Vern Fleming vs. Karl Malone Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Karl Malone and Vern Fleming, 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 / 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.

Vern Fleming played 12 years in the NBA, 7 less than Karl Malone, who played 19. Vern Fleming had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, 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 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
Vern Fleming 12 7 1984-85 to 1995-96
Karl Malone 19 19 1985-86 to 2003-04

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19

Rookie Season

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season 1984-851985-86
Team Indiana PacersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz 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 %
Vern Fleming 80 31.1 14.1 1.9 2.2 4.0 3.1 1.2 0.1 2.5 2.9 5.4 11.5 .470 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 4.2 .767
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 .000 2.4 5.0 .481
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
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

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season 1985-861986-87
Team Indiana PacersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz 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 %
Vern Fleming 80 35.9 14.2 1.3 3.6 4.8 6.3 1.6 0.1 2.6 2.9 5.5 10.8 .506 0.0 0.1 .167 3.3 4.4 .745
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
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

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season 1986-871987-88
Team Indiana PacersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdJazz 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 %
Vern Fleming 82 31.1 12.0 1.3 2.7 4.1 5.8 1.3 0.2 2.0 2.7 4.5 8.9 .509 0.0 0.1 .200 2.9 3.7 .788
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming 4 35.3 12.3 2.3 4.3 6.5 6.0 1.0 0.3 2.5 3.8 3.3 9.0 .361 0.0 0.3 .000 5.8 7.5 .767
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

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season 1987-881988-89
Team Indiana PacersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz 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 %
Vern Fleming 80 34.2 13.9 1.3 3.2 4.6 7.1 1.4 0.1 2.2 2.8 5.5 10.6 .523 0.0 0.2 .000 2.8 3.5 .802
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
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

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season 1988-891989-90
Team Indiana PacersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz 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 %
Vern Fleming 76 33.6 14.3 1.1 3.0 4.1 6.5 1.0 0.2 2.5 2.8 5.5 10.7 .515 0.0 0.3 .130 3.2 4.0 .799
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
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

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season 1989-901990-91
Team Indiana PacersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdJazz 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 %
Vern Fleming 82 35.1 14.3 1.4 2.5 3.9 7.4 1.1 0.1 2.5 2.6 5.7 11.2 .508 0.1 0.4 .353 2.8 3.6 .782
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming 3 37.7 13.3 1.3 3.0 4.3 6.0 0.7 0.3 2.7 2.0 5.3 11.3 .471 0.0 0.7 .000 2.7 3.0 .889
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

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season 1990-911991-92
Team Indiana PacersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdJazz Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming 69 28.0 12.7 1.2 1.9 3.1 5.3 1.1 0.2 2.0 1.7 5.2 9.7 .531 0.1 0.3 .222 2.3 3.2 .729
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming 5 23.0 9.4 2.0 1.4 3.4 4.6 0.2 0.6 1.6 2.0 3.6 8.0 .450 0.0 0.2 .000 2.2 2.8 .786
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

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season 1991-921992-93
Team Indiana PacersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdJazz 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 %
Vern Fleming 82 21.2 8.9 0.8 1.7 2.5 3.2 0.7 0.1 1.7 1.6 3.6 7.4 .482 0.1 0.3 .222 1.6 2.2 .737
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming 3 17.0 7.0 0.0 0.7 0.7 2.0 1.0 0.0 1.3 1.7 3.3 6.0 .556 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 1.0 .333
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

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season 1992-931993-94
Team Indiana PacersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdJazz Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming 75 20.0 9.5 0.8 1.4 2.3 3.0 0.8 0.1 1.6 1.7 3.7 7.4 .505 0.1 0.5 .194 1.9 2.6 .726
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming 3 26.7 10.0 0.3 1.3 1.7 1.0 0.7 0.3 1.7 2.0 4.0 9.0 .444 0.7 1.3 .500 1.3 1.3 1.000
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

