Complete Stats Comparison of Dirk Nowitzki and Gary Payton

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Dirk Nowitzki and Gary Payton 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 TotalYears
Dirk Nowitzki3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		21
seasons
Gary Payton2
(assists, steals)		2
(assists, steals)		17
seasons
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Dirk Nowitzki3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		15
Playoffs
Gary Payton2
(assists, steals)		2
(assists, steals)		15
Playoffs

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Dirk Nowitzki8
stats		11
stats		3
stats
Gary Payton2
stats		3
stats		0
stats
they are tied2
stats
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Dirk Nowitzki8
stats		9
stats		3
stats
Gary Payton3
stats		4
stats		0
stats
they are tied1
stat		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 blocks while Gary Payton had better averages in assists and steals.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Dirk Nowitzki had better averages in points (+4.4), field goals made (+0.8), 3-pointers made (+0.5), free throws made (+2.4), defensive rebounds (+3.7), total rebounds (+3.6) and blocks (+0.6)
- Gary Payton had better averages in assists (+4.3) and steals (+1.0)
-
- Gary Payton had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.7)
- Dirk Nowitzki had higher averages in field goals attempted (+1.6), 3-pointers attempted (+0.7) and free throws attempted (+2.0)
-

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Dirk Nowitzki 20.7
+4.4
Gary Payton 16.3
Field Goals Made
Dirk Nowitzki 7.3
+0.8
Gary Payton 6.5
Field Goals Attempted
Dirk Nowitzki 15.6
+1.6
Gary Payton 14.0
3-Pointers Made
Dirk Nowitzki 1.3
+0.5
Gary Payton 0.8
3-Pointers Attempted
Dirk Nowitzki 3.4
+0.7
Gary Payton 2.7
Free Throws Made
Dirk Nowitzki 4.8
+2.4
Gary Payton 2.4
Free Throws Attempted
Dirk Nowitzki 5.4
+2.0
Gary Payton 3.4
Offensive Rebounds
Dirk Nowitzki 1.0
Gary Payton 1.0
Defensive Rebounds
Dirk Nowitzki 6.6
+3.7
Gary Payton 2.9
Total Rebounds
Dirk Nowitzki 7.5
+3.6
Gary Payton 3.9
Assists
Dirk Nowitzki 2.4
Gary Payton 6.7
+4.3
Steals
Dirk Nowitzki 0.8
Gary Payton 1.8
+1.0
Blocks
Dirk Nowitzki 0.8
+0.6
Gary Payton 0.2
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Dirk Nowitzki 1.6
Gary Payton 2.3
+0.7
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Dirk Nowitzki 2.4
Gary Payton 2.4

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, Dirk Nowitzki had more total points, rebounds and blocks while Gary Payton had more total assists and steals.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Dirk Nowitzki played more years (+4) and games (+187), and had more points (+9,747), field goals made (+2,461), 3-pointers made (+850), free throws made (+3,975), offensive rebounds (+76), defensive rebounds (+6,144), total rebounds (+6,220) and blocks (+996)
- Gary Payton had more assists (+5,315) and steals (+1,235)
- Dirk Nowitzki had more personal fouls (+384)
- Gary Payton had more turnovers (+536)
- Dirk Nowitzki had more field goals attempted (+5,036), 3-pointers attempted (+1,640) and free throws attempted (+3,759)
-

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Dirk Nowitzki 21
+4
Gary Payton 17
Games
Dirk Nowitzki 1,522
+187
Gary Payton 1,335
Points
Dirk Nowitzki 31,560
+9,747
Gary Payton 21,813
Field Goals Made
Dirk Nowitzki 11,169
+2,461
Gary Payton 8,708
Field Goals Attempted
Dirk Nowitzki 23,734
+5,036
Gary Payton 18,698
3-Pointers Made
Dirk Nowitzki 1,982
+850
Gary Payton 1,132
3-Pointers Attempted
Dirk Nowitzki 5,210
+1,640
Gary Payton 3,570
Free Throws Made
Dirk Nowitzki 7,240
+3,975
Gary Payton 3,265
Free Throws Attempted
Dirk Nowitzki 8,239
+3,759
Gary Payton 4,480
Offensive Rebounds
Dirk Nowitzki 1,468
+76
Gary Payton 1,392
Defensive Rebounds
Dirk Nowitzki 10,021
+6,144
Gary Payton 3,877
Total Rebounds
Dirk Nowitzki 11,489
+6,220
Gary Payton 5,269
Assists
Dirk Nowitzki 3,651
Gary Payton 8,966
+5,315
Steals
Dirk Nowitzki 1,210
Gary Payton 2,445
+1,235
Blocks
Dirk Nowitzki 1,281
+996
Gary Payton 285
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Dirk Nowitzki 2,494
Gary Payton 3,030
+536
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Dirk Nowitzki 3,601
+384
Gary Payton 3,217

