Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Kevin Love: Career Scoring Comparison
We break down the scoring legacies of Kevin Love 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 is among the NBA's all-time leaders in points and also has one of the highest career averages in league history, and here we compare his scoring stats with those recorded by Kevin Love.
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 Kevin Love 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 8.4 points more than Kevin Love in his 17 seasons (24.6 points against 16.2), and he also scored a total of 22,966 points more (38,387 vs. 15,421).
Points Per Game | Seasons | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 24.6 | +8.4 | 20 |
| Kevin Love | 16.2 | 17 | |
Total Points | Seasons | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 38,387 | +22,966 | 20 |
| Kevin Love | 15,421 | 17 | |
Scoring Titles | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 2 |  +2 |
| Kevin Love | 0 | |
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 Kevin Love (+11.7 points per game) and he also scored more points (+4,650).
Points Per Game | Playoffs | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 24.3 | +11.7 | 18 |
| Kevin Love | 12.6 | 6 | |
Total Points | Playoffs | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 5,762 | +4,650 | 18 |
| Kevin Love | 1,112 | 6 | |
Points by Thresholds
Regular Season
20+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1,122 | +801 | ||
| Kevin Love | 321 | |||
10+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1,509 | +787 | ||
| Kevin Love | 722 | |||
1+ Point Games (games with points) | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1,559 | +630 | ||
| Kevin Love | 929 | |||
0 Point Games (games without points) | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1 | |||
| Kevin Love | 23 | +22 | ||
Playoffs
40+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 9 | +9 | ||
| Kevin Love | 0 | |||
20+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 169 | +149 | ||
| Kevin Love | 20 | |||
10+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 223 | +174 | ||
| Kevin Love | 49 | |||
1+ Point Games (games with points) | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 237 | +154 | ||
| Kevin Love | 83 | |||
0 Point Games (games without points) | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 0 | |||
| Kevin Love | 5 | +5 | ||
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: | +8.4 | +4.9 | +5.9 | +12.1 | +1.8 | +4.8 | +31.3 | +0.5 | +1.4 | +10.7 | +3 | +608 |
| Kevin Love | 16.2 | 5.3 | 12.2 | 43.8 | 1.8 | 4.8 | 36.9 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 82.8 | 17 | 952 |
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: | +22,966 | +10,763 | +16,723 | +12.1 | +1,673 | +4,524 | +31.3 | +3,113 | +4,958 | +10.7 | +3 | +608 |
| Kevin Love | 15,421 | 5,074 | 11,584 | 43.8 | 1,674 | 4,542 | 36.9 | 3,599 | 4,346 | 82.8 | 17 | 952 |
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: | +11.7 | +5.8 | +8.4 | +13.2 | +2.0 | +5.0 | +39.7 | +2.0 | +3.2 | +11.5 | +12 | +149 |
| Kevin Love | 12.6 | 4.1 | 10.3 | 40.0 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 39.7 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 85.5 | 6 | 88 |
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: | +4,650 | +1,994 | +3,518 | +13.2 | +175 | +437 | +39.7 | +837 | +1,170 | +11.5 | +12 | +149 |
| Kevin Love | 1,112 | 362 | 904 | 40.0 | 175 | 441 | 39.7 | 213 | 249 | 85.5 | 6 | 88 |
Year by Year Points Average Comparison
= NBA Scoring Leader
= NBA ChampionRegular Season
Rookie Season | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 28.8 | +17.7 | 1970 | 82 |
| Kevin Love | 11.1 | 2009 | 81 | |
Season 2 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 31.7 | +17.7 | 1971 | 82 |
| Kevin Love | 14.0 | 2010 | 60 | |
Season 3 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 34.8 | +14.6 | 1972 | 81 |
| Kevin Love | 20.2 | 2011 | 73 | |
Season 4 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 30.2 | +4.2 | 1973 | 76 |
| Kevin Love | 26.0 | 2012 | 55 | |
Season 5 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 27.0 | +8.7 | 1974 | 81 |
| Kevin Love | 18.3 | 2013 | 18 | |
Season 6 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 30.0 | +3.9 | 1975 | 65 |
| Kevin Love | 26.1 | 2014 | 77 | |