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season 1993-941994-95
Team Indiana PacersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf FinalsJazz 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 %
Vern Fleming 55 19.1 6.5 0.5 1.7 2.2 3.1 0.7 0.1 1.6 1.8 2.7 5.8 .462 0.0 0.1 .000 1.2 1.6 .736
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming 16 15.4 5.9 0.8 0.6 1.3 2.4 0.6 0.1 1.4 1.7 2.4 4.8 .513 0.0 0.3 .000 1.1 1.3 .850
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

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season 1994-951995-96
Team Indiana PacersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf FinalsJazz Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming 55 12.5 4.6 0.4 1.2 1.6 2.0 0.5 0.0 0.8 1.5 1.7 3.4 .495 0.0 0.1 .000 1.2 1.6 .722
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming 3 2.7 0.7 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.0 .333 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 1.0 .000
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

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season 1995-961996-97
Team New Jersey NetsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayJazz Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming 77 22.7 7.7 0.6 1.6 2.2 3.3 0.5 0.1 1.6 1.5 2.9 6.8 .433 0.0 0.4 .107 1.7 2.3 .751
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
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

Season 13

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season -1997-98
Team -Utah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Jazz Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
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

Season 14

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season -1998-99
Team -Utah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs -Jazz 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 %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
Karl Malone 49 37.4 23.8 2.2 7.3 9.4 4.1 1.3 0.6 3.3 2.7 8.0 16.3 .493 0.0 0.0 .000 7.7 9.8 .788
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
Karl Malone 11 41.0 21.8 3.3 8.0 11.3 4.7 1.2 0.7 3.6 3.4 7.8 18.7 .417 0.0 0.1 .000 6.2 7.8 .791

Season 15

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season -1999-00
Team -Utah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Jazz 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 %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
Karl Malone 82 35.9 25.5 2.1 7.4 9.5 3.7 1.0 0.9 2.8 2.8 9.2 18.0 .509 0.0 0.1 .250 7.2 9.0 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
Karl Malone 10 38.6 27.2 1.9 7.0 8.9 3.1 0.7 0.7 2.7 3.1 10.3 19.8 .520 0.2 0.2 1.000 6.4 7.9 .810

Season 16

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season -2000-01
Team -Utah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Jazz 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 %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
Karl Malone 81 35.7 23.2 1.4 6.9 8.3 4.5 1.1 0.8 3.0 2.7 8.3 16.6 .498 0.0 0.1 .400 6.6 8.3 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
Karl Malone 5 40.0 27.6 1.8 7.0 8.8 3.4 1.0 0.8 3.8 2.6 9.8 24.2 .405 0.2 0.4 .500 7.8 9.8 .796

Season 17

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season -2001-02
Team -Utah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Jazz 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 %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
Karl Malone 80 38.0 22.4 1.8 6.8 8.6 4.3 1.9 0.7 3.3 2.9 7.9 17.5 .454 0.1 0.3 .360 6.4 8.0 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
Karl Malone 4 40.8 20.0 0.8 6.8 7.5 4.5 1.3 0.8 2.8 2.8 7.5 18.3 .411 0.0 0.3 .000 5.0 7.0 .714

Season 18

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season -2002-03
Team -Utah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Jazz 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 %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
Karl Malone 81 36.2 20.6 1.4 6.4 7.8 4.7 1.7 0.4 2.6 2.5 7.3 15.9 .462 0.0 0.2 .214 5.9 7.7 .763
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
Karl Malone 5 38.2 19.6 1.4 5.4 6.8 4.0 1.6 0.4 4.0 3.0 6.8 16.8 .405 0.0 0.2 .000 6.0 8.2 .732

Season 19

Vern Fleming Karl Malone
Season -2003-04
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Lakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
Karl Malone 42 32.7 13.2 1.5 7.3 8.7 3.9 1.2 0.5 2.5 2.8 4.6 9.5 .483 0.0 0.0 .000 4.0 5.4 .747
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Vern Fleming ------- --- ----------
Karl Malone 21 38.0 11.5 1.8 7.0 8.8 3.4 1.1 0.1 2.2 3.1 4.7 10.4 .450 0.0 0.0 .000 2.2 3.5 .630