Complete Stats Comparison of Dirk Nowitzki and Arvydas Sabonis

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Dirk Nowitzki and Arvydas Sabonis during their NBA careers. First we show you a summary of who had better numbers on each statistical category and then we compare in detail the performance of each of these stars in the regular season and the Playoffs, both in total stats and averages per game.

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

This in-depth comparison includes all the numbers, if you prefer a simplified version of this analysis with only the basic statistics, you will find it at the career comparison of these two NBA stars.

On this page we compare:

Who has better stats? Main stats / All stats
Regular Season: Averages / Totals / Pecentages
Playoffs: Averages / Totals / Pecentages

Main Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player	Better Career Average	Better Career Total	Years
Dirk Nowitzki	3 (points, rebounds, assists)	5 (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)	21 seasons
Arvydas Sabonis	1 (blocks)	0	7 seasons
they are tied	1 (steals)

Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player	Better Career Average	Better Career Total	Years
Dirk Nowitzki	4 (points, rebounds, assists, steals)	5 (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)	15 Playoffs
Arvydas Sabonis	0	0	7 Playoffs
they are tied	1 (blocks)

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player	Better Career Average	Better Career Total	Better Percentage
Dirk Nowitzki	9 stats	12 stats	2 stats
Arvydas Sabonis	2 stats	2 stats	1 stat
they are tied	1 stat

Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player	Better Career Average	Better Career Total	Better Percentage
Dirk Nowitzki	10 stats	12 stats	3 stats
Arvydas Sabonis	1 stat	2 stats	0 stats
they are tied	1 stat

- "Better Career Total" includes games and years played as stats.

- For turnovers and personal fouls, lower numbers are better.

- Field goal, free-throw and three-point attempts are not included on these tables since it can't be said that higher is better.

Now, lets compare all their stats in detail, one by one...

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, Dirk Nowitzki had better averages in points, rebounds and assists while Arvydas Sabonis had better average in blocks. They are tied in steals.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Dirk Nowitzki had better averages in points (+8.7), field goals made (+2.9), 3-pointers made (+1.0), free throws made (+2.0), defensive rebounds (+0.9), total rebounds (+0.2) and assists (+0.3)

- Arvydas Sabonis had better averages in offensive rebounds (+0.6) and blocks (+0.3)

- Arvydas Sabonis had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+0.2) and personal fouls (+0.3)

- Dirk Nowitzki had higher averages in field goals attempted (+6.7), 3-pointers attempted (+2.5) and free throws attempted (+1.8)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points

Dirk Nowitzki	20.7	+8.7
Arvydas Sabonis	12.0

Field Goals Made

Dirk Nowitzki	7.3	+2.9
Arvydas Sabonis	4.4

Field Goals Attempted

Dirk Nowitzki	15.6	+6.7
Arvydas Sabonis	8.9

3-Pointers Made

Dirk Nowitzki	1.3	+1.0
Arvydas Sabonis	0.3

3-Pointers Attempted

Dirk Nowitzki	3.4	+2.5
Arvydas Sabonis	0.9

Free Throws Made

Dirk Nowitzki	4.8	+2.0
Arvydas Sabonis	2.8

Free Throws Attempted

Dirk Nowitzki	5.4	+1.8
Arvydas Sabonis	3.6

Offensive Rebounds

Dirk Nowitzki	1.0
Arvydas Sabonis	1.6	+0.6

Defensive Rebounds

Dirk Nowitzki	6.6	+0.9
Arvydas Sabonis	5.7

Total Rebounds

Dirk Nowitzki	7.5	+0.2
Arvydas Sabonis	7.3

Assists

Dirk Nowitzki	2.4	+0.3
Arvydas Sabonis	2.1

Steals

Dirk Nowitzki	0.8
Arvydas Sabonis	0.8

Blocks

Dirk Nowitzki	0.8
Arvydas Sabonis	1.1	+0.3

Turnovers
(lower is better)

