Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Russell Westbrook: Career Scoring Comparison
We break down the scoring legacies of Russell Westbrook 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 Russell Westbrook are among the all-time leaders in points in NBA history—combining for a total of 64,592 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 Russell Westbrook 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 3.4 points more than Russell Westbrook in his 17 seasons (24.6 points against 21.2), and he also scored a total of 12,182 points more (38,387 vs. 26,205).
Points Per Game | Seasons | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 24.6 | +3.4 | 20 |
| Russell Westbrook | 21.2 | 17 | |
Total Points | Seasons | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 38,387 | +12,182 | 20 |
| Russell Westbrook | 26,205 | 17 | |
Scoring Titles | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 2 |  |
| Russell Westbrook | 2 | |
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 Russell Westbrook (+1.8 points per game) and he also scored more points (+2,727).
Points Per Game | Playoffs | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 24.3 | +1.8 | 18 |
| Russell Westbrook | 22.5 | 14 | |
Total Points | Playoffs | ||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 5,762 | +2,727 | 18 |
| Russell Westbrook | 3,035 | 14 | |
Points by Thresholds
Regular Season
20+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1,122 | +452 | ||
| Russell Westbrook | 670 | |||
10+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1,509 | +387 | ||
| Russell Westbrook | 1,122 | |||
1+ Point Games (games with points) | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1,559 | +324 | ||
| Russell Westbrook | 1,235 | |||
0 Point Games (games without points) | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1 | |||
| Russell Westbrook | 2 | +1 | ||
Playoffs
50+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 0 | |||
| Russell Westbrook | 1 | +1 | ||
20+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 169 | +89 | ||
| Russell Westbrook | 80 | |||
10+ Point Games | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 223 | +102 | ||
| Russell Westbrook | 121 | |||
1+ Point Games (games with points) | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 237 | +102 | ||
| Russell Westbrook | 135 | |||
0 Point Games (games without points) | ||||
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 0 | |||
| Russell Westbrook | 0 | |||
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: | +3.4 | +2.6 | +0.7 | +12.1 | +1.1 | +3.6 | +24.9 | +0.5 | +0.3 | +5.1 | +3 | +323 |
| Russell Westbrook | 21.2 | 7.6 | 17.4 | 43.9 | 1.1 | 3.6 | 30.5 | 4.8 | 6.3 | 77.2 | 17 | 1,237 |
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: | +12,182 | +6,409 | +6,817 | +12.1 | +1,366 | +4,459 | +24.9 | +730 | +1,559 | +5.1 | +3 | +323 |
| Russell Westbrook | 26,205 | 9,428 | 21,490 | 43.9 | 1,367 | 4,477 | 30.5 | 5,982 | 7,745 | 77.2 | 17 | 1,237 |
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: | +1.8 | +2.1 | +0.6 | +12.8 | +1.4 | +4.6 | +29.9 | +1.1 | +0.7 | +8.0 | +4 | +102 |
| Russell Westbrook | 22.5 | 7.8 | 19.3 | 40.5 | 1.4 | 4.6 | 29.9 | 5.5 | 6.7 | 82.0 | 14 | 135 |
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: | +2,727 | +1,300 | +1,813 | +12.8 | +187 | +621 | +29.9 | +314 | +521 | +8.0 | +4 | +102 |
| Russell Westbrook | 3,035 | 1,056 | 2,609 | 40.5 | 187 | 625 | 29.9 | 736 | 898 | 82.0 | 14 | 135 |
Year by Year Points Average Comparison
= NBA Scoring Leader
= NBA ChampionRegular Season
Rookie Season | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 28.8 | +13.5 | 1970 | 82 |
| Russell Westbrook | 15.3 | 2009 | 82 | |
Season 2 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 31.7 | +15.6 | 1971 | 82 |
| Russell Westbrook | 16.1 | 2010 | 82 | |
Season 3 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 34.8 | +12.9 | 1972 | 81 |
| Russell Westbrook | 21.9 | 2011 | 82 | |
Season 4 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 30.2 | +6.6 | 1973 | 76 |
| Russell Westbrook | 23.6 | 2012 | 66 | |
Season 5 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 27.0 | +3.8 | 1974 | 81 |
| Russell Westbrook | 23.2 | 2013 | 82 | |
Season 6 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 30.0 | +8.2 | 1975 | 65 |
| Russell Westbrook | 21.8 | 2014 | 46 | |
Season 7 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 27.7 | 1976 | 82 | |
