Karl Malone vs. Joakim Noah Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Joakim Noah and Karl Malone, 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.

Karl Malone played 19 years in the NBA, 6 more than Joakim Noah, who played 13. Karl Malone had the first of his seasons in 1985-86, while Joakim Noah had his rookie season in 2007-08. 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 Malone 19 19 1985-86 to 2003-04
Joakim Noah 13 8 2007-08 to 2019-20

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Karl Malone Joakim Noah
Season 1985-862007-08
Team Utah JazzChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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%
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
difference:+7+9.9+8.3+0.3+3.4+3.3+1.8+0.4+0.4-2.2-1.3+3.8+7.5+.014+0.6+2.4+.210
Joakim Noah 74 20.7 6.6 2.4 3.3 5.6 1.1 0.9 0.9 1.2 2.3 2.4 5.0 .482 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.6 .691
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
Joakim Noah DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Karl Malone Joakim Noah
Season 1986-872008-09
Team Utah JazzChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls Lost East 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%
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
difference:+2+10.6+15.0+0.3+2.5+2.8+0.6+0.7+0.7-1.9-0.9+6.3+12.6+.044+0.1+2.4+4.3+.078
Joakim Noah 80 24.2 6.7 3.1 4.5 7.6 1.3 0.6 1.4 1.0 3.0 2.6 4.7 .556 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.3 .676
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+2+1.3+9.9+1.0+2.5+3.5+1.1+1.3+1.3-2.3-0.4+3.7+10.3+.090+2.5+3.6+.038
Joakim Noah 7 38.7 10.1 4.0 9.1 13.1 2.3 0.9 2.1 1.1 4.4 3.7 7.3 .510 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.6 .760

Season 3

Karl Malone Joakim Noah
Season 1987-882009-10
Team Utah JazzChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisBulls Lost East 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%
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
difference:+18+8.9+17.0+1.0+1.0+0.3+0.9+1.0-2.2-0.5+6.4+12.0+.016+0.1+4.2+6.2+.044
Joakim Noah 64 30.1 10.7 3.4 7.6 11.0 2.1 0.5 1.6 1.8 3.1 4.1 8.1 .504 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.4 .744
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+6+7.3+14.9+1.0+0.2+1.2+1.1+0.6+0.8-0.5-0.8+5.6+12.6+.046+0.1+3.8+6.4+.224
Joakim Noah 5 37.6 14.8 4.0 9.0 13.0 2.6 1.8 1.4 3.0 4.0 5.6 10.6 .528 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 3.8 .947

Season 4

Karl Malone Joakim Noah
Season 1988-892010-11
Team Utah JazzChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls Lost East Conf Finals
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 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
difference:+32+6.3+17.4+0.6+0.8+0.3+0.5+0.8+0.6-1.7-0.3+5.7+11.1+.006+0.1+0.2+5.9+7.6+.027
Joakim Noah 48 32.8 11.7 3.8 6.6 10.4 2.2 1.0 1.5 1.9 3.3 4.4 8.4 .525 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 3.9 .739
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+13+12.2+22.0+3.0+3.1+6.1+1.2+1.8-3.1-1.4+7.8+14.2+.089+6.4+7.5+.088
Joakim Noah 16 33.1 8.7 4.3 5.9 10.2 2.5 1.0 2.1 1.2 3.9 3.2 7.8 .411 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.2 .725

Season 5

Karl Malone Joakim Noah
Season 1989-902011-12
Team Utah JazzChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls Lost East 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%
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
difference:+18+7.7+20.8+1.0+2.3+1.3+0.3+0.9+0.8-2.3-0.7+7.2+12.1+.054+0.2+0.5+6.1+7.9+.014
Joakim Noah 64 30.4 10.2 3.8 6.0 9.8 2.5 0.6 1.4 1.4 2.5 3.9 7.7 .508 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.2 .748
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+2+7.6+10.2+0.2+0.7+0.9+0.8+1.5+0.3-2.1-2.7+2.9+12.3+.293+0.2+4.5+5.3+.120
Joakim Noah 3 33.0 15.0 3.0 6.3 9.3 3.0 0.7 1.3 0.3 1.7 6.3 8.7 .731 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.7 .636

Season 6

Karl Malone Joakim Noah
Season 1990-912012-13
Team Utah JazzChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisBulls Lost East 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%
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
difference:+16+3.5+17.1+1.0+1.7+0.7+0.7+0.1+1.1-0.3-0.5+5.7+10.1+.046+0.1+.286+5.6+7.2+.019
Joakim Noah 66 36.8 11.9 3.9 7.2 11.1 4.0 1.2 2.1 2.7 2.8 4.6 9.5 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 3.6 .751
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+3+8.5+18.9+1.7+5.5+3.7+0.9+0.2+1.0-0.9-0.3+6.3+13.3+.018+0.9+6.5+6.8+.205
Joakim Noah 12 34.1 10.8 4.3 5.3 9.6 2.3 0.8 2.2 2.0 3.6 4.3 9.9 .437 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.3 .641

Season 7

Karl Malone Joakim Noah
Season 1991-922013-14
Team Utah JazzChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First TeamAchievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf FinalsBulls Lost East 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%
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
difference:+1+2.4+15.4+0.7+0.7+0.1+2.4+0.1+0.9-0.7-0.3+5.1+8.7+.051+0.2+5.2+6.5+.041
Joakim Noah 80 35.3 12.6 3.5 7.7 11.3 5.4 1.2 1.5 2.4 3.1 4.8 10.0 .475 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 4.2 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+11+1.0+18.7+0.3+1.2+1.5+2.0+0.4+0.2-0.9-0.2+5.1+9.6+.009+0.1+8.6+9.7+.217
Joakim Noah 5 42.0 10.4 3.0 9.8 12.8 4.6 1.0 1.4 3.8 3.8 4.2 8.2 .512 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.4 .588

Season 8

Karl Malone Joakim Noah
Season 1992-932014-15
Team Utah JazzChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls Lost East Conf Semis
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 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
difference:+15+7.2+19.8+0.5+2.0+1.6+0.9+0.8+0.1-1.1-0.2+6.9+11.2+.107+0.2+5.9+7.6+.137
Joakim Noah 67 30.6 7.2 3.3 6.4 9.6 4.7 0.7 1.1 1.8 3.0 2.8 6.4 .445 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.6 .603
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+7+10.3+18.2+1.4+0.7+0.6+1.2+0.4+0.8-2.3-1.1+6.2+13.1+.046+0.2+0.4+5.6+5.9+.466
Joakim Noah 12 32.9 5.8 3.8 7.3 11.0 3.2 0.8 1.2 1.7 3.1 2.6 6.3 .408 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.7 .350

Season 9

Karl Malone Joakim Noah
Season 1993-942015-16
Team Utah JazzChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
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 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
difference:+53+18.7+20.9+0.1+2.8+2.7+0.2+0.9+0.5-1.1-0.6+7.6+14.3+.114+0.1+0.4+5.4+7.4+.205
Joakim Noah 29 21.9 4.3 3.0 5.8 8.8 3.8 0.6 1.0 1.8 2.7 1.8 4.6 .383 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.6 .489
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
Joakim Noah DNP------ --- ----------

Season 10

Karl Malone Joakim Noah
Season 1994-952016-17
Team Utah JazzNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+36+16.0+21.7+1.6+3.5+1.8+1.3+0.9+0.2-1.6-0.5+7.9+14.5+.046+0.1+0.5+5.6+6.8+.306
Joakim Noah 46 22.1 5.0 3.5 5.2 8.8 2.2 0.7 0.8 1.3 2.8 2.2 4.4 .490 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.7 .436
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
Joakim Noah DNP------ --- ----------

Season 11

Karl Malone Joakim Noah
Season 1995-962017-18
Team Utah JazzNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf FinalsDid 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%
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
difference:+75+32.3+24.0+1.2+6.6+7.8+3.6+1.4+0.4-1.8-2.3+8.9+17.1+.019+0.2+0.5+5.9+8.0+.223
Joakim Noah 7 5.7 1.7 0.9 1.1 2.0 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.7 0.7 1.4 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.6 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
Joakim Noah DNP------ --- ----------

Season 12

Karl Malone Joakim Noah
Season 1996-972018-19
Team Utah JazzMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Jazz Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+40+20.1+20.3+1.0+3.2+4.2+2.4+0.9+0.1-1.6-0.3+7.9+14.1+.034+0.2+4.5+5.8+.039
Joakim Noah 42 16.5 7.1 1.4 4.3 5.7 2.1 0.5 0.7 1.2 2.3 2.6 5.1 .516 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.6 .716
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
Joakim Noah DNP------ --- ----------

Season 13

Karl Malone Joakim Noah
Season 1997-982019-20
Team Utah JazzLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Jazz Lost NBA FinalsClippers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+76+27.4+24.2+1.3+5.8+7.1+2.5+1.0+0.7-1.8-1.1+8.8+16.6+.030+0.1+6.6+8.6+.011
Joakim Noah 5 10.0 2.8 1.0 2.2 3.2 1.4 0.2 0.2 1.2 1.8 0.8 1.6 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.6 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+18+38.8+26.3+2.4+8.5+10.9+3.4+1.1+1.0-3.0-3.5+9.9+21.0+0.2+6.5+8.3
Joakim Noah 2 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Additional Years

* Karl Malone played 6 seasons more than Joakim Noah in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 19, from 1999 to 2004—Karl Malone played in 6 Playoffs.

In those 6 extra years over Joakim Noah, Karl Malone got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Season MVP
Achievement 1 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 1 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 3 All-Star Game