Michael Jordan vs. Shaquille O'Neal: Career Scoring Comparison

We break down the scoring legacies of Shaquille O'Neal and Michael Jordan 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 / Games against each other

Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal are among the most prolific scorers in NBA history—combining for an staggering season total of 60,888 points—and they also have two of the all-time best scoring averages (with MJ at the top of the list). Here we compare all their scoring stats.

By taking a look at their career numbers for points, the first conclusion one can arrive at is that Michael Jordan has better scoring stats than Shaquille O'Neal 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 15 NBA regular seasons played, Michael Jordan averages 6.4 points more than Shaquille O'Neal in his 19 seasons (30.1 points against 23.7), and he also scored a total of 3,696 points more (32,292 vs. 28,596).

Points Per Game

Seasons
Michael Jordan 30.1
+6.4
15
Shaquille O'Neal 23.7
19

Total Points

Seasons
Michael Jordan 32,292
+3,696
15
Shaquille O'Neal 28,596
19

Scoring Titles

Michael Jordan 10
Scoring leaderScoring leaderScoring leaderScoring leaderScoring leaderScoring leaderScoring leaderScoring leaderScoring leaderScoring leader
+8
Shaquille O'Neal 2
Scoring leaderScoring leader

Points in the Playoffs

Similar to what happens in the regular season, in the NBA postseason Michael Jordan has a better career point average than Shaquille O'Neal (+9.1 points per game) and he also scored more points (+737).

Points Per Game

Playoffs
Michael Jordan 33.4
+9.1
13
Shaquille O'Neal 24.3
17

Total Points

Playoffs
Michael Jordan 5,987
+737
13
Shaquille O'Neal 5,250
17

Points by Thresholds

Regular Season

60+ Point Games

Michael Jordan 4
+3
Shaquille O'Neal 1

50+ Point Games

Michael Jordan 31
+28
Shaquille O'Neal 3

40+ Point Games

Michael Jordan 173
+124
Shaquille O'Neal 49

30+ Point Games

Michael Jordan 562
+249
Shaquille O'Neal 313

20+ Point Games

Michael Jordan 926
+100
Shaquille O'Neal 826

10+ Point Games

Michael Jordan 1,059
Shaquille O'Neal 1,132
+73

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Michael Jordan 1,072
Shaquille O'Neal 1,205
+133

0 Point Games (games without points)

Michael Jordan 0
Shaquille O'Neal 2
+2

Playoffs

60+ Point Games

Michael Jordan 1
+1
Shaquille O'Neal 0

50+ Point Games

Michael Jordan 8
+8
Shaquille O'Neal 0

40+ Point Games

Michael Jordan 38
+26
Shaquille O'Neal 12

30+ Point Games

Michael Jordan 109
+54
Shaquille O'Neal 55

20+ Point Games

Michael Jordan 173
+25
Shaquille O'Neal 148

10+ Point Games

Michael Jordan 179
Shaquille O'Neal 206
+27

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Michael Jordan 179
Shaquille O'Neal 215
+36

0 Point Games (games without points)

Michael Jordan 0
Shaquille O'Neal 1
+1

Career Shooting Stats Comparison

more >>

Regular Season

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Michael Jordan 30.1 11.4 22.9 49.7 0.5 1.7 32.7 6.8 8.2 83.5 15 1,072
difference:+6.4+2.0+6.8+8.5+0.5+1.7+28.2+1.9+1.1+30.8+4+135
Shaquille O'Neal 23.7 9.4 16.1 58.2 0.0 0.0 4.5 4.9 9.3 52.7 19 1,207

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Michael Jordan 32,292 12,192 24,537 49.7 581 1,778 32.7 7,327 8,772 83.5 15 1,072
difference:+3,696+862+5,080+8.5+580+1,756+28.2+1,392+2,480+30.8+4+135
Shaquille O'Neal 28,596 11,330 19,457 58.2 1 22 4.5 5,935 11,252 52.7 19 1,207

Playoffs

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Michael Jordan 33.4 12.2 25.1 48.7 0.8 2.5 33.2 8.2 9.9 82.8 13 179
difference:+9.1+2.8+8.3+7.6+0.8+2.5+33.2+2.8+0.8+32.4+4+37
Shaquille O'Neal 24.3 9.4 16.8 56.3 0.0 0.0 - 5.4 10.7 50.4 17 216

