Complete Stats Comparison of Karl Malone and Shaquille O'Neal

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Karl Malone and Shaquille O'Neal 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, assists, steals)		4
(points, rebounds, assists, steals)		19
seasons
Shaquille O'Neal2
(rebounds, blocks)		1
(blocks)		19
seasons
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Karl Malone3
(points, assists, steals)		2
(assists, steals)		19
Playoffs
Shaquille O'Neal2
(rebounds, blocks)		3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		17
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
Shaquille O'Neal5
stats		4
stats		1
stat
they are tied1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Karl Malone7
stats		7
stats		2
stats
Shaquille O'Neal4
stats		7
stats		1
stat
they are tied1
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, assists and steals while Shaquille O'Neal had better averages in rebounds and blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Karl Malone had better averages in points (+1.3), 3-pointers made (+0.1), free throws made (+1.7), defensive rebounds (+0.3), assists (+1.1) and steals (+0.8)
- Shaquille O'Neal had better averages in field goals made (+0.2), offensive rebounds (+1.1), total rebounds (+0.8) and blocks (+1.5)
- Karl Malone had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.4)
- Shaquille O'Neal had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.3)
- Karl Malone had higher averages in field goals attempted (+1.7) and 3-pointers attempted (+0.2)
- Shaquille O'Neal had higher average in free throws attempted (+0.4)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Karl Malone 25.0
+1.3
Shaquille O'Neal 23.7
Field Goals Made
Karl Malone 9.2
Shaquille O'Neal 9.4
+0.2
Field Goals Attempted
Karl Malone 17.8
+1.7
Shaquille O'Neal 16.1
3-Pointers Made
Karl Malone 0.1
+0.1
Shaquille O'Neal 0.0
3-Pointers Attempted
Karl Malone 0.2
+0.2
Shaquille O'Neal 0.0
Free Throws Made
Karl Malone 6.6
+1.7
Shaquille O'Neal 4.9
Free Throws Attempted
Karl Malone 8.9
Shaquille O'Neal 9.3
+0.4
Offensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 2.4
Shaquille O'Neal 3.5
+1.1
Defensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 7.7
+0.3
Shaquille O'Neal 7.4
Total Rebounds
Karl Malone 10.1
Shaquille O'Neal 10.9
+0.8
Assists
Karl Malone 3.6
+1.1
Shaquille O'Neal 2.5
Steals
Karl Malone 1.4
+0.8
Shaquille O'Neal 0.6
Blocks
Karl Malone 0.8
Shaquille O'Neal 2.3
+1.5
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 3.1
+0.4
Shaquille O'Neal 2.7
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 3.1
Shaquille O'Neal 3.4
+0.3

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 Shaquille O'Neal had more total blocks.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Karl Malone played more games (+269) and had more points (+8,332), field goals made (+2,198), 3-pointers made (+84), free throws made (+3,852), defensive rebounds (+2,516), total rebounds (+1,869), assists (+2,222) and steals (+1,346)
- Shaquille O'Neal had more offensive rebounds (+647) and blocks (+1,587)
- Karl Malone had more turnovers (+1,214) and personal fouls (+432)
-
- Karl Malone had more field goals attempted (+6,753), 3-pointers attempted (+288) and free throws attempted (+1,936)
-

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Karl Malone 19
Shaquille O'Neal 19
Games
Karl Malone 1,476
+269
Shaquille O'Neal 1,207
Points
Karl Malone 36,928
+8,332
Shaquille O'Neal 28,596
Field Goals Made
Karl Malone 13,528
+2,198
Shaquille O'Neal 11,330
Field Goals Attempted
Karl Malone 26,210
+6,753
Shaquille O'Neal 19,457
3-Pointers Made
Karl Malone 85
+84
Shaquille O'Neal 1
3-Pointers Attempted
Karl Malone 310
+288
Shaquille O'Neal 22
Free Throws Made
Karl Malone 9,787
+3,852
Shaquille O'Neal 5,935
Free Throws Attempted
Karl Malone 13,188
+1,936
Shaquille O'Neal 11,252
Offensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 3,562
Shaquille O'Neal 4,209
+647
Defensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 11,406
+2,516
Shaquille O'Neal 8,890
Total Rebounds
Karl Malone 14,968
+1,869
Shaquille O'Neal 13,099
Assists
Karl Malone 5,248
+2,222
Shaquille O'Neal 3,026
Steals
Karl Malone 2,085
+1,346
Shaquille O'Neal 739
Blocks
Karl Malone 1,145
Shaquille O'Neal 2,732
+1,587
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 4,524
+1,214
Shaquille O'Neal 3,310
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 4,578
+432
Shaquille O'Neal 4,146

