Karl Malone vs. Mel Thurston Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Mel Thurston 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 Thurston

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Karl Malone: 1985-86 to 2003-04
Mel Thurston: 1947-48 to 1947-48

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Karl Malone 0 Mel Thurston 0

NBA Seasons Karl Malone 19 Mel Thurston 1

Playoffs Played Karl Malone 19 Mel Thurston 0

All-Star Games Karl Malone 14 Mel Thurston 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Karl Malone 2 Mel Thurston 0 *

All-NBA First Team Karl Malone 11 Mel Thurston 0

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

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

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Karl Malone 4 Mel Thurston 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 Thurston 5.6

Rebounds Per Game Karl Malone 10.1 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Karl Malone 3.6 Mel Thurston 0.3

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

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

Totals Stats

Total Points Karl Malone 36,928 Mel Thurston 78

Total Rebounds Karl Malone 14,968 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists Karl Malone 5,248 Mel Thurston 4

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

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

Total Games Karl Malone 1,476 Mel Thurston 14

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Karl Malone .516 Mel Thurston .283

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

Free Throw Percentage Karl Malone .742 Mel Thurston .500

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Karl Malone 31.0 (1990) Mel Thurston 5.6 (1948)

Rebounds Per Game Karl Malone 12.0 (1988) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Karl Malone 4.7 (2003) Mel Thurston 0.3 (1948)

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

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

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Karl Malone 24.7 Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game Karl Malone 10.7 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Karl Malone 3.2 Mel Thurston -

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

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

Totals Stats

Total Points Karl Malone 4,761 Mel Thurston -

Total Rebounds Karl Malone 2,062 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists Karl Malone 610 Mel Thurston -

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

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

Total Games Karl Malone 193 Mel Thurston 0

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Karl Malone .463 Mel Thurston -

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

Free Throw Percentage Karl Malone .736 Mel Thurston -

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Karl Malone 30.7 (1989) Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game Karl Malone 16.3 (1989) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Karl Malone 4.7 (1999) Mel Thurston -

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

Blocks Per Game Karl Malone 1.2 (1991) Mel Thurston - 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. Rebounds started to be recorded in 1950-51, this player has no data for the stat.