Vern Gardner vs. Karl Malone Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Karl Malone and Vern Gardner 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

Vern Gardner

vs.

Karl Malone

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Vern Gardner: 1949-50 to 1951-52
Karl Malone: 1985-86 to 2003-04

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Vern Gardner 0 Karl Malone 0

NBA Seasons Vern Gardner 3 Karl Malone 19

Playoffs Played Vern Gardner 3 Karl Malone 19

All-Star Games Vern Gardner 0 Karl Malone 14

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Vern Gardner 0 * Karl Malone 2

All-NBA First Team Vern Gardner 0 Karl Malone 11

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Vern Gardner 0 Karl Malone 14

All-Defensive 1st Team Vern Gardner 0 * Karl Malone 3

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Vern Gardner 0 Karl Malone 4

* 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 Vern Gardner 8.9 Karl Malone 25.0

Rebounds Per Game Vern Gardner 4.0 * Karl Malone 10.1

Assists Per Game Vern Gardner 1.6 Karl Malone 3.6

Steals Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Karl Malone 1.4

Blocks Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Karl Malone 0.8

Totals Stats

Total Points Vern Gardner 1,339 Karl Malone 36,928

Total Rebounds Vern Gardner 349 * Karl Malone 14,968

Total Assists Vern Gardner 245 Karl Malone 5,248

Total Steals Vern Gardner - n/a ** Karl Malone 2,085

Total Blocks Vern Gardner - n/a ** Karl Malone 1,145

Total Games Vern Gardner 151 Karl Malone 1,476

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Vern Gardner .344 Karl Malone .516

3-Point Percentage Vern Gardner - n/a ** Karl Malone .274

Free Throw Percentage Vern Gardner .748 Karl Malone .742

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Vern Gardner 13.5 (1950) Karl Malone 31.0 (1990)

Rebounds Per Game Vern Gardner 4.1 (1952) * Karl Malone 12.0 (1988)

Assists Per Game Vern Gardner 1.9 (1950) Karl Malone 4.7 (2003)

Steals Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Karl Malone 1.9 (2002)

Blocks Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Karl Malone 1.5 (1994)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Vern Gardner 10.1 Karl Malone 24.7

Rebounds Per Game Vern Gardner 3.6 * Karl Malone 10.7

Assists Per Game Vern Gardner 0.7 Karl Malone 3.2

Steals Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Karl Malone 1.3

Blocks Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Karl Malone 0.7

Totals Stats

Total Points Vern Gardner 71 Karl Malone 4,761

Total Rebounds Vern Gardner 18 * Karl Malone 2,062

Total Assists Vern Gardner 5 Karl Malone 610

Total Steals Vern Gardner - n/a ** Karl Malone 258

Total Blocks Vern Gardner - n/a ** Karl Malone 135

Total Games Vern Gardner 7 Karl Malone 193

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Vern Gardner .366 Karl Malone .463

3-Point Percentage Vern Gardner - n/a ** Karl Malone .162

Free Throw Percentage Vern Gardner .826 Karl Malone .736

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Vern Gardner 18.0 (1950) Karl Malone 30.7 (1989)

Rebounds Per Game Vern Gardner 4.7 (1952) * Karl Malone 16.3 (1989)

Assists Per Game Vern Gardner 1.0 (1952) Karl Malone 4.7 (1999)

Steals Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Karl Malone 2.2 (1990)

Blocks Per Game Vern Gardner - n/a ** Karl Malone 1.2 (1991)

Notes: * Rebounds started to be recorded in 1950-51. Some years in this player's career don't have stats. ** 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.