Complete Stats Comparison of Shaquille O'Neal and Gary Payton

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Shaquille O'Neal 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.

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
Shaquille O'Neal3
(points, rebounds, blocks)
3
(points, rebounds, blocks)
19
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
Shaquille O'Neal3
(points, rebounds, blocks)
3
(points, rebounds, blocks)
17
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
Shaquille O'Neal7
stats
8
stats
1
stat
Gary Payton5
stats
6
stats
2
stats
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Shaquille O'Neal7
stats
9
stats
1
stat
Gary Payton5
stats
5
stats
2
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, out of the five main statistical categories, Shaquille O'Neal 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?

- Shaquille O'Neal had better averages in points (+7.4), field goals made (+2.9), free throws made (+2.5), offensive rebounds (+2.5), defensive rebounds (+4.5), total rebounds (+7.0) and blocks (+2.1)
- Gary Payton had better averages in 3-pointers made (+0.8), assists (+4.2) and steals (+1.2)
- Shaquille O'Neal had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+0.4) and personal fouls (+1.0)
-
- Shaquille O'Neal had higher averages in field goals attempted (+2.1) and free throws attempted (+5.9)
- Gary Payton had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+2.7)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Shaquille O'Neal 23.7
+7.4
Gary Payton 16.3
Field Goals Made
Shaquille O'Neal 9.4
+2.9
Gary Payton 6.5
Field Goals Attempted
Shaquille O'Neal 16.1
+2.1
Gary Payton 14.0
Shaquille O'Neal 0.0
Gary Payton 0.8
+0.8
3-Pointers Attempted
Shaquille O'Neal 0.0
Gary Payton 2.7
+2.7
Free Throws Made
Shaquille O'Neal 4.9
+2.5
Gary Payton 2.4
Free Throws Attempted
Shaquille O'Neal 9.3
+5.9
Gary Payton 3.4
Offensive Rebounds
Shaquille O'Neal 3.5
+2.5
Gary Payton 1.0
Defensive Rebounds
Shaquille O'Neal 7.4
+4.5
Gary Payton 2.9
Shaquille O'Neal 10.9
+7.0
Gary Payton 3.9
Shaquille O'Neal 2.5
Gary Payton 6.7
+4.2
Shaquille O'Neal 0.6
Gary Payton 1.8
+1.2
Shaquille O'Neal 2.3
+2.1
Gary Payton 0.2
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Shaquille O'Neal 2.7
+0.4
Gary Payton 2.3
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Shaquille O'Neal 3.4
+1.0
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, Shaquille O'Neal 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?

- Shaquille O'Neal played more years (+2) and had more points (+6,783), field goals made (+2,622), free throws made (+2,670), offensive rebounds (+2,817), defensive rebounds (+5,013), total rebounds (+7,830) and blocks (+2,447)
- Gary Payton played more games (+128) and had more 3-pointers made (+1,131), assists (+5,940) and steals (+1,706)
- Shaquille O'Neal had more turnovers (+280) and personal fouls (+929)
-
- Shaquille O'Neal had more field goals attempted (+759) and free throws attempted (+6,772)
- Gary Payton had more 3-pointers attempted (+3,548)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Shaquille O'Neal 19
+2
Gary Payton 17
Shaquille O'Neal 1,207
Gary Payton 1,335
+128
Shaquille O'Neal 28,596
+6,783
Gary Payton 21,813
Field Goals Made
Shaquille O'Neal 11,330
+2,622
Gary Payton 8,708
Field Goals Attempted
Shaquille O'Neal 19,457
+759
Gary Payton 18,698
Shaquille O'Neal 1
Gary Payton 1,132
+1,131
3-Pointers Attempted
Shaquille O'Neal 22
Gary Payton 3,570
+3,548
Free Throws Made
Shaquille O'Neal 5,935
+2,670
Gary Payton 3,265
Free Throws Attempted
Shaquille O'Neal 11,252
+6,772
Gary Payton 4,480
Offensive Rebounds
Shaquille O'Neal 4,209
+2,817
Gary Payton 1,392
Defensive Rebounds
Shaquille O'Neal 8,890
+5,013
Gary Payton 3,877
Shaquille O'Neal 13,099
+7,830
Gary Payton 5,269
Shaquille O'Neal 3,026
Gary Payton 8,966
+5,940
Shaquille O'Neal 739
Gary Payton 2,445
+1,706
Shaquille O'Neal 2,732
+2,447
Gary Payton 285
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Shaquille O'Neal 3,310
+280
Gary Payton 3,030
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Shaquille O'Neal 4,146
+929
Gary Payton 3,217

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Gary Payton had better 3-point percentage and free throw percentage while Shaquille O'Neal had better field goal percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Shaquille O'Neal 58.2%
+11.6
Gary Payton 46.6%
3-Point Percentage
Shaquille O'Neal 4.5%
Gary Payton 31.7%
+27.2
Free Throw Percentage
Shaquille O'Neal 52.7%
Gary Payton 72.9%
+20.2

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Shaquille O'Neal 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?

