Complete Stats Comparison of James Harden and Karl Malone

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by James Harden and Karl Malone during their NBA careers. First we show you a summary of who had better numbers on each statistical category and then we compare in detail the performance of each of these stars in the regular season and the Playoffs, both in total stats and averages per game.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Stats / Stats Rankings

This in-depth comparison includes all the numbers, if you prefer a simplified version of this analysis with only the basic statistics, you will find it at the career comparison of these two NBA stars.

On this page we compare:

Who has better stats? Main stats / All stats
Regular Season: Averages / Totals / Pecentages
Playoffs: Averages / Totals / Pecentages

Main Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
James Harden2
(assists, steals)		1
(assists)		16
seasons
Karl Malone3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		4
(points, rebounds, steals, blocks)		19
seasons
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
James Harden2
(assists, steals)		2
(assists, steals)		16
Playoffs
Karl Malone3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		19
Playoffs

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
James Harden5
stats		4
stats		2
stats
Karl Malone7
stats		10
stats		1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
James Harden4
stats		4
stats		2
stats
Karl Malone8
stats		10
stats		1
stat

- "Better Career Total" includes games and years played as stats.

- For turnovers and personal fouls, lower numbers are better.

- Field goal, free-throw and three-point attempts are not included on these tables since it can't be said that higher is better.

Now, lets compare all their stats in detail, one by one...

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, Karl Malone has better averages in points, rebounds and blocks while James Harden has better averages in assists and steals.

Who has higher averages in the Regular Season?

- James Harden has better averages in 3-pointers made (+2.7), free throws made (+0.5), assists (+3.6) and steals (+0.1)
- Karl Malone has better averages in points (+0.9), field goals made (+2.1), offensive rebounds (+1.6), defensive rebounds (+2.8), total rebounds (+4.5) and blocks (+0.2)
- James Harden has higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.6)
- Karl Malone has higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.6)
- James Harden has higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+7.4)
- Karl Malone has higher averages in field goals attempted (+1.6) and free throws attempted (+0.7)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
James Harden 24.1
Karl Malone 25.0
+0.9
Field Goals Made
James Harden 7.1
Karl Malone 9.2
+2.1
Field Goals Attempted
James Harden 16.2
Karl Malone 17.8
+1.6
3-Pointers Made
James Harden 2.8
+2.7
Karl Malone 0.1
3-Pointers Attempted
James Harden 7.6
+7.4
Karl Malone 0.2
Free Throws Made
James Harden 7.1
+0.5
Karl Malone 6.6
Free Throws Attempted
James Harden 8.2
Karl Malone 8.9
+0.7
Offensive Rebounds
James Harden 0.8
Karl Malone 2.4
+1.6
Defensive Rebounds
James Harden 4.9
Karl Malone 7.7
+2.8
Total Rebounds
James Harden 5.6
Karl Malone 10.1
+4.5
Assists
James Harden 7.2
+3.6
Karl Malone 3.6
Steals
James Harden 1.5
+0.1
Karl Malone 1.4
Blocks
James Harden 0.6
Karl Malone 0.8
+0.2
Turnovers
(lower is better)
James Harden 3.7
+0.6
Karl Malone 3.1
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
James Harden 2.5
Karl Malone 3.1
+0.6

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, Karl Malone has more total points, rebounds, steals and blocks while James Harden has more total assists.

Who has more total stats in the Regular Season?

- James Harden has more 3-pointers made (+3,090) and assists (+3,068)
- Karl Malone played more years (+3) and games (+325), and has more points (+9,241), field goals made (+5,354), free throws made (+1,623), offensive rebounds (+2,691), defensive rebounds (+5,804), total rebounds (+8,495), steals (+370) and blocks (+490)
-
- Karl Malone has more turnovers (+264) and personal fouls (+1,721)
- James Harden has more 3-pointers attempted (+8,440)
- Karl Malone has more field goals attempted (+7,600) and free throws attempted (+3,710)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
James Harden 16
Karl Malone 19
+3
Games
James Harden 1,151
Karl Malone 1,476
+325
Points
James Harden 27,687
Karl Malone 36,928
+9,241
Field Goals Made
James Harden 8,174
Karl Malone 13,528
+5,354
Field Goals Attempted
James Harden 18,610
Karl Malone 26,210
+7,600
3-Pointers Made
James Harden 3,175
+3,090
Karl Malone 85
3-Pointers Attempted
James Harden 8,750
+8,440
Karl Malone 310
Free Throws Made
James Harden 8,164
Karl Malone 9,787
+1,623
Free Throws Attempted
James Harden 9,478
Karl Malone 13,188
+3,710
Offensive Rebounds
James Harden 871
Karl Malone 3,562
+2,691
Defensive Rebounds
James Harden 5,602
Karl Malone 11,406
+5,804
Total Rebounds
James Harden 6,473
Karl Malone 14,968
+8,495
Assists
James Harden 8,316
+3,068
Karl Malone 5,248
Steals
James Harden 1,715
Karl Malone 2,085
+370
Blocks
James Harden 655
Karl Malone 1,145
+490
Turnovers
(lower is better)
James Harden 4,260
Karl Malone 4,524
+264
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
James Harden 2,857
Karl Malone 4,578
+1,721

