Larry Johnson vs. Steve Nash: Career Scoring Comparison

We break down the scoring legacies of Steve Nash and Larry Johnson 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.

By taking a look at their career numbers for points, the first conclusion one can arrive at is that Steve Nash scored more total points both in the regular season and Playoffs and also has a better playoff average while Larry Johnson has a better scoring average in the regular season. 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.

Career Numbers
Who has the better scoring stats?

Points in the Regular Season

In his 10 NBA regular seasons played, Larry Johnson averages 1.9 points more than Steve Nash in his 18 seasons (16.2 points against 14.3). On the other hand Steve Nash scored a total of 5,937 points more than Larry Johnson (17,387 vs. 11,450).

Points Per Game

Seasons
Larry Johnson 16.2
+1.9
10
Steve Nash 14.3
18

Total Points

Seasons
Larry Johnson 11,450
10
Steve Nash 17,387
+5,937
18

Points in the Playoffs

In the NBA postseason Steve Nash has a better career point average than Larry Johnson (+3.1 points per game) and he also scored more points (+1,135).

Points Per Game

Playoffs
Larry Johnson 14.2
6
Steve Nash 17.3
+3.1
12

Total Points

Playoffs
Larry Johnson 937
6
Steve Nash 2,072
+1,135
12

Points by Thresholds

Regular Season

40+ Point Games

Larry Johnson 1
Steve Nash 2
+1

30+ Point Games

Larry Johnson 23
Steve Nash 39
+16

20+ Point Games

Larry Johnson 235
Steve Nash 309
+74

10+ Point Games

Larry Johnson 577
Steve Nash 875
+298

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Larry Johnson 704
Steve Nash 1,177
+473

0 Point Games (games without points)

Larry Johnson 3
Steve Nash 40
+37

Playoffs

40+ Point Games

Larry Johnson 0
Steve Nash 1
+1

30+ Point Games

Larry Johnson 1
Steve Nash 9
+8

20+ Point Games

Larry Johnson 17
Steve Nash 48
+31

10+ Point Games

Larry Johnson 48
Steve Nash 103
+55

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Larry Johnson 65
Steve Nash 115
+50

0 Point Games (games without points)

Larry Johnson 1
Steve Nash 5
+4

Career Shooting Stats Comparison

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Regular Season

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Larry Johnson 16.2 6.2 12.9 48.4 0.5 1.6 33.2 3.2 4.2 76.6 10 707
difference:+1.9+1.0+2.3+0.6+0.9+1.6+9.6+0.7+1.4+13.8+8+510
Steve Nash 14.3 5.2 10.6 49.0 1.4 3.2 42.8 2.5 2.8 90.4 18 1,217

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Larry Johnson 11,450 4,401 9,086 48.4 367 1,104 33.2 2,281 2,978 76.6 10 707
difference:+5,937+1,920+3,806+0.6+1,318+2,835+9.6+779+406+13.8+8+510
Steve Nash 17,387 6,321 12,892 49.0 1,685 3,939 42.8 3,060 3,384 90.4 18 1,217

Playoffs

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Larry Johnson 14.2 5.3 11.0 48.3 0.7 2.3 30.3 2.8 3.7 76.7 6 66
difference:+3.1+0.9+2.2+1.0+0.8+1.4+10.3+0.5+13.3+6+54
Steve Nash 17.3 6.2 13.2 47.3 1.5 3.7 40.6 3.3 3.7 90.0 12 120

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Larry Johnson 937 351 727 48.3 47 155 30.3 188 245 76.7 6 66
difference:+1,135+398+857+1.0+131+283+10.3+208+195+13.3+6+54
Steve Nash 2,072 749 1,584 47.3 178 438 40.6 396 440 90.0 12 120

Year by Year Points Average Comparison

Regular Season

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson 19.2
+15.9
199282
Steve Nash 3.3
199765

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson 22.1
+13.0
199382
Steve Nash 9.1
199876

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson 16.4
+8.5
199451
Steve Nash 7.9
199940

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson 18.8
+10.2
199581
Steve Nash 8.6
200056

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson 20.5
+4.9
199681
Steve Nash 15.6
200170

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson 12.8
199776
Steve Nash 17.9
+5.1
200282

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson 15.5
199870
Steve Nash 17.7
+2.2
200382

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson 12.0
199949
Steve Nash 14.5
+2.5
200478

Season 9

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson 10.7
200070
Steve Nash 15.5
+4.8
200575

Season 10

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson 9.9
200165
Steve Nash 18.8
+8.9
200679

Steve Nash's additional seasons:

* Steve Nash played 8 seasons more than Larry Johnson in the NBA.

In those years—his seasons 11 to 18, from 2007 to 2014—he averaged 15.4 points in a total of 514 regular season games. During that period, his highest average was 18.6 ppg and his lowest 6.8.

Playoffs

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson -
DNP
19920
Steve Nash 1.3
+1.3
19974

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson 19.8
+14.3
19939
Steve Nash 5.5
19984

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson -
DNP
19940
Steve Nash -
DNP
19990

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson 20.8
+20.8
19954
Steve Nash -
DNP
20000

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson -
DNP
19960
Steve Nash 13.6
+13.6
200110

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson 13.8
19979
Steve Nash 19.5
+5.7
20028

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson 17.9
+1.8
19988
Steve Nash 16.1
200320

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson 11.5
199920
Steve Nash 13.6
+2.1
20045

Season 9

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson 11.3
200016
Steve Nash 23.9
+12.6
200515

Season 10

Points per gameYearGames
Larry Johnson -
DNP
20010
Steve Nash 20.4
+20.4
200620

Steve Nash's additional Playoffs:

* During his 8 additional NBA seasons, Steve Nash played in 4 Playoffs. In those postseasons he averaged 17.6 points in a total of 34 games. His highest playoff average during that period was 18.9 ppg and his lowest 12.5.