Dirk Nowitzki	1.6
Arvydas Sabonis	1.8	+0.2

Personal Fouls
(lower is better)

Dirk Nowitzki	2.4
Arvydas Sabonis	2.7	+0.3

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Dirk Nowitzki had more total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks than Arvydas Sabonis.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Dirk Nowitzki played more years (+14) and games (+1,052), and had more points (+25,931), field goals made (+9,087), 3-pointers made (+1,846), free throws made (+5,911), offensive rebounds (+734), defensive rebounds (+7,319), total rebounds (+8,053), assists (+2,687), steals (+840) and blocks (+787)

- Dirk Nowitzki had more turnovers (+1,657) and personal fouls (+2,311)

- Dirk Nowitzki had more field goals attempted (+19,574), 3-pointers attempted (+4,795) and free throws attempted (+6,549)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years

Dirk Nowitzki	21	+14
Arvydas Sabonis	7

Games

Dirk Nowitzki	1,522	+1,052
Arvydas Sabonis	470

Points

Dirk Nowitzki	31,560	+25,931
Arvydas Sabonis	5,629

Field Goals Made

Dirk Nowitzki	11,169	+9,087
Arvydas Sabonis	2,082

Field Goals Attempted

Dirk Nowitzki	23,734	+19,574
Arvydas Sabonis	4,160

3-Pointers Made

Dirk Nowitzki	1,982	+1,846
Arvydas Sabonis	136

3-Pointers Attempted

Dirk Nowitzki	5,210	+4,795
Arvydas Sabonis	415

Free Throws Made

Dirk Nowitzki	7,240	+5,911
Arvydas Sabonis	1,329

Free Throws Attempted

Dirk Nowitzki	8,239	+6,549
Arvydas Sabonis	1,690

Offensive Rebounds

Dirk Nowitzki	1,468	+734
Arvydas Sabonis	734

Defensive Rebounds

Dirk Nowitzki	10,021	+7,319
Arvydas Sabonis	2,702

Total Rebounds

Dirk Nowitzki	11,489	+8,053
Arvydas Sabonis	3,436

Assists

Dirk Nowitzki	3,651	+2,687
Arvydas Sabonis	964

Steals

Dirk Nowitzki	1,210	+840
Arvydas Sabonis	370

Blocks

Dirk Nowitzki	1,281	+787
Arvydas Sabonis	494

Turnovers
(lower is better)

Dirk Nowitzki	2,494	+1,657
Arvydas Sabonis	837

Personal Fouls
(lower is better)

Dirk Nowitzki	3,601	+2,311
Arvydas Sabonis	1,290

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Dirk Nowitzki had better 3-point percentage and free throw percentage while Arvydas Sabonis had better field goal percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage

Dirk Nowitzki	47.1%
Arvydas Sabonis	50.0%	+2.9

3-Point Percentage

Dirk Nowitzki	38.0%	+5.2
Arvydas Sabonis	32.8%

Free Throw Percentage

Dirk Nowitzki	87.9%	+9.3
Arvydas Sabonis	78.6%

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Dirk Nowitzki had better averages in points, rebounds, assists and steals than Arvydas Sabonis. They are tied in blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Dirk Nowitzki had better averages in points (+13.2), field goals made (+4.0), 3-pointers made (+0.7), free throws made (+4.3), offensive rebounds (+0.1), defensive rebounds (+2.5), total rebounds (+2.6), assists (+0.6) and steals (+0.1)

- Dirk Nowitzki had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.7)

- Arvydas Sabonis had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.6)

- Dirk Nowitzki had higher averages in field goals attempted (+8.6), 3-pointers attempted (+1.9) and free throws attempted (+4.4)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points