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 Shaquille O'Neal had better field goal percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Karl Malone 51.6%
Shaquille O'Neal 58.2%
+6.6
3-Point Percentage
Karl Malone 27.4%
+22.9
Shaquille O'Neal 4.5%
Free Throw Percentage
Karl Malone 74.2%
+21.5
Shaquille O'Neal 52.7%

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 points, assists and steals while Shaquille O'Neal had better averages in rebounds and blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Karl Malone had better averages in points (+0.4), free throws made (+1.2), defensive rebounds (+0.5), assists (+0.5) and steals (+0.8)
- Shaquille O'Neal had better averages in field goals made (+0.4), offensive rebounds (+1.4), total rebounds (+0.9) and blocks (+1.4)
-
- Shaquille O'Neal had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+0.2) and personal fouls (+0.2)
- Karl Malone had higher averages in field goals attempted (+2.7) and 3-pointers attempted (+0.2)
- Shaquille O'Neal had higher average in free throws attempted (+1.8)

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Karl Malone 24.7
+0.4
Shaquille O'Neal 24.3
Field Goals Made
Karl Malone 9.0
Shaquille O'Neal 9.4
+0.4
Field Goals Attempted
Karl Malone 19.5
+2.7
Shaquille O'Neal 16.8
3-Pointers Made
Karl Malone 0.0
Shaquille O'Neal 0.0
3-Pointers Attempted
Karl Malone 0.2
+0.2
Shaquille O'Neal 0.0
Free Throws Made
Karl Malone 6.6
+1.2
Shaquille O'Neal 5.4
Free Throws Attempted
Karl Malone 8.9
Shaquille O'Neal 10.7
+1.8
Offensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 2.6
Shaquille O'Neal 4.0
+1.4
Defensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 8.1
+0.5
Shaquille O'Neal 7.6
Total Rebounds
Karl Malone 10.7
Shaquille O'Neal 11.6
+0.9
Assists
Karl Malone 3.2
+0.5
Shaquille O'Neal 2.7
Steals
Karl Malone 1.3
+0.8
Shaquille O'Neal 0.5
Blocks
Karl Malone 0.7
Shaquille O'Neal 2.1
+1.4
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 2.8
Shaquille O'Neal 3.0
+0.2
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 3.4
Shaquille O'Neal 3.6
+0.2

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

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

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Karl Malone played more years (+2) and had more 3-pointers made (+6), free throws made (+101), assists (+28) and steals (+141)
- Shaquille O'Neal played more games (+23) and had more points (+489), field goals made (+298), offensive rebounds (+364), defensive rebounds (+82), total rebounds (+446) and blocks (+324)
-
- Shaquille O'Neal had more turnovers (+99) and personal fouls (+107)
- Karl Malone had more field goals attempted (+141) and 3-pointers attempted (+37)
- Shaquille O'Neal had more free throws attempted (+592)

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Karl Malone 19
+2
Shaquille O'Neal 17
Games
Karl Malone 193
Shaquille O'Neal 216
+23
Points
Karl Malone 4,761
Shaquille O'Neal 5,250
+489
Field Goals Made
Karl Malone 1,743
Shaquille O'Neal 2,041
+298
Field Goals Attempted
Karl Malone 3,768
+141
Shaquille O'Neal 3,627
3-Pointers Made
Karl Malone 6
+6
Shaquille O'Neal 0
3-Pointers Attempted
Karl Malone 37
+37
Shaquille O'Neal 0
Free Throws Made
Karl Malone 1,269
+101
Shaquille O'Neal 1,168
Free Throws Attempted
Karl Malone 1,725
Shaquille O'Neal 2,317
+592
Offensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 502
Shaquille O'Neal 866
+364
Defensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 1,560
Shaquille O'Neal 1,642
+82
Total Rebounds
Karl Malone 2,062
Shaquille O'Neal 2,508
+446
Assists
Karl Malone 610
+28
Shaquille O'Neal 582
Steals
Karl Malone 258
+141
Shaquille O'Neal 117
Blocks
Karl Malone 135
Shaquille O'Neal 459
+324
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 550
Shaquille O'Neal 649
+99
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 662
Shaquille O'Neal 769
+107

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Karl Malone had better 3-point percentage and free throw percentage while Shaquille O'Neal had better field goal percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Karl Malone 46.3%
Shaquille O'Neal 56.3%
+10.0
3-Point Percentage
Karl Malone 16.2%
+16.2
Shaquille O'Neal 0%
Free Throw Percentage
Karl Malone 73.6%
+23.2
Shaquille O'Neal 50.4%
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