Complete Stats Comparison of LeBron James and Dirk Nowitzki

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by LeBron James 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 / 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
LeBron James3
(points, assists, steals)		4
(points, rebounds, assists, steals)		22
seasons
Dirk Nowitzki1
(blocks)		1
(blocks)		21
seasons
they are tied1
(rebounds)
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
LeBron James4
(points, assists, steals, blocks)		5
(points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)		18
Playoffs
Dirk Nowitzki1
(rebounds)		0
15
Playoffs

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
LeBron James8
stats		11
stats		1
stat
Dirk Nowitzki3
stats		3
stats		2
stats
they are tied1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
LeBron James7
stats		12
stats		1
stat
Dirk Nowitzki4
stats		2
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...

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

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

Who has higher averages in the Regular Season?

- LeBron James has better averages in points (+6.3), field goals made (+2.6), 3-pointers made (+0.3), free throws made (+0.7), offensive rebounds (+0.2), assists (+5.0) and steals (+0.7)
- Dirk Nowitzki has better averages in defensive rebounds (+0.2) and blocks (+0.1)
- LeBron James has higher (worst) average in turnovers (+1.9)
- Dirk Nowitzki has higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.6)
- LeBron James has higher averages in field goals attempted (+4.0), 3-pointers attempted (+1.3) and free throws attempted (+2.1)
-

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
LeBron James 27.0
+6.3
Dirk Nowitzki 20.7
Field Goals Made
LeBron James 9.9
+2.6
Dirk Nowitzki 7.3
Field Goals Attempted
LeBron James 19.6
+4.0
Dirk Nowitzki 15.6
3-Pointers Made
LeBron James 1.6
+0.3
Dirk Nowitzki 1.3
3-Pointers Attempted
LeBron James 4.7
+1.3
Dirk Nowitzki 3.4
Free Throws Made
LeBron James 5.5
+0.7
Dirk Nowitzki 4.8
Free Throws Attempted
LeBron James 7.5
+2.1
Dirk Nowitzki 5.4
Offensive Rebounds
LeBron James 1.2
+0.2
Dirk Nowitzki 1.0
Defensive Rebounds
LeBron James 6.4
Dirk Nowitzki 6.6
+0.2
Total Rebounds
LeBron James 7.5
Dirk Nowitzki 7.5
Assists
LeBron James 7.4
+5.0
Dirk Nowitzki 2.4
Steals
LeBron James 1.5
+0.7
Dirk Nowitzki 0.8
Blocks
LeBron James 0.7
Dirk Nowitzki 0.8
+0.1
Turnovers
(lower is better)
LeBron James 3.5
+1.9
Dirk Nowitzki 1.6
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
LeBron James 1.8
Dirk Nowitzki 2.4
+0.6

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

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

Who has more total stats in the Regular Season?

- LeBron James played more years (+1) and games (+40), and has more points (+10,624), field goals made (+4,319), 3-pointers made (+577), free throws made (+1,409), offensive rebounds (+331), total rebounds (+242), assists (+7,933) and steals (+1,135)
- Dirk Nowitzki has more defensive rebounds (+89) and blocks (+131)
- LeBron James has more turnovers (+2,977)
- Dirk Nowitzki has more personal fouls (+820)
- LeBron James has more field goals attempted (+6,849), 3-pointers attempted (+2,112) and free throws attempted (+3,496)
-

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
LeBron James 22
+1
Dirk Nowitzki 21
Games
LeBron James 1,562
+40
Dirk Nowitzki 1,522
Points
LeBron James 42,184
+10,624
Dirk Nowitzki 31,560
Field Goals Made
LeBron James 15,488
+4,319
Dirk Nowitzki 11,169
Field Goals Attempted
LeBron James 30,583
+6,849
Dirk Nowitzki 23,734
3-Pointers Made
LeBron James 2,559
+577
Dirk Nowitzki 1,982
3-Pointers Attempted
LeBron James 7,322
+2,112
Dirk Nowitzki 5,210
Free Throws Made
LeBron James 8,649
+1,409
Dirk Nowitzki 7,240
Free Throws Attempted
LeBron James 11,735
+3,496
Dirk Nowitzki 8,239
Offensive Rebounds
LeBron James 1,799
+331
Dirk Nowitzki 1,468
Defensive Rebounds
LeBron James 9,932
Dirk Nowitzki 10,021
+89
Total Rebounds
LeBron James 11,731
+242
Dirk Nowitzki 11,489
Assists
LeBron James 11,584
+7,933
Dirk Nowitzki 3,651
Steals
LeBron James 2,345
+1,135
Dirk Nowitzki 1,210
Blocks
LeBron James 1,150
Dirk Nowitzki 1,281
+131
Turnovers
(lower is better)
LeBron James 5,471
+2,977
Dirk Nowitzki 2,494
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
LeBron James 2,781
Dirk Nowitzki 3,601
+820

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Dirk Nowitzki has better 3-point percentage and free throw percentage while LeBron James has better field goal percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
LeBron James 50.6%
+3.5
Dirk Nowitzki 47.1%
3-Point Percentage
LeBron James 34.9%
Dirk Nowitzki 38.0%
+3.1
Free Throw Percentage
LeBron James 73.7%
Dirk Nowitzki 87.9%
+14.2

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, LeBron James has better averages in points, assists, steals and blocks while Dirk Nowitzki has better average in rebounds.