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Michael Jordan 5,987 2,188 4,497 48.7 148 446 33.2 1,463 1,766 82.8 13 179
difference:+737+147+870+7.6+148+446+33.2+295+551+32.4+4+37
Shaquille O'Neal 5,250 2,041 3,627 56.3 0 0 - 1,168 2,317 50.4 17 216

Year by Year Points Average Comparison

Scoring leader= NBA Scoring Leader
NBA Champion = NBA Champion

Regular Season

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan 28.2
+4.8
198582
Shaquille O'Neal 23.4
199381

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan 22.7
198618
Shaquille O'Neal 29.3
+6.6
199481

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan Scoring leader37.1
+7.8
198782
Shaquille O'Neal Scoring leader29.3
199579

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan Scoring leader35.0
+8.4
198882
Shaquille O'Neal 26.6
199654

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan Scoring leader32.5
+6.3
198981
Shaquille O'Neal 26.2
199751

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan Scoring leader33.6
+5.3
199082
Shaquille O'Neal 28.3
199860

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan Scoring leader31.5
+5.2
1991NBA Champion82
Shaquille O'Neal 26.3
199949

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan Scoring leader30.1
+0.4
1992NBA Champion80
Shaquille O'Neal Scoring leader29.7
2000NBA Champion79

Season 9

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan Scoring leader32.6
+3.9
1993NBA Champion78
Shaquille O'Neal 28.7
2001NBA Champion74

Season 10

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan 26.9
199517
Shaquille O'Neal 27.2
+0.3
2002NBA Champion67

Season 11

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan Scoring leader30.4
+2.9
1996NBA Champion82
Shaquille O'Neal 27.5
200367

Season 12

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan Scoring leader29.6
+8.1
1997NBA Champion82
Shaquille O'Neal 21.5
200467

Season 13

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan Scoring leader28.7
+5.8
1998NBA Champion82
Shaquille O'Neal 22.9
200573

Season 14

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan 22.9
+2.9
200260
Shaquille O'Neal 20.0
2006NBA Champion59

Season 15

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan 20.0
+2.7
200382
Shaquille O'Neal 17.3
200740

Shaquille O'Neal's additional seasons:

* Shaquille O'Neal played 6 seasons more than Michael Jordan in the NBA.

In those years—his seasons 16 to 21, from 2008 to 2011—he averaged 13.8 points in a total of 348 regular season games. During that period, his highest average was 17.8 ppg and his lowest 9.2.

Playoffs

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan 29.3
+29.3
19854
Shaquille O'Neal -
DNP
19930

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan 43.7
+23.0
19863
Shaquille O'Neal 20.7
19943

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan 35.7
+10.0
19873
Shaquille O'Neal 25.7
199521

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan 36.3
+10.5
198810
Shaquille O'Neal 25.8
199612

Season 5

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan 34.8
+7.9
198917
Shaquille O'Neal 26.9
19979

Season 6

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan 36.7
+6.2
199016
Shaquille O'Neal 30.5
199813

Season 7

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan 31.1
+4.5
1991NBA Champion17
Shaquille O'Neal 26.6
19998

Season 8

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan 34.5
+3.8
1992NBA Champion22
Shaquille O'Neal 30.7
2000NBA Champion23

Season 9

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan 35.1
+4.7
1993NBA Champion19
Shaquille O'Neal 30.4
2001NBA Champion16

Season 10

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan 31.5
+3.0
199510
Shaquille O'Neal 28.5
2002NBA Champion19

Season 11

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan 30.7
+3.7
1996NBA Champion18
Shaquille O'Neal 27.0
200312

Season 12

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan 31.1
+9.6
1997NBA Champion19
Shaquille O'Neal 21.5
200422

Season 13

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan 32.4
+13.0
1998NBA Champion21
Shaquille O'Neal 19.4
200513

Season 14

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan -
DNP
20020
Shaquille O'Neal 18.4
+18.4
2006NBA Champion23

Season 15

Points per gameYearGames
Michael Jordan -
DNP
20030
Shaquille O'Neal 18.8
+18.8
20074

Shaquille O'Neal's additional Playoffs:

* During his 6 additional NBA seasons, Shaquille O'Neal played in 5 Playoffs. In those postseasons he averaged 12.8 points in a total of 28 games. His highest playoff average during that period was 15.2 ppg and his lowest 1.

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