Dirk Nowitzki vs. J.R. Smith: NBA Rankings Comparison

The ultimate statistical showdown: compare Dirk Nowitzki and J.R. Smith all-time NBA rankings. Explore their historical standing across total and per-game stats, regular season and playoffs. Who ranks higher?

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings / Games against each other

This in-depth analysis goes beyond basic career numbers to provide an unparalleled look at where Dirk Nowitzki, with a career spanning 21 seasons from 1999 to 2019, and J.R. Smith, with 16 seasons played from 2005 to 2020, stand among the league's historical elite.

Dive into a meticulous breakdown of their positions in every major statistical category—from scoring and rebounding to assists, steals, and blocks—across both regular season and their entire playoff careers. Our comprehensive tables offer side-by-side rankings, value comparisons, and key differences, ensuring you have all the definitive data to assess their historical impact.

First, review a concise summary of how they rank in NBA history in the main categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, and 3-pointers made as a bonus) for both total and per-game stats, and below, you can then explore in detail all their stats and their historical rankings.

Dirk Nowitzki vs. J.R. Smith
Total Stats, Rankings Summary

Career Totals
Season Playoffs
Dirk Nowitzki J.R. Smith Dirk Nowitzki J.R. Smith
Points
6th
281st
18th
133rd
Rebounds
27th
+300th
24th
243rd
Assists
163rd
+300th
105th
283rd
Steals
96th
196th
55th
80th
Blocks
56th
+300th
53rd
257th
3-Pointers Made
20th
24th
62nd
10th
Years21161512

Dirk Nowitzki vs. J.R. Smith
Per Game Stats, Rankings Summary

Career Per Game
Season Playoffs
Dirk Nowitzki J.R. Smith Dirk Nowitzki J.R. Smith
Points
59th
+300th
28th
+300th
Rebounds
181st
+300th
61st
+300th
Assists
+300th
+300th
+300th
+300th
Steals
+300th
+300th
276th
+300th
Blocks
228th
+300th
188th
+300th
3-Pointers Made
271st
66th
+300th
50th

Comparisons on this page:

Their rankings for:
Season Totals - Playoffs Totals /
Season Per Game - Playoffs Per Game

Note: per game rankings include players with a minimum of games played

Career Totals,
Regular Season Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Dirk Nowitzki J.R. Smith Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points
6th
281st
275 31,560 vs. 12,14819,412
Rebounds
27th
+300th
+273 11,489 vs. 3,0738,416
Assists
163rd
+300th
+137 3,651 vs. 2,0771,574
Steals
96th
196th
100 1,210 vs. 974236
Blocks
56th
+300th
+244 1,281 vs. 2041,077
Offensive Rebounds
237th
+300th
+63 1,468 vs. 494974
Defensive Rebounds
6th
+300th
+294 10,021 vs. 2,5797,442
Field Goals Made
8th
+300th
+292 11,169 vs. 4,3806,789
Field Goals Attempted
8th
260th
252 23,734 vs. 10,46513,269
3-Pointers Made
20th
24th
4 1,982 vs. 1,93052
3-Pointers Attempted
23rd
24th
1 5,210 vs. 5,17832
Free Throws Made
9th
+300th
+291 7,240 vs. 1,4585,782
Free Throws Attempted
18th
+300th
+282 8,239 vs. 1,9906,249

Games and Years:

Dirk Nowitzki J.R. Smith Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Games Played
5th
179th
174 1,522 vs. 977545
Seasons
3rd
91st
88 21 vs. 165

Rankings by Points Scored:

Dirk Nowitzki J.R. Smith Rk Diff. Values Diff.
40+ point games
62nd
187th
125 20 vs. 416
50+ point games
50th
-
2 vs. 02
60+ point games
-
-
0 vs. 00

