Dennis Johnson vs. Karl Malone Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Karl Malone and Dennis Johnson that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

Dennis Johnson

vs.

Karl Malone

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Dennis Johnson: 1976-77 to 1989-90
Karl Malone: 1985-86 to 2003-04

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Dennis Johnson 3 Karl Malone 0

NBA Seasons Dennis Johnson 14 Karl Malone 19

Playoffs Played Dennis Johnson 13 Karl Malone 19

All-Star Games Dennis Johnson 5 Karl Malone 14

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Dennis Johnson 0 Karl Malone 2

Finals MVP Dennis Johnson 1 Karl Malone 0

All-NBA First Team Dennis Johnson 1 Karl Malone 11

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Dennis Johnson 2 Karl Malone 14

All-Defensive 1st Team Dennis Johnson 6 Karl Malone 3

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Dennis Johnson 9 Karl Malone 4

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Dennis Johnson 14.1 Karl Malone 25.0

Rebounds Per Game Dennis Johnson 3.9 Karl Malone 10.1

Assists Per Game Dennis Johnson 5.0 Karl Malone 3.6

Steals Per Game Dennis Johnson 1.3 Karl Malone 1.4

Blocks Per Game Dennis Johnson 0.6 Karl Malone 0.8

Totals Stats

Total Points Dennis Johnson 15,535 Karl Malone 36,928

Total Rebounds Dennis Johnson 4,249 Karl Malone 14,968

Total Assists Dennis Johnson 5,499 Karl Malone 5,248

Total Steals Dennis Johnson 1,477 Karl Malone 2,085

Total Blocks Dennis Johnson 675 Karl Malone 1,145

Total Games Dennis Johnson 1,100 Karl Malone 1,476

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Dennis Johnson .445 Karl Malone .516

3-Point Percentage Dennis Johnson .172 * Karl Malone .274

Free Throw Percentage Dennis Johnson .797 Karl Malone .742

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Dennis Johnson 19.5 (1982) Karl Malone 31.0 (1990)

Rebounds Per Game Dennis Johnson 5.1 (1982) Karl Malone 12.0 (1988)

Assists Per Game Dennis Johnson 7.8 (1988) Karl Malone 4.7 (2003)

Steals Per Game Dennis Johnson 1.8 (1980) Karl Malone 1.9 (2002)

Blocks Per Game Dennis Johnson 1.2 (1979) Karl Malone 1.5 (1994)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Dennis Johnson 17.3 Karl Malone 24.7

Rebounds Per Game Dennis Johnson 4.3 Karl Malone 10.7

Assists Per Game Dennis Johnson 5.6 Karl Malone 3.2

Steals Per Game Dennis Johnson 1.4 Karl Malone 1.3

Blocks Per Game Dennis Johnson 0.6 Karl Malone 0.7

Totals Stats

Total Points Dennis Johnson 3,116 Karl Malone 4,761

Total Rebounds Dennis Johnson 781 Karl Malone 2,062

Total Assists Dennis Johnson 1,006 Karl Malone 610

Total Steals Dennis Johnson 247 Karl Malone 258

Total Blocks Dennis Johnson 113 Karl Malone 135

Total Games Dennis Johnson 180 Karl Malone 193

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Dennis Johnson .439 Karl Malone .463

3-Point Percentage Dennis Johnson .239 * Karl Malone .162

Free Throw Percentage Dennis Johnson .802 Karl Malone .736

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Dennis Johnson 22.3 (1982) Karl Malone 30.7 (1989)

Rebounds Per Game Dennis Johnson 7.7 (1983) Karl Malone 16.3 (1989)

Assists Per Game Dennis Johnson 8.9 (1987) Karl Malone 4.7 (1999)

Steals Per Game Dennis Johnson 2.2 (1986) Karl Malone 2.2 (1990)

Blocks Per Game Dennis Johnson 1.5 (1979) Karl Malone 1.2 (1991)

Notes: * Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80. Some years in this player's career don't have stats.