Lauri Markkanen vs. Jayson Tatum: Career Scoring Comparison

We break down the scoring legacies of Jayson Tatum and Lauri Markkanen 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.

Jayson Tatum has one of the highest career point averages in NBA history, and here we compare his scoring stats with those recorded by Lauri Markkanen.

By taking a look at their career numbers for points, the first conclusion one can arrive at is that Jayson Tatum has better scoring average and totals in the regular season, and since Lauri Markkanen didn't play in the postseason, you could also say that Jayson Tatum has better playoff stats. 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 8 NBA regular seasons played, Jayson Tatum averages 4.8 points more than Lauri Markkanen in his 9 seasons (23.6 points against 18.8), and he also scored a total of 4,831 points more (13,784 vs. 8,953).

Points Per Game

Seasons
Lauri Markkanen 18.8
9
Jayson Tatum 23.6
+4.8
8

Total Points

Seasons
Lauri Markkanen 8,953
9
Jayson Tatum 13,784
+4,831
8

Points in the Playoffs

Lauri Markkanen didn't play in the NBA postseason, so obviously Jayson Tatum has better playoff stats in points per game and total points scored.

Points Per Game

Playoffs
Lauri Markkanen 0
0
Jayson Tatum 24.3
+24.3
8

Total Points

Playoffs
Lauri Markkanen 0
0
Jayson Tatum 2,936
+2,936
8

Points by Thresholds

Regular Season

60+ Point Games

Lauri Markkanen 0
Jayson Tatum 1
+1

50+ Point Games

Lauri Markkanen 1
Jayson Tatum 5
+4

40+ Point Games

Lauri Markkanen 6
Jayson Tatum 29
+23

30+ Point Games

Lauri Markkanen 56
Jayson Tatum 162
+106

20+ Point Games

Lauri Markkanen 207
Jayson Tatum 375
+168

10+ Point Games

Lauri Markkanen 422
Jayson Tatum 550
+128

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Lauri Markkanen 476
Jayson Tatum 584
+108

0 Point Games (games without points)

Lauri Markkanen 1
Jayson Tatum 1

Playoffs

Lauri Markkanen didn't play in the NBA postseason, so Jayson Tatum's point thresholds are omited here.

Career Shooting Stats Comparison

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Regular Season

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Lauri Markkanen 18.8 6.4 14.1 45.7 2.6 6.9 37.1 3.3 3.8 87.1 9 477
difference:+4.8+1.8+3.7+0.3+0.2+0.1+1.2+1.6+3.1+1+108
Jayson Tatum 23.6 8.2 17.8 45.9 2.6 7.1 37.0 4.5 5.4 84.0 8 585

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Lauri Markkanen 8,953 3,076 6,736 45.7 1,223 3,296 37.1 1,578 1,812 87.1 9 477
difference:+4,831+1,713+3,693+0.3+323+885+0.1+1,082+1,355+3.1+1+108
Jayson Tatum 13,784 4,789 10,429 45.9 1,546 4,181 37.0 2,660 3,167 84.0 8 585

Playoffs

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Lauri Markkanen DNP - - - - - - - - - 0 0
difference:+24.3+8.1+18.5+43.9+2.4+6.9+34.8+5.6+6.7+84.1+8+121
Jayson Tatum 24.3 8.1 18.5 43.9 2.4 6.9 34.8 5.6 6.7 84.1 8 121

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Lauri Markkanen DNP - - - - - - - - - 0 0
difference:+2,936+983+2,241+43.9+292+840+34.8+678+806+84.1+8+121
Jayson Tatum 2,936 983 2,241 43.9 292 840 34.8 678 806 84.1 8 121

Year by Year Points Average Comparison

NBA Champion = NBA Champion

Regular Season

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Lauri Markkanen 15.2
+1.3
201868
Jayson Tatum 13.9
201880

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Lauri Markkanen 18.7
+3.0
201952
Jayson Tatum 15.7
201979

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Lauri Markkanen 14.7
202050
Jayson Tatum 23.4
+8.7
202066

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Lauri Markkanen 13.6
202151
Jayson Tatum 26.4
+12.8
202164

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Lauri Markkanen 14.8
202261
Jayson Tatum 26.9
+12.1
202276

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Lauri Markkanen 25.6
202366
Jayson Tatum 30.1
+4.5
202374

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Lauri Markkanen 23.2
202455
Jayson Tatum 26.9
+3.7
2024NBA Champion74

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Lauri Markkanen 19.0
202547
Jayson Tatum 26.8
+7.8
202572

Lauri Markkanen's additional seasons:

- Lauri Markkanen played 1 season more than Jayson Tatum in the NBA.

In that year—his season 9 in 2026—he averaged 27.9 points in a total of 27 regular season games.

Playoffs

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Lauri Markkanen -
DNP
20180
Jayson Tatum 18.5
+18.5
201819

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Lauri Markkanen -
DNP
20190
Jayson Tatum 15.2
+15.2
20199

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Lauri Markkanen -
DNP
20200
Jayson Tatum 25.7
+25.7
202017

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Lauri Markkanen -
DNP
20210
Jayson Tatum 30.6
+30.6
20215

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Lauri Markkanen -
DNP
20220
Jayson Tatum 25.6
+25.6
202224

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Lauri Markkanen -
DNP
20230
Jayson Tatum 27.2
+27.2
202320

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Lauri Markkanen -
DNP
20240
Jayson Tatum 25.0
+25.0
2024NBA Champion19

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Lauri Markkanen -
DNP
20250
Jayson Tatum 28.1
+28.1
20258

Lauri Markkanen's additional Playoffs:

- In his additional NBA year, Lauri Markkanen didn't play in the postseason (2026 season yet in progress).