Artis Gilmore vs. Karl-Anthony Towns Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Karl-Anthony Towns and Artis Gilmore, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Artis Gilmore played 12 years in the NBA, 3 more than Karl-Anthony Towns, who played 9. Artis Gilmore had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Karl-Anthony Towns had his rookie season in 2015-16. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Artis Gilmore 12 6 1976-77 to 1987-88
Karl-Anthony Towns 9 4 2015-16 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

Artis Gilmore Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1976-772015-16
Team Chicago BullsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Bulls Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 82 35.1 18.6 3.8 9.2 13.0 2.4 0.5 2.5 - 3.2 7.0 13.3 .522 - - - 4.7 7.1 .660
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 32.0 18.3 2.8 7.7 10.5 2.0 0.7 1.7 2.2 3.0 7.6 14.1 .542 0.4 1.1 .341 2.7 3.4 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 3 42.0 18.7 5.0 8.0 13.0 2.0 1.0 2.7 - 3.0 6.3 13.3 .475 - - - 6.0 7.7 .783
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Artis Gilmore Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1977-782016-17
Team Chicago BullsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 82 37.4 22.9 3.9 9.2 13.1 3.2 0.5 2.2 4.5 3.2 8.6 15.4 .559 - - - 5.7 8.2 .704
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 37.0 25.1 3.6 8.7 12.3 2.7 0.7 1.3 2.6 2.9 9.8 18.0 .542 1.2 3.4 .367 4.3 5.2 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Artis Gilmore Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1978-792017-18
Team Chicago BullsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 82 39.8 23.7 3.6 9.1 12.7 3.3 0.6 1.9 3.8 3.4 9.2 16.0 .575 - - - 5.3 7.2 .739
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 35.6 21.3 2.9 9.4 12.3 2.4 0.8 1.4 1.9 3.5 7.8 14.3 .545 1.5 3.5 .421 4.2 4.9 .858
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns 5 34.0 15.2 3.0 10.4 13.4 2.2 0.4 1.0 2.4 2.8 5.6 12.0 .467 0.6 2.2 .273 3.4 4.6 .739

Season 4

Artis Gilmore Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1979-802018-19
Team Chicago BullsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 48 32.7 17.8 2.3 6.8 9.0 2.8 0.6 1.2 2.8 3.5 6.4 10.7 .595 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 7.2 .712
Karl-Anthony Towns 77 33.1 24.4 3.4 9.0 12.4 3.4 0.9 1.6 3.1 3.8 8.8 17.1 .518 1.8 4.6 .400 4.9 5.8 .836
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Artis Gilmore Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1980-812019-20
Team Chicago BullsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 82 34.5 17.9 2.7 7.4 10.1 2.1 0.6 2.4 2.9 3.6 6.7 10.0 .670 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 6.5 .705
Karl-Anthony Towns 35 33.9 26.5 2.7 8.1 10.8 4.4 0.9 1.2 3.1 3.3 9.0 17.8 .508 3.3 7.9 .412 5.1 6.5 .796
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 6 41.2 18.0 4.0 7.2 11.2 2.0 1.0 2.8 2.8 2.5 5.8 10.0 .583 0.0 0.0 - 6.3 9.2 .691
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Artis Gilmore Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1981-822020-21
Team Chicago BullsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 82 34.1 18.5 2.7 7.5 10.2 1.7 0.6 2.7 2.8 3.5 6.7 10.2 .652 0.0 0.0 1.000 5.2 6.7 .768
Karl-Anthony Towns 50 33.8 24.8 2.7 7.9 10.6 4.5 0.8 1.1 3.2 3.7 8.5 17.5 .486 2.4 6.3 .387 5.3 6.2 .859
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Artis Gilmore Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1982-832021-22
Team San Antonio SpursMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 82 34.1 18.0 3.6 8.4 12.0 1.5 0.5 2.3 3.1 3.3 6.8 10.8 .626 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 6.0 .740
Karl-Anthony Towns 74 33.5 24.6 2.6 7.2 9.8 3.6 1.0 1.1 3.1 3.6 8.7 16.4 .529 2.0 4.9 .410 5.2 6.3 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 11 36.5 16.7 3.4 9.5 12.9 1.6 0.8 3.1 2.5 4.2 6.9 12.0 .576 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.2 .696
Karl-Anthony Towns 6 37.0 21.8 1.8 9.0 10.8 2.2 0.7 2.0 4.5 4.2 6.5 13.3 .488 1.7 3.7 .455 7.2 8.3 .860

Season 8

Artis Gilmore Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1983-842022-23
Team San Antonio SpursMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 64 31.8 15.3 3.3 7.0 10.3 1.1 0.6 2.1 2.3 3.6 5.5 8.7 .631 0.0 0.0 .000 4.4 6.1 .718
Karl-Anthony Towns 29 33.0 20.8 1.7 6.5 8.1 4.8 0.7 0.6 3.0 3.8 7.3 14.8 .495 2.1 5.7 .366 4.1 4.7 .874
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns 5 36.0 18.2 1.2 9.0 10.2 2.0 0.6 0.8 3.6 4.2 6.4 14.0 .457 1.2 4.8 .250 4.2 5.6 .750

Season 9

Artis Gilmore Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1984-852023-24
Team San Antonio SpursMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdTimberwolves TBD
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 81 34.0 19.1 2.9 7.6 10.4 1.6 0.5 2.1 3.0 3.8 6.6 10.5 .623 0.0 0.0 .000 6.0 8.0 .749
Karl-Anthony Towns 62 32.7 21.8 1.5 6.8 8.3 3.0 0.7 0.7 2.9 3.3 7.7 15.3 .504 2.2 5.3 .416 4.1 4.7 .873
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 5 37.0 17.8 2.0 8.0 10.0 1.4 0.4 1.4 4.6 3.6 5.8 10.4 .558 0.0 0.0 - 6.2 9.0 .689
Karl-Anthony Towns 7 30.3 19.7 1.4 7.0 8.4 2.4 0.4 0.3 1.9 4.0 6.9 12.0 .571 2.6 4.4 .581 3.4 4.0 .857

Season 10

Artis Gilmore Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1985-86-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 71 33.7 16.7 2.3 6.1 8.5 1.4 0.5 1.5 2.6 3.4 6.0 9.6 .618 0.0 0.0 .000 4.8 6.8 .701
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 3 35.7 13.3 2.3 3.7 6.0 1.0 2.3 0.3 3.3 3.7 5.3 8.0 .667 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 4.7 .571
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Artis Gilmore Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1986-87-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 82 29.3 11.4 2.3 4.8 7.1 1.8 0.5 1.2 2.2 2.9 4.2 7.1 .597 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.3 .680
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Artis Gilmore Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1987-88-
Team Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 71 12.6 3.7 1.0 2.0 3.0 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.9 2.1 1.4 2.5 .547 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.8 .523
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Artis Gilmore 14 6.1 1.1 0.3 1.1 1.4 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.0 0.3 0.6 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.0 .500
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------