- Shaquille O'Neal had better averages in points (+10.3), field goals made (+3.8), free throws made (+3.4), offensive rebounds (+3.0), defensive rebounds (+4.8), total rebounds (+7.9) and blocks (+1.9)
- Gary Payton had better averages in 3-pointers made (+0.9), assists (+2.6) and steals (+0.9)
- Shaquille O'Neal had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+1.1) and personal fouls (+0.8)
-
- Shaquille O'Neal had higher averages in field goals attempted (+4.2) and free throws attempted (+7.9)
- Gary Payton had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+2.8)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Shaquille O'Neal 24.3
+10.3
Gary Payton 14.0
Field Goals Made
Shaquille O'Neal 9.4
+3.8
Gary Payton 5.6
Field Goals Attempted
Shaquille O'Neal 16.8
+4.2
Gary Payton 12.6
Shaquille O'Neal 0.0
Gary Payton 0.9
+0.9
3-Pointers Attempted
Shaquille O'Neal 0.0
Gary Payton 2.8
+2.8
Free Throws Made
Shaquille O'Neal 5.4
+3.4
Gary Payton 2.0
Free Throws Attempted
Shaquille O'Neal 10.7
+7.9
Gary Payton 2.8
Offensive Rebounds
Shaquille O'Neal 4.0
+3.0
Gary Payton 1.0
Defensive Rebounds
Shaquille O'Neal 7.6
+4.8
Gary Payton 2.8
Shaquille O'Neal 11.6
+7.9
Gary Payton 3.7
Shaquille O'Neal 2.7
Gary Payton 5.3
+2.6
Shaquille O'Neal 0.5
Gary Payton 1.4
+0.9
Shaquille O'Neal 2.1
+1.9
Gary Payton 0.2
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Shaquille O'Neal 3.0
+1.1
Gary Payton 1.9
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Shaquille O'Neal 3.6
+0.8
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, Shaquille O'Neal had more total points, rebounds and blocks while Gary Payton had more total assists and steals.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Shaquille O'Neal played more years (+2) and games (+62), and had more points (+3,095), field goals made (+1,186), free throws made (+860), offensive rebounds (+718), defensive rebounds (+1,215), total rebounds (+1,933) and blocks (+427)
- Gary Payton had more 3-pointers made (+137), assists (+229) and steals (+99)
- Shaquille O'Neal had more turnovers (+352) and personal fouls (+335)
-
- Shaquille O'Neal had more field goals attempted (+1,689) and free throws attempted (+1,881)
- Gary Payton had more 3-pointers attempted (+435)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Shaquille O'Neal 17
+2
Gary Payton 15
Shaquille O'Neal 216
+62
Gary Payton 154
Shaquille O'Neal 5,250
+3,095
Gary Payton 2,155
Field Goals Made
Shaquille O'Neal 2,041
+1,186
Gary Payton 855
Field Goals Attempted
Shaquille O'Neal 3,627
+1,689
Gary Payton 1,938
Shaquille O'Neal 0
Gary Payton 137
+137
3-Pointers Attempted
Shaquille O'Neal 0
Gary Payton 435
+435
Free Throws Made
Shaquille O'Neal 1,168
+860
Gary Payton 308
Free Throws Attempted
Shaquille O'Neal 2,317
+1,881
Gary Payton 436
Offensive Rebounds
Shaquille O'Neal 866
+718
Gary Payton 148
Defensive Rebounds
Shaquille O'Neal 1,642
+1,215
Gary Payton 427
Shaquille O'Neal 2,508
+1,933
Gary Payton 575
Shaquille O'Neal 582
Gary Payton 811
+229
Shaquille O'Neal 117
Gary Payton 216
+99
Shaquille O'Neal 459
+427
Gary Payton 32
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Shaquille O'Neal 649
+352
Gary Payton 297
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Shaquille O'Neal 769
+335
Gary Payton 434

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Gary Payton had better 3-point percentage and free throw percentage while Shaquille O'Neal had better field goal percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Shaquille O'Neal 56.3%
+12.2
Gary Payton 44.1%
3-Point Percentage
Shaquille O'Neal 0%
Gary Payton 31.5%
+31.5
Free Throw Percentage
Shaquille O'Neal 50.4%
Gary Payton 70.6%
+20.2