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Dirk Nowitzki had better field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and free throw percentage than Gary Payton.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Dirk Nowitzki 47.1%
+0.5
Gary Payton 46.6%
3-Point Percentage
Dirk Nowitzki 38.0%
+6.3
Gary Payton 31.7%
Free Throw Percentage
Dirk Nowitzki 87.9%
+15.0
Gary Payton 72.9%

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Dirk Nowitzki had better averages in points, rebounds and blocks while Gary Payton had better averages in assists and steals.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Dirk Nowitzki had better averages in points (+11.3), field goals made (+2.8), 3-pointers made (+0.1), free throws made (+5.4), offensive rebounds (+0.5), defensive rebounds (+5.7), total rebounds (+6.3) and blocks (+0.7)
- Gary Payton had better averages in assists (+2.8) and steals (+0.4)
- Dirk Nowitzki had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.4)
-
- Dirk Nowitzki had higher averages in field goals attempted (+5.6) and free throws attempted (+5.5)
-

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Dirk Nowitzki 25.3
+11.3
Gary Payton 14.0
Field Goals Made
Dirk Nowitzki 8.4
+2.8
Gary Payton 5.6
Field Goals Attempted
Dirk Nowitzki 18.2
+5.6
Gary Payton 12.6
3-Pointers Made
Dirk Nowitzki 1.0
+0.1
Gary Payton 0.9
3-Pointers Attempted
Dirk Nowitzki 2.8
Gary Payton 2.8
Free Throws Made
Dirk Nowitzki 7.4
+5.4
Gary Payton 2.0
Free Throws Attempted
Dirk Nowitzki 8.3
+5.5
Gary Payton 2.8
Offensive Rebounds
Dirk Nowitzki 1.5
+0.5
Gary Payton 1.0
Defensive Rebounds
Dirk Nowitzki 8.5
+5.7
Gary Payton 2.8
Total Rebounds
Dirk Nowitzki 10.0
+6.3
Gary Payton 3.7
Assists
Dirk Nowitzki 2.5
Gary Payton 5.3
+2.8
Steals
Dirk Nowitzki 1.0
Gary Payton 1.4
+0.4
Blocks
Dirk Nowitzki 0.9
+0.7
Gary Payton 0.2
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Dirk Nowitzki 2.3
+0.4
Gary Payton 1.9
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Dirk Nowitzki 2.8
Gary Payton 2.8

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Dirk Nowitzki had more total points, rebounds and blocks while Gary Payton had more total assists and steals.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Dirk Nowitzki had more points (+1,508), field goals made (+365), 3-pointers made (+12), free throws made (+766), offensive rebounds (+64), defensive rebounds (+807), total rebounds (+871) and blocks (+97)
- Gary Payton played more games (+9) and had more assists (+451) and steals (+67)
- Dirk Nowitzki had more turnovers (+31)
- Gary Payton had more personal fouls (+27)
- Dirk Nowitzki had more field goals attempted (+704) and free throws attempted (+768)
- Gary Payton had more 3-pointers attempted (+27)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Dirk Nowitzki 15
Gary Payton 15
Games
Dirk Nowitzki 145
Gary Payton 154
+9
Points
Dirk Nowitzki 3,663
+1,508
Gary Payton 2,155
Field Goals Made
Dirk Nowitzki 1,220
+365
Gary Payton 855
Field Goals Attempted
Dirk Nowitzki 2,642
+704
Gary Payton 1,938
3-Pointers Made
Dirk Nowitzki 149
+12
Gary Payton 137
3-Pointers Attempted
Dirk Nowitzki 408
Gary Payton 435
+27
Free Throws Made
Dirk Nowitzki 1,074
+766
Gary Payton 308
Free Throws Attempted
Dirk Nowitzki 1,204
+768
Gary Payton 436
Offensive Rebounds
Dirk Nowitzki 212
+64
Gary Payton 148
Defensive Rebounds
Dirk Nowitzki 1,234
+807
Gary Payton 427
Total Rebounds
Dirk Nowitzki 1,446
+871
Gary Payton 575
Assists
Dirk Nowitzki 360
Gary Payton 811
+451
Steals
Dirk Nowitzki 149
Gary Payton 216
+67
Blocks
Dirk Nowitzki 129
+97
Gary Payton 32
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Dirk Nowitzki 328
+31
Gary Payton 297
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Dirk Nowitzki 407
Gary Payton 434
+27

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 Gary Payton.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Dirk Nowitzki 46.2%
+2.1
Gary Payton 44.1%
3-Point Percentage
Dirk Nowitzki 36.5%
+5.0
Gary Payton 31.5%
Free Throw Percentage
Dirk Nowitzki 89.2%
+18.6
Gary Payton 70.6%
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