Complete Stats Comparison of Larry Bird and Dirk Nowitzki

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Larry Bird 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 / Scoring / 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
Larry Bird4
(points, rebounds, assists, steals)		2
(assists, steals)		13
seasons
Dirk Nowitzki0
3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		21
seasons
they are tied1
(blocks)
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Larry Bird3
(rebounds, assists, steals)		5
(points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)		12
Playoffs
Dirk Nowitzki1
(points)		0
15
Playoffs
they are tied1
(blocks)

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Larry Bird7
stats		4
stats		2
stats
Dirk Nowitzki4
stats		10
stats		1
stat
they are tied1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Larry Bird5
stats		9
stats		1
stat
Dirk Nowitzki5
stats		5
stats		2
stats
they are tied2
stats

- "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, Larry Bird had better averages in points, rebounds, assists and steals than Dirk Nowitzki. They are tied in blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Larry Bird had better averages in points (+3.6), field goals made (+2.3), offensive rebounds (+1.0), defensive rebounds (+1.4), total rebounds (+2.5), assists (+3.9) and steals (+0.9)
- Dirk Nowitzki had better averages in 3-pointers made (+0.6) and free throws made (+0.4)
- Larry Bird had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+1.5) and personal fouls (+0.1)
-
- Larry Bird had higher average in field goals attempted (+3.7)
- Dirk Nowitzki had higher averages in 3-pointers attempted (+1.5) and free throws attempted (+0.4)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Larry Bird 24.3
+3.6
Dirk Nowitzki 20.7
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 9.6
+2.3
Dirk Nowitzki 7.3
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 19.3
+3.7
Dirk Nowitzki 15.6
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 0.7
Dirk Nowitzki 1.3
+0.6
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1.9
Dirk Nowitzki 3.4
+1.5
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 4.4
Dirk Nowitzki 4.8
+0.4
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 5.0
Dirk Nowitzki 5.4
+0.4
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 2.0
+1.0
Dirk Nowitzki 1.0
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 8.0
+1.4
Dirk Nowitzki 6.6
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 10.0
+2.5
Dirk Nowitzki 7.5
Assists
Larry Bird 6.3
+3.9
Dirk Nowitzki 2.4
Steals
Larry Bird 1.7
+0.9
Dirk Nowitzki 0.8
Blocks
Larry Bird 0.8
Dirk Nowitzki 0.8
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 3.1
+1.5
Dirk Nowitzki 1.6
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2.5
+0.1
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 blocks while Larry Bird had more total assists and steals.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Larry Bird had more offensive rebounds (+289), assists (+2,044) and steals (+346)
- Dirk Nowitzki played more years (+8) and games (+625), and had more points (+9,769), field goals made (+2,578), 3-pointers made (+1,333), free throws made (+3,280), defensive rebounds (+2,804), total rebounds (+2,515) and blocks (+526)
- Larry Bird had more turnovers (+322)
- Dirk Nowitzki had more personal fouls (+1,322)
-
- Dirk Nowitzki had more field goals attempted (+6,400), 3-pointers attempted (+3,483) and free throws attempted (+3,768)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Larry Bird 13
Dirk Nowitzki 21
+8
Games
Larry Bird 897
Dirk Nowitzki 1,522
+625
Points
Larry Bird 21,791
Dirk Nowitzki 31,560
+9,769
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 8,591
Dirk Nowitzki 11,169
+2,578
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 17,334
Dirk Nowitzki 23,734
+6,400
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 649
Dirk Nowitzki 1,982
+1,333
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1,727
Dirk Nowitzki 5,210
+3,483
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 3,960
Dirk Nowitzki 7,240
+3,280
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 4,471
Dirk Nowitzki 8,239
+3,768
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,757
+289
Dirk Nowitzki 1,468
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 7,217
Dirk Nowitzki 10,021
+2,804
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 8,974
Dirk Nowitzki 11,489
+2,515
Assists
Larry Bird 5,695
+2,044
Dirk Nowitzki 3,651
Steals
Larry Bird 1,556
+346
Dirk Nowitzki 1,210
Blocks
Larry Bird 755
Dirk Nowitzki 1,281
+526
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2,816
+322
Dirk Nowitzki 2,494
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2,279
Dirk Nowitzki 3,601
+1,322

