Karl Malone vs. Dirk Nowitzki Comparison

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

Player comparisons: / /

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

NBA Timeline:
1946-47
2023-24
Karl Malone:
1985-86 to 2003-04
Dirk Nowitzki:
1998-99 to 2018-19

NBA Championships and Seasons

Karl Malone0
Dirk Nowitzki1
Karl Malone19
Dirk Nowitzki21
Karl Malone19
Dirk Nowitzki15
Karl Malone14
Dirk Nowitzki14

Honors and Awards

Karl Malone2
Dirk Nowitzki1
Karl Malone0
Dirk Nowitzki1
Karl Malone11
Dirk Nowitzki4
All-NBA Teams
(Total Selections)
Karl Malone14
Dirk Nowitzki12
Karl Malone3
Dirk Nowitzki0
All-Defensive Teams
(Total Selections)
Karl Malone4
Dirk Nowitzki0

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Karl Malone 25.0
Dirk Nowitzki 20.7

Karl Malone 10.1
Dirk Nowitzki 7.5

Karl Malone 3.6
Dirk Nowitzki 2.4

Karl Malone 1.4
Dirk Nowitzki 0.8

Karl Malone 0.8
Dirk Nowitzki 0.8

Totals Stats

Karl Malone 36,928
Dirk Nowitzki 31,560

Karl Malone 14,968
Dirk Nowitzki 11,489

Karl Malone 5,248
Dirk Nowitzki 3,651

Karl Malone 2,085
Dirk Nowitzki 1,210

Karl Malone 1,145
Dirk Nowitzki 1,281

Karl Malone 1,476
Dirk Nowitzki 1,522

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Karl Malone .516
Dirk Nowitzki .471

3-Point Percentage
Karl Malone .274
Dirk Nowitzki .380

Free Throw Percentage
Karl Malone .742
Dirk Nowitzki .879

Best Season (no game minimum)

Karl Malone 31.0
(1990)
Dirk Nowitzki 26.6
(2006)

Karl Malone 12.0
(1988)
Dirk Nowitzki 9.9
(2002)

Karl Malone 4.7
(2003)
Dirk Nowitzki 3.5
(2008)

Karl Malone 1.9
(2002)
Dirk Nowitzki 1.4
(2003)

Karl Malone 1.5
(1994)
Dirk Nowitzki 1.5
(2005)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Karl Malone 24.7
Dirk Nowitzki 25.3

Karl Malone 10.7
Dirk Nowitzki 10.0

Karl Malone 3.2
Dirk Nowitzki 2.5

Karl Malone 1.3
Dirk Nowitzki 1.0

Karl Malone 0.7
Dirk Nowitzki 0.9

Totals Stats

Karl Malone 4,761
Dirk Nowitzki 3,663

Karl Malone 2,062
Dirk Nowitzki 1,446

Karl Malone 610
Dirk Nowitzki 360

Karl Malone 258
Dirk Nowitzki 149

Karl Malone 135
Dirk Nowitzki 129

Karl Malone 193
Dirk Nowitzki 145

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Karl Malone .463
Dirk Nowitzki .462

3-Point Percentage
Karl Malone .162
Dirk Nowitzki .365

Free Throw Percentage
Karl Malone .736
Dirk Nowitzki .892

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Karl Malone 30.7
(1989)
Dirk Nowitzki 28.4
(2002)

Karl Malone 16.3
(1989)
Dirk Nowitzki 13.1
(2002)

Karl Malone 4.7
(1999)
Dirk Nowitzki 4.0
(2008)

Karl Malone 2.2
(1990)
Dirk Nowitzki 2.0
(2002)

Karl Malone 1.2
(1991)
Dirk Nowitzki 2.6
(2004)