Complete Stats Comparison of Karl Malone and Gary Payton

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Karl Malone and Gary Payton 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 Malone3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		19
seasons
Gary Payton2
(assists, steals)		2
(assists, steals)		17
seasons
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Karl Malone3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		4
(points, rebounds, steals, blocks)		19
Playoffs
Gary Payton2
(assists, steals)		1
(assists)		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 Malone7
stats		9
stats		2
stats
Gary Payton5
stats		5
stats		1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Karl Malone7
stats		10
stats		2
stats
Gary Payton5
stats		4
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 had better averages in points, rebounds and blocks while Gary Payton had better averages in assists and steals.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Karl Malone had better averages in points (+8.7), field goals made (+2.7), free throws made (+4.2), offensive rebounds (+1.4), defensive rebounds (+4.8), total rebounds (+6.2) and blocks (+0.6)
- Gary Payton had better averages in 3-pointers made (+0.7), assists (+3.1) and steals (+0.4)
- Karl Malone had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+0.8) and personal fouls (+0.7)
-
- Karl Malone had higher averages in field goals attempted (+3.8) and free throws attempted (+5.5)
- Gary Payton had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+2.5)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Karl Malone 25.0
+8.7
Gary Payton 16.3
Field Goals Made
Karl Malone 9.2
+2.7
Gary Payton 6.5
Field Goals Attempted
Karl Malone 17.8
+3.8
Gary Payton 14.0
3-Pointers Made
Karl Malone 0.1
Gary Payton 0.8
+0.7
3-Pointers Attempted
Karl Malone 0.2
Gary Payton 2.7
+2.5
Free Throws Made
Karl Malone 6.6
+4.2
Gary Payton 2.4
Free Throws Attempted
Karl Malone 8.9
+5.5
Gary Payton 3.4
Offensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 2.4
+1.4
Gary Payton 1.0
Defensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 7.7
+4.8
Gary Payton 2.9
Total Rebounds
Karl Malone 10.1
+6.2
Gary Payton 3.9
Assists
Karl Malone 3.6
Gary Payton 6.7
+3.1
Steals
Karl Malone 1.4
Gary Payton 1.8
+0.4
Blocks
Karl Malone 0.8
+0.6
Gary Payton 0.2
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 3.1
+0.8
Gary Payton 2.3
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 3.1
+0.7
Gary Payton 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 and blocks while Gary Payton had more total assists and steals.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Karl Malone played more years (+2) and games (+141), and had more points (+15,115), field goals made (+4,820), free throws made (+6,522), offensive rebounds (+2,170), defensive rebounds (+7,529), total rebounds (+9,699) and blocks (+860)
- Gary Payton had more 3-pointers made (+1,047), assists (+3,718) and steals (+360)
- Karl Malone had more turnovers (+1,494) and personal fouls (+1,361)
-
- Karl Malone had more field goals attempted (+7,512) and free throws attempted (+8,708)
- Gary Payton had more 3-pointers attempted (+3,260)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Karl Malone 19
+2
Gary Payton 17
Games
Karl Malone 1,476
+141
Gary Payton 1,335
Points
Karl Malone 36,928
+15,115
Gary Payton 21,813
Field Goals Made
Karl Malone 13,528
+4,820
Gary Payton 8,708
Field Goals Attempted
Karl Malone 26,210
+7,512
Gary Payton 18,698
3-Pointers Made
Karl Malone 85
Gary Payton 1,132
+1,047
3-Pointers Attempted
Karl Malone 310
Gary Payton 3,570
+3,260
Free Throws Made
Karl Malone 9,787
+6,522
Gary Payton 3,265
Free Throws Attempted
Karl Malone 13,188
+8,708
Gary Payton 4,480
Offensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 3,562
+2,170
Gary Payton 1,392
Defensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 11,406
+7,529
Gary Payton 3,877
Total Rebounds
Karl Malone 14,968
+9,699
Gary Payton 5,269
Assists
Karl Malone 5,248
Gary Payton 8,966
+3,718
Steals
Karl Malone 2,085
Gary Payton 2,445
+360
Blocks
Karl Malone 1,145
+860
Gary Payton 285
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 4,524
+1,494
Gary Payton 3,030
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 4,578
+1,361
Gary Payton 3,217

