Lonzo Ball vs. Joel Embiid: Career Scoring Comparison

We break down the scoring legacies of Joel Embiid and Lonzo Ball 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.

Joel Embiid has one of the highest career point averages in NBA history, and here we compare his scoring stats with those recorded by Lonzo Ball.

By taking a look at their career numbers for points, the first conclusion one can arrive at is that Joel Embiid has better scoring average and totals in the regular season, and since Lonzo Ball didn't play in the postseason, you could also say that Joel Embiid 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 9 NBA regular seasons played, Joel Embiid averages 16.3 points more than Lonzo Ball in his 6 seasons (27.7 points against 11.4), and he also scored a total of 9,261 points more (12,523 vs. 3,262).

Points Per Game

Seasons
Lonzo Ball 11.4
6
Joel Embiid 27.7
+16.3
9

Total Points

Seasons
Lonzo Ball 3,262
6
Joel Embiid 12,523
+9,261
9

Scoring Titles

Lonzo Ball 0
Joel Embiid 2
Scoring leaderScoring leader
+2

Points in the Playoffs

Lonzo Ball didn't play in the NBA postseason, so obviously Joel Embiid has better playoff stats in points per game and total points scored.

Points Per Game

Playoffs
Lonzo Ball 0
0
Joel Embiid 24.9
+24.9
7

Total Points

Playoffs
Lonzo Ball 0
0
Joel Embiid 1,469
+1,469
7

Points by Thresholds

Regular Season

70+ Point Games

Lonzo Ball 0
Joel Embiid 1
+1

60+ Point Games

Lonzo Ball 0
Joel Embiid 1
+1

50+ Point Games

Lonzo Ball 0
Joel Embiid 8
+8

40+ Point Games

Lonzo Ball 0
Joel Embiid 48
+48

30+ Point Games

Lonzo Ball 2
Joel Embiid 194
+192

20+ Point Games

Lonzo Ball 27
Joel Embiid 362
+335

10+ Point Games

Lonzo Ball 161
Joel Embiid 443
+282

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Lonzo Ball 283
Joel Embiid 451
+168

0 Point Games (games without points)

Lonzo Ball 4
+3
Joel Embiid 1

Playoffs

Lonzo Ball didn't play in the NBA postseason, so Joel Embiid's point thresholds are omited here.

Career Shooting Stats Comparison

more >>

Regular Season

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Lonzo Ball 11.4 4.2 10.6 39.8 2.3 6.4 36.2 0.7 1.1 59.9 6 287
difference:+16.3+4.9+7.6+10.4+1.1+2.9+2.3+7.6+8.9+22.9+3+165
Joel Embiid 27.7 9.1 18.2 50.1 1.2 3.5 33.9 8.3 10.0 82.8 9 452

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Lonzo Ball 3,262 1,206 3,033 39.8 662 1,828 36.2 188 314 59.9 6 287
difference:+9,261+2,911+5,179+10.4+130+260+2.3+3,569+4,224+22.9+3+165
Joel Embiid 12,523 4,117 8,212 50.1 532 1,568 33.9 3,757 4,538 82.8 9 452

Playoffs

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Lonzo Ball DNP - - - - - - - - - 0 0
difference:+24.9+7.9+17.2+45.9+1.1+3.8+28.9+8.0+9.7+82.8+7+59
Joel Embiid 24.9 7.9 17.2 45.9 1.1 3.8 28.9 8.0 9.7 82.8 7 59

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Lonzo Ball DNP - - - - - - - - - 0 0
difference:+1,469+466+1,015+45.9+65+225+28.9+472+570+82.8+7+59
Joel Embiid 1,469 466 1,015 45.9 65 225 28.9 472 570 82.8 7 59

Year by Year Points Average Comparison

Scoring leader= NBA Scoring Leader

Regular Season

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Lonzo Ball 10.2
201852
Joel Embiid 20.2
+10.0
201731

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Lonzo Ball 9.9
201947
Joel Embiid 22.9
+13.0
201863

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Lonzo Ball 11.8
202063
Joel Embiid 27.5
+15.7
201964

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Lonzo Ball 14.6
202155
Joel Embiid 23.0
+8.4
202051

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Lonzo Ball 13.0
202235
Joel Embiid 28.5
+15.5
202151

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Lonzo Ball 7.6
202535
Joel Embiid Scoring leader30.6
+23.0
202268

Joel Embiid's additional seasons:

* Joel Embiid played 3 seasons more than Lonzo Ball in the NBA.

In those years—his seasons 7 to 9, from 2023 to 2025—he averaged 32.2 points in a total of 124 regular season games. During that period, his highest average was 34.7 ppg and his lowest 23.8.

In those 3 extra years over Lonzo Ball, Joel Embiid won 1 scoring title.

Playoffs

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Lonzo Ball -
DNP
20180
Joel Embiid -
DNP
20170

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Lonzo Ball -
DNP
20190
Joel Embiid 21.4
+21.4
20188

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Lonzo Ball -
DNP
20200
Joel Embiid 20.2
+20.2
201911

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Lonzo Ball -
DNP
20210
Joel Embiid 30.0
+30.0
20204

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Lonzo Ball -
DNP
20220
Joel Embiid 28.1
+28.1
202111

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Lonzo Ball -
DNP
20250
Joel Embiid 23.6
+23.6
202210

Joel Embiid's additional Playoffs:

* During his 3 additional NBA seasons, Joel Embiid played in two Playoffs. In those postseasons he averaged 27.4 points in a total of 15 games. His highest playoff average during that period was 33 ppg and his lowest 23.7.