Complete Stats Comparison of Julius Erving and Dirk Nowitzki

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Julius Erving and Dirk Nowitzki 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 / Stats / Stats Rankings

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
Julius Erving4
(points, assists, steals, blocks)		2
(steals, blocks)		11
seasons
Dirk Nowitzki1
(rebounds)		3
(points, rebounds, assists)		21
seasons
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Julius Erving3
(assists, steals, blocks)		3
(assists, steals, blocks)		11
Playoffs
Dirk Nowitzki2
(points, rebounds)		2
(points, rebounds)		15
Playoffs

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Julius Erving6
stats		5
stats		1
stat
Dirk Nowitzki6
stats		9
stats		2
stats
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Julius Erving4
stats		5
stats		1
stat
Dirk Nowitzki7
stats		9
stats		2
stats
they are tied1
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...

Notes: Turnovers started to be recorded in 1977-78. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80.
(*) = some years in his career don't have the stat.

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

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

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Julius Erving had better averages in points (+1.3), field goals made (+1.4), offensive rebounds (+1.5), assists (+1.5), steals (+1.0) and blocks (+0.7)
- Dirk Nowitzki had better averages in 3-pointers made (+1.2), free throws made (+0.2), defensive rebounds (+2.4) and total rebounds (+0.8)
- Julius Erving had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+1.5) and personal fouls (+0.3)
-
- Julius Erving had higher averages in field goals attempted (+1.5) and free throws attempted (+0.5)
- Dirk Nowitzki had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+3.1)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Julius Erving 22.0
+1.3
Dirk Nowitzki 20.7
Field Goals Made
Julius Erving 8.7
+1.4
Dirk Nowitzki 7.3
Field Goals Attempted
Julius Erving 17.1
+1.5
Dirk Nowitzki 15.6
3-Pointers Made
Julius Erving 0.1
*
Dirk Nowitzki 1.3
+1.2
3-Pointers Attempted
Julius Erving 0.3
*
Dirk Nowitzki 3.4
+3.1
Free Throws Made
Julius Erving 4.6
Dirk Nowitzki 4.8
+0.2
Free Throws Attempted
Julius Erving 5.9
+0.5
Dirk Nowitzki 5.4
Offensive Rebounds
Julius Erving 2.5
+1.5
Dirk Nowitzki 1.0
Defensive Rebounds
Julius Erving 4.2
Dirk Nowitzki 6.6
+2.4
Total Rebounds
Julius Erving 6.7
Dirk Nowitzki 7.5
+0.8
Assists
Julius Erving 3.9
+1.5
Dirk Nowitzki 2.4
Steals
Julius Erving 1.8
+1.0
Dirk Nowitzki 0.8
Blocks
Julius Erving 1.5
+0.7
Dirk Nowitzki 0.8
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Julius Erving 3.1
+1.5 *
Dirk Nowitzki 1.6
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Julius Erving 2.7
+0.3
Dirk Nowitzki 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 assists while Julius Erving had more total steals and blocks.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Julius Erving had more offensive rebounds (+599), steals (+298) and blocks (+12)
- Dirk Nowitzki played more years (+10) and games (+686), and had more points (+13,196), field goals made (+3,932), 3-pointers made (+1,936), free throws made (+3,396), defensive rebounds (+6,487), total rebounds (+5,888) and assists (+427)
-
- Dirk Nowitzki had more turnovers (+171) and personal fouls (+1,315)
-
- Dirk Nowitzki had more field goals attempted (+9,458), 3-pointers attempted (+5,034) and free throws attempted (+3,289)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Julius Erving 11
Dirk Nowitzki 21
+10
Games
Julius Erving 836
Dirk Nowitzki 1,522
+686
Points
Julius Erving 18,364
Dirk Nowitzki 31,560
+13,196
Field Goals Made
Julius Erving 7,237
Dirk Nowitzki 11,169
+3,932
Field Goals Attempted
Julius Erving 14,276
Dirk Nowitzki 23,734
+9,458
3-Pointers Made
Julius Erving 46
*
Dirk Nowitzki 1,982
+1,936
3-Pointers Attempted
Julius Erving 176
*
Dirk Nowitzki 5,210
+5,034
Free Throws Made
Julius Erving 3,844
Dirk Nowitzki 7,240
+3,396
Free Throws Attempted
Julius Erving 4,950
Dirk Nowitzki 8,239
+3,289
Offensive Rebounds
Julius Erving 2,067
+599
Dirk Nowitzki 1,468
Defensive Rebounds
Julius Erving 3,534
Dirk Nowitzki 10,021
+6,487
Total Rebounds
Julius Erving 5,601
Dirk Nowitzki 11,489
+5,888
Assists
Julius Erving 3,224
Dirk Nowitzki 3,651
+427
Steals
Julius Erving 1,508
+298
Dirk Nowitzki 1,210
Blocks
Julius Erving 1,293
+12
Dirk Nowitzki 1,281
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Julius Erving 2,323
*
Dirk Nowitzki 2,494
+171
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Julius Erving 2,286
Dirk Nowitzki 3,601
+1,315

