Complete Stats Comparison of Karl Malone and Dirk Nowitzki

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Karl Malone and Dirk Nowitzki 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
Karl Malone4
(points, rebounds, assists, steals)		4
(points, rebounds, assists, steals)		19
seasons
Dirk Nowitzki0
1
(blocks)		21
seasons
they are tied1
(blocks)
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Karl Malone3
(rebounds, assists, steals)		5
(points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)		19
Playoffs
Dirk Nowitzki2
(points, blocks)		0
15
Playoffs

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Karl Malone8
stats		8
stats		1
stat
Dirk Nowitzki3
stats		6
stats		2
stats
they are tied1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Karl Malone5
stats		11
stats		1
stat
Dirk Nowitzki7
stats		3
stats		2
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...

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Karl Malone had better averages in points, rebounds, assists and steals than Dirk Nowitzki. They are tied in blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Karl Malone had better averages in points (+4.3), field goals made (+1.9), free throws made (+1.8), offensive rebounds (+1.4), defensive rebounds (+1.1), total rebounds (+2.6), assists (+1.2) and steals (+0.6)
- Dirk Nowitzki had better average in 3-pointers made (+1.2)
- Karl Malone had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+1.5) and personal fouls (+0.7)
-
- Karl Malone had higher averages in field goals attempted (+2.2) and free throws attempted (+3.5)
- Dirk Nowitzki had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+3.2)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Karl Malone 25.0
+4.3
Dirk Nowitzki 20.7
Field Goals Made
Karl Malone 9.2
+1.9
Dirk Nowitzki 7.3
Field Goals Attempted
Karl Malone 17.8
+2.2
Dirk Nowitzki 15.6
3-Pointers Made
Karl Malone 0.1
Dirk Nowitzki 1.3
+1.2
3-Pointers Attempted
Karl Malone 0.2
Dirk Nowitzki 3.4
+3.2
Free Throws Made
Karl Malone 6.6
+1.8
Dirk Nowitzki 4.8
Free Throws Attempted
Karl Malone 8.9
+3.5
Dirk Nowitzki 5.4
Offensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 2.4
+1.4
Dirk Nowitzki 1.0
Defensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 7.7
+1.1
Dirk Nowitzki 6.6
Total Rebounds
Karl Malone 10.1
+2.6
Dirk Nowitzki 7.5
Assists
Karl Malone 3.6
+1.2
Dirk Nowitzki 2.4
Steals
Karl Malone 1.4
+0.6
Dirk Nowitzki 0.8
Blocks
Karl Malone 0.8
Dirk Nowitzki 0.8
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 3.1
+1.5
Dirk Nowitzki 1.6
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 3.1
+0.7
Dirk Nowitzki 2.4

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 had more total points, rebounds, assists and steals while Dirk Nowitzki had more total blocks.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Karl Malone had more points (+5,368), field goals made (+2,359), free throws made (+2,547), offensive rebounds (+2,094), defensive rebounds (+1,385), total rebounds (+3,479), assists (+1,597) and steals (+875)
- Dirk Nowitzki played more years (+2) and games (+46), and had more 3-pointers made (+1,897) and blocks (+136)
- Karl Malone had more turnovers (+2,030) and personal fouls (+977)
-
- Karl Malone had more field goals attempted (+2,476) and free throws attempted (+4,949)
- Dirk Nowitzki had more 3-pointers attempted (+4,900)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Karl Malone 19
Dirk Nowitzki 21
+2
Games
Karl Malone 1,476
Dirk Nowitzki 1,522
+46
Points
Karl Malone 36,928
+5,368
Dirk Nowitzki 31,560
Field Goals Made
Karl Malone 13,528
+2,359
Dirk Nowitzki 11,169
Field Goals Attempted
Karl Malone 26,210
+2,476
Dirk Nowitzki 23,734
3-Pointers Made
Karl Malone 85
Dirk Nowitzki 1,982
+1,897
3-Pointers Attempted
Karl Malone 310
Dirk Nowitzki 5,210
+4,900
Free Throws Made
Karl Malone 9,787
+2,547
Dirk Nowitzki 7,240
Free Throws Attempted
Karl Malone 13,188
+4,949
Dirk Nowitzki 8,239
Offensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 3,562
+2,094
Dirk Nowitzki 1,468
Defensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 11,406
+1,385
Dirk Nowitzki 10,021
Total Rebounds
Karl Malone 14,968
+3,479
Dirk Nowitzki 11,489
Assists
Karl Malone 5,248
+1,597
Dirk Nowitzki 3,651
Steals
Karl Malone 2,085
+875
Dirk Nowitzki 1,210
Blocks
Karl Malone 1,145
Dirk Nowitzki 1,281
+136
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 4,524
+2,030
Dirk Nowitzki 2,494
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 4,578
+977
Dirk Nowitzki 3,601

