Complete Stats Comparison of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 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 / Games against each other

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
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar2
(rebounds, blocks)		4
(points, rebounds, assists, blocks)		20
seasons
Karl Malone2
(points, steals)		1
(steals)		19
seasons
they are tied1
(assists)
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar1
(blocks)		4
(points, rebounds, assists, blocks)		18
Playoffs
Karl Malone3
(points, rebounds, steals)		1
(steals)		19
Playoffs
they are tied1
(assists)

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar5
stats		8
stats		1
stat
Karl Malone5
stats		6
stats		2
stats
they are tied2
stats
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar3
stats		8
stats		2
stats
Karl Malone5
stats		6
stats		1
stat
they are tied4
stats

- "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...

Notes: Offensive and defensive rebounds, blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74. Turnovers started to be recorded in 1977-78. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80.
(*) = some years in his career don't have the stat.

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had better averages in rebounds and blocks while Karl Malone had better averages in points and steals. They are tied in assists.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had better averages in field goals made (+1.0), total rebounds (+1.1) and blocks (+1.8)
- Karl Malone had better averages in points (+0.4), 3-pointers made (+0.1), free throws made (+2.3), defensive rebounds (+0.1) and steals (+0.5)
-
- Karl Malone had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+0.4) and personal fouls (+0.1)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had higher average in field goals attempted (+0.3)
- Karl Malone had higher averages in 3-pointers attempted (+0.2) and free throws attempted (+2.9)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.6
Karl Malone 25.0
+0.4
Field Goals Made
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 10.2
+1.0
Karl Malone 9.2
Field Goals Attempted
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 18.1
+0.3
Karl Malone 17.8
3-Pointers Made
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 0.0
*
Karl Malone 0.1
+0.1
3-Pointers Attempted
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 0.0
*
Karl Malone 0.2
+0.2
Free Throws Made
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 4.3
Karl Malone 6.6
+2.3
Free Throws Attempted
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 6.0
Karl Malone 8.9
+2.9
Offensive Rebounds
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2.4
*
Karl Malone 2.4
Defensive Rebounds
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 7.6
*
Karl Malone 7.7
+0.1
Total Rebounds
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 11.2
+1.1
Karl Malone 10.1
Assists
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3.6
Karl Malone 3.6
Steals
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 0.9
*
Karl Malone 1.4
+0.5
Blocks
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2.6
+1.8 *
Karl Malone 0.8
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2.7
*
Karl Malone 3.1
+0.4
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3.0
Karl Malone 3.1
+0.1

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had more total points, rebounds, assists and blocks while Karl Malone had more total steals.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played more years (+1) and games (+84), and had more points (+1,459), field goals made (+2,309), total rebounds (+2,472), assists (+412) and blocks (+2,044)
- Karl Malone had more 3-pointers made (+84), free throws made (+3,075), offensive rebounds (+587), defensive rebounds (+2,012) and steals (+925)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had more personal fouls (+79)
- Karl Malone had more turnovers (+1,997)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had more field goals attempted (+2,097)
- Karl Malone had more 3-pointers attempted (+292) and free throws attempted (+3,884)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 20
+1
Karl Malone 19
Games
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,560
+84
Karl Malone 1,476
Points
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
+1,459
Karl Malone 36,928
Field Goals Made
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 15,837
+2,309
Karl Malone 13,528
Field Goals Attempted
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 28,307
+2,097
Karl Malone 26,210
3-Pointers Made
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1
*
Karl Malone 85
+84
3-Pointers Attempted
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 18
*
Karl Malone 310
+292
Free Throws Made
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 6,712
Karl Malone 9,787
+3,075
Free Throws Attempted
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 9,304
Karl Malone 13,188
+3,884
Offensive Rebounds
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2,975
*
Karl Malone 3,562
+587
Defensive Rebounds
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 9,394
*
Karl Malone 11,406
+2,012
Total Rebounds
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 17,440
+2,472
Karl Malone 14,968
Assists
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5,660
+412
Karl Malone 5,248
Steals
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,160
*
Karl Malone 2,085
+925
Blocks
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3,189
+2,044 *
Karl Malone 1,145
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2,527
*
Karl Malone 4,524
+1,997
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 4,657
+79
Karl Malone 4,578

