Karl Malone vs. Mel Payton Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Mel Payton and Karl Malone 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

Karl Malone

vs.

Mel Payton

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Karl Malone: 1985-86 to 2003-04
Mel Payton: 1951-52 to 1952-53

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Karl Malone 0 Mel Payton 0

NBA Seasons Karl Malone 19 Mel Payton 2

Playoffs Played Karl Malone 19 Mel Payton 2

All-Star Games Karl Malone 14 Mel Payton 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Karl Malone 2 Mel Payton 0 *

All-NBA First Team Karl Malone 11 Mel Payton 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Karl Malone 14 Mel Payton 0

All-Defensive 1st Team Karl Malone 3 Mel Payton 0 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Karl Malone 4 Mel Payton 0

* Notes: Season MVP is awarded since 1955-56. Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Karl Malone 25.0 Mel Payton 5.4

Rebounds Per Game Karl Malone 10.1 Mel Payton 3.6

Assists Per Game Karl Malone 3.6 Mel Payton 1.1

Steals Per Game Karl Malone 1.4 Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Karl Malone 0.8 Mel Payton - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Karl Malone 36,928 Mel Payton 595

Total Rebounds Karl Malone 14,968 Mel Payton 396

Total Assists Karl Malone 5,248 Mel Payton 126

Total Steals Karl Malone 2,085 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Blocks Karl Malone 1,145 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Games Karl Malone 1,476 Mel Payton 111

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Karl Malone .516 Mel Payton .363

3-Point Percentage Karl Malone .274 Mel Payton - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Karl Malone .742 Mel Payton .746

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Karl Malone 31.0 (1990) Mel Payton 7.1 (1953)

Rebounds Per Game Karl Malone 12.0 (1988) Mel Payton 4.7 (1953)

Assists Per Game Karl Malone 4.7 (2003) Mel Payton 1.2 (1953)

Steals Per Game Karl Malone 1.9 (2002) Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Karl Malone 1.5 (1994) Mel Payton - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Karl Malone 24.7 Mel Payton 5.0

Rebounds Per Game Karl Malone 10.7 Mel Payton 1.8

Assists Per Game Karl Malone 3.2 Mel Payton 0.2

Steals Per Game Karl Malone 1.3 Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Karl Malone 0.7 Mel Payton - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Karl Malone 4,761 Mel Payton 25

Total Rebounds Karl Malone 2,062 Mel Payton 9

Total Assists Karl Malone 610 Mel Payton 1

Total Steals Karl Malone 258 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Blocks Karl Malone 135 Mel Payton - n/a **

Total Games Karl Malone 193 Mel Payton 5

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Karl Malone .463 Mel Payton .421

3-Point Percentage Karl Malone .162 Mel Payton - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Karl Malone .736 Mel Payton .900

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Karl Malone 30.7 (1989) Mel Payton 10.5 (1953)

Rebounds Per Game Karl Malone 16.3 (1989) Mel Payton 3.0 (1953)

Assists Per Game Karl Malone 4.7 (1999) Mel Payton 0.3 (1952)

Steals Per Game Karl Malone 2.2 (1990) Mel Payton - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Karl Malone 1.2 (1991) Mel Payton - n/a **

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.