Bernard King vs. Karl Malone Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Karl Malone and Bernard King, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Stats / Stats Rankings / Games against each other

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Bernard King played 14 years in the NBA, 5 less than Karl Malone, who played 19. Bernard King had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Karl Malone had his rookie season in 1985-86. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achievements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Bernard King 14 5 1977-78 to 1992-93
Karl Malone 19 19 1985-86 to 2003-04

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Bernard King Karl Malone
Season 1977-781985-86
Team New Jersey NetsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 79 39.1 24.2 3.4 6.2 9.5 2.4 1.5 0.5 3.9 3.8 10.1 21.1 .479 - - - 4.0 5.8 .677
difference:+2+8.5+9.3+1.3+0.5+0.6+0.5+0.2-0.5-0.2+3.9+8.6+.017+1.6+0.8+.196
Karl Malone 81 30.6 14.9 2.1 6.7 8.9 2.9 1.3 0.5 3.4 3.6 6.2 12.5 .496 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 5.0 .481
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
Karl Malone 4 36.0 21.8 1.5 6.0 7.5 1.0 2.0 0.0 1.5 4.5 9.5 18.0 .528 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 6.5 .423

Season 2

Bernard King Karl Malone
Season 1978-791986-87
Team New Jersey NetsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdJazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 82 34.9 21.6 3.1 5.1 8.2 3.6 1.4 0.5 3.9 4.0 8.7 16.6 .522 - - - 4.3 7.5 .564
difference:+0.1+0.1+0.3+1.9+2.2+1.7+0.1+0.2-1.0-0.1+0.2+0.7+.010+0.4+0.9+.034
Karl Malone 82 34.8 21.7 3.4 7.0 10.4 1.9 1.3 0.7 2.9 3.9 8.9 17.3 .512 0.0 0.1 .000 3.9 6.6 .598
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 2 40.5 26.0 2.5 3.0 5.5 3.5 2.0 0.0 3.0 5.0 10.5 21.0 .500 - - - 5.0 12.0 .417
difference:+3+0.5+6.0+0.5+3.6+4.1+2.3+0.2+0.8-0.4-1.0+3.1+3.4+.080+0.2+4.8+.305
Karl Malone 5 40.0 20.0 3.0 6.6 9.6 1.2 2.2 0.8 3.4 4.0 7.4 17.6 .420 0.0 0.0 - 5.2 7.2 .722

Season 3

Bernard King Karl Malone
Season 1979-801987-88
Team Utah JazzUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 19 22.1 9.3 1.3 3.4 4.6 2.7 0.4 0.2 2.6 3.5 3.7 7.2 .518 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.3 .540
difference:+63+16.9+18.4+2.1+5.2+7.4+0.3+1.0+0.4-1.4-0.1+6.8+12.9+.002+0.1+4.9+6.3+.160
Karl Malone 82 39.0 27.7 3.4 8.6 12.0 2.4 1.4 0.6 4.0 3.6 10.5 20.1 .520 0.0 0.1 .000 6.7 9.6 .700
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
Karl Malone 11 44.9 29.7 3.0 8.8 11.8 1.5 1.2 0.6 3.5 3.2 11.2 23.2 .482 0.0 0.1 .000 7.4 10.2 .723

Season 4

Bernard King Karl Malone
Season 1980-811988-89
Team Golden State WarriorsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 81 36.0 21.9 2.2 4.6 6.8 3.5 0.9 0.4 3.3 3.8 9.0 15.4 .588 0.0 0.1 .333 3.8 5.4 .703
difference:+1+3.1+7.2+1.0+2.8+3.9+0.8+0.9+0.5-0.3-0.2+1.1+4.1+.069+0.1+0.1+.020+5.0+6.1+.063
Karl Malone 80 39.1 29.1 3.2 7.4 10.7 2.7 1.8 0.9 3.6 3.6 10.1 19.5 .519 0.1 0.2 .313 8.8 11.5 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
Karl Malone 3 45.3 30.7 7.3 9.0 16.3 1.3 1.0 0.3 4.3 5.3 11.0 22.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 8.7 10.7 .813

Season 5

Bernard King Karl Malone
Season 1981-821989-90
Team Golden State WarriorsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 79 36.2 23.2 1.8 4.2 5.9 3.6 1.0 0.3 3.4 3.6 9.4 16.5 .566 0.0 0.1 .200 4.5 6.3 .705
difference:+3+1.9+7.8+1.0+4.1+5.2+0.8+0.5+0.3-0.3-0.4+1.7+3.3+.004+0.2+0.4+.172+4.0+4.8+.057
Karl Malone 82 38.1 31.0 2.8 8.3 11.1 2.8 1.5 0.6 3.7 3.2 11.1 19.8 .562 0.2 0.5 .372 8.5 11.1 .762
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
Karl Malone 5 40.6 25.2 3.2 7.0 10.2 2.2 2.2 1.0 2.4 4.4 9.2 21.0 .438 0.0 0.2 .000 6.8 9.0 .756

