17.3
201577

Season 18

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 17.5
1987NBA Champion78
Dirk Nowitzki 18.3
+0.8
201675

Season 19

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 14.6
+0.4
1988NBA Champion80
Dirk Nowitzki 14.2
201754

Season 20

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 10.1
198974
Dirk Nowitzki 12.0
+1.9
201877

Dirk Nowitzki's additional seasons:

* Dirk Nowitzki played 1 season more than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the NBA.

In that year—his season 21 in 2019—he averaged 7.3 points in a total of 51 regular season games.

Playoffs

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 35.2
+35.2
197010
Dirk Nowitzki -
DNP
19990

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 26.6
+26.6
1971NBA Champion14
Dirk Nowitzki -
DNP
20000

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 28.7
+5.3
197211
Dirk Nowitzki 23.4
200110

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 22.8
19736
Dirk Nowitzki 28.4
+5.6
20028

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 32.2
+6.9
197416
Dirk Nowitzki 25.3
200317

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -
DNP
19750
Dirk Nowitzki 26.6
+26.6
20045

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -
DNP
19760
Dirk Nowitzki 23.7
+23.7
200513

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 34.6
+7.6
197711
Dirk Nowitzki 27.0
200623

Season 9

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 27.0
+7.3
19783
Dirk Nowitzki 19.7
20076

Season 10

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 28.5
+1.7
19798
Dirk Nowitzki 26.8
20085

Season 11

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 31.9
+5.1
1980NBA Champion15
Dirk Nowitzki 26.8
200910

Season 12

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 26.7
19813
Dirk Nowitzki 26.7
20106

Season 13

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 20.4
1982NBA Champion14
Dirk Nowitzki 27.7
+7.3
2011NBA Champion21

Season 14

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 27.1
+0.3
198315
Dirk Nowitzki 26.8
20124

Season 15

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 23.9
+23.9
198421
Dirk Nowitzki -
DNP
20130

Season 16

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 21.9
+2.8
1985NBA Champion19
Dirk Nowitzki 19.1
20147

Season 17

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 25.9
+4.7
198614
Dirk Nowitzki 21.2
20155

Season 18

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 19.2
1987NBA Champion18
Dirk Nowitzki 20.4
+1.2
20165

Season 19

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 14.1
+14.1
1988NBA Champion24
Dirk Nowitzki -
DNP
20170

Season 20

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 11.1
+11.1
198915
Dirk Nowitzki -
DNP
20180

Dirk Nowitzki's additional Playoffs:

* In his additional NBA year, Dirk Nowitzki didn't play in the postseason.

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