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Karl Malone had better 3-point percentage and free throw percentage while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had better field goal percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 55.9%
+4.3
Karl Malone 51.6%
3-Point Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5.6%
*
Karl Malone 27.4%
+21.8
Free Throw Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 72.1%
Karl Malone 74.2%
+2.1

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Karl Malone had better averages in points, rebounds and steals while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had better average in blocks. They are tied in assists.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had better averages in field goals made (+0.9) and blocks (+1.7)
- Karl Malone had better averages in points (+0.4), free throws made (+2.2), defensive rebounds (+1.6), total rebounds (+0.2) and steals (+0.3)
-
- Karl Malone had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.2)
-
- Karl Malone had higher averages in field goals attempted (+0.8), 3-pointers attempted (+0.2) and free throws attempted (+2.9)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 24.3
Karl Malone 24.7
+0.4
Field Goals Made
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 9.9
+0.9
Karl Malone 9.0
Field Goals Attempted
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 18.7
Karl Malone 19.5
+0.8
3-Pointers Made
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 0.0
*
Karl Malone 0.0
3-Pointers Attempted
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 0.0
*
Karl Malone 0.2
+0.2
Free Throws Made
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 4.4
Karl Malone 6.6
+2.2
Free Throws Attempted
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 6.0
Karl Malone 8.9
+2.9
Offensive Rebounds
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2.6
*
Karl Malone 2.6
Defensive Rebounds
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 6.5
*
Karl Malone 8.1
+1.6
Total Rebounds
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 10.5
Karl Malone 10.7
+0.2
Assists
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3.2
Karl Malone 3.2
Steals
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1.0
*
Karl Malone 1.3
+0.3
Blocks
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2.4
+1.7 *
Karl Malone 0.7
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2.6
*
Karl Malone 2.8
+0.2
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3.4
Karl Malone 3.4

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had more total points, rebounds, assists and blocks while Karl Malone had more total steals.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played more games (+44) and had more points (+1,001), field goals made (+613), offensive rebounds (+3), total rebounds (+419), assists (+157) and blocks (+341)
- Karl Malone played more years (+1) and had more 3-pointers made (+6), free throws made (+219), defensive rebounds (+287) and steals (+69)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had more personal fouls (+135)
- Karl Malone had more turnovers (+103)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had more field goals attempted (+654)
- Karl Malone had more 3-pointers attempted (+33) and free throws attempted (+306)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 18
Karl Malone 19
+1
Games
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 237
+44
Karl Malone 193
Points
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 5,762
+1,001
Karl Malone 4,761
Field Goals Made
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2,356
+613
Karl Malone 1,743
Field Goals Attempted
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 4,422
+654
Karl Malone 3,768
3-Pointers Made
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 0
*
Karl Malone 6
+6
3-Pointers Attempted
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 4
*
Karl Malone 37
+33
Free Throws Made
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,050
Karl Malone 1,269
+219
Free Throws Attempted
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,419
Karl Malone 1,725
+306
Offensive Rebounds
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 505
+3 *
Karl Malone 502
Defensive Rebounds
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 1,273
*
Karl Malone 1,560
+287
Total Rebounds
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2,481
+419
Karl Malone 2,062
Assists
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 767
+157
Karl Malone 610
Steals
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 189
*
Karl Malone 258
+69
Blocks
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 476
+341 *
Karl Malone 135
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 447
*
Karl Malone 550
+103
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 797
+135
Karl Malone 662

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had better field goal percentage and free throw percentage while Karl Malone had better 3-point percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 53.3%
+7.0
Karl Malone 46.3%
3-Point Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 0.0%
*
Karl Malone 16.2%
+16.2
Free Throw Percentage
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 74.0%
+0.4
Karl Malone 73.6%
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