Season 6

Bernard King Karl Malone
Season 1982-831990-91
Team New York KnicksUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisJazz Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 68 32.5 21.9 1.5 3.3 4.8 2.9 1.3 0.2 2.9 3.4 8.9 16.8 .528 0.0 0.1 .000 4.1 5.7 .722
difference:+14+7.8+7.1+1.4+5.6+7.0+0.4+0.2+0.8-0.1-0.1+1.4+2.8+.001+0.1+.286+4.2+5.1+.048
Karl Malone 82 40.3 29.0 2.9 8.9 11.8 3.3 1.1 1.0 3.0 3.3 10.3 19.6 .527 0.0 0.2 .286 8.3 10.8 .770
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 6 30.7 23.5 1.3 2.7 4.0 2.2 0.3 0.0 1.7 2.7 9.3 16.2 .577 0.2 0.5 .333 4.7 5.8 .800
difference:+3+11.9+6.2+1.3+8.1+9.3+1.0+0.7+1.2-1.2-1.2+1.3+7.0+.122+0.2+0.4+.333+3.9+4.3+.046
Karl Malone 9 42.6 29.7 2.6 10.8 13.3 3.2 1.0 1.2 2.9 3.9 10.6 23.2 .455 0.0 0.9 .000 8.6 10.1 .846

Season 7

Bernard King Karl Malone
Season 1983-841991-92
Team New York KnicksUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisJazz Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 77 34.6 26.3 1.6 3.5 5.1 2.1 1.0 0.2 2.6 3.5 10.3 18.1 .572 0.0 0.1 .000 5.7 7.3 .779
difference:+4+3.1+1.7+1.2+4.9+6.1+0.9+0.3+0.4-0.5-0.7+0.4+0.6+.046+0.1+.176+2.6+3.4+.001
Karl Malone 81 37.7 28.0 2.8 8.4 11.2 3.0 1.3 0.6 3.1 2.8 9.9 18.7 .526 0.0 0.2 .176 8.3 10.7 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 12 39.8 34.8 2.3 3.8 6.2 3.0 1.2 0.5 2.6 4.0 13.5 23.5 .574 0.0 0.1 .000 7.8 10.3 .756
difference:+4+3.2+5.7+0.4+4.8+5.1+0.4+0.2+0.7-0.3-0.4+4.2+5.7+.053+2.8+2.8+.049
Karl Malone 16 43.0 29.1 2.7 8.6 11.3 2.6 1.4 1.2 2.9 3.6 9.3 17.8 .521 0.0 0.1 .000 10.6 13.1 .805

Season 8

Bernard King Karl Malone
Season 1984-851992-93
Team New York KnicksUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 55 37.5 32.9 2.1 3.7 5.8 3.7 1.3 0.3 3.7 3.5 12.6 23.7 .530 0.0 0.2 .100 7.7 10.0 .772
difference:+27+0.3+5.9+0.7+4.7+5.4+0.1+0.2+0.7-0.8-0.3+2.9+6.1+.022+.100+0.2+0.2+.032
Karl Malone 82 37.8 27.0 2.8 8.4 11.2 3.8 1.5 1.0 2.9 3.2 9.7 17.6 .552 0.0 0.2 .200 7.5 10.2 .740
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
Karl Malone 5 43.2 24.0 2.4 8.0 10.4 2.0 1.2 0.4 4.0 4.2 8.8 19.4 .454 0.2 0.4 .500 6.2 7.6 .816

Note: Bernard King didn't play in 1985-86.

Season 9

Bernard King Karl Malone
Season 1986-871993-94
Team New York KnicksUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 6 35.7 22.7 2.2 3.2 5.3 3.2 0.3 0.0 2.5 2.3 8.7 17.5 .495 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 7.2 .744
difference:+76+4.9+2.5+0.7+5.4+6.2+0.8+1.2+1.5-0.4-1.0+0.7+1.4+.002+0.1+0.4+0.9+1.8+.050
Karl Malone 82 40.6 25.2 2.9 8.6 11.5 4.0 1.5 1.5 2.9 3.3 9.4 18.9 .497 0.1 0.4 .250 6.2 9.0 .694
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
Karl Malone 16 43.9 27.1 3.3 9.1 12.4 3.4 1.4 0.8 2.1 3.7 9.9 21.1 .467 0.0 0.3 .000 7.4 10.0 .738