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

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

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Karl Malone 51.6%
+5.0
Gary Payton 46.6%
3-Point Percentage
Karl Malone 27.4%
Gary Payton 31.7%
+4.3
Free Throw Percentage
Karl Malone 74.2%
+1.3
Gary Payton 72.9%

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 blocks while Gary Payton had better averages in assists and steals.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Karl Malone had better averages in points (+10.7), field goals made (+3.4), free throws made (+4.6), offensive rebounds (+1.6), defensive rebounds (+5.3), total rebounds (+7.0) and blocks (+0.5)
- Gary Payton had better averages in 3-pointers made (+0.9), assists (+2.1) and steals (+0.1)
- Karl Malone had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+0.9) and personal fouls (+0.6)
-
- Karl Malone had higher averages in field goals attempted (+6.9) and free throws attempted (+6.1)
- Gary Payton had higher average in 3-pointers attempted (+2.6)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Karl Malone 24.7
+10.7
Gary Payton 14.0
Field Goals Made
Karl Malone 9.0
+3.4
Gary Payton 5.6
Field Goals Attempted
Karl Malone 19.5
+6.9
Gary Payton 12.6
3-Pointers Made
Karl Malone 0.0
Gary Payton 0.9
+0.9
3-Pointers Attempted
Karl Malone 0.2
Gary Payton 2.8
+2.6
Free Throws Made
Karl Malone 6.6
+4.6
Gary Payton 2.0
Free Throws Attempted
Karl Malone 8.9
+6.1
Gary Payton 2.8
Offensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 2.6
+1.6
Gary Payton 1.0
Defensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 8.1
+5.3
Gary Payton 2.8
Total Rebounds
Karl Malone 10.7
+7.0
Gary Payton 3.7
Assists
Karl Malone 3.2
Gary Payton 5.3
+2.1
Steals
Karl Malone 1.3
Gary Payton 1.4
+0.1
Blocks
Karl Malone 0.7
+0.5
Gary Payton 0.2
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 2.8
+0.9
Gary Payton 1.9
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 3.4
+0.6
Gary Payton 2.8

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

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

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Karl Malone played more years (+4) and games (+39), and had more points (+2,606), field goals made (+888), free throws made (+961), offensive rebounds (+354), defensive rebounds (+1,133), total rebounds (+1,487), steals (+42) and blocks (+103)
- Gary Payton had more 3-pointers made (+131) and assists (+201)
- Karl Malone had more turnovers (+253) and personal fouls (+228)
-
- Karl Malone had more field goals attempted (+1,830) and free throws attempted (+1,289)
- Gary Payton had more 3-pointers attempted (+398)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Karl Malone 19
+4
Gary Payton 15
Games
Karl Malone 193
+39
Gary Payton 154
Points
Karl Malone 4,761
+2,606
Gary Payton 2,155
Field Goals Made
Karl Malone 1,743
+888
Gary Payton 855
Field Goals Attempted
Karl Malone 3,768
+1,830
Gary Payton 1,938
3-Pointers Made
Karl Malone 6
Gary Payton 137
+131
3-Pointers Attempted
Karl Malone 37
Gary Payton 435
+398
Free Throws Made
Karl Malone 1,269
+961
Gary Payton 308
Free Throws Attempted
Karl Malone 1,725
+1,289
Gary Payton 436
Offensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 502
+354
Gary Payton 148
Defensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 1,560
+1,133
Gary Payton 427
Total Rebounds
Karl Malone 2,062
+1,487
Gary Payton 575
Assists
Karl Malone 610
Gary Payton 811
+201
Steals
Karl Malone 258
+42
Gary Payton 216
Blocks
Karl Malone 135
+103
Gary Payton 32
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 550
+253
Gary Payton 297
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 662
+228
Gary Payton 434

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

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

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Karl Malone 46.3%
+2.2
Gary Payton 44.1%
3-Point Percentage
Karl Malone 16.2%
Gary Payton 31.5%
+15.3
Free Throw Percentage
Karl Malone 73.6%
+3.0
Gary Payton 70.6%
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