Season 7 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 27.7 | +11.3 | 1976 | 82 |
| Kevin Love | 16.4 | 2015 | 75 | |
Season 8 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 26.2 | +10.2 | 1977 | 82 |
| Kevin Love | 16.0 | 2016 | 77 | |
Season 9 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 25.8 | +6.8 | 1978 | 62 |
| Kevin Love | 19.0 | 2017 | 60 | |
Season 10 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 23.8 | +6.2 | 1979 | 80 |
| Kevin Love | 17.6 | 2018 | 59 | |
Season 11 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 24.8 | +7.8 | 1980 | 82 |
| Kevin Love | 17.0 | 2019 | 22 | |
Season 12 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 26.2 | +8.6 | 1981 | 80 |
| Kevin Love | 17.6 | 2020 | 56 | |
Season 13 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 23.9 | +11.7 | 1982 | 76 |
| Kevin Love | 12.2 | 2021 | 25 | |
Season 14 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 21.8 | +8.2 | 1983 | 79 |
| Kevin Love | 13.6 | 2022 | 74 | |
Season 15 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 21.5 | +13.3 | 1984 | 80 |
| Kevin Love | 8.2 | 2023 | 62 | |
Season 16 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 22.0 | +13.8 | 1985 | 79 |
| Kevin Love | 8.2 | 2023 | 62 | |
Season 17 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 23.4 | +15.2 | 1986 | 79 |
| Kevin Love | 8.2 | 2023 | 62 | |
Season 18 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 17.5 | +8.7 | 1987 | 78 |
| Kevin Love | 8.8 | 2024 | 55 | |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's additional seasons: | ||||
* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played 1 season more than Kevin Love in the NBA. In that year—his season 20 in 1989—he averaged 10.1 points in a total of 74 regular season games. |
Playoffs
Rookie Season | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 35.2 | +35.2 | 1970 | 10 |
| Kevin Love | - | DNP | 2009 | 0 |
Season 2 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 26.6 | +26.6 | 1971 | 14 |
| Kevin Love | - | DNP | 2010 | 0 |
Season 3 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 28.7 | +28.7 | 1972 | 11 |
| Kevin Love | - | DNP | 2011 | 0 |
Season 4 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 22.8 | +22.8 | 1973 | 6 |
| Kevin Love | - | DNP | 2012 | 0 |
Season 5 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 32.2 | +32.2 | 1974 | 16 |
| Kevin Love | - | DNP | 2013 | 0 |
Season 6 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | - | DNP | 1975 | 0 |
| Kevin Love | - | DNP | 2014 | 0 |
Season 7 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | - | DNP | 1976 | 0 |
| Kevin Love | 14.3 | +14.3 | 2015 | 4 |
Season 8 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 34.6 | +19.9 | 1977 | 11 |
| Kevin Love | 14.7 | 2016 | 20 | |
Season 9 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 27.0 | +10.2 | 1978 | 3 |
| Kevin Love | 16.8 | 2017 | 18 | |
Season 10 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 28.5 | +13.6 | 1979 | 8 |
| Kevin Love | 14.9 | 2018 | 21 | |
Season 11 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 31.9 | +31.9 | 1980 | 15 |
| Kevin Love | - | DNP | 2019 | 0 |
Season 12 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 26.7 | +26.7 | 1981 | 3 |
| Kevin Love | - | DNP | 2020 | 0 |
Season 13 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 20.4 | +20.4 | 1982 | 14 |
| Kevin Love | - | DNP | 2021 | 0 |
Season 14 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 27.1 | +27.1 | 1983 | 15 |
| Kevin Love | - | DNP | 2022 | 0 |
Season 15 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 23.9 | +17.0 | 1984 | 21 |
| Kevin Love | 6.9 | 2023 | 20 | |
Season 16 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 21.9 | +15.0 | 1985 | 19 |
| Kevin Love | 6.9 | 2023 | 20 | |
Season 17 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 25.9 | +19.0 | 1986 | 14 |
| Kevin Love | 6.9 | 2023 | 20 | |
Season 18 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 19.2 | +17.4 | 1987 | 18 |
| Kevin Love | 1.8 | 2024 | 5 | |
Season 19 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 14.1 | +14.1 | 1988 | 24 |
| Kevin Love | - | DNP | 2025 | 0 |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's additional Playoffs: | ||||
* In his additional NBA year, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in the Playoffs. In those postseasons he averaged 11.1 points in a total of 15 games. |