Karl-Anthony Towns vs. Fred VanVleet Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Fred VanVleet and Karl-Anthony Towns, 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 / Scoring / 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.

Karl-Anthony Towns played 10 years in the NBA, 1 more than Fred VanVleet, who played 9. Karl-Anthony Towns had the first of his seasons in 2015-16, while Fred VanVleet had his rookie season in 2016-17. 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
Karl-Anthony Towns 10 5 2015-16 to 2024-25
Fred VanVleet 9 6 2016-17 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Karl-Anthony Towns Fred VanVleet
Season 2015-162016-17
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayRaptors Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+45+24.1+15.4+2.7+6.7+9.4+1.1+0.3+1.6-1.8-2.0+6.5+11.1+.191+0.1+0.3+.038+2.2+2.8+.007
Fred VanVleet 37 7.9 2.9 0.1 1.0 1.1 0.9 0.4 0.1 0.4 1.0 1.1 3.0 .351 0.3 0.8 .379 0.5 0.6 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Karl-Anthony Towns DNP------ --- ----------
Fred VanVleet 7 4.1 2.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.4 0.9 1.3 .667 0.3 0.7 .400 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Karl-Anthony Towns Fred VanVleet
Season 2016-172017-18
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayRaptors Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+6+17.0+16.5+3.3+6.6+9.9+0.5+0.2+1.0-1.6-1.2+6.7+10.8+.116+0.2+.047+3.2+3.9
Fred VanVleet 76 20.0 8.6 0.3 2.1 2.4 3.2 0.9 0.3 1.0 1.7 3.1 7.2 .426 1.4 3.4 .414 1.1 1.3 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Karl-Anthony Towns DNP------ --- ----------
Fred VanVleet 6 19.0 6.8 0.0 1.7 1.7 2.2 0.0 0.0 0.7 1.3 2.2 6.5 .333 1.3 4.7 .286 1.2 1.3 .875

Season 3

Karl-Anthony Towns Fred VanVleet
Season 2017-182018-19
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+18+8.1+10.3+2.6+7.1+9.7+2.4+0.1+1.1-0.6-1.8+4.0+4.9+.135+0.3+1.1+.043+2.7+3.1+.015
Fred VanVleet 64 27.5 11.0 0.3 2.3 2.6 4.8 0.9 0.3 1.3 1.7 3.8 9.4 .410 1.8 4.6 .378 1.5 1.8 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+19+9.3+7.2+2.7+9.0+11.7+0.4+0.4+0.7-1.5-0.8+2.9+5.1+.075+1.0+1.9+.115+2.4+3.3+.035
Fred VanVleet 24 24.7 8.0 0.3 1.4 1.7 2.6 0.8 0.3 0.9 2.0 2.7 6.9 .392 1.6 4.1 .388 1.0 1.3 .774

Season 4

Karl-Anthony Towns Fred VanVleet
Season 2018-192019-20
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayRaptors Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+23+2.6+6.8+3.1+5.6+8.6+3.2+1.0+1.3-0.9-1.4+2.9+2.8+.105+0.9+2.3+.010+1.8+2.1+.012
Fred VanVleet 54 35.7 17.6 0.3 3.4 3.8 6.6 1.9 0.3 2.2 2.4 5.9 14.3 .413 2.7 6.9 .390 3.1 3.7 .848
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Karl-Anthony Towns DNP------ --- ----------
Fred VanVleet 11 39.1 19.6 0.5 3.9 4.4 6.9 1.6 0.6 2.0 2.5 6.9 17.3 .400 3.9 10.0 .391 1.9 2.3 .840

Season 5

Karl-Anthony Towns Fred VanVleet
Season 2019-202020-21
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
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
difference:+17+2.6+6.9+2.1+4.5+6.6+1.9+0.8+0.5-1.3-1.0+2.5+1.1+.119+1.3+.046+1.8+2.8+.089
Fred VanVleet 52 36.5 19.6 0.6 3.6 4.2 6.3 1.7 0.7 1.8 2.3 6.5 16.7 .389 3.3 9.2 .366 3.3 3.7 .885
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Karl-Anthony Towns nor Fred VanVleet played in the postseason in their season 5

Season 6

Karl-Anthony Towns Fred VanVleet
Season 2020-212021-22
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayRaptors Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+15+4.1+4.5+2.0+4.1+6.2+2.2+0.9+0.6-0.6-1.2+1.7+0.6+.083+1.3+3.6+.010+2.3+2.8+.015
Fred VanVleet 65 37.9 20.3 0.7 3.8 4.4 6.7 1.7 0.5 2.6 2.5 6.8 16.9 .403 3.7 9.9 .377 3.0 3.4 .874
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Karl-Anthony Towns DNP------ --- ----------
Fred VanVleet 4 35.0 13.8 0.5 2.5 3.0 6.3 1.8 1.0 1.0 3.0 4.8 13.5 .352 3.0 9.0 .333 1.3 1.5 .833

Season 7

Karl-Anthony Towns Fred VanVleet
Season 2021-222022-23
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+5+3.2+5.3+2.2+3.6+5.7+3.6+0.8+0.5-1.1-0.8+2.4+0.3+.136+1.0+3.9+.068+1.5+2.2+.076
Fred VanVleet 69 36.7 19.3 0.4 3.6 4.1 7.2 1.8 0.6 2.0 2.8 6.3 16.1 .393 3.0 8.8 .342 3.7 4.1 .898
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
Fred VanVleet DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Karl-Anthony Towns Fred VanVleet
Season 2022-232023-24
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+44+3.8+3.4+1.2+3.1+4.3+3.3+0.7+0.2-1.3-1.3+1.5+0.9+.079+1.0+2.3+.021+1.4+1.6+.014
Fred VanVleet 73 36.8 17.4 0.5 3.4 3.8 8.1 1.4 0.8 1.7 2.5 5.8 13.9 .416 3.1 8.0 .387 2.7 3.1 .860
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
Fred VanVleet DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

Karl-Anthony Towns Fred VanVleet
Season 2023-242024-25
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf FinalsRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+2+2.5+7.7+1.0+3.6+4.6+2.6+0.9+0.3-1.4-1.0+2.9+2.6+.126+0.5+2.4+.071+2.2+2.4+.063
Fred VanVleet 60 35.2 14.1 0.5 3.2 3.7 5.6 1.6 0.4 1.5 2.3 4.8 12.7 .378 2.7 7.7 .345 1.9 2.3 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+9+7.4+0.4+1.8+3.1+4.9+1.8+0.2+0.1-0.2-1.1+1.1+1.2+.036+2.0+3.7+.074+0.3+0.9+.145
Fred VanVleet 7 40.0 18.7 0.4 3.7 4.1 4.4 1.0 0.3 1.9 2.3 5.7 13.3 .430 3.9 8.9 .435 3.4 3.4 1.000

Additional Years

* Karl-Anthony Towns played 1 season more than Fred VanVleet in the NBA.

In that period—his season 10 in 2025—Karl-Anthony Towns played in the Playoffs.

In that extra year over Fred VanVleet, Karl-Anthony Towns got these achievements:

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