Brian Shaw vs. Karl-Anthony Towns Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Karl-Anthony Towns and Brian Shaw, 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

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.

Brian Shaw played 14 years in the NBA, 5 more than Karl-Anthony Towns, who played 9. Brian Shaw had the first of his seasons in 1988-89, while Karl-Anthony Towns had his rookie season in 2015-16. 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 achivements, 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
Brian Shaw 14 11 1988-89 to 2002-03
Karl-Anthony Towns 9 4 2015-16 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Brian Shaw Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1988-892015-16
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 82 28.1 8.6 1.5 3.1 4.6 5.8 1.0 0.3 2.3 2.6 3.6 8.4 .433 0.0 0.2 .000 1.3 1.6 .826
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 32.0 18.3 2.8 7.7 10.5 2.0 0.7 1.7 2.2 3.0 7.6 14.1 .542 0.4 1.1 .341 2.7 3.4 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 3 41.3 17.0 0.7 5.0 5.7 6.3 1.0 0.0 2.0 3.7 7.3 14.3 .512 0.0 0.3 .000 2.3 3.0 .778
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Note: Brian Shaw didn't play in 1989-90.

Season 2

Brian Shaw Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1990-912016-17
Team Boston CelticsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 79 35.1 13.8 1.3 3.4 4.7 7.6 1.3 0.4 2.8 2.6 5.6 11.9 .469 0.0 0.3 .111 2.6 3.2 .819
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 37.0 25.1 3.6 8.7 12.3 2.7 0.7 1.3 2.6 2.9 9.8 18.0 .542 1.2 3.4 .367 4.3 5.2 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 11 28.7 11.0 0.7 2.7 3.5 4.6 0.9 0.1 2.3 3.1 4.3 9.1 .470 0.1 0.3 .333 2.4 2.7 .867
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Brian Shaw Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1991-922017-18
Team Boston Celtics, Miami HeatMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 63 22.6 7.9 0.8 2.4 3.2 4.0 0.9 0.3 1.6 1.8 3.3 8.1 .407 0.1 0.4 .217 1.1 1.4 .791
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 35.6 21.3 2.9 9.4 12.3 2.4 0.8 1.4 1.9 3.5 7.8 14.3 .545 1.5 3.5 .421 4.2 4.9 .858
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 3 28.3 12.0 0.7 3.7 4.3 4.0 0.7 0.0 2.3 4.3 4.7 10.0 .467 1.0 1.7 .600 1.7 2.7 .625
Karl-Anthony Towns 5 34.0 15.2 3.0 10.4 13.4 2.2 0.4 1.0 2.4 2.8 5.6 12.0 .467 0.6 2.2 .273 3.4 4.6 .739

Season 4

Brian Shaw Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1992-932018-19
Team Miami HeatMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 68 23.6 7.3 1.0 2.8 3.8 3.5 0.7 0.3 1.4 2.4 2.9 7.4 .393 0.6 1.9 .331 0.9 1.1 .782
Karl-Anthony Towns 77 33.1 24.4 3.4 9.0 12.4 3.4 0.9 1.6 3.1 3.8 8.8 17.1 .518 1.8 4.6 .400 4.9 5.8 .836
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Brian Shaw Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1993-942019-20
Team Miami HeatMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 77 26.5 9.0 1.4 3.2 4.5 5.0 0.9 0.3 2.2 2.5 3.6 8.7 .417 0.9 2.8 .338 0.8 1.2 .719
Karl-Anthony Towns 35 33.9 26.5 2.7 8.1 10.8 4.4 0.9 1.2 3.1 3.3 9.0 17.8 .508 3.3 7.9 .412 5.1 6.5 .796
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 5 22.4 7.8 0.6 3.4 4.0 1.8 0.8 0.2 2.6 1.6 3.2 8.2 .390 0.0 2.6 .000 1.4 2.4 .583
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Brian Shaw Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1994-952020-21
Team Orlando MagicMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Magic Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 78 23.5 6.4 0.7 2.4 3.1 5.2 0.9 0.2 2.4 2.4 2.5 6.3 .389 0.6 2.4 .261 0.9 1.2 .737
Karl-Anthony Towns 50 33.8 24.8 2.7 7.9 10.6 4.5 0.8 1.1 3.2 3.7 8.5 17.5 .486 2.4 6.3 .387 5.3 6.2 .859
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 21 16.9 6.6 0.8 2.1 3.0 3.1 0.5 0.2 1.2 2.3 2.3 5.9 .390 1.0 2.7 .386 1.0 1.5 .625
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Brian Shaw Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1995-962021-22
Team Orlando MagicMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf FinalsTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 75 22.4 6.6 0.8 2.2 3.0 4.5 0.8 0.1 2.3 2.1 2.4 6.5 .374 0.5 1.9 .285 1.2 1.5 .798
Karl-Anthony Towns 74 33.5 24.6 2.6 7.2 9.8 3.6 1.0 1.1 3.1 3.6 8.7 16.4 .529 2.0 4.9 .410 5.2 6.3 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 10 21.7 4.7 0.6 1.5 2.1 4.6 0.5 0.0 1.9 2.7 1.8 5.2 .346 0.8 2.2 .364 0.3 0.4 .750
Karl-Anthony Towns 6 37.0 21.8 1.8 9.0 10.8 2.2 0.7 2.0 4.5 4.2 6.5 13.3 .488 1.7 3.7 .455 7.2 8.3 .860

Season 8

Brian Shaw Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1996-972022-23
Team Orlando MagicMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 77 24.2 7.2 0.6 1.9 2.5 4.1 0.9 0.3 2.2 2.6 2.5 6.7 .366 0.8 2.5 .325 1.4 1.8 .793
Karl-Anthony Towns 29 33.0 20.8 1.7 6.5 8.1 4.8 0.7 0.6 3.0 3.8 7.3 14.8 .495 2.1 5.7 .366 4.1 4.7 .874
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 5 16.2 2.0 0.2 1.6 1.8 1.6 0.2 0.2 1.6 1.0 0.6 3.8 .158 0.4 1.2 .333 0.4 0.8 .500
Karl-Anthony Towns 5 36.0 18.2 1.2 9.0 10.2 2.0 0.6 0.8 3.6 4.2 6.4 14.0 .457 1.2 4.8 .250 4.2 5.6 .750

Season 9

Brian Shaw Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1997-982023-24
Team Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves TBD
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 59 25.9 6.3 0.6 3.0 3.6 4.4 0.8 0.3 1.7 2.5 2.6 7.6 .345 0.5 1.6 .295 0.6 0.9 .692
Karl-Anthony Towns 62 32.7 21.8 1.5 6.8 8.3 3.0 0.7 0.7 2.9 3.3 7.7 15.3 .504 2.2 5.3 .416 4.1 4.7 .873
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns 10 31.7 18.4 2.0 7.0 9.0 2.9 0.6 0.2 1.7 3.8 6.7 13.1 .511 2.1 4.4 .477 2.9 3.6 .806

Season 10

Brian Shaw Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1998-99-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 1 5.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Brian Shaw Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1999-00-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 74 16.9 4.1 0.6 2.3 2.9 2.7 0.5 0.2 1.0 1.4 1.7 4.4 .382 0.2 0.8 .310 0.6 0.7 .759
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 22 18.4 5.4 0.3 2.0 2.3 3.0 0.5 0.2 0.8 2.1 2.0 4.9 .421 0.7 2.2 .333 0.6 0.7 .813
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Brian Shaw Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2000-01-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 80 22.9 5.3 0.6 3.2 3.8 3.2 0.6 0.3 1.2 2.0 2.1 5.1 .399 0.5 1.7 .311 0.6 0.8 .797
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 16 18.1 4.4 0.6 2.8 3.4 2.7 0.6 0.1 1.0 2.3 1.7 4.5 .375 0.6 1.8 .345 0.4 0.6 .667
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Brian Shaw Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2001-02-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 58 10.9 2.9 0.3 1.6 1.9 1.5 0.4 0.1 0.6 0.7 1.1 3.0 .353 0.5 1.5 .330 0.3 0.4 .692
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 19 12.5 2.9 0.5 1.4 1.8 1.6 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.8 1.1 3.3 .333 0.5 1.7 .281 0.2 0.2 1.000
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Brian Shaw Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2002-03-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 72 12.5 3.5 0.3 1.4 1.7 1.4 0.4 0.2 0.8 0.9 1.4 3.6 .387 0.5 1.5 .349 0.1 0.2 .667
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Brian Shaw 12 18.0 3.2 0.1 3.1 3.2 2.0 0.3 0.4 0.8 1.5 1.3 4.1 .306 0.5 2.2 .231 0.2 0.3 .667
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------