Season 10

Bernard King Karl Malone
Season 1987-881994-95
Team Washington BulletsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Conf 1st RdJazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 69 29.6 17.2 1.2 2.8 4.1 2.8 0.7 0.1 3.1 2.9 6.8 13.6 .501 0.0 0.1 .167 3.6 4.7 .762
difference:+13+8.5+9.5+0.7+5.9+6.5+0.7+0.9+0.9-0.2-0.4+3.3+5.3+.035+0.1+0.4+.101+2.7+3.8+.020
Karl Malone 82 38.1 26.7 1.9 8.7 10.6 3.5 1.6 1.0 2.9 3.3 10.1 18.9 .536 0.1 0.5 .268 6.3 8.5 .742
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 5 33.6 13.8 0.6 1.6 2.2 1.8 0.6 0.0 2.8 3.4 5.2 10.6 .491 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 4.2 .810
difference:+9.6+16.4+2.4+8.6+11.0+2.0+0.8+0.4-0.2+4.4+10.0+.025+0.2+0.6+7.4+11.4+.118
Karl Malone 5 43.2 30.2 3.0 10.2 13.2 3.8 1.4 0.4 2.8 3.6 9.6 20.6 .466 0.2 0.6 .333 10.8 15.6 .692

Season 11

Bernard King Karl Malone
Season 1988-891995-96
Team Washington BulletsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 81 31.6 20.7 1.6 3.1 4.7 3.6 0.8 0.2 2.8 2.7 8.1 16.9 .477 0.1 0.4 .167 4.5 5.4 .819
difference:+1+6.4+5.0+0.5+4.6+5.1+0.6+0.9+0.5-0.4-0.3+1.5+1.6+.042+0.1+0.1+.233+1.7+3.2+.096
Karl Malone 82 38.0 25.7 2.1 7.7 9.8 4.2 1.7 0.7 2.4 3.0 9.6 18.5 .519 0.2 0.5 .400 6.2 8.6 .723
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
Karl Malone 18 40.3 26.5 2.6 7.7 10.3 4.4 1.9 0.6 2.5 3.4 10.4 22.3 .469 0.0 0.2 .000 5.6 9.8 .574

Season 12

Bernard King Karl Malone
Season 1989-901996-97
Team Washington BulletsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz Lost NBA Finals
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 82 32.8 22.4 1.6 3.4 4.9 4.6 0.6 0.1 3.0 2.8 8.7 17.8 .487 0.0 0.3 .130 5.0 6.3 .803
difference:+3.8+5.0+0.8+4.1+5.0+0.1+0.8+0.5-0.2-0.2+1.8+1.4+.063+0.1+.130+1.4+2.1+.048
Karl Malone 82 36.6 27.4 2.4 7.5 9.9 4.5 1.4 0.6 2.8 2.6 10.5 19.2 .550 0.0 0.2 .000 6.4 8.4 .755
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
Karl Malone 20 40.8 26.0 3.0 8.4 11.4 2.9 1.4 0.8 2.7 3.0 9.4 21.5 .435 0.1 0.1 .500 7.2 10.0 .720

Season 13

Bernard King Karl Malone
Season 1990-911997-98
Team Washington BulletsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz Lost NBA Finals
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 64 37.5 28.4 1.8 3.2 5.0 4.6 0.9 0.3 4.0 2.9 11.1 23.6 .472 0.1 0.6 .216 6.0 7.6 .790
difference:+17+0.1+1.4+0.5+4.8+5.3+0.7+0.3+0.6-1.0+1.5+5.4+.058+0.1+0.5+.117+1.8+2.6+.029
Karl Malone 81 37.4 27.0 2.3 8.0 10.3 3.9 1.2 0.9 3.0 2.9 9.6 18.2 .530 0.0 0.1 .333 7.8 10.2 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King DNP------ --- ----------
Karl Malone 20 39.8 26.3 2.4 8.5 10.9 3.4 1.1 1.0 3.0 3.5 9.9 21.0 .471 0.0 0.2 .000 6.5 8.3 .788

Note: Bernard King didn't play in 1991-92.

Season 14

Bernard King Karl Malone
Season 1992-931998-99
Team New Jersey NetsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdJazz Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 32 13.4 7.0 1.1 1.3 2.4 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.7 1.7 2.8 5.5 .514 0.1 0.2 .286 1.2 1.8 .684
difference:+17+24.0+16.8+1.1+6.0+7.0+3.5+1.0+0.5-2.6-1.0+5.2+10.8+.021+0.1+0.2+6.5+8.0+.104
Karl Malone 49 37.4 23.8 2.2 7.3 9.4 4.1 1.3 0.6 3.3 2.7 8.0 16.3 .493 0.0 0.0 - 7.7 9.8 .788
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Bernard King 3 8.0 2.7 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.3 2.3 .571 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
difference:+8+33.0+19.1+3.0+8.0+11.0+4.7+0.9+0.7-3.3-2.4+6.5+16.4+.154+0.1+6.2+7.8
Karl Malone 11 41.0 21.8 3.3 8.0 11.3 4.7 1.2 0.7 3.6 3.4 7.8 18.7 .417 0.0 0.1 .000 6.2 7.8 .791

Additional Years

* Karl Malone played 5 seasons more than Bernard King in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 19, from 2000 to 2004—Karl Malone played in 5 Playoffs.

In those 5 extra years over Bernard King, Karl Malone got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 3 All-Star Game