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, James Harden has better 3-point percentage and free throw percentage while Karl Malone has better field goal percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
James Harden 43.9%
Karl Malone 51.6%
+7.7
3-Point Percentage
James Harden 36.3%
+8.9
Karl Malone 27.4%
Free Throw Percentage
James Harden 86.1%
+11.9
Karl Malone 74.2%

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Karl Malone has better averages in points, rebounds and blocks while James Harden has better averages in assists and steals.

Who has higher averages in the Playoffs?

- James Harden has better averages in 3-pointers made (+2.5), assists (+3.3) and steals (+0.3)
- Karl Malone has better averages in points (+2.2), field goals made (+2.2), free throws made (+0.2), offensive rebounds (+1.9), defensive rebounds (+3.3), total rebounds (+5.2) and blocks (+0.1)
- James Harden has higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.6)
- Karl Malone has higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.4)
- James Harden has higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+7.2)
- Karl Malone has higher averages in field goals attempted (+3.5) and free throws attempted (+1.5)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
James Harden 22.5
Karl Malone 24.7
+2.2
Field Goals Made
James Harden 6.8
Karl Malone 9.0
+2.2
Field Goals Attempted
James Harden 16.0
Karl Malone 19.5
+3.5
3-Pointers Made
James Harden 2.5
+2.5
Karl Malone 0.0
3-Pointers Attempted
James Harden 7.4
+7.2
Karl Malone 0.2
Free Throws Made
James Harden 6.4
Karl Malone 6.6
+0.2
Free Throws Attempted
James Harden 7.4
Karl Malone 8.9
+1.5
Offensive Rebounds
James Harden 0.7
Karl Malone 2.6
+1.9
Defensive Rebounds
James Harden 4.8
Karl Malone 8.1
+3.3
Total Rebounds
James Harden 5.5
Karl Malone 10.7
+5.2
Assists
James Harden 6.5
+3.3
Karl Malone 3.2
Steals
James Harden 1.6
+0.3
Karl Malone 1.3
Blocks
James Harden 0.6
Karl Malone 0.7
+0.1
Turnovers
(lower is better)
James Harden 3.4
+0.6
Karl Malone 2.8
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
James Harden 3.0
Karl Malone 3.4
+0.4

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Karl Malone has more total points, rebounds and blocks while James Harden has more total assists and steals.

Who has more total stats in the Playoffs?

- James Harden has more 3-pointers made (+428), assists (+515) and steals (+24)
- Karl Malone played more years (+3) and games (+20), and has more points (+866), field goals made (+570), free throws made (+154), offensive rebounds (+376), defensive rebounds (+738), total rebounds (+1,114) and blocks (+37)
- James Harden has more turnovers (+40)
- Karl Malone has more personal fouls (+150)
- James Harden has more 3-pointers attempted (+1,238)
- Karl Malone has more field goals attempted (+1,008) and free throws attempted (+442)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
James Harden 16
Karl Malone 19
+3
Games
James Harden 173
Karl Malone 193
+20
Points
James Harden 3,895
Karl Malone 4,761
+866
Field Goals Made
James Harden 1,173
Karl Malone 1,743
+570
Field Goals Attempted
James Harden 2,760
Karl Malone 3,768
+1,008
3-Pointers Made
James Harden 434
+428
Karl Malone 6
3-Pointers Attempted
James Harden 1,275
+1,238
Karl Malone 37
Free Throws Made
James Harden 1,115
Karl Malone 1,269
+154
Free Throws Attempted
James Harden 1,283
Karl Malone 1,725
+442
Offensive Rebounds
James Harden 126
Karl Malone 502
+376
Defensive Rebounds
James Harden 822
Karl Malone 1,560
+738
Total Rebounds
James Harden 948
Karl Malone 2,062
+1,114
Assists
James Harden 1,125
+515
Karl Malone 610
Steals
James Harden 282
+24
Karl Malone 258
Blocks
James Harden 98
Karl Malone 135
+37
Turnovers
(lower is better)
James Harden 590
+40
Karl Malone 550
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
James Harden 512
Karl Malone 662
+150

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, James Harden has better 3-point percentage and free throw percentage while Karl Malone has better field goal percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
James Harden 42.5%
Karl Malone 46.3%
+3.8
3-Point Percentage
James Harden 34.0%
+17.8
Karl Malone 16.2%
Free Throw Percentage
James Harden 86.9%
+13.3
Karl Malone 73.6%
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