Career Totals,
Playoffs Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Dirk Nowitzki J.R. Smith Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points
18th
133rd
115 3,663 vs. 1,4932,170
Rebounds
24th
243rd
219 1,446 vs. 4241,022
Assists
105th
283rd
178 360 vs. 187173
Steals
55th
80th
25 149 vs. 12722
Blocks
53rd
257th
204 129 vs. 3891
Offensive Rebounds
83rd
+300th
+217 212 vs. 58154
Defensive Rebounds
7th
151st
144 1,234 vs. 366868
Field Goals Made
21st
151st
130 1,220 vs. 519701
Field Goals Attempted
21st
118th
97 2,642 vs. 1,3061,336
3-Pointers Made
62nd
10th
52 149 vs. 294145
3-Pointers Attempted
63rd
12th
51 408 vs. 801393
Free Throws Made
10th
+300th
+290 1,074 vs. 161913
Free Throws Attempted
14th
293rd
279 1,204 vs. 228976

Games and Years:

Dirk Nowitzki J.R. Smith Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Games Played
54th
67th
13 145 vs. 1405
Playoffs
17th
76th
59 15 vs. 123

Rankings by Points Scored:

Dirk Nowitzki J.R. Smith Rk Diff. Values Diff.
40+ point games
20th
-
7 vs. 07
50+ point games
9th
-
1 vs. 01
60+ point games
-
-
0 vs. 00

Career Per Game Averages,
Regular Season Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Dirk Nowitzki J.R. Smith Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points per game
59th
+300th
+241 20.74 vs. 12.438.30
Rebounds per game
181st
+300th
+119 7.55 vs. 3.154.40
Assists per game
+300th
+300th
2.40 vs. 2.130.27
Steals per game
+300th
+300th
0.80 vs. 1.000.20
Blocks per game
228th
+300th
+72 0.84 vs. 0.210.63
Offensive Rebounds per game
+300th
+300th
0.96 vs. 0.510.46
Defensive Rebounds per game
54th
+300th
+246 6.58 vs. 2.643.94
Field Goals Made per game
91st
+300th
+209 7.34 vs. 4.482.86
Field Goals Attempted per game
102nd
+300th
+198 15.59 vs. 10.714.88
3-Pointers Made per game
271st
66th
205 1.30 vs. 1.980.67
3-Pointers Attempted per game
216th
44th
172 3.42 vs. 5.301.88
Free Throws Made per game
69th
+300th
+231 4.76 vs. 1.493.26
Free Throws Attempted per game
107th
+300th
+193 5.41 vs. 2.043.38

Career Per Game Averages,
Playoffs Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Dirk Nowitzki J.R. Smith Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points per game
28th
+300th
+272 25.26 vs. 10.6614.60
Rebounds per game
61st
+300th
+239 9.97 vs. 3.036.94
Assists per game
+300th
+300th
2.48 vs. 1.341.15
Steals per game
276th
+300th
+24 1.03 vs. 0.910.12
Blocks per game
188th
+300th
+112 0.89 vs. 0.270.62
Offensive Rebounds per game
+300th
+300th
1.46 vs. 0.411.05
Defensive Rebounds per game
11th
+300th
+289 8.51 vs. 2.615.90
Field Goals Made per game
51st
+300th
+249 8.41 vs. 3.714.71
Field Goals Attempted per game
58th
+300th
+242 18.22 vs. 9.338.89
3-Pointers Made per game
+300th
50th
+250 1.03 vs. 2.101.07
3-Pointers Attempted per game
+300th
54th
+246 2.81 vs. 5.722.91
Free Throws Made per game
10th
+300th
+290 7.41 vs. 1.156.26
Free Throws Attempted per game
23rd
+300th
+277 8.30 vs. 1.636.67

Note: the per game rankings on this page respect the minimums usually applied by the NBA for all-time leaders, this is 400 games for regular season stats unless the player reached these thresholds before: 10,000 points; 4,000 rebounds; 2,000 assists; 625 steals; 500 blocks; 250 3-pointers made. Also a minimum of 3 games is applied here for the Playoffs.