Dirk Nowitzki	25.3	+13.2
Arvydas Sabonis	12.1

Field Goals Made

Dirk Nowitzki	8.4	+4.0
Arvydas Sabonis	4.4

Field Goals Attempted

Dirk Nowitzki	18.2	+8.6
Arvydas Sabonis	9.6

3-Pointers Made

Dirk Nowitzki	1.0	+0.7
Arvydas Sabonis	0.3

3-Pointers Attempted

Dirk Nowitzki	2.8	+1.9
Arvydas Sabonis	0.9

Free Throws Made

Dirk Nowitzki	7.4	+4.3
Arvydas Sabonis	3.1

Free Throws Attempted

Dirk Nowitzki	8.3	+4.4
Arvydas Sabonis	3.9

Offensive Rebounds

Dirk Nowitzki	1.5	+0.1
Arvydas Sabonis	1.4

Defensive Rebounds

Dirk Nowitzki	8.5	+2.5
Arvydas Sabonis	6.0

Total Rebounds

Dirk Nowitzki	10.0	+2.6
Arvydas Sabonis	7.4

Assists

Dirk Nowitzki	2.5	+0.6
Arvydas Sabonis	1.9

Steals

Dirk Nowitzki	1.0	+0.1
Arvydas Sabonis	0.9

Blocks

Dirk Nowitzki	0.9
Arvydas Sabonis	0.9

Turnovers
(lower is better)

Dirk Nowitzki	2.3	+0.7
Arvydas Sabonis	1.6

Personal Fouls
(lower is better)

Dirk Nowitzki	2.8
Arvydas Sabonis	3.4	+0.6

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Dirk Nowitzki had more total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks than Arvydas Sabonis.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Dirk Nowitzki played more years (+8) and games (+94), and had more points (+3,046), field goals made (+998), 3-pointers made (+134), free throws made (+916), offensive rebounds (+140), defensive rebounds (+928), total rebounds (+1,068), assists (+263), steals (+101) and blocks (+81)

- Dirk Nowitzki had more turnovers (+246) and personal fouls (+232)

- Dirk Nowitzki had more field goals attempted (+2,151), 3-pointers attempted (+361) and free throws attempted (+1,007)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years

Dirk Nowitzki	15	+8
Arvydas Sabonis	7

Games

Dirk Nowitzki	145	+94
Arvydas Sabonis	51

Points

Dirk Nowitzki	3,663	+3,046
Arvydas Sabonis	617

Field Goals Made

Dirk Nowitzki	1,220	+998
Arvydas Sabonis	222

Field Goals Attempted

Dirk Nowitzki	2,642	+2,151
Arvydas Sabonis	491

3-Pointers Made

Dirk Nowitzki	149	+134
Arvydas Sabonis	15

3-Pointers Attempted

Dirk Nowitzki	408	+361
Arvydas Sabonis	47

Free Throws Made

Dirk Nowitzki	1,074	+916
Arvydas Sabonis	158

Free Throws Attempted

Dirk Nowitzki	1,204	+1,007
Arvydas Sabonis	197

Offensive Rebounds

Dirk Nowitzki	212	+140
Arvydas Sabonis	72

Defensive Rebounds

Dirk Nowitzki	1,234	+928
Arvydas Sabonis	306

Total Rebounds

Dirk Nowitzki	1,446	+1,068
Arvydas Sabonis	378

Assists

Dirk Nowitzki	360	+263
Arvydas Sabonis	97

Steals

Dirk Nowitzki	149	+101
Arvydas Sabonis	48

Blocks

Dirk Nowitzki	129	+81
Arvydas Sabonis	48

Turnovers
(lower is better)

Dirk Nowitzki	328	+246
Arvydas Sabonis	82

Personal Fouls
(lower is better)

Dirk Nowitzki	407	+232
Arvydas Sabonis	175

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Dirk Nowitzki had better field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and free throw percentage than Arvydas Sabonis.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage

Dirk Nowitzki	46.2%	+1.0
Arvydas Sabonis	45.2%

3-Point Percentage

Dirk Nowitzki	36.5%	+4.6
Arvydas Sabonis	31.9%

Free Throw Percentage

Dirk Nowitzki	89.2%	+9.0
Arvydas Sabonis	80.2%