Who has higher averages in the Playoffs?

- LeBron James has better averages in points (+3.1), field goals made (+1.8), 3-pointers made (+0.6), assists (+4.7), steals (+0.7) and blocks (+0.1)
- Dirk Nowitzki has better averages in free throws made (+1.0), defensive rebounds (+1.0) and total rebounds (+1.0)
- LeBron James has higher (worst) average in turnovers (+1.3)
- Dirk Nowitzki has higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.5)
- LeBron James has higher averages in field goals attempted (+2.3), 3-pointers attempted (+2.1) and free throws attempted (+0.3)
-

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
LeBron James 28.4
+3.1
Dirk Nowitzki 25.3
Field Goals Made
LeBron James 10.2
+1.8
Dirk Nowitzki 8.4
Field Goals Attempted
LeBron James 20.5
+2.3
Dirk Nowitzki 18.2
3-Pointers Made
LeBron James 1.6
+0.6
Dirk Nowitzki 1.0
3-Pointers Attempted
LeBron James 4.9
+2.1
Dirk Nowitzki 2.8
Free Throws Made
LeBron James 6.4
Dirk Nowitzki 7.4
+1.0
Free Throws Attempted
LeBron James 8.6
+0.3
Dirk Nowitzki 8.3
Offensive Rebounds
LeBron James 1.5
Dirk Nowitzki 1.5
Defensive Rebounds
LeBron James 7.5
Dirk Nowitzki 8.5
+1.0
Total Rebounds
LeBron James 9.0
Dirk Nowitzki 10.0
+1.0
Assists
LeBron James 7.2
+4.7
Dirk Nowitzki 2.5
Steals
LeBron James 1.7
+0.7
Dirk Nowitzki 1.0
Blocks
LeBron James 1.0
+0.1
Dirk Nowitzki 0.9
Turnovers
(lower is better)
LeBron James 3.6
+1.3
Dirk Nowitzki 2.3
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
LeBron James 2.3
Dirk Nowitzki 2.8
+0.5

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, LeBron James has more total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks than Dirk Nowitzki.

Who has more total stats in the Playoffs?

- LeBron James played more years (+3) and games (+147), and has more points (+4,626), field goals made (+1,751), 3-pointers made (+331), free throws made (+793), offensive rebounds (+230), defensive rebounds (+952), total rebounds (+1,182), assists (+1,735), steals (+344) and blocks (+155)
-
- LeBron James has more turnovers (+719) and personal fouls (+256)
-
- LeBron James has more field goals attempted (+3,342), 3-pointers attempted (+1,035) and free throws attempted (+1,315)
-

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
LeBron James 18
+3
Dirk Nowitzki 15
Games
LeBron James 292
+147
Dirk Nowitzki 145
Points
LeBron James 8,289
+4,626
Dirk Nowitzki 3,663
Field Goals Made
LeBron James 2,971
+1,751
Dirk Nowitzki 1,220
Field Goals Attempted
LeBron James 5,984
+3,342
Dirk Nowitzki 2,642
3-Pointers Made
LeBron James 480
+331
Dirk Nowitzki 149
3-Pointers Attempted
LeBron James 1,443
+1,035
Dirk Nowitzki 408
Free Throws Made
LeBron James 1,867
+793
Dirk Nowitzki 1,074
Free Throws Attempted
LeBron James 2,519
+1,315
Dirk Nowitzki 1,204
Offensive Rebounds
LeBron James 442
+230
Dirk Nowitzki 212
Defensive Rebounds
LeBron James 2,186
+952
Dirk Nowitzki 1,234
Total Rebounds
LeBron James 2,628
+1,182
Dirk Nowitzki 1,446
Assists
LeBron James 2,095
+1,735
Dirk Nowitzki 360
Steals
LeBron James 493
+344
Dirk Nowitzki 149
Blocks
LeBron James 284
+155
Dirk Nowitzki 129
Turnovers
(lower is better)
LeBron James 1,047
+719
Dirk Nowitzki 328
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
LeBron James 663
+256
Dirk Nowitzki 407

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Dirk Nowitzki has better 3-point percentage and free throw percentage while LeBron James has better field goal percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
LeBron James 49.6%
+3.4
Dirk Nowitzki 46.2%
3-Point Percentage
LeBron James 33.3%
Dirk Nowitzki 36.5%
+3.2
Free Throw Percentage
LeBron James 74.1%
Dirk Nowitzki 89.2%
+15.1
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