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 Julius Erving had better field goal percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Julius Erving 50.7%
+3.6
Dirk Nowitzki 47.1%
3-Point Percentage
Julius Erving 26.1%
*
Dirk Nowitzki 38.0%
+11.9
Free Throw Percentage
Julius Erving 77.7%
Dirk Nowitzki 87.9%
+10.2

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

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

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Julius Erving had better averages in offensive rebounds (+1.1), assists (+1.7), steals (+0.7) and blocks (+0.8)
- Dirk Nowitzki had better averages in points (+3.4), 3-pointers made (+0.9), free throws made (+2.4), defensive rebounds (+4.0) and total rebounds (+3.0)
- Julius Erving had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+0.9) and personal fouls (+0.1)
-
-
- Dirk Nowitzki had higher averages in field goals attempted (+0.9), 3-pointers attempted (+2.5) and free throws attempted (+1.9)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Julius Erving 21.9
Dirk Nowitzki 25.3
+3.4
Field Goals Made
Julius Erving 8.4
Dirk Nowitzki 8.4
Field Goals Attempted
Julius Erving 17.3
Dirk Nowitzki 18.2
+0.9
3-Pointers Made
Julius Erving 0.1
*
Dirk Nowitzki 1.0
+0.9
3-Pointers Attempted
Julius Erving 0.3
*
Dirk Nowitzki 2.8
+2.5
Free Throws Made
Julius Erving 5.0
Dirk Nowitzki 7.4
+2.4
Free Throws Attempted
Julius Erving 6.4
Dirk Nowitzki 8.3
+1.9
Offensive Rebounds
Julius Erving 2.6
+1.1
Dirk Nowitzki 1.5
Defensive Rebounds
Julius Erving 4.5
Dirk Nowitzki 8.5
+4.0
Total Rebounds
Julius Erving 7.0
Dirk Nowitzki 10.0
+3.0
Assists
Julius Erving 4.2
+1.7
Dirk Nowitzki 2.5
Steals
Julius Erving 1.7
+0.7
Dirk Nowitzki 1.0
Blocks
Julius Erving 1.7
+0.8
Dirk Nowitzki 0.9
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Julius Erving 3.2
+0.9 *
Dirk Nowitzki 2.3
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Julius Erving 2.9
+0.1
Dirk Nowitzki 2.8

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

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

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Julius Erving had more offensive rebounds (+148), assists (+234), steals (+86) and blocks (+110)
- Dirk Nowitzki played more years (+4) and games (+4), and had more points (+575), field goals made (+33), 3-pointers made (+142), free throws made (+367), defensive rebounds (+600) and total rebounds (+452)
- Julius Erving had more turnovers (+68)
- Dirk Nowitzki had more personal fouls (+4)
-
- Dirk Nowitzki had more field goals attempted (+201), 3-pointers attempted (+372) and free throws attempted (+296)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Julius Erving 11
Dirk Nowitzki 15
+4
Games
Julius Erving 141
Dirk Nowitzki 145
+4
Points
Julius Erving 3,088
Dirk Nowitzki 3,663
+575
Field Goals Made
Julius Erving 1,187
Dirk Nowitzki 1,220
+33
Field Goals Attempted
Julius Erving 2,441
Dirk Nowitzki 2,642
+201
3-Pointers Made
Julius Erving 7
*
Dirk Nowitzki 149
+142
3-Pointers Attempted
Julius Erving 36
*
Dirk Nowitzki 408
+372
Free Throws Made
Julius Erving 707
Dirk Nowitzki 1,074
+367
Free Throws Attempted
Julius Erving 908
Dirk Nowitzki 1,204
+296
Offensive Rebounds
Julius Erving 360
+148
Dirk Nowitzki 212
Defensive Rebounds
Julius Erving 634
Dirk Nowitzki 1,234
+600
Total Rebounds
Julius Erving 994
Dirk Nowitzki 1,446
+452
Assists
Julius Erving 594
+234
Dirk Nowitzki 360
Steals
Julius Erving 235
+86
Dirk Nowitzki 149
Blocks
Julius Erving 239
+110
Dirk Nowitzki 129
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Julius Erving 396
+68 *
Dirk Nowitzki 328
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Julius Erving 403
Dirk Nowitzki 407
+4

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Dirk Nowitzki had better 3-point percentage and free throw percentage while Julius Erving had better field goal percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Julius Erving 48.6%
+2.4
Dirk Nowitzki 46.2%
3-Point Percentage
Julius Erving 19.4%
*
Dirk Nowitzki 36.5%
+17.1
Free Throw Percentage
Julius Erving 77.9%
Dirk Nowitzki 89.2%
+11.3
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