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

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

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Karl Malone 51.6%
+4.5
Dirk Nowitzki 47.1%
3-Point Percentage
Karl Malone 27.4%
Dirk Nowitzki 38.0%
+10.6
Free Throw Percentage
Karl Malone 74.2%
Dirk Nowitzki 87.9%
+13.7

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 rebounds, assists and steals while Dirk Nowitzki had better averages in points and blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Karl Malone had better averages in field goals made (+0.6), offensive rebounds (+1.1), total rebounds (+0.7), assists (+0.7) and steals (+0.3)
- Dirk Nowitzki had better averages in points (+0.6), 3-pointers made (+1.0), free throws made (+0.8), defensive rebounds (+0.4) and blocks (+0.2)
- Karl Malone had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+0.5) and personal fouls (+0.6)
-
- Karl Malone had higher averages in field goals attempted (+1.3) and free throws attempted (+0.6)
- Dirk Nowitzki had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+2.6)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Karl Malone 24.7
Dirk Nowitzki 25.3
+0.6
Field Goals Made
Karl Malone 9.0
+0.6
Dirk Nowitzki 8.4
Field Goals Attempted
Karl Malone 19.5
+1.3
Dirk Nowitzki 18.2
3-Pointers Made
Karl Malone 0.0
Dirk Nowitzki 1.0
+1.0
3-Pointers Attempted
Karl Malone 0.2
Dirk Nowitzki 2.8
+2.6
Free Throws Made
Karl Malone 6.6
Dirk Nowitzki 7.4
+0.8
Free Throws Attempted
Karl Malone 8.9
+0.6
Dirk Nowitzki 8.3
Offensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 2.6
+1.1
Dirk Nowitzki 1.5
Defensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 8.1
Dirk Nowitzki 8.5
+0.4
Total Rebounds
Karl Malone 10.7
+0.7
Dirk Nowitzki 10.0
Assists
Karl Malone 3.2
+0.7
Dirk Nowitzki 2.5
Steals
Karl Malone 1.3
+0.3
Dirk Nowitzki 1.0
Blocks
Karl Malone 0.7
Dirk Nowitzki 0.9
+0.2
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 2.8
+0.5
Dirk Nowitzki 2.3
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 3.4
+0.6
Dirk Nowitzki 2.8

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Karl Malone had more total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks than Dirk Nowitzki.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Karl Malone played more years (+4) and games (+48), and had more points (+1,098), field goals made (+523), free throws made (+195), offensive rebounds (+290), defensive rebounds (+326), total rebounds (+616), assists (+250), steals (+109) and blocks (+6)
- Dirk Nowitzki had more 3-pointers made (+143)
- Karl Malone had more turnovers (+222) and personal fouls (+255)
-
- Karl Malone had more field goals attempted (+1,126) and free throws attempted (+521)
- Dirk Nowitzki had more 3-pointers attempted (+371)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Karl Malone 19
+4
Dirk Nowitzki 15
Games
Karl Malone 193
+48
Dirk Nowitzki 145
Points
Karl Malone 4,761
+1,098
Dirk Nowitzki 3,663
Field Goals Made
Karl Malone 1,743
+523
Dirk Nowitzki 1,220
Field Goals Attempted
Karl Malone 3,768
+1,126
Dirk Nowitzki 2,642
3-Pointers Made
Karl Malone 6
Dirk Nowitzki 149
+143
3-Pointers Attempted
Karl Malone 37
Dirk Nowitzki 408
+371
Free Throws Made
Karl Malone 1,269
+195
Dirk Nowitzki 1,074
Free Throws Attempted
Karl Malone 1,725
+521
Dirk Nowitzki 1,204
Offensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 502
+290
Dirk Nowitzki 212
Defensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 1,560
+326
Dirk Nowitzki 1,234
Total Rebounds
Karl Malone 2,062
+616
Dirk Nowitzki 1,446
Assists
Karl Malone 610
+250
Dirk Nowitzki 360
Steals
Karl Malone 258
+109
Dirk Nowitzki 149
Blocks
Karl Malone 135
+6
Dirk Nowitzki 129
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 550
+222
Dirk Nowitzki 328
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 662
+255
Dirk Nowitzki 407

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

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

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Karl Malone 46.3%
+0.1
Dirk Nowitzki 46.2%
3-Point Percentage
Karl Malone 16.2%
Dirk Nowitzki 36.5%
+20.3
Free Throw Percentage
Karl Malone 73.6%
Dirk Nowitzki 89.2%
+15.6
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