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

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

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Larry Bird 49.6%
+2.5
Dirk Nowitzki 47.1%
3-Point Percentage
Larry Bird 37.6%
Dirk Nowitzki 38.0%
+0.4
Free Throw Percentage
Larry Bird 88.6%
+0.7
Dirk Nowitzki 87.9%

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

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

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Larry Bird had better averages in field goals made (+0.5), offensive rebounds (+0.7), total rebounds (+0.3), assists (+4.0) and steals (+0.8)
- Dirk Nowitzki had better averages in points (+1.5), 3-pointers made (+0.5), free throws made (+1.9) and defensive rebounds (+0.4)
- Larry Bird had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.8)
-
- Larry Bird had higher average in field goals attempted (+0.6)
- Dirk Nowitzki had higher averages in 3-pointers attempted (+1.3) and free throws attempted (+2.1)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Larry Bird 23.8
Dirk Nowitzki 25.3
+1.5
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 8.9
+0.5
Dirk Nowitzki 8.4
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 18.8
+0.6
Dirk Nowitzki 18.2
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 0.5
Dirk Nowitzki 1.0
+0.5
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 1.5
Dirk Nowitzki 2.8
+1.3
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 5.5
Dirk Nowitzki 7.4
+1.9
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 6.2
Dirk Nowitzki 8.3
+2.1
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 2.2
+0.7
Dirk Nowitzki 1.5
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 8.1
Dirk Nowitzki 8.5
+0.4
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 10.3
+0.3
Dirk Nowitzki 10.0
Assists
Larry Bird 6.5
+4.0
Dirk Nowitzki 2.5
Steals
Larry Bird 1.8
+0.8
Dirk Nowitzki 1.0
Blocks
Larry Bird 0.9
Dirk Nowitzki 0.9
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 3.1
+0.8
Dirk Nowitzki 2.3
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 2.8
Dirk Nowitzki 2.8

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

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

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Larry Bird played more games (+19) and had more points (+234), field goals made (+238), offensive rebounds (+148), defensive rebounds (+89), total rebounds (+237), assists (+702), steals (+147) and blocks (+16)
- Dirk Nowitzki played more years (+3) and had more 3-pointers made (+69) and free throws made (+173)
- Larry Bird had more turnovers (+178) and personal fouls (+59)
-
- Larry Bird had more field goals attempted (+448)
- Dirk Nowitzki had more 3-pointers attempted (+159) and free throws attempted (+192)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Larry Bird 12
Dirk Nowitzki 15
+3
Games
Larry Bird 164
+19
Dirk Nowitzki 145
Points
Larry Bird 3,897
+234
Dirk Nowitzki 3,663
Field Goals Made
Larry Bird 1,458
+238
Dirk Nowitzki 1,220
Field Goals Attempted
Larry Bird 3,090
+448
Dirk Nowitzki 2,642
3-Pointers Made
Larry Bird 80
Dirk Nowitzki 149
+69
3-Pointers Attempted
Larry Bird 249
Dirk Nowitzki 408
+159
Free Throws Made
Larry Bird 901
Dirk Nowitzki 1,074
+173
Free Throws Attempted
Larry Bird 1,012
Dirk Nowitzki 1,204
+192
Offensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 360
+148
Dirk Nowitzki 212
Defensive Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,323
+89
Dirk Nowitzki 1,234
Total Rebounds
Larry Bird 1,683
+237
Dirk Nowitzki 1,446
Assists
Larry Bird 1,062
+702
Dirk Nowitzki 360
Steals
Larry Bird 296
+147
Dirk Nowitzki 149
Blocks
Larry Bird 145
+16
Dirk Nowitzki 129
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 506
+178
Dirk Nowitzki 328
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Larry Bird 466
+59
Dirk Nowitzki 407

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 Larry Bird had better field goal percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Larry Bird 47.2%
+1.0
Dirk Nowitzki 46.2%
3-Point Percentage
Larry Bird 32.1%
Dirk Nowitzki 36.5%
+4.4
Free Throw Percentage
Larry Bird 89.0%
Dirk Nowitzki 89.2%
+0.2
Share: