Earl Monroe vs. Karl-Anthony Towns Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Karl-Anthony Towns and Earl Monroe, 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.

Earl Monroe played 13 years in the NBA, 2 more than Karl-Anthony Towns, who played 11. Earl Monroe had the first of his seasons in 1967-68, 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 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
Earl Monroe 13 8 1967-68 to 1979-80
Karl-Anthony Towns 11 5 2015-16 to 2025-26

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Earl Monroe Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1967-682015-16
Team Baltimore BulletsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the YearAchievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 82 36.7 24.3 - - 5.7 4.3 - - - 3.4 9.0 20.0 .453 - - - 6.2 7.9 .781
difference:+4.7+6.0+4.8+2.3-0.4+1.4+5.9+.089+3.5+4.5+.030
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
* Neiher Earl Monroe nor Karl-Anthony Towns played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Earl Monroe Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1968-692016-17
Team Baltimore BulletsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 80 38.4 25.8 - - 3.5 4.9 - - - 3.3 10.1 23.0 .440 - - - 5.6 7.3 .768
difference:+2+1.4+0.7+8.8+2.2-0.4+0.3+5.0+.102+1.3+2.1+.064
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 4 42.8 28.3 - - 5.3 4.0 - - - 2.5 11.0 28.5 .386 - - - 6.3 7.8 .806
Karl-Anthony Towns DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Earl Monroe Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1969-702017-18
Team Baltimore BulletsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets Lost East Div SemisTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 82 37.2 23.4 - - 3.1 4.9 - - - 3.1 8.5 19.0 .446 - - - 6.5 7.8 .830
difference:+1.6+2.1+9.2+2.5-0.4+0.7+4.7+.099+2.3+2.9+.028
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 7 42.7 28.0 - - 3.3 4.0 - - - 3.3 10.6 22.0 .481 - - - 6.9 8.6 .800
difference:+2+8.7+12.8+10.1+1.8-0.5+5.0+10.0+.014+3.5+4.0+.061
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

Earl Monroe Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1970-712018-19
Team Baltimore BulletsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 81 35.1 21.4 - - 2.6 4.4 - - - 2.7 8.2 18.5 .442 - - - 5.0 6.2 .802
difference:+4+2.0+3.0+9.8+1.0-1.1+0.6+1.4+.076+0.1+0.4+.034
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 18 37.3 22.1 - - 3.6 4.1 - - - 3.1 8.1 19.8 .407 - - - 5.9 7.5 .793
Karl-Anthony Towns DNP------ --- ----------

Season 5

Earl Monroe Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1971-722019-20
Team Baltimore Bullets, New York KnicksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 63 21.2 11.9 - - 1.6 2.3 - - - 2.2 4.6 10.5 .434 - - - 2.8 3.6 .781
difference:+28+12.7+14.6+9.2+2.1-1.1+4.4+7.3+.074+2.3+2.9+.015
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 16 26.8 12.3 - - 2.8 2.9 - - - 2.6 4.8 11.6 .411 - - - 2.8 3.6 .789
Karl-Anthony Towns DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Earl Monroe Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1972-732020-21
Team New York KnicksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 75 31.6 15.5 - - 3.3 3.8 - - - 2.6 6.6 13.5 .488 - - - 2.3 2.8 .822
difference:+25+2.2+9.3+7.3+0.7-1.1+1.9+4.0+.002+3.0+3.4+.037
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 16 31.5 16.1 - - 3.2 3.2 - - - 2.4 6.9 13.2 .526 - - - 2.3 3.0 .750
Karl-Anthony Towns DNP------ --- ----------

Season 7

Earl Monroe Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1973-742021-22
Team New York KnicksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 41 29.1 14.0 0.5 2.4 3.0 2.7 0.8 0.5 - 2.4 5.9 12.5 .468 - - - 2.3 2.8 .823
difference:+33+4.4+10.6+2.1+4.8+6.8+0.9+0.2+0.6-1.2+2.8+3.9+.061+2.9+3.5+.001
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 12 33.9 17.4 0.7 3.3 4.0 2.1 0.7 0.8 - 2.2 6.8 13.8 .491 - - - 3.9 4.6 .855
difference:+6+3.1+4.4+1.1+5.7+6.8+0.1+1.2-2.0+0.3+0.5+.003+3.3+3.7+.005
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

Earl Monroe Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1974-752022-23
Team New York KnicksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdTimberwolves 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%
Earl Monroe 78 36.1 20.9 0.7 3.5 4.2 3.5 1.4 0.4 - 2.6 8.6 18.7 .457 - - - 3.8 4.6 .827
difference:+49+3.1+0.1+1.0+3.0+3.9+1.3+0.7+0.2-1.2+1.3+3.9+.038+0.3+0.1+.047
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 3 29.7 14.0 0.3 2.7 3.0 2.0 1.3 0.7 - 2.0 4.0 15.0 .267 - - - 6.0 7.3 .818
difference:+2+6.3+4.2+0.9+6.3+7.2+0.7+0.1-2.2+2.4+1.0+.190+1.8+1.7+.068
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

Earl Monroe Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1975-762023-24
Team New York KnicksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves 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%
Earl Monroe 76 38.0 20.7 0.6 3.0 3.6 4.0 1.5 0.3 - 2.8 8.5 17.8 .478 - - - 3.7 4.7 .787
difference:+14+5.3+1.1+0.9+3.8+4.7+1.0+0.8+0.4-0.5+0.8+2.5+.026+0.4+.086
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe DNP------ --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns 16 32.6 19.1 2.2 6.8 9.0 2.6 0.8 0.2 1.7 3.4 6.8 14.5 .466 1.9 5.2 .361 3.7 4.3 .855

Season 10

Earl Monroe Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1976-772024-25
Team New York KnicksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 77 34.5 19.9 0.6 2.3 2.9 4.8 1.2 0.3 - 2.6 8.0 15.4 .517 - - - 4.0 4.8 .839
difference:+5+0.5+4.5+2.3+7.5+9.9+1.7+0.2+0.4-0.9+0.9+1.5+.009+0.7+0.9+.010
Karl-Anthony Towns 72 35.0 24.4 2.9 9.8 12.8 3.1 1.0 0.7 2.7 3.5 8.9 16.9 .526 2.0 4.7 .420 4.7 5.7 .829
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe DNP------ --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns 18 35.5 21.4 2.1 9.5 11.6 1.3 0.7 0.7 2.2 4.3 7.7 15.8 .488 1.4 4.1 .351 4.6 5.4 .845

Season 11

Earl Monroe Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1977-782025-26
Team New York KnicksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 76 31.2 17.8 0.6 1.8 2.4 4.8 0.8 0.3 2.4 2.5 7.3 14.8 .495 - - - 3.2 3.8 .832
difference:+63+1.9+4.0+2.6+7.7+10.3+1.6+0.1+0.6-0.2-1.3+0.4+1.2+.062+2.8+2.8+.075
Karl-Anthony Towns 13 33.1 21.8 3.2 9.5 12.7 3.2 0.9 0.9 2.6 3.8 6.9 16.0 .433 1.9 5.8 .329 6.0 6.6 .907
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Earl Monroe 6 24.2 9.8 0.2 0.7 0.8 2.8 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.5 4.0 10.3 .387 - - - 1.8 3.0 .611
Karl-Anthony Towns DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Earl Monroe played 2 seasons more than Karl-Anthony Towns in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 12 to 13, from 1979 to 1980—Earl Monroe didn't play in the postseason.