| Russell Westbrook | 28.1 | +0.4 | 2015 | 67 |
Season 8 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 26.2 | +2.7 | 1977 | 82 |
| Russell Westbrook | 23.5 | 2016 | 80 | |
Season 9 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 25.8 | 1978 | 62 | |
| Russell Westbrook | 31.6 | +5.8 | 2017 | 81 |
Season 10 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 23.8 | 1979 | 80 | |
| Russell Westbrook | 25.4 | +1.6 | 2018 | 80 |
Season 11 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 24.8 | +1.9 | 1980 | 82 |
| Russell Westbrook | 22.9 | 2019 | 73 | |
Season 12 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 26.2 | 1981 | 80 | |
| Russell Westbrook | 27.2 | +1.0 | 2020 | 57 |
Season 13 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 23.9 | +1.7 | 1982 | 76 |
| Russell Westbrook | 22.2 | 2021 | 65 | |
Season 14 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 21.8 | +3.3 | 1983 | 79 |
| Russell Westbrook | 18.5 | 2022 | 78 | |
Season 15 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 21.5 | +5.6 | 1984 | 80 |
| Russell Westbrook | 15.9 | 2023 | 73 | |
Season 16 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 22.0 | +6.1 | 1985 | 79 |
| Russell Westbrook | 15.9 | 2023 | 73 | |
Season 17 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 23.4 | +12.3 | 1986 | 79 |
| Russell Westbrook | 11.1 | 2024 | 68 | |
Season 18 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 17.5 | +4.2 | 1987 | 78 |
| Russell Westbrook | 13.3 | 2025 | 75 | |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's additional seasons: | ||||
* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played 2 seasons more than Russell Westbrook in the NBA. In those years—his seasons 19 to 20, from 1988 to 1989—he averaged 12.4 points in a total of 154 regular season games. |
Playoffs
Rookie Season | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 35.2 | +35.2 | 1970 | 10 |
| Russell Westbrook | - | DNP | 2009 | 0 |
Season 2 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 26.6 | +6.1 | 1971 | 14 |
| Russell Westbrook | 20.5 | 2010 | 6 | |
Season 3 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 28.7 | +4.9 | 1972 | 11 |
| Russell Westbrook | 23.8 | 2011 | 17 | |
Season 4 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 22.8 | 1973 | 6 | |
| Russell Westbrook | 23.1 | +0.3 | 2012 | 20 |
Season 5 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 32.2 | +8.2 | 1974 | 16 |
| Russell Westbrook | 24.0 | 2013 | 2 | |
Season 6 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | - | DNP | 1975 | 0 |
| Russell Westbrook | 26.7 | +26.7 | 2014 | 19 |
Season 7 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | - | DNP | 1976 | 0 |
| Russell Westbrook | - | DNP | 2015 | 0 |
Season 8 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 34.6 | +8.6 | 1977 | 11 |
| Russell Westbrook | 26.0 | 2016 | 18 | |
Season 9 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 27.0 | 1978 | 3 | |
| Russell Westbrook | 37.4 | +10.4 | 2017 | 5 |
Season 10 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 28.5 | 1979 | 8 | |
| Russell Westbrook | 29.3 | +0.8 | 2018 | 6 |
Season 11 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 31.9 | +9.1 | 1980 | 15 |
| Russell Westbrook | 22.8 | 2019 | 5 | |
Season 12 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 26.7 | +8.8 | 1981 | 3 |
| Russell Westbrook | 17.9 | 2020 | 8 | |
Season 13 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 20.4 | +1.4 | 1982 | 14 |
| Russell Westbrook | 19.0 | 2021 | 5 | |
Season 14 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 27.1 | +27.1 | 1983 | 15 |
| Russell Westbrook | - | DNP | 2022 | 0 |
Season 15 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 23.9 | +0.3 | 1984 | 21 |
| Russell Westbrook | 23.6 | 2023 | 5 | |
Season 16 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 21.9 | 1985 | 19 | |
| Russell Westbrook | 23.6 | +1.7 | 2023 | 5 |
Season 17 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 25.9 | +19.6 | 1986 | 14 |
| Russell Westbrook | 6.3 | 2024 | 6 | |
Season 18 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 19.2 | +7.5 | 1987 | 18 |
| Russell Westbrook | 11.7 | 2025 | 13 | |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's additional Playoffs: | ||||
* During his 2 additional NBA seasons, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in two Playoffs and won one NBA Championship. In those postseasons he averaged 12.9 points in a total of 39 games. |