Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Manu Ginobili: Career Scoring Comparison

We break down the scoring legacies of Manu Ginobili 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 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 Manu Ginobili.

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 Manu Ginobili 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:

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 11.3 points more than Manu Ginobili in his 16 seasons (24.6 points against 13.3), and he also scored a total of 24,344 points more (38,387 vs. 14,043).

Points Per Game

Seasons
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.6
+11.3
20
Manu Ginobili 13.3
16

Total Points

Seasons
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
+24,344
20
Manu Ginobili 14,043
16

Scoring Titles

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2
Scoring leaderScoring leader
+2
Manu Ginobili 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 Manu Ginobili (+10.3 points per game) and he also scored more points (+2,708).

Points Per Game

Playoffs
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.3
+10.3
18
Manu Ginobili 14.0
15

Total Points

Playoffs
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5,762
+2,708
18
Manu Ginobili 3,054
15

Points by Thresholds

Regular Season

50+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 10
+10
Manu Ginobili 0

40+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 70
+64
Manu Ginobili 6

30+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 429
+397
Manu Ginobili 32

20+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,122
+917
Manu Ginobili 205

10+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,509
+811
Manu Ginobili 698

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,559
+518
Manu Ginobili 1,041

0 Point Games (games without points)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1
Manu Ginobili 16
+15

Playoffs

40+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 9
+9
Manu Ginobili 0

30+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 75
+66
Manu Ginobili 9

20+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 169
+116
Manu Ginobili 53

10+ Point Games

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 223
+76
Manu Ginobili 147

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 237
+26
Manu Ginobili 211

0 Point Games (games without points)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 0
Manu Ginobili 7
+7

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:+11.3+5.9+8.4+11.3+1.4+3.8+31.3+1.1+2.1+10.6+4+503
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
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:+24,344+11,253+18,045+11.3+1,494+4,037+31.3+3,332+5,215+10.6+4+503
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

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:+10.3+5.5+8.6+10.0+1.5+4.2+35.8+0.6+1.4+7.7+3+19
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
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5,762 2,356 4,422 53.3 * 0 * 4 * 0.0 1,050 1,419 74.0 18 237
difference:+2,708+1,400+2,213+10.0+324+901+35.8+232+418+7.7+3+19
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

Scoring leader= NBA Scoring Leader
NBA Champion = NBA Champion

Regular Season

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 28.8
+21.2
197082
Manu Ginobili 7.6
2003NBA Champion69

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Scoring leader31.7
+18.9
1971NBA Champion82
Manu Ginobili 12.8
200477

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Scoring leader34.8
+18.8
197281
Manu Ginobili 16.0
2005NBA Champion74

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 30.2
+15.1
197376
Manu Ginobili 15.1
200665

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 27.0
+10.5
197481
Manu Ginobili 16.5
2007NBA Champion75

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 30.0
+10.5
197565
Manu Ginobili 19.5
200874

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 27.7
+12.2
197682
Manu Ginobili 15.5
200944

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 26.2
+9.7
197782
Manu Ginobili 16.5
201075

Season 9

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 25.8
+8.4
197862
Manu Ginobili 17.4
201180

Season 10

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 23.8
+10.9
197980
Manu Ginobili 12.9
201234

Season 11

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.8
+13.0
1980NBA Champion82
Manu Ginobili 11.8
201360

Season 12

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 26.2
+13.9
198180
Manu Ginobili 12.3
2014NBA Champion68

Season 13

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 23.9
+13.4
1982NBA Champion76
Manu Ginobili 10.5
201570

Season 14

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 21.8
+12.2
198379
Manu Ginobili 9.6
201658

Season 15

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 21.5
+14.0
198480
Manu Ginobili 7.5
201769

Season 16

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 22.0
+13.1
1985NBA Champion79
Manu Ginobili 8.9
201865

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's additional seasons:

* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played 4 seasons more than Manu Ginobili in the NBA.

In those years—his seasons 17 to 20, from 1986 to 1989—he averaged 16.5 points in a total of 311 regular season games. During that period, his highest average was 23.4 ppg and his lowest 10.1.

Playoffs

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 35.2
+25.8
197010
Manu Ginobili 9.4
2003NBA Champion24

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 26.6
+13.6
1971NBA Champion14
Manu Ginobili 13.0
200410

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 28.7
+7.9
197211
Manu Ginobili 20.8
2005NBA Champion23

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 22.8
+4.4
19736
Manu Ginobili 18.4
200613

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 32.2
+15.5
197416
Manu Ginobili 16.7
2007NBA Champion20

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -
DNP
19750
Manu Ginobili 17.8
+17.8
200817

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -
DNP
19760
Manu Ginobili -
DNP
20090

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 34.6
+15.2
197711
Manu Ginobili 19.4
201010

Season 9

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 27.0
+6.4
19783
Manu Ginobili 20.6
20115

Season 10

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 28.5
+14.1
19798
Manu Ginobili 14.4
201214

Season 11

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 31.9
+20.4
1980NBA Champion15
Manu Ginobili 11.5
201321

Season 12

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 26.7
+12.4
19813
Manu Ginobili 14.3
2014NBA Champion23

Season 13

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 20.4
+12.4
1982NBA Champion14
Manu Ginobili 8.0
20157

Season 14

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 27.1
+20.4
198315
Manu Ginobili 6.7
201610

Season 15

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 23.9
+17.3
198421
Manu Ginobili 6.6
201716

Season 16

Points per gameYearGames
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 21.9
+12.9
1985NBA Champion19
Manu Ginobili 9.0
20185

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's additional Playoffs:

* During his 4 additional NBA seasons, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in 4 Playoffs and won two NBA Championships. In those postseasons he averaged 17.1 points in a total of 71 games. His highest playoff average during that period was 25.9 ppg and his lowest 11.1.

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