Jerry Bird vs. Karl Malone Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Karl Malone and Jerry Bird 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

Jerry Bird

vs.

Karl Malone

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Jerry Bird: 1958-59 to 1958-59
Karl Malone: 1985-86 to 2003-04

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Jerry Bird 0 Karl Malone 0

NBA Seasons Jerry Bird 1 Karl Malone 19

Playoffs Played Jerry Bird 0 Karl Malone 19

All-Star Games Jerry Bird 0 Karl Malone 14

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Jerry Bird 0 Karl Malone 2

All-NBA First Team Jerry Bird 0 Karl Malone 11

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Jerry Bird 0 Karl Malone 14

All-Defensive 1st Team Jerry Bird 0 * Karl Malone 3

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Jerry Bird 0 Karl Malone 4

* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Jerry Bird 2.3 Karl Malone 25.0

Rebounds Per Game Jerry Bird 1.1 Karl Malone 10.1

Assists Per Game Jerry Bird 0.4 Karl Malone 3.6

Steals Per Game Jerry Bird - n/a ** Karl Malone 1.4

Blocks Per Game Jerry Bird - n/a ** Karl Malone 0.8

Totals Stats

Total Points Jerry Bird 25 Karl Malone 36,928

Total Rebounds Jerry Bird 12 Karl Malone 14,968

Total Assists Jerry Bird 4 Karl Malone 5,248

Total Steals Jerry Bird - n/a ** Karl Malone 2,085

Total Blocks Jerry Bird - n/a ** Karl Malone 1,145

Total Games Jerry Bird 11 Karl Malone 1,476

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Jerry Bird .375 Karl Malone .516

3-Point Percentage Jerry Bird - n/a ** Karl Malone .274

Free Throw Percentage Jerry Bird 1.000 Karl Malone .742

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Jerry Bird 2.3 (1959) Karl Malone 31.0 (1990)

Rebounds Per Game Jerry Bird 1.1 (1959) Karl Malone 12.0 (1988)

Assists Per Game Jerry Bird 0.4 (1959) Karl Malone 4.7 (2003)

Steals Per Game Jerry Bird - n/a ** Karl Malone 1.9 (2002)

Blocks Per Game Jerry Bird - n/a ** Karl Malone 1.5 (1994)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Jerry Bird - Karl Malone 24.7

Rebounds Per Game Jerry Bird - Karl Malone 10.7

Assists Per Game Jerry Bird - Karl Malone 3.2

Steals Per Game Jerry Bird - n/a ** Karl Malone 1.3

Blocks Per Game Jerry Bird - n/a ** Karl Malone 0.7

Totals Stats

Total Points Jerry Bird - Karl Malone 4,761

Total Rebounds Jerry Bird - Karl Malone 2,062

Total Assists Jerry Bird - Karl Malone 610

Total Steals Jerry Bird - n/a ** Karl Malone 258

Total Blocks Jerry Bird - n/a ** Karl Malone 135

Total Games Jerry Bird 0 Karl Malone 193

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Jerry Bird - Karl Malone .463

3-Point Percentage Jerry Bird - n/a ** Karl Malone .162

Free Throw Percentage Jerry Bird - Karl Malone .736

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Jerry Bird - Karl Malone 30.7 (1989)

Rebounds Per Game Jerry Bird - Karl Malone 16.3 (1989)

Assists Per Game Jerry Bird - Karl Malone 4.7 (1999)

Steals Per Game Jerry Bird - n/a ** Karl Malone 2.2 (1990)

Blocks Per Game Jerry Bird - n/a ** Karl Malone 1.2 (1991)

Notes: ** Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74, this player has no data for the stat. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat.