Rudy Gobert vs. Karl Malone Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Karl Malone and Rudy Gobert, 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

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.

Rudy Gobert played 12 years in the NBA, 7 less than Karl Malone, who played 19. Rudy Gobert had the first of his seasons in 2013-14, 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
Rudy Gobert 12 9 2013-14 to 2024-25
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

Rookie Season

Rudy Gobert Karl Malone
Season 2013-141985-86
Team Utah JazzUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement 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%
Rudy Gobert 45 9.6 2.3 1.1 2.3 3.4 0.2 0.2 0.9 0.7 1.3 0.8 1.6 .486 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.4 .492
difference:+36+21.0+12.6+1.0+4.4+5.5+2.7+1.1+0.4-2.7-2.3+5.4+10.9+.010+1.7+3.6+.011
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%
Rudy Gobert 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

Rudy Gobert Karl Malone
Season 2014-151986-87
Team Utah JazzUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz 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%
Rudy Gobert 82 26.3 8.4 3.2 6.2 9.5 1.3 0.8 2.3 1.4 2.1 3.1 5.2 .604 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.3 .623
difference:+8.5+13.3+0.2+0.8+0.9+0.6+0.5+1.6-1.5-1.8+5.8+12.1+.092+0.1+1.8+3.3+.025
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%
Rudy Gobert DNP------ --- ----------
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

Rudy Gobert Karl Malone
Season 2015-161987-88
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%
Rudy Gobert 61 31.7 9.1 3.4 7.5 11.0 1.5 0.7 2.2 1.9 2.7 3.2 5.8 .559 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 4.6 .569
difference:+21+7.3+18.6+1.1+1.0+0.9+0.7+1.6-2.1-0.9+7.3+14.3+.039+0.1+4.1+5.0+.131
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%
Rudy Gobert 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

Rudy Gobert Karl Malone
Season 2016-171988-89
Team Utah JazzUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisJazz 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%
Rudy Gobert 81 33.9 14.0 3.9 8.9 12.8 1.2 0.6 2.6 1.8 3.0 5.1 7.7 .661 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 5.9 .653
difference:+1+5.2+15.1+0.7+1.5+2.1+1.5+1.2+1.7-1.8-0.6+5.0+11.8+.142+0.1+0.2+5.0+5.6+.113
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%
Rudy Gobert 9 27.3 11.6 2.4 7.4 9.9 1.2 1.0 1.3 1.0 3.3 4.4 7.0 .635 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 5.6 .480
difference:+6+18.0+19.1+4.9+1.6+6.4+0.1+1.0-3.3-2.0+6.6+15.0+.135+6.0+5.1+.333
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

Rudy Gobert Karl Malone
Season 2017-181989-90
Team Utah JazzUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisJazz 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%
Rudy Gobert 56 32.4 13.5 2.9 7.8 10.7 1.4 0.8 2.3 1.9 2.7 4.9 7.9 .622 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 5.3 .682
difference:+26+5.7+17.5+0.1+0.5+0.4+1.4+0.7+1.7-1.8-0.5+6.2+11.9+.060+0.2+0.5+4.9+5.8+.080
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%
Rudy Gobert 11 34.8 13.2 3.9 6.8 10.7 1.0 0.9 2.3 1.9 3.1 5.0 7.6 .655 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 5.3 .603
difference:+6+5.8+12.0+0.7+0.2+0.5+1.2+1.3+1.3-0.5-1.3+4.2+13.4+.217+0.2+3.6+3.7+.153
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

Rudy Gobert Karl Malone
Season 2018-191990-91
Team Utah JazzUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdJazz 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%
Rudy Gobert 81 31.8 15.9 3.8 9.0 12.9 2.0 0.8 2.3 1.6 2.9 5.9 8.8 .669 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 6.4 .636
difference:+1+8.5+13.1+0.9+0.1+1.1+1.3+0.3+1.3-1.4-0.4+4.4+10.8+.142+0.2+4.2+4.4+.134
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%
Rudy Gobert 5 30.4 11.2 4.6 5.6 10.2 1.4 0.6 2.6 1.8 3.2 3.8 6.4 .594 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 4.6 .783
difference:+4+12.2+18.5+2.0+5.2+3.1+1.8+0.4+1.4-1.1-0.7+6.8+16.8+.139+0.9+5.0+5.5+.063
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

Rudy Gobert Karl Malone
Season 2019-201991-92
Team Utah JazzUtah 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 Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdJazz 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%
Rudy Gobert 68 34.3 15.1 3.4 10.1 13.5 1.5 0.8 2.0 1.9 3.2 5.7 8.2 .693 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.9 .630
difference:+13+3.4+12.9+0.6+1.7+2.3+1.5+0.5+1.4-1.2-0.4+4.2+10.5+.167+0.2+4.6+4.8+.148
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%
Rudy Gobert 7 38.6 16.9 3.4 8.0 11.4 1.1 0.6 1.4 1.3 3.7 6.9 10.6 .649 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 6.0 .524
difference:+9+4.4+12.2+0.7+0.6+0.1+1.5+0.8+0.2-1.6-0.1+2.4+7.2+.128+0.1+7.5+7.1+.281
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

Rudy Gobert Karl Malone
Season 2020-211992-93
Team Utah JazzUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisJazz 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%
Rudy Gobert 71 30.8 14.3 3.4 10.1 13.5 1.3 0.6 2.7 1.7 2.3 5.5 8.2 .675 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 5.3 .623
difference:+11+7.0+12.7+0.6+1.7+2.3+2.5+0.9+1.7-1.2-0.9+4.2+9.4+.123+0.1+.200+4.2+4.9+.117
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%
Rudy Gobert 11 34.2 14.7 3.9 8.4 12.3 0.8 0.5 2.1 1.5 4.2 5.5 7.4 .741 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 6.0 .636
difference:+6+9.0+9.3+1.5+0.4+1.9+1.2+0.7+1.7-2.5+3.3+12.0+.287+0.2+0.3+.500+2.4+1.6+.180
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

Season 9

Rudy Gobert Karl Malone
Season 2021-221993-94
Team Utah JazzUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdJazz 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%
Rudy Gobert 66 32.1 15.6 3.7 11.0 14.7 1.1 0.7 2.1 1.8 2.7 5.5 7.7 .713 0.0 0.1 .000 4.6 6.7 .690
difference:+16+8.5+9.6+0.8+2.4+3.2+2.9+0.8+0.6-1.1-0.6+3.9+11.2+.216+0.1+0.3+.250+1.6+2.3+.004
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%
Rudy Gobert 6 32.8 12.0 3.5 9.7 13.2 0.5 0.2 1.0 1.3 3.2 3.5 5.5 .636 0.0 0.0 - 5.0 7.3 .682
difference:+10+11.1+15.1+0.2+0.6+0.8+2.9+1.2+0.2-0.8-0.5+6.4+15.6+.169+0.3+2.4+2.7+.056
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

Rudy Gobert Karl Malone
Season 2022-231994-95
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West 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%
Rudy Gobert 70 30.7 13.4 3.3 8.3 11.6 1.2 0.8 1.4 1.7 3.0 5.1 7.8 .659 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 4.9 .644
difference:+12+7.4+13.3+1.4+0.4+1.0+2.3+0.8+0.4-1.2-0.3+5.0+11.1+.123+0.1+0.5+3.2+3.6+.098
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%
Rudy Gobert 5 35.4 15.0 3.6 8.6 12.2 2.0 0.4 1.0 1.6 4.8 5.8 9.2 .630 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 5.4 .630
difference:+7.8+15.2+0.6+1.6+1.0+1.8+1.0+0.6-1.2-1.2+3.8+11.4+.164+0.2+0.6+7.4+10.2+.062
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

Rudy Gobert Karl Malone
Season 2023-241995-96
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf FinalsJazz 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%
Rudy Gobert 76 34.1 14.0 3.8 9.2 12.9 1.3 0.7 2.1 1.6 3.1 5.3 8.1 .661 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 5.1 .638
difference:+6+3.9+11.7+1.7+1.5+3.1+2.9+1.0+1.4-0.8-0.1+4.3+10.4+.142+0.2+0.5+2.9+3.5+.085
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%
Rudy Gobert 15 34.1 12.1 2.7 7.1 9.8 1.6 0.9 1.0 1.5 3.7 4.3 6.9 .615 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 5.3 .671
difference:+3+6.2+14.4+0.1+0.6+0.5+2.8+1.0+0.4-1.0-0.3+6.1+15.4+.146+0.2+2.1+4.5+.097
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

Rudy Gobert Karl Malone
Season 2024-251996-97
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf FinalsJazz 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%
Rudy Gobert 72 33.2 12.0 3.7 7.2 10.9 1.8 0.8 1.4 1.2 2.5 4.7 7.1 .669 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.8 .674
difference:+10+3.4+15.4+1.3+0.3+1.0+2.7+0.6+0.8-1.6-0.1+5.8+12.1+.119+0.2+3.8+4.6+.081
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%
Rudy Gobert 15 27.4 7.9 3.1 5.5 8.6 0.7 0.5 1.2 0.9 2.5 3.1 5.3 .582 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 3.3 .520
difference:+5+13.4+18.1+0.1+2.9+2.8+2.2+0.9+0.4-1.8-0.5+6.3+16.2+.147+0.1+0.1+5.5+6.7+.200
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

Additional Years

* Karl Malone played 7 seasons more than Rudy Gobert in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 13 to 19, from 1998 to 2004—Karl Malone played in 7 Playoffs.

In those 7 extra years over Rudy Gobert, Karl Malone got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Season MVP
Achievement 2 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 2 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 4 All-Star Game